NFL
By: Nick Andre
The Atlanta Dream are struggling. The team has lost five of their last six games and are currently fighting for a position to be one of the top playoff seeds. There hasn’t been many bright spots to discuss during the Dream’s season. But a player who is starting to come into her own is second-year point guard Haley Jones.
During the offseason, the Dream acquired Jordin Canada to be the team’s starting point guard. Canada has all of the experience from being a backup for Sue Bird in Seattle to emerging as a Most Improved Player Candidate in Los Angeles. Canada brings a dynamic of scoring, playmaking, and defense that the Dream needed moving forward. Unfortunately, Canada’s debut with Atlanta was put on hold due to an injury.
With Canada being sidelined, Dream head coach Tanisha Wright called on Haley Jones to be the team’s starting point guard. It’s a big jump for a second-year guard who started only six games during her rookie season. Being a starting point guard comes with a big responsibility. They’re known as an extended coach on the floor and have to make sure the team executes their game plan. Although Jones had little experience as a starter heading into her second season, her coaching staff believed in her and what she could bring to the table.
Let’s not get it confused. Haley Jones is capable of running an offense. She was an elite floor general in high school and that same IQ translated at the college level at Stanford, where she won a National Championship. Running an offense at the professional level is a challenge for many young players. Especially when it’s for a team that’s projected to be a playoff contender.
Truth be told, Haley Jones plays a role in why the Dream have been inconsistent this season. No, she hasn’t been the best point guard option for the team and her confidence has been shaky this season. Maybe the pressure was too tight to begin the season. Maybe the coaching staff hasn’t voiced to her what they need her to do. With the lack of ball movement and initiation on offense, the Dream have had difficulties building chemistry in this early season.
Despite Jones’ early season struggles, her confidence is slowly building. She understands that she has to take her game to another level if the Dream want to turn their season around. When Jones brings the ball up the floor, she’s initiating ball movement. When she has an open look on the perimeter, she’s shooting with confidence,m. Jones has also had some key defensive stops
Jones is averaging 10 points per game along with 3.6 assists on 46 percent shooting over the past three games. She had two-double digit scoring performances as well as another all-around performance against the New York Liberty. Yes, the Dream lost all three of those games. However, it was a great sign to watch their young guard improve each game.
Jordin Canada recently made her return in Sunday Afternoon’s game against the Liberty. However, it still may be a couple of weeks before she makes her first start of the season. Until that time comes, Haley Jones will continue to be the starting point guard for the Atlanta Dream. Hopefully, her confidence can continue to grow and she’ll become more comfortable in her position as a floor general in the WNBA.
