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Sparks-Mercury Preview

Jun 18, 2009 - 10:28 PM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Los Angeles (1-3) at Phoenix (4-1), 10:00 p.m. EDT

The Los Angeles Sparks, off to a terrible start in their bid to make the playoffs in Lisa Leslie's final season, look to slow down the surging Phoenix Mercury on Friday night.

Los Angeles (1-3), sharing the league's third-worst record, may need a surge come September to make the postseason and West-leading Phoenix (4-1) very well could be one of the teams it would have to chase down.

The Sparks, who haven't played since a 73-61 loss to Indiana last Friday night, have had plenty of time to work on their problems.

"We are not nearly fulfilling our full potential on the floor," Los Angeles guard Betty Lennox said. "I know it's going to take time and patience because we're still learning each other. But there's no doubt in my mind we definitely need to pick it up."

Lennox is one of three players averaging double digits in scoring for the Sparks, posting 12.8 points a game. Leslie, one of the WNBA's original players, is averaging 11.5 points and 8.3 rebounds in what will be her final season.

Leslie, the league's career scoring and rebounding leader who will retire after this year, had 21 points and 13 boards versus the Fever. She may have a tough time keeping up with the high-tempo Mercury.

Phoenix, averaging a league-best 94.2 points, is coming off a 104-80 win over Minnesota on Wednesday night. The Mercury had 25 assists, outrebounded the Lynx 48-29 and shot 84 percent (21 for 25) from the free-throw line.

"That's a standard we should hold ourselves to every time we step on the court," said Phoenix guard Diana Taurasi, who shot 7 for 8 from 3-point range and finished with 28 points.

Taurasi leads the WNBA with 23.2 points per game. She has been nicely complemented in the backcourt by rookie DeWanna Bonner, who is averaging 14.4 points off the bench and is coming off a 21-point, 10-rebound effort.

"That's just the tip of what she can do," Mercury coach Corey Gaines said. "When she starts stretching the defense out a little bit farther and gets comfortable, she can be dangerous. When she gets in the game she's ready to go, and it's a domino effect on the other players."

Tangela Smith, who will match up with Leslie in the paint, is also having a strong season, averaging 12.2 points and 5.8 rebounds. She had seven points, seven rebounds and four blocks on July 17 in the last meeting between these teams, while Leslie posted 11 points and eight rebounds as Los Angeles lost 99-92.

Each team won twice in last season's series.