WNBA: Evaluating the Atlanta Dream’s beginning lineup change

On Sunday, the Atlanta Dream (6-6) averted an ignominious three-game dropping streak, responding to losses to the Washington Mystics (2-12) and Indiana Fever (5-10) with a victory over the Los Angeles Sparks (4-10). Atlanta could have the chance to avenge their loss to Indiana on Friday, internet hosting the Fever at State Farm Enviornment (7:30 p.m. ET, ION). First, they hit the street on Wednesday to fulfill the Minnesota Lynx (11-3) for the second time this season (8 p.m. ET, LeaguePass). The primary matchup was a powerful Lynx win in Atlanta.

Earlier than this subsequent set of video games, let’s check out the Dream’s lineup mixtures and see what’s, and isn’t, working:

Is Atlanta’s new beginning lineup the answer?

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Forward of the Indiana recreation, head coach Tanisha Wright made a change to the beginning lineup, inserting Nia Coffey for Cheyenne Parker-Tyus. On Sunday towards LA, Coffey remained within the beginning group.

Throughout 11 video games and 88 complete minutes, Atlanta’s unique staring lineup of Haley Jones, Allisha Grey, Rhyne Howard, Tina Charles and Parker-Tyus has a plus-minus of minus-12, with points on each ends of the ground. The unit registered an offensive ranking of 98.9, barely higher than the staff’s general offensive ranking however not almost robust sufficient for a beginning 5. The larger drawback was on the defensive finish, with their 106.1 defensive ranking a lot worse than the staff’s general defensive ranking of 99.8.

That knowledge suggests it was time for Wright to make a change. Though it’s solely been two video games, Parker-Tyus has thrived coming off the bench. As analysts Angel Grey and Autumn Johnson mentioned in the course of the broadcast of the Sparks recreation, Parker-Tyus expressed how she is extra comfy working on the 5, as she has extra space in comparison with enjoying the 4 alongside Charles. Her improved taking pictures percentages mirror as a lot. She’s additionally exhibited extra exercise in different areas of the sport, amassing extra boards, assists and steals as a reserve.

Nevertheless, whereas Parker-Tyus is now offering extra dynamic publish play from off the bench, the brand new beginning group additionally doesn’t appear to be the reply. The fivesome of Jones, Grey, Howard, Charles and Coffey has been outscored by 13 factors in 39 minutes collectively throughout 9 video games. Their protection has been fairly good, evidenced by a defensive ranking of 87.7. The offense, in distinction, has been a catastrophe, with an anemic offensive ranking of 73.4. That’s not terribly stunning, as Jones is a hesitant shooter and Coffey has develop into painfully reluctant on the offensive finish. Opponents, subsequently, can load up on Grey, Howard and Charles, additional gumming up Atlanta’s usually sticky and stilted offensive course of.

What lineups are working for Atlanta?

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The Dream’s lack of a strong beginning 5 once more factors to the significance of Jordin Canada, the staff’s headlining offseason addition and place to begin guard who stays sidelined with a hand harm.

To date, Atlanta’s finest lineup doesn’t characteristic a conventional main ball handler. The quintet of Grey, Howard, Charles, Naz Hillmon and Aerial Powers is a plus-14 in 13 complete minutes of shared court docket time. Whereas the pattern dimension is small, it’s a lineup that is sensible, because the staff’s three stars are surrounded by two gamers who know their roles. Powers pulsates with usually frenetic power, along with her willingness to fearlessly fireplace away a wanted trait for a staff that may endure via scoring droughts. And though she is vulnerable to some poor defensive choices, these usually are born out of an eagerness to make one thing occur. Hillmon’s extra measured efforts stability out Powers’ livewire stylings. She’s a consummate connective participant, supporting her starrier teammates by doing the little issues that contribute to successful.

One other promising lineup sees Crystal Dangerfield substitute Powers alongside Grey, Howard, Charles and Hillmon. That grouping has outscored opponents by 9 factors in 16 minutes. It appears Wright has resisted completely trusting Dangerfield. After enjoying almost 28 minutes per recreation for the Dallas Wings final season, she’s averaging simply half that with the Dream, enjoying 14 minutes and averaging 3.1 factors and 1.9 assists per recreation. Whereas she’s undersized and a below-average shooter for her place, Dangerfield is a reliable level guard who is aware of easy methods to mess around stars, as she confirmed with the Wings final season. Permitting her the chance to develop chemistry along with her new teammates might assist Atlanta keep away from its spells of offensive stagnancy.

It should even be thrilling to see Canada (ultimately) play with the Grey-Howard-Charles-Hillmon quartet. Contemplating Coffey’s early season struggles, inserting Hillmon into the beginning lineup as soon as, if not earlier than, Canada debuts might assist the Dream start to develop into the most effective model of themselves.