Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. We jot down NBA and WNBA stuff mostly from last night that we want to talk about. Check it out.
The Las Vegas Aces have won three straight.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Stephen Gosling/Getty Images.)
Some teams are trying their best to break away from the pack. And the Las Vegas Aces are trying to be one of those teams. The Aces swept the week as they have won three in a row.
The Aces don’t have Liz Cambage, who sat out due to the pandemic, and Kelsey Plum, who tore her Achilles tendon. But they did acquire Angel McCoughtry through free agency as well as all-star guard Danielle Robinson. McCoughtry and Wilson have become a dynamite duo thus far this season.
But Wilson (who turns 24 today!) seems to have become more of an offensive force this season. A’ja has had a more well-rounded repertoire this season with her drives and midrange shooting. She’s not a three-point shooter (the entire team pretty much isn’t; they don’t even shoot 10 three-pointers per game) but she is such an excellent driver and money away from the basket. She does have more room to operate with Cambage not in the line-up this season. Wilson is averaging a team and career-high 20.8 points per game.
And they still have some of their core in place despite losing Cambage and Plum. My niece’s favorite player, Kayla McBride, is struggling overall from the field (.378) but has been great from behind the arc (.444). Dearica Hamby, the 6th Woman of the Year last season, has gotten more time and production. Jackie Young, the 1st overall pick last season, has become a key contributor off the bench. And the Aces start Lindsay Allen, who didn’t play last season but has been steady at the one as Plum’s replacement.
The Aces are a nice 4-2 and they’ve been able to put away opponents since Allie Quigley handed them a loss in the clutch. The Aces built a double digit lead in the third to hold down the Dallas Wings. McBride made a crucial jumper under two minutes left to hold off the Washington Mystics. And Jackie Young made two buckets to keep the Los Angeles Sparks at bay. The Aces were very good this week at taking the lead and holding on to them until the end. That’s going to be the key should they get to the postseason for the second straight year.
Las Vegas aced it this week.
Bullet Passes
The Minnesota Lynx now have the best record in the WNBA (along with the Seattle Storm) at 5-1. Lexie Brown went off for the Lynx, going for 26-6-9 and 4 steals. Sylvia Fowles also returned from her calf ailment and went for 21 points. Granted, they only have one win against a team over .500 (the Sky) but you take wins however you can get them. The schedule is not anyone’s fault.
It seems the Mystics have come down to earth as they have lost three straight after that 3-0 start. But it was good to see the New York Liberty finally scratch. It’s going to suck that they may not have Sabrina Ionescu the rest of the way. But it’s good to see Kia Nurse wake up for this game (17 points) and Amanda Zahui B. go for a double-double (14 points and 14 boards).
The NBA bubble didn’t have too many exciting things going on but the Nets and the Magic did clinch their spots for the playoffs. The Wizards lost yet again and they don’t have a chance for the play-in anymore.
Can they just go home now? I feel a little scared for the individuals (players, staff, etc.) being there. I know it’s “safe” in the bubble but I feel like they should just be home with their families.
Memphis NEEDED this win in the worst way. As of right now, they’re only a game ahead of the Blazers (who are playing as of this writing) and the Grizz can easily drop to 10th if they’re not careful.
Toronto got thoroughly thrashed by the Celtics, who seem to be getting it together now. But one game doesn’t detract on how good the defending champs have been. I would be terrified to face them in the postseason.
NBA Scoreboard
UTA 111 (43-26) v SA 119 (30-38)
OKC 92 (42-26) v MEM 121 (33-37)
SAC 106 (29-40) v BRK 119 (33-36)
ORL 101 (32-38) v PHI 108 (42-27)
WAS 107 (24-45) v NO 118 (30-39)
BOS 122 (46-23) v TOR 100 (49-19)
Double U Scoreboard
IND 80 (2-4) v MIN 87 (5-1)
NY 74 (1-5) v WAS 66 (3-3)
LA 82 (3-3) v LV 86 (4-2)
Watch This Play
This was an INCREDIBLE pass by Jaylen Brown to Gordon Hayward.
This pass 👀
Check it out in tonight’s @jetblue Play of the Game pic.twitter.com/OQHpvPHHfh
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) August 8, 2020
Precision at its best.
I hope everyone in the Bubble and Wubble stays safe!
Rey-Rey is on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
TNLP on FaceBook.