Dream - Sun Preview
By Associated Press
Connecticut coach Mike Thibault believes his team's best years are ahead of it, and center Tina Charles says the Sun's season already can be considered a success.
But that doesn't mean they wouldn't like to win the WNBA championship.
After missing the playoffs each of the last two seasons, the Sun finished the regular season this year at 21-13, tied for the best record in the conference, despite having seven players with fewer than three years of WNBA experience.
Connecticut, the second seed in the East, will host defending conference champion Atlanta in the first game of Round 1 on Friday night.
"In some ways we are, I won't say a year ahead of schedule, but we're making progress at a pretty good rate right now, yet we're still the first or second youngest team in the league," Thibault said. "We'll probably add another really good player next year, so we have a lot in front of us. But the opportunity is still right there now, so let's seize as much of it as we can."
The Sun has the same core as in 2010, when the team went 17-17 after trading away veteran Lindsay Whalen to Minnesota for the top pick in the draft (Charles) and another former University of Connecticut star, Renee Montgomery.
"We were a whole new team and young," said forward Asjha Jones, who is in her 10th WNBA season and one of the Sun's few veterans. "New and young doesn't really go well together. This year everybody's been overseas, they are more mature. And once everyone is more comfortable in their roles, basketball comes a little bit easier."
Charles has solidified her role as team's top option, dominating the post. She averaged 17.6 points per game, led the league in rebounding at 11 per game and broke her own WNBA record by putting up double figures in both categories 23 times this season.
"I just see myself as somebody to be there on the offensive and defensive end," she said. "Just somebody to keep working and do the little things my team needs me to do."
The playoff series with Atlanta will provide the league with the marquee matchup of Charles and Angel McCoughtry, the first pick in the 2009 draft.
The Dream's star, who faced Charles and Montgomery often while playing in college at Louisville, said she's not surprised by the Sun's success, because the team features five former Huskies.
"That's why they are in the playoffs now," she said. "They know what it takes. They've been there multiple times. They've been coached by the best, so they know what it takes to be there. They're hungry."
Thibault said it has also helped to have Jones and another veteran, Kara Lawson, healthy all season, after both missed significant time a year ago.
Lawson is the only player on the roster to have won a WNBA championship, having been part of Sacramento's championship team in 2005. She said if the Sun wants to win this season, players need to put the regular-season success behind them and lock in on preparing for the Dream and McCoughtry, who is averaging over 21 points per game.
"We feel like we have as good a shot as anyone in the East," she said. "It's such an emotional roller-coaster that you can't get caught looking at anything else."
Silver Stars - Lynx Preview
By Associated Press
Minnesota talked about winning the WNBA championship during training camp four months ago. The Lynx then had such a dominant season they lost consecutive games just once and won 22 of the last 26 to set the franchise record for victories.
Now, they know they'll need to keep up their intensity when they open the conference semifinals Friday night against San Antonio - a team the Lynx went 4-0 against during the season.
"So far we are right on track to do what we set out to do in the beginning of the season," rookie Maya Moore said. "Every time we step out on the court, we're working for a championship, we're working to win."
Minnesota (27-7) started out with three losses in its first eight games, then had just four more the rest of the way. The Western Conference champions finished nine wins better than their previous franchise-best and return to the playoffs for the first time since 2004 - and the third time overall.
However, the Lynx also aren't getting ahead of themselves, and know they need to beat the Silver Stars (18-16) in the next step toward their goal. They swept San Antonio, but two wins came on last-second shots.
"We'll take it one game at a time," veteran point guard Lindsay Whalen said. "We're just focused on San Antonio this weekend. We had a great regular season and that's over now. So on to the playoffs. We'll have the same pressure as everyone to win and stay alive."
Whalen set career highs in points (13.6), assists (5.9), field goal percentage (51.1) and 3-point shooting (40.5) to emerge as an MVP candidate.
"It's just fun to watch," coach Cheryl Reeve said. "She's strong, she's physically tough, she's mentally tough and she just makes our team go. How she goes is how we go."
San Antonio won seven of eight to start the season, and then five of six to end it. In between, the Silver Stars struggled and went through a stretch in which they lost 10 of 12. Danielle Adams was the rookie of the month for June before missing some time with a foot injury.
With everyone healthy now, San Antonio is hoping to build off its finish. Coach Dan Hughes acknowledged the tough task facing his team against the league-best Lynx.
"They're a solid team in every statistical way. Cheryl has them executing well across the board," Hughes said. "Where I think the separation has been is their rebounding advantage with us and a lot of teams."
Becky Hammon will match up with Whalen, and the seven-time All-Star is coming off another strong season. Hammon led the Silver Stars with an average of 15.9 points, and her 5.8 assists per game were second in the league behind Whalen.
Hammon struggled offensively against San Antonio this year, shooting 26.2 percent - her worst versus any opponent - while averaging 9.8 points.
"Everybody's excited for what lies ahead," Hammon said. "Everything is amped up now that you're in the playoffs. Nothing else matters. All that matters for us is the game on Friday."
Game 2 is scheduled for Sunday in San Antonio.
ATLANTA (20 - 14) at CONNECTICUT (21 - 13)
Top Trends for this game.
CONNECTICUT is 14-5 ATS (+8.5 Units) as a home favorite of 3.5 to 6 points over the last 2 seasons.
CONNECTICUT is 8-2 ATS (+5.8 Units) in home games vs. division opponents this season.
CONNECTICUT is 12-3 ATS (+8.7 Units) in home games revenging a loss versus opponent over the last 2 seasons.
CONNECTICUT is 18-7 ATS (+10.3 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.
ATLANTA is 32-18 ATS (+12.2 Units) as an underdog over the last 3 seasons.
ATLANTA is 17-5 ATS (+11.5 Units) off an upset win as an underdog over the last 3 seasons.
ATLANTA is 30-15 ATS (+13.5 Units) in road games after scoring 75 points or more since 1997.
Head-to-Head Series History
CONNECTICUT is 6-6 against the spread versus ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
ATLANTA is 8-4 straight up against CONNECTICUT over the last 3 seasons
6 of 12 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
SAN ANTONIO (18 - 16) at MINNESOTA (27 - 7)
Top Trends for this game.
MINNESOTA is 21-13 ATS (+6.7 Units) in all games this season.
MINNESOTA is 12-5 ATS (+6.5 Units) in home games this season.
MINNESOTA is 19-9 ATS (+9.1 Units) in August or September games over the last 2 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 9-2 ATS (+6.8 Units) after allowing 75 points or more this season.
MINNESOTA is 29-17 ATS (+10.3 Units) after scoring 75 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
MINNESOTA is 7-6 against the spread versus SAN ANTONIO over the last 3 seasons
MINNESOTA is 8-5 straight up against SAN ANTONIO over the last 3 seasons
7 of 13 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons