Two final seconds. That is all that changed the fate of Game 3 for New York. While the Finale has not been very friendly for the Liberty, they have shown their mettle day in and day out. Consequently, their biggest strength of having a deep roster is also very visible as every night, the Minnesota Lynx have some new players to guard. But if the final two seconds are what everything is coming down to, is everything really as smooth going for the superteam of the season? Lisa Leslie believes not.

No one will forget Sabrina Ionescu’s unpredictable clutch three from the deep that gave the Liberty a 3-point lead and a win over the Lynx in Game 3. But there are some concerns in their plays. In a recent episode of the podcast “Fast Friends with Kelley O’Hara and Lisa Leslie,” the latter Hall of Famer made certain observations, that, highlighted a critical flaw in the Liberty’s game. Their tendency for “blooper-type” turnovers.

Leslie commented on this after New York surrendered an 18-point lead in Game 1, saying, “Honestly, the Liberty have some really silly turnovers.” she further gave an explanation stating, “They have turnovers, to me, that are like, Jonquel had the ball, but then she brings it all the way down to the bottom, and then somebody ties her up and steals it. Or they’re dribbling, and then they bump into each other, and the ball goes out of bounds.”

Unfortunately for New York, this issue has even carried over to Game 3. In fact, during the recent showdown, New York committed 18 turnovers as compared to Minnesota’s 12, which led to them conceding 18 points. And these errors were downright bloopers. As Leslie humorously described, many of the turnovers seemed preventable and, at times, almost comical.

Turnover troubles plague the Liberty: Lisa Leslie

These turnovers often cost New York hard-earned leads “It even happened in Game 2,” Leslie added during the podcast, recalling the sequence of mistakes that nearly cost the Liberty another game. These moments of carelessness are the exact openings a championship-caliber team like Minnesota can and has exploited continuously.

And the reason why it’s so confounding is that, despite all their blunders, the Liberty outperformed the Lynx in nearly every offensive stat. In fact, in Game 3, New York outshot, out-blocked, and out-rebounded the Lynx. They hit 45.9 percent of their shots compared to Minnesota’s 38.7 percent and were also flawless from the free-throw line, going 14-14, while Minnesota shot 83.3%. The Liberty also out-blocked the Lynx 9 to 1, showcasing their dominance on the defensive end. However, their inability to protect the ball kept the Lynx within striking distance throughout the Finals showdown.

In fact, Leslie particularly singled out the Liberty’s 6’6″ center Jonquel Jones. “She keeps bringing the ball down to the height of the little people,” Leslie urged, advising her to keep the ball high and avoid the scrappy defenders trying to steal the ball. Jones’s tendency to lower the ball has allowed smaller defenders to limit her effectiveness inside the paint.

Meanwhile Minnesota, for its part, continues to demonstrate its ability to claw back from large deficits which has given them a mental edge that Leslie believes could prove lethal. “When you’re up by 18 and a team comes back, you give us the confidence of the world that no matter what, what the score is, we always have a chance to win. If I’m Minnesota, that’s what I’m thinking—no matter what, we always have a chance,” she remarked.

For New York, the key to securing their long-awaited championship after five championship losses and a 28-year presence in the league lies in minimizing these turnovers. With the Liberty on the brink of a championship, unless they can clean up these mistakes, Minnesota remains capable of spoiling their dream.