The Lynx are just leaving the Staples Center floor after warming up for Game 4 of the WNBA Finals, which starts at 7:30 Minnesota time. Coach Cheryl Reeve said her players are "really focused, determined and kind of pissed" after the first-quarter flop that cost them so dearly in Game 3, putting Los Angeles in position to claim its first WNBA championship since 2002 with a victory tonight.
The Lynx haven't been able to explain why things went so wrong in that quarter, when they fell behind 32-17. It was the most points they ever have given up in the first quarter of a playoff game. Maya Moore said that was "the million-dollar question," but they were less concerned with the whys than the what-nexts. One thing is indisputable: A fast start is absolutely critical, since the team that has led after one quarter has won every one of the six games between the Lynx and Sparks this season.
A few things to look for tonight:
--Can the Lynx better withstand the Sparks' pressure defense? The turnovers were the tale in Game 3, when LA forced 13 turnovers and scored 24 points. The Lynx often lost the ball near or beyond the three-point arc, igniting their transition game. That also was partly responsible for the 52 points in the paint the Sparks scored in Game 3, the second-highest total ever surrendered by the Lynx in the playoffs.
In their Game 1 and Game 3 losses, the Lynx turned the ball over 29 times, yielding 42 points. They scored just 12 points off the Sparks' 21 turnovers.
--Can Lindsay Whalen be more of a factor? Whalen was tremendous in Game 1, scoring 18 points. The Sparks' Candace Parker said after that game that the Sparks needed to stop Whalen from driving to the basket, and they have. Whalen has a total of 18 points in the past two games, with only six field goals.
--Can the Lynx find their three-point stroke? In the series, they have made only six three-pointers on 28 tries.
Reeve didn't try to predict what kind of game we will see tonight, laughing about the fact that Game 3 turned out to be quite different from what she expected. Moore did say the start of the game will be "so intense," which is no surprise given the stakes.
One more tidbit: The Lynx and Sparks have traded victories all season. They have played six times, and neither team has won two in a row, so that could be a good omen for the Lynx.
Enjoy the game!
