2012 WNBA PLAYOFFS

• Western Conference semifinal: San Antonio (21-13) vs. Los Angeles (24-10).

Games: Thursday, Saturday, Monday (if necessary).

Prediction: Los Angeles in three.

Series at a glance: San Antonio won three of four games against L.A. this season and, in those victories, forward Sophia Young averaged 22.3 points. ... San Antonio's 13.3 turnovers per game are the lowest in the league. ... This is San Antonio's sixth consecutive appearance in the playoffs. ... L.A. was the league's second-highest scoring team, at 84 points per game. San Antonio was next at 82.1. ... L.A.'s Candace Parker (17.4 points, 9.7 rebounds) and rookie Nneka Ogwumike (14, 7.5) may be the league's best pair of inside players

• Eastern Conference semifinal: New York (15-19) vs. Connecticut (25-9).

Games: Thursday, Saturday, Monday (if necessary).

Prediction: Connecticut in two.

Series at a glance: New York is 9-7 since the Olympic break and was the last team in the league to clinch a playoff spot. ... Guard Cappie Pondexter leads the Liberty in scoring (20.4 points), assists (4.3) and steals (1.3). The Liberty was 1-4 against the Sun this year. ... Connecticut has not won a playoff series since 2006. ... Center Tina Charles averages 21.8 points and a league-high 10.3 rebounds. ... Guard Kara Lawson averages 15.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 4.0 assists, all career highs. Ex-Lynx Renee Montgomery (11.6 points) has thrived backing up Lawson.

• Eastern Conference semifinal: Atlanta (19-15) vs. Indiana (22-12).

Games: Friday, Sunday, Tuesday (if nec.).

Prediction: Atlanta in three.

Series at a glance: Dream forward Angel McCoughtry averaged a league-high 21.4 points, in only 24 games. ... Atlanta is 7-2 in its past nine games. ... The Dream has lost in the WNBA Finals the past two seasons. ... Tamika Catchings and Katie Douglas, two 33-year-olds, lead Indiana in scoring. Catchings, the league MVP last season, averages 17.4 points, Douglas 16.5. ... Indiana's regular starting guards, Briann January and Shavonte Zellous, took blows to the head against the Lynx on Sept. 17 and, through Tuesday, had not played or practiced.

ROMAN AUGUSTOVIZ