WNBA: Is all of it a Dream, or is Atlanta really turning into a terrific crew?

The Atlanta Dream are 5-2, sitting in fourth place within the WNBA standings after sweeping a two-game West Coast swing in opposition to the Los Angeles Sparks and Seattle Storm.

Atlanta’s statistical profile substantiates their document as extra than simply success. On the season, they’ve outscored opponents by 37 complete factors, or 5.3 factors per sport, a mark that ranks third within the league. That success has been pushed by their offense, because the Dream’s 85.9 factors per sport is second solely the undefeated and defending champion New York Liberty, whereas their 106.9 offensive score trails solely that of the Liberty and likewise undefeated Minnesota Lynx.

The Dream aren’t a very environment friendly taking pictures crew, however they’re taking a variety of photographs, averaging 69.7 general makes an attempt, with 30.7 of them being 3-point makes an attempt, per sport, each of which rank within the prime three league huge. A surplus of offensive rebounds and a discount of turnovers, with the crew’s 10.6 o-boards and 13.6 turns each placing them at second-best in W, have contributed to the Dream’s further scoring alternatives. Atlanta is also incomes extra factors on the line, as they’re taking the second-most free throws per sport within the league at 22.4.

Absolutely all of this offensive success—a stark distinction to final season’s league-worst offensive outfit—is because of Brittney Griner, the high-profile free agent addition who lengthy has been probably the most unstoppable offensive forces within the league?

No B(i)G distinction—but

Not fairly. Showing in 5 of Atlanta’s seven video games on account of a knee harm, Griner has underperformed within the season’s early going. Her 12.2 factors per sport on 44.6 p.c taking pictures would each be profession lows. Unfulfilled hopes for her 3-point shot have contributed to her inefficiency, as she taking greater than a 3 per sport however has solely hit 16.7 p.c of her efforts. She’s additionally committing a career-high 2.6 turnovers per sport, whereas attending to the road a career-low 2.6 occasions per sport.

So, the Dream are wanting like an elite offense, but BG is (for now) taking part in a number of the worst offensive basketball of her profession. What?

The Dream’s success, regardless of Griner’s struggles, is an encouraging signal.

Though it’d take extra time for BG to regulate to go coach Karl Smesko’s system, Atlanta’s different key items have virtually immediately benefitted from the philosophies carried out by the reputed offensive wizard. That’s very true for Rhyne Howard and Allisha Grey. And that the Dream’s finest and most essential gamers are thriving, all whereas driving the crew to wins, ought to excite Atlanta followers.

Rhylisha is being totally realized

Picture by Jane Gershovich/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures

Though licensed All-Stars, Howard’s and Grey’s particular person outputs had did not translate into wins all through a lot of their two seasons collectively in Atlanta. That’s altering—and shortly. And it’s a testomony not simply to Smesko and his systemic shifts, but in addition to the 2 gamers, who’re proving their star bona fides by absorbing new methods, adapting their video games and exhibiting their elite skills.

Grey has taken her sport to a different degree. Recent off a career-high 28 factors in Atlanta’s win in Seattle, her career-best 21.4 factors per sport put her at fifth on the league’s scoring ladder. These factors have been propelled by her unabashed 3-point taking pictures—a transparent emphasis from Smesko that she has embraced. She is launching probably the most triples of her profession at 6.6 per sport, and hitting virtually 44 p.c of them. However, the WNBA’s reigning 3-Level Contest queen isn’t just getting buckets. Grey can be dipping into her playmaking bag, tossing 4.6 assists per sport, a mark which is one other profession excessive.

Whereas Grey has emerged as extra explosive scoring risk, Howard has complemented her already-present scoring prowess with enhanced all-round influence. In earlier seasons, the standard of a Howard efficiency usually was depending on if her shot, significantly her 3-point shot, was falling. That’s not the case this yr. Whilst her taking pictures’s been chilly to start out the season, she has been contributing to profitable basketball. Within the absence of Jordin Canada, who suffered a knee harm simply seconds into the Dream’s first preseason contest however is anticipated to return quickly, Howard has assumed major playmaking tasks, shelling out 5 assists per sport. On the opposite finish, she’s ramped up her exercise, creating havoc as she swipes virtually two steals per sport whereas usually assuming the hardest perimeter defensive project.

But, despite early inefficiency, the scoring remains to be there, evidenced by her career-best 17.6 factors per sport. (The 33 factors she scored within the win over the Storm might additionally trace initially of a Howard heater.) She is hoisting a league-leading 10.4 3s per sport, cashing in an virtually three per sport regardless of her accuracy falling under 30 p.c. That can enhance. What’s most encouraging, and hopefully will proceed, is Howard willingness to get all the way in which to the basket. As a substitute of settling for midrangers, she’s going to rim. A career-low 8.1 p.c of her photographs are coming from the midrange, whereas she’s incomes 4.3 factors per sport within the paint, which might be a profession excessive.

That’s extra proof of Smesko’s affect, in addition to Howard’s near-instant actualization of it.

Having fun with the Breeze and the bench

The optimized offensive excellence of Grey and Howard isn’t the one factor going effectively for Atlanta.

Whereas Griner’s integration in Atlanta has been uneven, Brionna Jones’ has been seamless. Though her conventional low-post sport isn’t versatile, she is adaptable, as she proved when taking part in with numerous iterations of the Connecticut Solar and now with a really completely different Dream crew. Enjoying a career-high 31.5 minutes per sport, the Dream have outscored opponents by 46 factors together with her on the court docket, one of the best mark among the many crew’s starters. And that’s with Jones’ scoring effectivity sitting under her normally elite commonplace. Not a part of Connecticut’s extra crowded frontcourt, she’s doing career-best work on the glass, knocking down 9.3 rebounds per sport. Her persistence within the put up can be incomes her a career-high 4.7 free throws per sport.

Naz Hillmon was on the fringes of Smesko’s rotation by way of the primary few video games, however Griner’s absence and subsequent struggles opened extra minutes—and he or she grabbed them! After not seeing greater than 5 minutes within the Dream’s first 4 video games, Hillmon has performed 29, 26 and 24 minutes in Atlanta’s previous three victories, with the crew outscoring opponents by 58 factors when she is on the court docket. Hillmon is scoring effectively, caring for the boards and holding the ball shifting. In brief, she’s doing all of the little issues that result in wins.

Maya Caldwell and Nia Coffey even have emerged has key rotational items. Along with offering her customary defensive jolt, Coffey is up to now having fun with an excellent taking pictures season, taking greater than three 3s per sport a making virtually 40 p.c of them. Whereas Caldwell’s taking pictures is inconsistent, her potential to do a little bit of all the pieces has earned Smesko’s belief, which was most evident when she performed a career-high 36 minutes in Atlanta’s win over the Connecticut Solar.

Sure, there are a scary quantity of excellent issues occurring in Atlanta! However, it’s not excellent. The offense can nonetheless expertise stagnant stretches and defensive breakdowns are too frequent. Sharpening these weak spot, one thing the eventual acclimation of Griner might tackle, will probably be obligatory if Atlanta is to advance from early-season shock to stable playoff crew to potential contender.

Seven video games into the 2025 season, nonetheless, it’s laborious to not begin dreaming massive!