In reÂcent seasÂons, the Lynx's playÂoff seed was all but deÂterÂmined by this point, coach Cheryl Reeve was conÂtemÂplatÂing restÂing some playÂers and getÂting ready for the playÂoffs.
This year it's a little difÂferÂent.
A 4-5 reÂcord in the nine games since LindÂsay Whalen broke a finÂger in her left hand has made things a little tightÂer, addÂing presÂsure to MinÂneÂsoÂta's fiÂnal three games, startÂing with WednesÂday's game at InÂdiÂanÂa.
"This is a little difÂferÂent for us," Reeve said. "But every jourÂney is difÂferÂent."
The Lynx (24-7) enÂter WednesÂday's game with a half-game lead over Los AnÂgeÂles (24-8), which has two games left to play. The Sparks host AtÂlanÂta on FriÂday and ConÂnecÂtiÂcut on SunÂday. The Lynx finÂish the reguÂlar seaÂson at home against ChiÂcaÂgo on FriÂday and WashÂingÂton on SunÂday. BeÂcause the Sparks won the reguÂlar seaÂson seÂries 2-1, they would get the top seed if the teams tie.
And that means there is a very good chance the Lynx need to win out to reÂtain the top seed, which would mean homecourt adÂvanÂtage if the two met in the finals.
So, 3-0?
Reeve won't even beÂgin thinkÂing that far aÂhead, clingÂing tightÂer than ever to the "one game at a time" manÂtra.
"You can't look past that," Reeve said. "You look at all three games and it will get overÂwhelmÂing. You have to lock in and conÂtrol what you can conÂtrol. All those things we like to say aÂbout just lookÂing at the next game is more relÂevant now than ever."
The good news is that both InÂdiÂanÂa and ChiÂcaÂgo are curÂrentÂly out of the playÂoff picÂture, though ChiÂcaÂgo could be playÂing for the fiÂnal spot. And WashÂingÂton could have little to play for, as far as seedÂing, as well.
Still, there is a lot of imÂproveÂment Reeve needs to see if the team is going to close out the reguÂlar seaÂson strong. The Lynx, 20-2 with Whalen, have avÂerÂaged 67.4 points per game in the five lossÂes this month without her. There have been times when the Lynx have strugÂgled to get shots on ofÂfense, going into scoring slumps.
In L.A. SunÂday, Reeve was frusÂtratÂed with her team's deÂfense, esÂpeÂcialÂly in the first half.
"It's probÂaÂbly a case where our ofÂfenÂsive frusÂtraÂtion led to a lack of deÂfenÂsive conÂnecÂtivÂiÂty," Reeve said. "You hope your deÂfense can covÂer for your ofÂfense when it strugÂgles. But in the first half SunÂday, we gave up 36 points in the paint in the first half. We came unÂglued."
Reeve wants to see betÂter team deÂfense. She has been workÂing with cenÂter SylÂviÂa Fowles on doing a betÂter job of passÂing out of double- and tripÂle-teams. On ofÂfense the manÂtra is doing the little things betÂter to get open — ball fakes, foot fakes, movÂing withÂout the ball.
"NoÂbodÂy has to do anyÂthing magÂnifiÂcent," Reeve said. "But we have to do the little things betÂter."
Note
Reeve doesn't know whethÂer Fowles will conÂtinÂue to wear the faceguard she has sported reÂcentÂly. Fowles played through a broÂken nose earliÂer this seaÂson and has, acÂcordÂing to Reeve, had to have her nose X-rayed afÂter games three times. Reeve has repeatedly conÂtacted the league reÂgardÂing uncalled hits on Fowles.