2018 Atlanta Dream and WNBA Previews

[lethalweapon3]

On 8/7/2018 at 10:40 PM, lethalweapon3 said:

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

No changes in the Dream-relevant Magic Numbers after tonight's action.

Sparks escaped from New York and are probably landing here soon, ahead of tomorrow night's tilt at McCamish! (Angel's listed as doubtful versus L.A., but her knee injury is reportedly not too serious)

Storm visit the Mystics in another interesting lunchtime matinee (breakfast if you're a Seattle fan, lol) on NBATV tomorrow (11:30 AM Eastern)!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

New Rule: We must have drenching downpours of weather in the hours before every Atlanta Dream game. That rule is holding ahead of tonight's matchup with the visiting Los Angeles Sparks (7 PM Eastern, Fox Sports Southeast in ATL, NBATV elsewhere). But accompanying the showers, will the Dream continue raining offense on their opponents?

Atlanta comes into today's contest two nights after an epic, 109-100 victory over Las Vegas, a win that carried both the Dream (19-10) and the Sparks (18-11) into the postseason.  But they'll likely play today without the services of Angel McCoughtry. The All-Star was waylaid late in Tuesday's game and is nursing a bruised knee.

"We'll be smart with Angel," noted Dream coach Nicki Collen after the Aces game, "and certainly not push her, if she's not ready." Instead of hounding McCoughtry, Sparks' defensive wing Alana Beard will likely look to cover the zippy Brittney Sykes, and Los Angeles (last in Pace), in contrast with Las Vegas (first in Pace), hopes to control possessions and slow the game tempo way down, to the benefit of Sparks legend Candace Parker (20th player in history to reach 5,000 WNBA points) and teammates Nneka Ogwumike and Chelsea Gray.

Sykes and Tiffany Hayes will face less defensive pressure if they can continue to get timely offensive contributions from its shot-blocking frontcourt of Elizabeth Williams and Jessica Breland. Even more helpful would be if starting point guard Renee Montgomery (0-for-5 3FGs vs. LV, 3-for-31 in her last six games) can unshackle her perimeter game. Getting Monty back in a groove, the way Alex Bentley (season-high 10 FGs and 22 points vs. LV, 5-for-12 3FGs in her last two games) has of late, will help to offset the temporary loss of scoring from Angel (team-high 19 points in the win @ Nneka-less LA a couple weeks ago).

Perhaps saving their best energies for today, the Sparks played to the very best level the otherwise awful New York Liberty could offer yesterday, outlasting the Libs 82-81 and making a break for the airport. Carried through much of this back half of the season by an MVP-quality Parker, the Sparks have won 4 of their last 5 contests, the exception being Atlanta's impressive 81-71 win at Staples Center back on July 24. But since lifting their spirits with a huge win over the defending champion Lynx in their first game out of the All-Star Break, L.A. has had two uninspiring victories. They clung to a 78-75 win over visiting Phoenix, nearly blowing a 15-point second-half lead, before heading east to face New York and Atlanta.

Coach Brian Agler knows that if his team is going to pull off an advantageously high seed, his Sparks will need to get it done away from home. A rematch with the Liberty in just two days will be the home finale, but trips to Phoenix, Washington, and Connecticut, all jockeying for playoff positioning, are on the docket over the following ten days.

Riquna Williams and Essence Carson (combined 6-for-10 3FGs) were big off the bench in New York, but Agler needs his bigs off the bench, notably Jantel Lavender and rookie Maria Vadeeva, to be impactful if the Sparks intend to finish the regular season by clinching at least a first-round bye. The Dream, who have enjoyed the energy provided by reserve bigs Imani McGee-Stafford and Monique Billings lately, have similarly lofty goals in mind.

The ATL hasn't always been hospitable for Parker and the Sparks, who are just 1-9 in this town since 2010, although that one victory came here at Georgia Tech (also without Angel on the floor, obviously) last season. Unlike a couple days ago, there won't be many fans of champion SEC teams packing the house in Candace's corner, either. Can she get enough help, both inside and out, from her teammates to help change the narrative? Or, will she find herself grabbing an umbrella, to weather yet another Atlanta deluge?

 

Let's Go Dream!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

We can't have ANYTHING nice!!!

~lw3

[Gray Mule]

Dream win !!  With Angel out until next season and playing the very good LA team, Our Atlanta Dream held on, played a very good game, and won.

It was all the fault of Nicki Collen that they keep winning.  They believe in her and believe she knows what she's doing.  She tells them and they do it!  Right down to the last few seconds, while the outcome was still in question, we were all on edge, waiting for the final horn.  Angel, crutches and all, was right there, urging them on and they won one for our own Angel tonight!

GO DREAM !!

[lethalweapon3]

Magic Numeros!

Root for the playoff-hungry Aces at home tonight (starting right now on NBATV). If they win, and more specifically, the Brunson-less, Whalen-less Lynx lose, the Dream would officially earn a guaranteed playoff homecourt game! (Magic Number: 1)

First-Round Bye: 2 (controlled by Connecticut)

First- and Second-Round Bye: 3 (controlled by Washington and L.A.)

One Dream Magic Number I haven't mentioned: 6, for the #1-overall spot (homecourt advantage overall) currently held by Seattle. Conversely, the Storm's Magic Number for clinching that spot holds, at 2.

 

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Is this the swan song for Freddy Bass? Fred Williams is hoping his Dallas Wings can shake off a six-game losing skid down the standings with a win today against the Atlanta Dream (2:00 PM Eastern, Fox Sports Southeast in ATL, NBATV elsewhere). While the Dream are on the cusp of having Greatest Regular Season Record in Team History on their cupboard, the Wings are simply struggling to keep Las Vegas beyond arm’s reach of the final playoff spot (Dallas’ Magic Number is 2).

Deep in my grab bag of Things I Wish the WNBA Would Do is tightening up the concussion detection protocol. About two weeks ago, Dallas’ Skylar Diggins-Smith was whacked across the chin, was down for several minutes, taken back to the locker room before halftime, and didn’t come back out until the third quarter was underway, presumably, for “testing”. Then Skylar suddenly comes back out and plays Chicago up until the final shot where, with the game on the line, she makes an off-drive kickout to no one in the vicinity, a pass that flies out of bounds and was… mystifying, to say the least.

Next thing you know, Diggins-Smith is held out for a couple games, only returning just three nights ago in a home loss to Connecticut with what we were sold as a “head injury.” Coincidentally, in that Sun game, Liz Cambage seems to catch an opponent’s elbow between her jaw and neckline (literally clamping down on the arm) before twisting and tumbling to the floor. Cambage gets up, clearly shaken (moreso from the effects of the fall than the elbow itself) as she awaits the review from the bench. Liz goes back in to play, but it isn’t until the second half, as Dallas was falling behind, the Cambage gets sent to the locker room, presumably, again, for “testing.”

Now it was Cambage’s turn to be listed as questionable for the Wings’ critical three-game East Coast road trip that begins this afternoon in Atlanta, continues Sunday in D.C, and concludes on Tuesday at Connecticut.

I understand these team trainers have a hard job, but when they’re not drawing technical fouls from the refs, is there some way they can test the players after they’ve absorbed obvious head blows, before sending them back on the court hoping for the best? The NBA and other leagues are only recently giving concussions the serious attention they deserve, and I hope the NBA’s little sister league follows suit with a clearer, more consistent protocol in the offseason, with penalties for teams that appear to be circumventing it.

As best as I can tell, Williams hasn’t put out an LP in several years, but he would have more time to put into his craft if Dallas (14-15), with two likely All-WNBA performers and a reigning Rookie of the Year in its armory, doesn’t turn things around at the close of this season and, one would imagine, the postseason.

Since the slide began, Dallas has been allowing way too many points, beginning with a 114-99 loss in Chicago back on July 20. The 91 points they put on the Sky in the rematch after the All-Star Break proved to be a couple points too few. On Wednesday, at home, the Wings were roasted 101-92 by the Sun, Cambage’s 29 points (but just one free throw) and 9 boards plus Diggins-Smith 18 points proving to be inadequate versus a Connecticut team that seemed to have little problem picking their spots.

With their season on the line, it’s Dallas, not so much McCoughtry-less Atlanta, that sorely needs full-court contributions from their, if you will, wings. The play to acquire Tayler Hill (4-for-8 3FGs in last 2 games) from Washington has yet to pay dividends. Kayla Thornton looks lost at times, while Kaela Davis (season-high 15 points vs. ATL… back on May 20, out today due to illness) appears to be doghoused again following a pair of up-and-down performances. And Allisha Gray went scoreless with just one rebound and a pair of assists over 20 minutes in Wednesday’s loss to the Sun. As noted here plenty of times, the season-ending loss of Karima Christmas-Kelly, back in June, was a huge blow.

The best options off the bench for Coach Fred, Theresa Plaisance and rookie Azura Stevens, seem to get their playing time at the expense of fellow position players Cambage and Glory Johnson. It’s a chemistry equation, one that Williams and the Wings have little time left to solve.

Who knows how dire Dallas’ straits might be today had they not, with KCK in tow, swept the pair of May games against a Dream team that was still finding its way? As demonstrated in Thursday’s tough 79-73 win over road-weary Los Angeles, Coach Nicki Collen’s troopers are willing to elevate their play to help (try to) offset the season-ending loss of their franchise star, Angel McCoughtry.

Tiffany Hayes (3-for-10 FGs vs. LA) will find things much more amenable on the floor this afternoon than she did against the Sparks’ aggressive defenders. So will Brittney Sykes (2-for-6 FGs this past Thursday) and Alex Bentley (team-high 8 assists off the bench, plus some clutch baskets in Thursday’s win), who each must keep their emotions channeled to minimize the lulls in the Dream offense. That would benefit Jessica Breland and Elizabeth Williams (combined 13-for-19 FGs vs. LA), who have become unsung heroes for Atlanta’s offensive needs.

Will the Wings be up to the task in denying the Dream a franchise-record 21^st win, thereby firming up their playoff prospects and turning their momentum back upward? Or, will Freddy Bass’ team go out on a sour note?

 

Let’s Go Dream!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Homecourt playoff opener is officially on LOCK!

New Magic Numbers after today's win in the regular-season home finale...

First- and Second-Round Byes -- 2 (controlled by Washington... while Atlanta's in New York tomorrow, Dallas flies up to face D.C., 3PM on NBATV!)

Top-Seed Overall -- 5 (controlled by Seattle... big game for the Storm tomorrow night at defending champ Minnesota)

~lw3

[Gray Mule]

Dream won but Dallas wouldn't just go away.  Dream would smack them, then they would come back - - - Over and over.  But, the Dream prevailed!

This would make coffee nervous.  Get a nice lead.  Watch it shrink.  Get a nice lead.  Watch it shrink.  Until, at the end, get a nice lead, then game over!

Dream missed the playoffs last summer.  Then, Nicki Collen came aboard.  She reminds me of the late, great Tennessee coach, Pat Summit.  She always had her Vol team ready.  Nicki has our Dream ready.  She has a way to go to be as good as the great Pat Summit, but she's on her way.  I wouldn't swap her for any other WNBA coach.

GO DREAM !!

[lethalweapon3]

No more Atlanta Dream on the local boob tube, beginning with today's game in White Plains against the New York Liberty (2:30 PM Eastern). But those of you with WNBA League Pass can still catch MSG Network's broadcast of the game.

The Race for the 2-seed is still on but, hopefully, vets like Renee Montgomery (6-for-7 3FGs vs. DAL on Saturday), Tiffany Hayes and Jessica Breland can get some good mid-game rest, on the back end of a back-to-back, while some reserves can become key contributors. This would be a great game for Monique Billups and Imani McGee-Stafford to shine, and Blake Dietrick had her share of moments in yesterday's win over Dallas.

I didn't notice until today, but forward Adaora Elonu is on a 7-day contract that began on Friday. She was in training camp with the Dream and was among the final cuts. This is the Liberty's home finale, so Atlanta (21-10) snaring the victory and ensuring a winning road record (9-8 in away games in 2010 and 2011) won't be easy, even against a 7-22 opponent (4-12 at home). If the Dream regulars can build up and sustain a late lead, perhaps coach Nicki Collen will be able to see what Elonu and guard Alexis Prince can do.

Let's Go Dream!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

So much for rest, huh? Hey, Renee, save some of that for the Playoffs, why dontcha? :-)

~lw33333333

[Gray Mule]

NY kept it too close for much rest for the Dream.  The wins keep coming, however, as Renee Montgomery hit 8 three point shots.  86-77 final.  Where does this leave the Dream in the playoff picture?

Way to go Dream !!

[lethalweapon3]

Magic Numbers after this afternoon's games:

First-Round Bye: ZERO (guaranteed, no elimination game for the Dream when the Playoffs start on August 21!)

First- and Second-Round Byes: 1 (could have clinched today, but the Wings wouldn't help out. Next Dream win -- knock on wood -- or Mystics loss will sew this up!)

Top-Seed Overall: 4 (Seattle's number to clinch remains stuck at 2... they're in Minnesota tonight)

~lw3

[marco102]

Great to see the ladies doing so well!

[lethalweapon3]

So, did Saturday's Wings-Dream game turn out to be Fred Williams swan song, after all?

No.

Sunday's game did.

But never let it be said he didn't go down without a ... oh, no, Coach Freddy! Don't be fighting your own...

https://highposthoops.com/2018/08/12/dallas-head-coach-fred-williams-executive-greg-bibb-involved-altercation/

Quote

 

A steep descent in fortune for the Dallas Wings reached a new low on Sunday afternoon in Washington, when head coach Fred Williams and a man believed to be team president, CEO and partner Greg Bibb were involved in a postgame altercation outside the team’s locker room, following a 93-80 loss to the Mystics.

According to a source present for the back-and-forth, Williams and Bibb had to be restrained by other Wings staffers, and Williams was screaming obscenities.

 

~lwround3dingding

[lethalweapon3]

Mrs. Patty's got SKILLZ!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

It has been kind of nice for the Atlanta Dream, enjoying several days off. How about a few more, once the regular season ends? To get that, they may have to win tonight in Phoenix (10 PM Eastern, WNBA League Pass only), against a Mercury team that hadn’t been too hot at home until recently.

The Merc have managed to find some respite during this crazy month of August, too. A week ago, they finally shook off their hex of losing at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Last weekend, they handled their business against the visiting Fever and Sparks, making it easier on themselves to clinch a playoff berth. Who knows how differently we would be looking at Phoenix’s title prospects had they not dropped their prior five home games?

Instead, Coach Sandy Brondello’s squad has their work cut out for them, as Phoenix (19-13) essentially must win out to have a chance of outbidding Connecticut and Los Angeles (each 19-13) for the final first-round bye. Their season finale is at home, against a New York Liberty team that has just about given up, making tonight’s game versus the Dream the bigger of the must-wins. They need to perform well again today to prove to the home fans that they are postseason-primed.

Regardless of tonight’s outcome, the mindset for the Dream (22-10; 14-1 in last 15 games) needs to be playoff-oriented. Phoenix is very much a team the Dream may have to defeat three times in the WNBA semifinals. Or, in a worst-case scenario, Brittney Griner (5^th in WNBA scoring, 7^th in rebounds per game) and Diana Taurasi (4^th in WNBA scoring, 6^th in assists per game; 20 points, 14 assists vs. LA on Sunday) may be visiting Atlanta in a second-round single elimination game. Sunday afternoon’s season-finale in Las Vegas may indeed be an elimination contest for the Aces, if the home team loses.

Like the Dream (9-6 on the road), the league’s top seven teams are all either above .500 in away games or just a game below it, so it’s not beyond the realm of possibility a visitor may snatch a playoff win at McCamish Pavilion. That makes it crucial for Atlanta to sew up the second seed and the two-round bye, with a win either today or Sunday (this might not be needed, if Washington helps by losing at home earlier this evening versus LA). Even so, getting to the WNBA Finals may still require toppling an opponent in their gym, maybe even twice. It’s why these final road contests are continued opportunities for Coach Nicki Collen’s club to test their mettle.

Hopefully, it won’t take another Super Saiyan shooting effort from veteran guard Renee Montgomery (career-high 30 points @ NY on Sunday, 8-for-13 3FGs, including WNBA record 7 in one half, breaking record previously shared by Taurasi). The Dream could use stronger starts out of the gate from Tiffany Hayes and Elizabeth Williams, particularly on the defensive end and at the free throw line.

But ultimately, Atlanta needs production out of their bench, who shot a combined 1-for-12 from the field versus the Liberty. The reserves contributed just five of the team’s 86 points, three of their 16 assists, six of Atlanta’s 32 rebounds, and one of their 11 steals on Sunday.

Against a thin Phoenix roster that has three All-Stars but traditionally goes just six- or seven-deep, a big game from the likes of Alex Bentley or Imani McGee-Stafford could make all the difference. The time for everybody resting could be next week, if they all put in the work tonight.

 

Let’s Go Dream!

~lw3

[Gray Mule]

No win tonight.  In fact, no wins for any of my teams.  High School football, lost.  Atlanta Falcons, Braves and Dream - all lost.

Bad evening for the old man's teams.

[lethalweapon3]

Season finale day! A lot of playoff positions are up for grabs around the league today. The Atlanta Dream have been one of the hottest teams in the WNBA. But the hottest, the Washington Mystics, have won eight straight and are now tied with Atlanta (22-11) in the standings. If the Dream falls short of securing the second-seed, and therefore the second-round bye, against the Las Vegas Aces this afternoon (6 PM Eastern, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain in LV, ESPN3 online in ATL), they'll have to settle for hoping the weary Minnesota Lynx trips up the visiting Mystics later tonight.

The Dream can remove all doubt for themselves by tripping up the Aces, who eliminated themselves earlier this week in a loss at Dallas, in their first home finale at Manadalay Bay Events Center. But coach Bill Laimbeer doesn't plan on making it easy on his opponent, and neither will soon-to-be Rookie of the Year forward A'ja Wilson, and All-WNBA candidate guard Kayla McBride.

Still, it took Herculean efforts from All-Stars Diana Taurasi, DeWanna Bonner and Brittney Griner to fend off hard-charging Atlanta on Friday. If Atlanta keeps the pace high, does a better job of keeping the ball moving, and finds another hot perimeter hand like Alex Bentley (6-for-8 3FGs @ PHX) and Renee Montgomery to help Tiffany and Co. pile up the points, the lottery-bound Aces will eventually know when to fold 'em.

 

Let's Go Dream!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

It has been one Whalen of a playing career. Good luck to Lindsay in her next big endeavor!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Best season evah! And now, the Dream get a week off!

 

~lw3