LOS ANGELES (AP) - The Chicago Sky have much work to do in order to slow down the Sparks’ dynamic duo of MVP Nneka Ogwumike and Candace Parker.
Perhaps Chicago’s biggest obstacle is owning the belief it can beat Los Angeles, a team it has lost to by double digits in all four meetings this season.
The Sparks dominated Game 1 of the best-of-five Western Conference semifinals series, 95-75, on Wednesday. Game 2 is on Friday at Staples Center.
“It’s a little bit easier in sports when you’re on the inside looking out,” Chicago coach Pokey Chatman said. “In the postseason, everyone is 0-0. Last time we played them (before Wednesday) was so long ago. We’re a different team. They’re a different team. We’re a lot better team. We didn’t show that enough. We’re pros. This isn’t college. They’re looking forward to another opportunity to present themselves.”
Chicago still isn’t at full strength as forward Elena Delle Donne is out following recent thumb surgery.
The Sparks made everything look easy in Game 1 as Parker and Ogwumike combined for 57 points and 19 rebounds.
“It’s far from over,” Ogwumike said. “That’s the whole point of a five-game series. You have to see who wants it more. Right now, we want it pretty bad. But we know they want it as well.”
Sometimes, it’s proven difficult for a team to beat the same team three or even four times. That hasn’t been the case for the Sparks when it comes to Chicago.
Still, Sparks coach Brian Agler has been preaching to the Sparks that nothing is ever guaranteed. He used Golden State’s 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals as an example of what can happen. The Cavaliers rallied to win the franchise’s first NBA championship.
“I just have them think about the NBA playoffs,” Agler said. “There’s a lot that can change. People make adjustments. … Certain plays can make a big difference. The other day, I used the example of Cleveland being down 3-1, and LeBron steps over Draymond Green, and the series changed on one step.”
Chicago guard Jamierra Faulkner led the Sky with 12 points in Game 1. The Sky are a guard-oriented team without Delle Donne in the lineup, and they have played well without her while she’s recovering. But defending against Parker and Ogwumike has proven difficult.
“I think the No. 1 thing is to not beat ourselves up,” said Sky guard Cappie Pondexter, who scored 12 points Wednesday. “It’s tough when a team beats you mentally in (four) games. It’s tough. It’s a five-game series. It’s a long journey. They still have to win two more games. That’s a guaranteed, what, 80 minutes? That’s a lot of time. A lot of things can change.”
Delle Donne is with the Sky in Los Angeles but still has her right hand bandaged. She was taking some shots with her left hand before the Sky practiced Thursday on the USC campus.
“If we can get our act together and extend things, it will be more of a likelihood,” Chatman said of Delle Donne returning for the postseason.
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