It is safe, I think, to say that since the start of this portion of the season, the Minnesota Lynx have shown themselves to be a legitimate title contender. While their meeting with the Las Vegas Aces at Michelob ULTRA Arena was not what you’d call a blowout in terms of the score, it was a dominant win. No matter how many times the Aces got close, the Lynx consistently had an answer.
Turnovers were lower at 12, three-point shooting was up to par at 11-19, and 28 assists on 38 made baskets was a strong showing of how unselfish this team is. Las Vegas also did well in these areas, going 13-30 in threes, 22-33 in assists, and only 9 turnovers.
So why do I call this a dominant win? It comes down to the perception that the Lynx played like a team, and Las Vegas played like a group of great players. The Lynx never looked frustrated. Las Vegas did.
I suspect being the defending champions, which means a target on your back, is a difficult burden, which is compounded by the fact that they have not been, for lack of a better description, the best team in the league. Why? It isn’t a question of the Aces not being good, but rather that other teams have gotten considerably better. There is more parity in the league among the top teams.
Who would have expected the Lynx to be where they are now? No one. Likewise, who would have anticipated that the Aces would be sitting in fifth place at this point in the season? No one.
Minnesota and Their Balanced Offense on Display Versus Aces
Minnesota’s leaders, Napheesa Collier, Kayla McBride, Alanna Smith, and Courtney Williams showed us what a well-oiled team looks like. Williams had a stellar game, scoring 22 points and making 10 assists. Collier led the way with 23 points, and Bridget Carleton, Smith, and McBride all were in double figures.
With the starters playing the bulk of the minutes, the bench managed to contribute 20 points, including newly acquired Myisha Hines-Allen, who scored 8 points in 14 minutes. Hines-Allen looked as though she’d been with the team since training camp, and seamlessly fit in with the program.
WE LIKE OUR ODDS. pic.twitter.com/gtPWNcalIF
— Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) August 22, 2024
What kept Las Vegas in the game was the play of Jackie Young, who scored 26 points, and of Kelsey Plum, who grabbed 20. A’ja Wilson, arguably the most dominant player in the league, was held to 15 points, which she might consider to be a sub-par game. Tiffany Hayes scored 12 off the bench, but the rest of the team made minor contributions.
Without Young, who made 6 threes, and Plum’s 9-16 shooting, the Aces get blown out. Whatever the problems are with Las Vegas, be they internal or intangible, they are going to have to address them immediately if they want to still be considered as a real title contender. Again, look at the standings, look at the stats, and then draw your own conclusions.
The Lynx and Aces Face Off Once Again
The Lynx have 12 games remaining and the Aces have 13. These two teams will have the chance to battle it out again on Friday in Minneapolis at the Target Center. So far, each team has won the away games. Can Minnesota reverse that, or will Las Vegas dominate? There will be no room at all for error when they face off. None. A must-win for each team.
And that, my friends, as they say, is that.’ — Martin Ruben.
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