Can Lynx complete turnaround with WNBA title?
The best record in the WNBA was sewn up a long time ago.
Now the awards are starting to roll in for the Minnesota Lynx, which won the Western Conference and secured homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs with a 27-7 record.
Head coach Cheryl Reeve was named the WNBA’s coach of the year Friday while Maya Moore was named the rookie of the year.
And point guard Lindsey Whalen is one of the top candidates for the league’s most valuable player, which will be announced soon.
All that’s left for the Lynx is to show that they’re for real, that they can win when the games really matter.
Minnesota began its title quest Friday with a Western Conference semifinal tilt against San Antonio. That series will resume on Sunday in San Antonio.
A title for the Lynx sure would be a neat full-circle story.
Just last year, in Reeve’s first year as head coach, the Lynx went 13-21 and missed the playoffs.
“The team has changed,” said Lynx forward Seimone Augustus, who actually leads the team in scoring at about 17 points per game. “Over the years, we’ve changed our players, traded players. We’ve got a great core group of players, a great mix of young players and veterans.”
The most significant change in the last year was the addition of Moore, the former University of Connecticut star who was selected by Lynx with the No. 1 pick in April’s WNBA draft, unofficially referred to as the “Maya Moore Lottery.”
Many consider Moore to be one of the best, if not the best, women’s college basketball player of all time. She has transitioned to the WNBA as well as expected.
Moore started all 34 games for the Lynx, averaged 28 minutes and put up impressive numbers (13.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.6 apg).
In July, Moore became the first rookie to be named an all-star starter since Tamika Catchings and Sue Bird in 2002.
“I’ve been smiling for months now,” Reeve said. “The whole thing with Maya. It is amazing how different it is just from a year ago.”
My predictions (West): The San Antonio Silver Stars won five of their last six games and always get an #145;A#146; game out of point guard Becky Hammon. But San Antonio has been up and down all year, having lost six straight in August. From top to bottom, the Silver Stars won#146;t have the firepower to keep up with the Lynx. LYNX DEFEATS SILVER STARS.The other semifinal in the West pits defending WNBA champion Seattle against Phoenix. Seattle won the first game Thursday by 19 points. The Storm is on a roll, winning eight of its last nine regular-season games. And forward Lauren Jackson, the 2010 WNBA MVP, is back after missing a majority of the season with a hip injury. Despite what Phoenix will get out of guard Diana Taurasi, the WNBA#146;s leading scorer, it#146;s likely Seattle will sweep this series. STORM DEFEATS MERCURY.
A Western Conference finals between Seattle and Minnesota will be fun to watch and will probably go to the wire. But the Lynx beat Seattle in three of four regular-season games and is firing on all cylinders. LYNX DEFEATS STORM.My predictions (East): The Indiana Fever got a 2-point win over the New York Liberty in their East semifinal opener Thursday, and Cappie Pondexter and the Liberty will keep pushing. But the Fever is experienced and hungry and veteran Tamika Catchings, a top contender for most valuable player, is determined to finally win a title. FEVER DEFEATS LIBERTY.The other Eastern Conference semifinal is between the Connecticut Sun and the Atlanta Dream. Sun center Tina Charles is averaging a double-double and is a legitimate MVP candidate. But Atlanta has won 10 of 12 and is the defending Eastern Conference champion. The Sun is tough at home, though, and owns homecourt advantage. That could do it. SUN DEFEATS DREAM.The Eastern Conference finals will be a battle between two physical teams. Indiana has the homecourt advantage and will be carried far by a cast of savvy veterans who have yet to win a championship. FEVER DEFEATS SUN.My prediction (Finals):
It will be experience (Indiana) versus youthful exuberance (Minnesota). Indiana is the better defensive team and Minnesota is the better offensive team. My head says Minnesota and my heart says Indiana and former Stevenson star Tamika Catchings. And since defense supposedly wins championships, I#146;m going with my heart and the Fever. FEVER DEFEATS LYNX.pbabcock@dailyherald.com