LAS VEGAS — Becky Hammon said all season long she was waiting for a game where all of Las Vegas' guards clicked on all cylinders.
In 2023, the three-headed monster of Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, and Kelsey Plumb was an unstoppable unit almost every night, and in the WNBA Finals series, Gray's lack of a shutout win meant that the three-headed monster of Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, and Kelsey Plum was an unstoppable unit on the perimeter. It culminated with the trio convincingly outplaying their New York Liberty opponents.
Fast forward to the season, and Las Vegas has seen a lot of combinations. Despite the addition of Tiffany Hayes to an already talented guard group, the Aces are fortunate to have two of the quartet active in any given game. When Young is performing well, it often portends an off night for Plum. Such was the case in Game 2 of the WNBA semifinal series against Liberty, where she scored 17 points and six points, respectively. Plum entered the A-game with 24 points in the series opener, but Gray then stumbled with four points and one assist in the loss.
“Two people had a good night in one night,” Hamon said. “Aja[Wilson]was ridiculous, she was ridiculous, and she's going to continue to be ridiculous. But after that, it's all these other little parts.”
On Friday, Hamon finally got the hand he had been waiting for, with four aces showing off their best performance. Five players scored in double figures in the Aces' 95-81 victory on Friday night, preventing elimination and ensuring they continue their quest for a third straight title in Game 4 on Sunday.
Ace is not finished yet ♠️
After facing elimination for the first time since 2021, the Las Vegas Aces force a Game 4 against Liberty in the semifinals! Jackie Young leads the way with 24 points 🔥
Final score: 95-81#Welcome to W | #WNBAPlayoffs Presented by @google pic.twitter.com/fDGNmr66M1
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 5, 2024
“Everyone was going really well,” Hammon said. “It was probably the most perfect game of the season. This is the game I believed in and was waiting for.”
The Las Vegas security group's efforts began with defense. Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu is the best perimeter player in the series, scoring at will from every level in addition to carving up the Aces' pick-and-roll coverage and setting up teammates for open shots. I decided.
Hamon said after Game 2 that he wanted to defend Ionescu and give him a C-plus effort because his defense wasn't even average in the first two games at Barclays Center. What this meant was to simplify the scheme and make the principles for Ionescu very clear and which Liberty players to help.
Ionescu tried to get past the defense several times in the first quarter and hit a floater shot, but couldn't make it. As the Aces tightened their coverage, Ionescu was repeatedly trapped far from the basket, unable to turn corners or find an exit in the half court. She had as many assists (five) as turnovers and had a career low in points in the playoffs with four points on 1-of-7 shooting.
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“She's been playing great, so naturally they want to give her a tough play,” Liberty coach Sandy Brondello said. “They got her into action on the other end. This time they were really aggressive in the pick-and-roll. She couldn't get downhill. It's a harder hedge and their hands flex so it's very It was very active.”
Without Ionescu leading the show, the Liberty transitioned to isolation basketball, a style of play at odds with the movement and screening that characterized them during the regular season, when they had the best record in the league.
Meanwhile, the Aces' defense gave them a rhythm on offense that they lacked early in the series.
“We always say the defense drives the offense,” Hayes said. “We know we can be a force on the defensive end. Even though we're a little undersized, we've got some dogs there and we can accomplish a lot. .”
New York's starting perimeter trio of Ionescu, Leonie Fibich and Betoniya Rainey-Hamilton combined for 21 points. Young outscored his own with 24 points, followed by Plumb with 20 points, Gray with 10 points and Hayes with 11 points off the bench.
A game-deciding 16-0 run in the third quarter showcased the team's collective strength, as the Aces expanded their four-point lead to 20 points. Plumb started the game with a drive to the hoop off the dribble, then found Gray. Aim for the next point with a 3-point shot in early offense. Gray then made a beautiful lob to Wilson over the top and Brianna Stewart came forward at the post to extend the lead to double digits.
Next came Hayes' turn. She pretended to the left and drove towards the weak hand, leaving Nyara Sabally in the dust. Plum made a 3-pointer off an offensive rebound, made a technical free throw and then made another 3-pointer off a drive-and-kick from Hayes. The guards had 14 points and three assists, but Liberty missed nine shots and committed seven turnovers in that stretch.
“I thought our attention to detail on the defensive end was very sharp,” Gray said. “They're a good team, but they like to give them tough looks. It was the same with Sabrina. We paid attention to the details of the pick-and-roll and made sure she wasn't comfortable. And it all starts at the defensive end, so we can flow into the offense a little bit better.”
With Liberty having two frontcourt MVPs in Stewart and Jonquel Jones, the Aces know they need to get an advantage in the backcourt. Wilson has been consistently good, but the perimeter has been the differentiating factor in his past two title wins.
Wilson was confident that desperate situations would bring out the best in his teammates. “One thing I know for sure is that sometimes, when our backs are against the wall, that's when we truly break free and shine brightest,” she said. Ta.
The 14-point victory was more lopsided than the margin suggested, and Wilson's belief was justified. The Aces finally executed their defense and set the tone. Their pace was also infectious on offense, involving a quartet of guards for the first time this season, allowing Las Vegas to play at least one more game and continue its quest for a third straight victory.
“We're the aces,” Hammon said. “We're not going to give up.”
(Photo, from left: Chelsea Gray, Jonquel Jones, Kelsey Plumb: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
