Missed Opportunity as Mystics beat Storm 78-75

Seattle has to settle for the split with Washington over the weekend.

(Washington, D.C.) - Had the Seattle Storm been able to sweep the Washington Mystics this weekend they would have nearly guaranteed homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs. But instead, they will have to settle for a split and a season-series win over D.C. as the Storm fell short on Sunday losing to the Mystics 78-75.

What we’ve seen from this weekend series is that these two teams are pretty evenly matched. Seattle won on Saturday by five points in a game that went down to the final seconds. On Sunday, it was Washington that held onto a three-point lead in the final minutes. Both teams are now 19-12.

“I thought our team had some good energy coming off a tough game yesterday and another tough one today. Key moments in the game, they make a run, we made a run. It’s a one-possession game, we got a good look at the end. All-in-all, something to build off of. A lot of good things happened on the court. We just have to lock in on key moments of the game to get over the hump.” Coach Quinn said in her opening statement.

I wanted to follow that up by asking what she learned from this two-game mini-series that may help the team if these two teams rematch in the playoffs.

“Yeah, we’re very similar. The way in which we defend. How we play offensively. I think it’s interesting just who impacted the game from today and yesterday. Atkins was big for them today but wasn’t as efficient yesterday. I think she’s key for them. That’s a big matchup we have to pay close attention to. Aside from Delle Donne and her minutes. They’re tough. It’s a chess match with them, adjusting when they adjust. The focus can’t wane when it comes to rebounding, our defensive execution, and our efficiency on the offensive end.” Quinn added.

I asked Breanna Stewart a similar question.

“From this, we take a lot of positives from what we did. Back-to-backs are definitely tough, it’s more of a mental thing. We have five games left in the regular season. Learning from what we did and didn’t do, but also continue to collect wins. Not think about what the standings are going to look like a couple of weeks from now.” Stewie stated.

The Storm were led by Breanna Stewart who scored 23 points and had five rebounds. Jewell Loyd added 15 points, four rebounds, three assists, and four steals. Loyd’s defense was particularly noticeable on Sunday. Sue Bird added 12 points and a team-high seven assists.

Seattle didn’t get enough from anyone else. Tina Charles had her lowest scoring game since being inserted into the starting lineup with just nine points and five rebounds. Ezi Magbegor was limited to just 16 points and had six points. That’s not nearly enough playing time for Ezi.

On Saturday, it was Seattle’s bench that played a huge factor in the win. But they were missing in action on Sunday. They scored just 10 points total. Take away Magbegor’s efficient 66% (2-3 FG) shooting and Prince, Talbot, and January combined to shoot 14% (1-7 FG).

Statistically, the Storm did edge the Mystics in assists (22-19), steals (6-3), and fast-break points (10-2).

The Washington Mystics

For most of the game, it was Ariel Atkins that was lighting up the Storm. Atkins led the Mystics in scoring with 23 points. She hit several clutch shots including 4-9 FG from beyond the arc.

When the Mystics needed to score late in the game they went to their tried and true. Over the final four minutes of the game, Elena Delle Donne scored six of her team’s final 10 points including the Mystics’ final basket to ensure her team the victory. EDD finished the game with 17 points and six rebounds.

I was curious to see what Coach Quinn prioritized when it came to defense against the Mystics. Whether it was more important for her team to double-team and limit Elena Delle Donne’s scoring while conceding possibly points to others like Ariel Atkins and Natasha Cloud. Or would it be better for the team to let EDD score where she can but try to shut down the rest of the team?

“No, Delle Donne is key. Yesterday, we weren’t as sharp sending bodies to Delle Donne. I think today, we were more in tune. She’s the head of the snake in a lot of ways. You have to limit what she does. Make sure we congest and make sure her shots are difficult. I’m not saying the others don’t matter because they do. It’s all about KYP (Know Your Personnel). Know that we have to get into bodies better. We have to sprint under screens or over screens and stay in their space. Just know that they’re very capable. But I think Delle Donne will always be key with this team.” Quinn answered.

Natasha Cloud also had another impressive game. She had a double-double with 11 points and 10 assists.

Shakira Austin was close to a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds.

The Mystics out-rebounded Seattle 34-26. They shot slightly better than Seattle as well 45% (30-67 FG) compared to 44% (26-59 FG) for the Storm. They had a significant advantage with points in the paint 34-20. And their bench slightly outscored Seattle’s reserves 13-10.

Game Breakdown

Gabby Williams and Jewell Loyd scored for Seattle to begin the game but Elena Delle Donne and Ariel Atkins matched them step for step. A three-ball by Atkins and a layup from Natasha Cloud put the Mystics up 12-8 early. Myisha Hines-Allen would connect on a hook shot to put them up six (16-10). Breanna Stewart responded with a three to cut the lead by half.

Washington would finish the quarter on a 6-2 run. They got most of their points in the paint in the first quarter. They outscored Seattle 16-4 inside the key. The Mystics led 22-15 at the end of the first quarter.

Tina Charles was able to hit a three after Stephanie Talbot collected the offensive rebound. Rui Machida got by her defender and found Elizabeth Williams for an easy layup. Talbot responded on the other end with another three for Seattle. Another defensive stop by Seattle and a bucket by Tina Charles cut the Mystics’ lead to just one at 24-23. Charles made another basket to put the Storm up.

Ariel Atkins threw up a prayer from long distance before the shot clock expired and drilled it. Loyd responded by driving to the rim and was able to get to the foul line to tie the game.

Stewart made back-to-back baskets on a nice jumper and a beautiful cut down the lane where Bird found her. Bird then hit a three to give Seattle their largest lead of the first half up 34-29.

Washington erased the lead immediately as Atkins got into the lane with little resistance for an easy two. She then drilled another three-ball.

Charles had her best quarter of the game in the second scoring seven of her nine points. Atkins led Washington with eight points in the second period as she played the entire quarter.

Seattle led 37-36 at the midway point. It was the only quarter that ended with the Storm on top.

The third period was dominated by the Mystics who outscored the Storm by eight 26-18. Both teams played evenly through the first five minutes of the third. Jewell Loyd did most of the scoring for Seattle and Stewie helped out some as well.

D.C. would go on a 15-8 run to close out the quarter. Jewell led the period with nine points and Stewie added six more. The two combined for 15 of the team’s 18 points. Atkins led the Mystics with eight in the third quarter and EDD scored five.

Atkins and Charles exchanged baskets to begin the final period. Shatori Walker-Kimbrough scored four straight points to keep the Mystics on top by seven (68-61).

Seattle’s defense led to two consecutive fast-break baskets by Seattle. First, Gabby Williams got a rebound and raced up the court blowing by everybody to finish at the rim. The Storm were then able to get a steal and found Sue Bird leaking out ahead of everyone else. Bird finished the layup to cut the Mystics’ nine-point lead down to just one at 68-67. Coach Mike Thibault needed to call a timeout.

Delle Donne was able to drive through Stewie to finish at the rim. If there’s one weakness for Stewart on the defensive end it’s her lighter frame. EDD isn’t the bulkiest player but even she was able to force Stewie aside with some extra muscle.

Elena then hit a nice spin move short-corner jumper. After that, it was a barrage of threes, two from Stewart and Bird. Cloud answered back with a three of her own in between Seattle’s pair.

EDD continued to hit clutch shots late in this game scoring six of the team’s final 10 points over the final four minutes.

Sue Bird hit a huge three to cut the Mystics’ five-point lead to two at 72-70. However, her counterpart Natasha Cloud immediately buried a triple on the other end. Shakira Austin split a pair of free throws and Delle Donne added one last basket to seal the victory for Washington.

Seattle trailed by three in the final seconds and had two three-point attempts on their last possession. Stewie air-balled a highly contested shot but Gabby was under the rim to secure the offensive rebound. She smartly dribbled out to the three-point line and put up a shot that would have tied the game and sent it to OT. Sadly, it just rimmed off.

D.C. celebrated a very important team win.

Additional Analysis

Evens versus Odds

Basketball games can often be a tale of two halves. However, during Sunday’s game, it was more evens versus odds. The Mystics dominated the first and third periods. And the Storm were the superior team in the second and fourth quarters.

D.C. outscored the Storm by seven points in the first quarter (22-15). They were even more dominant in the third period outscoring the Storm by eight points (26-18).

The Storm bounced back in the second quarter outscoring the Mystics by eight (22-14) to take a one-point lead at halftime. They also outscored Washington by four (20-16) in the fourth overcoming a nine-point deficit and nearly pulling off the upset.

I spoke with Coach Quinn after the game about what stood out the most during the periods they found a lot of success compared to the ones that Washington dominated. She had the following to say.

“We have to get the ball moving a little more against a team that is very aggressive on the ball and in ball screens. What also stood out when we were effective was getting to the paint and getting to the free throw line. (Other times) we were settling for jumpers on the offensive end. Defensively, when we weren’t into bodies our rotations were slower and I think they got some clean looks at three and they were knocking them down today. We need to adjust to that.” she explained.

Sue didn’t agree with my perspective on the struggles of the first and third periods.

“I don’t view it that way at all. I think we just played a team where there’s a reason we’re so close in the standings. We’re pretty even in that way. There are going to be times when they go on runs and when we go on runs. Both of these games were pretty similar. Not just two teams that were evenly matched and it always comes down to one team making a couple of more plays than the other and that’s who gets the win. It happened for us yesterday and it happened for them today.” Bird said.

Who Will Finish 4th?

Seattle falls to 19-12 on the season and once again has an identical record to the Mystics. Both teams have five games remaining. Whichever team finishes with the better record at the end of the regular season is likely to host the first two games of their first-round playoff matchup against one another. If they finish tied, Seattle will host.

The Storm will play two more games at home and three more on the road to end the season. They host Minnesota and Las Vegas this week. Then travel to Chicago, Minnesota, and finish the season in Las Vegas. Unfortunately for the Storm, Chicago and Vegas will likely still be playing for the #1 overall seed and will be desperate to win those matchups. Seattle has the most difficult remaining schedule in the WNBA which doesn’t bode well for them.

By comparison, the Washington Mystics schedule (while no cupcake) is relatively easier. It starts off difficult as they’ll host the Las Vegas Aces and then they’ll travel to Chicago. But after that, it gets significantly easier. They’ll host the struggling Los Angeles Sparks. Washington will then face the Indiana Fever in back-to-back games. That’s the same Indiana Fever that has won just five times in 32 games. The same Fever team that hasn’t won a single game in the past six weeks.

If Seattle is relying on other teams to help them out they’re going to be sorely disappointed. No, the Storm will have to earn that 4th overall seed if they want to have homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs. They’ll certainly need to win at least three of their final five games and they might need to win four.

The good news is that the Storm just proved they can go to Washington and win a game on the road in case that happens again in the playoffs. That’s a mental advantage they can take with them.

Jersey Count

Back in the “Heroine” jersey again but they weren’t able to get the win. After losing to the Mystics they fall to 10-6 in the green and white uniforms. The team’s overall record is now 19-12. The loss was really damaging for the team’s hopes to move up in the standings with just five games left in the month of August. The Chicago Sky lead the way at 23-7, then the Las Vegas Aces at 22-8; Connecticut lost on Sunday but is still solidly in 3rd place at 20-10.

Records per jersey type this season:
Rebel: 7-2
Explorer: 2-4
Heroine: 10-6
Overall Record: 19-12

Up Next

They return home for their final two home games of the season. It’ll be Sue Bird’s final regular season games at home in her illustrious career in Seattle. The Storm will face the Minnesota Lynx on Wednesday, August 3rd at 7:00 PM.

Notes:
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