2016 Atlanta Dream and WNBA Previews

[Gray Mule]

DREAM WINS !! 

We miss Sancho but, gee whiz, these Dream players are good!  A great new center and

not one, but two new players at the point.  Had to go to overtime because Dream left

too many points at the free throw line. 

Some old, hold over Dream players help mold these new gals. 

GO ATL !!  THEY WON TWO GAMES TONIGHT !!

[Gray Mule]

DRAT !

[lethalweapon3]

 

I agree! Sorry about Angel not making it in, but Congrats to the 20 well-deserving honorees!

For those looking to watch a titanic battle of undefeated teams, the 12-0 Minnesota Lynx tip off in L.A. against the 11-0 Sparks in about 15 minutes (NBATV)! Something's gotta give!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Better bring some earplugs! The New York Liberty had their Kids’ Day spoiled by the Atlanta Dream last month, and look to return the favor as the scene shifts this afternoon, before thousands of teeming, screaming camp kids at The Highlight Factory (12:00 PM Eastern, Fox Sports South in ATL, MSG Network in NYC).

Tina Charles isn't kidding around, as she and the Libs also hope to seize back first place in the Eastern Conference. Thanks to a four-game winning streak, New York is tied in the standings with Atlanta (8-4) atop the East. Atlanta is merely 4-2 at home, but they’re the only team in the East that can boast a winning home record. As we predicted here at the start of the season, the teams that pull off road victories are rising to the top of the crop.

Atlanta is 4-2 away from home after collapsing in Washington over the weekend, but New York is 5-1, winners of their last three away from MSG after toppling San Antonio, Connecticut, and Indiana. The latter win on Sunday required overtime and 26 points, 15 rebounds (one more than backup Kiah Stokes), and a team-high six assists from Charles, in 43 minutes.

Charles has been a certified anchorwoman, averaging a career-high 34.5 minutes/game (2^nd in WNBA, behind Seattle rookie star Breanna Stewart), and leading the W with 9.8 RPG, while being the only WNBA player exceeding 20 PPG (22.0 PPG). Throw in 4.1 APG and you have a clear-cut MVP candidate. But at some point, Charles will need more rest than she’s getting, and the reserves (Stokes and Amanda Zahui B.) are more proficient at center than at Charles’ power forward spot.

Back when the Dream edged the Liberty on May 24, 85-79 in overtime, Lindsey Harding was the starting point guard for Bill Laimbeer’s crew. She was waived one week ago, and joined Yelena Leuchenka and Belarus in time to help that country qualify for the Rio Olympics.

They’ve replaced Harding with Rebecca Allen, the forward who was skipping the start of the WNBA season to help Australia, but was hardly being used by the Opals in their prep for the Summer Games. Allen’s addition will put less stress on not just Charles, but Swin Cash, the momentary Dream player who was selected for the “WNBA Top 20 at 20” all-time team.

Have we mentioned that today’s the return of Shoni Schimmel to Thrillips? Shoni has shot the ball tremendously well (58.3 3FG%) but is only granted limited minutes by Laimbeer  (5.3 minutes/game, 2.7 PPG) due to conditioning (which has improved a bit) and defensive shortcomings.

Of course, nobody has bothered to update the status of Sancho Lyttle’s return to Atlanta. As of now, it’s Whereabouts Unknown for the Dream’s leader in minutes per game (33.3, 4^th in WNBA) and rebounding (8.9 RPG, 4^th in WNBA). Lyttle helped Spain secure a spot in Rio on Monday and, like Allen for New York, might be too jetlagged to contribute effectively today. Avery Warley-Talbert’s release on Sunday, and Sancho’s featured picture on the WNBA’s pregame preview (“expected to get back”), are the only hints that Lyttle might be suiting up.

The lack of depth and defensive intensity caught up to the Dream this past Saturday, the back end of a back-to-back. In Washington, the Mystics were monumental shooting the ball inside (27-for-51 2FGs) and out (8-for-16 3FGs), in a 95-65 win against an Atlanta team (7 missed FTs) that looked dog-tired after wrangling in overtime with Chicago at home the evening before. Dream coach Michael Cooper was just as exasperated, and protested a questionable call by the refs to earn an early second-half trip to the showers.

By default, the leading scorer on Saturday was Tiffany Hayes (12 points). Since going 3-for-7 from downtown Manhattan along the way to a season-high 27 points last month against the Liberty, Hayes has made just 4 of 25 three-point shots (1-for-6 3FGs last weekend), underwhelming for a starting two-guard. Atlanta (45.2 eFG%, next-to-last in WNBA) needs Hayes, their second-leading scorer (career-high 14.7 PPG and 47.7 FG%; career-low 25.6 3FG%) to get back to at least lukewarm from the perimeter to get the offense humming.

Atlanta is rested up for today’s game, but sure could use an active Lyttle to go head-to-head with Charles and take pressure off of Angel McCoughtry (10 points, 8 rebounds, 1 steal, 5 TOs @ WAS). Reshanda Gray has barely registered a blip despite elevated playing time, and Rachel Hollivay is only getting playing time because Cierra Burdick lacks size. In the interim, Atlanta needs Gray to show more activity around the boards and should probably get her more touches in the paint.

The Liberty allow a league-worst 9.3 steals per game and shoot an East-low 28.3 3FG%, so today is a prime opportunity for the Law Firm of Clarendon and Cortijo to build up a backcourt advantage. While essential for on-ball defensive purposes, Tanisha Wright is playing a bit out of position at lead guard for the Liberty, sharing duties with Sugar Rodgers (15.2 PPG, 43.1 3FG%), while second-year point guard Brittany Boyd and swing player Shavonte Zellous continue to struggle coming off the bench.

Still, New York is only likely to get stronger, especially once Allen works her way into the rotation and after scoring guard Epiphanny Prince returns post-Olympics. Securing a win today will help the Dream win the season series in the event a tiebreaker is needed at season’s end. One thing’s for sure: it won’t be child’s play.

 

Let’s Go Dream!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

There'll be no Dream games on the Boob Tube for the next week. Atlanta takes to the road hoping to end their 2-game losing streak tomorrow night while visiting the San Antonio Stars (8:00 PM Eastern, WNBA League Pass only). San Antonio has a league-worst 2-11, but one of those L's came during the season opener for Atlanta, when the Stars pushed the Dream into overtime before Atlanta prevailed.

The Stars' Kayla McBride (17.6 PPG) has a license to score at will, but folks watching on WNBA LP should take time to notice Atlanta-area product Dearica Hamby (Marietta & Norcross HS, via Wake Forest), a power forward whose interior scoring, rebounding, defense, and passing have improved across the board. She arrived via the WNBA Draft just two selections after Atlanta's Elizabeth Williams, and both players are squarely in the early running for the Most Improved Player award.

Next Tuesday, the Dream will be in Seattle to face Sue Bird, Breanna Stewart and the Storm (10:00 PM Eastern, ESPN3 only, replay on WNBA LP). Their next TV appearance will be on Thursday afternoon versus Nneka Ogwumike, Candace Parker and the Sparks in L.A. (3:30 PM Eastern, NBATV). Bob and LaChina won't do a call together until July 3, when Atlanta returns to Philips to kick off a three-game homestand against Brittney Griner, Diana Taurasi and the Phoenix Mercury.

Speaking of the once-defeated (11-1) Sparks, they'll get a shot at payback tonight (8:00 PM Eastern, NBATV) after a wild game this past week in L.A. against undefeated Minnesota, a game the Lynx (WNBA record 13-0 start) won in the closing seconds of the contest.

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

First things first... R.I.P., Pat Summitt! The talent pool in American women's hoops would not be close to what it is without her.

Tonight's game in Seattle against the Storm (10:00 PM Eastern, ESPN3) is on the Internet only. One could also call it the Markeisha Gatling bowl. Atlanta got Gat after the Storm waived the third-year center (replacing her with the more defensive-minded Krystal Thomas). To acquire Gatling, the Dream had to bid adieu to former Vol star Cierra Burdick, who struggled to crack coach Michael Cooper's rotation.

The Dream have more pressing needs along the perimeter, while, at 6-foot-5 and 255 pounds, Gatling will likely struggle to adjust to Atlanta's desired pace of play. But if Markeisha can produce just a little bit of offense, she'll be a considerable upgrade over Burdick and rookie Rachel Hollivay.

I think it's safe to just go ahead and hand the Rookie of the Year hardware over to Breanna Stewart! Stewie ranks second, only behind Tina Charles, with 9.6 RPG, And she's surging up the WNBA scoring leaderboard as well, now averaging 17.6 PPG (8th in WNBA) after dropping all five of her three-point attempts and a career-high 29 points on visiting Connecticut last Friday.

You really cannot blame Seattle (5-9) for going fully into the tank the past few seasons. Since sweeping the Dream in the 2010 WNBA Finals, the Storm never really recovered from the slow departure of Lauren Jackson, the three-time league MVP whose hip injuries and desire to remain in Australia kept her from returning (Seattle is inviting her up to retire her jersey next month). But the ability to slide out of the playoff race granted Seattle the top picks in the draft for the last two years in a row. And already, coach Jenny Boucek's team has one dynamo of an offensive duo in Stewart and guard Jewell Loyd, who sits right behind Stewart with 17.3 PPG (9th in WNBA).

Having such strong young scorers around her has been a boon for the venerable guard Sue Bird, who is miles ahead of the WNBA pack with a league-high 5.6 APG. The Storm had won just one of their prior seven games before dusting off the Sun on Friday, largely due to defense and rebounding issues they're working to resolve (the Storm also traded to acquire backup guard Noelle Quinn from Phoenix). But a Seattle surge seems imminent, and that's not good news for either Dallas (7-8) or a Phoenix team (6-9) that's just 1-8 (!!!) in the Western Conference. 

As for Atlanta (8-6), they're moving back into the muck of the playoff race, their third consecutive loss coming at the hands of an inspired San Antonio team (Becky Hammon's retired jersey, and no answers for Kayla McBride). They won't find their floor until Tiffany Hayes (1-for-9 FGs @ SAN, 0-for-4 on threes) bottoms out.

Hayes is averaging a career-best 14.2 PPG (2nd on team), but her flaming out as a shooter (3-for-31 on threes in last 9 games) has sunk the Dream to dead-last in shooting efficiency (44.0 eFG%) and, despite a much lower team turnover rate from prior seasons, next-to-last in assist turnover rate (virtually tied with last-place Dallas at 1.03). As demonstrated in the closing minutes against McBride and the Stars, Hayes' ability to make stops has waned as well.

It is probably time for Dream coach Michael Cooper to work first-round rookie Bria Holmes into the starting unit and see if Hayes can regain her spark as a sixth woman. To be fair, Hayes isn't shooting the ball any worse (44.1 FG%/career-low 20.8 3FG%/80.2 FT%) than Atlanta's scoring queen Angel McCoughtry (43.1 FG%/20.5 3FG%/76.5 FT%). But the Olympian knows how to work her way out of a slump and is, of course, a far more consistent on-ball defender.

Tonight, Cooper will need to find the right mix of perimeter defenders among Hayes, Holmes, Layshia Clarendon, and Carla Cortijo to keep Loyd and Bird (1.9 3FGs per game, 5th in WNBA) cool from the outside. Atlanta is the only WNBA team without a single player averaging one three-point make per game, Hayes leading the way with 0.7 threes. Including Loyd, Stewart, and Alysha Clark, Seattle boasts four such players. 

If Cooper dons the GM hat, as we suspect he does, he may need to see what offers he can get for Hayes prior to the trading deadline, particularly anything that improves the team's efficiency or backcourt depth. I would love to offer Hayes to Fred Williams' Wings in exchange for Karima Christmas (career-high 14.5 PPG), who flops for whistles almost as well as Hayes, but still manages to shoot 36.7% from three-point range.

In the meantime, the touches and looks need to shift away from Hayes and more toward defensive frontcourt stars Sancho Lyttle and Elizabeth Williams. Like McCoughtry, Lyttle's offensive struggles (career-low 33.7 FG%) just need time to work through, as her fullcourt contributions are simply too good (career-best 77.8 FT%, career-best and league-high 3.2 SPG) to ignore. Liz Williams (league-high 2.5 BPG) will appreciate the veteran help coming from Gatling, and can earn more shots as she learns to put the ball on the floor and drive without fouling. Lyttle won't be able to leave Stewart's side outside the paint tonight, but can help her team if she can put Stewart (2.0 BPG, 4th in WNBA; 1.2 SPG) to work as a defender.

Let's Go Dream!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

You could either look at the Sparks as the worst possible team to face during a losing streak, or the best possible slump-buster they could have to turn it around. Game's on NBATV right now!

(^That was right before the Storm game the other night. Sancho and Tip are back on the floor today.)

~lw3

 

[Gray Mule]

The evolution of the Atlanta Dream.

Seems that they have now become what the "experts" thought they would be before the season began.

Always close but not close enough.  They just keep losing and losing and losing.

Remember the movie, "White Men can't Jump"?  We wonder if the Dream's head coach, GM  believes

this applies to females also. 

RIP  Pat Summitt  - - She was one of a kind.

[Gray Mule]

8 out of 10.

6 in a row!

Sounds wonderful until you realize they are talking about losses, not victories.

Once more, Dream manage to come up "just short" of the win, which means

they lost - - - - again>>

[lethalweapon3]

The Devolution Will NOT Be Televised! lol Not live, anyway! The Atlanta Dream continue grasping for the parachute cord as they face the Seattle Storm in their house tonight (7:00 PM Eastern, ESPN 3; Replay at 10:00 PM Eastern, Fox Sports Southeast). It's a good month fr Bob Rathbun to work on intel ahead of the upcoming college football and NBA seasons. After Friday's home game versus Dallas, the Dream will be on Fox Sports Southeast just once more (versus L.A. on July 15) before the world's attention shifts to Zika-ville for a month.

Despite losing six and a row and being unwilling side actors in the return of The Brittney Griner Show, all is not a total disaster for the Atlanta Dream... at least, not yet! Their skid places them at 8-9, somehow still 5th place in a 12-team league currently being dominated by Minnesota, Los Angeles, and the occasionally slipping New York Liberty. Tack on the Washington Mystics (9-9), and that's all the WNBA has to offer in terms of teams with records at-or-above .500. For Atlanta, their current position is the benefit of starting out of the gates so strongly.

Atlanta has been out-superstarred in just about every game during this losing streak, including the number Breanna Stewart put on them up in Seattle just last week. But the Storm (6-10) have not been the same team away from Key Arena (2-5 on road). They're tied in last place with San Antonio and Indiana with 76.7 road PPG. They've averaged a WNBA-low 6.4 offensive RPG while shooting just 29.1 3FG% (10th in WNBA; Atlanta's 25.6% ranks last). That could be good news for an Atlanta team that has struggled to get the offense going for significant stretches.

The Storm, who needed career-best scoring from rookie star Breanna Stewart (38 points) just to edge Atlanta by three points in Seattle on June 28, will be reserving their strength tonight, as their game against the Dream is the opener of a back-to-back. They fly after the game to New York to face the East-leading Liberty tomorrow evening. Atlanta guards will need to put continual pressure on Sue Bird and Jewell Loyd, and turn turnovers into fastbreak points.

The silverest of linings lately during the last two losses? The re-emergence of Tiffany Hayes! 32 points on 11-for-18 shooting (3-for-5 3FGs) against the red-hot Sparks were followed by 26 points on 8-for-18 shooting (2-for-5 3FGs) in the loss to the Mercury. Hayes and Sancho Lyttle were not available for the loss in Seattle last week.

"Breakfast at Tiffany's" could not compensate for the defensive clinic Alana Beard had on Angel McCoughtry (9 points, first single-digit scoring effort this season) in L.A., nor the overwhelming of Elizabeth Williams and Lyttle by Griner and Candice Dupree on Sunday. That's to say nothing of the virtual absence of any contributions from a wafer-thin Atlanta bench.

We won't know how long Hayes' hot hand will continue, but to turn things around for Michael Cooper's troops, it's all about the reserves. Matee Ajavon has got to find ways to produce points, Bria Holmes needs more touches, and Markeisha Gatling has to show she can do something else besides fouling. Picked up by Atlanta after being waived by the Storm, Gatling fouled out and contributed 4 turnovers in 23 minutes in L.A., then rang up 3 fouls, zero rebounds, and a turnover in the space of 92 seconds versus Phoenix. Thanks, Seattle!

Let's Go Dream!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

LMAO. WNBA dot com is the BEST! (and by BEST! I mean the best at being the WORST!)

"Atlanta Fever. Catch It!"

~lw3

[Gray Mule]

And, we think that the Atlanta press is bad!

Congratulations to Lyttle.  You did good! 

[lethalweapon3]

Creature Double-feature! While the SummerHawks get going on NBATV, Angel versus Skylar is underway right now down at the Highlight Factory! If you didn't get there early, you can bet it's too late thanks to the downtown marchers (Hearts out to Dallas officers, civilians, and their families!) who are right outside Philips as we speak. So you can catch the action with Bob and LaChina instead on Fox Sports Southeast. Keep the remote handy!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Back above the line (for now) at 10-9. Tonight's stars were not just the ladies in blue but the ones in the stands in green and pink. Boule!

Plus, Tiffany (27 points, 6 assists) had a mean crossover on the break that dropped Drake all the way up in Canada.

~lw3

[Gray Mule]

Hot time in the old town tonight!  OT win for Dream, hitting a bunch of free throws in OT

and our Angel with a triple double!

And, Bob and his two good looking assistants.  Thanks for the picture.......

[lethalweapon3]

No TV this afternoon as the Dream run up to Connecticut, seeking to even up their WNBA road record with a win against the Sun (1:00 PM Eastern, WNBA League Pass only). Connecticut has struggled to gain traction under new coach Curt Miller. They're well into July and still seeking their first victory against an Eastern Conference foe (0-7; 5-6 against the West). Plus, they've lost rookie shooter Rachel Banham for the season due to knee surgery.

But the Sun have won 2 in a row, including a road win against Atlanta's last vanquished opponent in Dallas, and upset Minnesota in an overtime thriller on Thursday at Mohegan Sun Arena. They needed a 13-4 closing run led by ex-Dreamer Alex Bentley (24 points) to force OT.

To get to three-straight, Chiney Ogwumike (21 points off the bench vs. MIN) and the Sun have to go to the glass and exploit an overtaxed Atlanta frontline that was beaten up on the boards on Friday night by Dallas' Glory Johnson (15 rebounds before exiting with an injury), Karima Christmas (15 rebounds) and Courtney Paris (8 rebounds, 4 offensive). For the Dream, Sancho Lyttle is going for steals, Elizabeth Williams is going for blocks, and Angel McCoughtry is helping seal off opposing perimeter shooters. At some point, somebody has to complete the deal and help the bigs secure the defensive rebounds, not only to limit second chance points but to further ignite Atlanta's potent fastbreak offense.

Let's Go Dream!

~lw3

[Gray Mule]

Atlanta's center missed a lot of shots inside but played a good game.

Sancho had a very good game.  She's coming around as one of our stars.

Angel scored and scored and, finally, after giving away a nice, big lead, Dream win!

Losing all those games and now, finally, they have three wins in a row!

Whew!  We needed that one....

[lethalweapon3]

Give 'em heck, Queen Elizabeth III !

Also, an easy pick for this week's POW:

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Total power outage in Gotham this morning (I know it's garbage time, Meighan Simmons, but it's okay if you wanna try something other than shooting the rock!) as the Dream get blown out at MSG 86-64. Angel shot just 1-for-6 and got pulled early to rest some minor injury. The good news is if Atlanta (11-10) has to face New York again, it'll probably be in the WNBA Finals (16-6)! Hopefully, the Dream can regather their bearings and bounce back in Indiana on Friday. The Fever are not looking too hot at home against Connecticut (winless in the East, but up 17 late in the 4th quarter right now), so both teams should be coming into that game hungry! Maybe the last matchup ever between Angel and Tamika Catchings, so hopefully McCoughtry will be back by then.

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

I saw this last month, but closing the book on the last minute decision by Brazilian big Damiris Dantas not to join the Dream this season:

http://www.cbb.com.br/PortalCBB/Imprensa/ShowEntrevista/445

((Google-translated))

As for you make the decision to not present in the WNBA and start preparing with the Brazilian team?

I had to make this difficult decision not to go to the WNBA this season because of the problems I had in my family. This also allowed me to initiate the preparation for the Olympics with the group. We train as much time together is really what I like to do and I think more important also for the team. Whenever I have time with the national team I feel more prepared to play. And I'm pretty excited. Planning for the preparation is very good to get flying in the Rio 2016 Games I strongly believe that this group can surprise. 

 

Damiris was added to the Olympic host Brazilian team, which includes ex-Dreamer Erika de Souza, in June. While she anticipates playing power forward, the coaching staff has been preparing her to play small forward for the first time in her career.

~lw3