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The Eastern Conference hasn't captured a WNBA title since Houston won the championship in 1997 before the Comets were shifted to the West.
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Sparks vs. Shock, Take I
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Detroit and Los Angeles have played just once this season. The Shock won the game at home, 87-78 in overtime, on June 17. All five Sparks' starters scored in double-figures, but the Shock rallied from a 16-point deficit for the victory, which snapped L.A.'s 18-game winning streak and perfect 9-0 start to 2003. Lisa Leslie, hampered by foul trouble, was held to 13 points as Tamecka Dixon scored a team-high 22 for the Sparks. Swin Cash paced Detroit with 20 points; six Shock players scored at least 11 points. |
That could change this season.
Los Angeles, the two-time defending champion, is still the favorite, but Detroit matches up better with the Sparks than any other team in the league. The Shock's starting five players are just as athletic as the Sparks' starters, and although Detroit doesn't have five All-Stars, it has more talent 1 through 11. Like the Sparks, the Shock are just as capable of scoring from all five positions, and Detroit just might be the team that has an answer inside for L.A.'s Lisa Leslie and DeLisha Milton.
Whichever way the WNBA Finals shake out, the series will be a dogfight. In addition to being the most athletic teams in the league, L.A. and Detroit are the WNBA's top two scoring and rebounding teams, and each features one of the leading candidates for the MVP award in Leslie and Detroit's Swin Cash.
This is a series of talent and a test of wills between two of the most confident teams that women's basketball has ever seen. And it should be the most competitive championship series we've had in a long time.
Our take on what each team must do to win the series:
Detroit must ...
Stick with its game plan. Instead of asking how they're going to stop L.A., the Shock are saying, "L.A. has got to stop us." That mentality and confidence, instilled by coach Bill Laimbeer, have been the key all season. Don't expect Detroit to do anything different here. The Shock are going to run, attack, play man-to-man and be aggressive on the defensive end.
Make L.A. a jump-shooting team. The way Detroit plays, the Shock are going to try and take away L.A.'s penetration. Detroit knows Leslie is going to get her points, probably scoring 20-25 each game (she's averaging 22.2 in six playoff games). But the Shock need to try and prevent Mwadi Mabika, Tamecka Dixon and Nikki Teasley from driving inside for layups. If the Shock can limit the Sparks' penetration, that will probably help keep L.A. off the foul line, which is important as well. And keep in mind that the Shock can guard you one-on-one on the perimeter at all five positions better than just about any team in the league.
Play full-throttle for 40 minutes. Detroit is going to try to run L.A. to death, running the Sparks hard on both ends of the floor and make them play every minute of the game. If Detroit gets tired, that means L.A. is exhausted. And if the Sparks are tired, that means they're using their bench a bit more.
Challenge Leslie and Milton inside. Detroit's post players should be big enough and aggressive enough to put the pressure on L.A. inside, and possibly get Leslie and Milton into foul trouble. No one's expecting Leslie to get whistled for three fouls just five minutes into game, as she did when the two teams played on June 17, but Cheryl Ford and Ruth Riley should be as aggressive as usual.
Play like it's just another game. L.A. obviously has more experience (Leslie and Milton alone combine for 51 playoff games while Detroit's entire roster combines for 59 postseason appearances). But at this point of the season, the Shock must keep it simple, stay focused and avoid any distractions. The nerves will show up, but Laimbeer said he hasn't seen his team nervous at all this season. Detroit will remain composed.
Stay confident. When L.A. coach Michael Cooper came into the league, he had a swagger about him. And deservedly so. While other WNBA coaches had tasted success on the sidelines in the NBA, Cooper had been successful as a player, winning five championship rings. That might have even given the Sparks a psychological edge over their opponents. But that's out the window now. Laimbeer was a winner as a player, too, and knows what it's like to play in Game 7. Like Cooper in L.A., Laimbeer has instilled a championship mentality in Detroit.
Los Angeles must ...
Continue to get a lot of offensive production out of its starters. When at least three or four reach double-figures, the Sparks are in good shape. But if three are held to single-digits and are struggling to hit their shots, L.A. is in trouble because its bench can't compensate.
Avoid foul trouble. As mentioned above, the Sparks don't have much depth. And in six playoff games so far, L.A.'s five starters have combined to score 95 percent (419 of 440 points) of the team's postseason points. So Detroit obviously will have the advantage if it can force the Sparks to use their bench, which has scored only 16 points in the playoffs.
Rebound. This is especially important on the offensive glass, because it'll slow down Detroit and limit the Shock's ability to rebound and run.
Play solid half-court defense. If the Sparks succeed in dominating the boards, this is the next step. Leslie and DeLisha Milton must play huge in the middle and try to cut the court, keeping the ball on one side.
Continue to play physical. These teams really don't know each other. They played just once this season, and both squads have changed a lot -- and grown up a lot -- since their June 17 meeting. But L.A. can really set the tone if it comes out and attacks the basket.
Key individual matchups
Swin Cash vs. Mwadi Mabika. Cash doesn't just run the court; she sprints it. And because she runs so hard on both ends, Mabika has a big task -- to guard Cash yet stay effective on the offensive end. Mabika can't get so tired from her defensive responsibilities that her shot and off-the-ball movement suffers. That's a tough call for anyone, especially Mabika, who has looked fatigued from her year-round playing at times this season.
Lisa Leslie vs. Ruth Riley. If there's one player who really must be a huge factor for Detroit in this series, it's Riley. She doesn't have to score a tremendous amount, but Riley must create a big, wide target inside and keep the ball moving, which really are her strengths. Riley also must make sure to use her strength and not allow Milton or Leslie to get in front of her on the flight of the ball; Riley must work hard at keeping position, getting low and holding them off so that the passes aren't intercepted. Offensively, expect Leslie to try and go around Riley, not over her.
DeLisha Milton vs. Cheryl Ford. The rookie of the year can really give Detroit a boost if she can continue to average 10 rebounds a game in the playoffs. Milton, who's averaging 6.3 rebounds, must try to keep Ford off the boards.
X-factors
Homecourt advantage. L.A. must win Game 1. Although the Sparks had a better road record than home mark this season, and have proven they can come from behind in the playoffs, they can't afford to head to Detroit trailing 0-1. In the first round and conference finals, L.A. had the luxury of playing at home in Games 2 and 3. This time, they'd have win two straight on the road. Also, neither Sacramento nor Minnesota can match Detroit's confidence.
Deanna Nolan. Whether the Detroit guard is healthy -- she suffered a bruised sacrum, the triangular bone near the lower end of the spinal column in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals -- is probably the biggest question mark heading into the WNBA finals. If she's not healthy, expect Kedra Holland-Corn -- who has been tremendous in the playoffs -- to step into the starting lineup. Holland-Corn is averaging 7.2 points in the postseason; Nolan is averaging 15.4.
High-scoring game? If the scores are in the 80s or 90s, Detroit has the advantage. But if the Sparks can limit the Shock's productivity and keep the score low, that bodes well for L.A.
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.
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