For the Aces to repeat, it all comes down to defense
Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones Jr. discuss the things they're keep their eyes on in the 2nd half of the WNBA season and at the top of the list is Las Vegas' consistency on defense. Check out the full conversation on "The Dunker Spot" and subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , YouTube or wherever you listen .
Video Transcript
I think for me, I start at the top of the league.
I guess the one seed and now the three seed.
We'll go in reverse order.
So I start with the Aces defense, because la- this time last year, the Aces were still trying to work their way out of the 500 range, and we weren't far away from the Aces suffering the 53-point loss to the Minnesota Lynx, and then they just became the best team in basketball and ultimately win the championship.
And so I was kinda looking at where the defense is right now at the All-Star break compared to where it was last year.
Now funny enough, we've added two teams.
They were ninth in defensive rating last year and this year heading into All-Star break.
But because we've had this offensive boom, freedom of movement, more free throws, et cetera, et cetera, it was a 102.8 defensive rating at the All-Star break last year.
It's a 107.4 this year.
So obviously the defense is just worse than it was last year.
But in terms of where they rank, they're at the same area.
But half-court defense, slightly worse than where it was last year.
Transition defense, which they are the best in terms of points per possession allowed.
The Aces have the best transition defense in basketball right now, so that is a positive on their end.
Doing a little bit worse on drives compared to last year.
Cleaning the defensive glass a little bit better than they were at this time last year, but still around, I think, fifth or sixth in defensive rebound rate.
So for me, general storyline for me as the Aces have talked about their defense all year long, we have had multiple conversations about the Aces defense.
I am generally monitoring is there going to be a switch being flipped in the second half of the year for the Aces?
'Cause if they do, the offense has been at a high level pretty much all year long.
That would set them up for, you know, put them in better, at a better context for a potential title, defense.
And if not, the defense is probably going to be lost.
So that's probably the top thing that I am monitoring as we enter the second half of the year.
It's- It's gotta start, gotta start the champs.
I, I love, I love d- I love doing this podcast with Nikaas.
He treats the Aces defense like a teenager learning how to drive, and Nikaas is just sitting in the passenger seat, holding onto something, trying to give some version of encouragement while being internally stressed out.
And he's done this for five consecutive years, so I'm not surprised.
It's fine.
I think the Aces have shown enough of a base.
They have to show consistency.
If they do, they'll be fine.
It's good to go
