RebKell's Junkie Boards

[MJoy]

[BCBG25]

Bench getting Atlanta back in the game. Another strength?

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Kings of the World!

[mekanos]

Angel is leading her team with defensive effort, and they are back in the game -- now tied at 22 with 6 minutes left in 2nd quarter.

[eyevolley4]

Now the Dream have turned up the defensive intensity. Anyone Angel guards is having trouble protecting the ball.

Leuchanka is producing tonight and finishing at the basket. If she can do that consistently her production will only continue to increase and she should help keep the pressure on when Lyttle and DeSouza go to the bench.

Seattle just keeps trucking though. They don't look flustered, they just look like they hit a rough patch but they completely expect to move through it.

Camille Little, per usual, finds ways to make an impact at a key time hitting some timely buckets and getting herself into some open space.

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Some days are meant to be remembered.

[mekanos]

Seattle is strong. They have a proven mature team. You know what you're going to get with them.

[FS02]

Good game, but is it just me or have the refs been really inconsistent?

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@dtmears2

[Luuuc]

[caune]

[Bretter]

[BCBG25]

[FS02]

I like it because the Storm are winning and they're playing good D.

They are playing their game, more or less, although there were a few bad TO's.

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@dtmears2

[Bretter]

Seattle has been the more consistent of the two teams in this frenetically-messy game.. we're now seeing a downside of ATL's fast pace- what happens when a team really challenges you defensively and doesn't get frazzled by the rapid pace?

Miller getting way more minutes than Lehning - sign of things to come with the starting rotation? Lehning is usually calm, cool, and collected, but she came out and threw away two turnovers, and was not the rock the team needed to remain focused on the road. If your PG is all over the place, where do you find that rhythm? Other leaders need to step up, and McCoughtry did for awhile, but then frustration set in.

Seattle has been as consistent as possible on the offensive end, and has handled the Dream's pace very maturely. While they get practically no production from their bench, their starters are solid, veteran players who have been around the block a few times. Dream players? Most of them, not so much.

Foul trouble did not help ATL- losing Sancho and Erika so early only added to the inconsistency. Leuchanka and Bales came in and played well, but they're nowhere near what the two starters are at their best. Izi's game, once again, was the very definition of odd. Every shot you expected to miss dropped in, and vice versa.

Seattle needs to continue to dictate the pace as well as they can, and keep up the defensive pressure. ATL (easily enough for this analysis) needs to do exactly the same, but can they find that needed push at the end of a long road trip?

Here's to hoping the second half is a lot better than that hot mess.

[eyevolley4]

This game, in no way, has been beautifully played, but you see something in Seattle in this game that the Dream perhaps don't yet have.

Seattle is making mistakes but still has a look of confidence. Atlanta look to be searching a little more.

This is an opportunity for Angel to show her MVP-worthiness, as Jackson is pretty much snatching it right from her. Angel needs to find ways to create some shots for her team and continue to play really tough defense.

Jackson is electric and Little always finds a way to swing the tide. Impressed by her ability to make big impacts in relatively fewer minutes than her fellow starters. She and Wright are really just huge for this team.

Should really be interesting to see if the bench is just Svet and LeCoe in the second half.

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Some days are meant to be remembered.

[mekanos]

A team with mature leadership is showing how its done to a team with young leadership. A growth opportunity for sure.

Composure under pressure is the main lesson.

[Richyyy]

I've enjoyed it. This is comfortably the smartest, best-drilled team Atlanta have played so far, and it shows starkly. Their high-low stuff isn't there, because Seattle double and rotate smartly and its shut it down. The Storm are also quick to get back in transition and that's shut down Atlanta's running game. McCoughtry's average is horrible because it's all on jump shots. Her average is usually barely mediocre on jumpshots, but she gets so many layups it ends up looking decent. There are no layups available, so the average goes down to horrible (and she gets frustrated).

If I'm Agler I love that Atlanta have taken 10 threes. Take as many as you like. Izi took a couple and I sat here saying 'take that all day'. Angel rained that one in from miles away and I said the same thing. Miller hit a couple - big deal. Atlanta aren't going to win this game shooting thees unless lightning strikes.

Seattle have turned the ball over too much or they'd be even further ahead. Atlanta are a good defensive team as well.

[BCBG25]

Seattle is taking away Atlanta's options and limiting their inside game. We knew this was gonna happen at some point.
The answer is that their perimeter game still needs work.

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Kings of the World!

[FS02]

Woo I love Sue Bird's offense when she gets aggressive!

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@dtmears2

[Richyyy]

Still really enjoying this. Two nice defensive plays by Lehning (although Wright should've avoided the second one by giving the ball back to Bird). Dream get close but Seattle's defence still not letting them work.

[myrtle]

Lehning just sucked that whole quarter.

[Bretter]

[eyevolley4]

Svet brings some heat and some free flowing offense to the Storm. Sometimes the Storm get a little stagnant in their offense, but Svet is a player that doesn't know what stagnant means. She may make some errors, but she certainly puts on the pressure.

Little gets a good hand as she exits. She deserved it!

Interesting to see if Kelly Miller plays the whole 4th quarter.

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Some days are meant to be remembered.

[Luuuc]

LJ usually saves her poorer games for those that get televised here in Oz. Glad she made an exception today

Go Storm!!

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Thanks for calling. I wait all night for calls like these.

[Shades]

Don't give up already ATL!

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Nnekalonians 1:14 - Thou shalt not accept that which is not earned

[myrtle]

[BCBG25]

Seattle has some glaring weaknesses that the Dream didn't know to explore, namely their thin bench, although Agler has been able to mix it up there.
Nobody can guard LJ on Atlanta (or many other teams) when she steps out in the perimeter and their rebounding has been subpar.
Seattle is just keeping their foot down and the intensity up.

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Kings of the World!