2015 WNBA Eastern Conference Semi-Finals
1. New York Liberty (23-11) vs 4. Washington Mystics (18-16)
Schedule:
Game 1: Mystics @ Liberty, September 18 7 PM ET, NBA TV
Game 2: Liberty @ Mystics, September 20 1 PM ET, ESPN
Game 3*: Mystics @ Liberty, September 22 TBD, ESPN 2
For the first time since 2012 and the first time under the tutelage of champion head coach Bill Laimbeer, the New York Liberty are back in the playoffs and they have done it in a remarkable fashion. After two losing seasons under Laimbeer, the newly-crowned WNBA Coach of The Year is now preparing for a huge chance to hoist the WNBA title anew.
Season series: Mystics won, 3-1
Mystics def. Liberty, 67-62
Mystics def. Liberty, 74-59
Liberty def. Mystics, 79-76
Mystics def. Liberty, 82-55
With Tina Charles playing like an MVP, the Liberty held the best regular season record at 23-11. Charles averaged 17.1 points and 8.5 rebounds to anchor the Liberty with her presence underneath, although the key to the Liberty's rise this season is defense.
New York is the top defensive team in the league, only allowing 94.2 points per 100 possessions while shutting teams down to 39.3 percent from the field per game.
Getting stops, more than anything else, is where the offense begins for the Liberty and with a stacked roster, scoring isn't a problem for the Liberty.
The return of Epiphanny Prince (15 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 3.4 APG) boosted the offense as she is an aggressive guard who attacks the rim and can also hit from anywhere on the court. Though she missed a few games to open the season, Prince is the Liberty's win shares and assists leader. She is the team's best creator, having an assist rate of 24.5.
Her ability to read will be key as she was not present in the first two of the Liberty's losses to the Mystics in the regular season. Her presence will change everything as it adds more depth to the team, and more options on offense. Together with another playmaker in Tanisha Wright plus a solid supporting cast in Essence Carson, Candice Wiggins, Kiah Stokes, Sugar Rodgers, and Swin Cash, the Liberty are entering the post-season armed with a very strong unit.
For the Mystics to score a huge upset against the overwhelming favorites, they have to be sharp. Washington is the second-best three-point shooting team (34.4 percent) behind the Indiana Fever. They need to spread the floor against a tough defensive team using that shooting and the space given by their bigs Stefanie Dolson (10.6 PPG, 5.6 RPG) and Emma Meesseman (11.6 PPG, 6.3 RPG)
It is now a different story for Ivory Latta (13.4 PPG, 2.5 APG) who holds a huge task of leading her team against a powerhouse unit not only to produce on offense but to create for her the rest of the squad. Latta scores 4.5 more points in wins than in losses, and is shooting 46.2 percent from deep in those wins compared to only 30 percent in losses.
But she needs support. All the bench players like Tayler Hill, Kia Vaughn, Bria Hartley, and LaToya Sanders will need to contribute as they are up against a Liberty team which fields a very talented roster.
Meesseman also has a huge responsibility in this series. Against the Liberty in the regular season, she only averaged 10 points on 43.2 percent field goal shooting, a far cry from her season average of 55.6 percent. That had a lot to do with Kiah Stokes' outstanding defense for sure, and she needs to be more effective to help her team succeed.
X-Factors
Liberty:
Candice Wiggins
Wiggins is one of the best one-on-one defenders in the backcourt. Her offense comes secondary but in this series, stopping Latta and the other Mystics backcourt players is her main priority. That ball pressure will make it difficult for the Mystics to execute.
Mystics:
Tayler Hill, LaToya Sanders
Hill will need to provide solid help to Latta. Hill is one of the players who can shoot from long range and also put the ball down on the floor. If she can become a backup quarterback to Latta in this series then she will draw the attention of the Liberty defense. Sanders should help Dolson protect the interior. Expect the Liberty to run a lot of pick and roll plays/high ball screens and the key for the Mystics to stop those penetrations is defending the interior.
Prognosis:
In the end, the series may boil down to a battle between bench depth, and the Liberty looks terrific from top to bottom. The Mystics may be able to give them fits but a complete Liberty roster is just too strong.
Liberty wins, 2-0.
1. New York Liberty (23-11) vs 4. Washington Mystics (18-16)
Schedule:
Game 1: Mystics @ Liberty, September 18 7 PM ET, NBA TV
Game 2: Liberty @ Mystics, September 20 1 PM ET, ESPN
Game 3*: Mystics @ Liberty, September 22 TBD, ESPN 2
We're gearing up for the @WNBA Playoffs! Hear from @tinacharles31 & @ROSGO21 about the 1st Rd
http://t.co/YTsnOTl8Jw pic.twitter.com/eTAL2niBxZ
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 15, 2015
For the first time since 2012 and the first time under the tutelage of champion head coach Bill Laimbeer, the New York Liberty are back in the playoffs and they have done it in a remarkable fashion. After two losing seasons under Laimbeer, the newly-crowned WNBA Coach of The Year is now preparing for a huge chance to hoist the WNBA title anew.
WATCH
@WNBA previews marquee matchup between @tinacharles31
@bigmamastef
@EmmaMeesseman
http://t.co/a2eKg9Trcl pic.twitter.com/rCsOabJIhM
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 16, 2015
Season series: Mystics won, 3-1
Mystics def. Liberty, 67-62
Mystics def. Liberty, 74-59
Liberty def. Mystics, 79-76
Mystics def. Liberty, 82-55
With Tina Charles playing like an MVP, the Liberty held the best regular season record at 23-11. Charles averaged 17.1 points and 8.5 rebounds to anchor the Liberty with her presence underneath, although the key to the Liberty's rise this season is defense.
New York is the top defensive team in the league, only allowing 94.2 points per 100 possessions while shutting teams down to 39.3 percent from the field per game.
Getting stops, more than anything else, is where the offense begins for the Liberty and with a stacked roster, scoring isn't a problem for the Liberty.
The return of Epiphanny Prince (15 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 3.4 APG) boosted the offense as she is an aggressive guard who attacks the rim and can also hit from anywhere on the court. Though she missed a few games to open the season, Prince is the Liberty's win shares and assists leader. She is the team's best creator, having an assist rate of 24.5.
Her ability to read will be key as she was not present in the first two of the Liberty's losses to the Mystics in the regular season. Her presence will change everything as it adds more depth to the team, and more options on offense. Together with another playmaker in Tanisha Wright plus a solid supporting cast in Essence Carson, Candice Wiggins, Kiah Stokes, Sugar Rodgers, and Swin Cash, the Liberty are entering the post-season armed with a very strong unit.
For the Mystics to score a huge upset against the overwhelming favorites, they have to be sharp. Washington is the second-best three-point shooting team (34.4 percent) behind the Indiana Fever. They need to spread the floor against a tough defensive team using that shooting and the space given by their bigs Stefanie Dolson (10.6 PPG, 5.6 RPG) and Emma Meesseman (11.6 PPG, 6.3 RPG)
That's it, game over! #Mystics WIN!
WE'RE IN! PLAYOFFS!
#MysticsFever #Relentless pic.twitter.com/YHEMtQN1l3
— Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) September 9, 2015
It is now a different story for Ivory Latta (13.4 PPG, 2.5 APG) who holds a huge task of leading her team against a powerhouse unit not only to produce on offense but to create for her the rest of the squad. Latta scores 4.5 more points in wins than in losses, and is shooting 46.2 percent from deep in those wins compared to only 30 percent in losses.
But she needs support. All the bench players like Tayler Hill, Kia Vaughn, Bria Hartley, and LaToya Sanders will need to contribute as they are up against a Liberty team which fields a very talented roster.
Meesseman also has a huge responsibility in this series. Against the Liberty in the regular season, she only averaged 10 points on 43.2 percent field goal shooting, a far cry from her season average of 55.6 percent. That had a lot to do with Kiah Stokes' outstanding defense for sure, and she needs to be more effective to help her team succeed.
X-Factors
Liberty:
Candice Wiggins
Wiggins is one of the best one-on-one defenders in the backcourt. Her offense comes secondary but in this series, stopping Latta and the other Mystics backcourt players is her main priority. That ball pressure will make it difficult for the Mystics to execute.
Mystics:
Tayler Hill, LaToya Sanders
Hill will need to provide solid help to Latta. Hill is one of the players who can shoot from long range and also put the ball down on the floor. If she can become a backup quarterback to Latta in this series then she will draw the attention of the Liberty defense. Sanders should help Dolson protect the interior. Expect the Liberty to run a lot of pick and roll plays/high ball screens and the key for the Mystics to stop those penetrations is defending the interior.
Prognosis:
In the end, the series may boil down to a battle between bench depth, and the Liberty looks terrific from top to bottom. The Mystics may be able to give them fits but a complete Liberty roster is just too strong.
Liberty wins, 2-0.
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