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Sacramento vs. Connecticut: Preview and Pick |
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Written by Alleks
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Friday, 20 June 2008 |
 VS.  Sacramento Monarchs vs. Connecticut Sun
Despite splitting the first four games of their road trip, the Connecticut Sun have been able to remain atop the Eastern Conference standings. The Sun will look to stay in first on Friday night when they wrap up the swing against the Sacramento Monarchs, who will try to avoid their third straight loss at Arco Arena. Connecticut (9-3) has the most wins in the league, and leads Detroit by one-half game in the East. The Sun and Shock will meet in a home-and-home series starting Tuesday in Connecticut.
Sacramento saw its three-game winning streak snapped Saturday following a 74-66 home loss to the Sparks. Rebekkah Brunson scored 16 points and had eight rebounds, but the Monarchs shot just 6-of-33 in the second half, missing all 15 shots they took in the third quarter. "We had some players who were asking to come out of the game, they were tired," said Sacramento coach Jenny Boucek, whose team shot 32.3 percent. "Some nights you're not going to have enough gas in the tank when you're playing a great team like the Sparks."
Prediction Sacramento won 4 of last 6 games and had chances in both home games against Detroit and LA Sparks to make 6 of 6. But unfortunately they wasted 17 pts lead vs LA, and lost 4th quarter to Detroit by 12 points. Now they are on 2 home games losing streak and I expect this streak to end today when they host Sun. Sacramento is physical defensive team and it is not the type of team Connecticut sun would like to matchup at the end of 5 games away trip. Sacramento lost in Connecticut by 23 points but was leading 13 points after first quarter - it shows the potential of Sacramento against Connecticut. Now Monarchs are looking much better and I expect them to dictate their rules at Sacramento where they were always hard to beat. I think that the main reason of their huge loss to Phoenix was a fatique factor which came into the game in the 2nd half which Connecticut lost by 20 points (30:50). Today they will play against tough physical defense and I am not sure that they will be able to stay in the game for a whole game. Sacramento have fresher legs, they are well rested and they have revenge factor on their side. That's why I can't see them underdogs in the line and expect to win by 5-12 points. Predicted score: Sacramento 79 - 72 Connecticut Pick: Sacramento to win @ 2.03 PinnacleSports New articles on this topic:
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