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| Sparks' Candace Parker goes strong to the basket over Indiana's #13 Erin Phillips and #8 Tammy Sutton Brown.Photo by Eric Wade Gems Images. |
The Los Angeles Sparks' started of slow once again in the game against the Indiana Fever and what look like a rout was in the makings in the first quarter trailing 16-8 with 3:25 left. Now i have always said that when the Sparks' turnover the ball and allow the other team to score because they don't get on defense it is all mental. The second part is what line up is on the floor and what kind of intensity they bring when they come to the court. Natasha Lacy and Ebony Hoffman came in at the 3:11 mark of the first quarter and everything for the Spark's change.
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| Natasha Lacy Photo by Eric Wade Gems Images. |
Spark's head coach Joe Bryant in the 2nd quarter came out with a line up of Candace Parker, Natasha Lacy, Kristi Toliver, Ebony Hoffman and Jantel Lavender. Lacy with her speed pushing the ball up court change the tempo of the game and had the Fever back on their heels. The excitement was just beginning as Candace Parker grab a rebound to start a break pass the ball down court to Lacy back to Candace and a quick pass to a wide open Ebony Hoffman for a layup. For a moment i was having flashback of the showtime. The fans were loving what they were seeing.
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| Ebony Hoffman had 21 points and 7 rebounds against the Indiana Fever. Photo by Eric Wade Gems Images. |
Sparks' head coach Joe Bryant decided to go with a younger lineup to start the second quarter with Natasha Lacy, Kristi Toliver, Jantel Lavender, Candace Parker and Ebony Hoffman.This lineup proved to be cure for Sparks' offense and defense. Lacy was on the attack forcing the tempo on offense and defense. Ebony Hoffman was still on fire as she was 3 of 4 for 8 points and Candace Parker grabbed a rebound to start a fastbreak pass the ball to a streaking Lacy who gave the back to Candace who pass the ball to Ebony for a layup the sent the fans into a frenzy.The Sparks' defense held the Fever to 9 points in the 2nd quarter.
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| Jantel Lavender Photo by Eric Wade Gems Images. |
In the first half the Sparks' defense held the Fever's Tammy- Sutton Brown to 9 points and Tangela Smith 8 points while Ebony Hoffman finish with 15 points.The Sparks' defense caused 6 turnovers which lead to 10 points. In the 3rd quarter Candace Parker begin to show here leader ship on the court by being very aggressive attacking the basket. Like a man in a desert who was in need of water, the Sparks' was in need of a victory to stay in the playoff hunt. Candace had 10 points so far while DeLisha Milton Jones and Ticha Penicheiro both hit big 3 points shots and the Sparks' had a 1 point lead at the end of the 3rd quarter 55-54.
With 14.3 seconds left into the 4th quarter it was gut check time for the Sparks' holding on to a 73-70 lead and a game they couldn't afford to lose. With clutch free throw shooting from Ebony Hoffman and a one of the best defensive performance seen from the Sparks held on to defeat Indiana 75-70. The most impressive stats were the Sparks' had 13 turnovers but allow only 2 points force the Fever into 11 turnovers and scored 19 points. Natasha Lacy has proven time after time when she get minutes she produces played 25:21 scored 7 points and ran the offense for most of the game had no turnovers.
Ebony Hoffman had a great overall game with 21 points,7 rebounds and Candace Parker finish with 18 points and 6 rebounds. Indiana's Tamika Catchings, Erin Phillips finish with 16 points and Tangela Smith finish with 14 points. You catch post game interviews with Candace Parker, Ebony Hoffman, Natasha Lacy and Sparks' head coach Joe Bryant at http://www.youtube.com/ and type in TGSports1.
