YTD: 21-18
Sat back and watched yesterday as the lines were monstrous and hard to pick.
Standings:
1. Storm 16-3
2. Aces 15-4
3. Sparks 15-5
4. Lynx 13-7
5. Mercury 12-8
6. Sky 11-9
7. Sun 10-10
8. Wings 7-12
9. Mystics 6-13
10. Dream 5-14
Liberty and Fever have been eliminated from the playoffs.
So onto the games. I have no lines as yet. This is so confusing sometimes when it comes to the seeding and the WNBA "rules".
Mercury vs Sun
A win for the Sun puts them at 11-10 with one game left and they are 1-1 in the series vs the Sky who sit in 6th spot with a 11-9 record. They aren't good though against the teams that finish 500 or more. They are 2-9 S/U against those teams and the Sky are a decent 4-6 S/U against those teams so the Sky definitely have the upper hand, in fact, the only way the Sun get into 5th or 6th spot is by the Mercury losing both games (Sun tomorrow followed by Storm and the Sky losing both their games as well (Dream and then Wings). The Sun would have to win both their games against Mercury and Dream which is do-able. he Sun cannot drop down to 8th as the Wings who have to win all 3 games but the Wings are a horrible 0-10 S/U against the teams that will finish 500 or above so they cannot go lower than 7 seed. The Sun has already ruled out Jasmine Thomas for this game after leaving the court in the other game vs Mercury. For Mercury, it doesnt get easier with Peddy out and Smith and Vaughn both GTD. Both Smith and Vaughn are their bigs so if both miss the game, Mercury could b going really small ball and only 2 reserves.
Sky vs Dream
As mentioned above, Sky's fate is in their own hands and who would they want to play in an elimination game? Currently in 6th, they would play the Sun right now if the seedings stayed. Dream clinging onto playoffs hopes but its a long shot as they would need the Wings to lose their last 3 games and Dream would need to play the best basketball of their lives and beat Sky, Sun and Mystics. They would also need the Mystics to drop a game as well somewhere which could get interesting when they play the final day of the season. If the Wings win (against Storm) tomorrow and the Dream lose to the Sky, its all over for the Dream. Mystics still alive though after that win vs the Lynx. As for the Sky, they cant get a top 4 spot anymore as the Lynx has the tie-breaker over them (2-0 series) so they could be playing for a seeding spot and trying to see who they would want to face. Sky has no injuries as of now and the Dream are just missing Kalani Brown for this game.
Wings vs Storm
A win tomorrow for the Storm gives them a nice 17-3 record with games against the Mercury and Aces coming up after this game. They need to keep winning to hold down top spot but a win tomorrow vs the Wings guarantees them a top 2 spot and really with no home court advantage this season, thats all teams would want to achieve I guess. Wings as mentioned above have it hard as they play Storm, then Sky and finish off against Liberty. So tough 2 games then followed by NY. If Wings keep losing, the Mystics can really mount some pressure on them. The Wings do have the tie-breaker over Mystics so if Dallas can pull off 2 wins, the Mystics are done. The Mystics would have to hope the Wings lose all 3 games which is a possibility and Mystics would have to win at least 2 of their last 3 games (they play Sparks, Liberty and Dream) so its not a bad schedule. The Sparks can still get a top 2 spot if the Aces fall apart and lose some games which they do have to play the Storm (Aces on a B2B) as well on the final day. The Wings have no new injuries and the Storm are without Tuck and Canada still.
Man, that took a while to write up. Things might be a little clearer after tomorrow's games hopefully.
BOL everyone
Thanks all 
That win for Mercury keeps their top 4 aspects alive but it makes things even more confusing because the Sun now dropped below 500 and if they beat the Dream in their last game, then the Sun go back to 500 and they would be counted towards the tie-breaker rules around Mercury/Lynx. As of now, you wouldn't include the Sun so the Mercury are 4-5 against teams that would finish 500 or higher. If the Sun beat the Dream, then they will be included in that so it means the Mercury would be 5-6 but they also need to play Seattle in the final game.
Minny are 4-4 S/U against these teams (not including Sun) and 6-4 if you include the Sun so Minny definitely has the upper hand. Lynx have the Aces next and if the Aces beat them, they would also be 4-5.
in saying all of this, Mercury would need Minny to lose both their games vs Aces and Fever or if they do win one of those games, Mercury would have to beat the Storm still. Lynx and Aces play tomorrow.
As I type this, Dream are trying to keep their season alive as well with a massive 2H comeback.
Not sure Wagers on that total because the Storm has great defense and really wanting to hold down top spot. A win today guarantees them at least a top 2 spot and the Wings, well can they be trusted? Agler has done my head in numerous times this year with his odd rotations and letting Arike shoot the ball as much as she wants whilst the other players are in a much better position to get a better shot off.
The Dream stay alive and the Wings will feel the pressure after that. This is becoming quite a fun finish to the season. So because of that game, they Sky can either finish 6th or 7th and that the same with the Sun so those two will meet in the first round, single elimination game. Wings cannot catch the Sun or Sky so they can only finish in 8th or lower now. Wings will either play the Mercury or Lynx if they qualify but they can be overtaken by the Dream and Mystics still.
Standings
1. Storm 17-3 (Mercury and Aces)
2. Aces 15-4 (Lynx, Sparks and Storm)
3. Sparks 15-5 (Mystics and Aces)
4. Lynx 13-7 (Aces and Fever)
5. Mercury 13-8 (Storm)
6. Sky 11-10 (Wings)
7. Sun 10-11 (Dream)
8. Wings 7-13 (Sky and Liberty)
9. Mystics 6-13 (Sparks, Liberty and Dream)
10. Dream 6-14 (Sun and Mystics)
Storm claimed a top 2 spot now. The Aces can still catch them and their end of season game on the 13th might be for the top seed.
Sparks hold down 3rd and cannot drop lower as they have tie-breaker over the Lynx. They can still get a top 2 finish if the Aces lose some games which they do play each other on the 12th.
Aces have their own destiny in their hands but a very tough schedule coming up for them in the next 4 days.
Lynx also have to win either against the Aces or Fever to claim 4th spot.
Mercury have to rely on the Aces and Fever to show up against the Lynx and the Mercury also have to bet the Storm.
Sky/Sun - they have both locked in either 6th or 7th, they cant move from these seeds, they can only alternate themselves.
Wings/Mystics/Dream - so tight right now with those three teams. Basically to keep it easy, they all must try and win all their games to get that final 8th spot and face either the Lynx or Mercury.
Established in 1995,
Phoenix Mercury vs Connecticut Sun: Over 161.5
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