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PODCAST: Nick Niendorf talks playoffs on the Skycast

By Nicholas Niendorf

LAS VEGAS, NV - AUGUST 9: Stefanie Dolson #31 of the Chicago Sky reacts against the Las Vegas Aces on August 9, 2019 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Jeff Bottari/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - AUGUST 9: Stefanie Dolson #31 of the Chicago Sky reacts against the Las Vegas Aces on August 9, 2019 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Jeff Bottari/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Takeaways from the Phoenix Mercury game and things to look for against the Las Vegas Aces

Nick Niendorf is back with a playoff edition of the Skycast, breaking down the Sky’s win over the Phoenix Mercury and projecting storylines for their second round matchup against the Las Vegas Aces.

First and foremost, Niendorf had to give credit to Diamond DeShields and her massive, season-defining game.

“[DeShields] looked locked in every minute she was on the floor,” Niendorf said. “She looked like the superstar the Sky know she can be. She took 19 shots and hit 10 of them, went 1-for-4 from three, and the Sky need that in the playoffs.”

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DeShields had 25 points and looked like the best player on the court all night. For the Sky to advance deep into the playoffs, they will likely look to her to her to continue her impact.

“Having a bonafide superstar scoring in the playoffs is irreplicable,” Niendorf said. “You either have it or you don’t, and Chicago proved that they have it in that game. They proved that Diamond can be the player that they rally around.”

While DeShields looked the part of a perfect basketball player on Wednesday, Chicago still had some kinks to work out during stretches of the game.

“What you saw [in the second quarter] was a lot of these plays where the Sky were a bit stagnant, which is the antithesis of Sky basketball,” Niendorf said. “They were stagnant and players weren’t getting good looks.”

But the Sky still downed the Mercury 105-76 thanks to a hot second half. That win earned them the chance to even their season series on the road against the Aces, who Chicago has had plenty of heated contests with this year.

“They’re a team that the Sky have had bad blood with, they’ve had trouble with them in the past,” Niendorf said. “They’re a team with three really good bigs that can play like wrecking balls, and that can be the Sky’s kryptonite at times.”

Niendorf noted that every Sky-Vegas game this year has had the look and feel of a playoff game. That energy will only be heightened when the two teams play real playoff basketball on Sunday.

Listen here:

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