Scouting Report | Lynx vs. Aces
Julian Andrews
June 16, 2019
The Game
The Lynx don’t have much time to think about their Friday night loss to the Sun, they’re back on Sunday to take on the Aces.
The Aces came into the season touting championship aspirations after dealing for star big Liz Cambage but got off to a bit of a rocky start. They are 3-3. The Lynx are also at .500 with a record of 4-4. If the Lynx get the victory, they will avoid dropping below .500 for the first time this season.
While the Aces’ most talked about source of firepower is their frontcourt duo of 2018 Rookie of the Year A’Ja Wilson and Cambage, their backcourt of Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young and Kayla McBride (also a 2018 All-Star) is not to be taken lightly. The Aces can score like no other team in the league and it’s going to take a phenomenal defensive effort by Minnesota to get a victory. They’re well-equipped though—despite a bit of a slip against Connecticut on Friday, there’s a lot to love about what the Lynx put on the floor on the defensive end.
On offense, the Lynx will lean on Sylvia Fowles winning the matchup with Cambage and hope their backcourt can use their speed and strength to get a few Aces players in foul trouble. The Lynx certainly have a fighting chance at victory, but it won’t be easy. Then again, when is anything in this league?
What: Lynx vs. Aces
When: 6 p.m.
Where: Target Center
Watch: Fox Sports Go, NBA TV
Tickets
Big On Big
Despite Cambage’s obvious skill level and ability to go off for big numbers she’s always had a hard time matching up with Fowles. Fowles’ length and mobility give Cambage trouble and though Cambage has developed better defensive fundamentals since she came into the league, she still has a tendency to chase blocks on occasion. That plays perfectly into Fowles’ hands. With a vast array of post moves at her disposal and a knack for establishing position, Fowles is uniquely equipped to take on one of the most dangerous players in the league.
Aces On Fire
The Aces dropped 100 points on the Liberty on Friday in an incredible offensive display. What’s insane though is that they did it without any of their players scoring over 20 points. Las Vegas has real depth and talent and that makes them a nightmare matchup. If someone doesn’t have it going, there are many players ready to pick up the slack. The Lynx need to be at their best defensively to win this game.
Controlling the paint and not allowing high-percentage looks to Vegas’ bigs will be key. While both Cambage and Wilson can step out of the paint, they would certainly rather operate in the post and close to the rim. Sending strategic doubles to force both of them to pick up their dribbles before they would like to could go a long way.
Injury Report:
Lynx: Seimone Augustus (knee) and Jessica Shepard (ACL) are out.
Aces: No injuries to report.
Probably Starters:
Lynx: PG—Robinson, SG—Sims, SF—Collier, PF—Dantas, C—Fowles
Aces: PG—Plum, SG—Young, SF—McBride, PF—Wilson, C—Cambage