Cnotes 2018 wnba picks,trends,notes,news !

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WNBA

Friday, August 17

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


Los Angeles Sparks
Los Angeles is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games
Los Angeles is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Los Angeles's last 7 games
Los Angeles is 3-7-1 ATS in its last 11 games on the road
Los Angeles is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Los Angeles's last 5 games on the road
Los Angeles is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 games when playing Washington
Los Angeles is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games when playing Washington
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Los Angeles's last 10 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 6 games when playing on the road against Washington
Washington Mystics
Washington is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games
Washington is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Washington's last 11 games
Washington is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Washington is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Washington's last 7 games at home
Washington is 1-7 ATS in its last 8 games when playing Los Angeles
Washington is 1-8 SU in its last 9 games when playing Los Angeles
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Washington's last 10 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 6 games when playing at home against Los Angeles


Las Vegas Aces
Las Vegas is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games
Las Vegas is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
Las Vegas is 7-16 SU in its last 23 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Las Vegas's last 9 games on the road
Las Vegas is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Dallas
Las Vegas is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Dallas
Las Vegas is 12-4-1 ATS in its last 17 games when playing on the road against Dallas
Las Vegas is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Dallas
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Las Vegas's last 11 games when playing on the road against Dallas
Dallas Wings
Dallas is 1-8 ATS in its last 9 games
Dallas is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Dallas's last 8 games
Dallas is 6-3 ATS in its last 9 games at home
Dallas is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Dallas's last 5 games at home
Dallas is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Las Vegas
Dallas is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Las Vegas
Dallas is 1-3-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Las Vegas
Dallas is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Las Vegas
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Dallas's last 11 games when playing at home against Las Vegas


Atlanta Dream
Atlanta is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
Atlanta is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Atlanta's last 12 games
Atlanta is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Atlanta is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Atlanta's last 10 games on the road
Atlanta is 8-4 ATS in its last 12 games when playing Phoenix
Atlanta is 4-10 SU in its last 14 games when playing Phoenix
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Atlanta's last 6 games when playing Phoenix
Atlanta is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Phoenix
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Atlanta's last 6 games when playing on the road against Phoenix
Phoenix Mercury
Phoenix is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Phoenix is 4-9 SU in its last 13 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Phoenix's last 7 games
Phoenix is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games at home
Phoenix is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Phoenix's last 5 games at home
Phoenix is 4-8 ATS in its last 12 games when playing Atlanta
Phoenix is 10-4 SU in its last 14 games when playing Atlanta
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Phoenix's last 6 games when playing Atlanta
Phoenix is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Atlanta
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Phoenix's last 6 games when playing at home against Atlanta


New York Liberty
New York is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of New York's last 9 games
New York is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road
New York is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Seattle
New York is 10-4 SU in its last 14 games when playing Seattle
New York is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Seattle
The total has gone OVER in 4 of New York's last 6 games when playing Seattle
New York is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Seattle
New York is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Seattle
The total has gone OVER in 4 of New York's last 5 games when playing on the road against Seattle
Seattle Storm
Seattle is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games
Seattle is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Seattle's last 6 games
Seattle is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games at home
Seattle is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Seattle's last 8 games at home
Seattle is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games when playing New York
Seattle is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing New York
Seattle is 4-10 SU in its last 14 games when playing New York
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Seattle's last 6 games when playing New York
Seattle is 3-6-1 ATS in its last 10 games when playing at home against New York
Seattle is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against New York
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Seattle's last 5 games when playing at home against New York

[StarDust Bum]

WNBA
Dunkel

Friday, August 17


Los Angeles @ Washington

Game 305-306
August 17, 2018 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Los Angeles
110.382
Washington
116.137
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Washington
by 6
154
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Washington
by 3
158 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Washington
(-3); Under

Minnesota @ Connecticut

Game 307-308
August 17, 2018 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Minnesota
107.795
Connecticut
116.210
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Connecticut
by 8 1/2
162
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Connecticut
by 6
166
Dunkel Pick:
Connecticut
(-6); Under

Las Vegas @ Dallas

Game 309-310
August 17, 2018 @ 8:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Las Vegas
107.269
Dallas
105.658
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Las Vegas
by 1 1/2
184
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Dallas
by 3 1/2
175 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Las Vegas
(+3 1/2); Over

New York @ Seattle

Game 311-312
August 17, 2018 @ 10:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
New York
101.628
Seattle
113.718
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Seattle
by 12
167
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Seattle
by 17
163
Dunkel Pick:
New York
(+17); Over

Atlanta @ Phoenix

Game 313-314
August 17, 2018 @ 10:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Atlanta
115.124
Phoenix
110.911
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Atlanta
by 4
164
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Phoenix
by 4
170 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Atlanta
(+4); Under

[StarDust Bum]

WNBA
Long Sheet

Friday, August 17

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LOS ANGELES (19 - 13) at WASHINGTON (20 - 11) - 8/17/2018, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
LOS ANGELES is 4-12 ATS (-9.2 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
LOS ANGELES is 2-8 ATS (-6.8 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record after 15+ games this season.
LOS ANGELES is 4-13 ATS (-10.3 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 77+ points/game after 15+ games this season.
LOS ANGELES is 9-17 ATS (-9.7 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 77+ points/game this season.
LOS ANGELES is 5-12 ATS (-8.2 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 77+ points/game after 15+ games this season.
WASHINGTON is 25-15 ATS (+8.5 Units) as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 186-239 ATS (-76.9 Units) after a division game since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
LOS ANGELES is 7-1 against the spread versus WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
LOS ANGELES is 7-1 straight up against WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
5 of 8 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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MINNESOTA (17 - 15) at CONNECTICUT (19 - 13) - 8/17/2018, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MINNESOTA is 12-20 ATS (-10.0 Units) in all games this season.
MINNESOTA is 7-16 ATS (-10.6 Units) after scoring 75 points or more this season.
CONNECTICUT is 2-10 ATS (-9.0 Units) on Friday over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
CONNECTICUT is 6-2 against the spread versus MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
CONNECTICUT is 5-3 straight up against MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
4 of 8 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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LAS VEGAS (14 - 17) at DALLAS (14 - 18) - 8/17/2018, 8:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
LAS VEGAS is 84-57 ATS (+21.3 Units) in a road game where where the total is greater than or equal to 150 since 1997.
LAS VEGAS is 18-6 ATS (+11.4 Units) in road games after a non-conference game over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
DALLAS is 5-3 against the spread versus LAS VEGAS over the last 3 seasons
DALLAS is 8-0 straight up against LAS VEGAS over the last 3 seasons
5 of 8 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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NEW YORK (7 - 25) at SEATTLE (24 - 8) - 8/17/2018, 10:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
NEW YORK is 8-16 ATS (-9.6 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 77+ points/game this season.
SEATTLE is 20-11 ATS (+7.9 Units) in all games this season.
SEATTLE is 16-8 ATS (+7.2 Units) as a favorite this season.
SEATTLE is 12-2 ATS (+9.8 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 77+ points/game after 15+ games this season.
SEATTLE is 16-7 ATS (+8.3 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 77+ points/game this season.
SEATTLE is 14-7 ATS (+6.3 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 77+ points/game this season.
NEW YORK is 108-78 ATS (+22.2 Units) after a loss by 10 points or more since 1997.
NEW YORK is 51-31 ATS (+16.9 Units) after 3 or more consecutive losses since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
SEATTLE is 5-3 against the spread versus NEW YORK over the last 3 seasons
SEATTLE is 4-4 straight up against NEW YORK over the last 3 seasons
5 of 8 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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ATLANTA (22 - 10) at PHOENIX (18 - 14) - 8/17/2018, 10:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
ATLANTA is 22-10 ATS (+11.0 Units) in all games this season.
ATLANTA is 14-4 ATS (+9.6 Units) as an underdog this season.
ATLANTA is 6-0 ATS (+6.0 Units) in August or September games this season.
ATLANTA is 14-3 ATS (+10.7 Units) after allowing 75 points or more this season.
ATLANTA is 16-6 ATS (+9.4 Units) after scoring 75 points or more this season.
ATLANTA is 9-1 ATS (+7.9 Units) after 3 or more consecutive wins this season.
ATLANTA is 14-2 ATS (+11.8 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
ATLANTA is 8-2 ATS (+5.8 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record after 15+ games this season.
ATLANTA is 14-2 ATS (+11.8 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 77+ points/game after 15+ games this season.
ATLANTA is 17-8 ATS (+8.2 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 77+ points/game this season.
ATLANTA is 13-2 ATS (+10.8 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 77+ points/game after 15+ games this season.
ATLANTA is 18-7 ATS (+10.3 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 77+ points/game this season.
PHOENIX is 1-9 ATS (-8.9 Units) in home games after allowing 75 points or more this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
PHOENIX is 4-4 against the spread versus ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
PHOENIX is 5-3 straight up against ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
4 of 8 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

[StarDust Bum]

Lynx-Sun meeting could be playoff preview

Connecticut fans get a chance to pay tribute to former Sun Lindsay Whelan Friday night at Mohegan Sun Arena.

Thing is, they may get a chance to get to do it again in a matter of days.

Whelan, who announced her WNBA retirement earlier this week, and the Minnesota Lynx visit Uncasville, Conn., Friday night, but could find themselves coming back depending on what happens in the league's scrambled playoff picture.

The Sun, winners of seven of their last eight games, enter their final two games of the regular season tied for fourth place with the Los Angeles Sparks, who visit the Sun in the regular-season finale Sunday. The Sun (19-13) were ahead on a tiebreaker.

The Lynx (17-15) were in seventh place, a game behind sixth-place Phoenix. Minnesota, losers of two straight and five of the last seven, and hosts the Washington Mystics Sunday -- Whelan to be honored by the home fans.

The top two seeds in the standings get byes right through to the semifinals. Nos 3 and 4 automatically advance to the second round, where they will meet the winners of the 5/8 and 6/7 games.

Whelan, a four-time league champion, played the first six years of her WNBA career with the Sun. She lost in two WNBA finals with the Sun before getting traded back to her home state.

"I mean this: I'll bet she could run for governor and be successful," Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said. "To be the state's favorite daughter, one of the all-time greatest sports figures in the history of the state ... she transcends the male/female thing. Lindsay, bar none, male or female, is one of the best basketball players ever (from Minnesota). Maybe the best. That's pretty incredible. And doing all that, she's become this iconic figure."

The Sun are finishing the season with a four-game homestand and are coming off an 96-76 victory over the Dallas Wings Tuesday night.

"We found our tempo," Sun coach Curt Miller said after Tuesday's win. "We didn't play as fast as we do some nights, but we found a very successful tempo that was still attacking, but there was an understanding of dissecting what Dallas was trying to do."

Jonquel Jones, coming off a 15-point, 17-rebound game in the homestand opener, scored 27 points and grabbed 10 boards off the bench in the latest victory.

She was part of a group effort against WNBA scoring leader Liz Cambage, who returned from a neck injury with 15 points and 13 rebounds but was hampered by early fouls.

Chiney Ogwumike, the Sun's other inside presence, had 13 points and five rebounds and the Sun were able to wear Cambage down as she clearly wasn't 100 percent.

Said Jones: "Whenever you play against somebody like (Cambage), you definitely want to bring your 'A' game. She challenges you for sure with her length but I can't take all the credit. Our team did a great job in general and our coaches did a great job preparing us and making sure we were in the right positions. Overall, it was a team effort."

The Sun goes for a three-game series sweep of the Lynx.

[StarDust Bum]

Mystics eye strong closing weekend starting with Sparks

Washington and Los Angeles know their seasons will extend after Sunday, the end of the regular season. Who and where they will play in the postseason is an entirely unknown story.

The Sparks and Mystics square off Friday at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., with more at stake for Washington than Los Angeles.

The Mystics (21-11) have won seven straight and are one game behind the second-place Atlanta Dream (22-10) with two games to go.

The Dream have two games left as well, beginning on Friday against league-leading Seattle at home. On Sunday, Atlanta travels to Las Vegas to take on the Aces, who are fighting for the eighth and final playoff spot.

The top two seeds receive double-byes in the playoffs, so there's plenty of pressure on the Mystics, and there'll be a lot of scoreboard watching.

"We control how we play," Mystics coach-general manager Mike Thibault told The Washington Post on Thursday. "We can't control them, but we can control what we do, and whether we get it or not, let's finish the right way."

Finishing the right way would mean beating the past two WNBA champions as the Mystics close out the season against the Lynx on Sunday in Minnesota.

"There is still a lot on the line for us with seeding," Mystics standout Elena Delle Donne said. "So we gotta play our best basketball each and every night and get ourselves ready."

Los Angeles travels to Washington with a 19-13 record after snapping a two-game skid on Tuesday with a win over New York. Chelsea Gray posted a career-high 26 points and added five assists.

Once again, the Sparks' defense rose to the occasion, sending the Liberty to their 10th straight loss. The Sparks, down 44-35 in the third quarter, turned the tables on the Liberty behind Gray's hot hand and outscored New York 39-22 the rest of the way for a 74-66 win.

"Thought we played great defense in the second half," Sparks coach Brian Agler said. "It was a grind-out game and I was happy (because) that's like a playoff game. You just have to grind out every single possession. It was good for us to have to go from a deficit to a lead, dig it out, and get to that moment."

Los Angeles allows a league-low 76.9 points per game and reigning defensive player of the year Alana Beard remains the ringleader on defense.

"It's what I've been doing that's kept me in this league," Beard said. "It's what I enjoy to do, it's what my teammates and my team needs me to do, I understand my role completely. If I'm not on point defensively, it's not a good thing for the team, so it's what I focus on."

While the Sparks are known for their defense, it was the Mystics who put on a historic display against Indiana on Wednesday night, when in the fourth quarter the Fever scored two points.

That's not a typo -- two points for an entire quarter.

It's the second-fewest points scored in a fourth quarter in league history. Indiana made just 1 of 16 shots in the quarter.

"There was a lot on the line for us," Washington guard Kristi Toliver said. "The third quarter was pretty terrible for us. But in the fourth quarter we really buckled down on the defensive end, got our stops, got rebounds, and we were able to play our game."

The Sparks and Mystics have met twice this season, with the road team winning both times.

In the Sparks' win on June 15, Candace Parker compiled 23 points, seven rebounds and a career-high 11 assists.

Delle Donne scored 18 points to go along with seven rebounds and four steals.

In the Mystics' win on July 7 in L.A., Toliver scored 20 points and Washington clamped down on Parker, holding her to six points.

The two teams could be on a postseason collision course, and they match up evenly.

But, for now, players on both sides are focused on closing out strong. Los Angeles is trying to build momentum; Washington is seeking the second seed and the double bye.

"Win. We gotta play hard and win," Parker said. "I mean it's like at this point everybody's tired, everybody's fighting, everybody's exhausted, everybody's tired of traveling, season's winding down, people are getting ready for vacation. For us, we have to be ready."

Mystics forward Monique Currie and her Washington teammates understand the task that's ahead and remain laser-focused.

"We may end up seeing Minnesota or L.A. in the playoffs, so these games are very important for confidence, just to see where we stand," Currie told the Post. "But we're playing pretty good basketball right now; we've won seven in a row."

[StarDust Bum]

Aces, Wings both on bubble ahead of battle

With two regular-season games remaining, the Las Vegas Aces and the free-falling Dallas Wings are playing for the eighth and final WNBA playoff spot Friday night at the College Park Center in Dallas.

Both have 14-18 records, but the Wings have lost nine straight games, leading to the firing of head coach Fred Williams and the placement of Taj McWilliams-Franklin as the interim head coach.

Williams was let go after the team lost Saturday at Washington. He reportedly got into a heated exchange outside the locker room with Dallas chief executive officer Greg Bigg.

"I felt this move was necessary," Bibb said in a team statement about the coaching change. "The season has not met our expectations. I have asked Taj to serve as our interim head coach and I have the upmost confidence that she and our staff will do everything possible to put us in the best position to win."

The Aces have won their last two games -- at home against the league's worst teams (New York Liberty and Indiana Fever) -- after breaking a five-game losing streak.

To clinch the last playoff spot, Las Vegas must beat Dallas and then hope to either beat the Atlanta Dream (one of the league's best teams at 22-10) at home Sunday or the Wings continue to lose when they visit the best team, the Seattle Storm (24-8), on Sunday.

Dallas will move on to the playoffs no matter what if it beats the Aces. The Wings already hold the tiebreaker with a 2-0 record against Las Vegas.

The good news for Dallas is that All-Star center Liz Cambage returned Tuesday in a 96-76 loss at Connecticut after missing two games with a neck injury. She finished with 15 points and 13 rebounds.

Backup forward Glory Johnson (7.6 points, 5.9 rebounds per game) suffered a cervical strain injury in the first quarter and did not return, however. Her status for Friday's game is questionable.

Las Vegas appears healthy and confident heading into the matchup with the Wings after their two recent wins. Aces coach Bill Laimbeer said he did not know what to expect from this year's team, its first in Las Vegas after moving from San Antonio.

"I had never coached most of these players before," Laimbeer said. "We had a rookie in A'ja Wilson and I knew what she was capable of but didn't know what she was going to be able to do in her first year.

"I really didn't have any expectations except I told them at the start of the season that at the end of the season they wanted to be the team that no one wanted to play then the record was going to be whatever it was going to be.

"But I think we have accomplished that goal that I think that teams don't want to play us because we have the capability of scoring a lot of points and move up and down the floor. We're at the point now that we have a chance."

[StarDust Bum]

Dream look to keep rolling at Phoenix without McCoughtry

The toughest challenge for the Atlanta Dream, one of the WNBA's hottest teams that has won six straight games and 14 out of their last 15 games, is preparing for the playoffs without injured standout forward Angel McCoughtry.

McCoughtry, who was averaging 16.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists, suffered a season-ending knee injury suffered Aug. 7 in a game against Las Vegas.

The Dream (22-10) have managed to win three straight games since then, but the last two wins are against a Dallas team on a nine-game losing streak and against New York, one of the league's worst teams at 7-25.

Atlanta travels to Phoenix (18-14) -- which has won its last two games after losing six of its previous seven games -- on Friday night with the intention of holding on to the No. 2 playoff spot. The Dream lead Washington (21-11) by a game for that spot with two regular-season games remaining.

"We have to get that No. 2 spot," said Atlanta guard Renee Montgomery, who made eight 3-pointers in the Dream's 86-77 win over New York on Sunday. "In a single-game elimination with the talent in this league is scary. It's like March Madness all over again, I like to call it August Madness and really I just want us to be in a position that if we don't have a good game we can come back, regroup, and play another one so that's why the No. 2 position is so important for us."

Phoenix is coming off an 86-78 win over the visiting Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday. The Mercury, who have split their two games with Atlanta this season, were led by their big three against the Sparks -- guard Diana Taurasi and frontcourt standouts Brittney Griner and DeWanna Bonner.

Phoenix, which has beaten every team in the league at least once, had 20 points each from Taurasi (who also had 14 assists) and Griner and 31 from Bonner. Phoenix snapped a six-game losing streak to Los Angeles with the victory.

"Look the most important thing is building momentum and playing the way we know we're capable of playing for 40 minutes," Phoenix coach Sandy Brondello said. "Like I said the last few games we have been getting better and better, but it's just been a bit more consistent. I think we're playing well, and that's what matters when it comes down to the playoffs, if we're playing well."

[StarDust Bum]

Storm clinch top playoff seed with win over Liberty

The Seattle Storm have weathered the ... uh, storm.

After having played nine of their past 10 games on the road, the league-leading Storm (24-8) return home for the final two games of the regular season with a two-game lead over Atlanta and their magic number to clinch the top seed in the WNBA playoffs down to one.

Those two games are Friday against New York (7-25) and Sunday against Dallas (14-18), the two coldest teams in the league. The Liberty have lost 11 in a row and the Wings have lost nine -- costing coach Fred Williams his job.

That means the Storm would seem to have a good shot at taking the top seed for the first time since 2010, when they won the last of their two WNBA titles.

Seattle is led by Breanna Stewart, a favorite for the league's MVP award. She is second in the WNBA in scoring (22.0 points per game), third in rebounds (8.4) and seventh in steals (1.4) and blocked shots (1.4).

"To me, MVP is an award you get when you're playing at a high level but your team is doing something great, too," Stewart told The Seattle Times. "Honestly, the wins are what's most important. Whatever happens from there is gravy."

Stewart had 17 points and a season-high 17 rebounds in the Storm's last game, an 81-72 victory at defending champion Minnesota on Sunday. It was Seattle's 13th road victory of the season, tying a league record.

"I can think of three times off the top of my head where it literally just felt like Stewie won us the game this year," Storm point guard Sue Bird, who played much of her career alongside three-time MVP Lauren Jackson, told The Times. "That's what Lauren would do, just put us on her shoulders and away we went. (Stewart) is just point-blank winning us the game."

New York hasn't won since July 15. The Liberty lost 85-72 Wednesday at Las Vegas without veteran center Tina Charles, who sat out with back spasms. Charles, a five-time All-Star and the 2012 league MVP, averages a team-high 20.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.

"We are battling a lot of injuries, everybody is just fighting through," Liberty guard Bria Hartley said. "I think every game we go into, we approach it trying to get a win. I know we've been on a rough streak right now and we're fighting really hard, so that we can come out and at least finish the season on a high note with two good wins with the last games we have left."

[StarDust Bum]

FRIDAY, AUGUST 17
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

LA at WAS 07:00 PM
WAS -3.0
O 158.5

MIN at CONN 07:00 PM
CONN -7.5
O 164.0

LV at DAL 08:00 PM
DAL -3.5
O 174.0

ATL at PHO 10:00 PM
PHO -3.0
O 166.5

NY at SEA 10:00 PM
NY +16.0
O 163.0

[StarDust Bum]

Cloud hiys jumper at buzzer, Mystics beat Sparks
August 17, 2018

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) Elizabeth Cambage had 43 points and 13 rebounds and the Dallas Wings beat the Las Vegas Aces 107-102 on Friday night to clinch the final WNBA playoff spot and end a nine-game losing streak.

It ended a turbulent stretch for Dallas, giving interim coach Taj McWilliams-Franklin her first victory. The Wings hadn't won since July 19, leading to the firing of coach Fred Williams on Sunday.

Skylar Diggins-Smith drove the lane and made a contested layup to give Dallas a 102-97 lead and after a Las Vegas miss, Cambage converted a three-point play. Las Vegas turned it over and Dallas wound down the clock before Diggins-Smith made two free throws for a 10-point lead.

Diggins-Smith had 23 points and eight assists for Dallas (15-18). Cambage had 23 points and seven rebounds in the first half and she scored her 40th point on a layup with 3:38 to go for a 98-93 lead.

A'ja Wilson scored 34 points for Las Vegas (14-19). Kelsey Plum added 20 points, hitting four 3-pointers.

Wilson scored 19 points in the first half on 9-of-11 shooting to help Las Vegas build a 57-51 lead.

STORM 85, LIBERTY 77

SEATTLE (AP) - Breanna Stewart had 22 points and 15 rebounds and Seattle beat New York to secure the top seed in the WNBA playoffs.

Seattle (25-8) has won 15 of its last 18 games and has home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.

Sue Bird had 13 points and six assists for Seattle. The Storm set the WNBA single-season record for 3-pointers with its 284th, passing Phoenix's total from 2007.

Tina Charles scored 21 points for New York (7-26). The Liberty have lost 12 straight.

MERCURY 104, DREAM 95

PHOENIX (AP) - Brittney Griner had 33 points, 18 rebounds and seven blocks, and Diana Taurasi added 27 points and a career-high-tying 14 assists to help Phoenix beat Atlanta.

Phoenix (19-14) clinched a first-round home game in the playoffs. Atlanta (22-11) is tied for second place with Washington. The Dream play at Las Vegas on Sunday, and the Mystics close the season at Minnesota. The top-two seeds receive a double-bye in the playoffs.

DeWanna Bonner added 21 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists for Phoenix. Alex Bentley made a career-high six 3-pointers and scored 24 points for Atlanta.

MYSTICS 69, SPARKS 67

WASHINGTON (AP) - Natasha Cloud made a fade-away jumper just before the buzzer to lift Washington past Los Angeles for the Mystics eighth straight victory.

Cloud took an inbounds pass with 3.8 seconds left, dribbled to the free-throw line, went behind her back and sank the winner. She was 1 of 10 from the floor before her first winner.

Elena Delle Donne led third-place Washington (22-11) with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Kristi Toliver added 12 points, and Aerial Powers had 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Riquna Williams scored 14 points for Los Angeles (19-14).

SUN 96, LYNX 79

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) - Jonquel Jones made five 3-points and scored 26 points, Alyssa Thomas had 18 points, eight rebounds and eight assists and Connecticut beat Minnesota.

Connecticut (20-13), winners of eight of nine, secured a first-round bye with the victory and Los Angeles' loss at Washington. The Sun moved one-game ahead of fifth-place Los Angeles, with the teams meeting on Sunday in the regular-season finale. Connecticut holds the tiebreaker.

Layshia Clarendon added 14 points for Connecticut.

Sylvia Fowles had 25 points and eight rebounds for Minnesota (17-16).

[StarDust Bum]

SCHEDULE FOR SATURDAY AUGUST 18, 2018
Time (ET) Away Home Site
4:05 PM Chicago Sky Indiana Fever Bankers Life Fieldhouse


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


date w-l-t % units record

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............39-37-0........51.31%.....-8.50


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


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......................21 - 17..............+10.50..............18 - 18...............-18.00...............-8.50

[StarDust Bum]

Saturday’s 10-pack


Average home attendance for college hoop teams in California last year:


1) San Diego State 11,344


2) UCLA 8,620


3) California 7,376


4) Fresno State 6,033


5) Stanford 4,169


6) USC 4,151


7) St Mary’s 2,984


8) Cal-Bakersfield 2,796


9) Long Beach State 2,708


10) Cal-Santa Barbara 2,123


Quote of the Day
“Former CIA director John Brennan…….is one of the finest public servants I have ever known. Few Americans have done more to protect this country than John. He is a man of unparalleled integrity, whose honesty and character have never been in question, except by those who don’t know him.”
William H McRaven, a retired Navy admiral


Saturday’s quiz
Which current major league manager retired from playing in 2006, managed a minor league team in 2007, then un-retired and played for Milwaukee in 2008?


Friday’s quiz
Besides Bill Belichick (18 years), Marvin Lewis of the Bengals is the NFL head coach who has been in his job the longest- this will be his 16th season in Cincinnati.


Thursday’s quiz
Eldrick Woods won the 1997 Masters and his first PGA Tour money title; Tom Lehman won the money title the year before, in 1996.


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


Saturday’s List of 13: Clearing out a cluttered mind…….

13) Never give up on your dreams: In 1976, Cornell fired its football coach. When an Ivy League coach gets the boot, it is often a career-killer. Especially when your record was 3-15.


But this guy went back to coach in college, coached DB’s at Stanford for three years, got hired by the 49ers as a DB’s coach, was promoted to defensive coordinator in 1983, then was named head coach of the 49ers in 1989.


13 years after being fired by a freakin’ Ivy League school, George Seifert won the Super Bowl as head coach of the 49ers. Never give up on your dreams.


12) After practice the other day, Steelers’ WR Antonio Brown caught 129 passes on the JUGS machine, the last 50 with a defender trapping one arm so he had to catch balls one-handed.


Much like Steph Curry shooting 3’s, you become great at your craft by working at it.


11) George Kottaras played seven years in the major leagues, caught 246 games; I remember him best from helping the A’s win their division in 2012.


Kottaras is the last catcher to hit for the cycle, which he did for Milwaukee in 2011. His triple that night was one of only three career triples that he hit.


10) Speaking of cycles, 2B Aaron Hill hit for the cycle twice in 12 days for Arizona in 2012; Hill hit .266 in a 13-year career, but he did hit over .300 in both 2011, 2012. Hitting for the cycle twice in 12 days is a hell of an accomplishment.


9) Alex, I’d like Stupid Decisions for $100, please:


Back in 1979, when the Big East was founded as a basketball-only league, two teams turned the new league down; Holy Cross and Rutgers. Whoops.


Holy Cross wound up joining the Patriot League, had a nice run with Ralph Willard as coach 12-15 years ago, but they could’ve been in the freakin’ Big East!!!


Colleges use sports as a way to raise big money for the entire school, via wealthy boosters; if Holy Cross had been just a decent Big East team (their program was very good in the late 70’s), they’d probably be D-I in football now, too. One decision sent their school in a totally different direction.


8) Remind me not to ask Jalen Ramsey of the Jaguars for help evaluating NFL QB’s for fantasy football. His analysis this week of both Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady: “Doesn’t suck”


7) Marlins’ pitcher Jose Ureña got a six-game suspension for drilling Ronald Acuña in the first inning Wednesday; lot of outraged people on Twitter about the incident.


Our society has gotten very soft; when I was a little kid, stuff like that was normal. Hitters knew how to protect themselves, how to get out of the way.


Last time a starting pitcher hit his first batter of the game and got ejected: John Lackey on May 16, 2009, when he drilled Ian Kinsler after Kinsler had homered twice the day before.


Don Drysdale hit 154 batters in his Hall of Fame career, one because he was told to walk him intentionally, so he plunked him with the first pitch instead, to save time.


6) Kid named Trey Quinn is a WR who played for SMU; he was the last player taken in the NFL Draft last spring, but has had a strong training camp and may make the Redskins’ squad.


Ten years ago. Quinn threw a no-hitter in the Little League World Series; his team from St Charles, LA lost the US Championship game, finished 4th in the World Series.


5) What was up in Green Bay Thursday? 9:35 left in 3rd quarter, Packers led Pittsburgh 48-22; they went on to win, 51-34. A wide receiver named Kumerow caught a long TD pass, wound up with three catches for 114 yards; he played college ball at Wisconsin-Whitewater, a long way from Lambeau Field.


4) Oakland pitcher Brett Anderson’s last two home starts:
— A 1-0 win over Detroit in 13 innings
— A 2-0 loss to Seattle in 12 innings.


3) When I watch the Padres play late at night on the Extra Innings package, I wish they’d go back to their brown/gold uniforms that they wore when they first came into the major leagues.


San Diego’s best player back then was a first baseman named Nate Colbert; boy could he hit. On August 1, 1972, Colbert hit five homers, knocked in 12 runs in a doubleheader in Atlanta.


Colbert hit 38 homers that year, knocked in 111 runs; he wound up with 173 career homers, and one of the best single days in baseball history.


2) Mets beat Philly 24-4 in the first game of a doubleheader Thursday; teams can bring up a 26th player for twinbills, so it should be illegal for them to use a position player to pitch in a doubleheader. Teams have enough pitchers; they just coddle them so much, it is ridiculous.


More and more, teams are openly giving up in games, letting position players pitch, letting the regular pitchers stick to their normal schedules. God forbid anyone’s feelings get hurt.


1) People bet on the Little League World Series; I wish I was making that up.


Thursday, a kid from Puerto Rico was pitching a no-hitter in the last inning, leading 2-0, when his manager took him out— he had thrown 88 pitches, and was untouchable. But he was taken out of the game.


I was watching the game in a bar with no sound, so I’m assuming the guy removed his pitcher because if he hit 90 pitches, he was done pitching for several days.


What a gamble, and a losing one. The reliever quickly squandered the lead, and the Asian team won 3-2 in nine innings.


Good theater, but lot of stress for 11-13 year old kids. And the people who bet on them.

[StarDust Bum]

SATURDAY, AUGUST 18
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

CHI at IND 04:00 PM
CHI -3.5
O 165.0

[StarDust Bum]

Vandersloot, DeShields help Sky top Fever
August 18, 2018

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Diamond DeShields scored 24 points on 11-of-16 shooting and Courtney Vandersloot had 24 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists to help the Chicago Sky beat the Indiana Fever 115-106 in double overtime Saturday.

Cheyenne Parker added 20 points, and Kahleah Cooper and Allie Quigley scored 12 apiece for the Sky (13-20).

Chicago scored the first nine points during a 13-2 run to open the second overtime and the Fever trailed by at least nine the rest of the way. Vandersloot hit Stefanie Dolson for a jumper, stole a pass near midcourt and drove for a layup and then, after another Indiana turnover, found Quigley for a 3-pointer that made it 106-99 with four minutes to play.

Candice Dupree scored a season-high 30 points, and Natalie Achonwa had 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Fever (5-28). Dupree moved past Lauren Jackson into eighth on the WNBA's career scoring list with 6,037 points and Achonwa tied Indiana's franchise record with six blocked shots.

Vandersloot hit two free throws to make it 91-all with 1.5 seconds left in regulation and Achonwa made a layup with 11.8 seconds left in overtime to force a second OT.

The teams will play Sunday in Chicago in the season finale for both.

[StarDust Bum]

SCHEDULE FOR SUNDAY AUGUST 19, 2018
Time (ET) Away Home Site
3:05 PM Los Angeles Sparks Connecticut Sun Mohegan Sun Arena
6:05 PM Atlanta Dream Las Vegas Aces Mandalay Bay Event Center
6:05 PM Indiana Fever Chicago Sky Wintrust Arena
6:05 PM New York Liberty Phoenix Mercury Talking Stick Resort Arena
7:05 PM Dallas Wings Seattle Storm KeyArena
7:05 PM Washington Mystics Minnesota Lynx Target Center


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


League Standings

RANK TEAM W L PCT GB CONF HOME ROAD L-10 STREAK

#1 Seattle Storm - x25 8 0.758 - 10-5 12-4 13-4 8-2 W 2

#2 Atlanta Dream - x22 11 0.667 3 12-4 13-4 9-7 8-2 L 1

#3 Washington Mystics - x22 11 0.667 3 12-4 12-5 10-6 9-1 W 8

#4 Connecticut Sun - x20 13 0.606 5 9-7 12-4 8-9 8-2 W 3

#5 Los Angeles Sparks - x19 14 0.576 6 9-7 11-6 8-8 5-5 L 1

#6 Phoenix Mercury - x19 14 0.576 6 8-8 8-8 11-6 4-6 W 3

#7 Minnesota Lynx - x17 16 0.515 8 9-7 8-8 9-8 4-6 L 3

#8 Dallas Wings - x15 18 0.455 10 7-8 10-7 5-11 1-9 W 1

#9 Las Vegas Aces - o14 19 0.424 11 4-12 8-8 6-11 4-6 L 1

#10 Chicago Sky - o13 20 0.394 12 6-9 7-9 6-11 6-4 W 2

#11 New York Liberty - o7 26 0.212 18 6-10 4-13 3-13 0-10 L 12

#12 Indiana Fever - o5 28 0.152 20 2-13 2-15 3-13 3-7 L 5


Legend
x: Clinched Playoffs Berth
o: Eliminated from Playoffs contention


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


date w-l-t % units record

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............41-37-0........52.56%.....+1.50


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

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......................22 - 17..............+15.50..............19 - 18...............-13.00...............+1.50