By Erin Semagin Damio
PHOENIX -- The Phoenix Mercury outrebounded the Detroit Shock Tuesday night, but the Shock beat the Mercury with perimeter shots.
Sound a bit like the teams switched roles?
In this year's playoffs, Detroit has led the league in both rebounds per game and rebounding margin. Phoenix was third in rebounds per game, but also averaged less than their opponents did. Last night, Phoenix had 47 boards to Detroit's 42.
Phoenix, in the playoffs, was second in the league in three point shooting percentage, while Detroit was seventh. Tuesday night, Phoenix made just five three pointers, shooting 16.1 percent, while Detroit made eight on 44.4 percent shooting.
More specifically, prior to this game, Detroit's Katie Smith was 11 for 49 from behind the arc in the playoffs. Tuesday night, she shot four for eight.
The result was an 88-83 Detroit win.
"I thought throughout most of the game our keyword today was patience," Shock coach Bill Laimbeer said. "I thought for the most part we had it. We had our moments where we got a little helter skelter, but it was a good solid team effort across the board."
The Shock got out to an early seven-point lead in the first quarter. Through the rest of the quarters, the scoring was much closer, but Detroit was able to answer every Phoenix run. At the same time, Phoenix missed shots at every opportunity it had to tie the game.
When the last minute of play began, the Shock were ahead by four, 82-78. In that minute, Phoenix attempted eight foul shots (making five of them). Phoenix also made no shots in the last minute, though they attempted four. Detroit sank every free throw, though it didn't land any of its shot attempts either, and put the game away.
"In the last minute, man, we gave them every opportunity to get back in this game," Laimbeer said. "All the second shots that we didn't put a body on anybody. We gave them so many opportunities and we were very fortunate they weren't able to connect on their opportunities."
Phoenix remained pragmatic about the loss, which puts them in the "win or go home" position. There will be one or two games remaining in the series; a Detroit win would end it and crown the Shock with their second consecutive and third overall WNBA championship.
"We missed shots," Phoenix guard Diana Taurasi said. "When you get to the last two, three minutes it's usually teams that makes the plays, makes the shots. And they did and we didn't. So, simple as that. They won the game and we lost it"
Also worth noting:
With eight seconds to go in the game, fans were yelling on their feet, when play was stopped. There were a few minutes of confusion before a double technical foul was assessed to Phoenix' Penny Taylor and Detroit's Plenette Pierson
Half the crowd hadn't even seen the altercation between the players, and a reporter asked Taurasi and Taylor after the game what happened. The exchange:
Q. Penny, what happened at the end with Plenette Pierson?
DIANA TAURASI: She threw a punch, easy as that. We just saw the film. If you get hit in the face and it's not a punch, I don't know what else it is.
Q. It was a punch?
DIANA TAURASI: When you get smacked in the face is that not the same as a punch? I don't know. You guys will see the film. You tell us.
Q. You're mad?
DIANA TAURASI: Yeah, because it's a cheap shot, at the end of the game and whenever that happens, you can hurt someone that way. But surprise, surprise.
Q. Do you think the league should take some action?
DIANA TAURASI: I think the league should look at it. If you get suspended for cursing, I think you should be suspended for slapping someone.
(Taurasi, of course, referring to the two-game suspension she received for yelling at officials earlier this year)
Incidentally, later, Taurasi denied that the Shock's physicality hurt the Mercury, saying, "We are physical too. We get down there and hit up pretty good. So it's just another game."
Also worth noting: Apparently players really don't pay attention to stats
The Mercury did not make a single three point field goal until 15 minutes and 22 seconds had elapsed in the game. As noted earlier, their shooting percentage was well below their season average, and the Shock's was above their season average. Katie Smith said:
"You're able to get that in a zone for the most part. We were able to knock them down. During that spell we were able to score some points, but I remember hitting a three and Diana came down and hit a three. So we were kind of going back and forth. So it wasn't like we were pulling ahead per se. So they were hitting shots as well as us."
Philly.com discussions are intended to be civil, friendly conversations. Please treat other participants with respect and in a way that you would want to be treated. You are responsible for what you say. And please, stay on topic.
These boards are monitored by Philly.com staff. We reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us in our sole discretion and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. Personal attacks, especially on other board participants, are not permitted. We reserve the right to permanently block any user who violates these terms and conditions.