Chicago Sky at New York Liberty Predictions, Picks, and Odds 8/11

The New York Liberty enter Friday night’s matchup with the Chicago Sky as the best team in the league post-All-Star-Break. The Liberty hold a 10.5 net rating, tops in the league, with a win over the reigning champ and top-seeded Las Vegas Aces and an 8-2 record since play resumed.

The Liberty take on the Chicago Sky at home at Barclays Center on Friday night, with the season series split 1-1 headed into the 8 pm EST tipoff.

New York is the better team by record and on-court production, but the Sky have played the Liberty well and have the fourth best offense in the league post-break.

Chicago runs the most pick and roll actions per game in the league according to Synergy tracking, and the Liberty have gotten better defending ball screens as the season has gone on, but this should prove a great late season test for their coverages. 

Sky star Kahleah Copper has dominated since the return to play, scoring 24.4 points per game over her last 8 games with 49.6/44.2/90.2 splits.

PREDICTION

The Liberty have the second best record in the WNBA this season, 22-6. With a 12-2 record since the start of July, the Liberty are rounding into every bit of the contender they were expected to be prior to the season.

How Chicago fares defensively will be key. The Sky have toggled between an aggressive defense that stifles ball screens and a matchup based zone to slow down guards they struggle to keep out of the paint. Finding a defensive balance that can take the liberty out of their rhythm in early offense while also preventing open pockets for shooters is a tall task.

On the other hand, how will the Liberty look to defend the Sky? Chicago thrives when they can pull-up or playmake out of the pick and roll as mentioned earlier; can New York put together good ball pressure and swift rotations? The Sky are shooting 41.6% from deep on high volume over their last eight, leading the league.

Score Prediction: Liberty 95, Sky 82

PLAYERS TO WATCH

The aforementioned Copper is an electric scorer and the best slasher in the WNBA. If the Sky can be active in the passing lanes and play in transition, expect a big game from Copper, amidst her finest season as a pro.

Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu has refound her All-WNBA form in recent weeks, averaging 21 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game over her last five. She’s shooting 48% from three on 10 attempts per game over that span, one of the all time outside shooting heaters in the league.

Betnijah Laney’s scoring and usage has seen an uptick since the All-Star Break. Already perhaps the most vital defensive cog at the point of attack for New York, they are at their best when they get her actively involved in the flow of the offense as well. She’s a matchup nightmare for most teams in the league with the touch and fluidity of a guard, physicality of a post, and size of a forward. 

HOW TO WATCH

You can watch the game on ION TV through cable and on WNBA League Pass starting at 8 pm Eastern.