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Eric Apricot's avatar

Q4

7.37. That was an extension of the last post and find offense for Atlanta. Chen helps in the paint, her Mark cuts down the middle, LA rotates off the weak side, this time the help for LA comes from the top of the key, but Atlanta calmly throws it to the open player at the top for an open 3.

6.30. This time GSV does not bring help in the paint from the strong side, they sneak it over from the weak side with Billings coming in.

Coach Nakase seems to be negotiating with the players. First calls the fake handoff at the elbow, then shakes head and signals a wing pick and roll.

5.00.Fagbenle, this time fronts the post, which keeps them from entering it into the post. Nakase signals 1. Which is horns one.

4.24. More signals from the bench on the play it's a pick and roll, but anticipated by Atlanta with the near pick-two except for a great defensive play from Veronica.

3.40. Tip injured again.

3.09. GSV getting frazzled. Bad turnovers and Kate with a weird inbound turnover.

2.41. GSV going to rue getting out-toughed on defense down the stretch.

1.45. ATL makes it look easy punishing GSV’s heavy help paint scheme with two straight 3s.

ATL showing why they’re a top team. Good execution and playing well off the advantage with their bigs, Griner and Jones.

In the meantime, GSV kind of punting on re-integrating the Eurobasketeers. No Zandalasini, just a hint of Salaun, no Leite. I don’t know if that’s easing them back in or resting them after a crazy tournament and travel, but NN mainly goes with the non-Euro scrappy team.

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Eric Apricot's avatar

Q2

9.40. If you want to see what happens when show and recover defense goes wrong, ATL recovery happens way too early, and Kate Martin never stops running until she gets the open layup.

9.05. Kaitlyn Chen on track to prove everything I've ever said about her wrong, blowing by on the pick and roll and finishing over Jones in the paint?!

8.27. Kind of brutal minute for Temi. First missed the point black alley-oop layup, then looked late on the inside rotation on the postop. (not sure it was her rotation, but she would've had a better chance than Kate Martin rotating to the big). Then coughs up the ball on an awkward drive.

7.20. Burton calls the horns 1 play, same as the previous horns play I discussed. Billings misses the free-throw jumper. But gets a big and–one play.

6.10. Good counter by Atlanta. Ball enters to the post and they expect Burton to dig in to help in the paint so her mark cuts hard to the basket, gets the ball and gets free throws.

4.07. Griner keeps on getting deep position on billings and shooting over her. Atlanta also going 4 out to make it hard for anyone to help in the paint.

3.49. Burton with interesting signals. Seems to be calling an angle play, which would mean a wing pick and roll on the next play. Then Coach Nakase making some kind of play signal that looks like horns, then a twist.

The answer was that it was HORNS with a fake handoff for KT at the elbow. Foul.

3.35. Fantastic pass. KT sealed her in the paint so that only she could reach a pass over her head and Burton obliged her.

2.38. Tremendous cut by Gray. The ball enters to the post, GSV helps off the perimeter, but instead of that open player cutting, the next player over cuts.

2.25. Hayes blazes into the paint, help comes off the opposite side corner, leaving Laeticia open, but she cuts to the basket when Hayes expects her to stay in the corner and she bullets a pass way too hard for Laeticia to handle.

1.25. Amihere and an off-balance defender? Smells like a barbecue. Chaotic good.

Fair conclusion. Valkyries up by two at the half.

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