2018 Atlanta Dream and WNBA Previews

[lethalweapon3]

In Bawb I Trust!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Evidently, the Atlanta Dream spent too much time checking out the pre-Draft piefights on HawkSquawk Homecourt. Either that, or their travels in the past week-and-a-half are starting to get the best of them. After handing the Fever their first victory (by a 96-64 margin, no less) since last August, the team reported that, as of today, the Dream will have traveled to six different cities in the past 11 days, “covering over 7,300 miles.” That’s a LOT of Biscoff wafer cookies.

The pace of accumulating frequent-flyer miles will slow a bit as they visit the New York Liberty (7:00 PM Eastern, MSG+ in NYC, WNBA League Pass only in ATL, and everywhere else). But they may have to endure a couple long bus rides to, and from, their foes’ new gym in White Plains, New York, far from the glitz and glamour of Manhattan.

They’re no Charles Oakley, but MSG mogul Jimmy Dolan is about through with his WNBA franchise. Similar to the Dream, Dolan made the Liberty toil outside of The World’s Most Famous Arena for three years, in New Jersey, while the building went through its perennial renovation. Dolan had them back in the house by the time of the 2012 season. Then he spent the offseasons getting his brain trust to strip down the supports around the Liberty, the team led by homegrown star Tina Charles that has led the Eastern Conference in each of the past three regular seasons.

Failing to reach the WNBA Finals in those seasons, coach/GM Bill Laimbeer started reading the tea leaves. Previously fired in 2014 only to be rehired a couple months later, Bill went somewhere he could be more consistently appreciated in Las Vegas, where control and stability are, somehow, a bit less of a gamble. As was the case in Detroit, when Laimbeer packs up, it’s a canary-in-the-coal-mine signal. On the sidelines, WNBA player legend Katie Smith has taken over the helm for a team whose organization remains in flux.

In November, Lord Jimmy announced he was putting up the Libs for sale. Seeing no worthy buyers for the team, he held season ticket-buyers in limbo until February’s announcement that the team would hoop it up here at the Westchester County Center, home to the Knicks’ G-League squad. That’s a half-hour north of Manhattan, accessible by commuter train, in an arena that holds roughly one-fourth the capacity of MSG’s 19,000-plus seats.

It goes without saying that the near-mythical “walkup attendee” isn’t hauling it up to White Plains, which may be closer to Connecticut Sun fans than Liberty fans, for WNBA basketball. Average (reported) attendance in the league’s largest market has dwindled from nearly 10,000 to just a shade over 2,500. The comfier confines haven’t translated into wild success, yet, as Smith’s Liberty (3-6) are just 2-4 so far in this suburban matchbox.

Making the playoffs? The Dream know that, to be one of The 8, they can’t be one of The Other 4. Despite blowing out Atlanta in their house, Indiana looks to be one of the latter group, while Las Vegas and Chicago appear to be headed that way despite their best efforts. That leaves one lottery spot. And no way is reigning champ Minnesota (4-6) going to be near that spot by season’s end. So, who’s left?

New York is hoping to climb out from the last outside-looking-in position. But it’s clear they have their work cut out for them, beginning today with Atlanta (6-5) in their humble abode. The Libs return from Minnesota, after Saturday’s 85-71 loss at the paws of the Lynx, to the scene of the crime, a 78-63 home loss to Laimbeer’s Aces last week. Charles scored a season-low 12 points and was ravaged by reigning MVP Sylvia Fowles as the Liberty’s opponent feasted on second-chance buckets and layups. “We needed to get smacked around to know what it feels like”, Charles told reporters after her team’s loss to Las Vegas. But there remains hope that the slap-happiness will come to an end, soon.

Epiphanny Prince, the 2017 Liberty’s top assist-maker (by default, with an egalitarian 2.9 APG) and Kiah Stokes, last season’s top offensive rebounder, are getting back up to speed. Guard Brittany Boyd, who missed most of last season, just returned to action this month to support starter and Long Island native Bria Hartley (career-high 4.2 APG, 41.4 3FG%). Veteran guard Sugar Rodgers missed time due to injury but is backing up rookie Kia Nurse, who has cooled after a sensational start to her pro career (34 points and 9 rebounds @ IND on June 2).

Under Laimbeer, interior defense was the name of the game, with Charles, Stokes and Kia Vaughn holding the fort. While that strength seems to have ebbed (44.0 opponent 2FG%, up from 40.8% in 2017) under the watch of Coach Katie and her fellow Buckeye and assistant, former Knick big man Herb Williams, it’s hoped that plenty of defensive rebound chances will come from caroms created by the wayward-shooting Dream (WNBA-low 42.5 2FG%, league-worst 26.5 3FG%; 75.0 FT%, 10^th of 12 teams) today.

Charles and the Liberty bigs only need to hope that the Dream’s Elizabeth Williams (5.8 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 35.6 FG%, 41.4 FT%) hasn’t yet found her box of Wheaties. E-Dub’s playing time has been thankfully curbed after years of overuse at the hands of the previous regime. But neither that nor her multi-year contract extension has yet to pay off, as the 2017 All-Star has combined reticence with inefficiency on offense. The sooner that situation changes, the sooner Atlanta can sew up a spot in the postseason.

Atlanta’s offense will be further hamstrung if top scorer Tiffany Hayes, who injured her foot in the third quarter, and rookie reserve Brittney Sykes are each a no-go for this evening. Coach Nicki Collen would need a solid two-way effort from reserves Layshia Clarendon and Maggie Lucas in their absence to allow Angel McCoughtry (16.1 PPG, career-high 6.4 RPG, career-low 40.4 FG%) and the Dream to Escape from White Plains with their fourth road victory, something they could not get last season (3-14 in 2017 away games).

The ten days that follow should help lighten the Dream’s load a bit, with just three games on the slate. But after returning home to face a surly Connecticut team on Friday, Atlanta hits the road again next week for stops at Chicago, Minnesota and, again, Indiana. The more road wins the Dream can compile by the end of the Fever rematch on July 1, the easier it will be to keep the wannabe-playoff-bound Liberty in their rear-view mirror. They need Elizabeth and the bench corps to step it up, big-time, to make that happen, starting today, while very few people are watching.

 

Let’s Go Dream!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Well, halo there! The wings of an Angel nearly flew the Dream out of New York with a W!

~lw3

[Gray Mule]

So many Dream shots.  So many Dream shots that missed.  If these gals ever get to the point that their shots go in, including foul shots, they will be dangerous.  Maybe, with rest, things will improve.

GO ATL DREAM !!

[lethalweapon3]

Sure hope the Atlanta Dream have more energy then I do, mere hours after NBA Draft Night! There's not much in the tank to finagle a gameday preview for tonight's match, where the Connecticut Sun return to McCamish Pavilion with a little vengeance on their minds (7:00 PM Eastern, Fox Sports Southeast in ATL, NBC Sports Boston in CT).

After a blazing start 5-0 start, Curt Miller's Sun were handed its first L of the season here, back on June 5, in an 82-77 victory for the team directed by his former assistant Nicki Collen. Connecticut (7-4) returns to the Georgia Tech campus having dropped three straight (95.6 opponent PPG in that stretch).

The skid started on June 13 in Uncasville with one of the wildest contests in any sport this year, and continues through a 17-point loss in Phoenix last Saturday. Against the Merc, they were without two vital contributors in Alyssa Thomas (shoulder injured back on the 13th, doubtful for tonight), and Chiney Ogwumike (knee, probable to play today). Thomas ranks second only to teammate Alex Bentley in the league with a +21.2 Net Rating.

At least the rest of the Sun are rested. Tiffany Hayes (ankle) and Brittney Sykes (foot) have been upgraded to questionable for tonight's action (all that time up in the air on flights can't be helping much). Without them, and absent critical players stepping up in their absence, it was left to ATLUTD Golden Spike smasher Angel McCoughtry (regular-season career-high 39 points, team-highs of 14 rebounds and 4 assists) just to keep Atlanta (6-6) in the running during Tuesday's 79-70 loss up in New York.

Tonight, it's a team that needs find better ways to to score (Atlanta, last in O-Rating, first in D-Rating), back home against a team (Connecticut, first in O-Rating) that needs to slow things down defensively and get stops. If the Dream can sort out a lineup that can start quarters without digging themselves in holes (6 team 1st-quarter points @ NYL; 26 second-half points @ IND), they'll give themselves a shot to prevail on this, and any, night.

The good news is the home team will get a sorely-needed respite after this game, with four days off to recuperate and practice before the next gameday. On the downside, particularly for Tip and Brittney, that break precedes yet another three-game road trip.

 

Let's Go Dream!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Down by double-digits with the non-Angel starters struggling again, in comes Monique, who was Top Billings! What a second-half swing!

~lw3

[Gray Mule]

Dang!  Every shot from Angel to begin the game, nothing but the bottom of the net.  However, some went in after a foul was called and a three after the time ran out, so those didn't count. 

After leading for 3 quarters, the Sun refused to shine in the 4th quarter.  Shots were either missed or blocked and rebounds became scarce.  Flustration set in for our visitors.  When they snapped out of it, the Dream was already thinking victory.  The Sun came on, late in the 4th with a vengeance.  It was too late.

[lethalweapon3]

Two Player of the Week award-winners in the same month? Not too shabby!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

On the road again! The Atlanta Dream could wait to be on the road again, yet here they are, embarking on a three-game, five-day swing that tips off this afternoon on a Kid’s Day for the Chicago Sky (12 noon EST, WNBA League Pass only). At the risk of being greedy, stealing away two of these three games on the docket could be huge for Atlanta (7-6) and its postseason hopes.

Tiffany Hayes and the Dream made quick work of the Sky, who were missing star guard Courtney Vandersloot (Euro-duties), back on May 23 by an 81-63 score. Sloot’s back, as is Stefanie Dolson, who missed some time due to injury. The biggest problem for coach Amber Stocks has been establishing a defensive imprint, particularly on the interior.

Chicago’s 107.9 D-Rating is the league’s worst, by far, contributing to a minus-11.5 Net Rating that is similarly far-and-away the lowest in the W. They rank next-to-last in defensive rebounding percentage, while their foes are shooting league-highs of 51.0 eFG% and 55.0 TS%.

It’s not so much about handing opponents lots of trips to the free throw line, it’s covering opponents on drives and post-ups, and executing switches, while forcing turnovers (13.0 opponents TOs/game, 2^nd-lowest in WNBA; Atlanta’s next opponent, Minnesota ranks 1st) that has been a struggle.

During its recent six-game losing skid, the Sky (4-9) allowed five opponents to score at least 80 points. They lost those games by a double-digit deficit, save for one where they lost by nine. Dolson’s return helps even the playing field somewhat on the inside. But Chicago really gives themselves a chance when they pick up the offensive pace and the tag-team of Allie Quigley and Vandersloot (WNBA-high 6.9 APG)  make good on their green-light shots.

Sunday’s win at Wintrust Arena came at the expense of the Phoenix Mercury, the only team that secures defensive rebounds worse than they do (Brittney Griner, WYD?). Vandersloot and Quigley combined for 9-for-18 shooting from the field (6-for-11 on threes), while rookie Gabby Williams gashed the Merc with four O-Rebs to help preserve a 97-88 victory. Another rookie, Diamond DeShields (12.3 PPG, 38.2 FG%) hopes to shine on League Pass versus her hometown team.

For coach Nicki Collen’s bunch, today’s game presents a prime opportunity to get well and gel. Hayes (ankle) will again sit this one out, but Brittney Sykes is back. Even as her shot continues to not-fall, Sykes brought needed energy off the bench (7-for-11 FTs). She and fellow reserves Damiris Dantas and, in an eye-opening spurt, rookie Monique Billings had key roles in a 20-0 fourth-quarter run that blotted out the visiting Connecticut Sun (Jonquel Jones, WYD?) by a 75-70 score last Friday.

To make things easier on themselves and, particularly, on Eastern Conference Player of the Week Angel McCoughtry (WNBA-high 32.0 PPG, conference-high 11.0 RPG last week), Atlanta needs continued bench production, a continually strong perimeter defensive effort to offset woeful shooting of their own, upticks in play on the offensive glass from starters Jessica Breland and Elizabeth Williams, and free throws that go into the inside of the net a bit more proficiently (27-for-41 FTs vs. CON).

By Bob Rathbun’s calculation, the Dream will have spent 9,225 miles in the air between June 6 and July 2. If they can go into Independence Day with at least a 5-5 road record, and get everybody healthy, it could all prove beneficial when the schedule cooking gets a little home-friendlier.

 

Let’s Go Dream!

~lw3

[Gray Mule]

Sadly, the pendulum swung in the opposite direction for our Angel.  After scoring so many points recently, in this game she couldn't buy a goal.  2 points + free throws.  That's it.  Pitiful

She was covered well by the defense, that's true.  This doesn't explain some shots that didn't go in.  Guess this does prove that she's human, after all, and not Wonder Woman, as we Dream fans have come to believe.

Oh, well.  Onward to bigger and better things.  Maybe our wounded will be back soon.

GO ATL DREAM !!

[lethalweapon3]

On travel today, but don't forget to catch the Dream and Lynx on TV tonight (8 PM Eastern, NBATV).

Told ya the Lynx were going to be just fine! After the Dream pulled off the rare upset back on May 29 in Atlanta, Maya Moore and the reigning world champs are looking for payback tonight in their house... and an extension of their league-best five-game winning streak!

~lw3

[Gray Mule]

Both Dream and Braves play @ 8 PM.  Guess that means Braves tonight and re play of Dream in the AM.

GO ATLANTA!  Win two tonight !!

[lethalweapon3]

ICYMI, the Dream finished their road trek at 1-2 and returned to .500 ball with a payback win over the Fever in Indiana yesterday. Tiffany Hayes is back up to speed and hit big shots at crunch time to help Atlanta (8-8) avoid blowing a 17-point halftime lead.

Perhaps the more momentous development has been the play of Imani Mcgee-Stafford. She sunk 6 of 7 shots on Sunday (7-for-10 FGs at Minnesota a couple days prior) and had a pair of steals as she started the past to games in place of center Elizabeth Williams. Will this carry forward into the return home this weekend, as Atlanta hosts league-leaders Phoenix and Seattle? We shall see!

Let's Go Dream!

~lw3

[Gray Mule]

What has happened to Williams?  She is having a terrible career year...

GO DREAM !!

[lethalweapon3]

No relation to Taurean for the Lady Bear!

Alexis' 7-day spot on the roster comes a few days after the team waived Maggie Lucas.

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Home… Sweet?... Home! No team in the WNBA has more home games left on their docket than your Atlanta Dream. While they’ll make up for that with seven matches at the Thrillerdome over the next 26 July days, this stretch kicks off with a weekend pair of contests against the league’s top-two squads in the standings, beginning tonight as they host the Seattle Storm (7 PM Eastern, Fox Sports Southeast in ATL, WNBA League Pass elsewhere).

Atlanta’s next two foes are a combined 14-4 away from their home locales and have won a combined seven games consecutively. It’s hard to call Phoenix (14-5) a surprise, as they have finally found a proper balance with the cast supporting their superstars. It’s much easier to label Seattle (13-5) as overachievers, as they endured a coaching change following an 8-seed finish of 15-19 in 2017.

Storm guard Jewell Loyd (16.8 PPG, 4.7 RPG) started the season strong, while notable trade acquisition Natasha Howard (58.3 FG%) has been a pleasant upgrade at forward. But the best development for Seattle has been the MVP-worthy candidacy of center Breanna Stewart.

The third-year big is enjoying career-highs in points (WNBA-best 21.8 PPG) and interior shooting accuracy (WNBA-high 64.2 2FG%; Howard’s 62.7 2FG% ranks second in the league). Only rebounding machines Liz Cambage and Sylvia Fowles are ahead of Stewie in the Player Impact Estimate rankings.

Stewart swished nine of her ten two-pointers on Tuesday, adding eight boards and three steals, and helped Seattle storm ahead in the second quarter to coast to a 77-62 victory at New York. And while her perimeter shooting isn’t quite as sound as last season’s 37.1 3FG%, she can still lift the Storm’s spirits on the road (5-for-8 3FGs in last 3 away games).

Of course, everyone is fed well by the legendary Sue Bird. Yes, she isn’t shooting the ball as efficiently as she’d like. Her WNBA-best 7.3 APG and 42.3 assist percentage would blow away her career-high, and what a sensational career it has been for the point guard (and ESPN The Mag “Body Issue” co-model) now in her 16^th WNBA season. Despite going just 2-for-6 from the field against the Liberty she dropped 11 dimes (with just one turnover) to secure Seattle’s third-straight win.

Having his team committed to defense, and not merely outscoring people, has been the major difference in Dan Hughes’ club ascending toward the top of the standings. With Alysha Clark leading the way, Storm opponents have been slowed to shooting 31.3 3FG% (3^rd-lowest in WNBA 2018), down from 35.6 3FG% (3^rd-highest in WNBA 2017) last year. They should find little trouble facing The Gang That Can’t Shoot Straight in Atlanta (league-low 27.1 3FG%, lowest by any team since the 2011 Atlanta Dream shot 26.1%).

Not having a soul that can shoot threes proficiently besides Renee Montgomery (5-for-7 on threes @CHI last week, but 1-for-7 in last two games) remains problematic. But things get truly wretched when your team’s starting bigs, namely Jessica Breland and Elizabeth Williams, are shooting 33.1 FG% and 38.5 FG%, respectively, and neither of them have lofted a single attempt beyond the arc.

The Dream’s frontcourt duo’s saving grace has been their stout defensive work, aided by the always-pressing Angel McCoughtry. Based on bball-ref stats, Breland’s D-Rating is the league’s best, highlighted by a D-Reb% and Block% that rank third and fourth, respectively. Breland’s 1.8 BPG and Williams’ 1.7 BPG rank fourth and fifth in the league, sandwiched by Howard (1.8) and Stewart (1.5). But, that offense is offensive!

Breland’s slump has now stretched through seven games, shooting 13-for-44 since going 7-for-13 against the Sparks on June 12. Her solitary steal in Sunday’s win at Indiana, was the only one she has produced in that span. Her defensive clamps on Stewart (5-for-12 FGs) helped Atlanta hang on for a 67-64 road upset in Seattle back on June 10, a game where both teams shot barely over 15 percent on threes. But the Dream must be able to rely on more than just her defensive capabilities, now that they are reaching the mid-season.

Williams (35.8 June FG%, 35.7 June FT%) struggled mightily around this time last season, too, until a sudden July spurt earned her an All-Star reserve nod and, eventually, a contract extension under this new regime. While she still gets ample floor time, it appears E-Dub has lost her starting gig to Imani McGee-Stafford (13-for-17 FGs, 28 points in last two games) until she again finds her way.

Together, the half-baked Williams and Breland’s collective futility on one end of the floor places undue attention on the shortcomings of Atlanta’s leading scorers, Tiffany Hayes (14-for-56 3FGs), McCoughtry (8-for-42 3FGs) and Brittney Sykes (6-for-27 3FGs, 24-for-42 FTs). Sykes, at least, got half of her season's worth of threes (3-for-4 3FGs, team-high 20 points plus 7 assists) to help the Dream escape then-one-win Indiana with an 87-83 victory on Sunday.

Back home, the on-floor results have been even worse. A nightmarish 36.8% from the field overall for the Dream includes 25.7% on three-point attempts. Atlanta has been the worst three-point shooting team in their home gym in the league in every season since 2014. Throw in a WNBA-worst 71.6% clip at the free throw line, in front of a sparse but usually supportive home crowd.

Altogether, the home marks of 46.0 true shooting percentage, and 89.2 O-Rating, are the worst the WNBA has seen since the Cappie Pondexter-led New York Liberty concluded their 2013 season. Offensive suckitude is a problem that was not created by this current coaching staff, or even the prior one. But the inability to fix these longstanding problems is one reason Michael Cooper is now running a BIG3 outfit.

How long the Dream can keep Stewart and Loyd under wraps on offense and, conversely, how long the Storm can keep Atlanta's wing scorers from finding their groove, will be the determining factors in tonight's outcome. The two-way play of Atlanta's front-line contributors, starters and bench players alike, will again play a critical role with respect to each factor.

If Atlanta intends to reach the playoffs, and do anything worth mentioning once they get there, the time to work toward securing a spot is in July. This home-friendly month will grant opportunities to notch ugly, gritty wins over tough opponents, and hopefully a couple impressive ones over the less talented ones. But first, coach Nicki Collen must be pressed to ask her charges: is home, truly, where the heart is?

Let’s Go Dream!

~lw3

[Gray Mule]

Dream fade, then come back to fight to make it close.  They just couldn't push far enough to catch the top WNBA team.  Seattle is good. 

 

 

[lethalweapon3]

It's the Phoenix Mercury's turn to try staying atop the WNBA Leaderboard! The new all-time league leader in made field goals, Diana Taurasi, plus Brittney Griner and company will try to fend off the Atlanta Dream on this Sunday matinee on The Flats (3:00 PM Eastern, Fox Sports Southeast in ATL).

Despite a double-double from Angel McCoughtry (21 points, 10 rebounds), Phoenix outlasted the Dream at McCamish Pavilion back on June 3 with a 78-71 victory. But can Angel, Tiffany Hayes (combined 49 points, 6-for-10 3FGs vs. SEA on Friday) and the Dream, building from an improved (albeit slow-starting) offensive effort against Seattle, use another early tip time to trip up the Merc, who have otherwise been juggernauts away from home (9-2 in road games)?

After another passive effort from the front-line starters on Friday, will we see Dream coach Nicki Collen institute a more permanent starting lineup change?

 

Let's Go Dream!

~lw3

[Gray Mule]

Elizabeth Williams is back !  Whatever was ailing her, she apparently has gotten over it.  Dream ran away and hid, but the PM didn't give up.  They came back, hunting the elusive Dream.  They made things interesting but these Atlanta gals would not give in and give up their lead.

Phoenix Mercury had a good 4th quarter, slicing that big lead down.  Physical play, rough play.  Atlanta refused to fold.  They earned a terrific win this afternoon!

GO ATLANTA DREAM !

 

[lethalweapon3]

I swear to y'all, I was literally sitting here thinking about how Layshia Clarendon looked to be the ideal trade chip on the team before the All-Star Break. (That, and whether Tip Hayes gets another Player of the Week award).

And, voila! Good luck, Layshia. And, welcome back Alex "At The Buzzer" Bentley!

~lw3