'This would not fly in the NBA' is the main takeaway from the Aces vs. Fever WNBA playoff matchup

LAS VEGAS — According to Becky Hammon, her Las Vegas Aces were too kind for a difficult postseason matchup.

Hammon stated in the run-up to Game 2 that "you can't tiptoe into a bar fight."

The Aces rushed in, took the opening punch this time, and continued to be as aggressive as their head coach had instructed before the pregame. With 4:12 remaining in the fourth quarter, Hammon formally called the battle and sent her starters to the bench to experiment with a 24-point lead.

The No. 2 seed Las Vegas Aces' lopsided 90-68 win tied the playoffs at one. Following No. 6 Indiana's 89-73 victory in Game 1, none of the subsequent games have been competitive. Game 3 of the series will take place in Indianapolis on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

Both coaches had more to say about the postseason phrase once the series shifted to a best-of-three format.

"There is no doubt that the physicality is out of control," Hammon stated. "You can grab and bump a wide receiver for the first five yards in the NFL, but you can do that for a full half court in the W." It should be an automatic foul if you put two hands on someone like that. They are able to roam about freely [to emphasize this]. Mobility freedom? Freedom does not exist. Furthermore, I'm not claiming that we're not fouling as well. That's not what I'm saying. It's out of control, I say.

Many of the league's coaches have said it at some point this season, notably Stephanie White of the Fever, during a heated game against Connecticut in June that resulted in a brawl. A month later, she mentioned physicality and range of motion as possible causes of Caitlin Clark's soft tissue injuries, which kept her from playing in more than 13 games during the season.

White noted her side didn't use any punches in the second game of the series to get back into a brawl, which was a direct echo of Hammon's remarks following Game 1. It appears that Indiana stayed out of the fray from her vantage point.

White remarked, "We have trouble finding flow when there is a foul call every ten seconds." We are unable to move around the floor when they are at the free-throw line, so it really is. And that is the difficulty. Their defensive tactics were far more violent and forceful.

After scoring 34 points in the opening game, guard Kelsey Mitchell scored 13 points on a 28.6% shooting percentage, but he didn't get much attention.

White remarked, "She's like a little pinball." "I feel like she's getting tagged everywhere sometimes, even though I know the museum is right down the street."

The Las Vegas Pinball Hall of Fame, ironically, has a section dedicated to "non-violent pinball arcade games that the whole family can enjoy."

There is broad agreement that, in order to improve the game going forward, the WNBA's officiating system needs to reform. The calling of fouls is variable. Players are hacked all the time. Coaches must employ challenges for simple and clear out-of-bounds calls.

Hammon had to use hers in a one-point game before the game had even lasted five minutes.

Hammon, who will undoubtedly face a fine from the league office in the days ahead, stated, "There are three of you; I shouldn't have to use a challenge on something that went off [a player's] head." That's frustrating, and I'm sure any coach would concur. It would not be ideal if Steph had to use her challenge inside the first five minutes, particularly on an out-of-bounds call, which is, in my opinion, the easiest play to execute correctly.

All of that is possible. However, there is also a conflict about sportsmanship between White and Hammon, two seasoned coaches who are aware that their remarks now may have an impact on the future.

When Hammon criticized the toughness in the Fever's series victory against Atlanta in the first round, she rang the bell early on Indiana. As she did in Game 1, she doesn't want to witness four-time MVP A'ja Wilson, who had the comeback performance everyone anticipated, take elbows to the face. When Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray are finding cutters and moving the ball, her offense performs at its peak.

It can be challenging when physicality is allowed to run wild.

White had grown weary of seeing Lexie Hull, who is all hustle, on the ground. Due to a back issue, Hull was placed on the availability list as questionable on Tuesday. Hull began and played the entire game with the kind of determination one would anticipate from her.

White stated prior to the game that "her first injury occurred the very first time she was run over, which was in the first quarter [of Game 1]." Additionally, she was hit hard. She received four or five fairly good hits during the game.

Despite Hammon and White's best efforts, the way the game is now officiated isn't going to change all that much. According to coaches, it's out of control for a large portion of the season. According to the players, physicality is even more relaxed during the postseason.

"The majority of my assistants are NBA veterans, and they say, 'This wouldn't work in the NBA,'" said Hammon. In the NBA, this degree of physicality would not be acceptable. Fights would break out. Fights would break out. There would be conflicts, but our well-behaved ladies can make it to the next play.

Now, the battle is less physical and more strategic.