Reason #2: The Liberty have the best offensive rating in the league
One big reason for the Liberty’s success this season is their offense. With an offensive rating of 106.5, they run the best offense in the league. They are one of the most efficient teams this season, ranking third in field goal percentage and fourth in three-point percentage. On top of that, the Liberty are also one of the best teams when it comes to sharing the ball.
New York’s offense has been running smoothly for most of the season and there is no reason why that should be any different in the playoffs. In the playoffs, the defensive intensity picks up. Teams are more physical and have more time to game plan and zero in on specific plays they want to disrupt. The Liberty seem prepared for that.
They have four players averaging double-digit points per game and several bench players who can step up their games. Rookie Leonie Fiebich, for example, had some nice games this season, including a recent 16-point performance in a close win over the Dallas Wings.
The Liberty also have several good playmakers. All of their starters average at least three assists per game. So, the Liberty are capable of running one of the best team offenses in the league but they also have players to go to when the offense is struggling. Breanna Stewart can get a bucket even against the best defenders and Sabrina Ionescu is famous for hitting difficult threes.