(PHOTO CREDIT: L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
The single elimination game format assures us that shenanigans would happen. We know how exciting March Madness can be.
And this WNBA playoff game really took us for a ride. Especially in what was one of the wackiest endings ever for a basketball game.
Check out this video!
(VIDEO CREDIT: WNBA)
So here are the Chicago Sky. They’re trying to protect a precarious one-point lead as the Las Vegas Aces frantically try to foul them as time was quickly winding down. Then a rare mistake by assist leader Courtney Vandersloot led to a steal by Sixth Woman of the Year Dearica Hamby. And with NO clock awareness whatsoever and in a huge panic move, Hamby flung up a three-pointer (officially from 38 feet) that somehow went in while there was still 4.8 seconds left. (Astou Ndour had a chance to win the game for the Sky but her corner three at the buzz was unsuccessful.)
Everything went wrong for both teams and somehow, the Aces were rewarded. Obviously, Vandersloot doing a jump pass in that juncture was risky. But what if Hamby missed the shot?! She wouldn’t hear the end of it. She would be unfavorably compared to J.R. Smith. But I mean, a lot of us would panic in a similar situation and misread the clock, too, so I suppose I couldn’t totally blame her for that?
I do feel for Vandersloot. She is a passing wizard and has broken the WNBA assist record (per game and total) three straight years. She dished out 300 assists this season (again, a record). But she will be thinking about that jump pass for a while. It’s a heartbreaking way to end what was an excellent season for the franchise. Meanwhile, the Aces move on to face the favorites of this season, the Washington Mystics.
But Dearica Hamby and the Aces surely showed us why it’s important to “shoot your shot.” Even if it was a long shot. And even if it was in panic mode.
Rey-Rey is on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
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