Live Game Thread: Mercury vs Dream

The Mercury have now secured the home court advantage through the Western Conference finals with the 100-82 win over the Atlanta Dream.

The storyline for this game was a tired Atlanta team that was thinking more about getting back home versus a Phoenix team that wasn't about to let the opportunity to clinch the West slip through their hands.

Phoenix simply outplayed Atlanta in every aspect of the game except one. Three point shooting. The Mercury were a miserable 20% (4-20) from downtown while the Dream were 33% which is just slightly above their season average. The only point in the game where the Dream were able to close to within 2 points came in the 3rd period after Atlanta hit a couple of quick three's and Phoenix went through a little cold spell. But really this game was never in doubt.

If the Mercury, and lets be honest here, if Tangela Smith doesn't go 0-6 from three this game is over long before the final push came about half way through the 4th.

All around it was a great game for Phoenix, but just like in Indiana they didn't face a team at full strength playing anything close to their best ball.

Next up Seattle on the road Thursday and then the final game of the regular season at home Sunday the 13th against LA.

With this win, the only thing the Mercury have left to play for is the best record in the WNBA which secures home court against Indiana if they should come out of the East. The Fever are currently 20-10 with four games remaining while the Mercury are 22-10 with two left.

The Mercury look to control there own destiny with a win tonight. They can clinch the top spot in the West and home court advantage through the first two rounds with the W (and a L by Seattle who right now trails 29-39 in Minnesota).

The Dream come in a tired team playing the last game of their 5 game west coast road trip. They beat the Monarchs last night in game that saw 4 of the their 5 starters play big minutes.

I am going to try and live blog this one so feel free to chime in and let me know you are out there or I might forget about the laptop altogether...