Becky Hammon has a lot of experience on the sidelines.
Before becoming head coach of The Aces of Las Vegas In 2022, Hammon served as an assistant coach to Gregg Popovich on the San Antonio Spurs from 2014 to 2021. With the double title holder The Aces are behind the New York Liberty 0-2 during the WNBA playoff semifinal, Hammon draws parallels between the Spurs and Liberty.
“You think of the Spurs – I do it all the time – with the Miami Heat. (The Spurs) losing an absolute heartbreaker to Miami on basic things: offensive rebounds and three-and-outs,” Hammon said, referring to the Spurs lose 95-88 to Heat in Game 7 of the 2013 NBA Finals. “(The Spurs) should have come away with a title that year. They lost it that year. The next year, they came back with so much dynamism, so much discipline, so much concentration that it was impossible for anyone to beat them in 2014. “.
Becky Hammon looks back at the 2014 Spurs as New York takes a 2-0 lead.
“They came back with so much drive. So much discipline. So much focus. There was no way anyone was going to beat them. That ball popped.” pic.twitter.com/8kQ3ghM9E2
–Josh Paredes (@Josh810) October 2, 2024
The New York Liberty are the Spurs in this scenario. The Aces narrowly beat Liberty 70-69 in Game 4 of the 2023 WNBA Finals in New York last year to win the series 3-1 and capture their second straight WNBA championship.
It was the last time the Aces beat the Liberty. New York swept the Aces this year, winning all three of their matchups, including one in New York and two on the road in Las Vegas. And so far, the Liberty have taken a 2-0 lead over the Aces as the best-of-five semifinal series moves to Las Vegas for Game 5 on Friday.
“(The Spurs) had a huge loss (in 2013). The Liberty had a huge loss last year and I kind of compare that to that,” Hammon said. “(The Spurs) had it, they felt like they had it and we came away with it. I thought we were the better team. … I’m sure they feel like something was a little stolen.”
Hammon added: “At the end of the day, in two years, we won (in New York) once… Game 4. Other than that, they kicked the (expletive) out of us.”
Hammon called the Liberty the best team in the league this year and said his team’s latest struggles highlight the difficulties of winning three titles in a row.
“We didn’t have the advantage all year. We found it last month. We gained a lot of ground, but the feeling was different than jumping. That’s why it’s difficult to do three rounds,” Hammon said. “The whole league hasn’t been pissed the last eight months and my players are in commercials and fucking celebrities and you’re distracted. That’s why it’s hard, because human nature is distracting.”
The Aces will look to keep their three-peat dreams alive Friday in Game 5.
This article was originally published on USA TODAY: Aces’ Becky Hammon compares New York Liberty to San Antonio Spurs
