YTD: 39-30
Sunday gives us every single team playing, which is a little crazy. Then Tuesday gives us another 5 games. Last fortnight of the reg season, the top 8 looks decided they just need to work out their seeding. Some injury news with some teams, will explain;
Liberty @ Mystics
The Mystics still missing Toliver for this game, the Liberty are without Durr again. I would assume that the Liberty might just not play Durr again this season. Not too sure what is exactly wrong with her. Only played each other once, the Mystics won in NY 94-85. The Mystics have LA on deck after this game but after that, they have the easiest schedule out of all the playoff teams. They have Liberty, Sparks, Wings, Liberty, Wings and then finish off with Sky. They literally could go 6-0 to finish the season off and claim top seed which I do expect them to do. Liberty has nothing to play for at all, mathematically they can still make the playoffs but they wont. Guessing the line will be Mystics -13 and 162.
Dream @ Wings
Dream got a win the other day, they can win some if they want but they also need to lose some in order to stay below the Wings for draft picks and with Angel stating that she wants to play in the last game of the season for the Dream, that to me is a sign that it will be her farewell game for the Dream and she will be somewhere else and that the Dream will try and re-build their team with some youth from next year's draft. Hence, they tank where the Wings don't need to as they have a good core of decent young players with some experience coming back next season (Jefferson and Skylar). Williams looks to be out for this game. Line should be Wings -4 and 148
Sun @ Sparks
Game of the day IMHO. Sun 1st seed, Sparks in 4th and Sparks need a win to close the gap with Aces and the Sun need to win to maintain top spot because they will know that the Mystics will beat NY earlier in the day. Sparks seem to play great at home, but poor on the road and that's the Sun's issue as well. 14-1 at home now, just 6-7 on the road for the Sun. Series tied at 1-1, Sparks won the first game in LA 77-70 and then Sun won the next game 89-77 in Connecticut. The Sun played well once again in patches, took at nice 23-12 lead in the 1Q vs the Aces, next time I looked it was 27-23. Then they got to 34-26 and then a few moments later it was Aces 40-36. They keep going on runs, and then allowing the other teams to go on runs and Curt Miller does not like to call a timeout to try and stop the other teams runs. I know its basketball and I know it happens but it happens to often in Sun's games. This game should be another classic game, with Banham the only person on the injury list. She is a GTD for this game. Line should be Sparks -3 and 162
Sky @ Mercury
Now this is the most intriguing match of the day. The Mercury have announced that Taurasi and Sancho Lyttle are both probable. Carson is out but I do expect Taurasi to come off the bench. Mercury sitting in 8th, need wins and the Sky are in 5th and they want to catch to the Sparks. The Sky played a great 2H vs the Mystics yesterday and the Mercury did a very good job vs the Aces the other night and were unlucky to lose in OT. Taurasi knows the Mercury system so well, I do not expect her to be bad but I do expect her maybe not to be match fit. She did play in the game vs the Sun months ago and wasn't the best and this Sky team is an impressive team. Van Der Sloot has been cleared to play which is great news after being helped from the court the other day. If the line is right, I will be on the Sky if the books over-rate the Mercury team because Taurasi being back which I believe they will. Expecting the line to be Mercury -6 and total of 159.
Aces @ Lynx
Another very good game with the Aces coming off a loss and the Lynx off a win. The Aces sit in 3rd, need to win to stay above the Sparks and the Lynx need to win to get into 6th spot at least which is going to be hard considering the Storm owns the tie-breaker and the Lynx are 14-15 and the Storm are 15-13. Lynx only 5 games to go. Aces have won both meetings this year, but only by 5 points on both occasions. Since the Aces existence, the Lynx and Aces have played 5 straight unders as well. Lynx had a nit little hit out vs the Wings the other night but they don't seem to put too many back to back performances together. But they are tough at home and the Aces aren't the best on the road (7-6 S/U). No fresh injury concerns for either team, expect the line to be Aces -3.5 and 155 total.
Fever @ Storm
Well Pokey does not deserve to coach in this league and I don't think she will by next season. The Fever surely need to cut her and move on. They were pathetic vs the Sparks and they are an unbackable team now. Given that they are now in the best spot for draft picks, you cannot touch them. The Storm playing for home elimination game, which they can hold down in 6th spot. Storm hasn't played since 18th August, 6 days rest for this game and the need a win here as they play Sun next followed by Dream, Mercury, Sparks and the Wings. So 3-4 tough games coming up for them with Lynx and Mercury hot on pursuit. Two meetings so far, Storm won both by 2 and 4 points so not convincing at all. For me, it Storm or no play. No new injury concerns from both teams. Line should be Storm -8 and 155 total.
BOL everyone, will post any injury news but may miss a few as the first game tips off 5am Sydney time for me.
Connecticut Sun @ LA Sparks: Over 157.5
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