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Shock-Fever Preview

Sep 24, 2009 - 7:56 PM By DAN PIERINGER STATS Editor

Detroit (18-16) at Indiana (22-12), 7:00 p.m. EDT

The latest playoff showdown between Indiana and Detroit figured to give the Fever a good chance to avenge three straight postseason series losses.

The Shock's second-half defense in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, however, helped put Indiana on the brink of elimination yet again.

The third-seeded Shock look to advance to the finals for the fourth year in a row when they go for a sweep of the top-seeded Fever at Conseco Fieldhouse on Friday night.

Detroit overcame a rough start that included the resignation of long-time coach Bill Laimbeer to make the playoffs for the seventh straight season. Though they finished with their lowest win total since 2005, the Shock are one victory away from extending their streak of finals appearances.

Detroit eliminated Indiana during each of its last three runs to the finals, and though the Fever had the best record in the East during the regular season, they are in a hole again.

The Shock held the Fever to six points in the third quarter and outscored them 37-19 after halftime to win 72-56 on Wednesday night.

Indiana forward Tamika Catchings came in leading the league with 25.0 points per game in the playoffs, but was held to nine - her lowest total of the postseason. She shot 4 of 11 and committed four turnovers.

"I thought Detroit played like a team that wanted to win the game more than we did," said Fever coach Lin Dunn, whose team missed 13 of 16 shots and turned the ball over six times in the third quarter. "We didn't match their energy or their intensity in the second half, and that's very disappointing."

While defense was the key to Detroit's win, the Shock also got a big offensive performance from Shavonte Zellous. The rookie guard scored 16 of her game-high 23 points in the first half and finished with five assists, helping make up for the continued absence of 2008 finals MVP Katie Smith (back).

"Without Katie, I know that I have to step up my offense, because I'm our second offensive option now," Zellous said. "Tonight, I really felt the flow of the game as soon as I came in. I felt like that run at the end of the second quarter really gave us a great boost."

Though all three of the Shock's series-clinching wins against the Fever came at home, Detroit is 2-1 in playoff games in Indianapolis over the last three years.

Dunn, however, isn't focused on the teams' postseason histories.

"I don't think we're worried about the times we've lost to Detroit in the past - I just think that's a great basketball team," she said. "They were the world champions a year ago, and they are tough to beat at home. We've just got to do a better job Friday at our place."