The Los Angeles Sparks played better this time around even without Nneka Ogwumike to beat the Phoenix Mercury on Friday, 78-68. The Sparks led for most of the match before the Mercury tried to threaten in the fourth period.
The Sparks however was able to fend off the rally by getting some defensive stops that led to baskets in transition as they improved to 9-17 in the season.
Here are quick takeaways from this game:
Marta Xargay is an amazing reader of the pick and roll plays. Though the Mercury trailed for most of the way, she was only a minus-1 in 32 minutes, and had 7 of the Mercury's 9 assists to go with 6 points. Her ability to read and react in this affair was simply above everyone else, dishing out beautiful pocket passes to her teammates.
Maybe it is time for Sandy Brondello to play her bigger minutes as their facilitator to also take some time off DeWanna Bonner and Leilani Mitchell and have them play off the ball.
The Sparks let Kristi Toliver facilitate. Unlike the last time where it was all Candace Parker trying to make something from the high post, Toliver was given the greenlight to be... well, Kristi Toliver and what she did with the leather was amazing. She had 17 points on 6-for-10 shooting and was a plus-11.
She has arguably the best handles in the league, and add to that her crossovers, behind the back dribbles, and stepbacks before pulling up all in one motion. We saw everything from her as she put on a dazzling display on the road.
Candace Parker's spin move and left-handed shot was unstoppable. We don't know why, but she kept doing it. He received the ball in thr low post, took a dribble or two to back down then spins to her right before flipping up a shot with her non-dominant hand. She did it several times and that is the luxury of having her in the low block instead of being the creator.
Parker finished with 26 points and 10 rebounds while Jantel Lavender added 15 points and 11 rebounds.
The Mercury made a comeback when they involved Brittney Griner and let Candice Dupree drive. The home team was trailing 61-47 in the fourth before Griner finally got involved offensively. In one play she had it in the low post before sending it outside to Xargay who hit the triple.
In another, she backed down and converted on a fallaway jumper. Later on, it was Dupree who attacked the basket and scored back to back jumpers as the Mercury pulled to within 63-57.
DeWanna Bonner sometimes forces it a lot, and it is bad for the team. Bonner has the tendency to perhaps take the matter into her own hands and just drive to the basket without really knowing what to do. This happened several times, leading to contested shots. Bonner was 5-for-15 from the floor and a minus-11. She has to be more unselfish and with playmakers like Xargay shining, perhaps she could play more off ball in the next games.
The Sparks however was able to fend off the rally by getting some defensive stops that led to baskets in transition as they improved to 9-17 in the season.
POSTGAME: #MercVsSparks
RECAP >> http://t.co/RtgceeQo9g
PHOTOS >> http://t.co/WVGVQrEZPN pic.twitter.com/qD1oKFyjJA
— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) August 22, 2015
Here are quick takeaways from this game:
Marta Xargay is an amazing reader of the pick and roll plays. Though the Mercury trailed for most of the way, she was only a minus-1 in 32 minutes, and had 7 of the Mercury's 9 assists to go with 6 points. Her ability to read and react in this affair was simply above everyone else, dishing out beautiful pocket passes to her teammates.
Maybe it is time for Sandy Brondello to play her bigger minutes as their facilitator to also take some time off DeWanna Bonner and Leilani Mitchell and have them play off the ball.
The Sparks let Kristi Toliver facilitate. Unlike the last time where it was all Candace Parker trying to make something from the high post, Toliver was given the greenlight to be... well, Kristi Toliver and what she did with the leather was amazing. She had 17 points on 6-for-10 shooting and was a plus-11.
She has arguably the best handles in the league, and add to that her crossovers, behind the back dribbles, and stepbacks before pulling up all in one motion. We saw everything from her as she put on a dazzling display on the road.
Candace Parker's spin move and left-handed shot was unstoppable. We don't know why, but she kept doing it. He received the ball in thr low post, took a dribble or two to back down then spins to her right before flipping up a shot with her non-dominant hand. She did it several times and that is the luxury of having her in the low block instead of being the creator.
Parker finished with 26 points and 10 rebounds while Jantel Lavender added 15 points and 11 rebounds.
The Mercury made a comeback when they involved Brittney Griner and let Candice Dupree drive. The home team was trailing 61-47 in the fourth before Griner finally got involved offensively. In one play she had it in the low post before sending it outside to Xargay who hit the triple.
In another, she backed down and converted on a fallaway jumper. Later on, it was Dupree who attacked the basket and scored back to back jumpers as the Mercury pulled to within 63-57.
DeWanna Bonner sometimes forces it a lot, and it is bad for the team. Bonner has the tendency to perhaps take the matter into her own hands and just drive to the basket without really knowing what to do. This happened several times, leading to contested shots. Bonner was 5-for-15 from the floor and a minus-11. She has to be more unselfish and with playmakers like Xargay shining, perhaps she could play more off ball in the next games.
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