***Single elimination games

YTD: 46-35

Winner continues onto play the Sparks and Aces on the 15th, loser goes home and has a long off-season and players go overseas to make more cash. The Aussie league, the WNBL starts around 3-4 weeks from now and Kia Nurse, Mercedes Russell, Leilani Mitchell, Crystal Langhorne, Olivia Epoupa, McGee-Stafford, Stephanie Talbot, Brianna Turner, Cayla George and Ariel Atkins are all playing this season and its a league I like to cap. Will be posting plays where I am currently posting plays for the FIBA World Cup, its called the "other pro basketball" forum here on Covers.

We have lines and its nice to have lines considering we have 24 hours before tip-off.

Mercury @ Storm

Current lines are Storm -6.5 and 167 total

Lynx @ Storm

Storm -3.5 and total of 147.5

These games are very hard to cap IMHO because its a "play well or go home" kind of game. Not much past history either since this is a new playoff system introduced in 2016.

The Lynx were eliminated last season 75-68 against LA in this exact same scenario, and the Mercury took care of business at home against the Wings, 101-83 last season.

Storm finished top seed so they weren't in this game and the Sky didn't qualify for the playoffs last season.

Here is a short history of these single elimination games.

2016 - Round 1
Mercury @ Fever: Mercury won 87-78
Storm @ Dream: Dream won 94-83

2016 - Round 2
Mercury @ Liberty: Mercury won 101-94
Dream @ Sky: Sky won 108-98

2017 - Round 1
Wings @ Mystics: Mystics won 86-76
Storm @ Mercury: Mercury won 79-69

2017 - Round 2
Mercury @ Sun: Mercury won 88-83
Mystics @ Liberty: Mystics won 82-68

2018 - Round 1
Wings @ Mercury: Mercury own 101-83
Lynx @ Sparks: Sparks won 75-68

2018- Round 2
Sparks @ Mystics: Mystics won 96-64
Mercury @ Sun: Mercury won 96-86

Its evident that Mercury under Brondello knows how to play these games, they have been involved in every single round since it was introduced and have gone 6-0 in those games which is pretty amazing considering its a single elimination game.

These games are when the big players take over and no news yet on Taurasi playing. Will have to wait and see what happens with here. I love this Sky team but their lack of defense is worrying at times and never a good recipe for success.

BOL everyone.

Interesting to note, teams shooting percentages for the season;

1. Mystics 46.9%
2. Lynx 45.1%
3. Sky 44.8%
4. Sparks 43.2%
5. Aces 42.7%
6. Mercury 42.4%
7. Sun 42.3%
9. Storm 42%

Sun finished 2nd yet they ranked at 7th in shooting percentages

Opponent's shooting percentages

1. Aces 39.9%
2. Sparks 40.8%
4. Sky 41.8%
6. Mercury 42.2%
8. Mystics 43%
9. Lynx 43.4%
11. Sun 43.9%
12. Storm 43.9%

So the Storm are at the bottom for both categories which is quite unique. The Sun aren't much better either.

Another typo, meant to say Sky -6.5 and 167 total

Cheers Wagers, hope to have you around for the playoffs as well mate. Not sure if you heard but the WNBA might not be returning next season if the players do not agree on the next CBA. Decision to be made early October.

Great info Aussie thank you for all your hard work this season I've been watching .

hope to see you over in the NFL 

God Bless .

yes Aussie much needed info here. Much appreciated by us all.

brutal

Was waiting on that info. Taurasi is OUT tonight.

 Phoenix Mercury @ Chicago Sky: Sky -6.5

Taurasi being out is massive and not for her shooting which has been horrible but her leadership and playoff experience. She guides this team across the court when she is on her game, she actually leads the Mercury in assists which is pretty remarkable considering she has only played around 7 games. Coach Wade will get his "Coach of the Year' award tonight which I think is remarkable for a first year coach but also Thibault should have really won it as his Mystics were just unstoppable. CVS and Quigly come up against little 5'3 Mitchell who is very quick and they need to have their minds placed on her because she can drain some amazing shots. We most likely will only see 7-8 players for both teams tonight and the Mercury boost a very good team when you look at those players but they seem out of sync and not playing well as a "team" where the Sky are. Sky 3-0 this season vs the Mercury and I think that goes to 4-0 with a commanding win at home which might start a little shaky for them with nerves. They just really need to limit their turnovers.

Cheers Jersey. Been a roller coaster of a ride but I thoroughly enjoy this league.

Joe and Bert

GL this post-season.

You're a star Aussie. Cheers buddy

Nice call Aussie 

The Sky were hungry and the Mercury had no answers. Big props to Wade and this amazing Sky team. He has brought the best out of every single player. They have a big task now heading to Las Vegas to play the Aces. That game is on the 15th so they do get some rest.

No play on this other game, both teams to inconsistent for me and there are some World Cup games to cap.

Back on

ITP, Koypikz and Peekay

Peekay, see over at the "other pro basketball" forum mate for some big games tonight buddy

Damn Aussie!

How many in a row is that? 

I think 13-0??

Had the misfortune of taking 1H and got moosed but wow buddy you are so so hot. We all are making $$$.

Great to see.

Brutal

And then there were 6.

Storm (6th) @ Sparks (3rd)

Sky (5th) @ Aces (4th)

So the Mystics are waiting to see who the lowest place winner is. It cant be the Sparks though, because Sparks are the highest seed in the 4 teams playing. If the Sparks win, they will play the Sun.

For the Sun, they cannot play the Storm if the Storm upsets the Sparks. Regardless, the Storm are the lowest seeded team so if they do upset the Sparks, they head to Washington.

These games don't start until Sunday, 15th so the players get some rest and the Sky make the flight to Vegas whilst Seattle head to LA which isn't too far at all.

After Sunday, the Semi's will start on Tuesday, 17th so the winners from the 2nd round only get a days rest before playing the Mystics and Sun. The Mystics and Sun will have close to nine days rest before they start playing.

Only one in a row for WNBA, I lost my last bet of the reg season mate. Took the over in Lynx @ Sparks but didn't hit.

yeah that new CBA has to be a big upgrade to their current one and if its not, then we don't see any WNBA next season. Cambage made $400K one season in China, and their season is around the same length as the WNBA season so on comparison, she would be making around $117 this season playing for the Aces. Big big diference.