For the first time since winning it all in 2012, the Indiana Fever are back in the WNBA finals, and are going up against a familiar foe in the powerhouse Minnesota Lynx.
2015 WNBA Finals Preview
1. Minnesota Lynx vs 3. Indiana Fever
Schedule:
Game 1: Fever @ Lynx, Sunday, October 4 3 PM ET ABC
Game 2: Fever @ Lynx, Tuesday, October 6 8 PM ET ESPN2
Game 3: Lynx @ Fever, Friday, October 9 8 PM ET ESPN2
Game 4*: Lynx @ Fever, Sunday, October 11 8:30 PM ET ESPN
Game 5*: Fever @ Lynx, Wednesday, October 14 8:00 PM ET ESPN2
The Indiana Fever have been exceptional in elimination games, winning four in a row to barge into the WNBA finals after taking down giants in the Eastern Conference.
The team is determined to give legend Tamika Catchings even more glory as they move three wins away of another championship.
But standing in their way are the Minnesota Lynx, title favorites since the preseason. The Lynx are poised to deliver in the biggest stage to take their third championship in a span of five seasons.
It is a rematch of the 2012 finals but will surely be this time around with the respective compositions of the teams. Rest assured, it promises to be an exciting feast for the fans.
Season series: Lynx won, 2-0
Lynx def. Fever, 78-69
Lynx def. Fever, 81-65
The Lynx are one of the best teams in the league on both ends of the floor. They are no. 4 on offense and no. 2 on defense, aside from being no. 4 in three-point shooting and no. 3 in defensive rebounds.
In the playoffs, the Lynx held down their opponents to only 69 points/game in wins. In the Western Conference finals, the Lynx out-rebounded the Phoenix Mercury by an average of 12 boards/game.
We know the Lynx for the offensive exploits of Maya Moore but they have shown the propensity to step up on the defensive end. In this series, getting stops and holding down their opponents will be vital.
The Fever are one of the best in spacing the floor. They are the league's no. 1 three-point shooting team and spreading the defense has earned them the second-best free throw attempts/game average.
In the playoffs, the Fever shot 39.6 percent from three-point area, including 50 percent during Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals which enabled them to oust the New York Liberty.
Playing as a cohesive whole shall be the Fever's best strength in the finals. As a well-constructed unit, they have to make it extra difficult for the Lynx defense and keep them guessing as anybody can essentially take charge on offense.
Key players
Minnesota
When crucial games are on the line, you know Maya Moore is there to deliver. It's what's keeping her on a level of her own, and in the playoffs she is averaging 27.8 PPG, 6.8 RPG, and 2.8 APG, including 38.9% 3 PT FGs and 90.6% FTs. This included a 40-point explosion in the Western Conference Finals clincher. It's a matter now playing efficient basketball while having the constant take-charge mindset in this series.
Seimone Augustus is the Lynx's second-leading scorer in the post-season, and when one star is struggling, she should provide the additional scoring punch in the finals.
The frontline tandem of Rebekkah Brunson (10.8/23.3/17) and Sylvia Fowles (9.3/24.5/16.9) are in the top 5 of total rebounding rate this season, and as the numbers show, they average high when it comes to rebounding splits. This series may boil down to the defense the Lynx shows and protecting the interior is a must for these bigs.
In the playoffs, Fowles and Brunson combined for 19.2 rebounds/game while Fowles is averaging almost a double-double with 9.6 PPG, 10 RPG, and 2.2 BPG.
Indiana
Tamika Catchings has been on a tear in the playoffs, averaging 18.2 PPG, 6 RPG, and 2.8 APG in 32 minutes/game, including 39.1 percent 3 PT FGs. Already the league's all-time playoff leader in many statistical categories, Catchings has a chance to add on to her legacy in the WNBA.
Briann January increased her assist rate from 21.5 percent in the regular season to 28.5 percent in the playoffs. Averaging 4.8 assists/game, January's aggressiveness was able to merit scoring opportunities for her teammates, and she has to do the same in the finals as far as shot-making is concerned.
It has been an all-star season for Marissa Coleman, and in the playoffs she was the Fever's second-leading scorer with 11 PPG. Aside from that, she shot a staggering 45.2 percent from three-point land, and she will be relied on from that range to space the floor.
X-Factors
Minnesota: Lindsay Whalen
Since her return, Whalen has put up only 6.6 PPG and 3.4 APG. This is the series where she has to be a leader when it comes to quarterbacking. Her play at the point and how she decides to carry her team especially on offense will have a big effect on her team.
Indiana: Erlana Larkins
Larkins provided the Fever with invaluable interior presence in the playoffs, averaging a team-high 7.2 rebounds/game to go with her 8.3 points/game. Larkins also has a penchant for diving to the basket off pick and rolls and she should make use of that presence to disrupt the Lynx frontline.
Prognosis
The finals will be no easy task for the Lynx as they are going up against a team which knows how to handle adversity. But the Lynx have come this far and are going for the ultimate goal as they have shown the ability to take care of both ends of the floor. It will be a dogfight although in the end, Cheryl Reeve may just clinch title no. 3.
Lynx win, 3-2.
2015 WNBA Finals Preview
1. Minnesota Lynx vs 3. Indiana Fever
Schedule:
Game 1: Fever @ Lynx, Sunday, October 4 3 PM ET ABC
Game 2: Fever @ Lynx, Tuesday, October 6 8 PM ET ESPN2
Game 3: Lynx @ Fever, Friday, October 9 8 PM ET ESPN2
Game 4*: Lynx @ Fever, Sunday, October 11 8:30 PM ET ESPN
Game 5*: Fever @ Lynx, Wednesday, October 14 8:00 PM ET ESPN2
The #Fever took down the No. 1 and No. 2 seed to become #EastChamps, going 4-0 in elimination games. #WeAreFever pic.twitter.com/S4X3xryKv9
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) September 30, 2015
It's set. #Lynx and Fever for the WNBA Finals. See you Sunday at 2 p.m., Target Center. pic.twitter.com/pHgIirVJsl
— Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) September 30, 2015
The Indiana Fever have been exceptional in elimination games, winning four in a row to barge into the WNBA finals after taking down giants in the Eastern Conference.
The team is determined to give legend Tamika Catchings even more glory as they move three wins away of another championship.
But standing in their way are the Minnesota Lynx, title favorites since the preseason. The Lynx are poised to deliver in the biggest stage to take their third championship in a span of five seasons.
It is a rematch of the 2012 finals but will surely be this time around with the respective compositions of the teams. Rest assured, it promises to be an exciting feast for the fans.
Season series: Lynx won, 2-0
Lynx def. Fever, 78-69
Lynx def. Fever, 81-65
The Lynx are one of the best teams in the league on both ends of the floor. They are no. 4 on offense and no. 2 on defense, aside from being no. 4 in three-point shooting and no. 3 in defensive rebounds.
In the playoffs, the Lynx held down their opponents to only 69 points/game in wins. In the Western Conference finals, the Lynx out-rebounded the Phoenix Mercury by an average of 12 boards/game.
We know the Lynx for the offensive exploits of Maya Moore but they have shown the propensity to step up on the defensive end. In this series, getting stops and holding down their opponents will be vital.
The Fever are one of the best in spacing the floor. They are the league's no. 1 three-point shooting team and spreading the defense has earned them the second-best free throw attempts/game average.
In the playoffs, the Fever shot 39.6 percent from three-point area, including 50 percent during Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals which enabled them to oust the New York Liberty.
Playing as a cohesive whole shall be the Fever's best strength in the finals. As a well-constructed unit, they have to make it extra difficult for the Lynx defense and keep them guessing as anybody can essentially take charge on offense.
Key players
Minnesota
When crucial games are on the line, you know Maya Moore is there to deliver. It's what's keeping her on a level of her own, and in the playoffs she is averaging 27.8 PPG, 6.8 RPG, and 2.8 APG, including 38.9% 3 PT FGs and 90.6% FTs. This included a 40-point explosion in the Western Conference Finals clincher. It's a matter now playing efficient basketball while having the constant take-charge mindset in this series.
Moore: "We showed a lot of heart in that 2nd half and we plan to bring that momentum into game 3 in Minnesota." pic.twitter.com/mHwPdmx7yN
— Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) September 21, 2015
Seimone Augustus is the Lynx's second-leading scorer in the post-season, and when one star is struggling, she should provide the additional scoring punch in the finals.
The frontline tandem of Rebekkah Brunson (10.8/23.3/17) and Sylvia Fowles (9.3/24.5/16.9) are in the top 5 of total rebounding rate this season, and as the numbers show, they average high when it comes to rebounding splits. This series may boil down to the defense the Lynx shows and protecting the interior is a must for these bigs.
In the playoffs, Fowles and Brunson combined for 19.2 rebounds/game while Fowles is averaging almost a double-double with 9.6 PPG, 10 RPG, and 2.2 BPG.
Indiana
.@Catchin24 and the Indiana #Fever are headed back to the #WNBAFinals.
Game 3 Recap: http://t.co/0jSizYmkA0 pic.twitter.com/uNRY9kHJVo
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) September 30, 2015
Tamika Catchings has been on a tear in the playoffs, averaging 18.2 PPG, 6 RPG, and 2.8 APG in 32 minutes/game, including 39.1 percent 3 PT FGs. Already the league's all-time playoff leader in many statistical categories, Catchings has a chance to add on to her legacy in the WNBA.
Briann January increased her assist rate from 21.5 percent in the regular season to 28.5 percent in the playoffs. Averaging 4.8 assists/game, January's aggressiveness was able to merit scoring opportunities for her teammates, and she has to do the same in the finals as far as shot-making is concerned.
Storylines Aplenty as #Fever Head into WNBA Finals: http://t.co/67DY38UnA8
Story by Tom Rietmann pic.twitter.com/HIQWrwLeAM
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) October 2, 2015
It has been an all-star season for Marissa Coleman, and in the playoffs she was the Fever's second-leading scorer with 11 PPG. Aside from that, she shot a staggering 45.2 percent from three-point land, and she will be relied on from that range to space the floor.
X-Factors
Minnesota: Lindsay Whalen
Since her return, Whalen has put up only 6.6 PPG and 3.4 APG. This is the series where she has to be a leader when it comes to quarterbacking. Her play at the point and how she decides to carry her team especially on offense will have a big effect on her team.
Indiana: Erlana Larkins
Larkins provided the Fever with invaluable interior presence in the playoffs, averaging a team-high 7.2 rebounds/game to go with her 8.3 points/game. Larkins also has a penchant for diving to the basket off pick and rolls and she should make use of that presence to disrupt the Lynx frontline.
Prognosis
The finals will be no easy task for the Lynx as they are going up against a team which knows how to handle adversity. But the Lynx have come this far and are going for the ultimate goal as they have shown the ability to take care of both ends of the floor. It will be a dogfight although in the end, Cheryl Reeve may just clinch title no. 3.
Lynx win, 3-2.
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