New York Liberty vs Detroit Shock -- Game 1 -- Post-Game Notes and Quotes
2008 WNBA Eastern Conference Finals, Game One
Final Score: Detroit Shock 56, New York Liberty 60
[Detroit, 0-1 vs. New York, 1-0]
Game Highlights:
High Points
Liberty: Janel McCarville, 17
Shock: Deanna Nolan, 22
High Rebounds
Liberty: Shameka Christon, 11
Shock: Taj McWilliams-Franklin & Alexis Hornbuckle, 7
High Steals
Liberty: Loree Moore & Ashley Battle, 2
Shock: Hornbuckle, 3
High Assists
Liberty: Moore, 3
Shock: Four players with 2
Worth Noting:
New York takes the series advantage at 1-0 and improves its all-time Playoff record against Detroit to 4-3.
Erin Thorn's driving lay-up and free throws in the final minute helped seal the Liberty's second straight victory in the post-season.
Deanna Nolan's game-high 22 points ties for the highest points scored in the all-time Playoff series history. She previously netted 22 in Game Three of the 2007 First Round series against the Liberty. And it makes for the second time this post-season that she reached that mark, having dropped 22 on the Fever on 9/19.
New York's bench outscored Detroit's 17-10. The Liberty edged the Shock in rebounds, 37-36.
Shameka Christon recorded her second career double-double of the Playoffs, with 11 points and 11 boards. She achieved her first ever double-double (16 points, 15 rebounds) in Game One of the 2007 First Round series against Detroit on 08/24/07.
With the win, the Liberty established a three game win streak when hosting the Shock in the post-season at Madison Square Garden.
Before tonight's tip-off, it had been four years since the WNBA Eastern Conference Finals had been played at The Garden. This series marks the Liberty's fifth all-time appearance in the Conference Finals.
New York Liberty Quotes:
Head Coach Pat Coyle
On tonight's game:
"It's playoff basketball. You are not going to get a lot of fast break points and it's going to be incredibly physical. Every time you play Detroit, it's going to be a war. The next game you are going to see the same thing."
On the first half play versus second half play:
"I thought we got good looks, but didn't make any shots in the first half. I think in the second half we got good looks, but we were making our shots. I would credit Detroit's defense because they guard you."
On the upcoming games:
"You have to win two games. To win in this league you have to win at least one on the road. There is no sense of complaining, all we can do is go out there and play."
Shameka Christon
On tonight's game:
"It is good to get the win at home, the first one. We need to take advantage and we definitely did that tonight. It was not pretty, but it is a win."
On the Liberty's play:
"We had to pull this one out. I am glad we played together and got the victory. It's a small step towards our ultimate goal. We had a test tonight and we passed it."
On game two in Detroit:
"We are not going to make too many changes. We are going to focus on limiting their transition basketball, that is very important. They are great at transition basketball. We must rebound the ball better."
Erin Thorn
On game two in Detroit:
"They are going to be tough. It will be a close game, most of our games with Detroit goes down to the wire. Whoever bears it and fights a tough fight will end up on top."
On the first half:
"We were anxious. As experienced as we are from last year, it's a whole different game when it comes to the Eastern Conference Finals. I think people needed to settle down, and once we saw Cat (Catherine Kraayeveld) shot go in, everyone was like we can all do this. The team then relaxed and we let it come to us."
On playing Detroit:
"We just match up well with them. Other teams have a problem with their quickness and physicality, we battle with them."
Janel McCarville
On the first half:
"They played us a little bit different than they have all year, than any team has all year. Shooters didn't get the looks that they normally have gotten, and I think it put a lot of pressure on them. Obviously, it left me one-on-one at times and we tried to exploit."
On Erin Thorn's clutch shooting:
"Erin is clutch from the free throw line. I will say that. I think she sealed two games for us now shooting from the line. She hit big in game three coming off the bench, hardly playing and then stepping up to the line with ice in her veins and then just knocking them down. Same thing with tonight. She knows her role, she knows what needs to get done, and I would not want anyone else on the team shooting those free throws."
Detroit Shock Quotes:
Head Coach Bill Laimbeer
On tonight's game:
"There was no doubt that was disappointing. We played hard enough to win that ball game. That is the bottom line. We had the game under control, and the offense was struggling. We didn't make enough shots to win this game. If we don't make shots and they don't make any shots, then I don't have a problem with that. In the 4th quarter we made bad decisions offensively. We didn't get into our sets, walked the ball up the court, and didn't call the right plays. I can't live with the fact that we made mental errors. We pride ourselves in being a smart basketball team and for two and half quarters we played smart and the other one and half we played dumb."
Deanna Nolan
On the last play of the game:
"It was a play designed for me of course. I got a great look, but I was a little off balance leaning to the left. I think if I had my balance, it would have had a good chance of going in."
On the Liberty's play:
"Well, I thought we played great defense, we had a couple break-downs in which they kicked out the ball for wide open three's. It brought them back in the game and gave them momentum. Other than that, we played great defense. We have to tighten up and not allow them to drive and not try to help as much, and give up the two and cut down the three's."
Next Game:
Game Two of the Eastern Conference Finals will send the Liberty and Shock to Eastern Michigan University's Convocation Center on Sunday, September 28.
The game will tip-off at 3:00 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN2.
Final Score: Detroit Shock 56, New York Liberty 60
[Detroit, 0-1 vs. New York, 1-0]
Game Highlights:
High Points
Liberty: Janel McCarville, 17
Shock: Deanna Nolan, 22
High Rebounds
Liberty: Shameka Christon, 11
Shock: Taj McWilliams-Franklin & Alexis Hornbuckle, 7
High Steals
Liberty: Loree Moore & Ashley Battle, 2
Shock: Hornbuckle, 3
High Assists
Liberty: Moore, 3
Shock: Four players with 2
Worth Noting:
New York takes the series advantage at 1-0 and improves its all-time Playoff record against Detroit to 4-3.
Erin Thorn's driving lay-up and free throws in the final minute helped seal the Liberty's second straight victory in the post-season.
Deanna Nolan's game-high 22 points ties for the highest points scored in the all-time Playoff series history. She previously netted 22 in Game Three of the 2007 First Round series against the Liberty. And it makes for the second time this post-season that she reached that mark, having dropped 22 on the Fever on 9/19.
New York's bench outscored Detroit's 17-10. The Liberty edged the Shock in rebounds, 37-36.
Shameka Christon recorded her second career double-double of the Playoffs, with 11 points and 11 boards. She achieved her first ever double-double (16 points, 15 rebounds) in Game One of the 2007 First Round series against Detroit on 08/24/07.
With the win, the Liberty established a three game win streak when hosting the Shock in the post-season at Madison Square Garden.
Before tonight's tip-off, it had been four years since the WNBA Eastern Conference Finals had been played at The Garden. This series marks the Liberty's fifth all-time appearance in the Conference Finals.
New York Liberty Quotes:
Head Coach Pat Coyle
On tonight's game:
"It's playoff basketball. You are not going to get a lot of fast break points and it's going to be incredibly physical. Every time you play Detroit, it's going to be a war. The next game you are going to see the same thing."
On the first half play versus second half play:
"I thought we got good looks, but didn't make any shots in the first half. I think in the second half we got good looks, but we were making our shots. I would credit Detroit's defense because they guard you."
On the upcoming games:
"You have to win two games. To win in this league you have to win at least one on the road. There is no sense of complaining, all we can do is go out there and play."
Shameka Christon
On tonight's game:
"It is good to get the win at home, the first one. We need to take advantage and we definitely did that tonight. It was not pretty, but it is a win."
On the Liberty's play:
"We had to pull this one out. I am glad we played together and got the victory. It's a small step towards our ultimate goal. We had a test tonight and we passed it."
On game two in Detroit:
"We are not going to make too many changes. We are going to focus on limiting their transition basketball, that is very important. They are great at transition basketball. We must rebound the ball better."
Erin Thorn
On game two in Detroit:
"They are going to be tough. It will be a close game, most of our games with Detroit goes down to the wire. Whoever bears it and fights a tough fight will end up on top."
On the first half:
"We were anxious. As experienced as we are from last year, it's a whole different game when it comes to the Eastern Conference Finals. I think people needed to settle down, and once we saw Cat (Catherine Kraayeveld) shot go in, everyone was like we can all do this. The team then relaxed and we let it come to us."
On playing Detroit:
"We just match up well with them. Other teams have a problem with their quickness and physicality, we battle with them."
Janel McCarville
On the first half:
"They played us a little bit different than they have all year, than any team has all year. Shooters didn't get the looks that they normally have gotten, and I think it put a lot of pressure on them. Obviously, it left me one-on-one at times and we tried to exploit."
On Erin Thorn's clutch shooting:
"Erin is clutch from the free throw line. I will say that. I think she sealed two games for us now shooting from the line. She hit big in game three coming off the bench, hardly playing and then stepping up to the line with ice in her veins and then just knocking them down. Same thing with tonight. She knows her role, she knows what needs to get done, and I would not want anyone else on the team shooting those free throws."
Detroit Shock Quotes:
Head Coach Bill Laimbeer
On tonight's game:
"There was no doubt that was disappointing. We played hard enough to win that ball game. That is the bottom line. We had the game under control, and the offense was struggling. We didn't make enough shots to win this game. If we don't make shots and they don't make any shots, then I don't have a problem with that. In the 4th quarter we made bad decisions offensively. We didn't get into our sets, walked the ball up the court, and didn't call the right plays. I can't live with the fact that we made mental errors. We pride ourselves in being a smart basketball team and for two and half quarters we played smart and the other one and half we played dumb."
Deanna Nolan
On the last play of the game:
"It was a play designed for me of course. I got a great look, but I was a little off balance leaning to the left. I think if I had my balance, it would have had a good chance of going in."
On the Liberty's play:
"Well, I thought we played great defense, we had a couple break-downs in which they kicked out the ball for wide open three's. It brought them back in the game and gave them momentum. Other than that, we played great defense. We have to tighten up and not allow them to drive and not try to help as much, and give up the two and cut down the three's."
Next Game:
Game Two of the Eastern Conference Finals will send the Liberty and Shock to Eastern Michigan University's Convocation Center on Sunday, September 28.
The game will tip-off at 3:00 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN2.
