SPARKS vs. HOUSTON

FORWARDS

Sparks’ DeLisha Milton (6-2) vs. Comets’ Sheryl Swoopes (6-0), Sparks’ Mwadi Mabika (6-0) vs. Comets’ Tina Thompson (6-2). Milton-Swoopes is a superb matchup of two of the league’s best defenders. Mabika also will guard Swoopes for part of the game, as might Tamecka Dixon. Swoopes’ offensive game is her great open-court passes or breakaways. She also led the league in steals. Milton isn’t nearly the shooter Swoopes is but is effective inside. Thompson had 21 rebounds in two playoff victories over Sacramento.

CENTERS

Sparks’ Lisa Leslie (6-5) vs. Comets’ Tiffani Johnson (6-4). This is a mismatch. The Sparks invited Johnson, who played for Pat Summitt at Tennessee, to training camp a year ago and cut her within days. She averaged 4.2 points and 4.7 rebounds for the Comets. Leslie averaged 17.8 points and 9.6 rebounds.

GUARDS

Sparks’ Ukari Figgs (5-9) vs. Comets’ Janeth Arcain (5-11), Sparks’ Tamecka Dixon (5-9) vs. Cynthia Cooper (5-10). Cooper, a two-time WNBA MVP, is averaging 20.5 points a game. Dixon may be one of the best combination defense/offense guards in the WNBA. When Swoopes had only eight points against Los Angeles July 29, Dixon carried much of the defensive load. Figgs doesn’t figure to score much but lately has been making excellent decisions on offense.

BENCH

No contest here. Even Houston Coach Van Chancellor says the Sparks are the WNBA’s deepest team. Allison Feaster and Clarisse Machanguana would start for half the other WNBA teams. Cooper almost always gives three subs major minutes, while Chancellor most often plays two. And it isn’t unusual for Thompson, Cooper and Swoopes to play 38 to 40 minutes.

THE PICK

Sparks in two in this best-of-three Western Conference finals matchup. The formula that got the Sparks a 3-0 regular-season sweep of the Comets still applies: Stop one of the Big Three (Cooper, Swoopes, Thompson), and Houston has no plan B.