After a Game 1 scare at home, it’s safe to say that the Las Vegas Aces are back on track. The last two games have been a clinical masterclass from Becky Hammon’s team, but Game 3, in particular, deserves attention. Although Aliyah Boston managed to lock down A’ja Wilson, the Aces still managed to conquer the Gainbridge Fieldhouse (an Indiana stronghold), which is a huge boost before Game 4. But even as Las Vegas takes a 2-1 lead, you can’t count out the Fever. Not yet.
However, Becky Hammon has no plans to ease up on the pressure or let the slightest hint of complacency reach her dressing room. In fact, she had a stern warning to give out after the game. In the post-game presser, Hammon made one thing very clear: “We’re not looking for a Game 5.” Quite bold, considering the next game is in Indiana as well.
However, the Aces have proved in this last matchup that the opponent’s home advantage doesn’t mean a lot to them. What matters, however, is the process that they buy into and the effort that they put in. “We want to come in, take care of business, have the appropriate mentality. Obviously we’re happy with the win, but we have to move on, and we have to go back and do some things much better. And I know my group understands that.” The Aces HC explained.
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To recognize that you still have a lot of room for improvement is what makes the Las Vegas Aces special. But what exactly are they looking to work on? Consistency. The fourth quarter is what propelled Hammon’s team forward, outscoring the Fever 25-16, but before that, the two teams were trading blows back and forth. Not to forget Indiana’s Aliyah Boston choked A’ja Wilson as she couldn’t catch even a semblance of rhythm, going 6-20 from the field.
Also, the thing about Indiana is that they’re resilient; they’re used to having the odds stacked against them. Even in the first round, the Atlanta Dream had them on the brink of elimination, and we all know how that 2-1 Round 1 series turned out. Stephanie White’s team can turn the tide in their favor anytime they have the momentum.
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There’s a reason why Becky Hammon said that the team should be gunning for the win from the very start in Game 4. “We didn’t feel like we played a good 40 minutes. So we want to put together a good 40. I thought we played good in bunch like patches, but obviously the fourth quarter was great. We still feel like there’s some areas we can do much better.” But the momentum that they picked up at the end of the third quarter? It changed the entire game.
The Las Vegas Aces HC even pointed out a single play that turned the tide for their team. Let’s take a look at exactly what happened!
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Las Vegas Aces’ fourth-quarter momentum stemmed from one play, says Becky Hammon
One play is all it takes to break the spirit of a team. Normally, that happens through buzzer beaters, chase-down blocks, or tight steals. But as the third quarter of the Aces vs Fever matchup drew to a close, it turned out that even a simple layup can break momentum and shake spirits.
Aliyah Boston committed a 3-second turnover, and Las Vegas didn’t let the opportunity pass them by. Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young ran the floor to get a quick layup, extending their lead to 3 at the end of the quarter. It was a regulation play, nothing fancy, but it set the tone for the fourth. Becky Hammon said so herself!
The Aces head coach talked about this play in particular during the post-game presser, saying that it might bother her opposing head coach for a while. “I would definitely say there was a moment there where this place was rocking, and all the momentum was building up. [Indiana] giving up the layup in the last three seconds, that’s probably gonna haunt Steph [White],” Hammon said.
However, the Aces’ head coach emphasized just how big an impact this play had. “It was just the momentum, took the air out of the building. So we know we need to make those plays,” she added. “And kind of just breaking your spirit a little bit. However, it was the consecutive stops leading up to that allows us to get the cushion. Again, for us, it’s all about the defense.”
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These small plays are what differentiate the Las Vegas Aces, who had a 16-game win streak, from everyone else in the league. Becky Hammon’s team is going for its 3rd championship in 4 years, and if they keep playing like this? I don’t think any team can stand in their way. Stay tuned for more updates!