PHOENIX, September 13 (AP) -- The Detroit Shock know from their own experience that they can take nothing for granted even though they are one victory from their second WNBA championship in a row.
An 88-83 victory over the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday night put coach Bill Laimbeer's team up 2-1 in the best-of-five series. A win on Thursday night would give the Shock their third title since 2003.
Last year, Detroit was down 2-1 to Sacramento, then won the next two games to take the title.
"We've been there, we were there last year,'' said Detroit's Katie Smith, who scored 22 points to lead the Shock in Game 3. "You have nothing to lose. For them, they have nothing to lose. We are the defending champion. Maybe there is more pressure on us to win.''
Laimbeer didn't want to compare last year's situation to this year's team.
"I think we are a different team that we were last year in many ways,'' he said. "We know we're expected to be here and we're expected to be in a position like this in all the series, and so far have done a good job of closing it out. We know how hard it's going to be, we know how desperate they are going to be. We are going to plan accordingly.''
The Mercury had a horrific shooting night on Tuesday, particularly from 3-point range, where they were 5-for-31.
"All the pressure is on them - being at home, being in an elimination game,'' Detroit's Deanna Nolan said. "We have to come out and do what we did (Tuesday) night be patient, knock down shots and play Shock basketball.''
Running and shooting is Phoenix's game. That's coach Paul Westhead's style and it isn't about to change. The team was averaging 99 points in the playoffs before Tuesday's loss.
"Keep shooting it, keep shooting it,'' the Mercury's Diana Taurasi said. "You going to go at-bat, you got to swing. You're never going to hit the ball out of the ballpark. If you stop shooting, you never going to make one.''
Westhead said shooting wasn't the only problem.
"The truth is we made enough mistakes to earn the loss,'' he said. "But that being said, horrendous shooting night by us and we miss a 3-point shot with 15 seconds to tie the game. That tells me (if) we play well, we'll win.''
Detroit's plan is to stifle the Mercury's high-powered game.
"I think there are little things that we can do to keep minimizing their shooting,'' Smith said. "As long as we don't leave them open left and right, at least make them make tough shots, and they will.''
Having been in the same position as Phoenix, Smith knows the Mercury will be desperate.
"We are just aware of how hard they are going to play,'' she said. "It's just knowing that by no means is this thing done, or that we are going to win it.''
Also, the WNBA is reviewing an incident between the Shock's Plenette Pierson and the Mercury's Penny Taylor that happened with 8.3 seconds left in Game 3 on Tuesday night. Pierson confirmed that league officials are looking into it.
"It's under investigation as far as I know,'' Pierson said before practice on Wednesday. "Whatever happens happens.''
Both players were assessed technical fouls.
Pierson said Taylor elbowed her and she retaliated. Taylor said Pierson hit her in the face.
"I feel like I shouldn't have retaliated but I don't feel like I punched her,'' Pierson said.
Taylor felt otherwise.
"I feel like they should definitely look at it,'' she said. "It's not pretty, it's not the sort of thing you want to see and whatever action is in the rule book or whatever, take it.''
