Lynx vs Sparks... Predictions! | Page 2 | The Boneyard

Lynx vs Sparks... Predictions!

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Though I love Maya, I really don't have a dog in this fight...thought it was a great game that exhibited amazing talent on both sides of the ball. I was super-impressed by Tolliver, who kept throwing up daggers that kept LA in the game. But my primary reaction was that I thought Lynx coaching was less-than-stellar. LA had no one who could defense big Syl, but they did not focus on getting the ball into her hands down low. Yes, she wound up getting a lot of second chance points, but she should have been the primary option.
 
VAUConnFan said:
End of game defense gotta maintain contact and gotta stay home. Maya had a foot in the paint almost the entire time, almost got caught behind a screen, and never checked on the whereabouts of the person she was defending.

While Alana Beard is not the offensive threat she was when she entered the league, she is still a lifetime 43% shooter and a former Wade Trophy winner. That makes her better than good enough to warrant concern.
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Yeah, Maya wasn't quite in the right place. But I didn't want Nneka, Chelsea, or Kristi talking that last shot. Alana was basically at 3-point range. Her percentage the past 4 years from the arc has been only 13%, 29%, 18%, and 34%. Kristi over the same period has shot 38%, 39%, 38%, and 42%.
 
MilfordHusky said:
Yeah, Maya wasn't quite in the right place. But I didn't want Nneka, Chelsea, or Kristi talking that last shot. Alana was basically at 3-point range. Her percentage the past 4 years from the arc has been only 13%, 29%, 18%, and 34%. Kristi over the same period has shot 38%, 39%, 38%, and 42%.
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I mean, if Gray or Nneka or Candace or Toliver had scored one-on-one, people would be complaining that the Lynx didn't force her to give up the ball to a less likely hero. Beard was something like 1 for 4 up until that point. She made a contested long jumper. The defense could've been better but it's not like they gave up a layup.
 
Plebe said:
I mean, if Gray or Nneka or Candace or Toliver had scored one-on-one, people would be complaining that the Lynx didn't force her to give up the ball to a less likely hero. Beard was something like 1 for 4 up until that point. She made a contested long jumper. The defense could've been better but it's not like they gave up a layup.
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Maya had a foot in the paint when Beard caught the ball. If you consider that a contested shot, then all praises to Maya who did well to get back into the picture.

Hypothetical scenario: Late game possession, tie score, do you slough off of Kobe, Michael, LeBron, Diana, Sue, Maya, Robert Horry, Larry Bird, or Kareem if they are 1 for 4 at that point? Does Notre Dame back off of Diana in a hypothetically tied game in the 2001 national semifinal when she was 1 for 15? Is there any doubt in anyone's mind that Diana takes that shot despite being 1-15. Did not Coach Auriemma put the ball in Diana's capable hands with UConn up six with 1:30 to go in the national final game a year later at point when she was 4 for 15. Everyone on the floor in end of game situations is a scoring threat by design.
 
The difference was Gray coming off the bench to take over the point guard duties, in my opinion. Whalen did a great job but the Lynx's substitute point guards did not impact the game the way Gray did with her size and shooting.
 
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uconn_nyc said:
The difference was Gray coming off the bench to take over the point guard duties, in my opinion. Whalen did a great job but the Lynx's substitute point guards did not impact the game the way Gray did with her size and shooting.
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Gray's play in the second half of the season overall has been quite illuminating for Los Angeles. Her play has impacted the team trmendously. The trade will not reflect well with Connecticut. [The Los Angeles Sparks have acquired guard Chelsea Gray, the 15th and 23rd picks in the 2016 WNBA Draft and the first round pick in the 2017 draft from the Connecticut Sun in exchange for the draft rights to guard Jonquel Jones and the 17th pick in the 2016 WNBA Draft, executive vice president and general manager Penny Toler announced today.]
 
The local police in Minneapolis have put out an All Points Bulletin for the arrest and apprehension of every member of the Los Angels Sparks Basketball Team. They are wanted in connection of a grand theft robbery they committed on Sunday when they stole a game from the Lynx with no time left on the clock, thereby breaking the hearts and spirit of everyone in attendance.

The police want to find and arrest the Sparks as quickly as possible. An anonymous source for the Sparks indicated that there was more were this came from, and that the Sparks would strike again. Many Lynx fans were seen leaving the arena weeping and sobbing. This was Grand theft larceny at it's worst. Heh heh heh. :D

Go Sparks.
 
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easttexastrash said:
I would like to see the Sparks win a championship. In a year that Parker and Nneka, IMO, should have been on the Olympic team, it would be nice to see them win a WNBA championship.
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ET, I seriously doubt that you will post a comment this year that I will agree with more. I would love to see MY Sparks (my hometown team) bring this thing home. Go Sparks. :cool:
 
easttexastrash said:
I would like to see the Sparks win a championship. In a year that Parker and Nneka, IMO, should have been on the Olympic team, it would be nice to see them win a WNBA championship.
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Yeah, because the Olympic team really struggled without them and their chemistry was just a mess.
 
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Lynx need to win tonight or it will likely be a sweep for the Sparks. They did a good job last game, but LA made the big plays. Get the ball into Big Syl, close out on LA's shooters and take care of the ball and it'll be a Lynx win. Otherwise, I have a hard time seeing Minnesota win 2 straight in LA, then having to win a third straight game against LA.
 
The first game was such a good game. I'm skipping UMW tonight because I want to see the game live not taped. Hope it's another exciting game. Especially since the WNBA REALLY needs more fans.

p.s. I'm glad I didn't predict. I would've predicted Lynx in three because LA played SO poorly after the Olympic break. Glad to have been wrong.
 
Magy Cannon said:
The first game was such a good game. I'm skipping UMW tonight because I want to see the game live not taped. Hope it's another exciting game. Especially since the WNBA REALLY needs more fans.

p.s. I'm glad I didn't predict. I would've predicted Lynx in three because LA played SO poorly after the Olympic break. Glad to have been wrong.
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Well Magy, stepping out on limbs is what I do (along with making predictions) Although my "gift" of prognostication only works between November 1st and the end of the first week in April, I'll start early this year. I'm predicting a Lynx win tonight.

The Lynx are a complete veteran team that got snake bit at the end of the 1st game. I don't think they're going to be swept (although I would have no problem if they were), and I don't think they'll lose tonight. The Lynx will bounce back and tie this series at 1-1. I'll be watching tonight also. There's something special about this year's Sparks team. I see this series going 4 games with the Sparks hoisting the championship trophy high for all to see during their victory lap around the Staples Center. Magy, Never underestimate the heart of a champion!. :p
 
DaddyChoc said:
I agree... and I love Renee and Siemone
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Just a thought.........How much better do you think the San Antonio Stars would instantly become if they could work out a trade for both of these ladies, and take some pressure off of MoJeff? Maybe they could work a three-way deal, and get a much needed BIG in the process. I'll hang up and listen. :)
 
Memo to Ana Cruz: Get the freakin' ball to a team mate that can actually hit a shot. You, it would seem, can't hit anything.
 
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Minnesota's Seimone Augustus passed Diana Taurasi in Game 2 for the No. 2 spot on the all-time WNBA Finals scoring list.

stick around with Maya a little longer she will create a bigger gap
 
More like it.

Amazing how Candace can just disappear in a game

Old Pro Alana Beard put her team on her back and kept LA in the game until she got tired and the pressure of
holding up the team got to her.

Nnecka plays tough all the time and is a talented actress to boot as coach Reeve emphatically pointed out.

On the Minny side, Maya was Maya...not perfect mind you ; some silly passes, some thoughtless defensive sequences...but the woman (our woman...gads she's 27 already) is a winner, with the ability to put the ball in the hoop from many.many different angles...gads, what a show she put on... perhaps a bit undisciplined on D, but the effort is always there and it pays off as often as not. She was tired at the end too.

And big Syl is playing the most liberated BB of her life. Boy, has Cheryl coached her up big time.

When Seimone went on her personal mini-run; LA just didn't have the firepower to answer...no one even wanted to shoot and Parker was asleep at the switch.
 
Rene has played 14 min in 2 games, 3 Asst, 3 TO and zero pts.
I have not watched the games.
Is she injured?
Or is she overwhelmed?
 
I noticed that myself. She has, for the first two games, dropped in the guard rotation. It has been a physical series so far. Maybe her replacement, forgot her name, plays more physical than Renee, or better defense. The lynx did not need her offense last night. I was impressed with the defense played by the Lynx. Brunson worked hard against Parker.
 
Candace did kind of "disappear," but she has been quoted as saying that she's never at her best when asked to play on Kol Nidre night. She should reappear for Game 3!
 
Cheryl must have seen something she doesn't like from Renee, as Anna Cruz has moved ahead of her for PT.
 
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After three games, what are your predictions for the last two?

Before game 1, I thought Lynx in three. Now, I think maybe Sparks in four.

Anyone think the Lynx will pull it out?
 
Magy Cannon said:
After three games, what are your predictions for the last two?

Before game 1, I thought Lynx in three. Now, I think maybe Sparks in four.

Anyone think the Lynx will pull it out?
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Hey Magy, welcome to my world. That's what I predicted earlier this week, the Sparks in 4. Right now, I'm looking pretty good. Especially if the Lynx start the game slow, and stink it up tomorrow like they did last night.
Somehow, I don't think that will happen. They are a talented and well coached veteran team They will not go down easy. Maya can not have another game like she did last night. They boxed her up like a Christmas gift. I expect the Lynx to come out and jump on the Sparks quickly, and pressure them the entire game. This is do or die for the Lynx, who seen to play their best basketball when their backs are to the wall.

The Sparks can put them out of their misery Sunday. Playing game 4 at home in front of a very partisan and raucous crowd will be the last best chance they have of winning this thing. It's not going to be easy. The Sparks DO NOT want to go back to Minneapolis for a game 5. The Lynx will go back home to Minneapolis after the game. The question is, will they be dragging the Sparks back with them? We'll see who wants this game the most. IF the Lynx can force a game 5, I think they'll win it. Go Sparks.
 
If Parker and Ogwumike dominate the paint like they did in game 3 and the Sparks takes out the head of the snake MM, then the Lynx are done and done!!! Here hoping there will be a game 5 for an exciting series!!!!
 
The Lynx need Sylvia and Rebekkah to play big.

Minnesota is not dead, but their road is tough. They are a proud bunch, and Cheryl will push them.
 
The Lynx look better on paper but the Sparks are so cohesive out there when shots fall and Parker/Ogwumike get involved. Sparks were #1 in the league this year in Fg%, 3PT% and assists. Parker/Ogwumike average a combined 8 assists per game. If they keep up the high energy and can knock down shots, it'll be a long night for the Lynx. I think it'll be a tightly contested game but we'll see the Sparks come out on top. They showed a lot of toughness in game 1 and game 3, and they've been playing with a chip on their shoulder all year.
 
MilfordHusky said:
The Lynx need Sylvia and Rebekkah to play big.

Minnesota is not dead, but their road is tough. They are a proud bunch, and Cheryl will push them.
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The Lynx are not by any means done.........................however, the fat lady is just down the hall, clearing her throat as she draws closer. :D
 
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