Game 2: Mystics at Fever

Greetings from Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis where everyone is getting ready for Game 2 of the WNBA's Eastern Conference Semifinal as the Mystics try to extend their season. Tonight's game is being televised on NBA-TV and I'll also be tweeting from press row during the game. You can follow me at @WPKatieCarrera.

Here are some keys to the game for the Mystics:

*Find a way to keep Crystal Langhorne involved offensively. Washington can't afford to lose the points that their most reliable presence in the post brings. Indiana did an outstanding job of keeping the Mystics from getting the ball to Langhorne in the second half with Tamika Catchings guarding her, but the Mystics may be better prepared to counteract that approach.

"I just have to work harder to get the same opportunities against Catchings," Langhorne said before warm up. "The coaches have worked on a few things to help get me the ball and hopefully they'll work out."

*Get off to a strong start. The Mystics have done rather well in games when their backs were against the wall this season, and it doesn't get anymore dire than an elimination game in the playoffs. If they allow Indiana to match their intensity early, or don't come out with enough desperation, they'll face an even more confident Fever squad -- if it's possible for a team that's beaten them five times this season to become more confident.

*Play consistent defense. As Game 1 proved, it only takes a few minutes of defensive lapses for the Fever to run up the score. If the Mystics can avoid the errors in rapid succession they should be able to keep pace.

"We can talk about, well we didn't make that shot or we didn't make this shot [in the fourth quarter of Game 1] but when we watched the tape it was all just defensive breakdowns," Nakia Sanford said. "We can't have those. That's the bottom line."

*Contain Catchings. Yes this is much easier said than done, but the Mystics can't let Tamika Catchings torch them for another 26 points and 12 rebounds.

*Prevent a third Indiana scorer from catching fire. Coach Julie Plank said after Game 1 that although Catchings and Katie Douglas will likely get their points, if the Mystics can find a way to prevent a third shooter from doing too much damage they give themselves much more of a fighting chance. I'm very curious to see how they try to defend against rookie point guard Briann January this time around after the Arizona State grad put on a show picking apart their defense throughout the second half Thursday night.

By Katie Carrera  |  September 19, 2009; 6:40 PM ET
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