Mystics 26-8 (1-0) vs Connecticut Sun 21-13 (0-1)
When: Tuesday, October 1st, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Entertainment and Sports Arena
TV: ESPN
Injury
Mystics: Kiara Leslie – (Out, Torn Meniscus in right knee)
Sun: Layshia Clarendon (Out, Ankle)
Notes – Washington took down Connecticut in game one of the WNBA finals 95-86 and will continue the best of five series (2-2-1) on Tuesday. Below you can find the remaining finals schedule:
Game Two – Connecticut Sun at Washington Mystics, Tuesday, October 1, 8:00 p.m. ESPN
Game Three – Washington Mystics at Connecticut Sun, Sunday, October 6, 3:30 p.m. ESPN
*Game Four – Washington Mystics at Connecticut Sun, Tuesday, October 8, 8:00 p.m. ESPN 2
*Game Five – Connecticut Sun at Washington Mystics, Thursday, October 10, 8:00 p.m. ESPN 2
* - if necessary
Mystics –
(Regular Season/ Playoffs)
89.3/ 92.8- points per game
77.3/ 90.8 - points against
46.9/ 47.1 - Field goal %
Sun –
(Regular Season/ Playoffs)
80.8/ 85.5- points per game
77.9/ 73.5 - points against
42.3/ 44.9- field goal %
Keep an eye on:
Turnovers: was a cause for concern for Washington in their game one win and honestly helped keep Connecticut in the game. The Mystics turned the ball over 14 times and the Sun took advantage scoring 18 points off of them. Cut the turnovers in half and it’s a double digit win for Washington. Even more alarming, Washington turned the ball over NINE times in the first half alone. To put things in perspective the Mystics average nine turnovers a game in the playoffs. Cleaning this up shouldn’t be a problem as Washington were among the best teams all season long at limiting turnovers. The Mystics shot efficiently (54% FG/ 47% 3FG/ 81% FT) in game one and if they keep their turnovers to a minimum moving forward, that would put even more pressure on the Sun to have to score and gets stops which plays right into the Mystics hands.
Attack Without Hesitancy: A number of Washington’s turnovers came from being hesitant to make a play instead of being reactionary and in basketball if you have to think about what to do, you’re already done, especially at this stage in the season. Washington is surgical with their ball movement and deflate teams making the right reads and being instinctive to pass and shoot. This is the biggest reason why throughout the season, we’ve become accustom to seeing the Mystics shoot wide open jumpers, making it look easy. If Washington simply react, be themselves and play their usual brand of basketball, they will keep the Sun on their heels more (we all saw how Connecticut struggled to defend one on one) and their mistakes (turnovers) will decrease. Play Mystics basketball on both ends and they should be in a good position to be victorious in game two.
