For much of 2022, the Chicago Sky have had a habit of making things close. Fourteen of their 36 regular-season games were decided by five points or fewer (Chicago went 9-5 in those games) and theyβve tacked on two more nail-biters in their ongoing semifinals series against the Connecticut Sun, losing Game 1 of the series 68-63 and winning Game 3 76-72.
Tuesdayβs Game 4, however, was not nearly as competitive, and the Sky found themselves in a position theyβve rarely been put in: on the wrong side of a blowout. Facing playoff elimination on their home court, the Sun blitzed the Sky from the opening tip, leading by as many as 27 points in a crucial 104-81 victory.
The Sky havenβt had many games like this since winning it all in 2021. Even in defeat, Chicago has been tenacious; the Skyβs average margin of defeat in their 13 losses this season has been seven points, according to Across the Timeline. The teamβs fourth-quarter magic (8.9 points per 100 possessions better than its opponents β best in the WNBA) has turned several would-be blowout losses into either improbable victories or close, βmoralβ defeats.
There was no such outcome on Tuesday. While the Skyβs side of the box score doesnβt seem downright atrocious β 47.6 percent shooting, six players in double-digit scoring, 15 turnovers to Connecticutβs 14 β they were dominated on the boards by the physical and ferocious Sun, allowing 39 rebounds to just 23 of their own.
Combine the significant rebounding margin with a WNBA playoff-record 66 points in the paint and you get a result thatβs firmly in favor of one team β and that team wasnβt Chicago.
The Sky will now return home for a winner-take-all Game 5 with a trip to the WNBA Finals on the line β a situation Chicago head coach James Wade is disappointed his team finds itself in.
βThe game is played in between the lines. It really doesnβt matter where we play at,β Wade told reporters after Game 4. βItβs always more comfortable for us to play at home, but we canβt lean on that as a comfort. We have to come out and play our brand of basketball no matter where we play.β
That brand of basketball β…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Swish Appeal – All Postsβ¦