Season: 9-7
Hey all, we got some early games. First game for me is 5am Aussie time so looking into this game. Here are my thoughts and opinions on the match-ups.
Sparks @ Liberty (Current line Sparks +4.5 and 139
Sparks are finally hitting some form on this roadie taking the Sun to OT and taking the Mystics all the way to the end. How do they match-up with the Liberty? Well both teams offense stinks. Apart from the 80 in Washington the other night, the Sparks are bad. They barely cracked 65 in reg time vs the Sun. Little do people know, the Liberty are ranked 2nd in the league for defense efficiency, just 92.4 points per 100 possessions. These gals get around 75 possessions per game so do the math. Even though I painfully lost by half a point on the Liberty vs Shock, the Liberty did keep the Shock to just 71 points. I can't back either team in this game, I would heavily lean the under as the last game for the Sparks hit 134 in reg time and I think we might see a similar result with this game as the Liberty scored just 21 points in the 2H of their last game which is just embarrassing.
As for their schedules,
Liberty go back on the road to face the Sky in Chicago on Tuesday so this game vs the Sparks is a tough sandwich game.
Sparks head home after this roadie for a 3 game homestand vs Stars, Shock and Mercury.
****SIDE NOTE - The Sparks have to be looking at this game vs the Liberty a must win because they have no chance vs the Shock or Mercury. They could beat the Stars but their schedule is looking tough...
Sky @ Mystics (Current line is Mystics +1 and 156
All over the Mystics like a Rosie O'Donnell over a chocolate mudcake. Sky hopping around everywhere, played 2 OT's recently and then went to Indy and won by 6, now head to Mystics who are coming off a terrible loss to the Dream (a team they do struggle against). Thibault will get this gals up for this game thats for sure. They have the girls to stop EDD as well in Dolson and Meesseman. The Mystics match-up perfectly with the Sky. Sky ranked 4th last in 3 pointers allowed, Mystics 3rd best in the league at shooting them. Sky allowing 40.9% from the field, Mystics hitting 42.4%. Sky are ranked 2nd best in their league for FG%.
Also love the zig zag theory here as well.
Sky beat Dream
Dream beat Mystics
Mystics beat Sky???
Future schedule:
Mystics head to Indy after this game vs the Fever (Fever massive revenge) and then back home for Liberty
Sky head home to face the Liberty and then back on the road to Sun.
***This is what I am thinking.. Zig zag is alive and well in this game. Mystics win this game, then go to Indy and Fever win.. The Zig zag there is Sky beat Fever, Mystics beat Sky, Fever beat Mystics.. Get my drift
Also like to say the Sky have not covered 2 games in a row since way back at the start of August last season.
Storm @ Shock (Current line is Storm +12 and 147.5
Storm on a B2B? Not looking good for them against the hottest team in the league right now. Storm a terrible shooting team, ranked last in the league for offense efficiency and the Shock ranked 2nd in the league. I do not know where the Storm are going to find any fire power on a B2B vs the Shock who are rested and no travel as this is their 2nd game at home in a row now. Big spread but seeing that the Shock have covered everything so far this season, why can't they cover this line? I am not too sure. Not a big fan of taking a big spread like this but I do like the over in this game. Reason being is that the Shock scored just 71 points. After scoring 75 or less this season and last, they have come back the next game and knocked up 101 (vs Sky), 73 (vs Stars), 88 (vs Stars), (95 vs Mercury), 69 (vs Sparks), 85 (vs Storm), 96 (vs Sun), 82 (vs Lynx), 75 (vs Lynx), & 76 (vs Dream). Not too bad if you ask me after scoring 75 points or less. With the total hovering around 148.5 right now, the TT's would be something around 80 (Shock) & 68 (Storm). Something to think about seeing that the Storm are also on B2B I can see the Shock pushing the pace and try and bugger the Storm girls out.
Upcoming schedule:
Shock head to Seattle after this game. This game is the first of a double header and then the Shock are at Mercury, Sparks and Dream before going back home.
Storm go home to face the Shock, then on the road to Minny, Dream and Fever so their schedule is brutal..
BOL fellas. Waiting on line movement before locking any plays in..