NEWARK, NJ - About the only constant with the New York Liberty is their almost maddening inconsistency.
Granted, the injuries have not helped but there are other factors at work. A look at the numbers following the 94-81 loss to San Antonio on Sunday at the Rock.
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|
San Antonio
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New York
|
|
Possessions
|
79
|
80
|
|
Offensive Efficiency
|
119
|
101
|
|
eFG Pct.
|
63
|
56
|
|
FT Rate
|
10
|
12
|
|
OREB Pct.
|
30
|
31
|
|
TO Rate
|
17
|
26
|
|
PPWS
|
1.27
|
1.17
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Decided to use the PPWS (points per weighted shot) metric in this article. Good choice as both teams shot well. We can see from this and eFG, San Antonio was just a bit warmer on the marksmanship. By the way the points per weighted shot formula is:
PPWS = PTS/(fga * (.475 * fta))
As noted yesterday both teams shot well from downtown. San Antonio was 11 of 29 (38%) while New York was a white hot 13 of 20 (65%). Becky Hammon (4 of 9) of San Antonio and New York's Cappie Pondexter (5 of 7) led their respective teams beyond the arc.
Liberty did finally ‘win' the offensive rebounding percentage battle. On the other side was the glaringly poor turnover rate. As noted yesterday those 21 turnovers turned into 28 San Antonio points.
The efficiency ‘stars' and leaders:
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Points
|
Efficiency
|
|
Sophia Young, SA
|
21
|
28
|
|
Jia Perkins, SA
|
24
|
27
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Becky Hammon, SA
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23
|
24
|
|
Essence Carson, NY
|
25
|
20
|
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Cappie Pondexter, NY
|
23
|
16
|
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Leilani Mitchell, NY
|
12
|
16
|
Young was literally all over. A 9 of 12 from the field, team leading seven rebounds and four steals, just a complete effort.
Hammon had six assists to compliment 8 of 14 shooting. Perkins shot 10 of 17 (canning four treys) while adding six steals. Carson led the way for New York shooting 10 of 19 and coming up with four steals of her own. Pondexter scored and tied Braxton for the game rebounding honors with eight. Cappie did come up on negatives on 7 for 19 shooting and six turnovers. Mitchell was able to tie Cappie in efficiency based on her 5 of 8 shooting and six assists against three turnovers.
The inconsistency
Without breaking down the efficiency of every quarter, suffice it to say that San Antonio's offensive efficiency surpassed 100 each time. New York had first and third marks of 140 and 129 respectively. In the second and fourth the Liberty numbers were 70 and 63. The final ten minutes really hurt and decided the outcome. The Liberty trailed by four points entering the last quarter. San Antonio went on to post a 111 efficiency while New York had the previously noted poor showing of 63.
The inconsistency was also evident as New York entered the game with a two game win streak. Two nights earlier they defeated Chicago on the road 64-59. The Liberty offensive efficiency was 79 in that contest while they limited the Sky to 78. Again, on Sunday the offensive numbers overall were good, the defense severely lacking.
The answer? A start would be getting everyone in complete health once play resumes in mid-August. To date Plenette Pierson (knee), Kia Vaughn (concussion) and DeMya Walker (knee) are out of action and the Liberty hope to have them back at full strength for the schedule's second half.
The Liberty visit Indiana on Tuesday then host Washington on Friday the close the pre-Olympic portion of the slate. New York is 6-10, San Antonio, winners of seven straight is now 11-5. Attendance was 7,714.