YCN
08-22-2002, 11:10 PM
In a solid effort by the entire team, the Washington Mystics outlasted the New York Liberty in game one of the Eastern Conference final.
This game was marked by brilliant performances all over the court, but the freshness of the Mystics played large down the stretch. Washington fell behind by 11 points in the first half, only to go on a 15-0 run, and trailed by 8 in the second half before their freshness and fitness payed dividends to their effort.
In spite of the big streaks by both teams in this game, much of the game was marked by match and match basket runs, where it seemed like neither team could miss. The Liberty are obviously a trememdously gifted team, but they have destiny against them this year, as the Mystic fans - the best in the league - are sky-high in support of their team, which only once reached the playoffs before this year, and had never won a single playoff game.
This series will be decided by sheer will; the will of the Liberty to remain dominant in the East versus the will of the Mystics to go above anyone's expectations.
I thought previously that the Mystics would get this far and lose the series. After their recent play, however, I think the Mystics have a legitimate chance to win the whole thing. But so do the other three teams.
But you have to love the opportunity to win one of two to get to the championship series.
This game was marked by brilliant performances all over the court, but the freshness of the Mystics played large down the stretch. Washington fell behind by 11 points in the first half, only to go on a 15-0 run, and trailed by 8 in the second half before their freshness and fitness payed dividends to their effort.
In spite of the big streaks by both teams in this game, much of the game was marked by match and match basket runs, where it seemed like neither team could miss. The Liberty are obviously a trememdously gifted team, but they have destiny against them this year, as the Mystic fans - the best in the league - are sky-high in support of their team, which only once reached the playoffs before this year, and had never won a single playoff game.
This series will be decided by sheer will; the will of the Liberty to remain dominant in the East versus the will of the Mystics to go above anyone's expectations.
I thought previously that the Mystics would get this far and lose the series. After their recent play, however, I think the Mystics have a legitimate chance to win the whole thing. But so do the other three teams.
But you have to love the opportunity to win one of two to get to the championship series.