Photographed by: Ned Dishman/NBAE/Getty Images
The Indiana Fever (9-6) finished a six day, three game road trip, falling to second place (in the Eastern Conference) Washington (10-5) 68-65. It was another challenging lost for this veteran group. The Fever took care of the basketball, finishing the contest with only 12 turnovers. What hurt the team was playing from behind most of the game and not converting on critical plays down the stretch.
The bench has been important in recent games. In fact, Indiana is 5-0 when the bench scores 30 or more points. Head Coach Lin Dunn chose to go with point guard Briann January and Jessica Moore down the stretch. Fever star Tamika Catchings tried to rally the troops down the stretch–finishing with a team high 17 points.
Katie Douglas knocked down a critical three point shot from the top of the key to bring the team within one. Douglas, the Perry Meridian graduate was attempting to draw a foul and threw up a wild shot but with a little luck, it dropped in. She was the only other Fever player in double figures with 13 points.
Down the stretch the Fever had three tremendous opportunities. First it was forward Ebony Hoffman who had an open look from three off the left side. Those unfamiliar with the team may question Hoffman pulling the trigger beyond the arc. But the former WNBA’s Most Improved Player is not shy of gunning it, especially with an open looked.
A little later 2nd year guard January received the pass off a timeout set and missed from just outside. Again, not a surprise with January taking the shot. She was 2 for 4 prior to that attempt. And then to close out the game, one last look after a Katie Smith missed free throw and January’s heave is blocked by Washington’s Matee Ajavon. Risky play, a controversial no foul as the Fever lose for the second time this year to Washington. Last year Indiana dominated the Mystics going 6-0 throughout their 2009 campaign.
—Meanwhile over the weekend in Chicago, Indiana edged out the Sky 70-64. Another tough battle that should not have been close. The Fever dominated from the very beginning but could not hit their shots. Catchings finished with just 4 points on 1-9 shooting–that doesn’t happen very often. And especially in the midst of a win. I joked with Fever PR man Kevin Messenger at halftime, that this game set basketball back a few decades. It was not pretty but a win is a win, especially in the critical Eastern Conference.
The crowd in Chicago was pitiful. And that’s putting it nicely. Catchings helped organized transportation for die-hard Fever fans to travel on gameday to Chicago and witness the game. With the Fever in attendance, there were maybe 2,000 people on hand. The Fever faithful made up nearly one-third of the crowd. Very honorable.
—The first game of their travels concluded in a loss to the clear Western Conference favorite Seattle, falling 85-81. As you see, each of the three games was decided by less than six points. No blowouts here. The crowd was outstanding in Seattle, one that can foresee a WNBA Finals to come. This game appeared to be a preview of the potential WNBA finals. The Storm will undoubtedly make the finals due to a very weak Western Conference. Seattle holds a six game lead on second-ranked San Antonio.
Los Angeles is without sensation Candace Parker who is out for the season with a shoulder injury. And in the offseason, Cappie Pondexter decided to get out of Phoenix to play in the Big Apple. Pondexter was tired of outplaying Taurasi and not getting the credit she deserved. Cappie was the clear star on their 2009 championship team yet Taurasi received the MVP award.
It is still very early, nearly halfway into the season but the match-up is intriguing. Seattle boasts All-Stars Sue Bird and Lauren Jackson, while the Fever are held strong by Tamika Catchings and Katie Douglas. The Fever have more depth and that could very useful down the stretch. For now, its imperative the Fever go on a winning streak and take care of teams in the Eastern Conference. They currently sit in fourth place behind Atlanta, Washington and Connecticut. Just three games separate the fifth spot with No.1. Injuries are a part of the game and have already affected many WNBA teams.
After this tough stretch of four road games, Indiana will play at home for six of their next eight ball games. A place where they have won six in a row. For now we must sit back and wait as the Fever have a week off before returning to Chicago for another contest with the Sky on July 6th.