How many playoff teams are in the Southwest division? Plus, the Liberty near WNBA title

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Lonzo Ball played in a game for the first time since January 14, 2022. It was only a preseason game, but he scored 10 points in 15 minutes off the bench. It’s fantastic to have him hoopin’ again. Welcome back, Zo!

Season Previews

How many playoff teams are in the Southwest?

We are previewing the 2024-25 season leading up to opening night on Oct. 22, going through each division and each major individual award. We’ve done the Eastern Conference already and now start moving into the West. We’ve also done the MIP, Sixth Man and Rookie of the Year awards. For each team, I’ll make a bold prediction and offer a take on the over/under set by BetMGM. Five 🥶 emojis on the hot seat meter equals job security. Five 🔥 means “Update that resume.” Let’s preview the Southwest!

Best-case scenario? They build off last season, Klay is the difference they needed and they win the finals.

Worst-case scenario? Last year was a little flukey, the defense regresses and they’re out in the first or second round.

Confidence in the Mavs: 💪💪💪💪💪

Best-case scenario? Another leap forward with Şengün balling out, Jalen Green continuing how he ended last season and the Rockets flirting with top six in the West.

Worst-case scenario? Green regresses, Şengün doesn’t stay healthy and they barely compete for even a Play-In spot before they fade.

Confidence in the Rockets: 💪💪💪💪

Best-case scenario? Ja is back to destroying the rim, Edey flourishes in his role and the Grizzlies are in the mix for a top-four seed.

Worst-case scenario? More injuries and immaturity within the team, and they get boxed out of the Play-In.

Confidence in the Grizzlies: 💪💪💪💪

Best-case scenario? Zion is healthy all year, including the playoffs, they trade for a big man and this team wins 50-plus games with at least a second-round appearance.

Worst-case scenario? Too injured to truly do something in the postseason, and ownership unfairly blames Willie Green.

Confidence in the Pelicans: 💪💪💪💪

Best-case scenario? Wemby transcends, CP3 stays healthy and the Spurs get themselves into the Play-In.

Worst-case scenario? Paul misses a bunch of games, and San Antonio just goes back to development for the second half of the season as Wemby fumes at his fellow young Spurs.

Confidence in the Spurs: 💪💪💪

Awards Predictions

Who will win Coach of the Year?

It feels like awards voters generally like to be surprised when it comes to the Coach of the Year winner. Last season was the first deviation I can remember — Mark Daigneault of the OKC Thunder wasn’t some crazy betting dark horse, as people expected the Thunder to have a big year. Not a No. 1 seed big year, but a big year nonetheless. It wasn’t like previous winners such as Mike Brown in 2023, when he made the Sacramento Kings the No. 3 seed after 16 years of missing the postseason.

Monty Williams won it with Phoenix the year before, and while he was deserving, it was also kind of a “sorry that Tom Thibodeau won it over you last season.” Thibs, however, was in fact a bit of a surprise winner. We like when someone overachieves!

With that said, here are BetMGM’s favorites for this coming season’s Coach of the Year award.

Favorite: Tom Thibodeau (+700)

Threats: Ime Udoka (+850), Jamahl Mosely (+1000), Taylor Jenkins (+1100), Nick Nurse (+1200), Chris Finch (+1300), Joe Mazzulla (+1600), Mark Daigneault (+1600), Mike Budenholzer (+1600)

Darkhorse: Doc Rivers (+3500)

🔮 My prediction: Joe Mazzulla. The Celtics are going to win 65 games. It isn’t overachieving, but it feels like he’s earned one already.

WNBA Finals

The Liberty are one away from their title

The worst thing you can do in this WNBA Finals is have a great first half. That spells doom. It happened to the New York Liberty in Game 1. It almost happened to them again in Game 2. Last night, they took back home court advantage in Game 3, thanks to their furious comeback on the road against the Minnesota Lynx.

Let’s back up. The Liberty struggled so much in the first half, trailing by as many as 15 points. But they cut it to eight by halftime to stay within range.

In the second half, Breanna Stewart went crazy. She dominated on both ends of the floor, similar to what we saw from Napheesa Collier in Game 1. Stewie finished with 30 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks. She scored 13 to bridge the third and fourth quarters. The big moment came from Sabrina Ionescu, which came out of nowhere, considering how she’d been playing in the game.

For 39 minutes, Ionescu was hesitant, reluctant to shoot and pretty sloppy with the ball. But in the final minute, she put on the cape. She knocked down a massive 3-pointer with 55 seconds left to put the Liberty up four. Then, after Collier tied it with two free throws, Ionescu hit the biggest shot in franchise history — a logo 3-pointer (the logo’s ear counts) to clinch the 80-77 victory and tie the third-largest comeback in WNBA Finals history.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST SHOTS IN LIBERTY FINALS HISTORY FROM SABRINA IONESCU 😱🔥

The Liberty takes Game 3! #WNBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/Whv0AMnNl9

— WNBA (@WNBA) October 17, 2024

Did you expect anything less from Sabrina Ionescu?#WNBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/nLpzK0xOfO

— WNBA (@WNBA) October 17, 2024

Copy here [additional tweet or other content links at editor’s discretion]

Catching up with Breanna Stewart after her 30 PT, 11 REB performance in Game 3 of the #WNBAFINALS presented by @youtubetv

Stewie says this is the toughest finals series she has ever been a part of and says the one word she would use to describe this series is “physical” 💪 pic.twitter.com/gyK6XjP85W

— WNBA (@WNBA) October 17, 2024

What was the difference for the Liberty? It sounds simple, but their stars had star moments. Stewie dominated in the second half. Ionescu hit the two biggest shots in the final minute.

What do the Lynx need to change for Game 3? They missed so many bunnies in the paint in the second half. New York played smothering defense, but the Lynx whiffed too many shots they normally make.

Who needs to step up for the Lynx? Collier. She played well, and as proof of how great she’s been, her 22 points pushed her past the record for most points in a postseason (249 through Game 3). But Minnesota needed her to cook in the second half, and it wasn’t enough.

How should the Liberty adjust for Game 4? Stop turning the ball over; 18 turnovers led to 18 points off turnovers. They have to be better with the rock.

When is Game 4? Friday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN from the Target Center in Minneapolis.

Does it end Friday night? No. Give us a Game 5 in Brooklyn!