3 ways the Mystics can beat the Lynx in Game 2

The Minnesota Lynx destroyed the Washington Mystics, 101-81, in Game 1 of their best-of-five semifinals playoff series. The game was close for all of one quarter until it became clear Washington was outmatched. Minnesota’s defense shocked Washington’s stars Elena Delle Donne and Kristi Toliver for the entire game, and on the other end, MVP-to-be Sylvia Fowles was an uncontested giant the Mystics couldn’t handle.

This series could be over in three games if coach Mike Thibault’s team doesn’t make the proper adjustments. But the winningest coach in WNBA history is sure to find ways to put his brand new team of stars in the right situations to reach the Finals for the first time in franchise history. Here’s what to look for in Game 2:

Give Elena Delle Donne more touches in the post

The Lynx are filled with two-way superstars, and even more key than her 14 points, was Maya Moore’s stellar defensive effort on Delle Donne in Game 1. Moore chased her all over the arc, and limited her touches on the perimeter all game. That’s a problem for one of the league’s best scorers, and the cornerstone of this Mystics team.

Delle Donne is more comfortable playing a guard’s role off the dribble, but with a quicker all-defensive second-team defender on her, she needs to use her height — and her teammates need to find her. At 6’5, she has three inches on Moore, and she’s more than capable of finishing with her back to the basket. It’s all a matter of the 2015 MVP positioning herself correctly, and someone lobbing her the ball in the right place.

Find a new remedy for Sylvia Fowles

Fowles wrecked the Mystics for the duration of the game. She finished with 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting despite sitting for most of the fourth quarter. She had her way on the boards and off catches in the post, as Washington ineffectively attempted to double her down low.

At 6’6, Fowles is too tall and skilled to be given any room, and with a number of double teams coming too late, most of her finishes went hardly contested. That’s an easy way to get blown out by the Lynx.

Washington went with either Krystal Thomas or Tianna Hawkins guarding her, but neither were enough, and whenever Emma Meesseman or Delle Donne came to help, Fowles either kicked to an open shooter or turned her back to hook an easy one in. The Mystics needs to be quicker to the ball if they intend to try to double Fowles again, but fronting her may be the solution. Once she catches the ball down low it’s likely buckets, so make her work to get it.

Free up Kristi Toliver

After exploding for 34 points in a record-setting three-point performance last week, Toliver didn’t exist in Game 1 against the Lynx. Renee Montgomey held her in check for just three points on seven shot attempts. Washington doesn’t have enough offense to afford that.

Toliver was swarmed whenever she touched the ball and never had room to shoot. Washington has to find a way to screen Montgomery off of Toliver to give her the mere inches of room she needs to get her shot up. We saw against the Liberty that she doesn’t need much space to fire.