The Atlanta Dream Can Poke And Prod You To Death

The argument against the Atlanta Dream says their transition-heavy style might be incompatible with playoff basketball. But in the three playoff games they’ve played so far, the latest a 92-82 home win over New York to open the second round, Karl Smesko's team has totally set the terms. As they see it, this is playoff basketball: fast, tireless, always connected. Even when the Dream bump into issues running their halfcourt offense, they make the math work for them in other ways. The best offensive rebounder in league history wins them extra possessions, and a team defense that’s forced more turnovers than any other WNBA team this year sets up easy scoring opportunities against defenses on their heels. That made them a nightmare first-round matchup for the Washington Mystics, who turned the ball over more than any other WNBA team this year. Washington’s season indeed ended thanks to a 42-15 turnover differential across two games. Lest that stat be blamed on the young Mystics’ nerves, consider the 32 points Atlanta scored off 21 turnovers from veteran-stocked New York in Sunday's game. The fix for Game 2 on Wednesday sounds easy: Don’t turn the ball over. But the Atlanta Dream are a team designed to make it difficult. The Liberty’s problems weren’t all self-inflicted.

Read it at Defector ↗

← Front page