NEWARK, NJ - The New York Liberty got back in the win column with a resounding 77-59 victory over the Seattle Storm at the Prudential Center on Saturday.
The old axiom ‘any win is a good win' holds true but a strong defensive effort as displayed by the Liberty adds significance. Numbers and breakdowns follow the jump.
Starting with the basics....
Possessions:
Seattle 81
NY Liberty 82
Offensive Efficiency:
Seattle 73
NY Liberty 94
Detractors could point to the Liberty's subpar offensive efficiency. The ‘half full' group had to be impressed with the numbers allowed on the defensive side. Yes, you will have a hard time winning a lot of games with a 94 OE, conversely you experience victory a high percentage of times allowing just a 73 DE.
The Four Factors:
|
|
eFG
|
FT Rate
|
OREB PCT
|
TO Rate
|
|
Seattle
|
36
|
29
|
34
|
30
|
|
NY Liberty
|
45
|
32
|
30
|
20
|
Defense displayed in the Storm eFG rate and TO percentage. Liberty coach John Whisenant, as noted in yesterday's column, was especially pleased with the dozen steals forced by his defense. Those steals, Whisenant pointed out, led to transition opportunities. Something the Liberty are trying to create. Seattle turned the ball over 24 times leading to 25 Liberty points. A crucial factor in the game. New York was improved limiting their own turnovers (16). The TO rate, could be better but an improvement from last week against Atlanta. Rebounding, still an issue but improving. Seattle had a slight OREB percentage edge and outrebounded the Liberty for the game only by two (32-30).
Whisenant said in post game interviews, the team goal was to hold the Storm under 20 points a quarter. The almost reached it. The third was the difference but not a disaster as the Liberty allowed 25 points while putting that same number up as well. A rundown of good old points by quarter.
|
|
1st
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
4th
|
Total
|
|
Seattle
|
12
|
11
|
25
|
11
|
59
|
|
NY Liberty
|
13
|
18
|
25
|
21
|
77
|
A synopsis of efficiency by quarter shows how impressive the Liberty effort was on the defensive end. The third aside, New York played extremely well on defense the other three quarters. Enough to compensate for the ften minute letdown following intermission.
|
Seattle’s four quarters
|
Offensive efficiency
|
|
1st
|
55
|
|
2nd
|
58
|
|
3rd
|
109
|
|
4th
|
65
|
The efficiency numbers of note:
|
|
Points
|
Efficiency
|
|
Essence Carson, NY
|
22
|
18
|
|
C. Pondexter, NY
|
20
|
22
|
|
Ann Wauters, Sea.
|
10
|
12
|
|
Sue Bird, Sea.
|
9
|
9
|
Carson led all scorers. She was 7 of 14 from the floor with zero turnovers. Pondexter edged her teammate in efficiency on the basis of a team high (no misprint) seven boards, four assists and three steals. Wauters scored 10 points on 2 of 4 field goal shooting. The 6-4 center was a perfect 6 of 6 from the line and added six rebounds. A team high five turnovers hurt the EFF mark considerably.
In the recent win at Washington Sue Bird posted a 26 efficiency. The considerable drop today was largely due to 3 of 11 shooting from the floor.
DeMya Walker, a very efficient 15 put up for the Liberty. Three of three from the field, 5 of 6 from the line and 6 boards highlighted a solid effort.
There are some, and I am guilty as ever, who criticized the play of Kara Braxton earlier this season. Her negative +/- numbers were a constant criticism. As of late Braxton has been playing better and contributing. Yesterday she posted an excellent +10. Efficiency wise she was at six, mainly due to 3 of 9 from the field. Braxton did grab 6 rebounds and overall worked well inside and did a lot of positive things on the defensive end against the Storm bigs. Braxton was one of those Liberty players who benefitted from the week away from games that afforded added individual instruction.
Attendance was 6,724. Liberty improved to 5-9, Seattle is now 6-8.