2022 WNBA Finals Game 1 Observations

For each game during the Finals, I will take notes of random things I observed or thought throughout the game and will post it either the day of or day after each game.  These are my notes regarding Game 1, which the Aces won 67-64 in a matchup that included an exciting second half.

 

 

1st Quarter

  • First play of the game, A’ja Wilson makes an amazing contested basket.  Good start for her
  • I love Natasha Hiedeman’s jab fake; it’s such a smooth play
  • Geez, now Wilson has 2 difficult contested plays; I have no idea how she keeps doing that
  • I think going right at Kiah Stokes was a good play by Alyssa Thomas.  She’s a good defender though not the most elite and can also get into foul trouble
  • It only took 2:15 for a call to be reviewed for a flagrant; I can’t say I would have predicted that if I’m being honest
  • Alyssa Thomas is someone who can be so good at finishing difficult shot, I just don’t get how she’s so good at it
  • Connecticut is struggling to contain Vegas on offense.  I think their big lineup is having difficulty stopping the 3’s, which is something I was worried about.
  • Even though Vegas scored on that play that made it 18-9, I liked the transition defense by Connecticut.  Vegas plays at such a fast pace and is comfortable doing so.  They need to reduce turnovers to have a chance to win
  • I like Connecticut playing faster like they just did on Courtney Williams’ basket.  While there is risk with it, their offense gets stagnant when they slow it down.
  • Wilson has made it to the free throw line so much, which is something you don’t want to allow
  • Connecticut has had a few plays where there is an additional pass where Briona Jones scored in the paint off an Alyssa Thomas pass; they have been so smooth

2nd Quarter

  • Jonquel Jones is so strong and that offensive rebound and bucket shows just how dominant she can be
  • Even though the play resulted in a turnover, I loved seeing Dijoina Cunningham’s cut there.  She really is such an excellent cutter and she realized Courtney Williams was in trouble there on a double team and couldn’t find a pass
  • I have no idea what happened on the play that just happened.  Kiah Stokes looked like she was paying absolutely no attention the play and didn’t realize a pass was coming.  I seriously have no idea what was going on
  • Connecticut has had a few plays where the boxed them out well or got themselves in a position where there was no option but yet they still forced a foul
  • I was so out of it on the play where Kelsey Plum was fouled that I thought she was open.  I’m not sure how I managed to miss Williams fouling her on that play
  • DeWanna Bonner might be a streaky shooter, but she is going to make open shots; you have to keep someone on her
  • Wow, I’m shocked that Kelsey Plum is still struggling so much from deep.  She is such a good shooter that I figured she would snap out of it, yet it’s still missing
  • Connecticut’s defense on the shot clock violation was exceptional.  The one I thought was so smart was when Bonner ran right out to Jackie Young, somebody who hasn’t shot as much in the playoffs.  Normally a player with that much of a mismatch would try to get around them, but Bonner is so skilled and versatile that it’s easier said than done
  • I think Connecticut has been better at defending the 3 this quarter; Vegas had only 4 points halfway through the quarter and aren’t getting as many good looks while sometimes passing up looks they get.
  • When Chelsea Gray turned the ball over on the pass, I was in the process of telling my girlfriend how good and smart she is
  • I can’t be the only one who thinks that Connecticut coach Curt Miller looks more like an athletic trainer than a coach
  • That was lucky that Becky Hammon called the time out right before Alyssa Thomas forced a turnover
  • Despite being a Connecticut fan, from a basketball standpoint I love seeing Jackie Young aggressively driving despite having a couple bigs near her
  • That end of quarter alley-oop!  Wow, that was so smooth!

3rd Quarter

  • That Courtney Williams 3 might wind up being huge; she has struggled this playoffs and to drill an open 3 is huge
  • I can’t believe that Kelsey Plum missed that wide open 3; wow, Connecticut dodged a bullet there
  • I wonder how much Plum is overthinking her struggles.  I thought she could have made a floater but passed it out to Jackie Young who had an okay look though not great
  • It does blow my mind how strong Wilson is and how she is so good at finishing difficult contested shots
  • Two plays where Plum was guarding Jonquel Jones, one Plum forced the ball out of bounds, the other one Jones had an easy layup.  I figured that is what Vegas would have to struggle with, especially if Chelsea Gray isn’t the guard defending a big
  • I’m glad that this quarter it is closer from a basketball standpoint.  It is annoying to write these when one team is dominating the other, which made it annoying to write these the first two quarters
  • I can’t believe Courtney Williams had two different plays where she passed up a shot with no time left on the shot clock.  That’s not something you usually see, especially from someone as talented as her
  • When Vegas got the offensive rebound, for some reason I knew they would score; Wilson wound up getting fouled and making both free throws
  • Until the announcers mentioned it I didn’t realize Vegas had so many more free throws than Connecticut.  I’m not surprised since Wilson got to the line so many times, but I think many of the Vegas fouls were not shooting fouls
  • I like how aggressive Thomas has been, but Connecticut needs some help besides her and Jonquel Jones
  • I’m surprised that Wilson didn’t notice the open player at the wing (I think it was Jackie Young, but I couldn’t tell).  Surprising way to end the quarter

4th Quarter

  • Gray has been shooting at an unreal clip and I have no idea how she keeps making every shot in.  You’d figure she’d miss eventually but she rarely has
  • Odyssey Sims has struggled finishing this entire playoffs; I’m shocked she’s been as aggressive with taking shots as she has this game
  • That was unreal by Wilson to get the block and then outran Bonner to get the layup.  She’s having an excellent game
  • Connecticut had a few offensive rebounds that were really nice, but they need to keep doing that to get back in front
  • I’m surprised that Chelsea Gray gave the ball up with so little time left on the shot clock
  • I just noticed Connecticut had a big lineup that has Jones, Jones, Bonner, and Thomas.  I am so excited!  I was hoping to see that
  • I couldn’t believe that Jonquel Jones tipped it out of bounds when tipping off against Plum.  Geez!
  • Well Plum finally made a shot; let’s see how that goes for her confidence
  • I have no idea how Gray made that shot over Alyssa Thomas.  At this point I think it’s safest to just say because it’s the playoffs and at this point it’s Chelsea Gray
  • Connecticut is getting sloppy on offense; I think that bringing in Courtney Williams is a good idea in this situation
  • I’m surprised that Dearica Hamby is playing as much as she is.  With all due respect to Kiah Stokes, I think that might be a better move if Hamby is able to play
  • You know, for some reason I’d say a blatant foul on Kelsey Plum is not the best idea
  • My girlfriend asked me with 1:15 left if I thought Connecticut could win.  My answer was I wasn’t sure since their offense can get stagnant.  Now Thomas has two fast break buckets to make it down to 3 and I’m not sure anymore
  • That block was such a nice play; Alyssa Thomas is such a good and smart defender.  I would never shoot on her
  • I definitely shouted a 4-letter word when Bonner attempted that 3 at the end of the game.  That was not a good look for her

 

Ultimately, Connecticut had the game that they wanted by limiting offense, but Vegas won since they got to the line, forced Connecticut’s offense to be stagnant, played strong defense on DeWanna Bonner, and capitalized off turnovers.  A’ja Wilson and Chelsea Gray both rose to the occasion and were the reasons they pulled off the win.  This is the type of game Connecticut needed to win; if they lose the series, this will be the game they look back at with regret.

 

What did you think about this game?  Let me know in the comments!

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