Oh the poor Liberty. I hope they can overcome this difficult hurdle. Give me a break. Aces are going to have to give significant minutes to one or more of Bell, George, Coates or Colson. None have looked much like WNBA players this season.
Those players are closer to waiver wire than a spot in a decent rotation. Short of the 3 remaining stars playing out of their mind, little used subs having the game of their life, and a complete breakdown by the Liberty, this game and series are pretty much over IMO.
If Stokes can play in game 5 at home at home, maybe an big longshot, but the great finale everyone expected at the beginning of the season just isn't going to happen. Remember the Aces had significant issues before Gray and Stokes. The team was built spending money on an anticipated great 8 player rotation.
A star at every starting position (with Candace Parker instead of Stokes) and three high quality subs, one big in Stokes, a mid-sized player in Clark, and a sparkplug guard in Williams. But of course the rest of the roster (only 11) had to be filled with near minimum players.
Without Williams they were arguably as good as any WNBA team has been early in the season with mostly a great 7 player rotation. With Parker out they had a big drop-off, starting Stokes instead and with only one reliable sub in Clark. It was amazing they stayed around the top having to play Clark frequently at the 4. That team could be competitive with the Liberty although far below their early season level, but there was no margin for error at that point.
Any injury to the remaining 6 would be devastating. There is no viable game-plan to compensate for Gray or Stokes, much less both of them. The Liberty will be champs, or it will be an upset of monumental proportions at this stage. The dream match-up just didn't happen, it might have been great.
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