Mercury-Dream Preview

By ALAN FERGUSON
Posted May 31 2012 4:34PM

The Atlanta Dream and Phoenix Mercury nearly met for the WNBA title the last two seasons. What the teams have in common this year is a missing piece to their starting lineups.

That's resulted in slow starts for both clubs, which they'll try to shake out of beginning with Thursday night's matchup at Philips Arena.

The Dream lost in the last two league finals while the Mercury finished one step short of that point in both seasons, falling in the Western Conference finals to Seattle and then Minnesota.

Their bids to return to the playoffs aren't off to strong beginnings, and the absence of one starter hasn't helped each team.

Atlanta (1-2) is without 6-foot-5 Erika de Souza, who is preparing for the Olympics with the Brazilian national team, while Phoenix (1-2) has lost forward Penny Taylor to a torn left ACL.

Yelena Leuchanka has filled in for de Souza and scored 20 points while shooting 8 of 10 in two games after missing the season opener with a concussion. Atlanta, though, was held to a franchise-low 45 attempts from the floor and tied another dubious mark with seven assists in a 78-62 loss to Indiana on Sunday.

"We didn't move the ball well," Leuchanka said. "We didn't rotate well where we could have had some high-lows. We didn't recognize some things that were open out there. We didn't move as well on offense as we did the last game (a 100-74 win over New York on Friday)."

Angel McCoughtry had a team-best 21 points despite being slowed by a strained muscle in her left leg. She averaged 24.5 points in the two matchups against Phoenix in 2011 but couldn't prevent a sweep.

Taylor, who had 17 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists during a 92-83 win in Atlanta on June 24, is out for the season after getting injured March 29 while playing overseas.

Mercury star Diana Taurasi is also out indefinitely with a strained left hip flexor that limited her to 10 minutes over the first two games. She scored 18 points in 26 minutes Saturday as Phoenix fell 99-88 to Los Angeles.

Candice Dupree had a team-best 24 points against the Sparks after scoring 31 during an 89-87 win at Tulsa on May 22. The forward, though, couldn't keep Los Angeles from grabbing 17 offensive rebounds.

"The 23 points off those rebounds. That really killed us," coach Corey Gaines said. "We've just got to get the rebounds."

Dupree averaged 20.5 points and topped 60 percent shooting against Atlanta last season. DeWanna Bonner had a career-high 25 points and 13 boards during a 109-95 Mercury home win over the Dream on Aug. 11.

Dream's balanced scoring beats Mercury 81-65

By CHARLES ODUM
Posted May 31 2012 10:22PM

ATLANTA (AP) Former WNBA MVP Diana Taurasi was back in Phoenix with a hip injury.

The Atlanta Dream's reserves took full advantage.

Sancho Lyttle and Catherine Kraayeveld scored 12 points each to lead five Atlanta players in double figures and the Dream rolled to an 81-65 victory over the short-handed Mercury on Thursday night.

Taurasi, the league's defending scoring champion and 2009 MVP, is out indefinitely with a strained left hip flexor and did not travel with the team. She was injured during training camp and has played in only two games.

The Mercury struggled without their star.

``Well, you know I think Diana is one of the top players in the world,'' Phoenix coach Corey Gaines said. ``Let's put her in the top five.''

Gaines said losing Taurasi was like an NBA team losing Kevin Durant, Tim Duncan or LeBron James.

``You know whoever is left, it makes a difference in the game.''

Gaines said he has ``no idea'' when Taurasi can return. He said he doubts Taurasi will join the team when Phoenix plays at San Antonio on Friday.

Angel McCoughtry, Armintie Price and Lindsey Harding all added 10 points for the Dream (2-2).

DeWanna Bonner had 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Mercury (1-3) and Candice Dupree added 14 points.

Atlanta regained its offensive momentum after struggling in a 78-62 loss to Indiana on Sunday when it attempted only 45 field goals, a franchise-record low, and had only two points from its reserves.

Atlanta's backups outscored the Phoenix reserves 37-10.

``I thought we bounced back really well,'' Dream coach Marynell Meadors said. ``They took the challenge. They played a lot of minutes tonight. They played really well together. They did a great job defensively.''

Meadors said she has encouraged Kraayeveld, a 6-foot-3 forward, to take more outside shots. She made all of her four shots, including three 3-pointers.

``I knew my coaches and teammates had confidence in me coming off the bench and knocking down a few shots when I am open,'' Kraayeveld said.

Without Taurasi, Phoenix lacked the scorers to keep pace with Atlanta. Charde Houston replaced Taurasi in the starting lineup and had two quick baskets as the Mercury trailed only 19-16 after one quarter.

Kraayeveld had consecutive baskets, including a 3-pointer, in a 14-1 run that helped the Dream pull away in the second quarter. McCoughtry banged her left knee with 8:07 remaining in the half and left a minute later after missing two free throws. She sat out the remainder of the half.

McCoughtry, the WNBA's scoring leader at 23.3 points per game, returned with the knee wrapped for the start of the second half but soon was back on the bench.

``I didn't play her,'' Meadors said. ``We were up. We've got a big, physical game (against Chicago) coming up on Saturday, so if we don't need them, I'm going to rest them.''

Tiffany Hayes, one of those reserves, scored eight points.

``We just needed to come out with the same intensity as the first team,'' Hayes said. ``This was a physical game and we just turned up the intensity. The second team came in and did what they needed to do. I think we all just came in ready.''

Atlanta took a 73-58 lead following back-to-back 3-pointers by Laurie Koehn.

Phoenix started launching 3s in its comeback attempt. Samantha Prahalis had three 3-pointers and Bonner also hit a 3 - all in the final quarter. The Mercury cut the lead to 75-63 but Kraayeveld, who led Atlanta with nine rebounds, padded the lead with another 3-pointer.

Price had six rebounds and six assists.

• Mercury: Taylor
• Dream: --

• Mercury: --
• Dream: --

• Lead Changes: 1
• Times Tied: 2

• Arena: Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA
• Officials: #4 Sue Blauch, #35 Billy Smith, #38 Lamont Simpson
• Attendance: 4887
• Duration: 1:49