Peachtree Hoops - May 17: Dream 90, Fever 88The place to read about/discuss the Atlanta Hawks.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/8811/peachtree-fave.jpg2014-05-18T11:06:59-04:00http://www.peachtreehoops.com/rss/stream/54900952014-05-18T11:06:59-04:002014-05-18T11:06:59-04:00Breakdown: Angel's game winner against Fever
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Atlanta Dream improvised on a late play call to set up Angel McCoughtry's go-ahead three-pointer in the final seconds against the Indiana Fever. </p> <p>According to Angel McCoughtry, the Atlanta Dream called an audible late to set up her game-winning three-pointer against the Indiana Fever Saturday night. <a href="http://www.wnba.com/games/20140517/ATLIND/gameinfo.html#nbaGIlive">When asked about the play following the game</a>, McCoughtry replied that she didn't think that was the look that head coach Michael Cooper was looking for but it worked out for the Dream in the end.</p>
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<p>"Honestly, I didn't think that was the play," said McCoughtry. "Sancho just saw me. I told her, It was a really smart play."</p>
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<p>Here is a closer look at the play. Atlanta aligns in a Horns look with Sancho Lyttle and Erika de Souza at the elbows. McCoughtry is in the left corner and rookie point guard Shoni Schimmel has the ball out front. Now as we go through this play keep in mind the situation. Atlanta trails 88-87 with under 20 seconds remaining and it appears that Cooper ran something for his rookie point guard and used McCoughtry as more of a decoy at least initially.</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/assets/4472011/Dream_Horns_set.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Dream_horns_set_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/assets/4472011/Dream_Horns_set.png"></a> <br id="1400423962697"></p>
<p>Schimmel uses Lyttle's screen but the Fever defend it well. Erika de Souza is going to crash to the low block.</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn3.vox-cdn.com/assets/4472019/Horn_set_2.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Horn_set_2_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn3.vox-cdn.com/assets/4472019/Horn_set_2.png"></a> <br id="1400424022475"></p>
<p>Lyttle then sets a screen for McCoughtry who uses a hard cut to the top of the key. Natasha Howard, who is guarding Lyttle, is concerned with de Souza's cut to the low block.</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/assets/4472027/Screen_Shot_2014-05-18_at_10_28_36_AM.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Screen_shot_2014-05-18_at_10_28_36_am_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn3.vox-cdn.com/assets/4472027/Screen_Shot_2014-05-18_at_10_28_36_AM.png"></a> <br id="1400424070961"></p>
<p>Schimmel delivers a perfect pass to McCoughtry at the top of the key who knocks down the go ahead bucket. Indiana actually recovered well defensively on the play and in many respects that is the shot you want Angel taking in that situation. McCoughtry made just 20 percent of her three-point attempts last season but being a big game player who thrives on big game moments, she knocked this one down and sent the Dream to their second straight victory.</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/assets/4472035/Screen_Shot_2014-05-18_at_10_28_59_AM.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Screen_shot_2014-05-18_at_10_28_59_am_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/assets/4472035/Screen_Shot_2014-05-18_at_10_28_59_AM.png"></a> <br id="1400424119792"></p>
<p>Here is a look at the play in real time.</p>
<p><iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/NIU5JX0zxbk" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p>Atlanta's offense through the first two games hasn't been overly complex and for good reason. McCoughtry arrived to camp just a few days before the regular season opened as did many of her teammates. We will continue to see more wrinkles added as the season goes on. An important thing to take from this is the level of trust that Cooper has for Schimmel as she has had the ball in her hands in key spots in each of the first two games.</p>
https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2014/5/18/5728244/2014-wnba-dream-vs-fever-angel-mccoughtry-game-winnerKris Willis2014-05-18T09:06:25-04:002014-05-18T09:06:25-04:00Shoni Schimmel with the nice pass to Angel McCoughtry<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/idmW_tUpQbU" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe>
<div class="source source-img"><p><p>Dream rookie Shoni Schimmel has recorded 21 assists over her first two games in the WNBA.</p></p></div>
https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2014/5/18/5728222/shoni-schimmel-with-the-nice-pass-to-angel-mccoughtryKris Willis2014-05-17T22:32:41-04:002014-05-17T22:32:41-04:00Angel McCoughtry's dagger three in double-overtime against the Fever<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/NIU5JX0zxbk" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe>
<div class="source source-img"><p><p>Angel knocks down a three with 8.8 seconds remaining to lift the Dream over the Fever and give them a 2-0 start to the season.</p></p></div>
https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2014/5/17/5727640/angel-mccoughtrys-dagger-three-in-double-overtime-against-the-feverKris Willis2014-05-17T22:12:05-04:002014-05-17T22:12:05-04:00McCoughtry leads Dream over Fever
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<figcaption>Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Angel McCoughtry's go ahead three-pointer with 8.8 seconds was the difference as the Atlanta Dream improved to 2-0 on the season with a 90-88 double overtime win over the Indiana Fever. </p> <p>Angel McCoughtry came into the game hobbled but she rose the occasion when the Atlanta Dream needed her the most. McCoughtry's three-pointer with 8.8 seconds in double overtime was the difference in a 90-88 Atlanta win over the Indiana Fever.</p>
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<p>McCoughtry didn't start because of a leg injury that was heavily wrapped. She didn't appear to have the same burst of speed in <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/british-open">the open</a> court but she made every play down the stretch to get the win. Nine of her 27 points came in the extra sessions. She made 9-15 shots, was 7-8 from the free throw line, handed out five assists and also had six steals on the defensive end of the floor.</p>
<p>Overall the game was a sloppy contest with both teams combining for 52 turnovers. Part of that was due to both Atlanta and Indiana's attacking defensive styles but a lot of it was also just sloppy play. That was clearly on display in the final play of regulation where a Shoni Schimmel turnover led to a run out and a missed layup by Karima Christmas.</p>
<p>Plenty of Louisville fans were in attendance to see Schimmel who didn't disappoint as she recorded the first double-double of her career with 17 points and 10 assists. However, her seven turnovers reminds everyone that she is still a rookie and there is room for improvement. Still its doubtful that anyone could have anticipated a better start to her career.</p>
<p>Erika de Souza finished with 17 points and nine rebounds for the Dream while Sancho Lyttle put in work on the glass with 10 points and a game-high 21 rebounds.</p>
<p>Rooke Natasha Howard went head-to-head with McCoughtry in overtime and led the Fever with 21 points, six rebounds and three assists. However, her 1-4 shooting from the free throw line helped keep the door open for the Dream late. As a team Indiana was just 10-19 from the free throw line and those were some costly misses down the stretch and in overtime.</p>
<p>Briann January went 4-5 from three-point range and finished with 20 points and five assists. Eriana Larkins battled with Lyttle and de Souza all game long and finished with a double-double of her own with 17 points and 13 rebounds.</p>
<p>Atlanta begins the season with a pair of gritty wins and now has a week off to get healthy and to continue to get acclimated to head coach Michael Cooper's system.</p>
https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2014/5/17/5727468/2014-wnba-atlanta-dream-vs-indiana-fever-recapKris Willis2014-05-17T16:00:08-04:002014-05-17T16:00:08-04:00Dream look for 2-0 start against Fever
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<figcaption>Marilyn Indahl-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Atlanta Dream hit the road for the first time this season as they wrap up a back-to-back to begin the 2014 season against the Indiana Fever. </p> <p>The Atlanta Dream scrapped their way to a win Friday night against the San Antonio Stars, now they hit the road for the first time for an Eastern Conference matchup against the Indiana Fever.</p>
<p>Atlanta came from behind late on Friday to capture a 79-75 win over the Stars at Philips Arena. Erika de Souza logged a double-double with 23 points and 11 rebounds while Angel McCoughtry added 21. Rookie Shoni Schimmel drew rave reviews in her WNBA debut as she finished with seven points and a game-high 11 assists.</p>
<p>The Dream will look to shore up their perimeter defense against the Fever. Stars guard Danielle Robinson torched them for 23 points on drives and back cuts when away from the ball. Schimmel, Jasmine Thomas and Matee Ajavon all took turns trying to slow Robinson with little success.</p>
<p>Indiana is a much different team than the one Atlanta faced in the Eastern Conference Finals last season. Gone are Katie Douglas and Erin Phillips but in their place is rookie Natasha Howard. The Fever jumped out to a 30-14 lead against the Chicago Sky on Friday but scored just 41 more points in a 74-71 loss. Howard logged a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds in her debut but was just 6-16 from the field.</p>
<p>For Atlanta, cutting off Indiana's Shavonte Zellous and Briann January trips to the paint could be the difference in a win and a loss. Zellous finished with 14 points on Friday but did most of her damage from the free throw line. If Atlanta can force misses or turnovers then there are few teams that can match them in the open floor. San Antonio was able to effectively slow the pace on Friday and the Dream struggled a bit in the halfcourt during the second half. Indiana under Lin Dunn will be solid defensively so its important that Atlanta push the pace at every opportunity.</p>
<h3>Game Info</h3>
<p><b>Game Date/Time: </b>Saturday, May 17, 7 p.m.</p>
<p><b>Location: </b>Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana</p>
<p><b>TV:</b> SportSouth</p>
<p><b>Streaming: </b><a href="https://liveaccess.wnba.com/wnbala/secure/registerform?utm_source=wnba&utm_medium=automated&utm_content=automated&utm_campaign=wnbala">WNBA Live Access</a></p>
<h3>Other WNBA Games</h3>
<p>Chicago vs New York 8 p.m.<br>Tulsa vs San Antonio 8 p.m.<br>Seattle vs Phoenix 10 p.m.</p>
https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2014/5/17/5724936/2014-wnba-dream-vs-fever-preview-time-tvKris Willis