There you have it

Single elimination games tip off 23 September 

Wings @ Sky

Wings are 2-1 SU this season vs the Sky. First game was 91-81 Sky win, then Wings won 100-91 and then another win 80-76. Nice match up for the Wings. 

Liberty @ Mercury

Mercury are 2-1 SU against the Liberty 

First meeting, Liberty won 85-83 and then Mercury won the next two, winning 106-79 and 80-64 (both in NY). 

A lot will depend on Taurasi and if she plays. Howard is a concern for Griner because I think Howard has hit the ground running now. But Sabrina is a liability as this is her first big playoff game and I am pretty sure DT and Mercury has a ridiculous record when it comes to elimination games in the playoffs.

Lowest placed winner of these games will head to Minny to play the Lynx and the highest placed winner will head to Seattle.

think we see Mercury @ Storm so that would mean Wings/Sky @ Lynx. 

Lowest placed winner will head to Conn to play Sun and highest placed winner will head to Vegas. 

Wanted to say thank you to those guys who posted a lot of nice things to say last week. Thanks guys. You are the ones that keep me on the site.

Hi Aussie mate

Top 2 seeds Conn & LV with a huge double bye & home court advantage & two of the best defenses in the league. Their form line stacks up as well so tough to see the title winner coming from outside.

Lynx is a good outsider chance as they're strong defensively & also has the firepower to compete. PHX & SEA have patchy forms leading into play-offs & injuries concern to star players. Not ideal to be dealing with these issues at this critical time.

Elimination games are tricky since there will be lots of nerves & some tight defensive battles.

GL ADU 

always looking forward to your playoff thoughts  

@AussieDownUnder

Seattle @ #4 seems a little concerning for my Conn future, especially if Stewart returns to form. They’ve swept Conn in reg season, and not by just single digits.  

Vegas vs Minni seems like a set matchup. Should be a good series. I anticipate Minni to give them everything  they’ve got. Wouldn’t surprise me at all  if Vegas exits early. Minni definitely has the fire power to beat this team.

Oz man crazy that NY got in as both Wash and LA lost they are playing with house money now! I wonder what the totals’ll will be as usually elim games go under but something tells me this year is higher scoring. Let’s get em!

@D-Play

 Huge advantage D-Play for the Sun and Aces and since they have implemented this new structure, only teams that are seeded 1-2 has gone on to win the championship. We can’t forget what Aces did to the Sun last year but the Sun didn’t have Jonquel Jones in the bubble and Aces don’t have Angel this season but do have Liz. 

I like Minny, a lot. They have the experience with McBride and Fowles and Collier is a superstar. Add to the mix Powers and Clarendon and it’s a decent roster. They struggled this year in Conn but if they win their elimination game, they will play Vegas which they do well against. 

@LB_Dirtbags

 Yeah you don’t want to play Seattle if Stewie is fit. Only need to steal one game on the road to make it a series. I just haven’t seen any news at all about Stewie and whether she plays in that elimination game. Seattle are always so secretive about their injuries 

@StraightWagers

 I can’t believe it either Wagers. I think the Liberty went 2-11 in their last 13 and still managed to make the playoffs. Should be a quick exit though for them. 

believe the totals will be around 158-162 but don’t forget, these ladies do like to foul down late in the game if the win is within touching distance. 

Just want to see some good basketball over the next 4 weeks with the ladies and it really is anyone in the top 4’s chance to win. Mercury a slight outsider if DT plays but they will have to do it very tough 

If the line is 10 or less isn’t the Mercury the play?  Only an exceptional should be able to save NY.  Griner could be challenged by Howard but Phoenix has a lot of weapons on the perimeter even without Taurasi.  

ADU, crazy stuff happening down under as we speak. Any thoughts on it or would you like to keep the convo to hoops?

@BIGDTITLE

 Nah mate, all good for a chat outside of basketball. It’s crazy man. Been in lockdown now since June 24 so it’s getting tedious. Lucky though, I am able to work from home which is good. A lot of others such as tradesman lost income for several months. The protests though I don’t agree with, each to their own and people can make their own choices with the way they handle the governments intentions of getting majority of people vaccinated but they should be protesting in a manner where people are not getting hurt. The police don’t get paid enough to deal with what they are dealing with and I don’t know how they hold themselves back sometimes. 

Im a believer in the vaccine myself (vaccinated now) and can understand some people’s frustrations at being in lockdown for so long but there are other ways to go about it rather than violent protests 

@WNBASharp31

 You are definitely sharp mate 

Mercury are laying -9.5

So we have lines

Sky -1.5 and 162.5

Mercury -9.5 and 162.5

I really want to like the Liberty.  Young team that can light up the scoreboard in flashes but I just can’t see how they hold down Phoenix.  I’ll probably lay the points like a sucker but maybe a Mercury team total is a better play if it’s 85 or less?  

As for the other game I just don’t know.  Sky has some experience and moved the ball very well against Dallas this year (the third matchup Candace rolled her ankle in Q3 resulting in a loss).  I was ready to write off the Wings after their lousy play in those two home games against the Dream but they’ve looked better the last two weeks.  Gun to my head right now I would take the Sky though.

@WNBASharp31

 They are a young team mate that can score in a flurry if they hit their shots but time and time again, they go through scoring droughts as well which we all witnessed the other day in Conn. 

DT is questionable but she will play. 

Sky now up to -4.5. Feel like the CP experience along with the likes of CVS and Quigley can get them over the line and of Arike has a bad night shooting, she can really bring this Wings team down by continually shooting even though she is cold. Does my head in seeing her have bad nights yet still shooting. 

Hard games tonight. PHX -9 looks long, but Taurasi appears as probable and NY when they fade, they fade big time.

CHI-DAL even harder to predict as both make very poor shot choices, if something over, however play-off games have by system less points than regular season ones.