While the early-season floundering of the defending champion
Minnesota Lynx has drawn the bulk of the attention, last season’s runners-up,
the Los Angeles Sparks, were having some troubles of their own – scoring under
73 points a game during Weeks 3 & 4, the WNBA’s lowest output over that
stretch.
LA’s June 12 home game against the Atlanta Dream provides a
good example – though they out-shot their guests, the Dream won both the
rebounding and turnover battles. With the aid of a seven-to-two edge in
three-pointers, the Sparks eked out a 72-64 victory.
Defense has carried the day for Agler’s gang during
Fortnight II – No. 1 in scoring defense (70.0) and defending the trey (.243),
No. 2 in forcing TO’s (.161).
In the most talent-laden professional sports Association on
the planet, such early-season strife may well push a perennial power like LA or
the Lynx into the “Guillotine” rounds of the post-season.
The Season by the Numbers (per-game per team) thru 56 games:
Possessions: 79.5
Points: 81.3 [PPP:
1.023]
FG: 29.6 – 67.9, .436
3FG: 6.2 – 19.1, .327
3PAr/Usage rate: .281
FT: 15.9 – 20.2, .788
(Off – Tot) Reb: 8.8 – 34.2
[OR% .256]
TO: 14.0 [TO% .155]
Stats and data represent play through Thursday June, 14.
An explanation of the criteria for ranking is available here.
Progress Report thru Week 2 available here.
No.
1 Connecticut Sun, 7-2 (10)
[2-week Abacus Rank: No. 3]
KK: +2; (3 Road Wins
– 1 Home Loss) / No. 2 overall
Flow: +5.56; (46.8 stops
OF opp [No. 2] – 41.2 stops BY opp [No. 3] / No. 1 overall
Striping: +0.22;
(+1.06) conversions [No. 6] – (+0.83) conversions [No. 5] / No. 6 overall
SPOR-t: +198; (662
[No. 1] – 464 [No. 1]) / No. 1 overall
Abacus
Revelation: The Sun average over 90 points per game despite missing 5.56
FT’s a game.
No.
1 Seattle Storm, 7-3 (10)
[2-week Abacus Rank: No. 1]
KK: +1; (3 Road Wins
– 2 Home Losses) / No. 3 overall (tied-5)
Flow: +3.40; (43.8 stops
OF opp [No. 5] – 40.4 stops BY opp [No. 1] / No. 2 overall
Striping: +1.75; (+2.60)
conversions [No. 1] - (+0.85) opp conversions [No. 6] / No. 1 overall
SPOR-t: +75; (605
[No. 2] – 530 [No. 5]) / No. 2 overall
Abacus Revelation:
The accurate Storm rank first in both three-point shooting (.364) and overall FG
shooting (.470).
ABACUS INFOMERCIAL
Masters of the Craft
(Part 1)
Which teams are
performing the rudimentary skills of the game most proficiently at both ends of
the floor? Let’s consider six elements of play: FG shooting, three-point
shooting, Points per Game, Offensive Rebounding, the matter of turnovers and
the SPOR-t score of our ratings. These teams hold a Top Four rank offensively
and defensively:
FG%: Connecticut,
Phoenix
3FG%: Minnesota, Washington
PPG: Connecticut
OR%: Connecticut, Minnesota,
Seattle
TO%: Atlanta, Connecticut
SPOR-t: Connecticut
No. 3 Phoenix Mercury, 8-3 (20)
[2-week Abacus Rank: No. 10]
KK: +3; (5 Road Wins
– 2 Home Losses) / No. 1 overall
Flow: +1.00; (43.0 stops
OF opp [No. 7] – 42.0 stops BY opp [No. 4] / No. 4 overall
Striping: +1.09;
(+2.23) conversions [No. 3] – (+1.14) opp conversions [No. 9] / No. 4 overall
SPOR-t: -60; (499
[No. 12] – 559 [No. 10]) / No. 11 overall
Abacus
Revelation: The wily Merc lead the “W” with five road victories.
No.
4 Los Angeles Sparks, 6-2 (21)
[2-week Abacus Rank: No. 4]
KK: +1; (2 Road Wins
– 1 Home Loss) / No. 3 overall (tied-5)
Flow: +1.38; (42.3
stops OF opp [No. 9] – 40.9 stops BY opp [No. 2] / No. 3 overall
Striping: +0.06; (+0.75)
conversions [No. 8] – (+0.69) opp conversions [No. 4]) / No. 7 overall
SPOR-t: -3; (522 [No.
7] – 525 [No. 3]) / No. 6 overall
Abacus Revelation:
The Sparks lead the “W” in scoring defense, allowing but 75 points per game.
No.
5 Washington Mystics, 6-4 (22)
[2-week Abacus Rank: No. 2]
KK: +1; (3 Road Wins
– 2 Home Losses) / No. 3 overall (tied-5)
Flow: -0.30; (42.5 stops
OF opp [No. 8] – 42.2 stops BY opp [No. 5] / No. 7 overall
Striping: +1.60;
(+2.45) conversions [No. 2] – (+0.85) opp conversions [No. 6] / No. 2 overall
SPOR-t: -32; (544
[No. 3] – 576 [No. 11]) / No. 8 overall
Abacus Revelation:
The Mystics were the league’s worst defensive rebounding team (.632) during
Weeks 3 & 4.
ABACUS INFOMERCIAL
Scoring Pace 29 games
[56 overall]
100+ points: 2 games [8
overall]
90-99 points: 10
games [18 overall]
80-89 points: 18
games [32 overall]
70-79 points: 18
games [40 overall]
60-69 points: 9 games
[13 overall]
<60 points: 1 game
[1 overall]
No.
6 Atlanta Dream, 6-4 (22.5)
[2-week Abacus Rank: No. 9]
KK: +1; (3 Road Wins
– 2 Home Losses) / No. 3 overall (tied-5)
Flow: +0.90; (46.9 stops
OF opp [No. 1] – 46.0 stops BY opp [No. 10] / No. 5 overall
Striping: -0.50;
[-0.25) conversions [No. 11] – (+0.25) conversions [No. 1] / No. 9 overall
SPOR-t: +2; (502 [No.
11] – 500 [No. 2]) / No. 3 overall (tied)
Abacus Revelation:
The Dream defend the three-point shot (.284) better than anyone else in the
league.
No. 7
Dallas Wings, 4-4 (24.5)
[2-week Abacus Rank: No. 6]
KK: +1; (2 Road Wins
– 1 Home Loss) / No. 3 overall (tied-5)
Flow: +0.88; (45.9 stops
OF opp [No. 3] – 45.0 stops BY opp [No. 9] / No. 6 overall
Striping: -0.94; (+0.13)
conversions [No. 10] – (+1.06) conversions [No. 8] / No. 10 overall
SPOR-t: +2; (529 [No.
5] – 527 [No. 4]) / No. 3 overall (tied)
Abacus Revelation:
The Wings earned over 10 second chances off the offensive glass per game during Weeks 3
& 4.
ABACUS INFOMERCIAL
Scoring Differential
29 games [56 overall]
1-5 points: 10 games [18
overall]
6-10 points: 10 games
[21 overall]
11-15 points: 4 games
[5 overall]
16-20 points: 2 games [6 overall]
>20: 3 games [6 overall]
No.
8 New York Liberty, 3-5 (29)
[2-week Abacus Rank: No. 5]
KK: -3; (1 Road Win – 4 Home Losses) / No. 11 overall
Flow: -0.37; (43.5 stops
OF opp [No. 6] – 43.9 stops BY opp [No. 7] / No. 8 overall
Striping: +1.31;
(+1.94) conversions [No. 4] – (+0.63) opp conversions [No. 3] / No. 3 overall
SPOR-t:
-7; (537 [No. 4] – 544 [No. 8]) / No. 7 overall
Abacus Revelation: The Liberty lead
the league in usage of the three-point shot with 14 per game.
No. 9
Minnesota Lynx, 3-6 (34.5)
[2-week Abacus Rank: No. 8]
KK: 0; (2 Road Wins –
2 Home Losses) / No. 8 overall (tied)
Flow: -2.11; (41.4 stops
OF opp [No. 11] – 43.6 stops BY opp [No. 6] / No. 10 overall
Striping: -1.00; (+0.39)
conversions [No. 9] – (+1.39) opp conversions [No. 11] / No. 11 overall
SPOR-t: -1; (529 [No.
5] – 530 [No. 5]) / No. 5 overall
Abacus Revelation:
Despite their early struggles, the defending champs have been the circuit’s
best defensive rebounding team (.797).
No.
10 Indiana Fever, 0-10 (38)
[2-week Abacus Rank: No. 11]
KK: -6; (0 Road Wins
– 6 Home Losses) / No. 12 overall
Flow: -4.80; (41.5 stops
OF opp [No. 10] – 46.3 stops BY opp [No. 12] / No. 12 overall
Striping: +0.40;
(+1.00) conversions [No. 7] – (+0.60) conversions [No. 2] / No. 5 overall
SPOR-t: -34; (503
[No. 9] – 537 [No. 7]) / No. 9 overall
Abacus Revelation:
The Fever attempted 10 fewer free throws per game than their opponents during
Weeks 3 & 4.
ABACUS INFOMERCIAL
Masters of the Craft
(Part 2)
Are not the
exceptionally inept worthy of some recognition? Here are the teams that hold a
Bottom Four offensive and defensive ranking in our key elements of play: FG
shooting, three-point shooting, PPG, Offensive Rebounding, Turnovers and
SPOR-t.
FG%: Chicago, Indiana
3FG%: Las Vegas
PPG: Indiana
OR%: Phoenix
TO%: Dallas,
Minnesota
SPOR-t: Las Vegas,
Phoenix
No.
11 Las Vegas Aces, 3-7 (39.5)
[2-week Abacus Rank: No. 12]
KK: 0; (2 Road Wins –
2 Home Losses) / No. 8 overall (tied)
Flow: -1.60; (44.5 stops
OF opp [No. 4] – 46.1 stops BY opp [No. 11] / No. 9 overall
Striping: -4.10; (-1.90)
conversions [No. 12] – (+2.20) opp conversions [No. 12] / No. 12 overall
SPOR-t: -43; (503
[No. 9] – 546 [No. 9]) / No. 10 overall
Abacus Revelation:
Not only do the Aces attempt the fewest treys (just under one of every six
shots) in the league, their opponents attempt the most (just under one of every
three shots).
No. 12 Chicago Sky, 3-6 (41)
[2-week Abacus Rank: No. 6]
KK: -1; (1 Road Win –
2 Home Losses) / No. 10 overall
Flow: -4.33; (40.4 stops
OF opp [No. 12] – 44.8 stops BY opp [No. 8] / No. 11 overall
Striping: 0.00;
(+1.17) conversions [No. 5] – (+1.17) opp conversions [No. 10] / No. 8 overall
SPOR-t: -93; (515
[No. 8] – 608 [No. 12]) / No. 12 overall
Abacus Revelation:
The Sky defense yielded 53% FG shooting during Weeks 3 & 4.
Abacus Revelation for
the Road / Random Ranking (3PAr)
Through this season’s first 56 games, WNBA players have
lofted 2,135 three-point FG attempts among 7,601 total shots, 28.1 percent. That 3PAr is up from last season's league-wide 25.7 percent.
New York 191 – 548, .349
Seattle 231 – 675, .342
Washington 222 – 665, .334
Phoenix 231 – 697, .331
Dallas 166 – 536, .310
Connecticut 196 – 674, .291
Indiana 199 – 703, .283
Chicago 161 – 611, .264
Atlanta 174 – 703, .248
Minnesota 139 – 582, .239
Los Angeles 120 – 514, .233
Las Vegas 105 – 693, .152
