lethalweapon3

Update: "Save Us... Spencer Dinwiddie!" ~lw3

51-45 Nets at the half. I'd much rather clinch it tomorrow on our own, but I also don't want players blowing a fuse trying to beat the desperate Cavs, either. Go Nets Go! edit: 82-75 Bulls to start the 4th. Probably time to cheer for the Wiz instead (eww), but we'll see. edit: Nets back in front w/ a minute to go in the game... DEFENSE! ~lw3

Correcting my earlier clinching-scenario statement, according to NBA.com... I'm not sure how the Bulls, by themselves, could clinch it for the Hawks (they would definitely be beyond Chicago's reach) by losing today, but we'll take it if it shakes out that way. FWIW, the Bulls are down 32-25 in the opening quarter in Brooklyn. Go Coach Kenny! ~lw3

An off-day for Hawks fans should allow a few more peepers directed Atlanta United's Way! The Five Stripes are up in Canada, and meet Toronto FC on the pitch tonight (7:30 PM Eastern, Fox Sports South). Toronto is undefeated, with one win and three draws (1-3-0) over four games, and they've allowed the fewest goals (2) among MLS sides. Only Tim Howard's Colorado Rapids have allowed fewer shots-on-goal per game so far. Striker Jozy Altidore leads Toronto with two goals and eight shots (four on-goal). ~lw3

2005 was the last time we had #31, when we "lost the lottery" to the Bucks (I REALLY wanted Bogut bad), but had the top pick in the 2nd round. ^We got ourselves this guy! Rise Up , Indeed! Players among the next ten picks we passed up on included Brandon Bass, C.J. Miles, Ronny Turiaf, Monta Ellis, and some dude from Turkey named Ersan Ilyasova. ~lw3

No more #31 Watch! Thanks to the Suns somehow tripping up the Fighting Westbrooks last night, Brooklyn secures the worst record in the league... (oh, NOW I see what Bud was trying to do the last two weeks!)... and not only does Boston have the top lottery odds, Atlanta gets the top pick in the second-round. Thanks to the Tiago deal, we get to bracket the whole second round with Pick #60 as well. On the playoffs front, the Wizards are still clinging to faint hopes of a #2 seed, so they need to keep playing well. If they take care of business tonight (7 PM Eastern), versus a heat team coming into town off a tough loss last night in Toronto, then Miami's loss clinches the playoffs for the boys in Georgia Granite Gray. If that happens, then the final three games will be all about playoff seeding, getting healthy, and screwing with Indiana and maybe Charlotte's playoff chances. ~lw3

Lakers win again! Live look in on the fanbase... ~lw3

What a difference a couple days make! Thanks to the Hawks stepping it up and the Raps tempering the heat, a tenth-consecutive trip to the Playoffs requires either of: (A) a Hawks victory in the last three games; or, (B) a heat defeat at the hands of either the Wizards or the Cavs. 9. Miami (ATL Magic Stiff-Arm Number 1) @ WAS, vs CLE, vs WAS 8. Indiana (ATL Magic Stiff-Arm Number 2) @ ORL, @ PHI, vs ATL 7. Chicago (ATL Magic Stiff-Arm Number 1) @ BKN, vs ORL, vs BKN 6. Milwaukee (ATL Magic Stiff-Arm Number 2) @ PHI, vs CHA, @ BOS ~lw3

I'm already looking forward to the 11 PM replay (Fox Sports Southeast) but what a relief, however momentary, for our play-by-play guys, Bawb 'n Holman. You could truly hear the relief in their voices tonight. ~lw3

I promise this happened: One of these creatures crossed my path on the way home (listening to 92.9 FM) as the final buzzer sounded. *file photo, not me holding it ~lw3

The Kids Are Alright! ~lw3

There you go. No letting up from Lue. ~lw3

Hey there, Atlanta, Milwaukee… I hear you guys are having a little trouble making the playoffs? My heart aches for you. Aches, I say! Facing the defending champ Cavaliers in Cleveland, our Atlanta Hawks might be pulling volunteers from the Quicken Loans Arena stands tonight (7:30 PM Eastern, Fox Sports Southeast and 92.9 FM in ATL, Fox Sports Ohio in CLE, NBATV elsewhere), to help make up for the many players who won’t be suiting up on the second half of a back-to-back. Usher, can you be True To Atlanta for just one night? The leading scorer and rebounder from last night’s bruising battle with Boston, Paul Millsap? Nope, he’ll rest that swollen knee some more. Kent Bazemore? No way, Mister Calderon, because Baze is healing up from a bruised knee. Thabo Sefolosha? Not a snowball’s chance in Cleveland. He’s just trying not to aggravate his troublesome groin while driving his new Brinks truck around town. The starting backcourt of Dennis Schröder and Tim Hardaway, Jr.? Ixnay on the laypay. Both guards are dealing with foot sprains, while THJ also has a bruised knee to boot. Thankfully, No Excuses Week is a thing of the past for the Hawks, because stealing a win tonight will be a tall order with Cleveland’s Big 3 active and likely to play. Beyond the usual suspects, Kyle Korver (NBA-leading 45.2 3FG%, 49.2% with the Cavs) has been recuperating from foot troubles and will grace us with his perimeter presence. Coach Tyronn Lue is aware that homecourt advantage for the Eastern Conference playoffs can be secured with consecutive wins over the Hawks, tonight and on Sunday back in Atlanta. T-Lue and the Cavs’ Big 3 understand that this is no time for the Cavs (51-27) to play down to their competition. Clevelan Rocks! Clevelan Rocks! Even famous native Rew Carey must have been alarmed by the lack of D exhibited by the Cavs recently. The defending champs were a horrific (for them) 7-10 in the month of March, their defensive rating for the month (113.1) better than only the Lakers in the entire league. Because of that, their net rating of -2.9 for March was not all that distinguishable from the Hawks’ -3.0, and we all know how bad Atlanta has been. To keep from going out like a lamb, the Cavs have turned things around to an extent over the past week, best exhibited by their 114-91 curb-stomping of the Celtics in Boston on Wednesday. But they’ve generally been winning games only by piling up ungodly amounts of points. On the season, Cleveland forces very few turnovers (11.5 opponent TO%, 29th in NBA) and seem more focused on getting the ball back to their stars on offense than on keeping opponents’ balls from finding their way into the net (45.7 opponent FG%, a pedestrian 15th in NBA). Despite Kyrie’s 43 and LeBron’s 38, the Cavs had to withstand a 42-point barrage from the Hawks just to prevail by five points in Atlanta back on March 3 (they surely will not miss seeing THJ, or a repeat 36-point performance from him, tonight). That same 135-130 outcome was replicated in a double-OT win over the Pacers last Sunday. All of LeBron’s 16 fourth-quarter points were needed to keep Indiana from stealing a victory after falling behind by 14 in the final quarter of regulation. Coach Mike Budenholzer’s shuffled lineup hasn’t been announced yet, but it’s likely we will see a lot more of Taurean Prince (career-high 20 points, plus 7 rebounds in 41 minutes vs. BOS) and Jose Calderon, plus former Cav Mike Dunleavy, Jr, at the outset. Rookies DeAndre’ Bembry and Malcolm Delaney are in line to get a sudden boost in floortime as well. Kris Humphries will be needed to shore up the frontline behind Howard and Ersan Ilyasova, and perhaps a cameo appearance from 15th Man Ryan Kelly could even be in the offing. This game will remain competitive for Atlanta (40-38) for only so long as as Howard can remain on the floor, without foul trouble, and exploit a Cavaliers team that has struggled to protect the rim, all the more without Tristan Thompson (sprained thumb) around. If Channing Frye struggles to hold down the pivot spot defensively, Lue may have no choice but to turn to a very green Larry Sanders to be a difference-maker tonight. The Hawks on the floor can help their center out not only by avoiding unforced errors, and getting back in transition, but by not straying from their man to help the former 3-time Defensive Player of the Year and 5-time All-Defensive Team member police the paint. That includes Ilyasova, who is normally an opponent-turnover sponge on the inside but will have to get out to defend Love, Frye, and occasionally James, keeping Cleveland’s bigs cool from outside. What about when James and Irving spring free of their man, and come barreling toward the rim in search of some highlight plays? So what? That’s just two points, if we don’t exacerbate the situation with fouls. The key for the Hawks is to avoid being exposed for open catch-and-shoot three-pointers by pretty much any Cavalier. They could even catch Cleveland when they’re at their most smug by getting the ball down the court for quick transition scores. The flashy dunks and dribbles from LeBron and Kyrie Irving are just a mirage for a Cleveland team that ranks second in three-point attempt rate (39.7% of all FGs taken from downtown) and accuracy (38.7 team 3FG%). Their teams’ 8 most-frequent three-point makers hit threes at a minimum 36 percent clip. The Hawks will likely struggle to get a leg up on LeBron and Company through 48 minutes, but that is no reason not to keep a hand up on their Cav-alcade of jumpshooters. Let’s Go Hawks! ~lw3 View full record

It's the Aughts (as per the Drexel Institute of Linguistics). With "aught" pronounced as in, "For $26.5 million, Al aught to be more than a J.A.G." Not "outs", as in, "If I boxed out like Al does, I'd be on the outs." ~lw3

Nothing Easy, but a minor achievement for the Hawks tonight included clinching their 10th consecutive season with a winning HOME record. Last time they were sub-.500 at the Highlight Factory was in 2006-07 (18-23), also the last time Atlanta fell short of the playoffs. The Hawks began their first 7 seasons in Atlanta with winning home records (1968-69 to 1974-75). Their longest streak of winning seasons at home (in Atlanta) is 15 (1985-86 to 1999-2000). ~lw3

Making His Story... I suppose all the steals made it unique. ~lw3

Revised Magic Stiff-Arm Digits... ta-ta, Charlotte and Detroit! Playoff hopes hang by a thread for each of them, but they can't overtake the Hawks anymore. It's still all up to Miami to make this clinching thing tougher on the Hawks going forward. No help from Philly or the Bucks tonight with the Bulls and Pacers, respectively. Milwaukee moves into these listings since they're back below the Hawks for the moment. (hunch losses in BOLD) 9. Miami (ATL Magic Stiff-Arm Number 3) @ TOR, @ WAS, vs CLE, vs WAS 8. Indiana (ATL Magic Stiff-Arm Number 3) @ ORL, @ PHI, vs ATL 7. Chicago (ATL Magic Stiff-Arm Number 2) @ BKN, vs ORL, vs BKN 6. Milwaukee (ATL Magic Stiff-Arm Number 3) @ PHI, vs CHA, @ BOS ~lw3

27 minutes 1-for-8 FGs incl. 0-for-2 on threes 5 rebounds 3 assists 1 block... Claptastic! ~lw3

It’s Time for yet another trip to the Second Round for Isaiah! Right, SLAM??? Welp, No Excuses Weekend didn’t turn out so hot. Still, because Atlanta Hawks fans live such a charmed existence, our Fine Feathered Friends have plummeted from fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings all the way down to sixth place. And that leads us to Spoiler Days! Kicking off against an even more charmed NBA team, the Boston Celtics (8:00 PM Eastern, 92.9 FM in ATL, TNT), the Hawks are presented with prime opportunities to stick flies in the ointments of several teams, and not just the ones they’re playing. The Hawks’ next three games are versus two teams fighting for the top spot in the conference. The Celtics flew into town feeling quite ornery after getting blasted last night at home, 114-91, by the Cavaliers, who reclaimed the #1 seed and await Atlanta’s arrival tomorrow. Neither opponent wants to look back on the Hawks (39-38) as the team that kept them from securing homecourt advantage. Should we be so fortunate as to enjoy another win at any point this month, the Hawks’ next win would formally put the Charlotte Hornets and Detroit Pistons, both losers at home last night, in Atlanta’s rearview mirror. A single Hawks victory would also leave it to any of the next three teams below them in the standings (Chicago, Miami, Indiana, all at 38-40) to not lose three of their final four contests, the heat’s closing schedule (Toronto, Washington twice, Cleveland) looking the most suspect. “We are going to make the playoffs,” insists Hawks floor corporal Dennis Schröder, evidently unfamiliar with a past ownership regime’s checkered history when it comes to brash postseason declarations. Yet the adage doesn’t go, “If you want to get the job done, you have to hope others will do it for you.” Yes, this team has barely been able to skate by the depleted Suns and 76ers in recent weeks, and they have blessed the last-place Nets with a pair of wins in the past two weeks. But with the downturn in the season, the Hawks now have the look and feel of an eliminated 13-seed. During Spoiler Days, that’s good news. Bowing out of the postseason chase hasn’t stopped the Knicks from tripping up the playoff-hungry Pistons, heat, and Bulls in recent days. The Sixers put it to both Chicago and Boston, and even the Magic smashed the whiteboard on the Pistons’ heads just weeks ago, each lottery-bound club making playoff-clinching just a little bit easier for Atlanta. Despite at least three key Hawks (the rusty Paul Millsap, Junior Hardaway, and Kent Bazemore) playing through nagging injuries under closely-monitored minutes, Atlanta returns to the Highlight Factory rested and in position to put other teams in a sour mood, for a change. They can work toward clinching a playoff seed, and simultaneously screw with the desired seeds of others. Tonight, they can also plant a seed into the minds of the Celtics, one that suggests they won’t want the course toward the Eastern Conference Finals to have to come back through the ATL. To that end, a quick flashback. “After he led the Celtics to the second round, the so-called doubters have been very quiet regarding this 5-9 PG.” No, these aren’t tweets from the future, that was SLAM Magazine’s momentary lede for Isaiah Thomas’ entry into the #SLAMTop50 preseason player rankings, an October 2016 entry scripted by a diehard Celtics fan that should have known better. Fake News! But for a certain Squawker’s relentless nagging, that Alternative Fact would have gone unchallenged and uncorrected, if only because it “felt right” to the larger populace (Edited to… “After he led the Celtics to a 48-win season…” Wow, that sure silenced those haters!). Months later, SLAM is hoping to redeem itself by plastering Thomas, a player with a 2-8 postseason record over two of his six NBA seasons, on the new Playoff Preview cover of their rag. Seven years prior, the magazine breathlessly pinned their hopes on another high-scoring playoff newcomer. “BREAKOUT: Brandon Jennings Rocks the NBA”. Well, to an extent: the rookie’s Bucks rocked the Hawks in three unwatchable games during a first-round series, before bidding adieu in the pivotal Game 7. Now in 2017, Jennings’ next real chance of winning his first playoff game since that 2010 series needs to occur while hiding behind John Wall. Thomas can only hope his cover modeling doesn’t go the way of Jeff Francoeur or the Upton Boys. But that’s part of the reason he wooed Al Horford to Beantown in the first place. His whole idea was, “If You Can’t Beat ‘Em, Poach ‘Em!” But with first place in the East on the line at TD Garden, the center endowed with the second-highest salary in the NBA could only muster six shots, seven rebounds, and three dimes over the course of 27 minutes last night. Another first-round exit, this time as a favored seed, could have I.T. pondering just how long he and Al Green should stay together. The TNT studio crew will spend ample time yapping about the Celtics’ ascension toward the top of the East, a couple minutes about last night’s loss, maybe a minute dismissing the Hawks for their lackluster efforts, and not a nanosecond about what transpired the last time these two teams faced off. Combining a balanced offensive attack with decent perimeter D (the Celts shooting 29.4 3FG%) and a smothering rebounding advantage, the Hawks shot just 6-for-25 on threes in Boston yet still cruised to a 114-98 victory back on February 27. Atlanta pounded Boston 60-34 in the paint, and was 40-for-70 on all shots inside the 3-point-arc, compared to the Men in Green’s 24-for-53. Millsap (8 first-quarter rebounds, 10 third-quarter points) and Howard (9 second-quarter points) encountered little resistance collecting double-doubles in that game (much like LeBron and Kevin Love yesterday), and Atlanta managed to coast from midway through the third period on without their starting center. Dwight got the heave-ho from the zebras after collecting two petty technical fouls, one drawn thanks to Al’s fake-tough-guy dramatics, another from trying to collect the rim as a souvenir after an easy dunk. Getting next-to-no help from Horf (3-for-9 FGs, incl 0-for-4 on threes, six rebounds, five assists), Thomas (4-for-21 FGs vs. ATL on Feb. 27) needed about half of his 17 misses to fall, just to keep his team in the running. His Hawks adversary, Schröder (9-for-11 2FGs @ BOS on Feb. 27) amassed just two turnovers in nearly 30 minutes while leading the Hawks with 21 points. Thanks to ball control and transition offense, the Hawks’ 25-11 scoring advantage off turnovers was the key difference in that game. Avery Bradley (1.3 SPG) hopes to tip the turnover game back in his team’s favor. He had just returned to face the Hawks after missing over a quarter of the season with an Achilles injury, and was minutes-restricted to less than one half of play. Serving doubly as the C’s second-leading scorer (16.4 PPG, 39.8 3FG%) and top perimeter defender (Marcus Smart’s flopping shenanigans notwithstanding), there’s little doubt that Bradley is the secret to the Celtics’ sauce. Along with Smart, he’ll be tasked with forcing Schröder and Hardaway (who joined Howard with 5 TOs apiece during Sunday’s 91-82 loss in Brooklyn) into uncomfortable shots and fruitless drives. On offense, Thomas will look to Bradley often to help bounce back from Thursday night’s loss, Bradley having shot just 1-for-8 from the field against the Cavs; Jae Crowder, Horford and Gerald Green to a lesser extent. Back in that February 27 game, Atlanta cruised in the final frame thanks to solid wing play, specifically from Bazemore (9 fourth-quarter points) and Taurean Prince (5 fourth-quarter rebounds). Despite falling behind by double digits, Boston was unable to take more than three three-point shots in the fourth, not even making one until 28 seconds remained in the game with the Hawks up by 19. Atlanta has only scored 114 points once since beating the Celtics; coincidentally, it was during a 135-130 home loss to Cleveland, back on March 3. Even if the iron remains unkind, the Hawks must again maximize their chances against an opportunistic Celtics club. In addition to Schröder and the Hawks’ ballhandlers not forcing plays that aren’t there, and Howard dominating the vacuum around the boards, that means staying tight defensively on any Celtics camping out along the perimeter, goading Thomas (31.0 FG% vs. ATL) into premature heroball jumpers, and guards helping the bigs seal off the paint only after shots go up. The inability for Celtic wings and point guards to help secure rebounds and second-chances puts pressure on Horford to play like the All-Star talent he’s paid to be. April 2016: “Horford, as much as you think he’s a great player, he’s not a great player,” says Celtics blowhard legend Tommy Heinsohn. April 2017: Al receives the Red Auerbach Award, bestowed upon the player who “best exemplifies the spirit of what it means to be a Celtic.” Tonight, and perhaps in a couple weeks, the Hawks could find themselves a perfect situation to demonstrate just how true that statement is. Let’s Go Hawks! ~lw3 View full record

Magic Stiff-Arm Number Updates! Looks to me like it's all up to Miami now. 11. Detroit (ATL Magic Stiff-Arm Number 1) @ HOU, @ MEM, vs WAS, @ ORL 10. Charlotte (ATL Magic Stiff-Arm Number 1) vs BOS, @ MIL, @ ATL 9. Indiana (ATL Magic Stiff-Arm Number 4) vs MIL, @ ORL, @ PHI, vs ATL 8. Miami (ATL Magic Stiff-Arm Number 4) @ TOR, @ WAS, vs CLE, vs WAS 7. Chicago (ATL Magic Stiff-Arm Number 3) @ PHI, @ BKN, vs ORL, vs BKN ~lw3

"Don't Look Now" sounds like the Hawks' new slogan! Looking at the teams currently below us, tonight's heat-Hornets battle will be pivotal. The winner is probably the biggest threat to eking past the Hawks should it come to that, while the loser would almost have to run the proverbial table. I'll be pulling for the heat to get 'er done tonight on the road, since their subsequent schedule is more arduous on paper. (remaining games; Magic Stiff-Arm Number represents # of Hawks wins and/or opponent Ls for Atlanta to finish in front; hunch assumptions on upcoming losses in BOLD) 11. Detroit (ATL Magic Stiff-Arm Number 2) vs TOR, @ HOU, @ MEM, vs WAS, @ ORL 10. Charlotte (ATL Magic Stiff-Arm Number 2) vs MIA, vs BOS, @ MIL, @ ATL 9. Miami (ATL Magic Stiff-Arm Number 4) @ CHA, @ TOR, @ WAS, vs CLE, vs WAS 8. Indiana (ATL Magic Stiff-Arm Number 4) vs MIL, @ ORL, @ PHI, vs ATL 7. Chicago (ATL Magic Stiff-Arm Number 3) @ PHI, @ BKN, vs ORL, vs BKN ~lw3

Say, does somebody feel a Draft? The WNBA Draft is right around the corner (April 13 at 7:00 PM Eastern, first-round on ESPN2, latter rounds on ESPN U). With a few early-entry candidates exploring the lay of the land and electing to stick around for their senior seasons, 2017 is not going to be a terribly deep draft, talent-wise (set your calendar, though, because 2018 will be bonkers). But there are plenty of players that can contribute off the bench in the near-term, and the Atlanta Dream have an opportunity to strategically improve their depth in at least one position on the floor, if not more. Waiting in the Angel Wings? – As we know, there will likely be no Angel McCoughtry suiting up in the baby-blue-and-red this season. Following in the footsteps of standout players like Diana Taurasi and Candace Parker, the WNBA superstar plans to take off a full year, getting some well-deserved rest and recuperating from the wear-and-tear of year-round high-level hoops (she’s finishing up her play in Russia this month). Bria Holmes, who emerged late last season as a reliable rookie during Atlanta’s playoff run, is most likely to get the lion’s share of Angel’s minutes. Additionally, Damiris Dantas should be primed to make major contributions, after being suspended for all of 2016 so she could play exclusively in Brazil. If veteran Matee Ajavon makes the opening-day roster, the small forward spot is fairly set. If not, then a second- or third-round selection might be able to fill out the final spot, at least on a short-term basis. Late-round forward options where Atlanta picks (19th overall in the second round, 31st in the third round) include Norcross’ Shayla Cooper (Ohio State), along with Drake power forward Lizzy Wendell and Jessica Jackson of Arkansas. Each can stretch the floor with midrange shots, although Shayla’s emotional flameouts when times get tough could remind many fans of McCoughtry and Tiffany Hayes at their worst. If the Dream goes this route, this should be a selection that helps fill scoring and rebounding gaps this year, and gets developed to become a key sixth-woman for 2018, when McCoughtry returns. A Lyttle heir apparent? – As far as we can tell, Sancho Lyttle will return from Europe and serve as a defensive anchor for a Dream team that sorely needs to create stops inside, especially without all-world defender Angel in the picture. However, Lyttle is in her 30s and hasn’t played a full WNBA season, due to injuries and/or international commitments, in some time. Unsatisfied with Reshanda Gray at power forward, the Dream parted ways in the offseason and brought back Aneika Morello (née Henry). But the latter struggled mightily last season with the Connecticut Sun. Dantas can play the stretch-four role, but another backup at either the 3- or 4-spot would be helpful. To acquire a future star that waits in the wings until Lyttle is either traded or her contract runs out, means using the first-round pick (7th) on a blue-chip prospect. Northwestern’s Nia Coffey is probably the top player for the 4-spot coming into the draft. Super-sized pick-and-popper Chantel Osahor, also by far the NCAA’s leading rebounder, helped all-time NCAA scorer Kelsey Plum (probable #1 overall pick, by San Antonio) carry Washington deep into the past two NCAA tourneys, and is rising up draft boards. But neither would likely be the “best player available” where the Dream sit, so a trade-down deal may be possible to acquire their services. Shoot… we need Shooters! – You’ve tired of the Dream being among the league’s worst perimeter-shooting teams, pretty much since their inception. Hayes brings a lot of fire to the floor, but not much firepower for a 2-guard along the three-point arc. The sometimes-hot, often-cold Meighan Simmons was brought back in free agency, but there remains a sense that the solution to Atlanta’s longstanding woes will have to come from, um, outside. Maryland’s Shatori Walker-Kimbrough has the range to boost Atlanta’s jumpshot game, and the build to avoid being a defensive liability on the floor, unlike many hot-shooting collegiate wings. Oregon State’s Sydney Wiese might be a reach as a middle-first-rounder, but is unlikely to fall to Atlanta at #19. If the Dream have any interest in SWK or Wiese, they’ll want to swing a trade-up deal to get them. Gawd save Queen Elizabeth! – Reigning Most Improved Player awardee Elizabeth Williams won’t be a repeat winner, not unless coach Michael Cooper can figure out a way to double her already league-high floortime. Re-signed on a training camp contract, Markeisha Gatling served well as a stopgap in the back half of last season, but her size can make it tough on Atlanta to live up to their “Run With The Dream” motto. Gatling will compete for a spot on the 12-woman roster with Morello and second-year pivot Rachel Hollivay. But if Atlanta can have a top-notch young center fall to them at #7, they may leap at the chance to upgrade behind Williams, or even supplant her over time as the team’s steady starter at the 5-spot. The qualifiers for such an upgrade would include Maryland’s Brionna Jones and South Carolina’s Alaina Coates, the latter missing the Gamecocks’ NCAA championship run due to an ankle injury sustained during the SEC tourney. What’s the Point? – There are only 12 starting point guard spots, and of those, Layshia Clarendon has the least-flashy resume among the group. Still, she established herself well enough to earn the starting nod at least for this upcoming season. But what about beyond 2017? The sole external free agent brought in with a guaranteed deal was Brianna Kiesel. But the third-year guard couldn’t stand out in Tulsa/Dallas, and was waived in mid-season last year. Any opportunities to use a late-round flier on a guard that could compete with Kiesel for the backup position would be helpful. Notre Dame’s Lindsay Allen lugged the Irish into the Elite Eight and should be available where the Dream pick in the second round. Allen finished second in the NCAA with a sterling 3.57 assist/turnover ratio. If they wish to use a first-round pick on a short-term apprentice, either of Alexis Jones (Baylor) or Alexis Peterson (Syracuse) is likely to fall to them. Despite being a bit diminutive at 5-foot-7, Peterson finished top-12 in Division I for both scoring and assists. WNBA First Round Draft Order (as of 4/4/2017, subject to change): 1. San Antonio Stars 2. Chicago Sky (from Washington) 3. Dallas Wings 4. Dallas (from Los Angeles, via Connecticut) 5. San Antonio (from Phoenix) 6. Washington Mystics (from Seattle) 7. ATLANTA DREAM 8. Connecticut Sun (from Indiana) 9. Chicago Sky 10. Dallas (from New York) 11. Los Angeles Sparks (returned back from Dallas) 12. Minnesota Lynx Top Players Available: (** edited to include Early-Entry Players) PG: Kelsey Plum (5'8", Washington), Alexis Jones (5'9", Baylor), Alexis Peterson (5'7", Syracuse), Lindsay Allen (5'8", Notre Dame), Leticia Romero (5'8", Florida State) SG: Shatori Walker-Kimbrough (5'11", Maryland), **Allisha Gray (6'0", South Carolina, Washington County GA HS), ** Kaela Davis (6'2", South Carolina, Georgia Tech transfer, Buford HS, Antonio's daughter), Sydney Wiese (6'1", Oregon State), Alexis Prince (6'2", Baylor), Makayla Epps (5'10", Kentucky), Tori Jankoska (5'8", Michigan State), Adrienne Motley (5'9", Miami), Brittney Sykes (5'9", Syracuse), Saniya Chong (5'8", Connecticut) SF: Nina Davis (5'11", Baylor), Ronni Williams (6'0", Florida), Lizzy Wendell (6'0", Drake), Jennie Simms (6'0", Old Dominion) PF: Nia Coffey (6'1", Northwestern), Chantel Osahor (6'2", Washington), Jessica Jackson (6'3", Arkansas), Shayla Cooper (6'2", Ohio State, Norcross HS), Hannah Little (6'1", Oakland) C: Alaina Coates (6'4", South Carolina), Brionna Jones (6'3", Maryland), Erica McCall (6'3", Stanford), Evelyn Akhator (6'3", Kentucky), Breanna Lewis (6'5", Kansas State), Tearra Banks (6'2", Austin Peay) ~lw3

N.E.W. injury updates... ~lw3

One additional "strategery" note... You know how we love our second-round picks. While the Celts get Brooklyn's lotto pick, we get to swoop in on the Nets' top second-rounder, All Praise Due to Joe Johnson. A loss for Brooklyn today drops the Hawks' Magic Number to 2 for clinching the #31 pick this June. Incidentally, we're in a race for the top second-rounder with Orlando, who gets the Lakers' pick thanks to the 2012 Dwight Howard deal. ~lw3

Next-to-last place... but I'll hand myself the Nice Try Award! I did pick a WCC team and a ACC team for the Championship game! So, who cares that it was St. Mary's and Louisville? :-) @turnermx, our March Madness champ, picked a way better pair, though! His picks, the top-seeded Zags and Heels, play on Monday! ~lw3