The Atlanta Dream defeated the Connecticut Sun on Sunday, 90-77. It was a bit close all throughout but the Dream rode on the efforts of Matee Ajavon and Reshanda Gray.
Ajavon was relentless in transition and created opportunities for the Dream. She had 9 points and 7 assists, and was a plus-28 on the floor. Gray had 18 points on 6-for-7 shooting and 6 boards in one of her finest games in the season, and was a plus-22.
The Dream has to be pleased with the way their new frontline of Damiris Dantas and Gray are performing. They did lose Erika De Souza who was a vital cog during their run to the finals in the previous seasons but these two bigs give them youth and hope moving forward.
Now down to the main takeaway of this game:
Alyssa Thomas was a DNP tonight, and Jennifer Lacy stepped up big time for the Sun despite the loss.
The 10-year veteran started in only her second game for the Sun, scored a season-high 21 points (tied career-high) to lead her squad and hauled down 6 rebounds. She shot 50 percent from the field, hit 3 of her 7 attempts from long range and was a perfect 4-for-4 from the stripe.
It is great to see her show other facets of her game after perhaps having a limited role when she was part of the Los Angeles Sparks.
Lacy played 8 games for the Sparks, averaged 22 minutes a game and 5.5 points a game. For the Sun, she is averaging 4.3 points in only 9 minutes per match, serving as the chief back-up at the small forward or four positions.
Looking at her per-36 stats, there is a stark contrast:
LAS: 9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 9 field goal attempts
CON: 16.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 13.3 field goal attempts
Lacy is getting more touches and attempts with the Sun. Back with the Sparks, she was playing the three spot, and was more of a mere three-point shooter to help spread the floor.
In fact, she never had a free throw attempt in all of her games with the Sparks.
61.4 percent of her total field goal attempts for the Sparks were triples. That number dropped to 48.4 percent with the Sun.
She was more than a spot-up player and it showed against the Dream; she was getting good seals underneath and her teammates hit her with the entry pass. She can put the ball down and drive. And of course, she can hit the catch and shoot three if the defense collapses.
Without Thomas, Lacy brought her real game to the table, and it is something Anne Donovan can rely on as the Sun hope to catch a ticket to the playoffs in the loaded Eastern Conference.
Your @AtlantaDream get the 13 point win in @philipsarena over the @connecticutsun! 90-77. #LiveIt pic.twitter.com/6uDpYYVViE
— Atlanta Dream (@AtlantaDream) August 16, 2015
Ajavon was relentless in transition and created opportunities for the Dream. She had 9 points and 7 assists, and was a plus-28 on the floor. Gray had 18 points on 6-for-7 shooting and 6 boards in one of her finest games in the season, and was a plus-22.
The Dream has to be pleased with the way their new frontline of Damiris Dantas and Gray are performing. They did lose Erika De Souza who was a vital cog during their run to the finals in the previous seasons but these two bigs give them youth and hope moving forward.
Now down to the main takeaway of this game:
Alyssa Thomas was a DNP tonight, and Jennifer Lacy stepped up big time for the Sun despite the loss.
The 10-year veteran started in only her second game for the Sun, scored a season-high 21 points (tied career-high) to lead her squad and hauled down 6 rebounds. She shot 50 percent from the field, hit 3 of her 7 attempts from long range and was a perfect 4-for-4 from the stripe.
It is great to see her show other facets of her game after perhaps having a limited role when she was part of the Los Angeles Sparks.
Lacy played 8 games for the Sparks, averaged 22 minutes a game and 5.5 points a game. For the Sun, she is averaging 4.3 points in only 9 minutes per match, serving as the chief back-up at the small forward or four positions.
Looking at her per-36 stats, there is a stark contrast:
LAS: 9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 9 field goal attempts
CON: 16.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 13.3 field goal attempts
Lacy is getting more touches and attempts with the Sun. Back with the Sparks, she was playing the three spot, and was more of a mere three-point shooter to help spread the floor.
In fact, she never had a free throw attempt in all of her games with the Sparks.
61.4 percent of her total field goal attempts for the Sparks were triples. That number dropped to 48.4 percent with the Sun.
She was more than a spot-up player and it showed against the Dream; she was getting good seals underneath and her teammates hit her with the entry pass. She can put the ball down and drive. And of course, she can hit the catch and shoot three if the defense collapses.
Without Thomas, Lacy brought her real game to the table, and it is something Anne Donovan can rely on as the Sun hope to catch a ticket to the playoffs in the loaded Eastern Conference.
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