In truth, I was able to watch this game from the comfort of the living room, but consistency dictates that I keep the title, well, consistent. For the first 2 1/2 minutes, the Minnesota Lynx looked as though they were prepared to get the broom out and make good use of it against the Seattle Storm. Then Seattle took a time out, came back onto the court, and that was that.
The Lynx had a 9-2 lead, the only lead they would have in the game. While the first quarter ended with the Storm up by only three, the dark clouds of victory were beginning to form over Seattle.
Were the Lynx caught off guard? No. Did Seattle seize the opportunity to run through what has been reported as one of the best defenses in the league? At every turn. Did the Lynx look gassed? No. So what happened? Well, in simple terms, the Lynx got their collective butts kicked by a determined Seattle team and on this night, it was the Storm’s turn to dominate.
The Storm and its Defense Versus the Lynx
Seattle held Minnesota to 30.6% shooting. Only Kayla McBride managed to make a good showing, scoring 27 points and going 6-12 from three. No other Lynx player hit double figures. In fact, after McBride, the next highest scorer was Cecilia Zandalasini who scored 7, including the only other three-pointer.
Was the absence of Napheesa Collier part of the reason that the Lynx lost? No, I don’t think so. This was Seattle’s night, and nothing was going to change that. Certainly, Collier’s presence is missed, but in the previous two games, Minnesota played with a full team effort. The shots didn’t fall against Seattle, and the Storm ran around the Minnesota defense.
final. pic.twitter.com/dnBHgTQ7gt
— Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) July 13, 2024
Nneka Ogwumike led Seattle with 26 points. After that, four other players hit double figures, with Sami Whitcomb and Jewell Loyd each grabbing 14 points. We’ve seen Minnesota have that kind of game in the past. In this game, however, they did not. At all.
Thoughts on the Lynx Following the Loss
This was one of those games, and every team has one, where the only thing to do is take it on the chin and re-group for the next one. Overthinking this loss would be pointless because the Lynx are going to face a very determined and competitive Indiana Fever on Sunday. Can the Lynx bounce back? Of course, they can, but will they? If their season history is anything to go on, then yes. They’ve only lost back-to-back games once, and I suspect they have no intention of doing that again.
The Caitlin Clark road show has yet to come to Target Center, and while the arena will be packed with many an Indiana and Iowa fan, the Lynx are still a dominant team. The big question is will Collier play? Hard to say. Will Coach Cheryl Reeves keep her out to make sure she will be ready for the All-Star game and the Olympics? Possibly, and that would be understandable.
As Collier has been listed as a game-time decision, we’ll most likely have to wait to see how that pans out. In any case, Minnesota, much like Seattle, will be determined and highly motivated to not let the kind of game they had against the Storm repeat itself.
What is Next for the Storm and Lynx?
The Storm have two more games before the Olympic break; the Atlanta Dream on Sunday and the Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday, both away games for Seattle. Since nothing has been at all predictable this season, and as I have said before, no game is a sure thing. After Indiana, the Lynx will face the Dream on Wednesday for the annual camp day game. Every team will no doubt welcome the break for the Olympics. How much of a toll those games will take on participating players remains to be seen.
Could the Olympic games have an adverse effect on those players? They could, and they might. The heightened level of expectation can do strange things. In the meantime, both Seattle and Minnesota will want to end on a positive note. The Storm are off to quite a start. The Lynx are going to have to dig down deep to come out on the winning end.
And that, my friends, as they say, is that.’ — Martin Ruben.
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