The Liberty are trying forward, however all eyes aren't essentially on their last two regular-season video games.
They're locked in on the No. 5 seed for the playoffs, and whereas the Liberty face the Mystics on Tuesday and the Sky on Thursday previous to the postseason, they can't assist however lend time and focus to their first-round opponent.
In the course of the portion of observe open to the media Monday, the Liberty had been working by way of matchups and schemes within the occasion they play the Mercury — their almost certainly first-round matchup — in lower than per week.
“Clearly, we simply performed Phoenix. We simply performed Atlanta,” coach Sandy Brondello stated. “I think about they're the 2 most important groups. So, we're simply making ready as a lot as we will now. So, utilizing nowadays to get on the observe courtroom to simulate what it may appear like within the playoffs.”
After their loss to Connecticut on Saturday, Phoenix is a close to lock for the No. 4 slot.
Nonetheless, the Liberty are prepping for the opposite prospects — the Aces and Dream — as they've the identical report (28-14) however the Aces maintain the tiebreaker for the No. 2 seed.
The Mercury path each groups by a single recreation, however a shake-up is unlikely as both the Aces or Dream must drop their remaining two video games in opposition to non-playoff groups.
“We're ensuring our schemes are sturdy. Now we have just a few units that we all know every workforce performs and ensuring that we're nicely versed on what we're going to do with them and what our protection goes to be,” Breanna Stewart stated after observe.
The Mercury maintain a 3-1 report in opposition to the Liberty this season.
But, in three of these video games, not each participant within the Liberty's typical lineup was accessible.
Most lately, Sabrina Ionescu was out resulting from a toe harm.
One other got here with out Jonquel Jones due to an ankle harm, and two matchups didn't contain Leonie Fiebich as she was competing within the EuroBasket for many of June.
The Liberty had their starters wholesome for his or her single win, 89-76 over the Mercury on July 25.
“I believe we all know we will beat anyone and I don't assume it issues who we play,” Ionescu stated. “It's extra figuring out we simply acquired to be higher and deal with ourselves and the issues we have to enhance on.”
Ionescu (toe) and Nyara Sabally (knee) can be found for Tuesday evening's recreation in opposition to the Mystics at Barclays Middle.
It's the primary time the Liberty shall be at full energy for the reason that second recreation of the season Could 22.
Throughout Friday's victory in opposition to the Storm, the Liberty acquired each Kennedy Burke and Fiebich extra concerned within the offense.
Burke added 13 factors whereas Fiebich tacked on 21.
For Fiebich, it was her first double-digit recreation since Aug. 19, when she scored 10 factors in opposition to the Lynx.
Brondello has urged the 6-foot-4 ahead to be extra aggressive and be egocentric as a result of within the video games when she has scored within the double digits, the Liberty have gone 12-1.
Fiebich is usually a actual difference-maker within the postseason if that output stays constant, simply because it did a yr in the past.
“Now we have to place her within the motion. Typically, she simply stands within the nook an excessive amount of …” Brondello stated. “We simply should remind her [to be unselfish]. We simply should remind her, particularly we had all these gamers out. You've acquired to be aggressive as a result of we're down.”
