2018 Atlanta Dream and WNBA Previews

[lethalweapon3]

It Was All a Dream! Or, Was It?

The month of July was perhaps the best in the Atlanta Dream’s modest WNBA history, but they’ve got one more Biggie in front of them today at McCamish Pavilion to close the month out. They’re only a couple games back, but for the Washington Mystics (7:00 PM Eastern, Twitter, no local TV), this may be their last chance to catch up with the Dream.

There are only two other teams in the WNBA East likely to qualify for the playoffs, Connecticut (14-12) and Washington (14-11, 10-2 against the rest of the East). The Dream swept the Sun, and while they secured the tiebreaker with an 80-77 victory here on The Flats a couple weeks ago, Atlanta (16-9) can put a stranglehold on a probable playoff berth with a sweeping win over Washington today. The Dream can also secure a .500 record before the regular-season calendar turns to the final month of August.

Atlanta went into the Break on a roll, winning their franchise-high eighth-straight in Los Angeles, an 81-71 victory last Tuesday against the shorthanded Sparks. Washington, not so much. They dropped three of four games during this five-game road swing that concludes today, including a 94-68 drubbing at Connecticut that may eventually prove pivotal at playoff-seeding time. The Styx will head home to face the playoff-hungry Aces, on Friday, before heading out west for two more away games.

Coach Mike Thibault will once again pull out all the stops to thwart the Dream. His gameplans sort of worked early in the opening quarter in Atlanta on July 15, with the Mystics sprinting out to a 16-2 lead to start the game. But in a common theme this month, the slow-starting Dream turned the tables before halftime, building up a 74-64 fourth-quarter lead that proved insurmountable.

Top top scorer in the East, Elena Delle Donne (20.5 PPG, 3^rd in WNBA) can mess around and get a triple-double if she chooses, but she needs major help to sustain a lead for the Mystics over the stretch of 40 minutes. Dream forward Jessica Breland has put in the yeoman’s work of D’ing up opponents’ frontcourt stars, like EDD and Seattle’s Breanna Stewart, allowing center Elizabeth Williams ample room to roam the floor in search of putbacks and blocks.

Delle Donne put up 19 of her 21 points in the first half against the Sun last week. But a myriad of defensive lapses beginning in the second quarter, plus a lack of consistent help (Mystic teammates combined 19-for-59 FGs, incl. 2-for-23 from 3FG range) had Thibault waving the white flag early.

Aerial Powers, acquired from Dallas for Tayler Hill plus a draft pick prior to last week’s trade deadline, will need to make immediate impacts at the Washington wing, alongside emerging rookie Ariel Atkins and Tierra Ruffin-Pratt, the latter perhaps more useful going forward as a sixth-woman. They’ll have their hands full at the other end, especially if reserve Brittney Sykes (12 4^th-quarter points vs. WAS on July 15) and the rested Tiffany Hayes catch fire again.

The Dream know very well... who they are. With five of the next six games at McCamish to close out the home schedule, Atlanta has itself a prime opportunity to build up a fever pitch for its fans as the postseason approaches. In what has truly been a banner month, WNBA fans want to know: is this just a Dream? Or, is it a new Reality?

 

Let’s Go Dream!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Tough loss! Jumpers didn't fall, ran outta gas down the stretch.

Sure hope somebody's scouting their next opponent, Chicago! Sky and Wings in a good one on NBATV!
 

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Who's the poor soul from WNBA HQ who has to hand-deliver the award to Tip? lol

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Magic Number Update as of moments ago...

Indiana (ZERO)

New York (ZERO)... Two down, two to go!

Chicago (2)

Las Vegas (6) -- Playoff-clinching number... Mercury-Aces tonight on NBATV! (10 PM Eastern)

Homecourt-opener (8) -- most teams have either 8 or 9 games remaining

 

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

These are the times that try women’s souls. For Atlanta Dream fans, we know that it must be August! With Atlanta hosting the Chicago Sky today at McCamish Pavilion (7:00 PM Eastern, Fox Sports Southeast in ATL, the U Too in CHI), we know that it’s a good thing our summer soldiers went nearly bonkers in July. Because, in literally every season since 2011, the eighth month of the calendar year has not been historically kind to the Dream.

Michael Cooper’s trade deadline gambit didn’t presage the 9-game slide in 2017 that began at the end of July. But it did nothing to help a 2-7 stretch that dashed Atlanta’s postseason hopes. Similarly, Atlanta finished August at 2015 at 5-5, but not before the first win ended a 6-game skid that helped place the Dream last in the WNBA East.

Atlanta finished first in the East in 2014, but that included a deflating 2-6 stretch. The playoff series that ensued that month with Chicago, the final moments of the deciding Game 3, particularly, marked the beginning of the end for the Dream’s original title-contention regime. A 3-8 run through August in 2013 left the team scrambling just to get homecourt advantage in the first round.

There’s no need to count the Olympics-abbreviated years, like the 1-1 mark in 2016. And who wants to re-live Angel-gate of 2012, when the team (4-3 that month) had to endure its trade-targeted superstar going AWOL until coach/GM Marynell Meadors could be canned on her birthday?

Back in April’s schedule review, I suggested, “As was similarly the case in 2017, if the Dream wishes to clinch a playoff spot, they’ll want to secure it before they head to world-champ Minnesota on August 5.” While that won’t happen, Atlanta (16-10, 2^nd in WNBA) is in an ideal spot to ensure the race for spots 2-through-9 don’t continue to include 2-through-10.

Victory at home for (July’s WNBA Coach of the Month) Nicki Collen’s crew will guarantee that Chicago (10-17, 10^th in WNBA) cannot conceivably catch them. Sky coach Amber Stocks, however, knows that if her team can hang on through this five-game gauntlet that includes Minnesota and Connecticut twice, maintaining playoff contention with a few more wins, then the regular season concludes with a home-and-home series with last-place Indiana.

Winners of two straight (on the road, at Phoenix and at Dallas) and three of their past four, Chicago knows they still have a fighter’s chance because their star backcourt tandem is peaking at just the right time. Courtney Vandersloot is blowing away the WNBA’s point guard field, dropping a ridiculous 8.5 assists per game. Her 14 assists in Dallas nearly eclipsed her WNBA-record 15 at home against the Wings just 11 days prior.

Not only has Sloot delivered double-digit dimes in her past four appearances, she has tallied double-figures (the exception being nine points almost a month ago) in 12 of her past 13 games. The point guard is averaging 50 percent from the floor overall, 40 percent on her threes, and helping on the glass with nearly five boards per game in that stretch.

The three-time defending WNBA Three-Point Contest winner has the outside shots covered. Allie Quigley has sunk more threes in that 13-game stretch that everyone in the league aside from Diana Taurasi, shooting 48.6 3FG% in her past five games while scoring at least 19 points in each of Chicago’s three recent victories. Suffice to say, Atlanta’s perimeter defenders will again have their hands full. Quigley had 22 points (9-for-13 FGs, 3-for-5 3FGs) and five assists in the Sky’s 93-80 win back on June 27 in Chi-town.

Lest we forget, the Sky also has a rookie who is ready to show up and show out in her debut performance back home in Atlanta. Diamond DeShields (season-high 25 points @ PHX on July 25, double-digit scoring of 13 of her last 15 games) racked up a team-high 23 points (9-for-24 FGs, 3-for-8 3FGs) on June 27 against visiting Atlanta. But she also contributed with a season-high 11 rebounds and pestering defense on the Dream’s All-Star. Angel McCoughtry finished the day shooting 1-for-11 while committing five turnovers and nearly fouling out.

Angel’s struggles on that day squandered a decent offensive display by her teammates, one in which Renee Montgomery and Blake Dietrick combined to hit eight of ten three-point tries, while Elizabeth Williams (6-for-9 FGs, 5 O-Rebs) and then-teammate Layshia Clarendon (6-for-10 FGs) each had a rare June outing where their shots found the bottom of the nets.

Coming off a short turnaround from the All-Star Game, McCoughtry also struggled (4-for-14 FGs and an uncharacteristic minus-19) in Tuesday’s 86-71 home loss to Elena Delle Donne (who captained one of the All-Star teams; 28 points and 16 rebounds) and the Mystics. Atlanta’s jump-shooters were short on fumes (35.6 FG%, 3-for-22 3FGs) and ran out of even those by the fourth quarter, the Dream finding itself shut out 11-0 in the closing five minutes of play.

Angel’s post-passing exploits (zero assists; 4.5 APG in her prior 8 games) were missing versus Washington and will be sorely needed to get the Dream rolling again. Beyond a bounce-back performance from Angel, the Dream will need balanced offensive production from the starting bigs, Williams and and former Sky player Jessica Breland, who must provide more than mere putback duty for Atlanta (27.2 O-Reb%, 3^rd in WNBA).

Such frontcourt balance is essential to keep Atlanta from settling for a sharp-shooting perimeter contest with Chicago, one the Dream (44.8 eFG%, back to last in WNBA) knows they will probably lose. Liz Cambage beasted once again with 33 points and 13 rebounds against the Sky on Tuesday. Yet her floormates could only manage 2-for-22 shooting from outside against the visitors, eventually coming up short 92-91. Even a barely-subpar day shooting against the Sky might be just enough to win.

Not even barely subpar, Alex Bentley (0-for-5 FGs vs. WAS on Tuesday; 10-for-39 2FGs, 3-for-22 3FGs w/ ATL) continues the well-worn, mystifying Atlanta tradition of major trade acquisitions struggling upon arrival. But Collen has credited her tenacity as a perimeter defender as one of the reasons they took a chance to bring her back for the stretch run, and that’s a factor that must bear fruit today. Bentley, Dietrick, Brittney Sykes, Monique Billings and Imani McGee-Stafford must find ways to produce defensive stops and not get caught single-mindedly focused on their next basket opportunity.

It would be nice to have the chance to recover from August struggles in September. Unfortunately, no WNBA team will get that opportunity. As was the case in 2014, accommodations for Team USA and international competition next month has the WNBA regular season wrapping up by August 19. That means teams like Atlanta must complete their final eight games, including a home-road back-to-back in their case, over the course of 17 days. For teams that finish 5-through-8 in the standings, the playoffs begin just two days after the regular season concludes.

A suddenly winning team that cannot draw 4,000 fans to Georgia Tech on any occasion aside from discounted kids-promo days (3,887 average July home “attendance”; 3,648 last Tuesday) probably cannot get caught up on the benefits of securing homecourt advantage. Besides, most of the league is winning plenty of games on the road this season. Teams ranked 1 through 9 are a combined 67-54 away from home, and even Chicago at 4-9 has, at previously noted, won two straight away games and hopes to make it a triple today.

But, perhaps, the intrinsic benefits of Atlanta aiming for a high seed are the ability to grant vets like McCoughtry and Montgomery a couple days of rest, and allowing the rookie coaching staff led by Collen extra time to prepare. So it behooves the Dream to knock the Magic Numbers down as much as possible in the near-term, rather than hoping the team can get hot later in this wretched month on the road against other playoff-hungry teams.

August has not often been Atlanta’s friend. Yet, if the Dream wants to still be playing in any elimination games in September, especially at home, they must begin shutting down the campaigns of teams like Chicago now.

 

Let’s Go Dream!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

In ex-Dream news... Congrats to Bria!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Magic Number Update after tonight's victory...

Indiana (ZERO)

New York (ZERO)

Chicago (ZERO)... Three down, One more team to go!

Las Vegas (4) -- Might have gone down further but flights to DC were a mess today.

Homecourt-opener (5)

First-Round-bye (6) -- could drop further if Minnesota loses its back-to-back in Seattle (second half up next on NBATV!)

~lw3

[Gray Mule]

Great way to finish a game!  Are you paying attention, Hawks?

Too bad the Dream has such poor attendance.  Maybe, next season, when they get back home.

GO ATL DREAM !!

Congratulations, Bria !!

[lethalweapon3]

Might the defending WNBA champs miss the playoffs entirely? Tune in today as the Atlanta Dream get chased around Target Center by the Minnesota Lynx (7 PM Eastern, Fox Sports Southeast simulcast of Fox Sports North), a team that wants to perish the thought!

The Dream (17-10), on the hunt for its first winning season since 2014, has never taken a season series from the Lynx, in part because they never swept what used to be a two-game East-West series in the regular season and, in part, because the Lynx under coach Cheryl Reeve have been the class of the WNBA ever since 2011, not coincidentally the rookie season of Gwinnett's Finest, Maya Moore.

Minnesota still has its core 4 of Moore, fellow All-Stars Seimone Augustus and Rebekkah Brunson, and Lindsay Whalen, plus reigning league MVP Sylvia Fowles, in its juggernaut starting five. Yet they will have to run the table to avoid its worst finish since Reeve's first season at the helm in 2010. Really, all the Lynx (15-12) have to do to be a dangerous tough out in the WNBA Playoffs is to get in. But they have to get in. And by tonight's end, it's conceivable that they could be just a half-game from being on the outside of the playoff race, looking in.

Under this compressed August schedule, this will be the third game in four days for Minnesota, who got blown out on Thursday (57 points lowest scoring tally since 2011) in Los Angeles (how 'bout that Candace Parker, lately?) and ran out of gas the next night, at league-leader Seattle. Reeves was able to pull her starters well before the conclusion of the blowout defeats, and can only hope the energy saved will show up before a cautious home crowd.

The Lynx like to keep the offensive pace low, and get off good shots or induce fouls at the back ends of the shot clock (75.6 offensive pace, 11th of 12 WNBA teams). Their problem is they can't control possessions like they used to (18.2 TO%, 3rd-worst in WNBA, barely behind New York and Atlanta's last opponent, Chicago). That could spell trouble versus a high-pressure, pernicious defense like Atlanta's, if the Dream (3rd-highest defensive pace, 2nd-best opponent TO%) are up to the task.

Atlanta was unable to seize the season series here in Minny back on June 29 in an 85-74 loss. But that game had Tiffany Hayes coming off the bench for just 12 minutes in her return from injury, and Imani McGee-Stafford doing yeoman's work in place of starter Elizabeth Williams. If those starters plus Angel McCoughtry make plays, including for one another, producing a higher number of live-ball turnovers and making sure they score in transition, the Lynx could be spending the ensuing days checking the standings.

 

Let's Go Dream!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Magic Number Update after tonight's victory by the WINNING-SEASON Atlanta Dream...

Indiana (ZERO)

New York (ZERO)

Chicago (ZERO)

Las Vegas (2) -- Maybe down to one, with a forfeit decision pending by our former Atlanta councilperson and ex-Dream superfan! Either way, a playoff-clinching game against the Aces is in our house on Tuesday night!

Homecourt-opener (3)

First-Round-bye (4)

First- and Second-Round bye (5)

~lw3

[Gray Mule]

The gentle Atlanta Dream.  Not!  Want to play rough?  Just don't try it with these gals because they know how to respond.  As our opponent found out, this is not a wise move. 

With their tough defense and their three point shot falling, they were on a roll.  They scored inside.  They scored outside.  Flustration took over for the defending champs and they tried to get rough.  Big mistake.  Dream withstand and win going away.  We know who was #1 on this night!

GO ATL DREAM !!

[lethalweapon3]

PURPOSED HAYES!

~lw3

[Gray Mule]

CONGRATULATIONS to Tiffany Hayes!

Player of the week from the east, WNBA.  This is the third time she has won this!  Some day, maybe, the WNBA people will realize that this team ain't bad.

I wish all the NBA fans on the Squawk would wake up and watch these gals.  But they say watching paint dry or watching grass grow is more exciting.  Bah!

GO DREAM !!

[lethalweapon3]

Aces low? There’s a number of interested parties in the outcome of tonight’s potential playoff-clincher for the Atlanta Dream, who prepare to host the Las Vegas Aces (7 PM Eastern, Fox Sports South in ATL, NBATV everywhere else).

Among those watching closely (or, who would be, if they didn’t have a tipoff later this evening) are the Washington Mystics. It’s possible their playoff-clinching Magic Number (which was at 4 as of this morning) could get whittled down to zero by tonight’s end.

This afternoon, the league office formally declared last Friday’s would-be contest a forfeiture by the Aces (12-15), but they have not yet adjusted the standings. If they do, and if the Dream take care of business at home while the Mystics become just the latest team to trip up the Mercury in Phoenix, there will be at least a pair of teams from the WNBA East punching their tickets to the big dance.

But that’s enough about Elena Delle Donne and company. The baddest player in the East continues to be Tiffany Hayes. Coming of WNBA Player of the Month AND WNBA Player of the Week honors, Hayes has formally established a rung on the very short MVP ladder. Her season-high 28 points (career-high 6 threes on 11 attempts) plus Alex Bentley’s 19 off the bench helped Atlanta tame the Lynx in Minnesota for the first time since 2009, their resounding 88-68 win facilitating today’s big homestand opener at McCamish Pavilion.

The final three regular season games (maybe for good; maybe not) at the Georgia Institute of Technology (not “Georgia Tech University”, just in case the AP writer that does game previews is reading this), all this week, will hopefully have fans generating more buzz than they have in years. It didn’t look like a sure thing coming into July, but the Dream (18-10) needs only to split their final six contests to assure themselves of their greatest regular season ever, eclipsing the eventual 2011 WNBA Finalists that finished 20-14. A tall order, to be certain, but a home sweep over Vegas, L.A., and Dallas would do the trick quite convincingly.

Beating the Lynx adds to the list of teams that coach Nicki Collen’s club holds a tiebreaker against, if needed in this muddled playoff picture. In addition to Minnesota, Atlanta has a tiebreaker head-to-head with league-leader Seattle, Washington, and Connecticut. Beating the Sparks on Thursday would add them to the list, while, a victory tonight would make the scenario with Las Vegas wholly unnecessary.

That’s valuable because, as Dream guard Renee Montgomery noted, Atlanta has put themselves in position to do more than simply getting into the postseason. “I want to get one of those bye spots.” Heck, why not get two byes?

Think about Candace Parker and Nneka Ogwumike, Delle Donne and Kristi Toliver, Jonquel Jones and Chiney Ogwumike, Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner, Maya Moore and Sylvia Fowles, Skylar Diggins-Smith and Liz Cambage. Now, imagine all of them, battling it out not just once, but twice, just for a chance to get to a WNBA outpost like Atlanta or Seattle for a best-of-5 series, as Hayes, Angel McCoughtry and the gang get time to recuperate and prepare. The Dream have earned the right to share this vision, but they need to keep knocking down the pins in front of them if they wish to achieve it.

Add to the vision (go ahead and say it) 2018 Rookie of the Year A’ja Wilson (20.5 PPG, 4^th in WNBA; 8.3 RPG, 3^rd in WNBA), the one legging’d wonder who is an absolute joy to watch in and around the paint (June and July’s Rookie of the Month), and her high-scoring teammate Kayla McBride (19.2 PPG, 2^nd among WNBA guards). Jessica Breland will get much of the Wilson assignment defensively, as will Hayes on McBride.

As good as Wilson and McBride have been for the Aces (an impressive 6-2 in July), it hasn’t been enough to play from in front and weather the storm (if they’ll excuse the air travel pun) on most nights. Coach Bill Laimbeer has been a spoilsport for the Dream ever since his days leading the Detroit Shock to titles, and he’ll need to have several Aces up his sleeve, including former ATL high school star Dearica Hamby, to balance out the offense and make enough stops to be in the contest by night’s end.

Even with a defeat tonight, not all would be lost for the Aces. They would remain in the running and will play four of their final five games in Paradise, concluding with a return visit by the Dream at Mandalay Bay on August 19. Teams they can still catch, like the slip-siding Lynx and Wings, are also on the docket.

Having a playoff seed locked up by then and not having to worry about lottery implications post-forfeiture, would be ideal for Las Vegas. Having to fly coach into Hartsfield-Jackson right after a 109-88 loss in Connecticut is also a bit sub-optimal. But, as anybody on the Aces should understand, you simply learn to play the hand you’ve been dealt.

 

Let’s Go Dream!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

^The WNBA updated the standings post-forfeiture announcement during my preparation of the pregame post.

If the Aces (downgraded to 12-16) win tonight, the Dream's Magic Number will remain as it is now, newly updated, at 1.

The Magic Number for the Mystics (upgraded to 17-11) is at 1 as well, and an Aces loss or Mystics win today gets them in the dance.

Same deal for the Sparks, who also won the season-series versus Las Vegas. Los Angeles gets in with an Aces loss tonight. Otherwise they'd want to win tomorrow in New York before concluding their road back-to-back in Atlanta on Thursday.

8th-place Dallas has the season series sewed up with Las Vegas, so the Aces' Tragic Number is now down to 4.

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Get ready to hear a lot more of Vince The Voice Bailey shouting "TIFFANYYYYY HEY-HEY-HEY-HAYES!"

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Was THAT a game, or what?

Undoubtedly a Top Five game of the WNBA season. And it just might be Top ONE!

Take your time, and rest that knee, Angel. Because...

The Playoffs Are A Comin'!

"Defend The ATL!"

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

The only Magic Numbers that matter... now that the Playoffs are a certainty!

Homecourt-opener (2) -- depends on the Lynx and the Wings

First-Round-bye (3) -- depends on the Sun and the Mercury... who are losing at home (again) to the Mystics right now on NBATV!

First- and Second-Round bye (4) -- depends on the Sparks and the Mystics... doesn't mean what it used to, but the Eastern Conference title's Magic Number (Mystics) is 4 as well.

~lw3

[Gray Mule]

WOW!  Four Dream gals score over 20 and the team sets a new record in total game points.  Also, they must have set a record for blocked shots.

Angel was injured with about 5 minutes left in the game.  Dream players took up the challenge and pulled away to victory.  Team work!  So many players for the Dream did so much to thrill all fans of Atlanta!  There can be no question.  These Dream gals are good !

GO DREAM !!

[TheNorthCydeRises]

On 8/4/2018 at 4:48 AM, Gray Mule said:

Great way to finish a game!  Are you paying attention, Hawks?

Too bad the Dream has such poor attendance.  Maybe, next season, when they get back home.

GO ATL DREAM !!

Congratulations, Bria !!

 

I think the WNBA needs to change their marketing strategy.  I consider myself a "basketball purist", in the fact that I appreciate the game no matter who is playing.  I can watch a good game between 8 year olds, and get enjoyment out of it.  Most NBA fans aren't pure basketball fans.   They only follow the NBA, and nothing else.   And to be honest, a lot of men are still sexist when it comes to women's sports.   I don't think that will change much.

The WNBA wonders why they can't get more women watching the sport.  The surprising thing is that a lot of WOMEN are unconsciously sexist as well against women's sports, because they can't watch it the same way they can men's sports.   Those women aren't "basketball purists" either.

To me, here is the WNBA / Women's basketball fan base

• Seniors who love basketball . . . like yourself
• Basketball purists . . . like myself
• Families who want to watch live basketball, but not pay NBA level ticket prices

Honestly, they should forget trying to market to, or please anybody else.

I just finished watching the Dream vs Aces game.  What a high quality and fun matchup to watch.   Lots of points.  Timely defense by Atlanta.  Great individual performances on both sides.   The best thing that league did, was to go to the 24 second shot clock.  It has really brought out the skill level of the guards, and created a lot more open shots for shooters who can knock down 3s.  It's also opened up the middle for the big people, who are some of the best players in the game.

It is definitely my goal this weekend to make it to the home finale vs Dallas on Saturday.  Just need to clear some time at work on Friday, and possibly get some tires for my car, and roll down to ATL on Saturday morning.