Ronald Cabang
(637) Connecticut Sun at (638) Minnesota Lynx
The Sun pulled off an impressive Game 1 upset, largely due to their three-point shooting, hitting 9/22 from beyond the arc compared to just 5/20 for the Lynx.
I expect three point shooting to flip flop in game two. I also think that Courtney Williams, who struggled shooting just 3/12 from the field, should find her rhythm in Game 2, especially from the mid-range, where she typically excels.
Although the Sun boast a strong defense, a bunch of the Lynx’s missed shots in Game 1 were uncontested — the kind of looks they usually make. Overall I think the Lynx will be more efficient offensively in the next game.
Key Trends:
- Historically, teams in the playoffs coming off a loss as home favorites tend to bounce back strong. Since 2012, these teams are 18-2 straight up and 14-5-1 ATS (73.7%). This trend heavily favors the Lynx to not just win, but to cover the spread as well.
- The Lynx should have better success from both the mid-range and three-point line in Game 2, improving their overall offensive efficiency.
Obviously the Lynx will want to avoid going down 0-2 heading into Connecticut, so expect them to come out firing and take control early.
Take the Lynx -5 for a strong bounce-back game!