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2009 WNBA Playoff predictions
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The regular season wrapped up on Sunday and the 2009 WNBA Playoffs are set. On Wednesday, 
the Seattle Storm will play the Los Angeles Sparks and the Atlanta Dream will play the Detroit Shock. On Thursday, the Indiana Fever will face the Washington Mystics and the Phoenix Mercury will face the San Antonio Silver Stars. These are my playoff predictions:
Seattle vs. Los Angeles
The Seattle Storm has been hampered with injuries lately. Katie Gearlds tore her PCL on August 4 making her return for the start of playoffs questionable along with Lauren Jackson who has been out with a stress fracture in her back. Sue Bird missed a few games with a sore neck, but will most likely play on Wednesday. The Storm’s chances against the Sparks reside on the return of a healthy Lauren Jackson. Lisa Leslie will want to end her career on a high note which means a WNBA title for the Sparks in 2009. The Sparks have been playing well since Leslie’s return and Candace Parker’s game has improved since she stepped back onto the hardwood in July.
(Los Angeles in 2 games)
Phoenix vs. San Antonio
The Phoenix Mercury may very well be the best team in the WNBA right now. Even though the Mercury's head-to-head matchup against the Silver Stars was even at 2-2 this year, Phoenix will come out on top - hopefully without the help of referee Lisa Mattingly. Phoenix was already a phenomenal team this season, and Penny Taylor's midseason return has made the Mercury even better. San Antonio hasn’t improved its inside post game which looked overmatched against Detroit in the 2008 Finals. Even with a healthy Helen Darling and Shanna Crossley, and the addition of rookie Megan Frazee, who has been a quiet surprise, San Antonio will have another disappointing end to its season. Becky Hammon is a great player, but she can't do it all.
(Phoenix in 3 games)
Indiana vs. Washington
I don’t know what to expect from Indiana. The Fever finished the regular season poorly after winning 11-straight games in June. However, the squad is still 4-0 against the Mystics in the regular season. That must count for something. It’s been a while since Washington was in the playoffs. The limited postseason experience most of the Mystic's players have will be exposed by a veteran Indiana squad.
(Fever in 2 games)
Atlanta vs. Detroit
The Atlanta Dream may be the surprise team in the playoffs this year. Atlanta secured the two seed despite Chamique Holdsclaw’s absence and will be facing Detroit on Thursday. The Dream are a capable team with Erika de Souza's unstoppable presence inside the paint, combined with the veteran leadership of Holdsclaw and Iziane Castro Marques and the young talent of Angel McCoughtry. The advancement of the Shock to the Eastern Conference Finals will hinge on the return of Katie Smith and the play of Deanna Nolan.
(Atlanta in 3 games)
More About:
WNBA ·
Detroit Shock ·
Indiana Fever ·
L.A. Sparks ·
Seattle Storm ·
San Antonio Silver Stars ·
Lisa Leslie ·
Candace Parker ·
Becky Hammon ·
Katie Smith ·
Deanna Nolan ·
Washington Mystics ·
Atlanta Dream ·
Phoenix Mercury
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