2015 WNBA Eastern Conference Semi-Finals
2. Chicago Sky (20-14) vs 3. Indiana Fever (21-13)
Schedule:
Game 1: Fever @ Sky, September 17 8 PM ET, ESPN 2
Game 2: Sky @ Fever, September 19 7 PM ET, NBA TV
Game 3*: Fever @ Sky, September 21 8 PM ET NBA TV
For the third straight postseason, the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky collide. In 2013, in Elena Delle Donne's first season, the Sky went on a 24-10 regular season record to claim the first seed but were stunned by the more experienced Fever in the conference semi-finals.
A year after, the Sky, which barely made the playoffs after battling adversity, went all the way to the WNBA Finals after beating the Fever in the East Finals, 2-1.
This year, the two squads cross paths again in what could be the final post-season showdown between future Hall of Famer Tamika Catchings and today's best player, Delle Donne.
Season series: Sky won, 4-0.
Sky def. Fever, 95-72
Sky def. Fever, 98-72
Sky def. Fever, 83-77
Sky def. Fever, 106-82
The Sky, the WNBA's best offensive team (106.3 ORTG) waylaid the Fever by an average of 19.8 points in their regular season series, showing domination against their competitors in the first round match-up.
Delle Donne averaged 22 points and 9.3 rebounds in those four games, while getting 8.5 free throw attempts per game as she exposed the Fever's lack of a forward to hold her down one-on-one. Delle Donne shot 94.1 percent from the line in the season series, and also averaged 3 blocked shots per outing.
Two more players stepped up in the season series: Jamierra Faulkner and Cappie Pondexter. Faulkner came off the bench to average 8.8 points on 55.6 percent shooting while Pondexter was relentless, averaging 15.5 points on 52.1 shooting in those four meetings.
Together, the two guards made use of their quickness against the Fever in getting to the rim and giving their opponents different looks on the defensive end. They will be relied on again to backstop Courtney Vandersloot (11.4 PPG, 5.8 APG) as the Sky tries to defend its Eastern Conference title.
The Fever relies on an in-and-out game, generating offense from everywhere on the floor. A key component of their offense this year is outside shooting. Indiana is the league's best three-point shooting team at 36 percent. Those makes from beyond the arc are critical they they want to spread the defense and open the lanes for penetrations.
Briann January (43.1 percent) and Shenise Johnson (41.3 percent) are two of the best snipers from long range, and they also are two of the most aggressive in getting to the basket and in this series they should do an exemplary job of attacking and setting up their teammates.
Catchings (13.1 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.8 SPG) remains the Fever's best go-to option and Stephanie White has done a tremendous job managing her minutes to keep her fresh for the playoffs. Catchings averaged only 26.6 minutes per game in the regular season, not having to force herself to take charge heavily with the presence of more weapons.
All-star Marissa Coleman (10.4 PPG, 3.5 RPG) will need to be sharp for this series while Natalie Achonwa (8 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 55 percent FGs) must take care of the interior for Indiana.
X-Factors
Sky:
Erika De Souza
Since arriving after a three-team mid-season deal, De Souza has provided the Sky with a solid interior presence. She is averaging 5.5 points and 5.5 rebounds but her impact transcends the boxscores as far as the shaded area is concerned. That will make it even tougher for the Fever on both ends of the floor.
Fever:
Layisha Clarendon, Maggie Lucas
Clarendon and Lucas shoot 40.6 percent and 37.3 percent respectively from long range. It is vital for the Fever to get production from their bench guys to help the team succeed in this series.
Prognosis:
The Sky is just too talented to fall to the Fever in this one. If the season series is an indication of how this first-round match-up will pan out, the Fever must bring everything just to stand a chance against the much-improved Sky.
Sky wins, 2-0.
2. Chicago Sky (20-14) vs 3. Indiana Fever (21-13)
Schedule:
Game 1: Fever @ Sky, September 17 8 PM ET, ESPN 2
Game 2: Sky @ Fever, September 19 7 PM ET, NBA TV
Game 3*: Fever @ Sky, September 21 8 PM ET NBA TV
Chicago's @De11eDonne takes the 2015 @WNBA scoring title at 23.4 points per game #FOROURTOWN #EDD4MVP pic.twitter.com/Gg2M8tGJp6
— CHICAGO SKY (@wnbachicagosky) September 13, 2015
For the third straight postseason, the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky collide. In 2013, in Elena Delle Donne's first season, the Sky went on a 24-10 regular season record to claim the first seed but were stunned by the more experienced Fever in the conference semi-finals.
A year after, the Sky, which barely made the playoffs after battling adversity, went all the way to the WNBA Finals after beating the Fever in the East Finals, 2-1.
This year, the two squads cross paths again in what could be the final post-season showdown between future Hall of Famer Tamika Catchings and today's best player, Delle Donne.
Season series: Sky won, 4-0.
Sky def. Fever, 95-72
Sky def. Fever, 98-72
Sky def. Fever, 83-77
Sky def. Fever, 106-82
The Sky, the WNBA's best offensive team (106.3 ORTG) waylaid the Fever by an average of 19.8 points in their regular season series, showing domination against their competitors in the first round match-up.
Delle Donne averaged 22 points and 9.3 rebounds in those four games, while getting 8.5 free throw attempts per game as she exposed the Fever's lack of a forward to hold her down one-on-one. Delle Donne shot 94.1 percent from the line in the season series, and also averaged 3 blocked shots per outing.
Two more players stepped up in the season series: Jamierra Faulkner and Cappie Pondexter. Faulkner came off the bench to average 8.8 points on 55.6 percent shooting while Pondexter was relentless, averaging 15.5 points on 52.1 shooting in those four meetings.
Chicago's @Sloot22 takes the 2015 @WNBA assists title at 5.8 assists per game #FOROURTOWN #Sloot4MIP pic.twitter.com/39mX7iA9Fh
— CHICAGO SKY (@wnbachicagosky) September 14, 2015
Together, the two guards made use of their quickness against the Fever in getting to the rim and giving their opponents different looks on the defensive end. They will be relied on again to backstop Courtney Vandersloot (11.4 PPG, 5.8 APG) as the Sky tries to defend its Eastern Conference title.
The Fever relies on an in-and-out game, generating offense from everywhere on the floor. A key component of their offense this year is outside shooting. Indiana is the league's best three-point shooting team at 36 percent. Those makes from beyond the arc are critical they they want to spread the defense and open the lanes for penetrations.
.@BriannJanuary accepts the @WNBA Cares Community Assist award for August. pic.twitter.com/9Sxdm1TYGC
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) September 13, 2015
Briann January (43.1 percent) and Shenise Johnson (41.3 percent) are two of the best snipers from long range, and they also are two of the most aggressive in getting to the basket and in this series they should do an exemplary job of attacking and setting up their teammates.
#FeverGallery - Take a look back at every game from the 2015 regular season: http://t.co/DStjPb793u #SummerHoops pic.twitter.com/XAGNlsh6R5
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) September 15, 2015
Catchings (13.1 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.8 SPG) remains the Fever's best go-to option and Stephanie White has done a tremendous job managing her minutes to keep her fresh for the playoffs. Catchings averaged only 26.6 minutes per game in the regular season, not having to force herself to take charge heavily with the presence of more weapons.
All-star Marissa Coleman (10.4 PPG, 3.5 RPG) will need to be sharp for this series while Natalie Achonwa (8 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 55 percent FGs) must take care of the interior for Indiana.
X-Factors
Sky:
Erika De Souza
Since arriving after a three-team mid-season deal, De Souza has provided the Sky with a solid interior presence. She is averaging 5.5 points and 5.5 rebounds but her impact transcends the boxscores as far as the shaded area is concerned. That will make it even tougher for the Fever on both ends of the floor.
Fever:
Layisha Clarendon, Maggie Lucas
Clarendon and Lucas shoot 40.6 percent and 37.3 percent respectively from long range. It is vital for the Fever to get production from their bench guys to help the team succeed in this series.
Prognosis:
The Sky is just too talented to fall to the Fever in this one. If the season series is an indication of how this first-round match-up will pan out, the Fever must bring everything just to stand a chance against the much-improved Sky.
Sky wins, 2-0.
Comments
Post a Comment