The Connecticut Sun are within the playoffs and the Chicago Sky are hoping to get there, with the latter's postseason probabilities coming all the way down to the ultimate recreation of the season. The recreation issues for each groups, nevertheless, as a win for the Sun would clinch the third total seed whereas the Sky must emerge victorious and then have Atlanta lose its closing recreation to New York.
Let's get to my Sky vs Sun prediction.
Chicago Sky vs. Connecticut Sun Prediction
Neither Chicago nor Connecticut depend on offense to win video games, however that is largely as a result of the Sky do not have a lot of 1 to level to. Injuries have depleted them of choices and now they face a Sun crew that may rating sufficient to win when paired with an elite protection. The Sun haven't topped 90 factors of their final seven video games and have failed to achieve 80 of their final two, whereas Chicago has completed with 70 or fewer in three of their final 4.
Sky vs. Sun Pick: Under 153.5 (-110)
Sky vs. Sun Odds
Adam Green's Sky vs. Sun Preview
Chicago Sky: Offense Limited Without Reese
What has been an inconsistent season for the Sky has come all the way down to the ultimate recreation, largely due to the crew having misplaced its final 4 video games and 11 of its final 13. Offense has been a wrestle, particularly with star rookie Angel Reese sidelined.
Reese won't be again this season — irrespective of how for much longer it lasts for the Sky — which implies the crew has relied closely on Chennedy Carter, who's main the crew with 17.5 factors per recreation. She has notched at the least 16 in every of her final eight video games, over the course of which she has made simply six 3-point pictures.
Rookie Kamilla Cardoso has stepped up in Reese's absence, posting at the least eight rebounds in eight of her final 10 video games whereas averaging 11.3 factors per recreation over that span. Rachel Banham, acquired from the Sun earlier within the season, is coming off a 22-point effort in opposition to Atlanta and has made 13 3s over her final three video games.
Chicago's struggles placing the ball within the basket are evident of their having the second-lowest PPG within the W at 78, which is simply barely bettered by their offensive ranking, which is third-worst. The Sky play at one of many slower paces within the league, too, however help on a league-worst 63.7% of their makes.
Connecticut Sun: Defense Leading The Way
Another crew that is not precisely ending the season robust, Connecticut is using a two-game dropping streak going into this one. It's price noting the losses had been to Minnesota and Las Vegas, respectively, and previous to that the Sun had gained three straight (albeit with two of these wins coming over Los Angeles).
As they've all season, the Sun characteristic a balanced offensive method with six gamers averaging at the least 10 factors per recreation.
DeWanna Bonner is averaging 15.1 factors per recreation, whereas Marina Mabrey, who was acquired from the Sun in the course of the season, has averaged the identical quantity in 15 video games because the commerce. Mabrey, specifically, has helped with the crew's outdoors capturing as she takes a team-high 6.4 3s a recreation whereas averaging 2.7 makes.
Brionna Jones (14.0), DiJonai Carrington (12.7), Alyssa Thomas (10.5) and Tyasha Harris (10.4) spherical out the group, offering sufficient offense for a crew that doesn't depend on scoring to win.
No one else on the crew averages greater than 5 factors per recreation for a Sun crew that's nearer to the underside of the league than the highest in factors, within the center in offensive effectivity, and final in tempo.
The protection, nevertheless, is elite, because the Sun enable the fewest factors within the league whereas boasting the highest defensive ranking.
Sky vs. Sun Pick
Both groups have one thing to play for on this recreation, which implies you might be prone to get every squad's finest efforts. Unfortunately for the Sky, their current struggles are indicative of a crew that's simply brief on scoring choices, and Thursday they're dealing with a crew that excels at shutting opponents down. The Sun determine to win this recreation, and will achieve this by conserving the rating low.
Sky vs. Sun Pick: Under 153.5 (-110)
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