CNOTES 2018 WNBA PICKS,TRENDS,NOTES,NEWS !

[Cnotes53]

Sunday's WNBA Best Bets
Joe Williams

For the remainder of the WNBA regular season through the playoffs, we'll take a look at the best Sunday bets.

The schedule for Sunday is chock full of action, with all 12 WNBA teams on the hardwood for the final day of the regular season. Let's get started!

The Los Angeles Sparks (19-14) open the day far from home when they take on the Connecticut Sun (20-13) for the third time this season. The Sun probably wish they could face the Sparks more, as they won and covered each of the previous two contests this season, including a 102-94 win in Connecticut all the way back on May 24. Los Angeles is struggling against the number lately, going 1-5 ATS over the past six outings, and they're just 3-9 ATS across the past 12 against teams with a winning overall mark. L.A. has also failed to cover in each of the past seven following a cover in their previous outing.

For the Sun, they have covered seven of their past nine outings overall, including a 5-1 ATS mark across the past six contests at home. They're also an impressive 5-0 ATS in the past five against teams from the Western Conference. Total bettors might like the 'under' in this one, too. It has cashed in four of the previous five meetings in this series, while going 4-1 in the past five for L.A. against Eastern Conference clubs, too. The under is also 24-10 in their past 34 following a cover. The under is 4-1 in Connecticut's past five against teams with a winning overall record, but the over is 5-2 in their past seven games overall.

The Atlanta Dream (22-11) will try to clinch the Eastern Division flag with a road win against the Las Vegas Aces (14-18). This game also features the highest total on the board, 175 points. The Dream have been cover queens lately, going 7-1 ATS across the past eight outings on the road. They're also 7-1 ATS over the past eight games against Western Conference teams, while going 19-7 ATS in the past 26 games overall. Atlanta will be trying to rebound, and they're also very good against the number in that situation, too. The Dream are 5-0 ATS in the past five following a straight-up loss, and 4-0 ATS in their past four outings following a non-cover.

As far as Vegas is concerned, they are limping to the finish line, going 0-4 ATS in the past four against teams with a winning overall mark. They have handled themselves with aplomb against Eastern Conference teams, however, going 34-16-1 ATS in the past 51. The Dream has had a difficult time against this franchise, dating back to when the Aces were the San Antonio Stars. Atlanta is just 4-15 ATS in the past 19 meetings, and 1-8 ATS in their past nine trips to Vegas/San Antonio. The over has cashed in four of the previous five for Atlanta, while going 8-3 in their past 11 road contests. For the Aces, the under is 3-1-1 in their past five at home, and 4-1 in their past five against clubs with a straight-up winning mark.

In early evening action, the Phoenix Mercury (19-14) hosts the New York Liberty (7-26), as they look to springboard into the postseason. The Mercury have won three in a row, averaging 94.7 points per game (PPG), and the 'over' is 3-0-1 across their past four, and 6-1-1 in the past eight games overall. The Mercury has also been hot against the number, too, going 5-1 ATS in the past six outings, and 12-4 ATS across the past 16 games following a straight-up win. They have sizzled against the Eastern Conference, too, going 15-5 ATS in the past 20. For the Liberty, they're the opposite, going 4-11 ATS in the past 15 games vs. Western Conference clubs, while going 0-4 ATS in their past four following a non-cover.

The 'under' is 4-1 across the past five meetings in this series, and 4-1 ATS in the past five in the Valley of the Sun, too. The Liberty have actually connected in six of their past eight trips to Arizona, too, although they're 0-2 SU/ATS in the previous meetings this season, both in New York.

The Indiana Fever (5-28) and Chicago Sky (13-20) will be playing in the only game where both teams are eliminated from postseason contention. That doesn't mean there isn't money to be made. In fact, these teams might have just played the most exciting game of the season. Chicago won 115-106 in double-overtime in Indianapolis on Saturday, and now the two teams take the bus up Interstate 65 to the Windy City to wrap up an ugly season. Chicago is 2-0 SU/ATS in two previous meetings against the Fever, and they might have made the postseason if only they could face the Fever more.

The Fever have been ice-cold against the number, too, going 5-17 ATS across their past 22 games overall, while hitting in just two of their past eight games against the spread on the road. They're also 3-13 ATS in their past 16 following a straight-up loss and 2-5 ATS in the past seven on no rest. For the Sky, they are finishing on a high note with four consecutive covers, although they're still just 11-23 ATS across their past 34 outings at home. Indiana has owned this series in the past, at least against the number, going 15-5-1 ATS in their past 21 trips to Chicago, while the 'over' has connected in 14 of the past 18. The over looks to be attractive in this one, but remember, these two sides just played double-overtime less than 24 hours ago.

BEST BET ALERT: The 'over' is listed at 168 on Sunday, but that's a bit high since both teams will have tired legs after just playing a double-overtime thriller in Indianapolis on Saturday. Unless the game cannot be decided in regulation again, this one is going well under.

The Dallas Wings (15-18) and Seattle Storm (25-8) both appeared to be hurtling toward the postseason about a month ago. The Storm is still on that trajectory. In fact, they have the No. 1 overall seed heading into the playoffs. Dallas, they have lost nine of their past 10 games overall while failing to cover five in a row, and nine of the past 10. This is the fourth meeting between these teams this season, with Seattle winning and covering the past two. It's a meaningless game for Seattle, so covering an eight-point number might seem a bit ambitious.

Dallas has also failed to cover their past six on the road, and they're 0-5 ATS in the past five against teams with a winning straight-up record. Seattle has posted a 13-4-1 ATS mark across the past 18 games, and they're 5-1 ATS in the past six against teams with a losing record. Seattle is also 4-0 ATS in their past four within the Western Conference. Seattle is 5-2 ATS in the past seven overall against Dallas, and 5-2 ATS in their past seven home games against the Wings, too. The 'over' has hit in four of the past five meetings in this series, too, but the under is 7-2 in Seattle's past nine at home.

BEST BET ALERT - PART II: The Storm have the No. 1 overall seed wrapped up, so they do not have anything to play for. It wouldn't be shocking to see some of their key personnel rest in this one, so perhaps Liz Cambage and the Wings fly to the finish line on a high note. Either way, the Wings are quite attractive catching four buckets in Seattle.

The final game of the day is a good one, as the The Washington Mystics (21-11) and Minnesota Lynx (17-16) tangle in the Twin Cities. The Mystics enter the game just a half-game back of the Dream for the top spot in the East, so there is plenty to play for. Washington has been on fire, covering six of their past seven overall, and four straight on the road. They're also 4-1 ATS in the past five games against teams with a winning straight-up record, while covering four of their past five against the Western Conference, too.

The Lynx are limping to the finish line, especially against the spread. They are just 2-7 ATS in the past nine games overall, while going 0-4 ATS in the past four at home, 0-5 ATS in their past five against winning sides and 1-4 ATS in the past five against Eastern Conference foes. This will be the first meeting between these teams in the Twin Cities this season, and they haven't seen each other anywhere since June 7. The teams split the first two games in D.C., with the Lynx winning 88-80 last time out. Both of the first games resulted in 'over' results. The over is 4-1 in the past five meetings in this series, and the Mystics have covered just two of their past eight in this series.

BEST BETS RECORD - LAST WEEK: 1-1 (-10)
BEST BETS RECORD - SEASON: 2-2 (-20)

 

[Cnotes53]

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

LA at CONN 03:00 PM
CONN -5.0
U 161.0

NY at PHO 06:00 PM
PHO -12.0
O 165.5

ATL at LV 06:00 PM
LV +4.5
U 174.0

IND at CHI 06:00 PM
CHI -8.0
O 168.5

WAS at MIN 07:00 PM
WAS +0.0
O 159.0

DAL at SEA 07:00 PM
SEA -7.5
U 175.0

 

[Cnotes53]

Lynx celebrate "Lindsay Whalen Day" win victory
August 19, 2018

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Lindsay Whalen scored 10 points in the final regular-season home game of her career, Sylvia Fowles set the WNBA season record for rebounds and the Minnesota Lynx closed the season with a 88-83 victory over the Washington Mystics on Sunday night.

The Target Center had 13,013 in attendance for the game. Governor Mark Dayton declared it ''Lindsay Whalen Day'' in Minnesota and a retirement ceremony followed the game.

The 36-year-old Whalen starred at the University of Minnesota and now coaches the Gophers.

Fowles had 26 points and 14 rebounds to finish with a WNBA-record 404 rebounds. She broke the mark of 403 set last year by Jonquel Jones.

Whalen hit a 3-pointer that gave the Lynx (18-16) the lead for good during a 13-0 run that ended at 78-69 early in the fourth quarter. The Mystics (22-12) got no closer than the final score.

The seventh-seeded Lynx will visit the sixth-seeded Los Angeles Sparks - a rematch of the last two WNBA finals - in the single-elimination first round of the WNBA playoffs Tuesday night.

The No. 3 seed Mystics had their eight-game winning streak snapped and their 22 regular-season wins tied a franchise best. Washington will have a bye through the first round of the playoffs to host the Lynx-Sparks winner in the second round Thursday night.

DREAM 93, ACES 78

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Elizabeth Williams scored 20 points and Atlanta beat Las Vegas to take the No. 2 seed in the WNBA playoffs.

The Dream (23-11) have byes through the first two single-elimination rounds, and will have home-court advantage in the best-of-five semifinals.

Jessica Breland and Montgomery added 16 points each for Atlanta, Alex Bentley had 12, and Tiffany Hayes 11. A'ja Wilson had 21 points for the Aces (14-20).

SUN 89, SPARKS 86

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) - Jasmine Thomas scored 27 points and Connecticut beat Los Angeles to secure the fourth seed in the playoffs.

Connecticut (21-13) will have a first-round bye and host the Phoenix-Dallas winner in the second round. Los Angeles (19-15) took the sixth seed and will host Minnesota in the first round.

Candace Parker led Los Angeles with 20 points and 10 rebounds.

STORM 84, WINGS 68

SEATTLE (AP) - Breanna Stewart and Crystal Langhorne had 15 points each to help Seattle beat Dallas.

Sue Bird sat out the game and Stewart played just 13 minutes in the game that had no effect on the Storm's No. 1 playoff seed.

Seattle (26-8) closed the season winning eight of the last nine and will begin the playoffs in the semifinals with byes through the first two single-elimination rounds and home-court advantage throughout.

Glory Johnson led the Wings (15-19) with 16 points.

MERCURY 96, LIBERTY 85

PHOENIX (AP) - DeWanna Bonner had 23 points and 10 rebounds to help Phoenix beat New York, sending the Liberty to their 13th straight loss.

Stephanie Talbot added 18 points, and Diana Taurasi had 16. The fifth-seeded Mercury (20-14) will host eighth-seeded Dallas on Tuesday night in the first round of the playoffs.

Kia Nurse had 22 of her 28 points in the first half for the Liberty (7-27).

FEVER 97, SKY 92

CHICAGO (AP) - Candice Dupree and Cappie Pondexter had 22 points each in Indiana's victory over Chicago.

The Fever snapped a five-game losing to finish a WNBA-worst 6-28.

Diamond DeShields had 19 of her 27 points in the first half for the Sky (13-21).

 

[Cnotes53]

date w-l-t % units record

08/19/2018 6-6-0 50.00% -3.00
08/18/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00
08/17/2018 7-3-0 70.00% +18.50
08/15/2018 3-1-0 75.00% +9.50
08/14/2018 4-2-0 66.67% +9.00
08/12/2018 3-7-0 30.00% -23.50
08/11/2018 1-3-0 25.00% -11.50
08/10/2018 4-0-0 100.00% +20.00
08/09/2018 1-3-0 25.00% -11.50
08/08/2018 2-2-0 50.00% -1.00
08/07/2018 2-6-0 25.00% -23.00
08/05/2018 3-5-0 37.50% -12.50
08/04/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00
08/03/2018 1-3-0 25.00% -11.50
08/02/2018 3-1-0 75.00% +9.50
08/01/2018 3-1-0 75.00% +9.50

totals............47-43-0........52.22%.....-1.50


best bets.....................ats.............units.... ............o/u...................units.............total

08/19/2018..................1 - 5.............-22.50................5 - 1..................+19.50..........-3.00
08/18/2018..................1 - 0.............+5.00.................1 - 0..................+5.00.............+10.00
08/17/2018..................4 - 1.............+14.50...............3- 2...................+4.00.............+18.50
08/15/2018..................2 - 0 ............+10.00...............1 - 1...................-0.50.............+9.50
08/14/2018..................2 - 1............ +4.50.................2 - 1..................+4.50............+9.00
08/12/2018..................2 - 3.............-6.50..................1 - 4..................-17.00............-23.50
08/11/2018..................1 - 1.............-0.50..................0 - 2..................-11.00............-11.50
08/10/2018..................2 - 0............+10.00................2 - 0..................+10.00..........+20.00
08/09/2018..................1 - 1.............-0.50..................0 - 2..................-11.00............-11.50
08/08/2018..................1 - 1.............-0.50..................1 - 1..................-0.50..............-1.00
08/07/2018..................1 - 3............-11.50.................1 - 3..................-11.50............-23.00
08/05/2018..................1 - 3............-11.50.................2 - 2...................-1.00.............-12.50
08/04/2018..................1 - 0............+5.00..................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+10.00
08/03/2018..................1 - 1.............-0.50..................0 - 2..................-11.00.............-11.50
08/02/2018..................1 - 1.............-0.50..................2 - 0.................+10.00.............+9.50
08/01/2018..................1 - 1.............-0.50..................2 - 0.................+10.00.............+9.50

totals......................23 - 22..............-7.00.................24 - 19...............+6.50...............-1.50

 

[Cnotes53]

Playoff Schedule

LOCAL ET TV

FIRST ROUND
Tue Aug. 21 Dallas at Phoenix1 5:30PM 8:30PM ESPN2
Tue Aug. 21 Minnesota at Los Angeles 7:30PM 10:30PM ESPN2

SECOND ROUND
Thu Aug. 23 TBD at Washington2 6:30PM 6:30PM ESPN2
Thu Aug. 23 TBD at Connecticut 8:30PM 8:30PM ESPN2

SEMIFINALS
Seattle vs TBD

Sun Aug. 26 TBD at Seattle ? GM1 2:00PM 5:00PM ESPN2
Tue Aug. 28 TBD at Seattle ? GM2 7:00PM 10:00PM ESPN2
Fri Aug. 31 Seattle at TBD ? GM3 ? ? ESPNews/NBA TV
Sun Sep. 2 Seattle at TBD ? GM4* ? ? ESPN2
Tue Sep. 4 TBD at Seattle ? GM5* ? ? ESPNews/NBA TV

Atlanta vs TBD
Sun Aug. 26 TBD at Atlanta ? GM1 3:00PM 3:00PM ESPN2
Tue Aug. 28 TBD at Atlanta ? GM2 8:00PM 8:00PM ESPN2
Fri Aug. 31 Atlanta at TBD ? GM3 ? ? ESPNews/NBA TV
Sun Sep. 2 Atlanta at TBD ? GM4* ? ? ESPN2
Tue Sep. 4 TBD at Atlanta ? GM5* ? ? ESPN2


SUBJECT TO CHANGE

TBD ? To Be Determined

* ? If necessary

 

[Cnotes53]

Cheat Sheet - First Round
August 20, 2018

The first round of the WNBA playoffs begins on Tuesday Aug. 21 with a single-elimination format. The winners of these games will travel to either No. 3 Washington or No. 4 Connecticut for second round matchups on Thursday.

Those games will be single-elimination as well with the winners advancing to the semifinals against either No. 1 Seattle or No. 2 Atlanta for a five-game series before the WNBA Finals, which is also a best-of-five matchup.

(Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under - O/U)

No. 8 Dallas at No. 5 Phoenix (ESPN2, 8:30 p.m. ET)

-- The Mercury went 2-1 both SU and ATS versus the Wings this season.

-- The pair only met once in Phoenix, which occurred on May 18 and the Mercury captured an 86-76 win over the Wings as a 5 ?-point home favorite.

-- The ?over? went 2-1 in the three encounters and the totals ranged from 160 ? to 171.

-- The Wings are the lowest seed in this year?s playoffs and have been horrible for bettors down the stretch.

-- Dallas closed the regular season on a 1-10 record both SU and ATS.

-- During this season, the Wings went 0-6 both SU and ATS on the road and that contributed to their overall dismal mark away from home (5-12 SU, 7-10 ATS).

-- The Wings watched the ?over? go 11-6 away from home. Bettors should note that the club allowed 88 points per game on the road, which was the second worst ranking in the WNBA.

-- The Mercury weren?t very consistent at Talking Stick Resort Arena this season, posting a 9-8 SU and 7-10 ATS record.

-- However, Sandy Brondello and company did close the season with five straight games at home and they posted a 4-1 SU and 3-2 ATS mark in those games.

-- The lone loss came by five points to a quality Washington squad while the wins were by an average of 12 PPG.

-- Phoenix surrendered 85.2 PPG at home this season, the fourth worst effort in the WNBA. They did average 86.9 PPG at home, which was ranked third overall. Those numbers helped the 'over' go 10-7 at home.

-- The Mercury closed the regular season on a 7-1-1 ?over? run.

-- Since the Wings moved from Tulsa, they?ve played in one playoff game and that occurred last season when they dropped an 86-76 decision to Washington in the first round.

-- Since the WNBA created the first and second round elimination matchups in 2016, the Mercury have been involved each of the last two seasons.

-- Phoenix has gone 4-0 in those games, going 2-0 at home in the first round and 2-0 in the second round. Unfortunately for the club, they?ve been swept in both semifinal matchups in 2016 and 2017.

No. 7 Minnesota at No. 6 Los Angeles (ESPN2, 10:30 p.m. ET)

-- The Sparks captured three of four matchups from the Lynx this season, including both contests at Staples Center.

-- Los Angeles hammered Minnesota in the most recent meeting, 79-57 to easily cash as three-point favorites on August 2.

-- The lone victory by the Lynx over the Sparks came at Target Center on July 5 by an 83-72 count as 3 ?-point favorites. Minnesota won in spite of Maya Moore shooting 2-of-13 from the floor and finishing with eight points.

-- This is a surprising first-round matchup as the Lynx and Sparks have met for the WNBA title each of the last two seasons with each team winning once. Minnesota has reached the WNBA Finals in six of the previous seven seasons, winning four times, but never picking up consecutive titles following a championship last season.

-- In spite of a 3-6 SU/ATS finish, Minnesota closed the regular season by knocking off Washington as short home underdogs, 88-83, while snapping the Mystics? seven-game winning streak.

-- Minnesota owned the second-worst ATS record in the league at 13-21, while failing to cover its first seven games of the season.

-- The Lynx won nine of 17 games on the highway this season, including underdog victories over Phoenix twice and Washington.

-- Minnesota has never played in the one-game knockout round since its inception two seasons ago, as the Lynx are opening against an opponent on the road for the first time since losing at Phoenix in the Western Conference Finals in 2014.

-- Los Angeles is not playing its best basketball of the season as the Sparks have dropped four of their last five games, while the only home win in this span came as a 13 ?-point favorite against New York.

-- The Sparks began the season by posting an 8-1 record at Staples Center, but suffered through a five-game home skid in July. L.A. is currently riding a three-game home winning streak, which included the 22-point blowout of Minnesota in early August.

-- Los Angeles has failed to cover in six of the last eight opportunities in the favorite role, including recent losses to Phoenix and Atlanta.

-- The Sparks have drilled the 'under' in four straight home contests, while the Lynx have hit the 'under' in 11 of the past 12 away games.

 

[Cnotes53]

WNBA playoff field set, LA-Minnesota meet
August 20, 2018

NEW YORK (AP) The WNBA playoffs are set after a wild, unpredictable regular season came to an end Sunday.

As expected, Los Angeles and Minnesota will meet in the postseason for a third straight year. Unexpectedly, it's in the first round.

The two-time WNBA finalists finished a surprising sixth and seventh in the regular season and will face off in Los Angeles on Tuesday night.

''Minnesota is a good team. You can throw records out the window right now,'' Sparks coach Brian Agler said. ''They have two of the elite offensive players in the league, one inside and one outside, they have veteran savviness, tough minded championship pedigree and we have played them enough, over 20 times in three years, so we know each other pretty well.''

Phoenix will host Dallas, which earned the final playoff spot Friday, in the other first-round elimination game.

''I mean, you obviously want to finish as high up as you can. There was a point there when we thought we were going to be in that top two, top four, but you have to win regardless. I think we're playing well,'' Phoenix guard Diana Taurasi said. ''I think we found our groove a little bit on the things that we want to do. Getting a home game, but we still have to go out there and play hard and play really well to win.''

Seattle and Atlanta earned byes to the semifinals by finishing first and second. The Dream clinched the No. 2 spot on the final day of the regular season. Washington and Connecticut earned first-round byes.

''We are thrilled. There is a whole lot of parity in the league,'' WNBA President Lisa Borders told the AP on Sunday night. ''Clearly anyone can beat anyone on any given day. We are thrilled with the unpredictability.''

Here are a few things to watch for in the opening round of the playoffs:

ONE LAST RIDE: Minnesota Lynx point guard Lindsay Whalen announced she would retire after the season ended. She's won four titles with the Lynx and hopes to have one more shot at a championship.

The Lynx would have to beat Los Angeles and either Washington or Connecticut to get a chance to play at home again.

''It was Lindsay Whalen's last time at Target Center as a competitor in the WNBA during the regular season. I think we would all like to give her another chance to come back here but we'll just take it one day at a time,'' Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve said.

NEW LIFE: Dallas backed its way into the postseason, losing nine straight games before beating Las Vegas to reach the playoffs Friday.

''We're hungry and thirsty out there, and we finally got what we needed,'' Dallas center Liz Cambage said after the team beat Las Vegas to clinch a playoff spot. ''We made it hard for ourselves losing nine in a row, but we went out and left it all out there. I'm really proud of my team.''

Dallas lost to Washington in the opening round last season.

TRAVEL WOES: Whoever wins the opening round games in Los Angeles and Phoenix will have to head east to play second round games on Thursday. The WNBA doesn't allow teams to charter, so the winners will have to fly commercial on Wednesday to Washington and Connecticut.

 

[Cnotes53]

Armadillo: Tuesday's six-pack

Odds to win the National League pennant:

3-1: Chicago Cubs

7-2: Los Angeles Dodgers

7-1: Arizona, Atlanta, Colorado, St Louis

10-1: Milwaukee Brewers

25-1: Washington Nationals

100-1: Pittsburgh Pirates

**********

Armadillo: Tuesday's List of 13: Nobody asked me, but??.

13) This is one of the many reasons Moneyball 2 could be coming to a theater near you in the near future:

On February 12, 2016, Milwaukee traded Khris Davis to the A?s, for minor leaguers Bubba Derby and Jacob Nottingham.

In three seasons for the A?s, Davis has hit 122 homers, knocked in 311 runs.

Derby is 5-5, 4.92 in 28 AAA games this year (15 starts); he hasn?t pitched in the majors yet, and is playing for Colorado Springs, where the high altitude can inflate your ERA.

Nottingham has played in seven MLB games; he is hitting .286 in AAA this year, again playing in a hitter-friendly environment.

Part of the reason Milwaukee traded Davis is that he can?t throw very well so he would?ve been a liability playing the outfield in a league with no DH.

12) Davis has four homers and a double in 10 career AB?s vs Justin Verlander.

Monday night, a bunch of Make-a-Wish kids were on the field before the game in Oakland; Davis had one of the kids sign his jersey, and he played the game with the kid?s signature on his left shoulder.

Second time, up, he hits a very long home run. The type of stuff Hollywood loves.

11) With college football starting soon, there was an article written with results of a poll where coaches were asked anonymously which of their colleagues was overrated/underrated.

Penn State?s James Franklin was one of most often mentioned as overrated, to which I say, ?If you win at Vanderbilt (they went 24-15 under Franklin, 11-13 in SEC games) then you ain?t underrated.?

Penn State is 22-5 under Franklin the last two years. Enough said.

10) Jose Ure?a tossed a complete game 2-hitter in Washington Sunday; now he can go on his 6-game suspension from hitting Ronald Acu?a and life can resume.

Pitching inside has to be allowed; if a pitcher makes the batter move his feet, then all the better for the pitcher. You don?t want to see getting hitters getting drilled by pitches, but pitchers can?t allow them to be so comfortable in the batters? box.

9) When Brandt Snedeker shot a 59 at the Wyndham Classic Thursday, he made only three putts longer than 10 feet, thats how well he was striking the ball.

8) Baseball is hard: Phillies? IF Scott Kingery played in the Little League World Series when he was a kid, but he went hitless in Williamsport:

?We played three games [in the Little League World Series], went 2-1, and got knocked out because of a tiebreaker. I had zero hits, [in] probably 10, 11 at-bats. I hit a kid right in the chest at third base and he picked it up and threw me out. It was tough.?

Phillies? P Nick Pivetta didn?t make his league?s All-Star team when he was 12.

7) Denver Broncos won their last six Week 1 games, the longest active winning streak on Opening Day in the NFL. This will be 8th year in row they open the season at home.

Dallas Cowboys are opening on road this year for the first time since 2012.

6) I was surprised to learn that San Antonio is the 7th-largest city in America, and San Diego is the 8th-largest. Why did the Chargers leave San Diego?

5) The Cactus Bowl will now be called the Cheez-It Bowl, and will be played at Chase Field (where the Diamondbacks play) on December 26.

4) From 2005-08, Doug Pederson was a high school football coach, at Calvary Baptist Academy in Louisiana. Now he is head coach of the Super Bowl champs. Life is funny sometimes.

3) Mets? 1B Wilmer Flores has two brothers who are also named Wilmer. Seriously. His father must be related to George Foreman, who has four sons named George.

2) Clarification: Last week I was wondering why the kid on Puerto Rico?s Little League team was taken out of the game in the last inning, with a 2-0 lead- he had thrown 88 pitches.

Turns out it is a LLWS rule; when a pitcher hits 85 pitches, that is his last batter, so they had to put a new pitcher in at that point.

1) If the baseball playoffs started today (they don?t):
NL: Braves-Cubs-Diamondbacks. Wild Card: Phil or Colo @ Milwaukee
AL: Red Sox-Indians-A?s or Hst. Wild Card: AL West #2 @ New York

 

[Cnotes53]

WNBA

Tuesday, August 21

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Trend Report
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Dallas Wings
Dallas is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games
Dallas is 1-10 SU in its last 11 games
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Dallas's last 10 games
Dallas is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Dallas is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Dallas's last 5 games on the road
Dallas is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Phoenix
Dallas is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Phoenix
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Dallas's last 5 games when playing Phoenix
Dallas is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Phoenix
Dallas is 3-16 SU in its last 19 games when playing on the road against Phoenix
Phoenix Mercury
Phoenix is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games
Phoenix is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Phoenix's last 5 games
Phoenix is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games at home
Phoenix is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Phoenix's last 7 games at home
Phoenix is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Dallas
Phoenix is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Dallas
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Phoenix's last 5 games when playing Dallas
Phoenix is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Dallas
Phoenix is 16-3 SU in its last 19 games when playing at home against Dallas


Minnesota Lynx
Minnesota is 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games
Minnesota is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Minnesota's last 16 games
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Minnesota's last 12 games on the road
Minnesota is 3-8 ATS in its last 11 games when playing Los Angeles
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Minnesota's last 13 games when playing Los Angeles
Minnesota is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Los Angeles
Minnesota is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Los Angeles
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Minnesota's last 5 games when playing on the road against Los Angeles
Los Angeles Sparks
Los Angeles is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games
Los Angeles is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Los Angeles's last 9 games
Los Angeles is 1-7 ATS in its last 8 games at home
Los Angeles is 18-7 SU in its last 25 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 16 of Los Angeles's last 19 games at home
Los Angeles is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 games when playing Minnesota
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Los Angeles's last 13 games when playing Minnesota
Los Angeles is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Minnesota
Los Angeles is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Minnesota
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Los Angeles's last 5 games when playing at home against Minnesota

 

[Cnotes53]

WNBA Basketball Trend Report

DALLAS (15 - 19) at PHOENIX (20 - 14) - 8/21/2018, 8:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DALLAS is 1-7 ATS (-6.7 Units) in August or September games this season.
DALLAS is 18-32 ATS (-17.2 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 77+ points/game after 15+ games over the last 3 seasons.
DALLAS is 19-32 ATS (-16.2 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 77+ points/game after 15+ games over the last 3 seasons.
PHOENIX is 2-10 ATS (-9.0 Units) in home games after allowing 75 points or more this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
PHOENIX is 5-5 against the spread versus DALLAS over the last 3 seasons
PHOENIX is 5-5 straight up against DALLAS over the last 3 seasons
6 of 10 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

MINNESOTA (18 - 16) at LOS ANGELES (19 - 15) - 8/21/2018, 10:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MINNESOTA is 13-21 ATS (-10.1 Units) in all games this season.
MINNESOTA is 8-17 ATS (-10.7 Units) after scoring 75 points or more this season.
LOS ANGELES is 17-8 ATS (+8.2 Units) in August or September games over the last 2 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 31-54 ATS (-28.4 Units) in home games on Tuesday since 1997.
LOS ANGELES is 193-238 ATS (-68.8 Units) after scoring 75 points or more since 1997.
LOS ANGELES is 6-13 ATS (-8.3 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 77+ points/game after 15+ games this season.
LOS ANGELES is 108-140 ATS (-46.0 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 77+ points/game since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
LOS ANGELES is 12-8 against the spread versus MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
LOS ANGELES is 11-9 straight up against MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
14 of 20 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

 

[Cnotes53]

DUNKEL'S HIGHLIGHTED GAME

Minnesota at Los Angeles - Tuesday August 21, 2018

The Lynx head into the WNBA playoffs tonight to face a Sparks team that is 1-7 ATS in its last 8 home games. Minnesota is the pick (+6) according to Dunkel, which has the Sparks favored by only 1 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Minnesota (+6).

TUESDAY AUGUST 21, 2018

Dallas
@
Phoenix
Game 305-306
August 21, 2018 @ 8:30 pm

Dunkel Rating: Dallas
106.609
Phoenix
111.716
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total: Phoenix
by 5
181
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total: Phoenix
by 7 1/2
175 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Dallas
(+7 1/2); Over

Minnesota
@
Los Angeles
Game 307-308
August 21, 2018 @ 10:30 pm

Dunkel Rating: Minnesota
109.464
Los Angeles
111.111
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total: Los Angeles
by 1 1/2
155
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total: Los Angeles
by 6
151 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Minnesota
(+6); Over

 

[Cnotes53]

Playoff matchup finds Mercury hot, Wings definitely not

The Phoenix Mercury are hot and the Dallas Wings are playing on a wing and a prayer entering Tuesday's first-round game of the WNBA playoffs at Arizona State's Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe.

"I said it was all about getting that momentum at the right time," Phoenix coach Sandra Brondello said after the Mercury closed out the regular season winning four straight games, capped by Sunday's 96-85 win over the visiting New York Liberty.

Dallas forward Glory Johnson, after her team fell 84-68 on Sunday in Seattle, the team's 10th loss in its last 11 games, said, "We have to focus and not worry about anything and just play."

The single-elimination game pitting the fifth-seeded Mercury (20-14) and the eighth-seeded Wings (15-19) was moved from the Talking Resort Arena to ASU because of a concert scheduling conflict.

The teams opened the WNBA season on May 18 against each other at the Talking Resort Arena in Phoenix, with the Mercury winning 86-78. Dallas, which went 1-2 against the Mercury this season, looks like it will start and end its season in the Phoenix area based on its current state.

Fred Williams was fired as head coach with four games remaining and the Wings lost all those games, three on the road, under interim coach Taj McWilliams-Franklin.

After starting the season 14-9, Dallas went 1-10 down the stretch. During that difficult time, star players Liz Cambage and Skylar Diggins-Smith each missed games with injuries. Both are playing now, but the Wings still can't regain the winning touch they had up to mid-July.

"We're going to rest tonight, practice (Monday) and we'll get ready to play," McWilliams-Franklin said after Sunday's loss at Seattle. "When you throw up the ball with a one-game series, it's anybody's game. (Phoenix) played today and we played today so we both have the same amount of rest. Whether we fly or not doesn't matter because we've been doing it forever."

Phoenix enters Tuesday's game clicking on offense.

The Mercury had 24 assists in the win over the Liberty on Sunday, giving them a franchise-record 20.6 assists per game average this season (699 total). The Mercury surpassed the previous franchise record of 20.2 assists per game set in the 2010 season (686 total).

Phoenix also finished the season with 288 made 3-pointers, setting a franchise record for most 3-pointers made in a season. The previous mark was 283 in 2007.

"You obviously want to finish as high up as you can," said veteran guard Diana Taurasi, who had five assists against the Liberty and made four 3-pointers, giving here 106 this season, second most in WNBA history behind her 121 in 2006.

"There was a point there when we thought we were going to be in that top two, top four, but you have to win regardless. I think we're playing well.

"I think we found our groove a little bit on the things that we want to do. Getting a home game, but we still have to go out there and play hard and play really well to win."

 

[Cnotes53]

Lynx, Sparks set to open playoffs

Never doubt the heart of a champion.

Both Minnesota and Los Angeles are repeating that mantra as the WNBA postseason gets set to begin Tuesday night.

And once again, the Lynx and Sparks have a playoff date.

For two straight years, the league's two dominant franchises have played for the WNBA championship. Each Finals series went five games with the Sparks winning the title two years ago and the Lynx hoisting the trophy last season.

And while the Lynx have been to the WNBA Finals six of the past seven years and have won championships in the odd years this decade -- 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017 -- it's the Sparks who own the series edge during this roller-coaster season having won three of the four games the two have played.

But this time around in the postseason, their matchup is much, much different.

The seventh-seeded Lynx (18-16) travel to Los Angeles to take on the sixth-seeded Sparks (19-15) in a single-elimination game Tuesday night at Staples Center. No Finals rematch, as many expected.

Just one game for Minnesota's dynasty to live and play again. Just one game for Los Angeles to have a chance to have the "D" word associated with their recent run.

The reward for the winner of Tuesday's game -- stay alive and head back across the country to face either the Connecticut Sun or the Washington Mystics on Thursday night in another win-or-go home game.

"If it's meant for us to do great things this year, we will," a confident Seimone Augustus told Fox Sports North last week. "But we're going to make sure we're doing what we need to do to make that happen."

Neither the Lynx nor the Sparks have been their normal self during the regular season.

The condensed season didn't give teams much time off or time to practice. And age just might be catching up to the Lynx, as well. Maya Moore, at 29, is the youngest of the core that has made the Lynx, the team of the decade.

"New history will be created with this one," Moore said of the single-elimination game. "Any time we can create a new, another chapter in the story because of the history -- I'm sure it will create some fun."

The Lynx are riding a wave of emotion from their floor general, Lindsay Whelan, who has said this will be her final season. Tuesday night could be the last game for the player who has won the most games in the WNBA.

"There's just something about this team, so we're going in and absolutely leaving it all out there, for sure," Whalen told Fox Sports North. "We're going to go in there and see what happens, but I wouldn't want to play us if I was another team in this situation, so we'll be ready to go."

Whalen can bet the Sparks feel the same way -- backs to the wall, no margin for error.

Los Angeles has been beset by injuries from the get-go, some not so significant, but perhaps enough to throw them off their game.

While Candace Parker remains the team leader, and players like Alana Beard and Nneka Ogwumike are crucial to the Sparks' fate, Chelsea Gray remains a bit under the radar to many around the league.

But not her coach, her teammates or the Lynx.

"Big-time," Sparks coach Brian Agler told the San Bernardino Sun. "She hits big shots. Everybody watched her play this year, not many players ... go from a rotation player into an All-Star. That's a tribute to her."

Gray finished third on the team in scoring (14.9 ppg) behind Parker and Ogwumike. She led the team in assists per game (5.1) and hit crucial shots throughout the season.

Against the Lynx, she averaged just over 15 points per game and just under eight assists.

But don't think that just because the Sparks have a home game they have a distinct advantage. Their only victory in the past five games at home came when they were 11-6.

But Agler thinks his team is well prepared for the postseason grind.

After the Sparks clinched a home playoff game last week, Agler told the Sun, "It was good for us to have to go from a deficit to a lead, dig it out and get to that moment. Because sometimes when you don't get chance to do that very often, you're not ready when the playoffs come around."

The Sparks and Lynx met four times during the regular season winning three of the matchups. In their first matchup, without Parker who was recuperating from back issues, the Sparks were rescued by guard Gray, who hit a layup with seconds left.

In the second matchup, the Sparks took care of business at home in an eight-point win.

Minnesota won the third matchup but the Sparks dominated the fourth with a 77-59 win.

Statistically, the two teams are evenly matched. The Lynx have scored 2,684 total points, which is exactly one more than the Sparks at 2,683. Both enter the playoffs averaging 78.9 points per game, the lowest mark for any team in the postseason.

The Sparks allow a league-low 77.0 points per game, while the Lynx are next at 78.3 points per game by their opponents

But as these two warrior teams know, throw out statistics and past results and tell fans to sit back and enjoy.

 

[Cnotes53]

TUESDAY, AUGUST 21
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

DAL at PHO 08:30 PM
PHO -7.0
U 177.5

MIN at LA 10:30 PM
MIN +6.0
U 149.0

 

[Cnotes53]

Mercury hit 13 3s, advance past Wings in WNBA playoffs

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) DeWanna Bonner had 29 points and 11 rebounds and Diana Taurasi collected 26 points and 12 assists, helping the Phoenix Mercury beat the Dallas Wings 101-83 on Tuesday night in the opening game of the WNBA playoffs. Phoenix (21-14) advances to play at Connecticut in another single-elimination round on Thursday.

Phoenix broke it open in the third quarter, hitting six 3-pointers. Bonner banked in a long 3 just before the shot clock expired and Taurasi added a 3 on its next possession, part of an 11-0 run that lifted the Mercury to a 79-59 lead. Brittney Griner added 17 points for fifth-seeded Phoenix (21-14). Taurasi made six 3-pointers, helping the Mercury go 13 of 29 from long range.

Phoenix closed the first quarter by making seven straight field goals and Taurasi capped the first-half scoring with a 3-pointer for a 53-49 advantage. Phoenix opened a double-digit lead early in the third and outscored Dallas 26-15 in the frame. Skylar Diggins-Smith scored 23 points for No. 8 seed Dallas (15-20). Elizabeth Cambage had 22 points, 12 rebounds and six assists in her playoff debut.

The game was moved to Arizona State's Wells Fargo Arena due to a scheduling conflict at the Mercury's regular home court.


********************************


Sparks eliminate defending champion Lynx 75-68

LOS ANGELES (AP) ? Chelsea Gray scored 26 points, helping the Los Angeles Sparks beat the defending champion Minnesota Lynx 75-68 on Tuesday night to advance to the second round of the WNBA playoffs.

It was the fourth straight year Los Angeles and Minnesota have met in an elimination playoff game ? with each team winning the past two WNBA championships. The Lynx hadn't been eliminated in the first round since 2004.

After Minnesota guard Maya Moore missed two free throws with 1:56 remaining, Gray sank a long jumper to extend Los Angeles' lead to 70-65. Minnesota turned it over on its next possession and Nneka Ogwumike hit two free throws.

Temi Fagbenle made an open corner 3-pointer to pull Minnesota to 72-68 with 52.4 seconds to go, but Moore was off on a contested 3-pointer on their next possession and Ogwumike sealed it at the free-throw line.

Sixth-seeded Los Angeles (20-15) will play at No. 3 seed Washington on Thursday.

Ogwumike added 19 points for Los Angeles and Riquna Williams scored 17. Candace Parker was held to two points.

Gray and Ogwumike combined to score 23 of Los Angeles' 25 second-quarter points. The Sparks closed the half on a 15-3 run for a 40-37 lead.

Sylvia Fowles had 18 points and 12 rebounds for her 21st playoff double-double for seventh-seeded Minnesota (18-17). Moore added 14 points and Fagbenle scored a career-high 15 points. Four-time WNBA champion Lindsay Whalen, who announced her retirement earlier this season, scored nine points in her final game.

Oklahoma City Thunder star Russell Westbrook sat courtside, as did Los Angeles Lakers guard Rajon Rondo.

 

[Cnotes53]

FIRST ROUND
Tue, Aug. 21: Phoenix 101, Dallas 83
Tue, Aug. 21: Los Angeles 75, Minnesota 68

SECOND ROUND
Thu, Aug. 23: Los Angeles at Washington (6:30PM ET, ESPN2)
Thu, Aug. 23: Phoenix at Connecticut (8:30PM ET, ESPN2)


********************


WNBA PLAYOFF BEST BET RECORD:


08/21/2018 2-2-0 50.00% -1.00


WNBA PLAYOFF BEST BET RECORD:


DATE.......................ATS...................UNITS....................0/U....................UNITS..........TOTAL

08/21/2018............1 - 1...................-0.50......................1 - 1.................-0.50.............-1.00

 

[Cnotes53]

Cheat Sheet - Second Round

The WNBA playoffs field is down to six teams as the first round concluded on Tuesday. In those games, the home teams went 2-0 both straight up and against the spread as Phoenix and Los Angeles captured wins and covers against Dallas and Minnesota respectively.

The Mercury and Sparks will now face the task of playing of travelling to the East Coast on one day of rest for the second round.

The Future Odds have been updated for the final six teams remaining in this year?s postseason with Seattle and Atlanta listed as the top choices. Those two clubs will meet the winner of Thursday?s games on Sunday in the semifinals, which are best-of-five matchups.

Odds to win 2018 WNBA Finals
Seattle Storm 7/5
Atlanta Dream 9/2
Los Angeles Sparks 11/2
Washington Mystics 11/2
Connecticut Sun 13/2
Phoenix Mercury 13/2

(Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under - O/U)

No. 6 Los Angeles at No. 3 Washington (ESPN2, 6:35 p.m. ET)

Regular Season Meetings
June 15 ? Los Angeles (+4) 97 at Washington 86 (Over 159.5)
July 7 ? Washington (+6.5) 83 at Los Angeles 74 (Under 160)
Aug. 17 ? Washington (-4) 69 vs. Los Angeles 67 (Under 158.5)

-- The Mystics captured two of the three encounters against the Sparks this year, which included their regular season finale last Friday at the Charles E. Smith Center from Washington D.C.

-- Los Angeles defeated Minnesota 75-68 on Tuesday as a six-point home favorite in the first round. The combined 143 points never threatened the closing total of 150.

-- The win comes at the right time since the Sparks were 1-4 in their previous five games and all four of those losses came on the road.

-- L.A. did win its previous three road games before that four-game skid but the victories came against three non-playoff teams.

-- Washington closed its regular season last Sunday with an 88-83 loss at Minnesota. Prior to that setback, the Mystics had ripped off seven straight victories.

-- Washington posted an 11-5 SU and 7-9 ATS record at home this season and it?s going 4-0 SU and 3-1 ATS in its last four from the nation?s capital.

-- The Sparks led the WNBA in scoring defense, allowing 77 points per game. Washington allowed 81.4 and that number dipped to 79.1 PPG at home.

-- Both Los Angeles (21-14) and Washington (18-15) leaned to the ?under? this season. However, the Sparks were a solid ?over? look on the road with an 11-6 record.

-- The Mystics went 10-8 against the Western Conference this season while Los Angeles shared the same record (10-8) versus the Eastern Conference. Washington was 8-10 ATS in those games while LA produced a 9-8 ATS mark.

-- Washington went 2-3 in the 2017 WNBA playoffs, winning the first two elimination games before getting swept 3-0 by the Minnesota Lynx in the semifinals.

-- The Sparks have reached the WNBA Finals each of the last two seasons and are 1-0 in elimination games, which took place on Tuesday.


No. 5 Phoenix at No. 4 Connecticut (ESPN2, 8:35 p.m. ET)

Regular Season Meetings
June 16 - Phoenix (-5.5) 89 vs. Connecticut 72 (Under, 172.5)
July 5 ? Phoenix (-6.5) 84 vs. Connecticut 77 (Under 170)
July 12 ? Connecticut (-5) 91 vs. Phoenix 87 (Over 169)

-- The home team went 3-0 in the three encounters between Connecticut and Phoenix this season with the last meeting taking place on July 12. The Sun captured the lone contest at Mohegan Sun Arena but failed to cover as a home favorite.

-- The ?under? went 2-1 in the meetings with the only ?over? ticket connecting in Connecticut?s home win.

-- The Mercury captured a wire-to-wire 101-83 victory over the Dallas Wings on Tuesday as seven-point home favorites.

-- Including that win, Phoenix has won five straight games and they?re 4-1 ATS during this span. The club has gone 6-3 since the All-Star break.

-- The offense has averaged 94.3 PPG in their last nine games and that?s led to an 8-1-1 ?over? record.

-- Phoenix was one of two teams in the WNBA to post more wins on the road than at home this season. The Mercury went 11-6 SU and 13-4 ATS away from home.

-- The Sun closed the regular season with four straight wins and has gone 9-1 SU and 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games.

-- The defense has been very solid during this span, holding seven teams to under 80 points.

-- At home, the Sun went 13-4 this season but were just 9-8 ATS. They closed the year with seven straight wins at home, winning by an average of 16.8 PPG.

-- Connecticut led the league in scoring at 87.6 PPG and it also averaged 90.8 PPG at home this season, which was ranked first as well.

-- The Mercury averaged 84.6 PPG on the road, which was ranked third in the league.

-- The Sun and Mercury both went 12-6 in non-conference games this season. Connecticut was 10-8 ATS versus the West while Phoenix was 12-6 ATS.

-- If the game is tight, Phoenix has a decisive advantage at the charity stripe. The Mercury shot 84.9 percent from the free throw line in the regular season while Connecticut was the second worst in the league at 74.8 percent.

-- Connecticut has watched the ?under? go 18-16 this season while Phoenix leaned to the ?over? (20-15).

-- Since the WNBA created the first and second round elimination matchups in 2016, the Mercury have now gone 5-0 in those games.

 

[Cnotes53]

WNBA
Dunkel

Thursday, August 23


Los Angeles @ Washington

Game 309-310
August 23, 2018 @ 6:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Los Angeles
111.647
Washington
113.967
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Washington
by 2 1/2
160
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Washington
by 4 1/2
156
Dunkel Pick:
Los Angeles
(+4 1/2); Over

Phoenix @ Connecticut

Game 311-312
August 23, 2018 @ 8:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Phoenix
113.806
Connecticut
115.981
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Connecticut
by 2
183
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Connecticut
by 4 1/2
177
Dunkel Pick:
Phoenix
(+4 1/2); Over




WNBA

Thursday, August 23

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Los Angeles Sparks
Los Angeles is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Los Angeles's last 10 games
Los Angeles is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Los Angeles's last 7 games on the road
Los Angeles is 8-1 ATS in its last 9 games when playing Washington
Los Angeles is 8-2 SU in its last 10 games when playing Washington
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Los Angeles's last 5 games when playing Washington
Los Angeles is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Washington
Los Angeles is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Washington
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Los Angeles's last 7 games when playing on the road against Washington
Washington Mystics
Washington is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
Washington is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Washington's last 13 games
Washington is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games at home
Washington is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Washington's last 8 games at home
Washington is 1-8 ATS in its last 9 games when playing Los Angeles
Washington is 2-8 SU in its last 10 games when playing Los Angeles
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Washington's last 5 games when playing Los Angeles
Washington is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Los Angeles
Washington is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Los Angeles
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Washington's last 7 games when playing at home against Los Angeles


Phoenix Mercury
Phoenix is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Phoenix is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Phoenix's last 6 games
Phoenix is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Phoenix is 10-5 SU in its last 15 games on the road
Phoenix is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Phoenix's last 5 games on the road
Phoenix is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Connecticut
Phoenix is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Connecticut
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Phoenix's last 6 games when playing Connecticut
Phoenix is 9-4 ATS in its last 13 games when playing on the road against Connecticut
Phoenix is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Connecticut
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Phoenix's last 7 games when playing on the road against Connecticut
Connecticut Sun
Connecticut is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games
Connecticut is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Connecticut's last 8 games
Connecticut is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games at home
Connecticut is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Connecticut's last 6 games at home
Connecticut is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Phoenix
Connecticut is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Phoenix
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Connecticut's last 6 games when playing Phoenix
Connecticut is 4-9 ATS in its last 13 games when playing at home against Phoenix
Connecticut is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Phoenix
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Connecticut's last 7 games when playing at home against Phoenix

 

[Cnotes53]

Sparks take on rested Mystics in Round 2

WASHINGTON -- The sixth-seeded Los Angeles Sparks are ailing and traveling. The third-seeded Washington Mystics are rested and ready.

They'll meet in a Round 2, win-or-go-home matchup on Thursday night at George Washington University's Charles E. Smith Center, the Mystics' current home with renovations underway at Capital One Arena.

The winner advances to the semifinals to meet either No. 1 Seattle or No. 2 Atlanta.

After two trips to the finals and one championship the past two seasons, Los Angeles struggled during the regular season, finishing 19-15. But despite Candace Parker and Nneka Ogwumike battling ailments and injuries, the Sparks overcame the defending champion Minnesota Lynx 75-68 in the first round of the playoffs on Tuesday night in Los Angeles.

"Every day is digging," Ogwumike told the Los Angeles Times. "We all know each other. We all push each other. We did that tonight."

Parker scored just two points, but Chelsea Gray poured in 26 points on 9-of-17 shooting from the field. Riquna Williams added 17 points and Ogwumike -- back in the lineup after battling mononucleosis -- contributed 19 points on 6-of-10 shooting to help the Sparks earn a cross-country trip and a quick turnaround.

"We know it's going to take a lot of work," Alana Beard told the Times. "It's going to be a fight, it's not going to be easy, we completely understand that."

Awaiting them is a red-hot Mystics team that finished 22-12. They won eight of their last nine games during an unsuccessful pursuit of Atlanta and the No 2 seed, with their only August loss coming on the final day of the regular season Sunday.

Elena Delle Donne shot 53.5 percent from the field in August and 44 percent from the 3-point line to capture Eastern Conference Player of the Month honors. Delle Donne led all Eastern Conference Players in scoring with 20.0 points per game while also averaging 6.3 rebounds.

"I feel like we've been waiting around a little bit," Delle Donne told the team's website. "But we've been able to get some rest and prepare. They have a tough travel schedule, so we need to be ready to push the pace right away from start to finish."

Kristi Toliver averages 13.9 points and Ariel Atkins 11.3 for the Mystics.

Washington took the season series 2-1.

The first two games were won by the visitors. Parker scored 23 points to lead five players in double figures in the Sparks' 97-86 win on June 15 in Washington.

On July 7 in Los Angeles, Mystics head coach Mike Thibault became the first WNBA coach to reach 300 regular-season wins in Washington's 83-74 win. Toliver led the way with 18 points and LaToya Sanders added 14 points and eight rebounds.

The tightest game between the teams was last week in Washington. The Mystics prevailed 69-67 when Natasha Cloud nailed a fade-away jumper just before the buzzer.

Washington is 12-5 at Capitol One Arena, but this will be their first game at the Smith Center, while L.A. is 8-9 on the road.

"They have that championship experience," Thibault told the team's website regarding the Sparks. "For us it comes down to little things, making sure you win the hustle plays, making little adjustments. It's probably going to come down to a couple of possessions."

 

[Cnotes53]

Big-game Taurasi, Mercury take on Sun in Round 2

Among the many things Diana Taurasi has done during her distinguished WNBA career, there's one thing she hasn't done.

She's never lost a winner-take-all game in the league.

ESPN spouted the numbers Tuesday night after Taurasi helped lead the Phoenix Mercury to a 101-83 victory over the Dallas Wings in the first round of the league playoffs.

The WNBA's all-time leading scorer and two-time finals MVP is 12-0 with her season on the line. Taurasi has averaged 22.9 points and 5.3 assists in those games, shooting 45 percent from the floor and 38 percent from 3-point range.

On Thursday night, Taurasi puts that streak on the line when the former University of Connecticut star brings the Mercury to Uncasville, Conn., to face the Sun in a second-round, winner-take-all game at Mohegan Sun Arena.

"At this point, you try to do what you can at the highest level," Taurasi said after she scored 26 points and a career playoff-high 12 assists in Tuesday's win. "That's the one thing that I've always told other players and I told myself: I'm going to just try to do what I can do, not more, not less, and try to do that at the highest level.

"When you do that good things happen and sometimes it works out really well for you."

One of those 12 wins came last year, when Phoenix eliminated the Sun on the same floor -- when Taurasi and Brittney Griner combined for 49 points.

On Thursday, Taurasi became the first player to score at least 20 points, dish out at least 10 assists and hit at least five treys in the same WNBA playoff game.

DeWanna Bronner scored 29 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as the Mercury, the fifth seed, won their fifth straight game, mostly thanks to a 26-15 third quarter that included six 3-pointers.

Phoenix now takes on the No. 4 Sun, who won four straight (all at home) and nine of their last 10 games down the stretch, but played the last two games -- both wins -- without leader Chiney Ogwumike as she rested a sore knee.

Ogwumike is questionable for Thursday night.

Taurasi averaged 24 points as the Mercury took the season series from Connecticut 2-1. But the two wins came in Phoenix while the Sun won the game they played at home on July 13.

Courtney Williams had 25 points, 10 rebounds and four assists and Ogwumike 22 points in the win. Alyssa Thomas, who missed the first two games with injuries, dished out a career-high 10 assists in the win.

"They're good. They have a lot of experience, a lot of length," Thomas said at Wednesday's practice. "Their big three is playing extremely well right now so our main focus is just coming in, playing our game and trying to slow them down.

"We remember what happened last year and it kind of left a bitter taste in out mouth. We've got to come in and be locked in for 40 minutes and not repeat last year."

Taurasi scored 19 points and Bonner had 13 rebounds in the Mercury win on June 16 and Taurasi tallied 25 and Bonner hauled down 13 boards on July 5 in Arizona.

With Ogwumike out, Jonquel Jones was outstanding and earned player of the week honors. In fact, in the last four games, Jones, who has to help her team deal with Griner inside, has averaged 21.8 points and 9.8 rebounds.

Sun coach Curt Miller said his team has "to use our home crowd for energy and emotion," pointing out the Sun were tied for the league's best home record (13-4) despite a pair of heartbreaking buzzer-beating losses, including one on a half-court shot.

On Wednesday, Jones was named WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year when the league announced its awards.