Kritik und Lob » t the Sharks.With skipper Paul Ga

Minnesota and Los Angeles , the top two teams in the WNBA during the regular season, have looked every bit the best in the league during the WNBA semifinals. Both have 2-0 leads. Now its up to Phoenix and Chicago, with some help with their home crowds, to try to extend their respective series.Thats going to be tough, because the Lynx and Sparks really have not left the door open for that to happen. The Mercury and Sky are going to have to force it open by taking the series leaders out of their comfort zones.Sunday on ESPN, Chicago hosts Los Angeles (3 p.m. ET) and Phoenix hosts Minnesota (5 p.m, ET). The Lynx and the Sparks for the most part have done exactly what they wanted to do offensively; Minnesota won its two games by an average of 14.0 points, Los Angeles by 17.5.Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve wasnt thrilled with her teams defense in Fridays 96-86 victory, so that will be her biggest focus. Of course, she expects the Mercury will be more energized by playing in Phoenix on Sunday.But the defending champion Lynx are so good about not getting rattled, even by the sure-to-be-vocal Phoenix fans. For the Mercury, its do-or-die time in a season where theyve had multiple peaks and valleys. They have to avoid foul trouble, and theyll need a much bigger presence from center Brittney Griner than she had in the first two games.A week ago Sunday, Chicago knocked off visiting Atlanta in a second-round single-elimination game at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois. As joyful as the Sky were after that game, realistically they knew theyd have their hands full in this series with the Sparks.That would be the case even if 2015 MVP Elena Delle Donne were healthy for Chicago. With her out with a thumb injury, the Sky really have to play at an extraordinarily high level defensively to try to keep the Sparks from running away from them.The Sparks post players stole the show in the opening game, a 95-75 victory. In the second game, which Los Angeles won 99-84, the Sparks bombarded the Sky both from inside and outside the paint.Los Angeles is trying to make the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2003.Im coaching a lot of mature players, and theyre pros. So not much needs to be said, Sparks coach Brian Agler said when asked if theres any different approach he takes since its a potential series-clincher. We just talk about what we think were going to see and prepare for that. And just understand that theyre going to be playing with a tremendous sense of urgency. And were going to have to play that same way.Custom Denver Nuggets Jerseys . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night. Thomas Welsh Nuggets Jersey . -- Ken Appleby made 32 saves for his first shutout of the season to lead the Oshawa Generals to a 2-0 win over the Belleville Bulls on Wednesday in Ontario Hockey League action. http://www.nuggetsproshop.com/Carmelo-Anthony-Nuggets-Jersey/ . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season. Dikembe Mutombo Jersey . The formidable trio of Canadian receivers -- individually known as Chris Getzlaf, Rob Bagg and Andy Fantuz -- will share the field at Mosaic Stadium one more time on Sunday. Will Barton Jersey . -- The proud fathers huddled near the Dallas Stars dressing room, smiling, laughing and telling stories while wearing replica green sweaters of their sons team.Luke Lewis has agreed to a one-year contract extension which will keep the veteran NRL back-rower at Cronulla until the end of 2017.Off-contract at the end of this year, the 33-year-old has agreed to terms but is yet to put pen to paper.Lewis reportedly attracted interest from South Sydney but has elected to stay put in the Shire in what shapes as his 17th and final season in the top flight.Its been good to get the decision out of the way, Lewis said on Wednesday.I havent got anything done and dusted as of yet but I have agreed to terms and Im looking forward to another year at the Sharks.With skipper Paul Gallen to re-sign, Chris Heighington and Sam Tagataese are the only members of the Sharks top 17 whose futures remain up in the air.Lewis and fellow veteran Gallen sat out Wednesdays session at Central Coast Stadium but will run out againstt Souths on Monday night.ddddddddddddhe side has bunkered down in camp in Terrigal as they search for answers after going winless the past three weeks.While Shane Flanagans team has only lost four games this year, they find themselves in a hole three weeks out from the semi-finals having been knocked from top spot by Melbourne.Lewis said they didnt handle the pressure of being the hunted and were caught off guard by sides aiming up against them.When youre sitting up the top there - Melbourne are getting it as well, now Canberra, everyones going to be wanting to knock Canberra off - its just what happens, Lewis said.And its a great challenge for us. We just havent stood up to the challenge the last couple of weeks. ' ' '