Aces eye first victory over Washington Mystics
The Aces this season have looked every bit like one of the best teams in the WNBA — except when they play the Washington Mystics.
“I just don’t understand how we can come out with that sort of flatness again,” Aces coach Bill Laimbeer said Friday after a lackluster half against the Mystics. “This whole year, what I’m trying to find out is who are we and what we’re about.”
Las Vegas, at 10-5, has the best record in the WNBA, but was annihilated by Washington in their first meeting June 20, and was in the midst of getting annihilated last Friday before an earthquake forced a postponement.
The Aces have played six quarters against the Mystics this season, and lost five of them.
Here are three things to watch as they look to reverse their fortune Saturday night.
Slow Starts
The Aces in both previous meetings allowed 30 points in the first quarter while scoring 19 and 18, respectively. Slow starts are detrimental against any team in the WNBA, much less a healthy Washington outfit.
Las Vegas can’t afford to play from behind against the Mystics, who lead the league in net rating at plus-11.1 points per 100 possessions and boast its lowest turnover percentage (14.9).
Guard Play
Washington in the first two meetings keyed in on the Aces’ guards in an effort to disrupt the team’s offensive rhythm.
The starting backcourt of Kelsey Plum, Kayla McBride and Jackie Young in the first meeting combined to score 11 points on 4-of-25 shooting. The trio last Friday had five points in the first half on a combined 2-of-10 shooting before the earthquake forced a stoppage.
Mystics’ guards combined to score 34 points in the first game and had 20 by halftime of the second meeting. That kind of disparity puts a mighty onus on the Aces’ frontcourt to carry the load.
Slowing Elena Delle Donne … if she plays
Sure, sounds obvious, but a lot easier said than done.
The 29-year-old superstar fractured her nose Sunday and is questionable for Saturday. But if she plays, she’s surely a factor. At 6-foot-5 with a handle and a smooth jumper, she poses a matchup problem for the Aces, who guarded her with multiple defenders in an effort to slow her production.
She had 29 points on 11-of-18 shooting in the first meeting and eight points to go with three assists in the first half of the second one.
Contact reporter Sam Gordon at sgordon@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BySamGordon on Twitter.
Game Day
Who: Aces at Washington Mystics
When: 4 p.m. Saturday
Where: Entertainment and Sports Arena, Washington DC
TV: CBS Sports Network
Line: Pick 'em.
About the Aces (10-5): All-Star captain A'ja Wilson is good for 16.4 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, along with 1.5 blocks and a 49.7 shooting percentage. All-Star teammate Liz Cambage accounts for 15.6 points and 7.5 rebounds, and fellow All-Star Kayla McBride averages 15.3 points and shoots 48.2 percent from 3-point range.
Dearica Hamby is among the league's top reserves, averaging 10.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.
About the Mystics (9-5): They've lost consecutive games after a five-game winning streak, but are still second in the WNBA. Della Donne averages 15.8 points per game and Kristi Toliver scores 11.9 points per game. Four other players avearage at least 9.2 points per game, and Washington leads the league in offensive rating (107.8 points per 100 possessions).
