The playoffs have moved to the Conference Finals. Although some of the opening round series went deeper than expected, the results were as called...

While the playoffs unfold, some of the season awards have already been issued. Lisa Leslie has been named the Defensive Player of the Year and Connecticut Sun Head Coach Mike Thibault was named Coach of the Year. That one took me by surprise as I though the award was on its way to San Antonio or Detroit. Thibault won the accolade by virtue of taking a young team to the playoffs. For the record, the Liberty is also a young team and they upset the Sun to advance to the Conference Final.

We'll review how the final four made it to this level by taking a look at the opening rounds.

East

The Detroit Shock advanced after going the distance with the Indiana Fever. Allowing the Fever to hang around in Game 1 must have put thoughts in their heads because they out played a surprised Shock team in Game 2 and walked off with an overtime victory.

The Shock put an end to the Fever's foolish notions with a thorough stomping in Game 3. By the end of the half they led by 30. Give credit to the Fever for coming back onto the court for the second half. That was the extent of their effort as they were dispatched 61-80.

The NY Liberty pulled off what is considered an upset by beating the 2 seed Sun in three games. The Liberty had the muscle and they used it in games one and three. They kept the score low, controlled the paint and had more rebounds than their foe to offset the Sun's better scoring prowess.

While the Liberty benefited from a short series with the Sun it will be of no avail against the Shock unless, once again, Janele McCarville plays way above her head. The Shock is too deep and can easily seize control. Kara Braxton, Taj McWilliams-Franklin, Plenette Peirson and Kelly Schumacher are just four of the weapons Coach Laimbeer can level at McCarville.

McCarville doesn't have that kind of help to watch her back, so depth in starters and the bench will again prove to be the trump card for Detroit. The Liberty should make it interesting and drag it out to three games.

West

The San Antonio Silver Stars sandwiched two close wins around a drubbing to walk away with the series over the Sacramento Monarchs. The Monarchs flexed their muscles in Game 2 and beat up on the smaller Silver Stars, but Becky Hammon and Sophia Young torched them in the other two meetings.

Ann Wauters and Ruth Riley had to play protector for their smaller scorers and if they think they had it tough against Sacramento, they learned just how hard it can be in Game 1 of the Conference Final.

The Los Angeles Sparks left a totally devastated Seattle Storm team to pick up the pieces after taking the opening round series on their foes floor. This was probably the most emotional series of the opening round. These two teams do not like each other and don't mind letting anyone know.

After winning in LA the Sparks rolled into Seattle talking up their superior front court of Lisa Leslie, Candace Parker and Delisha Milton-Jones. Both the Storm and the local press were anxious to get back onto the hardwood and Seattle came out fighting in Game 2. The level of play was testy and there were some calls that should have been made. With the whistles remaining silent the Storm pounded Leslie and Parker and walked away with a lopsided win and the feeling that the series would be theirs.

Perhaps sensing that Game 3 would be a war, Lauren Jackson tested her surgically repaired ankle, but was ruled a no go for the contest. Having adjusted to the Storm's level of intensity, the Sparks came out fast and took early control of the game. They held control until the closing minutes when the Storm climbed back in and tried valiantly to grab a lead. The Sparks relied on their superior firepower and size to control the game and deny Sue Bird scoring chances. The strategy did open up opportunities for Katie Geralds, Ashley Robinson and Tanisha Wright, but they couldn't capitalize in crunch time. Veterans Sheryl Swoopes and Yolanda Griffith appeared to run out of gas down the stretch and the Sparks took the series.

The loss not only ends the season for the Storm, but opens up some off season activity that will have a huge impact on the future of the franchise. Lauren Jackson's contract is up and there were reports that several of the players were unhappy with the timing of her surgery. Jackson has often expressed more enthusiasm for her Australian national team and was openly talking about leaving the WNBA if the Storm had been involved in the Sonics move to Oklahoma City. At this point she may opt to split the Emerald City and the league to return to the land down under.

The loss of the Sonics leaves the Storm as the sole tenant of the Key Arena. While the city government continues to deny the barn isn't a white elephant, asking a franchise that plays a 17 game home schedule to handle the rent alone is a tall order. A change of venue could be in order and that could necessitate a move by the team.

While the Storm ponders its future off court, the Sparks continue to play on. Thursday night they opened the Conference Finals and a can of whup ass as they powdered the Silver Stars 70-85. They will travel to Texas to conclude the series.

Once again the Sparks are the better team in the series and can only lose if they beat themselves. But, they have managed to do that this season. Far too many times they have taken their foot off of the gas and been side swiped by losses that shouldn't have occurred. Yes, the Storm took advantage of WNBA officiating in Game 2 of their series, but the Sparks should have been able to play the same game.

They have the roster and the potential to win it all, but they cannot afford to rest on their laurels. Both San Antonio and Detroit would love to knock off their more glamorous opponent.

Regarding the officiating, I believe that a conference is due prior to the finals. The WNBA has developed in talent and have tremendous athletes who are performing at a high level of intensity. As is the case in other leagues, that level of intensity leads to aggression. Bodies are beginning to get slammed in the WNBA just like they do in the NBA and with the same result. In other words, it doesn't matter if you sit or stand to empty your bladder, if someone smacks you in the face, elbows you in the gut, or drops a shoulder into your chest, you are going to react.

The league had its first brawl this season in a game between LA and Detroit and they could be playing for the title. The refs must clamp down on the play. In Game 3 of their series Seattle's Wright hit LA's Milton-Jones in the chops and the resulting call was a technical on each player. Sparks Coach Cooper was within his rights when he asked, "How does D get a foul for getting punched?"

Likewise, the players are becoming more argumentative and constantly get in the grill of the refs. That leads to the type of play described above. You folks get those tight gray t-s and those black polyester slacks, so earn the right to wear that uniform and do your job.

All of that said, the Sparks should sweep the Silver Stars and rest up for the Shock.

NBA

When Billie Holiday sang "Autumn in New York" she should have added a verse about Allan Houston returning to the Knicks camp to attempt another return to the league. That's right, while the team goes about getting rid of a headache by the name of Stephon Marbury, they are taking another look at the back ache, shoulder ache, ankle ache and knee ache that punctuated the career of #20. I love Houston and I respect what he has done for the City, but I think this franchise would be better served by putting a man of his integrity in a suit and installing him behind a front office desk, instead of letting him try to recapture his glory days as a player.

Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert went nuts regarding a local report that LeBron James was considering a move to the Apple. Apparently King James choice of a crown, his Yankees cap, has led the local press to believe he would be happier in NYC. While I am quick to sing the virtues of the city that never sleeps over those of the mistake by the lake, I wouldn't want to be a member of the Knicks and I suck at basketball. The only way LeBron is going to NYC is if he plays centerfield for the Yankees.

Unless I get a call up from the Oklahoma Thunder, I'll be back next week to talk about the WNBA Finals and why Candace Parker deserves every remaining award.