WNBA: Las Vegas Aces’ three-peat quest begins in opposition to Seattle Storm

The second we’ve all been ready for is right here: It’s time for postseason basketball.

The No. 4-seed Las Vegas Aces (27-13) will start their WNBA title protection in opposition to the No. 5 Seattle Storm (25-15). The opening spherical is a best-of-three, with Las Vegas internet hosting Sport 1 and Sport 2, whereas a winner-take-all Sport 3 can be at Seattle. Having the ultimate sport on the house court docket of the lower-seeded group doesn’t sit properly with me, however that’s the present guidelines and we’ve to play by them.

Let’s study the matchup and see which group is prone to come out on high.

How the Aces can win

Picture by David Becker/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs

Las Vegas will likely be and ought to be favored on this sequence. Everybody is aware of the pedigree the Aces include, however it’s greater than that. For the reason that Olympic break, they’ve gone 11-5 with solely the Minnesota Lynx having a greater report throughout that span.

A’ja Wilson has additionally by some means gotten higher. So long as she’s round, the offensive sport plan simply must be to feed her as a lot as potential. Spam actions for Wilson till the opponent figures out how one can cease her. Up to now, no group has found a technique to persistently gradual her or the Aces when it issues, Storm included. Within the head-to-head matchups, Las Vegas got here out on high, profitable three of 4 video games.

With Wilson because the offensive hub, Jackie Younger and Kelsey Plum carrying the offensive load within the backcourt and homecourt benefit, the objective needs to be to finish issues in Las Vegas in a two-game sweep.

How the Storm can win

Picture by Scott Eklund/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs

It’s an uphill battle for Seattle, however they’ve some nice items to work with. Nneka Ogwumike is averaging 16.7 factors, 7.6 rebounds and a couple of.3 assists per sport and having one other All-WNBA and All-Defensive Workforce 12 months. Add within the Gold Mamba Jewell Loyd and Skylar Diggins-Smith, and this “Massive 3” is formidable.

The most important key will likely be scoring for Seattle. The Aces led the league in factors per sport with 86.4; the Storm must discover a solution to sustain with them. To try this, they’ll need to discover a weak spot within the Las Vegas protection, and I imagine the most suitable choice will likely be Kelsey Plum. The extra you’ll be able to drive her to defend on the ball, the higher. Making her work on that finish may also require her to exert extra vitality, and probably gradual her down on offense.

It’s not most suitable choice, however these are the champs, so you must take no matter benefit you could find and expose it.

No. 4-seed Las Vegas Aces (27-13) vs. No. 5-seed Seattle Storm (25-15)

Sport 1: Seattle Storm at Las Vegas Aces

When: Sunday, Sept. 22 at 10 p.m. ET

The place: Michelob ULTRA Area in Las Vegas, NV

Tips on how to watch: ESPN

Sport 2: Seattle Storm at Las Vegas Aces

When: Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 9:30 p.m. ET

The place: Michelob ULTRA Area in Las Vegas, NV

Tips on how to watch: ESPN

Sport 3 (if vital): Las Vegas Aces at Seattle Storm

When: Thursday, Sept. 16 (time TBD)

The place: Local weather Pledge Area in Seattle, WA

Tips on how to watch: ESPN 2