A Game of Cat and Mouse Against the Lynx

The Connecticut Sun stormed into the Target Center in Minneapolis on Sunday and stole Game 1 of the WNBA semifinals from the Minnesota Lynx.

It wasn’t a huge surprise given that the Sun have defeated Minnesota in three of the four contests this season. What was different was how they got the job done.

#WNBAPlayoffs – Semifinals Game 1@ConnecticutSun 73, @minnesotalynx 70

1) CON 40.9% 3P% (9-22) – Mabrey (6-11 3P)
2) CON holds MIN to 45.4% eFG%, took care of the ball, and outrebounded MIN to steal Game 1 on the road

Teams are now 197-51 (0.794) when winning eFG% factor https://t.co/W3bYAZfT1E pic.twitter.com/hYJRQK16fG

— Kenyon Wingenbach (@FourTheGameWBB) September 30, 2024

With starting point guard Tyasha Harris out with an ankle injury, the Sun played only seven total players against the Lynx. Center Olivia Nelson-Ododa only played six minutes. Guard Veronica Burton came off the bench and played a season-high 27 minutes.

That meant that three-time All-Star forward Brionna Jones only played 18 minutes despite not being in foul trouble. She eclipsed that total in 39 of the 40 regular-season games. However, she only played 14 minutes against Indiana in Game 2 of the first round.

Sun head coach Stephanie White has decided to play with smaller, quicker lineups. This allows the Sun to switch more defensively and play with more space offensively to combat the Lynx’s deadly three-point attack and frenetic defensive scheme.

Connecticut’s Defense with Jones

Jones is an above-average defender.

In 2021, she was named to the All-Defensive Second Team. She is currently eighth among active players in defensive rating. When she is on the floor, the Sun rarely switch defensively.

A little over a minute into Sunday’s game, Lynx forward Alanna Smith caught a swing pass and immediately went into a dribble handoff on the left wing with sharpshooter Bridget Carleton. Carleton’s defender, Marina Mabrey, went over the top while Jones, defending Smith, backed up in drop coverage. This allowed Carlton to pull up for an easy, uncontested elbow jump shot.

One minute later, Carleton was dribbling up the left sideline. Lynx forward Napheesa Collier, now guarded by Jones, slipped a ball screen while DeWanna Bonner, defending Carleton, went over the top. Carleton drove past Jones for a lay-up.

Later in the first quarter, Smith set a ball screen for guard Courtney Williams. Jones aggressively trapped Williams, but Williams hit Smith with a pocket pass on a short roll. This left three Sun defenders to guard four Lynx players. Smith found a wide-open Bridget Carleton on the opposite wing for a three-pointer.

A similar play happened early in the third quarter. As Williams came off a Smith ball screen, Jones jumped out to trap Williams. Smith floated to the empty corner leaving Bonner with too long of a closeout. Smith nailed a jumper to cut the Sun’s lead to one.

Connecticut’s Defense without Jones

ESPN interviewed White as the second quarter was underway. “I still want to be more disruptive on their dribble handoffs,” she said.

The most effective way to defend dribble handoffs is to jump switch aggressively. With just under three minutes to go in the third quarter and with Jones on the bench, Lynx guard Natisha Hiedeman dribbled from right to left off a double ball screen at the top. The Sun defenders were able to navigate their way through the screens by communicating and switching.

As the first screener rolled to the rim, the second screener set another ball screen on the left slot for Hiedeman. Instead of trapping or playing drop coverage, All-WNBA forward Alyssa Thomas and Bonner switched. The Sun successfully defended three ball screens in five seconds.

The possession ended with the Lynx throwing it inside to Collier, who was defended by 6-foot-4 Bonner. Collier shot a fadeaway over Bonner’s outstretched hand. As the ball bounced high off the rim, there wasn’t a Lynx player within 20 feet of the basket.

In the fourth quarter, Jones only played the first 1:30 with Thomas on the bench. Jones did not see the floor after Thomas checked back in for her. The drawback of playing small is rebounding and mismatches inside.

With Jones on the bench and the score tied in the fourth quarter, the Lynx caught the Sun in a mismatch inside. Smith was posting up an overmatched Burton. Smith got off a clean look, got her own rebound, and immediately put it back up. After another miss, Collier leaped above the much smaller Sun guard DiJonai Carrington and snared another offensive rebound. Collier was able to make her putback and give the Lynx a two-point lead.

With the Sun clinging to a one-point lead with under three minutes left in the game, the Lynx had Collier posted up inside the charge circle with Carrington on her back. This could’ve been a huge play for the Lynx, but Carrington forced her out on the catch and was able to get a hand on the ball. Collier kicked it out, the Sun scrambled, and Carleton missed a huge three that would’ve given the Lynx the lead.

Connecticut’s Offense with Jones

Jones and Thomas have combined to shoot 2-17 from three this season. Playing both non-shooters at the same time collapses the defense and makes it very difficult to find decent shots.

Halfway through the second quarter, Thomas catches a pass at the high post. Her defender, Collier, is even with Jones on the low block as Smith denies her. Collier, the Defensive Player of the Year, can help Smith. Smith was named Second Team All-Defense this season. Jones forces up a tough shot, and the Lynx secured the rebound.

If Jones is going to be able to make an impact offensively, she’s going to have to be able to score inside. That’s going to be very difficult against Collier and Smith. Early in the third quarter, Jones caught the ball in the paint against Smith. She put a great move on Smith but was unable to finish with her left hand.

Connecticut’s Offense without Jones

Having only one non-shooter on the floor is more manageable for the Sun offense. Unfortunately for Jones, she is on the same team as the best non-shooter in the game. With Jones sidelined in 2023 with an Achilles injury, Thomas had one of the greatest statistical seasons in WNBA history. She averaged 15.5 points, 7.9 assists, and 9.9 rebounds while setting WNBA regular season records for most double-doubles (28) and triple-doubles (6).

White, who won WNBA Coach of the Year in 2023, moved Thomas to center and surrounded her with shooters. This created space for movement and brought out the best in Thomas.

With under three minutes left in the second quarter and with Jones on the bench, Thomas caught the ball in the right slot. Bonner came off a down screen, caught the ball at the left slot, and drove right past Collier for a lay-up.

Nobody was in a position to help as the Sun had surrounded Thomas in the lineup with shooters.

This series against the Lynx is a tough matchup for Jones. If she can be aggressive inside and make an impact, she will receive more minutes. However, White has shown she’s not afraid to make some moves to impact the outcome.

Even if it means putting her star center on the bench.