|
Minnyme -> RE: Lynx Play-off Stuff (9/24/2011 3:35:11 PM)
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: TJSweens
Offensively the matchups favor the Mercury. Diana Taurasi, Penny Taylor and Candice Dupree win the matchups at the 2, &4 over Augustus, Moore and Brunson. ...
Well the Phoenix Mercury don't (and didn't) have much of an advantage here.
Truth, (or well my opinion [;)] )Taurasi on her best day & Augustus on her's are a wash on the offensive end. DT tends to be more of a volume shooter but if they aren't falling, she'll attack the basket. 'Mone is just so efficient in how she scores, its crazy. She has the tendency to put up her points off fewer shots. Now healthy she is comfortable attacking the basket some too. Both high IQ ballers. But, Edge goes to Augustus on the defensive end. She's more invested in playing tough D then DT has been.
Penny Taylor I would give the edge over Maya Moore on experience alone. Maya offensively has to make Penny work on the defensive end but Maya often can have trouble defending Penny. She is (usually) a very good offensive player so the edge to Phoenix here. On Thursday nights not sure it could be picked up on TV but Wiggins played 'big' time D on Taylor when Phx tried their "big" lineup. Wiggs is quicker than Moore and never let Taylor get comfortable. (Wiggins played huge in game 1).
Candice Dupree can be a really smooth offensive player, Rebekkah Brunson not as offensively gifted. But Dupree’s defensive game doesn’t match her offensive porous. Brunson is more athletic more physical and a much better defender and rebounder then Dupree. Brunson absolutely got in Dupree’s head & took her out of the mix. Denying any passes that might come her way & never letting her get comfortable.
Bottom line, the Lynx play great ‘team defense’ and generally the Mercury don’t play much D at all, it’s a crap shoot with them. The Lynx are kind of a nightmare match up for the Mercury because as Geno Auriemma said on TV last Thursday, the Lynx have the ability to play Phoenix “style” of play, the run & gun, push the tempo just as well if not better than the Mercury. The Lynx like to play that way too & Whalen (& Wiggins) can push it. So the question becomes, can Phoenix defend? The Lynx have shown to be the superior rebounding and defensive team.
Phoenix is sure to come out guns blazing at home so the Lynx will need to match that energy. If the Lynx don’t let ‘bad’ calls get to them or allow Phx to get into their heads and focus on playing their game, let their defense trigger their offense, they can come out of game #2 with a win. I really think they will. Should be fun.
The Lynx are holding another viewing party at Champps in Minnetonka(Ridgedale) for the game for those interested.
|
|
|
|