Tough blow for FVV and the Rockets. Wishing him all the best. Opportunity for Sheppard is there but I imagine we get Amen Thompson initiating, playing through Sengun and using KD in different ways. Lineups with size will be there. Defense will continue to be their key.

The Phoenix Mercury have an active defense but the last team you want to be in rotation against is the Minnesota Lynx with their ball movement.

Phoenix Mercury still attacking matchups, inverted P&R for Alyssa Thomas with Akoa Makani as the screener to get Hiedeman in action. Screen is set flat so AT can go either way, Lynx end up switching. Turns into a post up and finish.

Minnesota Lynx just keep pressure on you and make you sustain defense. Bring it up in transition, drive forces help. Now it's a kick and a closeout. Think you recover and now it's a backdoor cut.

Napheesa Collier bucket into good help defense and a block from Alanna Smith.

Lynx have McBride on Satou, Phoenix Mercury start with pick and roll for Alyssa Thomas. Satou screens for AT but notice it's a flat angle step-up so AT can attack either way. McBride on other side, AT gets downhill.

The Indiana Fever have stayed patient, the Aces have not found comfort on defense. DHO for Kelsey Mitchell, Wilson is dropped, help comes from the nail and its a backcut for a layup.

Kelsey Mitchell has been great in Game 1.

The Aces going small is fun but the Fever are able to switch a lot, keep the ball in front and push off stops.

The drives from Jackie Young are going to be for the Aces with how the Fever have defended the Aces guards.

Lexie Hull is defending defending today

Fever/Aces is giving the old Sun/Aces series.

Aces guards are just going to have make the adjustment to the Fever defense. Pass and cut gets an under, Aces go right to a re-screen. Boston at the level but not a show. Turn the corner and find a shot or the roll.

Something to watch: how the Aces guards deal with the Fever's physical defense when they go to off-ball movement. Fever are having Boston at the level with a quick show but focusing on getting back to Wilson.

Fever go with inverted P&R, swing to Aliyah Boston at the top and have Kelsey Mitchell screen for her. Right side is empty, can go right into a post up. WIlson Howard but keeping her spaced and Wilson out of low help position.

Random thoughts before Game 1 -How do the Aces want to defend P&R, how many people will they switch vs. Boston -Imagine the Fever will try to focus on the Aces guards, how many unders do we see?

oregon facing oregon state on a saturday afternoon in september on the big ten network. *nods*

Also, some of your Game 1 Satou Sabally reactions need to be re-examined.

Stewie left it all out there.

Probably the best defensive possession for the New York Liberty in these playoffs.

Good design from the Phoenix Mercury out of a timeout to get Sabrina Ionescu in action in a different way. Elbow catch for Alyssa Thomas, Whitcomb with a backscreen for Satou. No switch, Sabrina stays attached, left side is empty and it's a layup.

I was going to point out the the Mercury keep setting these inverted screens for Alyssa Thomas lower and lower which is taking pressure of Sabrina and allowing Stewie to navigate but the Mercury just keep finding a way.

Phoenix Mercury just continue to attack matchups. Alyssa Thomas screens for Satou Sabally, Liberty switch and Cloud kicks Sabrina out of the matchup. AT looks to get a catch and attack anyways.

The Liberty held the Mercury to 27 percent shooting in the first and are down by 7 points.

The Mercury continue to go inverted P&R, putting Sabrina Ionescu in action against Alyssa Thomas. First rep is fine, second rep draws help. Good job from Bonner to set a screen in for Westbeld. AT is automatic as a passer.

Well, Breanna Stewart may not want to go home.

Early adjustment from the Liberty: Leonie Fiebich guarding Alyssa Thomas. Puts Breanna Stewart on Satou.

Game winning putback from Jackie Young.

Keep an eye on the Storm defense. Empty side P&R but notice the Storm go under the first screen. Aces counter with a re-screen but look at the Storm weakside pull over. Williams takes the roll, everyone ready to rotate to the kick.

Clutch defense from Lexie Hull.

The Indiana Fever kept battling.

The Fever lead 29-27 at the end of the first quarter. Odyssey Sims vs. Te-Hina Paopao has been fun. The Dream are shooting 59.1% from the field. Aliyah Boston has made one shot. This game is fun.

Look at Te-Hina Paopao

I am not sure how I feel about the Dream switching this many pick and rolls early. Opens the window for Boston to get going, gives Hull/Sims some easy reads.

The W is so competitive and these 3 game first round series are a *sprint* love these playoffs.

The Atlanta Dream opening up with Rhyne Howard guarding Kelsey Mitchell in an elimination game is a thing.

I respect the Golden State Valkyries just deciding to trap *everything* down 1 late in this game.

Ballhalla is a mindset.

The Golden State Valkyries turning defense into offense.

Nice pass from Zandalasini to Martin.

Great effort from the Mercury. Locked in on both ends. Liberty haven't been able to get loose on offense, Mercury have poked at them defensively.

At the half: New York Liberty - 37 points (13 of 35) Alyssa Thomas, Kahleah Copper, Satou Sabally - 37 points (13 of 22)

oh it's almost like Satou Sabally is pretty good at basketball.

The other thing to note with the Mercury going inverted P&R. It's not just getting Sabrina in action, watch where the screens are set. Lower on the floor, drives are on the menu.

Mercury sticking with inverted P&R, using it for Satou Sabally to get Sabrina Ionescu in action. Sabrina held up in Game 1, Mercury screening better and Satou gets downhill. Next play just goes right to a pullup 3. Liberty have to adjust, Mercury adjustments have them in rhythm.

Little thing from Alyssa Thomas here to counter Liberty's defense -Whitcomb as a screener to get Sabrina in action, in G1 Sabrina would squeeze and bump if the big got screened -AT knows this goes right into Sabrina and gets it right to Whitcomb on the pop.

A couple of adjustments for Sabrina Ionescu in Game 2. Liberty going with higher screens on the floor to try and create space vs. Akoa Makani's navigation. Empty side takes the show away. Sabrina looking to turn the corner.

What a bucket from Skylar Diggins.

Storm fighting to save their season. Switch the Young/Wilson handoff, Ogwumike scrams out. Contain and contest.

alright.