Parker and Ogwumike lead Sparks' 95-75 rout of Sky

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T.J.

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"LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Candace Parker scored 19 of her 30 points in the first half, Nneka Ogwumike added 27, and the Los Angeles Sparks beat the Chicago Sky 95-75 in their semifinal playoff opener Wednesday night."

A shout out to Jantel Lavender for winning the 6th player award. Well deserved! CONGRATS to YOU JANTEL!

Good job Sparks! Keep up the wins to win it ALL!

Parker and Ogwumike lead Sparks' 95-75 rout of Sky
 
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#2
#2
T.J. said:
"LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Candace Parker scored 19 of her 30 points in the first half, Nneka Ogwumike added 27, and the Los Angeles Sparks beat the Chicago Sky 95-75 in their semifinal playoff opener Wednesday night."

A shout out to Jantel Lavender for winning the 6th player award. Well deserved! CONGRATS to YOU JANTEL!

Good job Sparks! Keep up the wins to win it ALL!

Parker and Ogwumike lead Sparks' 95-75 rout of Sky
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I was so happy to see Chicago instead of Atlanta. LA struggles with Atlanta but even with EDD LA has handled Chicago relatively easy this year. LA looks refreshed too, which is good. Minnesota is going to be hard to beat.
 
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#6
#6
tennparker3 said:
I was so happy to see Chicago instead of Atlanta. LA struggles with Atlanta but even with EDD LA has handled Chicago relatively easy this year. LA looks refreshed too, which is good. Minnesota is going to be hard to beat.
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I said the exact same thing myself. So HAPPY we aint playing Atlanta!

Atlanta aint no joke. They play the Sparks like they actually hate them. And you can tell. Even our very own Meighan Simmons is hyped up coming off the bench knocking down 3p shots. :)
 
#7
#7
The venue was a joke. It looked like a HS gym. It's a shame that's the venue where Nneke Ogwumike got her MVP trophy.

The win against Chicago last night was a good one, and Parker/Ogwumike were unstoppable. As well as those two played, the rest of the team needs to step up in a big way against either Phoenix or Minny. The two posts won't be able to score as freely against those teams, and Beard/Carson in particular need to step it up big time on offense. Both of them had fairly unremarkable games last night, except when Beard was on Vandersloot on defense.
 
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#8
#8
Amb3096 said:
The venue was a joke. It looked like a HS gym. It's a shame that's the venue where Nneke Ogwumike got her MVP trophy.

The win against Chicago last night was a good one, and Parker/Ogwumike were unstoppable. As well as those two played, the rest of the team needs to step up in a big way against either Phoenix or Minny. The two posts won't be able to score as freely against those teams, and Beard/Carson in particular need to step it up big time on offense. Both of them had fairly unremarkable games last night, except when Beard was on Vandersloot on defense.
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I'm not sure but I think L.A.s hockey team had a game at the Staples Center therefore The Sparks had to play at Long Beach State gymnasium. Money talks. I guess there are more hockey fans in LA than WNBA fans.

If Jantel is able to continue hitting her midrange shots that should open up the middle for Candace and Nneka.

I've been watching Alana a lot this season she's a lot more offensive minded than I've ever seen her. Essence has a nice midrange game and she looks to attack the rim. Both need to do a lot more to counter what Minny or Phoenix have.

The one person that has taken her game to another level is Chelsea Gray. The woman can PLAY! She's a playmaker and fun to watch. She'll need to get a better handle on her passes that turn into silly turnovers. Same goes for Candace. Stop the turnovers.

Kristi Toliver must be the Sparks 3pt specialist. They'll need big games from her. She'll have to mix it up though. Dribble penetrate and attacking the rim besides 3pt shots. Keep the defense 2nd guessing.

I am hoping like crazy that Candace can finally get that elusive WNBA ring. With Nneka's help this might be the year! Nneka played out of her mind in that game! She was playing like an MVP she so deserved that award. A hearty congratulations to her. I love watching her play especially along side Candace!
 
#9
#9
This team still makes me nervous due to guard play. Toliver, Beard and Carson will have to step it up on offense and defense for us to win the title.
 
#10
#10
stubbs9 said:
This team still makes me nervous due to guard play. Toliver, Beard and Carson will have to step it up on offense and defense for us to win the title.
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They will but I think they are playing them all out of position and that is going to hurt them again a team like Minny. Agler needs to bench Beard or Carson (or if I am him I bench them both) so that I have them coming off the bench where I am not focusing so much on needing them to provide me scoring in the starting lineup. Tolliver is not a point guard yet he insist on playing her there. They only have one PG on the roster in Chelsea Gray and the other girls (Tolliver and Beard) can play it in a pinch but shouldn't be playing there full time. I also think against Minny moving Candace to the wing would help them out tremendously. Candace has shown this year she would much rather (and I don't know if it is due to Nnedka being dominant inside or what) but If I am them I make the switch and go with this rotation;

PG-Gray (She can penetrate, score, and dish if needed)
SG-Tolliver (She is a 3PT Specialist let her shoot)
SF-Parker (Make Moore have to guard her posting up)
PF-Nnedka (she will have more space to do her thing)
C-Lavender (She is a nightmare for Fowles to guard because she can shoot the 3, Fowles can't sag off)

When it's time to sub you bring beard in for Gray (Tolliver stays at the 2 spot and Beard handles the Point), Essence for Lavender (and Parker Slides to the 5), Gruda gives either Parker or Nndeka a break but I would try to keep those two on the floor as much as I can. With it's current line up of (Beard at the 2, Carson at the 3, and Tolliver at the Point) Whalen, Augustus, and Moore doesn't really have to defend because Carson has never been a scorer and Beard has turned more into a defender (doesn't really look to score). With Gray at the point Whalen has to follow her now because she is a great all around player and Augustus now has to run around screens for Tolliver, and Moore now has to defend the 6'5" Parker on the perimeter and the block while also trying to keep her off the class (which will require an extra defender)
 
#11
#11
Coach Brian Agler is a very good coach! I for one was upset at the start of the season that Jantel lavender was coming off the bench not starting. I couldn't believe it. Surely Essence Carson could not compensate what Jantel has done previously. I was wrong. And I'm not mad at all anymore. It's been a good thing to say the least.

Jantel received 6th player of the year award!
Nneka MVP!
And Candace was in the running for MVP herself.

The L.A. Sparks are gelling as a team. Everyone knows their roles and productivity is up from previous seasons.

With the starters producing at a high rate it is great to have two players of Jantel Lavender and Chelsea Gray caliber coming off the bench and producing for the team. The Sparks are and have been better for it thanks to Coach Agler.

"It's not been easy, I'm sure. Because there have been times after games when I look at her stats and say, 'How come we didn't play her more?' But we have Nneka and Candace, and it's hard to take minutes away from them, too. But when Jantel comes into the game, we don't drop off at all."
Jantel Lavender gives Los Angeles Sparks a game-changer off the bench
 
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