Lynx end frustrating season in fitting fashion

The Lynx went out the way they came in in 2018, and the way they played so many infuriating games in between. The dynasty as we knew it is over. Lindsay Whalen's playing career is officially over. It's just frustrating.

Because this game was SO winnable. Early on it looked like just the right kind of game for the Lynx, a scrappy defensive battle. And the offense was playing crisper than usual, with some great support by Temi Fagbenle, and they got up 11.

But then the Lynx began playing like the 2018 Lynx again, so it meant stupid, amateurish turnovers that put the defense in a hole, horrible shot selection, bad fouls. Everything that loses you a basketball game, everything that lost the Lynx more games this year than the previous 2 combined. This whole season they never shook the bad habits, they never switched it up. They did nothing.

At least they didn't bow out in a rout like that horrific Phoenix series in 2014. They did make a comeback, again sparked by a Lindsay 3. But the old magic just never resurfaced. Down the stretch the hopes of a win were ruined by awful turnovers again, awful shots again, and Maya clanking 2 free throws.

This Lynx team wasn't winning it all. They do probably win this game with Brunson, but they don't get past Seattle. This just was not anything close to the well-oiled machine they were. It was a curious season. Some of the regression can be chalked up to age, but not everything. Maya Moore had a bizarre season, where she struggled to score at all in many games, and it was capped by a horrible 4th quarter tonight. She needs to be a damn superstar again next year. Every game.

With Maya being Maya, and Syl being Syl, the Lynx fade should not be total. We may not know for a long time what moves are made, the curse of a long offseason(Avengers 4 will be out before the Lynx take the court again). They conceivably could lose 2 more of their core players. But it was always going to come eventually. If they can make the right moves, and get an impact player in the draft for once, they should at least be in the mix next year.

But to see the run end is terribly sad. No matter what it will never be this good again. 

Comments

  1. MichelleAugust 22, 2018 at 1:32 PM

    It was a baffling season. I’m not sure if it was championship hangover, age, an injury that a player didn’t disclose, the condensed season? They weren’t the team of previous years. But the rest of the league has stepped up. The Lynx and Spark have meet each other for the championship the last two seasons-and gone to game five in both series- and this year they met in the first round in a single elimination game. That speaks a lot to the league too.
    Now we have to draft and get a free agent or two and try to bring another one home.

    ReplyDelete

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