The Unrivaled Playoffs move to Brooklyn for the semifinals.
The semis begin with No. 6-seed Vinyl taking on No. 1-seed Phantom at 7:30 p.m. ET. Then, No. 5-seed Breeze will play No. 2-seed Mist at 8:45 p.m. ET. Both games will be broadcast on TNT and truTV.
The intensity will certainly ramp up as everyone’s season is on the line inside the Barclays Center. Here’s a rundown on what each team needs to do punch their ticket to the championship game back in Miami.
Can the Hamby-Howard duo drive Vinyl to another upset?
Phantom will be a tough challenge for Vinyl.
Their opponent is the top team in Unrivaled, having lost only three games this season. In their two matchups, Phantom got the better of Vinyl, but in their most recent contest, it ended as a one-possession game.
For Vinyl to win, they’ll need big games from everyone, especially Dearica Hamby and Rhyne Howard. Hamby is the team’s inside presence and is averaging 17.1 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. Howard is averaging 16.3 points and shooting 35.4 percent from deep.
If they dominate the glass and score at their typical rate, it’ll give them the best chance to pull off another postseason upset.
Will Aliyah Boston’s absence doom Phantom?
To win it all, teams need skill and luck.
Phantom has all the talent needed, but luck isn’t on their side. Boston has been ruled out for the rest of the playoffs with a right lower extremity injury.
Boston’s impact can’t be duplicated. She’s averaging 18.9 points and a team-high 9.7 rebounds. Phantom will have development pool players Aziaha James and Makayla Timpson available the rest of the way.
With Boston out, Kelsey Plum will have to lead their team to glory. Plum’s been a monster for Phantom, scoring 22.6 points per game. While asking more from her is a lot, she has the firepower to get it done.
Can Breeze’s Big 3 keep them in championship contention?
Breeze is a dangerous team due to their youth and talent.
They have a Big 3 featuring Paige Bueckers, Dominique Malonga and Rickea Jackson that gives every opponent in Unrivaled headaches.
Bueckers leads the way as both a scorer and facilitator. She averages 22.1 points and 5.5 assists per game. Malonga has been dominant in the paint with three dunks on the year and 16.4 points per game. And Jackson can score in bunches and get hot, tipping the scales in Breeze’s favor.
Brreze dominated in their first round game, and if they can keep their offensive synergy flowing, they’ll have a great shot at winning, even against Mist.
Will Mist’s experience, plus Stewie, take them to the title game?
Mist will go as far as Stewart takes them. So far, that’s placed them as the No. 2 seed and on a four-game winning streak.
On the season, Stewart is averaging 21.4 points on 50.5 percent shooting from the field. Allisha Gray is right there production-wise with Stewie with 21.8 points per game, and Arike Ogunbowale is always a threat to go off.
Beating Breeze won’t be easy, but they have the experience to get it done.
