High Post Hoops
Fansided

Aces notebook: Hamby at the 3, gutting one out in Minnesota

By Ben Dull

MINNEAPOLIS, MN- JUNE 16: Dearica Hamby #5 of the Las Vegas Aces shoots the ball against the Minnesota Lynx on June 16, 2019 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN- JUNE 16: Dearica Hamby #5 of the Las Vegas Aces shoots the ball against the Minnesota Lynx on June 16, 2019 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Aces survive slow start, go big to close out Sunday’s win

The Las Vegas Aces improved to 4-3 with an 80-75 win on Sunday on the road against the Minnesota Lynx. More on the late lineup change and adjustments to the matchups that created problems earlier in the game:

Combatting the slow start

The Aces fell in a 19-6 hole early on but only trailed by four at the break, thanks in large part to Kelsey Plum’s 11 points in the second quarter. She knocked down three 3-pointers and singlehandedly matched the team’s first-quarter scoring output.

A’ja Wilson got to the line twice in the first two minutes of the third and connected with Liz Cambage moments later for the duo’s first high-low bucket of the game. Minnesota’s fronting made it difficult for the Aces to enter the ball directly into either player at a low block.

Hamby closes next to A’ja and Liz

Wilson re-entered the game with about seven minutes to play, replacing Dearica Hamby. The Lynx led by two at the time. Hamby checked back in with 4:38 to go—but not for Wilson or Cambage. The Aces trailed by eight after a paint score by Napheesa Collier and a turnover by Wilson that led to a runout for Damiris Dantas.

That big Las Vegas trio played together for the first time all season and completed the comeback. Hamby’s size was needed to contest Collier, who has given opposing guards and wings fits all season ducking in for quick post-ups, in the lane on plays like this:

Collier didn’t get a shot up the rest of the way. Hamby and Wilson were able to switch actions involving Collier and Dantas, whose 3-point shooting from the 4 spot had created problems for the Aces earlier in the game.

Hamby was instrumental in setting up Plum and Cambage on back-to-back possessions to tie the game then take the lead out of the same action. She drew two defenders to kick it out to Plum for an open triple and dropped in a feathery entry pass to Cambage on the left block.

Hamby also got a key facet of the team’s high-low game going early in the fourth while Wilson was resting. The Lynx switched a handoff between Hamby and Sugar Rodgers. Because Hamby established quick position inside, she drew enough help to open up an entry to Cambage and a quick skip to Plum for an open look.

Getting Dantas off the line

Dantas shot 5-of-10 from deep (rest of the Lynx: 3-of-16) on Sunday. Lynx opponents face a tall task in trying to wall off dribble penetration, keep a body on Sylvia Fowles and still get out in time to Dantas.

She’s has been one of Minnesota’s two most reliable 3-point shooters this season. Running her off the line and forcing her to make decisions with the ball late in the shot clock tilts things back in the defense’s favor. You can force Dantas to make a shot over length on the move or to kick it out to a less prolific spot-up option.

Dantas pump faked herself out of an open look shortly after Hamby checked in and got a taste of what it’s like to run into Cambage at the rim with Wilson closing in:

After Plum’s 3-pointer that tied it late, Wilson and Hamby switching on the left side of the floor forced the ensuing Minnesota possession to stall out with Collier and Dantas trying to get something going on the left side of the floor.

Dantas missed a look at a go-ahead triple after Cambage’s free throws. Wilson was much closer on this trip than in some earlier in the game in tagging Fowles and being ready to run out to contest the shot.

Still trailing by two, Dantas got a more favorable switch against Plum but failed to move her much. Cambage picked up Collier seamlessly on the basket cut, and Hamby was ready to put a body on Fowles.

Quick hitters

  • Cambage played a season-high 33 minutes on Sunday. Monday was an off-day for the team and Cambage did not practice on Tuesday, pre-determined as part of the team’s maintenance plan
  • The Aces play six of their next seven games at home with the lone road tilt coming in Los Angeles against the Sparks

Love our 24/7 women’s basketball coverage? Join our Patreon now and support this work, while getting extra goodies and subscriber-only content for yourself.

Home/WNBA