LAS VEGAS – If the Connecticut sun makes you feel good, many people stumble out of the city and tell themselves they might be lucky when they come back. For the Sun, that return trip will be Game 5 of the WNBA Finals winner-takes-all next Tuesday. Sun coach Kurt Miller said his team can’t think about it yet. I’m not thinking about Game 5 at all.
There’s no shame in being blown away by Las Vegas Aces, but there’s not much joy either. With the two games going into the finals, it’s clear who is the better team. Ace he’s 2-0 and literally getting away with this thing. His 85-71 victory over them in Game 2 was more lopsided than the final score indicated (he led by 20 aces early in the 4th quarter).
Aces had three best players. League MVP Aja Wilson scored 18 of 26 points in the first half. Relentless point guard Chelsea Gray scored 21 points and he had eight assists. And guard Kelsey Plum, no longer depressed, who scored 20 points on 13 shots and gave the Sun blisters.
Wilson gave Plum a little motivational sweet talk before the game. Plum said she “welcomed” her altercation, and she certainly played her way.
“This was a statement game for KP,” Wilson said. “It gets a lot of people’s attention.” One of them, he happens to coach other teams.
“Kelsey and company sat down all night,” said Miller. “What was even more disheartening was that they held a strong hand all night long.”
Wilson finished with 26 points and 10 rebounds as the Aces scored a crucial Game 2 win.
John Locher/AP Photo
Even more disappointing was the one beyond the sun. Yes, they’re going home, and yes, they’re 3-0 in this month’s elimination game. But Ace is 7-1 in the postseason. They say in his one year he hasn’t lost 3 straight and the sun has to win his 3 in a row.
“You can’t think about the big picture,” says Miller. “It’s going to be overwhelming and daunting. We’re only talking about Game 3, and specifically, we’re only talking about the first quarter.”
That’s smart coaching. But the sun issue is not the focus. Ace is too good.they have more talent When Their pieces fit better.
“Their ruse… didn’t hurt us as much as a great one-on-one play that had them painting all night,” Miller said.
Game 1 was played at a sludge pace favored by Connecticut. Vegas won anyway, but the Sun’s hope was to impose their style on the Aces throughout the series. Game 2 showed how ridiculous the idea was. Vegas ball movement was extraordinary. As an ace he had 21 assists and only seven turnovers. It’s clear Game 1 was slow and ugly as the Aces played stagnant basketball.
“It’s definitely their style and we made it happen,” said Ace center Kia Stokes.
There were moments in Game 3 that the Sun could have handled better, like Dijonay Carrington’s egregious foul on Wilson. Wilson hit his throws on both frees, giving Vegas his 68-54 lead as he entered the fourth round. So the sun can play a cleaner game, giving you energy and comfort from playing at home. However, they needed to win Game 1 and they didn’t. The main chance for a comeback outside of injury (obviously nobody wants one) is finding a way to shatter Ace’s spirit. Please do your best.
Ace coach Becky Hammon said, “I can’t see the banner.”
Wilson said:
fair enough. The series isn’t over. But after two games it looks pretty clear how it will end.
Other WNBA Coverage:
• Ace escapes Sun’s “sludge” defense to win Game 1
• Britney Griner’s off-court impact stays with Phoenix
• Jackie Young learns to trust herself and is 3x more successful in Vegas
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