Los Angeles Sparks coach Michael Cooper has said repeatedly that the playoffs don't start until one team wins a game on the other team's home floor.
Well, with the Sparks and Phoenix Mercury each having won on the other team's home floor in the Western Conference Finals, this series is in full gear and has set up what should be an exciting Game 3.
Not that the Detroit Shock and Indiana Fever series isn't interesting, but this superstar studded series has been exciting to watch..and Phoenix Stan will be on hand once again to give us the in-arena experience. And even if you cannot watch the game, you can follow along with us at mobile.swishappeal.com.
A few perspectives on tonight's game:
Style, pace will determine West finals Game 3 winner - ESPN
What will make the difference is what style most of Game 3 is. The Mercury want the pace to be breakneck, and the Sparks want it to be more deliberate. The first game of the series went just like the Mercury prefers, as Phoenix won 103-94. Friday's contest was much more to the liking of the Sparks; it was just the fourth time this season that Phoenix was held to fewer than 80 points.
Women's Hoops Blog
Though the Merc's bench didn't score much, they did actually play significant minutes (56 split between four players) compared to LA's (34 split between two players). With the games being back to back, I wonder how the Sparks' legs will feel in the fourth quarter?
0 recs | 84 comments
Great choices of quotes
all day thinking about this game I keep coming back to those two issues. If the Merc can score 25 points in the first qtr, they are going to be tough to beat. The back to back and being here in Phx is obviously a huge advantage for the Mercury.
I would be shocked if this game didn’t come down to the final two minutes and those two factors will (could) be huge at that point.
Seth Pollack - September 26, 2009
Yeah the back to back thing is interesting...
I can’t decide if the perimeter oriented home team or the post oriented away team benefits more…
Nate Parham - September 26, 2009
I think when it comes right down to it
style of play may not matter as much in a game like this…
Seth Pollack - September 26, 2009
Well...
I was thinking the shooting team’s legs might be a bit more tired..and if it comes to a grudge match, the more physical team would have a slight advantage…
But they’re all pro athletes…so we’ll see…
I looked at numbers from the season and Cappie actually plays better on 0 days rest and Taurasi usually does fine… that might be coincidence… but it’s interesting nonetheless…
Nate Parham - September 26, 2009
No pre-game interviews
both teams are looking locked in. I can’t tell if it’s focus, intensity or nerves but there is no smiling or goofing around today.
Seth Pollack - September 26, 2009
Watching the end of Ind - Det
on the big screen at USAC…what a game!
Seth Pollack - September 26, 2009
Amazing game!
Really sad that someone has to lose…
Nate Parham - September 26, 2009
Fans in the USAC cheering the Indy win
no love lost for Detroit here
Seth Pollack - September 26, 2009
I think if I hear
“all the single ladies” one more time I might just divorce my wife and go find me one of ’em
Seth Pollack - September 26, 2009
lol
I despise that song…
Nate Parham - September 26, 2009
Wasn't Clare Stevens
one of the refs that was going to be a replacement for the NBA?
He’s ref’ing tonight along w/ Sue Blauch and Michael Price.
I am pretty sure DT got into w/ Clarke earlier in the season (of course that’s not saying much) and Michael Price looks like one of the guys that called that tight game in Seattle in gm 2. I am not sure how to check that though
Seth Pollack - September 26, 2009
Just checked the scorer's report from game 2 in Seattle...
Price was there…
But just so nobody is confused, he was not there for the game 3 disaster…
Nate Parham - September 26, 2009
Right
I just checked as well…phew although a tightly called game probably favors phx
Seth Pollack - September 26, 2009
PHO has DT...and...
Nate Parham - September 26, 2009
well that's a better start for Phx
both teams look really tight though…that’s to be expected and will loosen up
Seth Pollack - September 26, 2009
Literally being one second or so more patient makes a big difference...
They’re moving the ball better and getting the open shots…
…and taking advantage of LA’s confusion on defense..
Nate Parham - September 26, 2009
Lead passing is clearly a skill that LA has not mastered...
Nate Parham - September 26, 2009
Uh oh... i wanted a good game...
This is not looking like that…
Nate Parham - September 26, 2009
no way the Sparks don't
find a way to slow this down and get back in it and make it a close one
Seth Pollack - September 26, 2009
Hey, guys.
LatinD - September 26, 2009
Hey
Got a feed tonight?
Nate Parham - September 26, 2009
Live Access is actually working. Crossing my fingers. :)
LatinD - September 26, 2009
Mercury D? It is not in fact a myth
Seth Pollack - September 26, 2009
Hey, Stan. I thought you were going to miss this one?
LatinD - September 26, 2009
There's no way
I was missing this one…it took some doing and I won’t do a recap tonight but here I am
Seth Pollack - September 26, 2009
Great. Let’s see if the gals respond with a win.
LatinD - September 26, 2009
Sparks are 2-12
Seth Pollack - September 26, 2009
People will look at the numbers...
disregard the fact that increased possessions = worse defensive numbers and disregard the Mercury D…
But the Rover and the way they are constantly switching defenses is a very creative scheme that works for what they want to do…
Now the Suns’ defense… ;)
Nate Parham - September 26, 2009
No, it's only more rare
than the ivory woodpecker ;)
garzai38 - September 26, 2009
How’s the crowd, Stan? Attendance better than against the Stars?
LatinD - September 26, 2009
for sure
still not packed but much better than that game
Seth Pollack - September 26, 2009
What a silly offensive foul.
LatinD - September 26, 2009
The Merc are getting a lot
a lot of calls against them but I can’t tell if they are bad calls or if they are just playing harder and as the “aggressor” picking up those fouls…
It feels like the later which I think bodes well if the Sparks pick up the intensity on their end and the refs are consistent
Can you guys tell?
Seth Pollack - September 26, 2009
I haven't seen a bad foul call
I think the Ohlde off foul definitely falls into a category of being the aggressor and trying to play tough bball…
Nate Parham - September 26, 2009
They are calling the game kind of tight...
but consistently tight… no problem with that… just be consistent…
Nate Parham - September 26, 2009
yup - that's what it looks like to me
and that favors Phx
Seth Pollack - September 26, 2009
and btw - yes, I do think that
DT flopped on that shove by LL
Seth Pollack - September 26, 2009
Beware the Bobbitt!
Nate Parham - September 26, 2009
Bonner hasn't played well in this series
Seth Pollack - September 26, 2009
I may be jumping the gun...
But this one looks to be over…
I have yet to see the Sparks come back from this kind of deficit…
…and it does not appear that the Mercury intend to stop scoring any time soon…
Nate Parham - September 26, 2009
I'll believe it when I see it
but holy cow – didn’t expect this
Seth Pollack - September 26, 2009
Coop just yelled
at Bobbit for not shooting the ball…lmao
Seth Pollack - September 26, 2009
"At this point in the season if they do not know the severity of the situation, they do not deserve to be here"
Nate Parham - September 26, 2009
I think Parker only has 2 fouls
not 3….the ref assigned a foul to Parker that should have gone to Lennox. I am pretty sure that’s what all that mess was about
Seth Pollack - September 26, 2009
What did Nicole Ohlde do in the off-season?
This is not the same person who was employed by the Lynx last season…
Nate Parham - September 26, 2009
she's played like this
pretty consistently since she’s been healthy….I’ve really been impressed w/ her game.
She’s a much better post player too but doesn’t get enough touches in this system. She’s said numerous times that her role is defense and rebounding and she’s one of those players that seems truly happy to do anything to help the team
Seth Pollack - September 26, 2009
What did you think of the Ohlde and Johnson moves when they were made?
It seemed like most Mercury fans hated them.
Ohlde has definitely come through as a Bill Cartwright 2.0.
Scotter - September 26, 2009
you know
this is my first season covering or even following the Merc so I had no opinion. Locals that I talked too definitely were unhappy with the moves before the season started but you can’t argue now..
I was thinking the other day though of what this team would need to do in the off season if it lost to LA and I kept coming back to the PG spot.
I love Meek on and off the court but at 5’3" she just can get her shot up. A bigger defensive back up PG would be nice. They list Ketia at 5’8" but there’s no way. Of course she’s a great fit for this team w/ her speed so….
Seth Pollack - September 26, 2009
Are the Sparks really only
shooting 33% from the line?
Seth Pollack - September 26, 2009
yahoo has 4-10...
so 40%…
Nate Parham - September 26, 2009
I must have been 1 behind
still….wow
Seth Pollack - September 26, 2009
Now the Sparks
are trying to play faster to catch up….
oh and that Parker kid? She’s good
Seth Pollack - September 26, 2009
That was a bad foul
by Cappie to pick up her 3rd there and she knew it
Seth Pollack - September 26, 2009
Rebounding
Sparks on up 22-17 even though the Sparks are only shooting 24%
that is huge for Phx
Seth Pollack - September 26, 2009
At the half
I walked behind Michele Voepel seated at the scorers table. She was playing some kind of St Louis Cards baseball game on her laptop…
Seth Pollack - September 26, 2009
lol
I don’t blame her…
Nate Parham - September 26, 2009
So...what should the Sparks do to get back in it?
Nate Parham - September 26, 2009
they are doing it
and her name is Betty Lennox
Seth Pollack - September 26, 2009
Cappie w/ her 4th foul
she should have let that one go
Seth Pollack - September 26, 2009
Yes...
Over aggressive…
Nate Parham - September 26, 2009
this is ridiculous
Big let down… it would have been nice to have one game this series where both teams came to play….
Nate Parham - September 26, 2009
I guess that was
game 1, no?
Seth Pollack - September 26, 2009
I can't complain about LA getting blown out.
Scotter - September 26, 2009
Robert Sarver
sitting mid court screaming at the ref about that blow call (the ball was tipped by Leslie)
Seth Pollack - September 26, 2009
Hmmm... Cooper probably does not think highly of the refs...
Nate Parham - September 26, 2009
This is getting nasty
Sparks are frustrated and it’s starting to show
Seth Pollack - September 26, 2009
I seriously doubt
Cooper will be on the floor by the time this game ends
Seth Pollack - September 26, 2009
Do you believe that strategy actually works?
The whole get yourself tossed to inspire the team strategy?
Nate Parham - September 26, 2009
no
I think he doesn’t want to have to do the press conf
Seth Pollack - September 26, 2009
This is a far cry from rolling into USC fresh of a WNBA championship like he planned.
Scotter - September 26, 2009
I couldn't see that last foul against Pondexter (was out of the frame)
What was the call on?
Nate Parham - September 26, 2009
Leslie and Taurasi
are both just amazing to watch in a game like this…what a pleasure
Seth Pollack - September 26, 2009
Corey looks pissed too btw
he keeps looking over at Cooper w/ a glare
Seth Pollack - September 26, 2009
well maybe this would get more interesting if they went at it...
Nate Parham - September 26, 2009
it may not be interesting to
watch but the energy in and intensity in this bldg is off the hook
Seth Pollack - September 27, 2009
ok - now
the Sparks have packed it in w Parker fouled out
Seth Pollack - September 27, 2009
"Time really becoming the enemy now of the LA Sparks"
That depends on how you look at it..
Nate Parham - September 27, 2009
huh
Seth Pollack - September 27, 2009
ending this game could be seen as putting the sparks out of their misery...
Nate Parham - September 27, 2009
I'd rather leave them in misery
Scotter - September 27, 2009
Later guys
I am going to skip the recap tonight…I might skip the post game press conf as well….I really am supposed to be somewhere else right now :)
Seth Pollack - September 27, 2009
ok...
but congrats to the Mercury!
Nate Parham - September 27, 2009
Later, Stan. Good game, and congrats. :)
LatinD - September 27, 2009
Damn, SB Nation wasn’t working for me, couldn’t comment.
Anyway, Leslie, much like VJ, was great. I love that those vets went out in style.
LatinD - September 27, 2009
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