Saying this as a casual - swap JC for CC.

Indy gets speedy guard who can play D, 1 ast/game drop off, offloads turnover & injury prone player. Downside: empty arena

Dream get 3pt shooter to fit Karl's "gameplan". Angel's got her back on misses. Reb/ast dbl-dbl as she kicks it back out for another shot. Downside: TO twins on the same team. CC in box braids?

Short term win now plan

Hey all,

Due to the...not very good game yesterday, I wanted to do-my-own-research (lmfao I hate this phrase) and dig what exactly has been going wrong for this team the past few games.

I want to preface that, for a few of these losses, I am not concerned. The first three losses were on the back-end of playing 6 games in less than 10 days, so while I do not like that we lost those games, I am willing to give some grace to the players because that is an extremely rough schedule. Now, the last two losses? Not good, but at the same time, both the Mystics and Valkyries are good teams. I do think they should have won both of them, but at this point, it is what it is.

First, I want to compare the team's overall stats between their wins and losses so we can see how the team has been performing when they are doing well compared to the past 5 games

	The Dream's 12 Wins	The Dream's Last 5 Losses
PPG	93 points	78 points
Opp. PPG	80 points	86 points
FG %	46%	38%
Opp. FG %	45%	50%
3P FG %	35%	26%
Opp. 3P FG %	32%	44%
Rebounds	37 reb	31 reb
Opp. Rebounds	28 reb	33 reb
Assists	21 ast	17 ast
Opp. Assists	18 ast	20 ast
Turnovers	14 tov	14.5 tov
Opp. Turnovers	17 tov	19 tov

The marked decrease in points scored is definitely, in-part, attributed to us playing the Valkyries in this stretch of games, along with the increase in opponent 3pt-shooting (32% -> 44%). However, the 38% shooting from the field, along with the terrible 26% shooting from 3 in this stretch is alarmingly low. This, in conjunction with the decrease in assists, shows, at least to some extent, that they aren't able to convert on the looks that they are getting.

The most glaring red flag is, as noted above, the breakdown in perimeter defense. When the team is winning, they're able to mitigate the opponent getting good looks from three. It's fair, to some extent, to chalk this up to some insane heaters on our opponent's part (Awa Fam is the most notable one), but if the team is to turn this around, they need to make sure that they are on top of their rotations/switches. There were some notable gaffes in yesterday's game from Allisha Gray that were just completely unacceptable for a player of her level. The increase in opponent 3pt %, along with worse rebounding (+9 margins in our wins -> -2 in the past 5 games), shows that we're allowing more second-chance points and more possessions for our opponents, which is not good!

Who's Responsible?

I know everybody is wanting to blame Karl, but I just...don't think it's really his fault? When we get into more player-specific data, I think it's clear that this is far more a player problem than a coaching problem. I know there are more calls for Okot/Angel on the floor, but the On-off numbers don't reflect that they are a beneficial combination...yet. Maybe they need more time to gel properly, but at the moment it just isn't working.

Lineups	Minutes	Off. Rating	Def. Rating	Net Rating
Reese On/Okot Off	584 minutes	112.1 rat.	105.2 rat.	+6.9
Okot On/Reese Off	136 minutes	108.1 rat.	108.0 rat.	+0.1
Reese & Okot On	57 minutes	80.5 rat	100.9 rat.	-20.3
Reese & Okot Off	53 minutes	136.2 rat.	118.7 rat.	+17.5

The main culprit of the current drought, and I truly hate saying this because she is one of my favorite players, is Allisha Gray. She has truly been terrible the past 5 games. I don't know what's going on behind the scenes and I'm not going to speculate, but she has been a net-negative on the team during this losing stretch.

Adjusted for 40 mins, with her on the court, the team has:

• The least amount of points scored (74.7 ppg)
• The worst +/- at -15.3
• The least amount of assists
• The worst 3-point shooting among the starters

While off-the-court, adjusted for 40 minutes, the team has undoubtedly been better during this stretch.

Adj. 40 min, off-court numbers for the Dream

Now, some may point to in this graphic that Rhyne's +/- is even 'better' than AG's during this stretch, but I also need to point to their per-game stats during this stretch because the disparity is jarring.

	Allisha Gray	Rhyne Howard
PPG	15.2 ppg	18.2 ppg
FG %	35%	39%
3P FG %	16% (4/26)	32% (15/47)
FT %	61% (22/36)	93% (14/15)
True Shooting %	43.8%	53.2%
Rebounds	2.8 reb	3.4 reb
Assists	2.0 ast	2.8 ast
Turnovers	2.0 to	1.2 to

The production from AG is simply not good enough for us to win games, especially with our current roster deficiencies in the post. I love Borlase and Paopao, and they are valuable pieces off the bench, but they aren't 1-for-1 substitutes for AG's size and defense.

I should also note, AG's defense over this stretch has been bad. There aren't really any statistics I can point to for this, it's predominantly eye test, but her rotations, switching, etc. have been all over the place. Considering this is somebody who, at their best, could be in the All-Defense conversation, it's been jarring watching her play.

I'm not blaming Allisha Gray solely for these losses, but I think it should be noted that the main benefit of her being on this team is that she is the steady-hand, the player you can reliable expect to put up 15-20 ppg with high-efficiency. Her defense brought a level of stability to this team night-in-night-out. She was in the top 5 for MVP voting last season gosh darnit.

Some may say, "Well Karl should bench her", which is ridiculous and is a high-school basketball team level mentality. She is getting paid the max, and, again, this is all hindsight. A) How would anybody know that Lish's slump would last this long, and B) You can't bench your best player, you have to simply let her play through it (assuming it's not due to health issues). There's no reason to create discontent during the regular season. As a coach, you have to show that you have confidence in your players. They're pros, they know they are not playing up to their expected level.

I could get into what else has been causing this slump: Naz's injuries and minute restrictions, the bench production, but ngl I am weary of the histrionics in Dream circles. Losing isn't fun, but calling for people's jobs is bizarre and short-sighted, especially considering Karl is literally the best coach this team has ever had.

I think the complaints about the starters minutes are fair, but I think are mostly just backseat-coaching that relies on hindsight and ignoring many if the clear issues our bench players have (Paopao has been mid AF, Madina is good, but she's not that good--do any of you watch her play defense?? It's bad!!!!) We could discuss then the job our GM did during the offseason, but then we get into the ways the CBA affected our teambuilding and how we're an extremely top-heavy roster etc.etc. and I doubt many of you could have done better, and again, this all relies on us having hindsight that GM Padover didn't have; I'm sure he'd say he'd do things differently to.

Anyways, cheers, hope some of you found this useful xoxo

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I see some people blaming Karl for playing the starters too much, and I get that, but I also can't blame him. TBH, the Bench has been god awful and are not EARNING mins. He actually played a lot of bench players in this game today, he is clearly trying find WHO on his bench will be helpful, the ONLY one that played well was Okot, who looks to be a future star.

As for the others:

Paopao has regressed, she came in today and missed a 3 and turned the ball over immediately twice leading to fast breaks for GS. Last year she was a spark off the bench nailing 3's almost every game, this year it seems like everytime she is on the floor she has been a big minus for us all year.

Borlaise has been for the most part a complete bust for a former aussie league MVP, she is jacking up airballs and looks lost out there most of the time. She has had a couple of good games, but overall she is VERY inconsistent.

Koné has been given a lot of mins lately and done next to nothing with them, we need to start Naz again stat...

... And that is because Hillman was 6th player of the year last year and yet looks horrible coming off the bench this year.

This is all compounded by the complete radio silence on Bri Jones coming back and when. At this point I am starting to suspect the worst, she ain't gonna be back this year or is only coming back just before or during the playoffs. Which would be horrible, because this team sorely needs her and may not make the playoffs without her.

Back to my main point though, how do you play a bench more that has been awful all year long despite having success in the past? They have to earn their mins and right now, they ain't.

He doesn't have that ability to be a title-winning coach. He's a one-trick pony and most of the more competent coaches in the league have figured him out. No halftime adjustments, no creating plays, too much guard play and constantly relying on 3s has cost the team 5 games in a row. What is the point of having a frontcourt and a bench if you don't use them? Watching him coach this team has become excruciating and frustrating.

Solid physical attributes - little talent & technique. No drive.

How many games do people need before they address this coaching situation?

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I don't want them to do this today, but over the next week or so, the Atlanta Dream has to force the refs to foul them out.

The top six players have to force them to sit them all on the bench, if not throw them out of the game.

Previously, they would just sit Angel on the bench, but the rest of the team would fight through it. So, now, it's all of them. But, they aren't putting them in foul trouble, they are putting them in confusion.

They doubt themselves and what they can do on the floor. That's purposeful. The point is to take them out of the game, while creating compelling ball by watching them try to fight back.

If the team is fouled out, the average and neutral fan is going to turn the channel. They have to screw up the ratings in order for the refs call the game fairly enough for them to play the full four quarters.

They need to make the neutral fan start complaining about how any game the Dream play in is both ugly and predictable, partially because of the refs.

They have to mess with the money.

I know what I'm asking, but begging and negotiating has not worked.

It seems like they were playing their best basketball with her as a starter. What went into the decision to move her back to the bench, and do starter by committee at the forward position?

look for mis matches work on your free throws it’s costing ya games

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A frustrated Angel Reese spoke out on behalf of her teammates Thursday, saying it was "disrespectful" that no one on the Atlanta Dream was selected as a starter for the WNBA All-Star Game.

The Dream (12-7) were in first place in the Eastern Conference heading into Thursday's game against the host Washington Mystics, and fourth in the overall standings, just three games back of first place.

Reese, a two-time All-Star, was especially upset for Dream veteran guards Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray.

"I expect to be disrespected," Reese said. "For those two though, I think they work so hard and they put a lot of work in, and the way that they're guarded every game and they (have to) adjust. The reason why we're where we are is because of those two.

"For us not to have anyone was just a slap in the face, but they're not going to say anything. I am."

Paige Bueckers, Olivia Miles, Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell were announced as starters among guards, while A'ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Jessica Shepard, Aliyah Boston, Gabby Williams and Natasha Howard earned nods in the frontcourt.

All-Star starters are decided by a combination of the fan vote, media vote and player vote. The fan vote accounted for 50% of each player's weighted score while the media and player votes accounted for 25% each. The four guards and six frontcourt players with the best scores were named starters.

Howard and Gray had the fifth- and sixth-highest scores among guards; Reese was seventh among frontcourt players.

Howard and Gray rank 12th and 13th in the league in scoring, respectively, and both are two of the top 3-point shooters in the game. Reese noted that Howard and Jordin Canada rank No. 1 and No. 2 in steals per game.

Gray and Reese rank No. 9 and No. 10 in defensive win shares, with Canada (No. 12) and Howard (No. 16) not far behind.

"Congrats to the ones that were nominated, they were well deserved," Reese said. "But it's a very big shocker to see that none of us were starters, especially where we are as a team in the league.

"I'm sure we're still going to be All-Stars. I have no doubt in my mind that we still will be, but I think it is important to note that none of us were starters on a team that has had so much success this year."

Howard was ranked No. 9 among guards in fan voting, No. 4 by the media and No. 2 by the players. Gray was No. 7 among guarsd in fan voting, No. 8 by the media and No. 6 by players.

Reese was ranked No. 6 by fans, media and players.

By comparison with the Indiana Fever starting trio, Clark was No. 2 and Mitchell was No. 3 among guards in fan voting, while Boston was No. 1 among frontcourt players.

Reese said she wishes Dream fans would have galvanized around their players more.

"I haven't really said much this year in the media, because honestly it's been tough for me over the last two years," Reese said. "But I feel like it was important for me to speak for my teammates that don't necessarily speak for themselves all the time."

Reese added: "I know the work they put in. I know the reason why I'm in Atlanta is because of them. I know that the team success is based off those two as well."