Peachtree Hoops: Run With The Dream, Weekly Recap: Atlanta Still Struggling To Find Continuity

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Standings

2011 REGULAR SEASON CONFERENCE STANDINGS EAST CONFERENCE W L PCT GB CONF HOME ROAD L 10 STREAK Indiana1 6 3 0.667 0.0 4-1 3-1 3-2 6-3 W 3 Connecticut2 4 3 0.571 1.0 3-3 3-0 1-3 4-3 L 2 Chicago3 4 4 0.500 1.5 4-3 3-1 1-3 4-4 L 1 New York4 4 4 0.500 1.5 2-3 1-2 3-2 4-4 W 2 Washington5 2 5 0.286 3.0 1-4 1-3 1-2 2-5 W 1 Atlanta6 2 7 0.222 4.0 2-2 1-5 1-2 2-7 L 2

After going 1-2 this week to fall to 2-7 on the season, the Atlanta Dream find themselves looking up at the rest of the Eastern Conference from the basement floor. The good news is that Atlanta is still just four games behind Indiana for first place in the conference and have only had all of their regular players on the court twice this season. 

Over the course of the season, Atlanta has struggled in nearly every facet of the game. Consider that Atlanta is dead last in the league in field goal percentage shooting just under 40 percent as a team. Consequently their opponents are shooting over 45 percent from the field which is a recipe for disaster. 

The Dream have also suffered through bad third quarters in many of their games. Just this week, bad quarters coming out of halftime enabled the Sky to overcome an early deficit and Phoenix to turn a lead into a commanding lead. 

Perhaps Atlanta can take some positives out of Sunday's loss to the Western Conference leading San Antonio Silver Stars. Early on the Dream played much better defense and their rebounding ignited their fast break which is when they are at their best. Atlanta took a 78-71 lead midway through the fourth quarter before letting it slip away as the Silver Stars went on a late run. 

Atlanta will host the New York Liberty on Thursday. That game could be important as Atlanta does not want to dig itself too deep of a hole to begin the season. Sancho Lyttle will return to the team soon but she will not fix everything that has plagued the team. Four of the six teams in the Eastern Conference will make the playoffs and to be one of those teams, Atlanta needs to string together some wins soon to begin climbing the standings. 

 

Tuesday, June 21

Atlanta Dream 71, Chicago Sky 68

Swish Appeal Recap

Friday, June 24

Phoenix Mercury 92, Atlanta Dream 83

Sunday, June 26

San Antonio Silver Stars 92, Atlanta Dream 86

SB Nation Atlanta Recap

Upcoming Schedule

Thursday, June 30 Vs. New York Liberty 7:30 p.m. SportSouth

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