This decisive game 3 was just as thrilling as the first two. It went back and forth and the WNBA’s mission statement for the Finals “Everything We Got” was exemplified by both teams. Unfortunately though as in all sports someone wins and someone loses.

The Big Three Killed the Dream

The Storm’s outburst from the beginning of the season kept them out of reach in the standings all season long. The confidence they had coming into this crucial game 3 was shown throughout the game. The “Big 3″ for Seattle were as poised and as dominant as ever.

The Storm started out strong with a 9-0 run in the 1st quarter. Atlanta quickly called a time-out and would not be bound.

The Dream  surprisingly fought back by playing  a half-court game .Desouza was playing well inside and found shooters outside when she was doubled.  Angel and Izzi didnt play out-of-control and took good shots. They took the lead early in the 3rd quarter and it seemed that maybe there would be a game 4. That’s when the Big “3″ decided to soar.

While LJ was struggling Sue Bird was there to hit shots get  steals on defense and make the smart fouls to stop Atlanta’s transition. Swin Cash hit two critical 3′s in the 3rd quarter come-back.  That gave her MVP teammate  renewed energy to impose herself offensively in the game.

LJ Final's MVP wasn't gonna let the Dream take this game or WNBA trophy from her.

With the “Big 3″ attacking and LJ reinserting herself  back into the offense the Storm’s assault was getting stronger instead of weaker.  Whenever the storm seemed to lose control Sue bird was there to put the wind in motion.  LJ was as physical as ever inside and Swin was knocking down the 3ball which  deflated Atlanta’s defense.

Angel McCoughtry’s late game heroics were thrilling to watch late in the 4th as the game  went down to the wire.  It wasn’t enough as  she couldn’t match the woman on the other team with the ice in her veins.

Sue Bird has ice in her veins..

With the brilliant coaching of Brian Agler and the ball in Sue Bird’s hands. The Seattle Storm was destined to win. Destiny prevailed as Seattle’s Storms“Dream” was accomplished while Atlanta’s “Dream” was  deferred.

Congratulations to the Seattle Storm 2010 WNBA champions and congrats to their great fans.

SN I’ve enjoyed covering the 2010 playoffs and enjoyed  seeing the passion, fight, perseverance and teamwork  the players showed throughout the playoffs. I hope you enjoyed reading this blog as much as I enjoyed writing it. The WNBA demonstrates again why  “I love this Game”

Seattle Storm versus Atlanta Dream Preview Game 3

Lauren Jackson doesn't plan on seeing these fans again until the parade.

The Seattle Storm  hasn’t blown past the Atlanta Dream in this Finals. They have simply done what they are suppose to do and that’s protect homecourt. In basketball or in any sport whether you win by 1 or 2 it all comes down to whether you win or lose.

Seattle is 1 win away from capturing the “Dream” and  doesn’t want to take any chances of prolonging the series.

Atlanta Dream has to go back to Philips Arena with the confidence that they can beat Seattle not just play with them. They lost two very winnable games in Seattle and they have to feel alittle defeated going home with all the pressure on them to win. Can they come out free and play loose and force a game 4, only if they can make a few adjustments.

Atlanta Dream

Angel's gotta find the open man or be on fire for the Dream in game 3

As I stated earlier Angel McCoughtry has got to play a smarter game against the Storm’s defense. She hasn’t shot the ball well in the first two games and you have to give alot of credit to Swin Cash’s defense for that. She is a capable scorer but if  her shot isn’t on she is going to have to get more assist and share the ball with her teammates.

The two main people that she needs to find  is Sancho Lyttle and Erica Desouza. They have to get more touches inside. Seattle has taken away Atlanta’s  biggest strength scoring in the open-court.

So they need to find away to move the ball more and make sure their bigs get touches in the half-court game.If they can establish an inside-outside game against Seattle in the half-court they may be able to force a game 4.

The X-Factor

Sancho Lyttle or Erica Desouza will have to perform well inside for the Dream to be successful. They can do that by either having a big offensive night or a big rebounding night. When Lyttle or Desouza have 9 or more rebounds apiece  the Dream win.

Seattle Storm

Can Swin deliver all "3" in Game 3!

With that being said Lauren Jackson who is capable of having a career point performance will come out and play very well. She know’s no one from the Dream can guard her and is determined to win a championship. She has exemplified why she is the league’s MVP in the first two games and not much will change in game 3.

Sue Bird “Big shot Sue”  is just as focused as ever  and Tanisha Wright has paired with her to form a great backcourt of their own.

If the game is close Sue will be there to close things out. She will be poised and ready to lead her team to victory in game 3 as she has done all season.

Swin Cash has bounced back from game 1 foul trouble to provide great defense and offense for the Seatte Storm. She solidifies the big “3″ for Seattle in more ways then 1. She defends, she post up and she knocks down the 3pt shot.  She had alot to prove coming into this season and isn’t done yet.

The X Factor

Atlanta may be wishing they would have kept Camille on their roster.

Camille Little is the force in the paint when Lauren chooses to take a break.

No one has been able to stop her her scoring in the paint. She deflates Atlanta’s defense by getting to the free-throw line.

Camille prides herself on making the hard shots so I don’t see her slacking up in this game 3.

If she plays big which I’m sure she will against the team that traded her it will be huge for Seattle.

SN Seattle has won their pressure games at home and can finally play a bit more freely giving them an even more advantage. The Storm’s Big 3  LJ, Sue and Swin playing with no pressure should have no problem securing a win.

This is a do or die game for Atlanta and all the pressure is on them. With the pressure and inexperience  it will be tough for them to win. Atlanta’s Angel McCoughtry will have to have a near triple double or another career pt performance of 42  to prolong this series.

In this WNBA Finals  their is a Mighty Storm and a Big Dream. Many thought the Storm would blow right through the Dream as they did in  the regular season. But this “ain’t” the regular season and this “ain’t” no peaceful Dream . . the Dream came out attacking from the start and Seattle quickly found out this wasn’t going to be easy and the Dream could become a nightmare real quick.

Atlanta’s 1st half Defense shuts down LJ.

Atlanta played great help-side defense and were able to get LJ  off to a slow start – she was 1-6 to start the game. Swin Cash couldn’t pick up the slack as she got in foul trouble early but Sue Bird was able to make a few baskets and Tanisha Wright was able to get in the paint. Another relief for Seattle came from Camille Little who finished strong inside and provided a spark when LJ was struggling.

Atlanta’s Team work.

Atlanta on the other hand was playing together well despite losing  their superstar Angel McCoughtry to foul trouble. They were able to capitalize off the Storm’s uncharacteristic turnovers. Their front-court was rebounding inside and they were able to get second-chance points. Izziane Castro Marques hit a 3 to tie the game as the buzzer went off at  half-time and if the folks didn’t know before they realized then that this was going to be a ball-game.

LJ is LJ the 2nd half.

Both teams came out strong in the second-half but no one player came out stronger than the MVP. You have heard and seen tales of the amazing “triple-threat” position in the game of basketball.  Lauren Jackson once again showed us the danger of that position -she was hitting from the behind the arch, posting up on the block and draining the turnaround jumper. It seemed Seattle was going to ‘storm’ through the Dream without an obstacle.

Atlanta gets Offensive.

When Atlanta’s front-court realized they weren’t going to stop LJ they attacked her on the defensive end. Desouza and Lyttle were able to find each other inside and finished around the basket.  They got their opportunity to step up while Angel was in the training room getting stitches to repair a head injury suffered early in the second half.

Moves like an Angel.

Atlanta managed to keep it close and fought every run that Seattle went on with a

run of their own. Angel McCoughtry finnally came back late in the 4th and

quickly imposed herself on the offensive end. With less than 15 seconds to go in the fourth she drained a jumper to tie the game. It seemed like Atlanta was in reach of an upset or a hurtful defeat.

Seattle surprisingly found themselves on the verge of overtime with less than ten seconds to go. Seattle knew over-time against the younger and faster Dream is not where they wanted to go – a true nightmare for real.  Sue Bird gets the ball and proceeds to start the play and quickly gets an open look.

Surprisingly she found herself wide-open at the top of the key with a Bird’s Eye view of the basket. She confidently  pulled up and with her perfect form hit her second tie-breaking shot of the WNBA finals. Key Arena went wild and Atlanta for the first time  dropped their heads in disbelief.

Saved by an Angel -Almost!

Angel of course who came out of the time-out head up confidence up and ready to take the final shot. They inbounded her the ball and she rose up high over two Storm players to get a great look at the basket behind the arc. Her marksmanship didn’t match Sue’s and Atlanta fell 3pts shy of stealing game 1.

This is going to be great series. . you’ll have to come back for my preview of Game 2.

Two Fingers!