Mystics 6-22 vs Sparks 6-22
When: Friday, August 23rd, at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Entertainment & Sports Arena
TV: ION
Injury:
Mystics: Shakira Austin (Probable/ Left Hip), Karlie Samuelson ( Out/ Right Knee)
Sparks: Cameron Brink (NWT/ Left Knee), Lexie Brown (NWT/ Crohn's), Layshia Clarendon ( NWT/ Mental Health Reasons), Aari McDonald ( Out/ Right Foot)
Keep an eye on:
LA's Free Throw Attempts: is something the Mystics have to focus on in Fridays match-up with the Sparks. The Sparks are currently 3rd in the WNBA in Free throw attempts, attempting 20.3 per game. Sparks forward Dearica Hamby leads the team with 5.4 free throw attempts per game. LA attacks the basket early and often.
The Mystics on the other hand, goes into Friday’s contest 11th in the WNBA in fouls per game, committing a little over 19 fouls per game.
Washington needs to find a way to defend without fouling to earn a win they need in the worse way. LA will look to attack Stefanie Dolson, who isn't the most fleet of foot, in pick & roll and iso actions, to one, get her in foul trouble and off the court, and two, to build up fouls in hopes of getting into the bonus early. Free throws are a big part of how LA score points. Limiting their attempts will go a long way.
Aggressive Ariel Atkins and Shakira Austin: was a beautiful sight to see in a tough loss to the Seattle Storm on Tuesday. Atkins and Austin had big, efficient scoring performances, combining for nearly 50 of the Mystics 77 points, on 16-31 from the field, 5-10 from deep from Atkins and 12-17 from the charity stripe.
As the season winds down and the Mystics playoff chances continue to dwindle, there is no need to be passive, a continuation of an Atkins and Austin offensive onslaught will help Washington a lot more than it hurts.
留言