Point of Focus: Chicago Sky's murky third quarters

One of the most common themes you hear in basketball is "stringing together a full four quarters" or "putting together a full 40 minutes."

When you can't do that, losses usually come about and can be consistent. That's the case with the six teams that are below .500 - one of them being the Chicago Sky.

That third quarter has been the cloud in the Sky for Chicago. They are in the basement of the league in multiple categories when it comes to third quarter performance, including the following:

• 13th in points (17.7)

• 13th in field goal percentage (37.9%)

• 13th in 3-point field goal percentage (23.6%)

• 2nd highest in turnovers (4.6)

Not only do they struggle in putting the ball in the basket, they allow their opponents to run all over them in third quarters. They lead the league in several opponent categories including the following:

• 1st in points allowed (23.4)

• 1st in opponent's field goal percentage (49.2%)

• 1st in opponent's 3-point field goal percentage (50%)

• 1st in opponent's steals (2.6)

All these issues were on full display in the Sky's 79-72 loss to the Washington Mystics on June 17. The Sky led by as much as 16 and had a 44-32 lead at halftime.

Coming out of halftime, the Mystics kicked into another gear and outscored the Sky 24-12 in the third quarter. After giving up 10 turnovers and 16 points off those turnovers at halftime, Chicago then had 9 turnovers that Washington turned into 16 points in the third quarter.

In one quarter, the Sky gave up as many points off turnovers as they did in an entire half. The Sky had three scoring droughts in the quarter ranging from 2 to 2:30.

The Sky only had two offensive possessions in the first scoring drought and 3 turnovers that etched 8 points for Washington. In the second offensive lull, the Sky had three turnovers that the Mystics turned into 7 points.

When asked about what the issues have been in the third quarter this season, guard Ariel Atkins put it simply after the loss: "It's what we got to figure out. I don't have an answer for you. That's what we got to figure out. If we figure that out, we're rolling."

It could be energy. It could be the Sky's lack of adjustments. It could opponents coming out of the locker room with better adjustments of creating chaos for the Sky. That seemed to be the case in their loss to the Mystics.

"I think we didn't do a good job of handling their pressure," head coach Tyler Marsh said at practice on Thursday, June 19. "It took us out of what we wanted to do offensively and then it had an effect on the defensive end as well. We've adjusted with film and had a great practice day."

That was the focus at practice: handling pressure - especially when you're welcoming in a Phoenix Mercury team riding a 4-game winning streak and a healthy Kahleah Copper coming back to play at Wintrust Arena.

In their last matchup on May 27, ironically, that was the Sky's best third quarter performance of the season: season highs in points (27), field goal percentage (58.8%) and 3-point percentage (50%). They also put up season low a in opponents points off turnovers, allowing just a singular point.

But both teams look incredibly different. The Sky had Courtney Vandersloot. Phoenix didn't have Copper. It was also the start of the season with both teams still trying to figure themselves with brand new rosters for both Chicago and Phoenix.

This matchup will be a huge test for Chicago, because if they can't stay competitive or string together a full four quarters, it could be a very long season for Sky fans.

Tip time for the game is set for 12 p.m. on ABC.