Da Bum's 2013 WNBA Best Bets + News,Stats Etc. !!

[StarDust Bum]

Wednesday, June 12

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Connecticut - 8:00 PM ET Indiana -4.5 500 POD # 1


Indiana - Under 148 500 POD # 2

[StarDust Bum]

Storm-Dream Preview

Posted Jun 12 2013 6:30PM

The Atlanta Dream struggled on both ends of the floor in their last game, and the result was their first loss of the season.

Facing the Seattle Storm could help the Dream get back on track.

Atlanta continues its best start in three seasons Friday night when it goes for an eighth consecutive home win and fifth in a row in this series.

Going for the home-and-home sweep after routing New York 75-66 last Friday, the visiting Dream (4-1) shot a season-low 36.4 percent in Sunday's 76-67 defeat and were outscored 25-12 in the final 10 minutes.

"We didn't make our shots,'' said forward Sancho Lyttle, who recorded her fourth double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds - both tied for season highs. "... We know better next time if we're not making shots we have to step up on defense.''

The Dream, off to their quickest start since opening a franchise-best 6-0 in 2010, are holding opponents to a WNBA-low 70.6 points per contest. However, they'll be without Lyttle, who is averaging 15.4 points, 9.0 points and 2.8 steals, for the next six games as she plays for Spain in the EuroBasket tournament.

That means Atlanta, tied with Chicago atop the Eastern Conference standings, might have to lean more on leading scorer Angel McCoughtry (18.0), Tiffany Hayes (10.8) and Erika DeSouza (9.4).

The Storm (1-2), meanwhile, arrive in Atlanta with a league-worst 67.3 scoring average after hitting a season-low 38.7 percent of its shots in last Friday's 67-58 loss to previously winless Tulsa. Seattle missed all 17 3-point tries, failing to make a shot from long range for just the third time in team history.

"Any of our people on this team when they miss 17 I'm going to pass it to them again because the 18th one is going in," said Temeka Johnson, who failed in both of her 3-point attempts and finished with 13 points. "We ran the same things we run in practice but the shots didn't fall.''

The Storm also have plenty of room for improvement on the defensive end, as they're surrendering 80.3 points per game on a league-worst 51.4 percent shooting.

Seattle won't have either star point guard Sue Bird or three-time MVP Lauren Jackson to help fix those woes - both are out for the season with injuries - and the team opens a stretch of eight of 10 on the road.

"With our situation and a game at home, you need to want it and be hungry for it every night you step on the floor, no matter who you're playing," Storm leading scorer Tanisha Wright told the team's official website last Friday after finishing with a season-low five points.

Seattle will play an Atlanta team that's undefeated at home since a 84-80 loss to Tulsa on Aug. 28 and 4-0 versus Seattle there since getting swept in the 2010 WNBA finals.

McCoughtry, the league's reigning scoring champ, missed a 70-59 victory at Seattle on July 11 with a sprained MCL, but she finished with a game-high 23 points in a 77-61 home win Sept. 11 that evened the all-time series at five games apiece.

[StarDust Bum]

Sun-Liberty Preview

Posted Jun 13 2013 3:15PM

Even with Essence Carson in the lineup, the New York Liberty weren't able to stop the Connecticut Sun in their season opener.

The adjustment to playing without her, though, has gone well for at least one game.

New York looks to win its second straight since losing its leading scorer when it hosts Connecticut on Friday night.

Carson was averaging 17.7 points before tearing her left ACL in a 75-56 loss to Atlanta on Friday, prematurely ending her season after a promising start under new coach Bill Laimbeer.

She entered 2013 having averaged 8.6 points in her first five years with New York.

"(She was) off to a good start, but that's the reality of professional sports. You have to move on," Laimbeer said. ``We'll still play the same strategy on defense, the same structure that we have. Nothing changes.''

The Liberty (3-2) bounced back Sunday, as Cappie Pondexter and Plenette Pierson scored 17 points apiece in a 76-67 win over the Dream. Veteran Katie Smith, in her first season with the team, started in place of Carson and played solid defense as New York held Atlanta to 36.4 percent shooting.

``That's one of the reasons I got Katie Smith,'' Laimbeer said. ``She can guard anybody from the 1 to the 5. She also sets the tone defensively for the rest of the players. If a 39-year-old plays that hard every minute she's on the floor, mentally and physically, that's going to demand that of the rest of the players also.''

Pondexter scored 23 points and Carson added 14 in the first meeting with Connecticut on May 25, but New York struggled to contain the Sun combo of Kara Lawson and reigning MVP Tina Charles. Lawson netted 23 points and Charles finished with 19 and 13 boards in an 81-69 victory.

Charles gave Indiana fits Wednesday, scoring 30 points - one off her career high - and adding 10 rebounds in a 73-61 win. She went 13 for 17 from the field to tie the franchise record for field goals made as the Sun shot 50.8 percent.

The 6-foot-4 center had averaged 24.0 shot attempts over her previous four contests.

``They were trying to get me to force shots which I have been doing in all of the games, but I was patient, and I was able to find the open man and it definitely worked for us," said Charles, second in the league with 21.6 points per game and third with 12.0 rebounds a contest.

Lawson had only 12 points - 5.0 below her season average - and went 5 of 14 from the field, but Connecticut (2-3) ended a three-game skid by winning for the first time since beating the Liberty.

``It's not impossible to come back from a rough start, but we don't want to dig a hole too big,'' Lawson said.

Charles has averaged 21.0 points in her last four games versus New York, including a two-game sweep in the Eastern Conference semifinals last season.

[StarDust Bum]

Lynx-Shock Preview

Posted Jun 12 2013 5:59PM

The Minnesota Lynx rebounded nicely from their first loss of the season.

Given their history against the Tulsa Shock, the two-time reigning Western Conference champs have a good chance to continue their winning ways.

Minnesota goes for a 12th consecutive victory in this series Friday night in Tulsa, where it will face former teammate Candice Wiggins for the first time.

After losing 85-80 to Washington on Saturday in their first road game, the Lynx (3-1) used an 18-4 run that bridged the third and fourth quarters to defeat San Antonio 87-72 on Tuesday. The Silver Stars made 38.4 percent of their field-goal attempts.

"I was really proud of our defense. That was something we really focused on after our game in Washington (when the Mystics converted 49.2 percent)," coach Cheryl Reeve told the Lynx's official website. "I thought we were pretty hard to play against tonight."

The Shock (1-5) have had their problems with Minnesota, losing the five matchups last season to remain winless in this series since a 92-79 home victory June 4, 2010.

Tulsa owns the worst record in the league, but three of its defeats have come in overtime.

"We couldn't get it done but I love the competitiveness, the mental toughness," coach Gary Kloppenburg said following Saturday's 76-69 OT loss at Los Angeles. "We're growing each game.''

So is rookie point guard Skylar Diggins, who is averaging 10.3 points with a team-best 4.7 assists.

"She's getting an education by fire,'' Kloppenburg said. "... the thing we love about her is she's a competitor. She wants to win."

Wiggins, who is starting alongside the No. 3 overall pick, would like nothing better than a victory Friday when she faces the team that drafted her third overall in 2008. The former Stanford All-American, acquired in three-team deal in March that sent center Janel McCarville from New York to the Lynx and Nicole Powell from the Liberty to Tulsa, made just one start with Minnesota in the last two seasons but was part of its 2011 title team.

Wiggins ranks fourth in Lynx history with 1,460 points, second with 207 3-pointers and fifth with 359 assists.

Monica Wright has stepped into Wiggins' role, adding a nice boost off Minnesota's bench with 10.0 points per game and 4.3 rebounds. She scored nine of her 16 points in the pivotal second-half run Tuesday.

Lynx point guard Lindsay Whalen, second in the league with 7.3 assists per game, scored eight of her team-best 23 points in the fourth quarter of that game.

"Watching her put the team on her back when the team needed her to do and allow everyone else to regroup and knowing what needs to happen," McCarville said of her former University of Minnesota teammate.

Glory Johnson, who is averaging 16.0 points and 10.3 rebounds, may pose problems for McCarville, Maya Moore and Rebekkah Brunson, but it's uncertain if they'll have to face 6-foot-8 center Elizabeth Cambage, who has missed Tulsa's last three games with an ankle injury.

Second-year guard Riquna Williams could return for the Shock after being sidelined two games with a concussion.

[StarDust Bum]

Sparks-Mercury Preview

Posted Jun 13 2013 1:32PM

Brittney Griner may be getting most of the attention this season, but veteran Diana Taurasi continues to remind people that there's more to the Phoenix Mercury than the rookie phenom.

Taurasi may have to step up again if a left knee sprain keeps Griner out for a second consecutive game as Phoenix hosts the Los Angeles Sparks on Friday night.

Griner averaged 16.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks over her first three games - all losses. She was scratched just before tipoff Saturday, but Taurasi scored 26 points and added five assists to lead Phoenix (1-3) to an 82-67 victory over defending champion Indiana.

DeWanna Bonner added 24 points and 11 rebounds for the Mercury, who shot 47.7 percent.

``It was difficult not playing with (Griner) because we're used to playing with her,'' said Taurasi, averaging a team-best 18.8 points. ``But it gave a good opportunity for other people to step up. We're going to need everybody.''

Griner, who injured her knee last Thursday, did not indicate in her blog written for the team's official website whether or not she will be in uniform against Los Angeles. Coach Corey Gaines, though, is more than confident with Taurasi leading the way as she has in the past.

"She's the star," Gaines said.

With or without Griner, the Mercury may have a tough time with a Los Angeles team that swept the five-game season series last year, though Taurasi missed the final four meetings while dealing with a strained left hip flexor.

The Sparks (2-1) are coming off a 76-69 overtime win over Tulsa on Saturday, as Kristi Toliver scored 21 points and Candace Parker finished with 17 and 13 rebounds.

Lindsey Harding added 20 points and helped her team force 21 turnovers.

``We felt that we rely too much on our offense sometimes with the talent that we have, so we need to put it on defense," Harding said. "Our chant out of the huddle was `Defense.'"

The club shined on the other end of the floor against the Mercury last season, though, averaging 94.6 points in the five games. Parker played in four and averaged 24.5 points and 11.5 boards.

She had 26 points and 11 rebounds in a 101-76 victory in the most recent matchup Sept. 18. Teammate Alana Beard, who had 22 points in the contest, is uncertain to play Friday.

Beard returned Saturday after missing an 83-78 loss to San Antonio on June 1 due to a hamstring injury, but sat out the second half and overtime.

[StarDust Bum]

WNBA
Dunkel

Connecticut at New York
The Sun look to build on their 7-2 ATS record in their last 9 games against the Liberty. Connecticut is the pick (+1 1/2) according to Dunkel, which has the Sun favored by 3 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Connecticut (+1 1/2). Here are all of today's picks

FRIDAY, JUNE 14

Game 601-602: Connecticut at New York (7:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Connecticut 114.407; New York 110.700
Dunkel Line & Total: Connecticut by 3 1/2; 149
Vegas Line & Total: New York by 1 1/2; 145 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Connecticut (+1 1/2); Over

Game 603-604: Seattle at Atlanta (7:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Seattle 105.523; Atlanta 120.342
Dunkel Line & Total: Atlanta by 15; 141
Vegas Line & Total: Atlanta by 9; 146
Dunkel Pick: Atlanta (-9); Under

Game 605-606: Minnesota at Tulsa (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Minnesota 116.483; Tulsa 103.845
Dunkel Line & Total: Minnesota by 12 1/2; 158
Vegas Line & Total: Minnesota by 10 1/2; 163 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Minnesota (-10 1/2); Under

Game 607-608: Los Angeles at Phoenix (10:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Los Angeles 116.553; Phoenix 105.631
Dunkel Line & Total: Los Angeles by 11; 178
Vegas Line & Total: Phoenix by 1 1/2; 173 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Los Angeles (+1 1/2); Over




WNBA
Long Sheet

Friday, June 14

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CONNECTICUT (2 - 3) at NEW YORK (3 - 2) - 6/14/2013, 7:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
NEW YORK is 69-47 ATS (+17.3 Units) when playing with 3 or more days rest since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
CONNECTICUT is 9-3 against the spread versus NEW YORK over the last 3 seasons
CONNECTICUT is 10-2 straight up against NEW YORK over the last 3 seasons
7 of 11 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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SEATTLE (1 - 2) at ATLANTA (4 - 1) - 6/14/2013, 7:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
SEATTLE is 56-80 ATS (-32.0 Units) in road games after a division game since 1997.
ATLANTA is 11-0 ATS (+11.0 Units) when playing with 3 or more days rest over the last 2 seasons.
ATLANTA is 13-5 ATS (+7.5 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
ATLANTA is 9-21 ATS (-14.1 Units) in home games in June games since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
ATLANTA is 4-0 against the spread versus SEATTLE over the last 3 seasons
ATLANTA is 4-0 straight up against SEATTLE over the last 3 seasons
3 of 4 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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MINNESOTA (3 - 1) at TULSA (1 - 5) - 6/14/2013, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MINNESOTA is 25-12 ATS (+11.8 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 77+ points/game over the last 3 seasons.
TULSA is 11-24 ATS (-15.4 Units) in home games in May, June, or July games since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
MINNESOTA is 5-4 against the spread versus TULSA over the last 3 seasons
MINNESOTA is 9-0 straight up against TULSA over the last 3 seasons
5 of 9 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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LOS ANGELES (2 - 1) at PHOENIX (1 - 3) - 6/14/2013, 10:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
LOS ANGELES is 10-21 ATS (-13.1 Units) in a road game where where the total is greater than or equal to 150 over the last 3 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 12-24 ATS (-14.4 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 3 seasons.
PHOENIX is 11-27 ATS (-18.7 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 4-14 ATS (-11.4 Units) in home games over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 4-13 ATS (-10.3 Units) in a home game where where the total is greater than or equal to 150 over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 7-16 ATS (-10.6 Units) in May, June, or July games over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 2-10 ATS (-9.0 Units) when playing with 3 or more days rest over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 6-18 ATS (-13.8 Units) vs. division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 5-16 ATS (-12.6 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
LOS ANGELES is 6-3 against the spread versus PHOENIX over the last 3 seasons
LOS ANGELES is 7-2 straight up against PHOENIX over the last 3 seasons
5 of 8 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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WNBA

Friday, June 14

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Trend Report
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7:30 PM
SEATTLE vs. ATLANTA
Seattle is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Atlanta
Seattle is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Atlanta
Atlanta is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Seattle
Atlanta is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games at home

7:30 PM
CONNECTICUT vs. NEW YORK
Connecticut is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
Connecticut is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of New York's last 6 games when playing Connecticut
New York is 1-8 SU in its last 9 games when playing Connecticut

8:00 PM
MINNESOTA vs. TULSA
Minnesota is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games
Minnesota is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Tulsa
The total has gone OVER in 9 of Tulsa's last 12 games when playing at home against Minnesota
Tulsa is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Minnesota

10:00 PM
LOS ANGELES vs. PHOENIX
Los Angeles is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
Los Angeles is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games
Phoenix is 1-10 SU in its last 11 games
Phoenix is 1-9 ATS in its last 10 games

[StarDust Bum]

Friday, June 14

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Connecticut - 7:30 PM ET Connecticut +2 500 POD # 3
New York - Over 145 500

Seattle - 7:30 PM ET Atlanta -9 500 POD # 1
Atlanta - Over 144.5 500

Minnesota - 8:00 PM ET Minnesota -10.5 500 POD # 2
Tulsa - Over 162.5 500

Los Angeles - 10:00 PM ET Los Angeles +1.5 500 POD # 4
Phoenix - Over 171 500

[StarDust Bum]

WNBA
Dunkel

San Antonio at Los Angeles
The Silver Stars look to build on their 4-1-1 ATS record in their last 6 games in Los Angeles. San Antonio is the pick (+9 1/2) according to Dunkel, which has the Sparks favored by only 2 1/2. Dunkel Pick: San Antonio (+9 1/2). Here are all of today's picks

SATURDAY, JUNE 15

Game 651-652: San Antonio at Los Angeles (10:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: San Antonio 114.914; Los Angeles 117.217
Dunkel Line & Total: Los Angeles by 2 1/2; 163
Vegas Line & Total: Los Angeles by 9 1/2; 159
Dunkel Pick: San Antonio (+9 1/2); Over




WNBA
Long Sheet

Saturday, June 15

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SAN ANTONIO (2 - 3) at LOS ANGELES (2 - 2) - 6/15/2013, 10:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
SAN ANTONIO is 25-15 ATS (+8.5 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
SAN ANTONIO is 25-13 ATS (+10.7 Units) in road games over the last 3 seasons.
SAN ANTONIO is 20-6 ATS (+13.4 Units) in a road game where where the total is greater than or equal to 150 over the last 3 seasons.
SAN ANTONIO is 10-2 ATS (+7.8 Units) in June games over the last 2 seasons.
SAN ANTONIO is 18-5 ATS (+12.5 Units) in May, June, or July games over the last 2 seasons.
SAN ANTONIO is 9-1 ATS (+7.9 Units) in road games when playing with 3 or more days rest over the last 3 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 0-6 ATS (-6.6 Units) off a upset loss as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 12-25 ATS (-15.5 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
SAN ANTONIO is 7-3 against the spread versus LOS ANGELES over the last 3 seasons
SAN ANTONIO is 7-4 straight up against LOS ANGELES over the last 3 seasons
7 of 11 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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WNBA

Saturday, June 15

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Trend Report
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10:30 PM
SAN ANTONIO vs. LOS ANGELES
San Antonio is 16-7-1 ATS in its last 24 games on the road
San Antonio is 2-5-1 ATS in its last 8 games on the road
Los Angeles is 10-3-1 ATS in its last 14 games at home
Los Angeles is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games

[StarDust Bum]

Silver Stars-Sparks Preview

Posted Jun 15 2013 1:48AM

The San Antonio Silver Stars temporarily looked like they might be able to withstand the absences of two key players. More recent results suggest they could be in trouble.

San Antonio looks to shake off its road struggles and knock off the Los Angeles Sparks for the second time in two weeks Saturday night.

With last year's two leading scorers - Sophia Young (16.3 ppg) and Becky Hammon (14.7) - sidelined due to injuries to begin the season, most didn't expect much out of the Silver Stars (2-3). They suffered a 15-point loss to reigning champion Indiana in the season opener, but they bounced back with victories over Los Angeles and Chicago.

All three of those games were at home. Defeats in the first two contests of a four-game trip, including an 87-72 loss at Minnesota on Tuesday, have seemingly brought the Silver Stars a dose of reality.

San Antonio held a 36-35 halftime lead against the Lynx but was done in by an 18-4 run bridging the third and fourth quarters.

Shenise Johnson scored a team-high 16 as part of a San Antonio bench which totaled 32 points. The club's reserves average 34.5 points but haven't been able to compensate for the losses of Hammon and Young, who combined for 37 percent of the team's scoring last year.

Hammon is likely out until July with a broken middle finger, while Young may be lost for the year due to an ACL tear she suffered while playing in China during the offseason.

"You look at our team, and you take two kids out, Sophia Young and Becky Hammon, and it pushes a couple kids up," coach Dan Hughes said. "The other kids now kind of slide into that bench situation. This is a young team that is still learning roles a little bit."

San Antonio could have the benefit of rest, having been idle for three days while Los Angeles (2-2) is coming off a 97-81 loss at Phoenix on Friday.

The Sparks, who had limited their first three opponents to an average of 73.7 points, let the Mercury shoot 50.0 percent from the field.

"I'm disappointed with the loss, but I'm more disappointed with the way we played," coach Carol Ross said. "There wasn't a whole lot of fight, we didn't handle adversity well and we were not resilient. It's disappointing to not just lose, but lose in that way."

Kristi Toliver led Los Angeles with 18 points while Candace Parker added 15.

Parker had 27 points, 20 rebounds and four blocks in the teams' first meeting, but Los Angeles had a three-game winning streak in the series snapped. Johnson scored a team-high 19 for the Silver Stars.

[StarDust Bum]

Saturday, June 15

Game Score Status Pick Amount

San Antonio - 10:30 PM ET San Antonio +9 500

Los Angeles - Over 158.5 500 POD # 1

[StarDust Bum]

WNBA
Dunkel

Chicago at Atlanta
The Sky look to build on their 5-2 ATS record in their last 7 road games. Chicago is the pick (+4) according to Dunkel, which has the Dream favored by only 2. Dunkel Pick: Chicago (+4). Here are all of today's picks

SUNDAY, JUNE 16

Game 601-602: Indiana at Washington (2:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Indiana 115.417; Washington 107.537
Dunkel Line & Total: Indiana by 8; 149
Vegas Line & Total: Washington by 2 1/2; 143
Dunkel Pick: Indiana (+2 1/2); Over

Game 603-604: Chicago at Atlanta (3:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Chicago 116.188; Atlanta 118.057
Dunkel Line & Total: Atlanta by 2; 149
Vegas Line & Total: Atlanta by 4; 153
Dunkel Pick: Chicago (+4); Under

Game 605-606: Phoenix at Tulsa (4:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Phoenix 110.967; Tulsa 102.651
Dunkel Line & Total: Phoenix by 8 1/2; 166
Vegas Line & Total: Phoenix by 6 1/2; 169 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Phoenix (-6 1/2); Under

Game 607-608: Seattle at Connecticut (5:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Seattle 105.471; Connecticut 116.533
Dunkel Line & Total: Connecticut by 11; 148
Vegas Line & Total: Connecticut by 8 1/2; 143 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Connecticut (-8 1/2); Over




WNBA
Long Sheet

Sunday, June 16

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INDIANA (1 - 4) at WASHINGTON (3 - 1) - 6/16/2013, 2:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
INDIANA is 85-121 ATS (-48.1 Units) as an underdog since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 228-282 ATS (-82.2 Units) in all games since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 26-45 ATS (-23.5 Units) as a home favorite of 3 points or less since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 38-65 ATS (-33.5 Units) when playing with 3 or more days rest since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 143-183 ATS (-58.3 Units) vs. division opponents since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 35-56 ATS (-26.6 Units) off an upset win as an underdog since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
INDIANA is 7-2 against the spread versus WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
INDIANA is 8-1 straight up against WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
5 of 9 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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CHICAGO (4 - 1) at ATLANTA (5 - 1) - 6/16/2013, 3:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
ATLANTA is 9-21 ATS (-14.1 Units) in home games in June games since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
ATLANTA is 5-4 against the spread versus CHICAGO over the last 3 seasons
ATLANTA is 6-3 straight up against CHICAGO over the last 3 seasons
5 of 9 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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PHOENIX (2 - 3) at TULSA (1 - 6) - 6/16/2013, 4:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
PHOENIX is 12-27 ATS (-17.7 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 7-18 ATS (-12.8 Units) vs. division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 6-17 ATS (-12.7 Units) after a division game over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 10-23 ATS (-15.3 Units) after allowing 75 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 4-15 ATS (-12.5 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
TULSA is 5-3 against the spread versus PHOENIX over the last 3 seasons
PHOENIX is 6-2 straight up against TULSA over the last 3 seasons
7 of 8 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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SEATTLE (1 - 3) at CONNECTICUT (2 - 4) - 6/16/2013, 5:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
SEATTLE is 7-19 ATS (-13.9 Units) in road games after 3 or more consecutive unders since 1997.
SEATTLE is 10-2 ATS (+7.8 Units) on Sunday games over the last 2 seasons.
SEATTLE is 13-5 ATS (+7.5 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
CONNECTICUT is 0-6 ATS (-6.6 Units) in home games against Western conference opponents over the last 2 seasons.
CONNECTICUT is 0-6 ATS (-6.6 Units) in home games in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
CONNECTICUT is 2-2 against the spread versus SEATTLE over the last 3 seasons
CONNECTICUT is 2-2 straight up against SEATTLE over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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WNBA

Sunday, June 16

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Trend Report
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2:00 PM
INDIANA vs. WASHINGTON
Indiana is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
Indiana is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
Washington is 1-8 SU in its last 9 games when playing Indiana
Washington is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games at home

3:00 PM
CHICAGO vs. ATLANTA
The total has gone OVER in 10 of Chicago's last 15 games on the road
Chicago is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Atlanta's last 6 games when playing Chicago
Atlanta is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing Chicago

4:30 PM
PHOENIX vs. TULSA
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Phoenix's last 6 games on the road
Phoenix is 2-9 ATS in its last 11 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Tulsa's last 5 games when playing at home against Phoenix
Tulsa is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Phoenix

5:00 PM
SEATTLE vs. CONNECTICUT
Seattle is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
Seattle is 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games when playing on the road against Connecticut
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Connecticut's last 5 games
Connecticut is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games

[StarDust Bum]

Fever-Mystics Preview

Posted Jun 15 2013 3:11PM

Even after President Barack Obama praised the Indiana Fever for their 2012 WNBA championship, Tamika Catchings couldn't help but lament the team's early struggles in 2013.

It's been quite the opposite for the surprising Washington Mystics.

The defending champs look to end a four-game skid while putting a damper on Washington's best start in three years Sunday in the nation's capital.

Indiana visited the White House on Friday to celebrate the team's first title, but Catchings had a business-like mentality soon after the event. The Fever (1-4) are off to their worst start since 2001 after falling 73-61 to Connecticut on Wednesday.

"Right now, our backs are against the wall," Catchings said. "We've got a lot of players injured and a lot of players out, but it's a motivating factor being (at the White House) and having this opportunity. We have to get refocused.''

All-Star Katie Douglas hasn't played since May 31, while Jessica Davenport, Erin Phillips and Jeanette Pohlen have yet to take the court this season.

It's uncertain if Douglas will be able to go Sunday.

Shavonte Zellous, averaging a team-best 18.4 points, scored 14 and Catchings added 11 on Wednesday as Indiana shot a season-worst 34.3 percent. It's averaging 70.4 points, second worst in the WNBA.

"We are just missing too many open shots. We are beat up," coach Lin Dunn said. "We're not clicking on all cylinders. We had mental breakdowns by our younger players.''

While the Fever continue to struggle, the Mystics are surging after winning only five games last season.

First-year coach Mike Thibault has Washington (3-1) off to its best start since winning the first three games of 2010. The Mystics beat defending Western Conference champion Minnesota 85-80 last Saturday.

"We have a chance to get on a little bit of a roll if we can get a win on Sunday," Thibault said.

The coach's biggest contribution may have been convincing free-agent guard Ivory Latta to sign with Washington during the offseason. Latta scored 24 points in the last contest and ranks second in the league averaging 20.5 while adding a team-best 4.5 assists per game.

Monique Currie, who scored a season-best 23 points against Minnesota, suffered through last year's 5-29 effort and sees many differences in this squad.

``We're more than halfway to our total wins from last year just four games in,'' Currie said. "We've been working hard and we deserve to finally kind of change the tide of what has been happening here. We're a lot more attentive, a lot more focused and I think we believe in ourselves a little bit more than we did last year.''

Washington hasn't won three straight since 2010.

The Fever took three of four from the Mystics last season.

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Sky-Dream Preview

Posted Jun 15 2013 2:07PM

International obligations have left the Chicago Sky and Atlanta Dream without a top player, but each squad's respective star has helped make the absences a bit easier.

Elena Delle Donne leads the top offensive team in the Eastern Conference against Angel McCoughtry and the Dream, best in the WNBA on defense, as the Sky visit Atlanta on Sunday.

Epiphanny Prince was leading Chicago with 20.7 points per game when she left earlier this month to help the Russian national team in its quest to qualify for the world championships.

Delle Donne, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2013 draft, stepped up in the Sky's second game without Prince. She scored 23 points and hit two free throws with 1.8 seconds remaining as Chicago (4-1) beat San Antonio 72-70 last Sunday.

"I'm definitely trying to be a little more aggressive, get some double-teams, and get other people open (while Prince isn't playing)," Delle Donne said.

The rookie is fourth in the league with 19.4 points a contest while ranking third with 2.6 blocks.

``We've all been talking about it and the word that we've all used is unique skill set for somebody 6-5, and poise,'' coach Pokey Chatman said.

Delle Donne and center Sylvia Fowles, averaging 13.4 points while leading the WNBA in rebounding at 14.8 per game, have helped the Sky average a conference-best 84.2 points per contest.

They'll likely be in for a tough challenge Sunday, though, as the Dream (5-1) are holding opponents to an average of 68.7 points.

Atlanta played its first of six games Friday without leading rebounder and second-leading scorer Sancho Lyttle, who is competing with Spain's national team overseas.

McCoughtry, the top scorer in the WNBA last season who's averaging 18.8 points this year, scored 23 to go with nine rebounds, seven assists and five steals in a 68-59 win over Seattle on Friday.

Le'Coe Willingham started in Lyttle's place and grabbed eight boards.

``We played Dream basketball - forcing turnovers, contesting shots and running our offense up-tempo,'' McCoughtry said. ``Sancho is a great player, but while she's gone, other people have a chance to step up.''

Atlanta has three players ranked in the top four in the league in steals per game. McCoughtry leads the WNBA with 3.7, followed by teammate Armintie Herrington at 3.4. Lyttle is tied for third with Indiana's Tamika Catchings at 2.8.

``This is a good team, but we can get a lot better,'' McCoughtry said. ``There's a lot of stuff to clean up, but we're off to a pretty good start.''

The Dream went 3-2 in five meetings with the Sky last season. McCoughtry and Fowles each played in four, with McCoughtry scoring 25.0 points per game and Fowles averaging 19.0 points and 10.8 rebounds.

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Mercury-Shock Preview

Posted Jun 15 2013 4:41PM

Despite rookie star Brittney Griner being hobbled, the Phoenix Mercury have bounced back from their rough start behind solid performances from their veterans.

First-year guard Skylar Diggins is having trouble finding her touch with the struggling Tulsa Shock.

Visiting Phoenix looks to win a third straight contest while dealing Tulsa its third consecutive defeat Sunday.

Griner, the center taken No. 1 overall in this year's draft, missed an 82-67 victory over Indiana on June 8 and had her minutes limited during Friday's 97-81 win over Los Angeles due to a sprained knee.

Diana Taurasi helped picked up the slack in each contest. She scored 26 points against the Fever as the Mercury (2-3) ended a three-game losing streak before hitting five 3-pointers in a 34-point effort versus the Sparks.

Fifth-year wing DeWanna Bonner also had back-to-back solid games, scoring 24 points and adding 11 boards against Indiana before recording 23 and 12 on Friday.

``It's not rocket science, it's not brain surgery, it's not making borscht, it's just basketball,'' said Taurasi, who added seven assists and six rebounds Friday. ``We've had a lot of people play well.''

Taurasi has averaged 27.0 points over her last three to increase her league-best scoring average to 21.8.

"Diana leads the way and we follow," said forward Charde Houston, who scored 15 points Friday. "When she plays like that, it lifts everyone up."

The Mercury have increased the tempo lately with Griner, who hit all five of her shots for 10 points while adding four blocks in 15 minutes, nursing her injury.

``We're going to go back and do what we do best and that's organized chaos,'' coach Corey Gaines said. ``That's all that is. (Taurasi is) on another level right now."

Diggins, the No. 3 overall pick this year, is trying to raise her level of play as the Shock (1-6) continue to struggle. She's shooting 27.0 percent on the season and has scored 13 points while hitting four of 17 shots over her last two games.

Tulsa fell 83-74 to Minnesota on Friday despite 22 points and nine rebounds from Glory Johnson and 18 points from Candace Wiggins. Diggins missed her first five field-goal attempts before hitting a bucket with 3:47 remaining.

The Shock and Mercury split four meetings last season. Taurasi played less than 10 minutes in the first matchup and missed the final three while dealing with a strained left hip flexor.

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Storm-Sun Preview

Posted Jun 15 2013 7:32PM

While the Seattle Storm continue to search for ways to ignite their struggling offense, the short-handed Connecticut Sun hope an extended home stretch will help them get back on track.

Two teams near the bottom of their respective conferences again look to improve their early season play Sunday.

Seattle (1-3) ranks last in the WNBA in scoring (65.3 points per game), field-goal percentage (39.1) and 3-point percentage (25.0). Since beating Phoenix 75-72 on June 2, the Storm have failed to score 60 in back-to-back losses.

They were outscored 17-4 in the third quarter and shot 33.9 percent overall in Friday's 68-59 defeat at Atlanta.

"We're going to have to just keep fighting," said veteran forward Tina Thompson, who matched Temeka Johnson with a team-high 11 points. "We're not going to give in. Just going to keep fighting. Keep working, getting better, executing. I think that if we continue to focus on that then we'll be OK."

On a positive note, Seattle went 7 of 19 (36.8 percent) from beyond the arc against the Dream after missing all 17 of its 3-point attempts during a 67-58 loss to Tulsa on June 7.

"We just have to be aggressive," Johnson said. "Take what we want, not what people give us."

Tanisha Wright averages a team-leading 11.3 points, but she's totaled 14 on 5-of-19 shooting in the last two games.

She managed 18 points on 38.1 percent shooting while the Storm split their two meetings with Connecticut in 2012.

Camille Little scored 27 and Thompson added 20 as Seattle shot 52.3 percent to snap a nine-game road skid to the Sun with an 89-83 win July 1. The Storm have won four of seven against Connecticut since losing seven straight in the series.

Connecticut (2-4) has played four of its first six on the road, but begins a stretch of four in a row and six of seven at home. The Sun have split their first two home games.

Since opening with an 81-69 win over New York on May 25, the Sun have averaged 70.0 points while losing four of five. Ending that slide likely won't be easy with key reserve Tan White (broken finger) set to miss a fourth straight contest and Renee Montgomery (sprained ankle) her fifth in a row.

Allison Hightower scored 17 and Kara Lawson added 16, but Connecticut failed to hold an 11-point third-quarter lead in Friday's 78-68 loss to the Liberty.

"The Liberty looked like a team that really got after it in the second half," said coach Anne Donovan, whose team was outscored 54-35 over the final two quarters.

Tina Charles ranks among the league leaders with 19.2 points and 10.7 rebounds per game, but the Sun center went 3 for 17 from the field while being held to season lows of seven points and four boards Friday.