2022 WNBA Finals Game 2 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 2, which the Aces won 85-71 in a matchup that rapidly descended into a blowout.

 

 

1st Quarter

  • Already it looks like Connecticut is playing like they’re confident and not regretting the loss in Game 1
  • Kelsey Plum’s drive to the rim was brilliant with the drive since it was totally clear
  • That was a brilliant play by Chelsea Gray with the pass; so pretty
  • DeWanna Bonner’s block at the rim of Kelsey Plum’s fastbreak attempt was a nice defensive play
  • Connecticut has had a couple plays where they made an extra pass, and this style has gotten a perfect look.  That is so important for their offense
  • Brionna Jones had a really smart defensive play where she moved into where Chelsea Gray was going around a defender and didn’t have a good glimpse of the player Jones was defending
  • Vegas’ offense is really clicking right now and it’s corresponding with a fast pace they’re playing with.  They have done this all season and is when they’re at their best
  • Connecticut looks like they are a bit rattled by Vegas pushing the pace.  They are struggling defensively right now, and I think that’s the biggest reason why; there are multiple bench players right now, so I doubt it’s exhaustion
  • If Connecticut doesn’t get a stop to start the next quarter, they might be in trouble from a psychological standpoint

2nd Quarter

  • After Vegas got a defensive rebound, Connecticut was pressuring her immediately.  While easy to not focus on that, they came out swinging more than the last quarter
  • It still throws me off seeing Alyssa Thomas’ unorthodox one-handed jumper
  • Courtney Williams is having a big game scoring so far, which is massive for them
  • I’m surprised Kelsey Plum passed up a look at the paint.  It was for an open 3 but still I thought she could make the look at the paint
  • A’ja Wilson being aggressive driving has got to be so difficult to defend; she doesn’t look like she’s as strong as some other players on the court but she’s a fantastic athlete and is so strong
  • Now Connecticut had another shot clock violation; this is becoming a major concern for them over the first couple games
  • There have been a few foul calls against each team that I was a tad surprised by and thought it was a close one
  • Plum has been so aggressive this game and efficient compared to last game, which is part of why Vegas is crushing them
  • Even though Wilson has struggled from deep in the playoffs I wouldn’t leave her open like that
  • It’s wild how it always seems like Dearica Hamby makes the right play.  It feels so cliché saying good things happen when she’s on the court, but she is such a smart player
  • Vegas has gotten to the line so much this game and are causing Connecticut to scramble.  I think this is another effect of the fast pace
  • Connecticut has had success when pushing the pace on offense and I think they need to do that more; they are deeper than Vegas is so they can pull it off
  • Chelsea Gray has been mortal tonight for a change, but Vegas has gotten awesome performances from others, especially Plum and Wilson
  • Even though there was a foul on the play, I loved the defense by Connecticut on that play.  What happened was Plum got around Courtney Williams, so Alyssa Thomas switched onto Plum.  Since Wilson was open in the paint and Williams ran back to Plum, Brionna Jones switched onto Wilson as Wilson was getting into position just before the pass
  • It’s interesting that Vegas is outscoring Connecticut in the paint; I thought that was an impossibility given Connecticut’s size

3rd Quarter

  • Look, if Vegas is making a shot tossed up at the end of the shot clock, then there’s only so much Connecticut can do
  • Plum keeps getting into the paint when nobody is there.  In that case, Jonquel Jones looked like she was just watching her run in there, which can’t happen
  • Connecticut’s defense has been awesome to start the quarter outside of Plum’s open run to the rim.  They have been aggressive in their face and have been smart about their angles
  • I kind of like the full court pressure coming out of the timeout
  • Plum keeps running by Williams; I would consider changing the matchup
  • That was a nice block by Kiah Stokes against Jonquel Jones.  Jones looked like she had a perfect floater and while most players would go for the charge, she had her arm straight up, which worked perfectly since Jones was just too far away to make contact
  • Oh geez, I hope Chelsea Gray and Natasha Hiedeman are both okay; I hate to see anybody get injured
  • I love the adjustment Connecticut made when guarding Plumm; when she started to get by Williams, the closest big shifted towards the lane to cut off the path
  • Oh geez, now Connecticut has been totally useless offensively lately; they’re missing a bunch of looks, turning over the ball a lot, and missing several free throws
  • I’m surprised there was a defensive foul called instead of an offensive foul against Thomas.  She literally pushed off Chelsea Gray
  • That’s a bad one to foul at the end of the quarter.  That’s a waste of points to give up on that one

4th Quarter

  • Connecticut is now taking a lot of 3’s and I wonder if they’re overthinking it and trying to shoot their way out despite missing almost everything
  • I have no idea how Chelsea Gray made that contested bucket against Courtney Williams.  Williams literally couldn’t play better defense and Gray is just unreal now
  • So far Connecticut’s offensive possessions have been turnover, missed 3, missed 3, turnover, turnover.  That is showing they really have been a bit unfocused this quarter
  • I’m at the point where I cannot wait for this game to end.  Vegas is absolutely dominating
  • Chelsea Gray’s and-1 on the 3 was absolutely brilliant; I should be shocked she made that but it’s Gray
  • I was surprised Jonquel Jones had 16 points and has been a solid finisher; I thought she missed several more shots
  • I honestly would have emptied my bench earlier if I were Connecticut’s coach; their offense has struggled so badly that they weren’t coming back
  • The garbage minutes will likely make this game looking like a closer one, but this one was a blowout

 

Vegas won the game easily, something that I believe was a factor of their defense playing well and their offense playing closer to its peak potential.  It was a blowout game after an exciting Game 1, and now Vegas only needs to win one more game to win their first ever WNBA Finals.

 

What did you think of the game?  Anything you found interesting?  Let me know in the comments!

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