Washington Clinches Playoff Berth: Mystics 82, Dream 64
Well the title of this entry has the big news. The Mystics' win tonight, combined with Chicago's 80-69 loss to Detroit, allowed Washington to clinch its fifth playoff berth in franchise history and first trip to the postseason since 2006.
Because of the tiebreakers the Mystics (16-17) own against Chicago (16-18) the result of the regular season finale Sunday afternoon at New York will have no bearing on Washington's fate. The Mystics claimed the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference, and are slated to face top-seeded Indiana (22-11) in the first round.
Over the past 20 minutes or so the Mystics have walked down a Verizon Center hallway to the bus that will take them up to New York for Sunday's game against the Liberty in various stages of shock after hearing that Chicago lost. Vicki Bullett was double checking with everyone in earshot that the were in and the outcome against New York wouldn't change that. "Great. Let's go and beat 'em anyway!" she said.
Nakia Sanford let out a long "Wooooo!" that echoed in the empty hallway, because she was possibly the last player to hear the news.
But back to the game, which for the most part the Mystics controlled from the outset. It appeared as though Atlanta played at half-speed after clinching its first-ever playoff berth Friday night thanks to a win over Connecticut. With their own postseason fate on the line though the Mystics didn't mirror their opponents.
In the first quarter, Washington shot an impressive 66.7 percent (10 of 14) and were perfect on all six of their free throw attempts. They were already showing signs of the defensive effort that was to come as well -- Washington held the league's second-highest scoring offense (84.7 points per game) to its lowest point total of the season.
From there, the Mystics continued to build on their lead, which stayed firmly in double digits through most of the game and grew to a 20-point edge. Late in the third quarter though, as Washington suffered from a mild scoring drought the Dream tried to rally. Atlanta cut its deficit to five points with 24.3 seconds remaining in the third, but that was as close as the Dream would come to disrupting the Mystics' playoff plans.
"We were extremely motivated," Marissa Coleman said. "We worked so hard in the first half to build that lead and when they cut into it I remember [Monique Currie] saying we've worked to hard to let them come back into this game. Just having that mind-set and knowing that we needed to win to continue on to the playoffs was important."
After Ivory Latta recorded a fast-break layup to make the score 56-51, Coleman and point guard Lindsey Harding combined for 13 points over the next three and a half minutes of play. Harding sunk two three-pointers and Coleman added one in the flurry that inflated Washington's lead to 71-55 with 6:16 remaining in regulation and the Mystics never looked back.
Odds and Ends
*My story for tomorrow's paper is about Lindsey Harding, who led all scorers with 25 points to help reach the WNBA postseason for the first time in her career. Coach Julie Plank told reporters that prior to the game Harding had specifically requested to guard Atlanta's leading scorer, guard Iziane Castro Marques.
"The past few games she's been scoring over 20 points and shooting over 20 times I just wanted to lock her down," Harding said. "She's a really quick player and I know that I'm fast. I just wanted to lock her down and make her shots difficult, find a way to slow her down. I've never been in this position in the WNBA where I can control if we're going to the playoffs or not. All day I was so excited for this game. I wanted to win. I've had losing seasons [in my career]. So to have a chance to go to the playoffs it's just such a real thrill."
*Alana Beard went down on the court again clutching her left ankle in what has become a far-too-familiar sight for the Mystics these past few weeks. Beard said she was tripped accidentally by a camera man on the baseline near the Washington bench -- and that he apologized afterward.
*For those who saw the full-speed, full-court collision between Harding and Shalee Lehning when they raced from opposite directions to grab a loose ball with 1:37 remaining in the first half -- Lehning is day to day with a left shoulder injury.
By
Katie Carrera
|
September 12, 2009; 10:31 PM ET
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Posted by: gotjingle | September 13, 2009 12:52 AM
It has indeed been an exciting season. Does anyone happen to know what happened to Luby, the Assistant Coach? He hasn't been on the bench, rather right behind it, for the past month.
Posted by: BookGuy | September 13, 2009 5:22 AM
Hope the Comcast Center doesn't have bad mojo for the Dookies. Heh. I think Lang and Marissa will be ecstatic to be playing there again.
Go Mystics!
Posted by: krae-kartoons | September 14, 2009 4:21 PM
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Excellent coverage this year of a team that has been a joy to watch. The quality of the play, the skill of the players and the upbeat but not riotous atmosphere at Verizon has been splendid.
The efficiency ratings of our players were astonishing -- 24, 18, etc.
The collision between Harding and Lehning was gruesome. Alana's weak ankle is of great concern.
Let's hope Washington demonstrates the passion and turnout at U of MD.