2015 Atlanta Dream and WNBA Previews

[Randy]

We had a pregame STH party yesterday and Taylor said that Sancho was on a 6-8 week schedule, and was 3.5 weeks in - possible return date as early as Aug 16.  (Dream v. the Sun that day.)  She is still saying playoffs are the goal (what else could she say?)  Next game after that would be Aug. 21.  She did say Burdick was out the for season.  

 

She did talk about trading Erika - Chicago first brought it up in April.  With Erika's numbers dropping and the possibility she might not come back next year due to Olympics and she a Free Agent - so decided it was time to make the deal.  

 

It was a good game - had we not spotted the Mercury 18 points in the first half I think we could have won it.  We almost did anyway.  Henry did a good job on Griner, though Griner was probably off anyway.  On the defensive end - Griner made life really difficult inside.  But, despite not hitting from outside much, we still were in it.

 

As for playoffs - looks now like Indiana and Chicago are the main competition - Indy is  already 4.5 games ahead, playing quite now and finally have most players healthy.  We play them next.  Chicago is 5 games ahead.  They play each other this week so one of them has to lose, but a loss against Indy would be a pretty big blow to playoff hopes.  Too early for magic numbers and all that, but its an important week.

[Randy]

And hits just keep on coming.  That was a disaster.  To make matters worse, my dear old 89 year old Mom (lives in the Indy area) called to trash talk me before the game......

[Gray Mule]

Well, Dreams don't come true any more without Sancho, do they!

Hope your mama enjoyed the game.

 

[Randy]

Something strange going on.  

 

 

"Cortijo alleged that Puerto Rican basketball federation's president Carlos Beltrán denied her an opportunity to play for the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)'s Atlanta Dream in order for her to participate with the Puerto Rican women's national basketball team on the 2015 Edmonton, Canada Women's Pre-Olympic qualifying tournament.[6]

The Atlanta Dream, however, sent a letter denying they had actually spoken to Cortijo about signing her.[7]"

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carla_Cortijo

 

I guess the point is that they seem to have an open roster spot so a move might be made.  Trade deadline in Aug. 13, so watch the next few days - something may happen. (Or not.  But they can't be encouraged by how things are going with this current roster.)

 

This explains it better -translate to English.

http://espndeportes.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/2441708/atlanta-dream-desmiente-a-cortijo

Edited August 8, 2015 by Randy

[Randy]

WE WON!!!!  Tulsa is offically now the worst team in the WNBA (since Seattle and San Antonio just beat us.)

 

Great game by Dantas!    And Milton Jones just set a hard pick on Father time and sent him to the floor.  (I'm sure he'll be back on his feet soon enough.)

Edited August 10, 2015 by Randy

[Gray Mule]

A win is a win is a win!  We'll take this one.  Finally!

 

This is becoming like the Hawks 13 win season.  Every victory is

celebrated and cherished because they are so few.

 

GO DREAM !!

[Randy]

Carla Cortijo has now been approved to play in the WNBA by the Puerto Rican basketball brass.  So, it is reported Milton Jones is on a 7 day that expires before the next game (not to mention Carter has not exactly been killing it).  Might explain DMJ's resurgence yesterday. So connecting the dots - we might see another PG on the Dream squad.  Oh, and Friday is Hispanic Heritage night.....

Edited August 10, 2015 by Randy

[lethalweapon3]

So, how about those new WNBA lottery ball rules?

 

http://www.todaysfastbreak.com/wnba/how-the-new-wnba-draft-lottery-system-will-work/

 

Another tough break for the Dream, although I do like the idea (fwd: NBA, NFL) of basing it on two seasons instead of one.

 

IIRC, wasn't the lottery itself instituted the year the Dream was all set to get Candace Parker, after their first season? 

 

EDIT: all praise due to Wikipedia. The 2006 lottery (Lindsey Harding's) bounced the ping pong balls to set only the top two slots among six non-playoff teams. The 2007 lottery (Candace Parker's, and Atlanta's first as an expansion team) set the positions for all six teams.

 

I just remember the Dream owners at the time were LiveIt livid over the change that didn't literally hand an expansion team the top pick, and the Sparks were being "rewarded" for a down season due to Lisa Leslie's pregnancy.

 

Atlanta wound up with the 4th pick, and top-pick Parker won RoY and MVP the following season. The second-pick went to Chicago, who got Sylvia Fowles.

 

~lw3

Edited August 12, 2015 by lethalweapon3

[Randy]

As I understand it, the original Dream owner wanted to be awarded the No. 1 pick in the as part of his deal for buying an expansion team, but either he didn't drive a hard enough bargain, or it was never going to happen.  So the Dream ended up with the No. 8 pick in that draft.  They picked Tamera Young, now with the Sky.  They did, of course, get the No. 1 pick the following year and got Angel.  

 

I think the new lottery rules were known for a while - they were reported on Rebkell, a few months ago.  He's a very credible source, but he never mentioned it again - so maybe he let something slip.  The way I have it figured the new rule probably lowers the Dream's chance of getting No. 1 from about 17% to about 10%, since they probably would have a hard time "catching" San Antonio or Seattle in the loss column (but who knows) and probably won't catch another east team in the win column.  Either No. 1 (Stewart) or No 2. (Jefferson?) would be great additions, but I don't know much about who would come after that.  The biggest screw job might be that the Dream may have no chance of getting No. 3, since the worst team (probably Seattle) is guaranteed no worse than 3 and if 1 and 2 go as per the odds, then 3 and 4 go by the 2 year record. (I think - its all pretty vague.)  BTW - Seattle has now won 6 games, but 4 came against the Sparks, so they probably won't be getting many more of those.  They are not very good against any other team.

 

The new rule may "help" the Dream in the following (2017) draft if we have the misfortune of getting into the lottery two years in a row.   

[lethalweapon3]

While Harry Douglas makes his return to the ATL with the Titans at the Georgia Dome, a more significant homecoming will be taking place down the street. Maya Moore will continue her MVP run with the Minnesota Lynx tonight at the Highlight Factory (7:30 PM Eastern, SportSouth, FoxSports North). To keep the pride of Gwinnett County from going for 60, Michael Cooper may have to put Angel McCoughtry (19.7 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.9 SPG, 36 3FG%) on Moore (20.9 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.8 SPG, 36 3FG%) for the balance of the night.

 

The first-place Lynx (17-6) obviously have already clinched a playoff spot, but can't afford any slipups with the Phoenix Mercury (2 GB) right on their heels in the West. Second place is likely to result in a first-round matchup with the rested Candace Parker and the recovering L.A. Sparks, while finishing first will mean the first round opponent will likely be either the freefalling Texahoma Shock, Seattle or San Antonio.

 

Seimone Augustus has been out since knee surgery last month, and the Lynx have turned to new-arrival center Sylvia Fowles and guard Ana Cruz to carry the load. Big Syl's 16 points helped the Lynx bounce back after a poor first half at home to top the Stars on Tuesday.

 

Acquired by Atlanta by way of that Fowles 3-way trade, former Lynx big Damiris Dantas (10.2 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 1.0 BPG) has accorded herself well through five starts with the Dream, including 18 points on 7-for-15 shooting to help Atlanta (8-14) fend off the Shock in Tulsa. Dantas went 4-for-5 on her shots (including a three-pointer) in Minnesota a couple weeks ago. She's also sunk 13 of her 14 free throws, something her fellow Brazilian Erika DeSouza (now with Chicago, 46.4 FT% on the season) has not done lately. To keep the Dream competitive tonight, Dantas has to remain active on the defensive boards, holding off Fowles, Moore, and Rebekkah Brunson, and she must avoid turning the ball over (5 TOs in 24 minutes of last week's blowout loss to Indiana).

 

Let's Go Dream!

 

~lw3 

Edited August 14, 2015 by lethalweapon3

[Randy]

Great analysis lw3,  Hopefully this game goes better than the last one against the Lynx.    

[Randy]

BTW - playoff considerations are starting to be important.  Indy, Chicago and DC are all in a virtual tie 2.5 games back of the NY.  We are 7.5 back, or 5 out of the playoffs with 12 games left.  Sky play Seattle tonight so they have an easier matchup than us.  I think the only real hope for the Dream is that one of the 3 teams falls off completely, which seems a bit unlikely.

Edited August 14, 2015 by Randy

[Randy]

Pretty sure we are getting close to our "Wait till next year" moment.  It was good to see Sancho back.  Shoni had her best game of the year.   Angel was pretty awesome, though it took her a lot of shots.  I wonder if Cooper is thinking that putting Shoni and Angel in the backcourt and starting 3 powers is now a good idea?  

 

Tomorrow is SUNday.  We might be in good shape to get win due to their injuries (A. Thomas and Liz Williams out), though we have a really thin guard corps if Hayes and Hodges can't play. 

[lethalweapon3]

At the risk of jinxing... did Angela Taylor win a trade?

 

Another nice outing for Reshanda Gray (18 points in 19 minutes, and all over the floor), to help Atlanta turn the tables on the Sun today. Also, Matee Ajavon has earned a week free of criticism.

 

~lw3

[Randy]

I was sitting there for the first 25 minutes or so of the game thinking "We have no offense whatsoever."  Suddenly things changed and we got the win.  I thought Ajavon and Gray were the keys.

 

I feel the same way about the trade - too early to tell, but both Gray and Dantas have had some good games - they are both doing better than Erika is in Chicago.  Not sure how much we will get of Dantas in the "Blame it on Rio" season next year, but she looks like she will become a solid starter.  Gray is a bit harder to figure out. She looks sort of clumsy, but strong as bull.  She was thought to be a mid first round draft pick, but fell in the draft, I guess, because she fouled too much in college.  She could get a lot of playing time next year when Dantas is gone.  If she can get a good job overseas this year (guessing it will be in Brazil) and develop some she could be a steal.  Taylor has stepped up her trading - now she needs to do the same with her drafting.  We have 4 picks in what will probably be the first 16 or so - so there's a great opportunity.

[Gray Mule]

Sancho is back!  Dream win!

 

Like peaches and cream, these two go together!

 

Defense.  That was the difference maker.  Dream gave up a pot full of 3's

but otherwise, things were great!

 

[Randy]

New York tonight.  Our Tragic Number is down to 5 against the Sky, Fever and Mystics (ignoring tie breakers).  Indy plays Seattle and Sky plays DC, so Indy should win and one of the Sky/Mystics has to win.  NY has always been a tough win for us, though we did beat them last time out on the strength of some out of character 3 point shooting.  We need it again tonight and we need one of the Sky, Fever or Mystics to go on a losing streak.  

Edited August 21, 2015 by Randy

[lethalweapon3]

No local TV today, but the Dream will try not to be screaming Uncle in Uncasville once again as they face the Sun this evening (6:30 PM Eastern). After a second-half collapse in New York on Friday night, Atlanta (9-16) is in full spoiler-mode and hopes to avoid a repeat performance, this time against a hobbling Sun squad that's sliding out of the playoff race after having dropped three straight.

 

Connecticut (12-13, 4-11 versus the East) is already without rookie pivot Liz WIlliams (knee) and forward Alyssa Thomas (shoulder), and now may have to do without their top scoring guard, Alex Bentley. The former Dream rookie who led the East in scoring during the All-Star Game, Bentley sprained her ankle in the first quarter at Tulsa on Friday, and the Sun could not fend off the suddenly-surging Shock in overtime.

 

Sharp-shooting Shekinna Stricklen forced OT in that game and will pick up the scoring slack if Bentley cannot go. So will another former Dream player, forward Jennifer Lacy, who tallied a career-high with 21 points in Atlanta last Sunday and nearly matched that with 20 points against the Shock. On Friday, Liberty All-Star center Tina Charles, shifted to power forward, had little trouble scoring against a Dream frontline that has shifted Sancho Lyttle to the center spot. The key component in the 2014 Tina Charles trade, Sun All-Star forward Kelsey Bone, hopes for more of the same.

 

Atlanta will hope for another productive day out of Tiffany Hayes (9-16 shooting in New York) and Shoni Schimmel (13.3 PPG in her last 4 games, season-high 4 steals in New York) to take the pressure off of Dream star Angel McCoughtry, who struggled with defense and turnovers against the Liberty.

 

The Dream has prevailed just 3 times in their last 16 games up in the Nutmeg State. These two teams will meet again on Tuesday morning, this time back in the ATL, so they'll be good and sick of one another after three meetings in nine days.

 

~lw3

[Randy]

Great writeup!  It sounds like the Sun may also be without backup post Kayla Peterson, leaving only Nicky Green for back up.  Not sure it matter much though - the Sun still have Jas Thomas, Lacy and Little to start 3 former Dream players against us, Bone and Stricklen along with Faris so they can field a tough team.  Lacy plays like an All Star against former teams  (Tulsa and Atlanta at least) - guess she takes it personally when teams let her go.  Career high after ten years in the WNBA - talk about a late bloomer.  One advantage we should have - Dream just had to take a bus from NY to UnCasinoville - the Sun had to fly from Tulsa (going through Atlanta???) to NY - then take a bus.

 

BTW - check that start time - I'm seeing 6:00 PM on WNBA .com (which is not always right.)

Edited August 23, 2015 by Randy

[Randy]

On the tragic number front:    3 against Fever and Sky,  4 againt the Mystics.  The good news is Sky and Mystics play today as do Fever Liberty.  Two of those teams will lose so we won't lose ground against 2 teams (but will against 2 others. Not sure about tie breakers but don't think they have been decided yet, except for Liberty, which really doesn't matter anyway.

Edited August 23, 2015 by Randy