Aussie Phillips helps Fever to WNBA title

Updated October 22, 2012 19:31:40

It may have cost her an Olympic medal around her neck but Australian basketball star Erin Phillips' commitment to her club yielded a WNBA championship ring for her finger.

Phillips' Indiana Fever secured their first WNBA title with an 87-78 win over defending champion Minnesota (Monday morning AEDT), the victory handing the Fever a 3-1 lead in the best-of-five series.

The 27-year-old from Melbourne produced one of the best performances of her career in the game four win with 18 points and eight rebounds as she joined the likes of fellow Australians Lauren Jackson, Tully Bevilaqua, Belinda Snell and Penny Taylor in winning a WNBA championship.

"They made some huge runs at us and gave it everything at us, and I'm just relieved more than anything because we deserve this," Phillips told reporters.

"We've been through so much as a team, we've lost in crucial times and we've stuck together. I'm just so proud right now."

But there was a price to pay for Phillips' success after she was overlooked by Australian coach Carrie Graf for the Opals squad which collected Olympic bronze in London.

Unlike Jackson - who opted to stay in Australia to prepare for the Olympics before rejoining Seattle after the Games - Phillips played the entire season for the Fever.

It is a decision the speedy guard believes played a role in her omission from the national side.

Having been a member of the Australian squad which claimed silver at the 2008 Games, Phillips was devastated at the snub.

But two months on, her decision was somewhat vindicated with her stand-out performances during the finals series.

Phillips, who won a WNBL title with Adelaide Lightning in 2007/08, took her game to a new level to help cover for the absence of injured star Katie Douglas.

Elevated to the starting side after the Fever's opening play-off game, Phillips went from strength to strength as the postseason went on.

Having averaged 6.1 points during the regular season, she stepped it up to average 6.7 points in the semi-finals and nine points per game in the conference finals.

Then in the finals series she more than doubled her regular season output as she averaged 13.5 points a game - which included her break-out performance in the title-clinching win.

She proved to be the perfect foil for final MVP Tamika Catchings, who top-scored with 25 points in the nine-point win over the Lynx.

An Olympic gold medallist and regular season MVP, the NBA title was the final entry into a glittering resume for the American superstar.

"When you come into this league, your goal and dream is to win a WNBA championship," Catchings said.

"Twelve years later ... it's so sweet right now."

AAP

Tags: basketball, sport, united-states

First posted October 22, 2012 19:31:40

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Cambage dunk helps Opals slam Russia

Updated August 04, 2012 11:34:42

Liz Cambage has inspired the Opals to another win at the London Olympics, edging Russia in a hard-fought game 70-66.

The 203cm star top-scored with 17 points, including a rare dunk, as Australia improved its record to three wins from four games in Group B.

Cambage was ably supported by Suzy Batkovic who bagged 15 points as the Opals held onto a narrow lead for most of the game.

Australia threatened to pull clear in the final quarter, however Russia clawed their way back and at one stage got within two points.

But Cambage's dunk was all the talk after the game. She described it as an "out-of-body experience".

"It's good to finally just do it and get everyone off my back," she said.

"It was kind of like I had an out-of-body experience. I never do it in practice, I'm a bit shy about doing it, and it's the first time I've ever done it in a game.

"After I did it I tried to stay focused because everyone was joking on me."

Opals skipper Lauren Jackson was in awe of Cambage's effort.

"I have never seen one dunk in a game before," Jackson said.

"I was on the bench and I just couldn't believe it. It was different to Lisa Leslie (American who dunked the ball in a WNBA game), because that one was almost a lay-up.

"This one was much more a dunk."

Jackson was particularly happy with the Opals' victory as pressure builds for places heading into the play-offs.

"We won a tough game, which became more important because we did it after losing a tough game," Jackson said.

Meanwhile, the Czech Republic made a perfect start but the US enjoyed the happier ending as it extended its Olympic winning streak to 37 games with a 88-61 victory in Group A action.

The Czechs scored the first 10 points of the game and continued to rain down three-pointers for the rest of the first quarter before the US ratcheted up their defensive pressure to take control of the contest.

Diana Taurasi led the US with 18 points and Tina Charles scored 16.

Maya Moore added 14 and was a catalyst in the team's defensive turnaround.

"That's my job. When I get into the game, I want to create chaos for the other team as well as I can," Taurasi said.

The US will finish preliminary round action against China before lining up for a quarter-final next week in the pursuit of a fifth straight Olympic title.

ABC/Reuters

Tags: sport, basketball, olympics-summer, australia

First posted August 03, 2012 22:21:26

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How Youth Basketball Helps Develop Useful Life Skills

James helps Heat to level series

Updated May 19, 2011 15:41:00

The Miami Heat rebounded from a blowout loss in Game One to beat the Chicago Bulls 85-75 on Wednesday and level the Eastern Conference Finals at one game apiece.

"Whatever it takes," said Heat star LeBron James, who finished with 29 points.

"This is the conference finals and these are two great defensive teams. But you have to be patient... keep working the offence."

Dwyane Wade added 24 points for the Heat, who managed to steal home-court advantage from the Bulls as the series now switches to Miami.

James, who has been fighting a cold this week, said he was relieved to get the win but was also relishing the chance to go home and rest up.

"Do you hear my voice?" he asked.

"I put it all on line tonight. I am glad I got a few days to get back down to the great weather we got in Miami and get over it (cold)."

The Heat recovered down the stretch Wednesday to pull even after surrendering an 11-point lead earlier in the contest.

James drained a three pointer in the fourth to put the Heat in front for good, at 76-73.

He scored nine points in the final five minutes and also grabbed 10 rebounds as Miami outrebounded Chicago 45-41.

"The series has just started," James said.

"It's 1-1. We're excited that we were able to come here and get a win. But it's just started."

The Bulls ended Game One on a 46-24 run en route to winning the contest 103-82. The Heat limited them to just two points in the final seven minutes in Game Two.

James also grabbed 10 rebounds while Wade finished with nine rebounds for the Heat, who host Sunday's game three. Chris Bosh scored 10 points.

Udonis Haslem came off the bench to score 13 points for Miami, which defeated the Bulls for the first time this season.

"We got the one that we needed," Wade said.

"Now, we go home and we've got to take care of business. This team right here is like us. They can win at home and on the road."

Derrick Rose scored 21 points but had only two in the fourth quarter for the Bulls.

Luol Deng added 13 but had just four after the opening period. Rose and Deng were the only Chicago players to finish in double figures.

Joakim Noah finished with nine points and eight rebounds. Taj Gibson came on strong in the final quarter, scoring all of his eight points.

Carlos Boozer struggled Wednesday, sitting out the final quarter after recording seven points and eight boards.

- AFP

Tags: sport, basketball, united-states

First posted May 19, 2011 15:26:00

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