LA Sparks @ Washington Mystics 8/23

[nwhoopfan]

Game is underway. Much better energy level from Parker so far today than the previous game.


What's with these playoff games being played on college campuses? The Mercury game was at Arizona St. and the Mystics are playing on George Washington's floor. I can't imagine there were scheduling conflicts. NBA season is long since over and I think NHL is too? What else could be going on?


Washington leading 15-13 at 4:20 mark of Q1.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Washington running LA off the floor 27-16 after Q1.

 

[nwhoopfan]

They were trading buckets for a while but now the Mystics are up 37-22. Parker and Beard are playing decent but Nneka and Gray are no shows so far.

 

[Geew1992]

Let’s go Mystics....Powers must be one happy chick

 

[nwhoopfan]

48-29 just before halftime. LA can't shoot and Washington can hardly miss.

 

[VAMike23]

They were trading buckets for a while but now the Mystics are up 37-22. Parker and Beard are playing decent but Nneka and Gray are no shows so far.

I read somewhere that Nneka was diagnosed with mono?

If so, then by continuing to play (she played the other night) she is probably running on fumes at best. For most of us, the family doctor would have ordered bed rest, and lots of it.

 

[nwhoopfan]

I read somewhere that Nneka was diagnosed with mono?

If so, then by continuing to play (she played the other night) she is probably running on fumes at best. For most of us, the family doctor would have ordered bed rest, and lots of it.

Yeah, the playoff game against Minnesota was the first I heard that mentioned. She did miss several games during the season due to illness, it was never specified previously.

 

[nwhoopfan]

50-29 at the half. LA has taken some terrible shots, airballs, missing bunnies.

Washington is getting balanced scoring and is just cruising at this point.

 

[VAMike23]

48-29 just before halftime. LA can't shoot and Washington can hardly miss.

If your team is down 20 to the Mystics at the half, your chances of winning are obviously not good - when you add to that the fact that Toliver hasn't even made a 3-pointer yet, well... you get the picture

 

[EricLA]

Go Washington! Hopefully good triumphs over evil...

 

[Shades]

when you add to that the fact that Toliver hasn't even made a 3-pointer yet, well... you get the picture

Chelsea Gray hasn't made a shot yet. She had 26 pts in the last game.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Los Angeles had a tough game against Minnesota and a lot of travel. They look old and tired tonight. Washington is pushing the pace and being very effective. When Cloud and Hawkins are making threes to supplement EDD and KT, this is a dangerous team. EDD is rebounding hard.

Nneka has mono, which was hard to diagnose in her case. Candace has nausea and headaches. She should get checked for mono too. I had it in high school, so I know the headaches.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Mystics are just crushing LA. Now it's 60-34.


Gray hits them regularly, but she takes so many tough, low percentage shots. Tonight they are not dropping at all, still no FG for her.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Natasha Cloud played at Cardinal O'Hara (in the tough Philly Catholic League) and was the #96 recruit in 2010. She went to Maryland and transferred to St. Joseph's, so she was under the radar. Coach Mike liked her and drafted her. She has made herself into a solid player.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Gray and Nneka both got their first FG in back to back possessions. But LA can't get a stop on the other end to save their life. Mystics' role players are performing very well.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Tianna Hawkins was an unranked (not top 100) recruit who went to Maryland. She was overshadowed by Lynetta Kizer and Alyssa Thomas, but she quietly made herself a solid player, especially as a rebounder, at Maryland. She added the 3-point shot. She is now an effective bench player for the Mystics. Interesting story--from a unranked high school recruit to the WNBA Playoffs.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Gray and Nneka both got their first FG in back to back possessions. But LA can't get a stop on the other end to save their life. Mystics' role players are performing very well.

Washington is shooting 60/50/100. Phenomenal!

 

[Beemer]

Wow the Mystics are just dismantling the Sparks. LA has no answers.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Tolliver finally hit a 3. Not that Washington has needed it. 73-44 w/ about a minute left in Q3.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Well this is fitting. As good as Minnesota and LA were the two previous seasons, neither of them played consistently well this season. Both will be done early in the playoffs. As someone who doesn't follow the WNBA very closely I'm happy to see a changing of the guard, more interesting to me.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Both Minnesota and L.A. struggled in the regular season. As a result, they had to play in the first round and lost home court advantage eventually. It was an uphill battle for both, and ultimately too much.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Well this is fitting. As good as Minnesota and LA were the two previous seasons, neither of them played consistently well this season. Both will be done early in the playoffs. As someone who doesn't follow the WNBA very closely I'm happy to see a changing of the guard, more interesting to me.

Young and athletic is the new M.O. in the league. Minnesota is one of the slowest teams in the league and the oldest. L.A. isn't quite as slow or old, but the younger teams attack them relentlessly. Watch Washington, Connecticut, Atlanta, Seattle, and even Las Vegas in terms of how they push pace.

 

[Blueballer]

Hope they beat LA by 40

 

[nwhoopfan]

LA is putting a little window dressing on it, 77-55 now. Don't think the margin is going to get to 40.


Sparks have Parker, Ogwumike and Lavender all on the floor together. I don't think I've see that lineup before.

 

[MilfordHusky]

L.A. made a run with their pressure defense and FT shooting, but Washington's starters came back in and went on a 10-0 run. The Sparks are toast.