The Los Angeles Sparks were expected to be out-rebounded by the Minnesota Lynx in the Finals. But in Game 2 they were completely crushed on the boards in Minnesota’s 79-60 win. The Sparks’ inability to box out Lynx bigs Sylvia Fowles, Rebekkah Brunson, and Natasha Howard made the difference in what wasn’t an impressive offensive night for either team. In a best-of-five series tied at a game apiece, Game 3 is pivotal.
If the Minnesota Lynx dominate the boards, the championship is theirs
Sylvia Fowles had her way on the offensive glass in a big Game 2 win for the Lynx. Los Angeles better find a way to clear that up
Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
If L.A. can’t match Minnesota’s physicality on the boards, the Lynx will stand a win away from repeating as champions.
The Lynx were the best overall rebounding team in the league this year, collecting 53.8 percent of possible rebounds, and the second-best offensive rebounding team at 30.2 percent. The Sparks were in the bottom half of the league in rebound percentage allowed, so Minnesota’s prowess in that department is no surprise.
But the Lynx were especially dominant on Tuesday, grabbing 46 rebounds to the Sparks’ 32. They collected 35 percent of possible offensive rebounds. They were able to capitalize, too, scoring 17 points off 13 of them. Fowles and Brunson were responsible for nine offensive rebounds, and neither had to work particularly hard to get position at the rim. On a number of occasions they went untouched.
The Sparks played well defensively for almost all of any given play. They contained most of Fowles’ scoring on post ups, and contested in the paint. Coach Brian Agler sent a double-team down on catches in the paint that kept the all-star flustered and forced kick outs.
But after the center passed out of the trap, she was neglected as the ball moved elsewhere. Without anyone between her and the basket, she was left in perfect position to clean up plays, and as the tallest player on the court, that’s what she did.
Candace Parker didn’t box anyone out on five occasions when her assignment — either Fowles, Brunson, or Howard — grabbed an offensive board. She, along with the other forwards on her team, was caught staring at the ball and running towards it without sealing anyone away from the play. Minnesota’s bigs were left in position to run how they pleased after the ball hit the rim.
Though she plays center, Parker is far from a true big like Fowles. Her style is more like a guard’s and she doesn’t thrive shouldering bodies down low. If she isn’t more physical in the post, Minnesota will continue to exploit one of her shortlist of deficiencies.
L.A. wasn’t outsized, they just didn’t box anyone out. Without anyone boxing, Fowles, Brunson, and Howard were able to lay the ball in right after securing it, wasting away a defensive possession for L.A.
L.A. played well defensively otherwise. They held the league’s best offense to 2 percent below its average field goal percentage despite the easy putbacks. Minnesota went to the free throw line seven fewer times than average and scored seven fewer points. Those numbers could have been held lower had Minnesota not had so many opportunities — especially around the rim.
A 19-point loss wasn’t expected to follow a buzzer-beating, two-point win. The Lynx made the defensive changes necessary to win Game 2, protecting the paint and denying backdoor passes, to hold the Sparks to 33 percent shooting from the field. Now L.A. will have to adjust in Game 3, locate, and box out the Lynx’s trees in the paint for the opportunity to win the franchise’s first title since 2002 on their home court on Sunday.
