Alexander Shun

Web Editor Associate | @alexpshun 

2015 WNBA FINALS | SERIES TIED 1-1

Minnesota Lynx (1-1) at Indiana Fever (1-1) | 7:00 P.M. CT

WHERE TO WATCH: ESPN 2

WHERE TO LISTEN: 106.1 BOB FM

In the WNBA Finals, balance is extremely beneficial, especially on the offensive side of the ball. The Minnesota Lynx found out just how beneficial it can be on Tuesday night.

After suffering a difficult game one loss at home to the Indiana Fever to kick off the Finals on Sunday afternoon, the Lynx responded with a much different performance on Tuesday night. In game one, only forward Maya Moore and Sylvia Fowles scored in double figures while only one other Lynx player scored over five points as the Lynx were defeated 75-69; game two was much different.

In game two the Lynx had three players in double-figures and had three other players score six points or more as Minnesota rebounded and beat the Fever 77-71, sending the series to Indiana knotted at one game a piece.

“Indiana was going for the knockout, trying to get that second win on the road,” Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve said. “I appreciated our resilience. There are still some things we can do better, especially in crunch time – we’d like to get some shots and not turn the darn thing over and help us separate.”

Though the Lynx were able to better balance their offense in game two, they still have not reached their potential; Rebekkah Brunson anyone? After averaging 7.8 points and 8.1 rebounds during the regular season, Brunson has yet to truly make an impact in the Finals, averaging just 2.5 points and three rebounds in the two games thus far.

If Brunson can get going against Indiana’s All-Star forward Tamika Catchings – a difficult thing to do for any player – she will once again make Minnesota’s frontcourt – paired with Sylvia Fowles – the dynamic duo that it was all season long, especially with the way Fowles has played in the Finals thus far.

In just the two games, Fowles has averaged 21 points, 10 rebounds and 1.5 blocks while helping to lead Minnesota to a 1-1 series tie as the series now shifts to Indiana.

“Sylvia is a beast,” Fever head coach Stephanie White praised. “The only player that limits her, is herself. With that body, with that athleticism, with how quick she gets up in the air, I mean, she should dominate, and 21 [points] and nine [rebounds] is pretty good.”

For the Fever, guard Brianna January and forward Marissa Coleman have been leading the way as they look to knock off the West’s top seed.

Janaury has averaged 18 points, 5.5 assists and 1.5 steals in the Finals thus far, while Coleman has chipped in 13 points and 1.5 steals per game. Both players have made huge baskets at key moments for Indiana and both will need to shoot the ball well and come up big if Indiana should hope to maintain homecourt advantage and beat the Lynx tonight. Combined, the two players have shot just 23-of-52 (44 percent) from the floor, which includes 6-of-14 (43 percent) from beyond the arc.

Slowing down January and Coleman will be absolutely for essential for Minnesota to steal a tough win on the road in a hostile Indiana environment.

LAST MEETING

These two teams last met on Tuesday night back in Minneapolis for game two of the WNBA Finals. The game was full of intensity, physical play and high emotions, but the Lynx emerged victorious, knocking off the Fever 77-71 and evening the series at 1-1.

Moore paced the Lynx, registering 19 points, eight rebounds, five assists, four steals and three blocked shots as she led Minnesota to a victory. Fowles added a team-high 21 points, nine rebounds and two assists.

As in game one, the Fever were led by January who finished the night with 17 points, five assists and a blocked shot. Foward Tamika Catchings added 11 points, nine rebounds and five assists, including hitting a huge three-pointer to end a Minnesota run. Guards Marissa Coleman and Shenise Johnson each added 10 points in the Indiana loss.

The Lynx bench was the real difference-maker in the game, finishing with a combined 14 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, including fantastic defensive efforts in extended minutes from guards Anna Cruz and Renee Montgomery, and forward Devereaux Peters.

It was a back-and-forth game with no team building a lead bigger than eight. The Fever cut Minnesota’s lead to just three points, but then the Lynx turned up their defense, continuing to frustrate Indiana and thwarted the Fever’s last comeback attempt.

KEY MATCH-UP: REBEKKAH BRUNSON VS. TAMIKA CATCHINGS

If you were watching game two, it was rather easy to tell that this was going to be the match-up to watch come game three. Catchings and Brunson are two of the best forwards to ever play in the WNBA. They have multiple championships, multiple All-Star appearances and a bevvy of records and other awards between them. These two have been battling down in the post the first two games of this series and fans can expect more of the same tonight.

Indiana players and coaches were not thrilled with the amount of fouls as well as the nature of the fouls that Catchings was being called for on Tuesday night. After verbal complaints from both players and coaches, it will be interesting to see just how the referees call the game tonight. Will they be more lenient on Catchings? Will they call the game more tightly? We’ll find out tonight. Catchings has been solid for Indiana all season long and her absence was felt on Tuesday night. When Catchings sat down with her fifth foul, the Lynx immediately went on a 7-0 run to take the lead. Catchings is vital to Indiana’s success and should she get into foul trouble again tonight, the Fever might just let one slip away at home.

Brunson has been quiet in the first two games, very quiet. She is due for a good game. Rather, she is due to absolutely explode for a monster game, and tonight could very well be that night. playing on the road in a hostile environment, the Lynx are already at a disadvantage and their struggles in the series to keep Indiana off the offensive glass only magnifies their disadvantage. Brunson is hungry to return to her All-Star, Hall-of-Fame worthy self and take over a game, something she is absolutely capable of doing.

The game tonight will be huge for both players and is obviously made even bigger with the potential for a 2-1 series lead on the line.

PROJECTED STARTERS

Lynx: PG – Whalen, SG – Augustus, SF – Moore, PF – Brunson, C – Fowles

Fever: PG – January, SG – Johnson, SF – Coleman, PF – Catchings, C – Larkins