Detroit swept Connecticut in the regular season, but don't let the numbers fool you.

	Taj McWilliams-Franklin is averaging 18 points and shooting 63.2 percent from the field in the playoffs.

Yes, the Shock won by an average of 14 points. And the closest the Sun came was a nine-point loss.

But here's the catch: Three of the games were played in the first five weeks of the season. No one is at their peak that time of year, and that was especially true for the Sun's Taj McWilliams-Franklin, who was still trying to get fit after having a baby in January.

For the second half of the season, and as McWilliams-Franklin continued to get into game shape, the Sun have ran their offense through the three-time All-Star, a 6-foot-2 forward/center and career .482 shooter. The system is obviously working, as the Sun ended the regular season on a three-game winning streak to clinch a playoff spot before sweeping Charlotte in the first round.

So when you think back to those early meetings with Detroit, remember that McWilliams-Franklin played 25 or fewer minutes in two of the games. And consider how different the outcome might be this time around.

Here's a look at how we see the Eastern Conference finals shaping up:

Season series
Detroit swept Connecticut 4-0, winning 103-89 on June 5, 82-73 in overtime on June 22, 66-50 on July 8 and 78-61 on Aug. 5. Swin Cash led Detroit with a 19.5 scoring average in the series. Nykesha Sales led the Sun with a 14.8 average.

Detroit's keys to success
After a very poor performance in Game 2 that saw Detroit put in its worst shooting performance of the season (29 percent), the Shock were marvelous in Game 3 of their first-round series with Cleveland. They rebounded and ran and played with incredible intensity. They also moved the ball around the perimeter incredibly well. They rotated it inside, outside, and really kept Cleveland's defense off balance. When they weren't scoring on layups in transition, Cash, Deanna Nolan and Elaine Powell were getting open looks on the perimeter.

	Deanna Nolan, right, and Swin Cash hope to lead the Shock to the WNBA finals.

Cash has been outstanding. Great players raise their game in the playoffs, and she has done that physically, mentally, emotionally and statistically (after averaging 16.6 points in the regular season, she's scoring 19 points and shooting 47.4 percent from the field in the postseason). When other players are jogging, Cash is sprinting, and that mentality -- similar to Tamika Catchings' intensity level -- is what separates Cash from her peers.

She might not have a lot of flash in her game, but she's more athletic than most (on a putback, most players have to land and then go back up, but Cash's feet never hit the ground on that tip to win the game in Cleveland), consistent and has the fundamentals down. She also has one of the best left hands I've seen in the game. That left-handed semi-hook she shoots when she comes from the left side of the floor and cuts across the lane to the right is not a mistake. That's her patented shot. And it works every time. She either makes it or gets fouled.

Nolan has been outstanding and reminded us why she's an all-star. She put on a clinic with her 6-for-7 performance from 3-point range (and went 10-for-13 from the field) in Game 3, and has increased her scoring average from 12.4 in the regular season to 16.0 in the playoffs -- while maintaining her 42.1 percent accuracy from downtown.

Ruth Riley, whose average also has jumped from 9.6 to 12 points, simply doesn't get enough credit for having a hand in Detroit's success. She is an excellent passer, and is a big reason the Shock are able to move the ball around so well

Cheryl Ford's lack of scoring -- she averaged 10.8 points and shot 47.4 percent in the regular season but is averaging 5.7 points and shooting 25 percent (6 of 24) in two playoff games -- is not a concern. She was drafted to get rebounds, and has continued to dominate the boards in the postseason. She's playing very intelligently; when your shot abandons you, do what you do best. For Ford, that means giving your team as many possessions as possible, and she has, grabbing a league-record 10 defensive boards in the first half of Game 3 as Detroit built a big lead.

Connecticut's keys to success
Like Detroit, Connecticut carries plenty of momentum into the East finals, having won five straight games and its first playoff series in franchise history.

	Nykesha Sales, left, was the Sun's top scorer in the regular season.

The Sun's perimeter players led Connecticut for most of the season, as Nykesha Sales, Shannon Johnson and Katie Douglas combined to score 40.5 points -- about 58 percent of the team's offense -- in the regular season.

But in the playoffs, McWilliams-Franklin has been the go-to player, averaging 18 points (almost eight more than in the regular season), shooting 63.2 percent from the field (up from 44.2) and hitting all 11 of her free-throw attempts. McWilliams-Franklin had 20 points -- including the winning layup with 2.3 seconds left -- and nine rebounds in Game 1, and led the Sun with 16 points in Game 2.

There's no doubt she's playing the best basketball of her career, and her matchup with Riley will be a big factor in this series. The Shock will try and attack McWilliams-Franklin and make her play defense. It's very tough to get around Riley, who is a strong, wide body, but McWilliams-Franklin's quicker feet will also test Riley, who should look to take the Sun post away from the basket.

Brooke Wyckoff's role is equally important, because the 6-1 forward will likely match up with Ford. Because Wyckoff can shoot the 3, she'll take Ford, one of the game's best rebounders, away from the basket.

Those 3-pointers are still Connecticut's key ingredient. Douglas nailed 47 in the regular season, Sales hit 44 and Johnson 19. The Shock will obviously look to limit those looks, get a hand up to contest every shot and hopefully make Connecticut shoot over them.

Johnson and Sales are tough to defend. Sales is very deceptive -- she can score seven points or explode for 27 in any given game. She's big and strong and can post you up, and although she's not going to break your ankles off the dribble, she can drive, stop and shoot. Sales is very good when she's open, and also a very good rebounder.

Johnson is one of the best rebounding point guards in the game, and causes defenses a lot of trouble. You can't leave her open on the perimeter because she'll nail the 3. And if you suck in on her when she penetrates, Johnson kicks it out to Douglas or Sales. It's a double-edged sword that has burned opponents all season. Johnson plays tough defense, too, and will be hounding Detroit's Elaine Powell. Johnson's defense on Dawn Staley helped win Game 2 in the first round.

X-factors
Connecticut must avoid long scoring droughts. In the third game of their regular-season series, the Sun trailed by just four points at halftime. But after the break, Connecticut missed 17 straight shots as Detroit pulled away for a 16-point victory.

	Detroit's Ruth Riley is averaging 12 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists in the postseason.

The Sun want to outscore you -- that's how they win. But because Detroit's offense ranked ahead of the Sun in the regular season (Detroit led the league with 75.1 points to Connecticut's 70.1, which ranked fourth), the Sun must prove it can stop a high-scoring opponent. And defending a much bigger and more physical Detroit team won't be easy. If the Sun can limit the Shock to shooting somewhere in the 30 percent range, this will be a dogfight.

Because Connecticut will continue to rebound and run, expect Detroit to make the Sun put the ball on the floor and slow down its offense. Rebounding, therefore, is a big key. Detroit, which outrebounded Charlotte by three boards in the first round, needs to continue to dominate the glass and limit the Sun's possessions. Detroit topped the league in rebounds this season; Connecticut ranked fourth. A more interesting stat, however, is that Detroit ranked just 10th in points allowed in the regular season.

The start of Game 1 will be important. Because it swept Charlotte in the first round, Connecticut has had plenty of time off. That could be good or bad. The Sun certainly needed some extra rest as the bulk of the starters have been fighting the flu. But it's important that the Sun come out strong from the tip. Detroit is a front-running team. The Shock play much more confidently and attack more when they have the lead. In that Game 2 loss to Cleveland, Detroit never led. That's only the second time that has happened this season (only other time was a home loss to Houston).

Favorite
At this point, experience is moot. Both teams are in the same boat, with limited postseason experience but fresh off their first playoff series win. Detroit is bigger and more athletic and gets up and down the court very well. And while the Shock aren't a great halfcourt team, their strengths are scoring points, rebounding and field-goal percentage. They led the league in all three categories this season in putting together the league's best record. And if they play true to form, Detroit has what it takes to earn its first appearance in the WNBA finals.

Nancy Lieberman, an ESPN analyst and Hall of Famer, is a regular contributor to ESPN.com's women's basketball coverage. Contact her at www.nancylieberman.com.