(Apologies for the lack of a Game 3 recap. Since I’ve been busy, I’ll turn this into more of a forward-looking post on tonight’s Game 4 of the WNBA Finals, which tips off at 4:30 p.m. Pacific on ESPN2.)

Indiana 86, Phoenix 85 (Indiana leads series 2-1)
Pace: 80.5
Offensive Ratings: Indiana 109.5, Phoenix 103.8

The Phoenix Mercury badly wanted Sunday’s Game 3. Of course, this being a best-of-five series, both teams want to win every game. However, Phoenix was able to shake off a Game 2 loss and look ahead. That was more challenging in the wake of Sunday’s loss, as Phoenix Stan from SwishAppeal reported from the Mercury locker room. Head Coach Corey Gaines also revealed the importance he placed on winning with his rotation. Diana Taurasi played 37 minutes, the most she’s played in any game this postseason, while Cappie Pondexter was at 33. Gaines brought his starters back more quickly than usual during the fourth quarter, going with the potent trio of Taurasi, Pondexter and Penny Taylor for the game’s final 9:07.

Now, Phoenix must win to extend the series and return home for Game 5, and Taurasi used the word “desperate” in talking with reporters yesterday (as reported by ESPN.com’s Mechelle Voepel). It would be a mistake to say that the Mercury needs to make big changes. After all, if Tangela Smith’s buzzer-beater had gone in, Phoenix would be a win away from the championship. The busy Voepel pointed to one of the most important things the Mercury could use tonight: improved production from DeWanna Bonner. The recipient of the WNBA’s Sixth Woman Award has fallen silent during the Finals, averaging 7.7 points on 38.9 percent shooting.

Lin Dunn said before the series that the Fever’s goal was to stop Diana Taurasi, and her team has been equal to the task. The WNBA’s MVP has been limited to 32.7 percent accuracy from the field and 6-of-26 shooting from downtown. That defensive attention should open things up for the Mercury’s secondary options. Le’Coe Willingham took advantage in Game 3, and Penny Taylor has been strong most of the series. It’s Bonner who could get the Phoenix offense back near its usual efficiency by shooting the ball better.

Also worth watching tonight: how Gaines uses Temeka Johnson. Phoenix’s starting point guard hit some big shots in Game 1, but has been largely invisible the last two games. She had the worst plus-minus of any Mercury starter on Sunday (-9; Taurasi, at -1, was the only other Phoenix starter in the negatives) and barely played in the fourth quarter. With everything on the line, will Gaines be more aggressive in benching Johnson to play Pondexter and Taurasi together in the backcourt?

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 7th, 2009 at 12:22 pm and is filed under 2009 Playoffs, WNBA. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.