2017 Atlanta Dream and WNBA Previews

[lethalweapon3]

A couple good ones (EDIT: SUNDAY... getting ahead of myself!) afternoon in the second-round of elimination games, probably a lot more competitive than the first-round action!

Phoenix Mercury at Connecticut Sun (3 PM Eastern, ESPN2) -- A red-hot Brittney Griner versus the up-and-coming Jonquel Jones? Sign me up, please! While that matchup is appointment viewing, just as intriguing is how well former Dream guard and All-Star Jasmine Thomas will fare keeping up offensively with the Mamba Mama of the league, Diana Taurasi. Phoenix (18-16) -- or, at least, Griner and Taurasi, the team's only holdovers from 2016 -- are now 3-0 under this reformulated playoff format in elimination contests, and won both games on the road last year to reach the semifinals. In 21-13 Connecticut's first home playoff game since 2012, will the Sun's lack of experience be exploited today?

Washington Mystics at New York Liberty (5 PM Eastern, ESPN2) -- Tina Charles and the Liberty (22-12) have been a buzzsaw of late, and Elena Delle Donne and the Mystics know all about that. They were among the victims of New York's 10-game win streak to close out the regular season, losing 84-76 at Madison Square Garden back on August 25. Washington (18-16) has just one road win over a playoff team this season, and that was against 7-seed Dallas back in early June. Mystics defenders have to keep the Libs' Epiphanny Prince and Sugar Rodgers cool from the field, long enough to set up Kristi Toliver and ex-Dreamer Ivory Latta for big shots late.

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Best-of-5 Semifinal action starts today on ESPN2! For both series, Games 1, 2 (today, Thursday) and the if-necessary Games 4 and 5 (next Tuesday and Thursday) will be on the Deuce, while Game 3 (Sunday) for each series will be featured on plain ol' ESPN.

(6) Washington Mystics vs. (1) Minnesota Lynx -- Both underdogs will try to divert what has long seemed inevitable, a Lynx-Sparks WNBA final. Washington got a boost on the road from Kristi Toliver (WNBA-record 9 triples) to escape from New York with the second-round win, and they'll need more of the same from a player who helped the L.A. Sparks win the WNBA Finals over the Lynx (27-7) last season. Elena Delle Donne and Emma Meeseman will have to play stellar interior defense to keep the well-rested Sylvia Fowles from eating up the Mystics on the glass. Pick: Lynx in 4

 

(5) Phoenix Mercury vs. (2) Los Angeles Sparks -- This rivalry was shaping up to be Celtics-Lakers, back before Minnesota butted their way in on the Mercury (18-16, won last 5 incl. playoffs). It's hard to ask more of Brittney Griner, but she'll need to get stops against Nneka Ogwumike and Candace Parker, while the Mercury guards have to find a way to get, and keep, the ball out of Chelsea Gray's hands. The Sparks (26-8, won last 7) made quick work of the Merc in their last two meetings, and has the obvious advantage in experience, but they don't want to place a close game in the hands of Phoenix's clutch wing Diana Taurasi. Pick: Sparks in 4

 

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

"Brittney wuz robbed!" lol Oh, well!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Rematch time!

The titanic clash between the Minnesota Lynx and the L.A. Sparks tips off this afternoon (3:30 PM Eastern, ABC). Will Maya Moore's shooting be on-point? Can Seimone Augustus continue making big buckets? Can Alana Beard slow down either one of them? Is Lindsay Whalen able to produce in major minutes? Can Candace Parker's passing make the difference? Can Nneka Ogwumike and Parker spread MVP Sylvia Fowles out thinly enough on defense to benefit their teammates, particularly Chelsea Gray? Which reserves step it up to create an edge: Jantel Lavender, or the guard combo of Renee Montgomery and Jia Perkins?

I've got no answers for any of that. But I do have a hunch... Pick: Sparks in 4!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Issa Wrap!

To the OTHER ten WNBA clubs... these Sparks and Lynx are your blueprint! Great series!

~lw3