NFL
By: Nick Andre
Three long weeks later, the WNBA season is resuming. Fans were able to witness Team USA win gold after defeating France in a thriller contest. But now it’s time for teams to be on the hunt for the Playoffs. The Atlanta Dream currently sits in ninth place with a 7-17 record. As the season winds down, the team still believes their push for a playoff seed is possible.
Before we dive into the Dream’s season, there have been several positives that have taken place since their last game on July 17. Allisha Gray swept through All-Star Friday night as she won the Skills Competition and the Three-Point Contest. Meanwhile, Rhyne Howard represented Team USA in the 3×3 Tournament as she helped the team win a bronze medal. Despite no Dream basketball over the past few weeks, the fans have been able to witness their favorite players do great things on the court.
Back to the Atlanta Dream, it’s been a struggle to say the least. Most of it is in their control while some has not been. This is a team that looked great at the beginning of the season with big wins over the Los Angeles Sparks and Dallas Wings. Unfortunately, the momentum couldn’t continue as they’ve suffered through multiple losing streaks.
After making the playoffs a season ago, it’s safe to say that the Dream are still trying to find themselves. It’s also hard to build an identity when your best players are out of the rotation. Rhyne Howard missed a month due to an ankle injury while Jordin Canada has played in only four games this season. The numbers show why the Dream have been struggling. Defensively, they’re ranked fifth in points allowed while letting their opponents shoot 42.5 percent from the floor.
Despite the struggles that Atlanta was faced with, there’s still time to make a turnaround. They’re currently three games behind the Chicago Sky for the eighth seed. Coming off of a long break, there are a few keys for the Dream to keep their playoff hopes alive.
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Play with more urgency
Sometimes the box score doesn’t tell the full story of a game. The effort on the floor can explain the reason why a team wins or loses. Throughout the season, the Dream have struggled to compete most nights. That comes from a lack of effort and no sense of urgency.
The Dream know how to come together and pick up a win. Take their early season victory over the two-time defending champion Las Vegas Aces as an example. Even when things didn’t go their way, the Dream continued to fight through adversity. They did so by remaining disciplined in their game plan and working together which resulted in a come-from-behind victory. The sense of urgency has shown from Atlanta numerous times through the season. However, if they want to clinch a playoff seed they’ll have to play with more of it moving forward.
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Health
Every great team needs bodies on the floor, especially their best players. As I mentioned above, Rhyne Howard missed nearly a month due to injury. During that stretch, the Dream had a 1-9 record in the 10 games she missed. Howard’s presence is important for Atlanta. She’s their best scorer who can display a combination of scoring and playmaking. When Howard is assertive offensively it makes the game easier for the rest of her teammates.
Other injuries as well have been to Jordin Canada and Aerial Powers. As mentioned earlier, Canada has only suited up for the Dream in four games. During that stretch, she displayed great playmaking and perimeter defense that the team has lacked all season. There’s no timetable for Canada’s return as she recovers from a right finger injury. But her presence will be needed down the stretch of the season.
As for Aerial Powers, her presence is needed more than ever. In her first season in Atlanta, Powers has been a pit of fire that gives the team inspiration. Once she checks into the game, she provides instant energy on offense and plays great in lineups next to Howard, Gray, Tina Charles, and others. Powers missed a couple of weeks due to a lower leg injury. Without her scoring punch off the bench, the Dream looked to other talents like Maya Caldwell and others to fill the void. To tell the truth, nobody can replace the energy that Aerial Powers plays with. It’s a reason why she’s a former WNBA champion and has had several highlight moments in her career.
Conclusion
There are 16 games for the Atlanta Dream to make a playoff run. While the chances look slim to none, the team believes anything is possible. The Olympic Break could be one that was beneficial for the Dream. It allowed the players to reset, refocus, and make necessary adjustments to re-emerge as a playoff contender.
