Published on: Sep 8, 2021 1:30 pm IST|Updated on: Sep 8, 2021 11:11 am IST
The WNBA regular season is going to be wrapped up soon and thus the playoff picture will get clearer by each game now with two spots still for the taking. In this game, a struggling Atlanta Dream takes on an on-song Phoenix Mercury. More information about ATL vs PHO Dream11 will be imparted here.
Dream: Atlanta was on an eleven-game losing streak before they won against Wings in the last match-up. They are the second-worst defensive team in the league and allow 85.3 PPG while being the worst three-point defending team allowing teams to shoot 39%. Despite the struggles, Dream is the second-best two-point shooting team and also second in offensive rebounds so it is the defense that has caused a 7-20 record for the Dream. Atlanta has wonderful scorers like Hayes and Williams but they have fallen short on the defensive end big time.
Mercury: Mercury is a deep team. They beat the Fever in the last game despite the Western Player of the Week Skylar Diggins-Smith going for just 4 points. This exemplifies their depth as Brittney Griner sets up an inside game so well that it allows the shooters to have more space to operate. Not only that but when you have shot creators like Taurasi and Diggins-Smith, there are a lot of opportunities on offense for players like Kia Nurse, Shay Peddy, and Turner. Mercury holds oppositions at 41.1% from the field which is league-best indicating that they are a terrific defensive team. Phoenix has the second-slowest pace at 76.9 but their half-court game includes intelligent players like Taurasi, Griner, Nurse, Turner, and Diggins-Smith, more than making up for the slower style of play. Teams must be scared of facing such a team in the Playoffs setup where the pace gets slower.
Host: Atlanta Dream Visitors: Phoenix Mercury Match Timing: 9 September 2021, @ 04:30 AM Venue: Gateway Center Arena
The match will be played at Indiana Fever’s home court Gateway Center Arena.
Atlanta Dream | Phoenix Suns
Games: 27| 28 Wins: 07 | 18 Defeats: 20 | 10
ATL vs PHO Dream11 fantasy lineup(based on current form and stats):
PG: S Peddy SG: S Diggins-Smith(PP), S Cunningham, A McDonald SF: K Nurse, T Hayes PF: M Billings C: B Griner(SP)
At least one of the players between Tiffany Hayes and Monique Billings deserves a spot in the Fantasy team.
Britney Griner is a double-double threat and one of the candidates for Super-Player in the Dream11 Fantasy Basketball Match.
*Points, Rebounds, and Assists from last game* Brittney Griner Points: 21 Rebounds: 10 Assists: 02 PPG: 20.7 RPG: 9.4 BPG: 2.0 Griner is one of the best bigs to ever play in the league and although people often comment about her size, she has a skill set that allows her to perform a lot of moves. She can get in both face-up and low-post positions, using moves like post-fadeaways, dropsteps, switch-hand layups, hooks, and many other moves to score, making her a highly-skilled offensive player. Her rebounding and shot-blocking make her an MVP-level player and most nights she is unstoppable.
Courtney Williams Points: 17 Rebounds: 05 Assists: 02 PPG: 16.3 RPG: 6.4 APG: 4.2 SPG: 1.1 Courtney is a guard with a scoring mentality and leads the Dream in scoring. She has one of the most potent pull-up jumpers in the league and uses it in abundance. Williams is also an excellent rebounder, playmaker, and uses her athleticism and intelligence to create a lot of chances on offense.
Skylar Diggins-Smith Points: 04 Rebounds: 02 Assists: 05 PPG: 18.5 APG: 5.3 RPG: 3.3 SPG: 1.0 Diggins-Smith is one of the best players in the league and her shooting arc is so high at times that the ball evades the broadcasting cameras. She also has a number of combo moves and a wonderful hang-time allowing her to finish inside. She is coming off a poor game versus Indiana but you can write her off at your own peril.
Tiffany Hayes Points: 22 Rebounds: 08 Assists: 04 PPG: 14.3 RPG: 3.3 SPG: 1,6 The left-handed guard poses a ton of challenges defensively and has a lot of ways to overpower defenses. She is great at changing directions and can be effective both in fastbreak and half-court situations. She shoots 43.1% from three-pt range and chooses her shots carefully also using her athleticism to get to the line.
Diana Taurasi Points: 11 Rebounds: 02 Assists: 06 PPG: 15.2 APG: 4.9 RPG: 4.4 Taurasi is one of the best basketball players in the world at using her shoulders to create separation. She can use behind-the-back dribbles, hesitation moves, and scores in both isolation situations and off-the-ball. Diana can finish with either hand and can hit from way deep. However, she has struggled shooting-wise this season at 36.5%. Note that she is “doubtful” for this match-up.
Monique Billings Points: 12 Rebounds: 14 Assists: 01 PPG: 7.6 RPG: 6.5 SPG: 1.2 BPG: 1.1 Billings likes to operate inside and leads Dream in rebounds. She has been in great touch for the last three games and has averaged 16 PPG, 10.3 RPG, and 2.7 BPG including two double-doubles in a row.
Kia Nurse Points: 19 Rebounds: 03 Assists: 02 PPG: 9.5 RPG: 3.5
Odyssey Sims Points: 06 Rebounds: 03 Assists: 03 PPG: 9.0 APG: 3.7 SPG: 1.3
Brianna Turner Points: 08 Rebounds: 07 Assists: 03 PPG: 7.9 RPG: 9.4 BPG: 1.4
Elizabeth Williams Points: 10 Rebounds: 04 Assists: 03 PPG: 5.7 RPG: 4.7 SPG: 1.1 BPG: 1.2
Sophie Cunningham Points: 08 Rebounds: 02 Assists: 00 PPG: 5.2
Aari McDonald Points: 00 Rebounds: 01 Assists: 02 PPG: 6.5
PF: Monique Billings SF: Tiffany Hayes C: Elizabeth Williams SG: Courtney Williams PG: Odyssey Sims
Bench: Shekinna Stricklen, Chennedy Carter, Candice Dupree, Tianna Hawkins, Blake Dietrick, Aari McDonald, Cheyenne Parker.
Atlanta Dream squad: Shekinna Stricklen, Blake Dietrick, Elizabeth Williams, Courtney Williams, Monique Billings, Crystal Bradford, Chennedy Carter, Candice Dupree, Tianna Hawkins, Tiffany Hayes, Aari McDonald, Cheyenne Parker, Odyssey Sims.
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PF: Brianna Turner SF: Kia Nurse C: Brittney Griner SG: Diana Taurasi PG: Skylar Diggins-Smith
BENCH: Shey Peddy, Alanna Smith, Kia Vaughn, Megan Walker, Sophie Cunningham, Bria Hartley.
Phoenix Mercury Squad: Kia Nurse, Shey Peddy, Alanna Smith, Diana Taurasi, Brianna Turner, Kia Vaughn, Megan Walker, Sophie Cunningham, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Brittney Griner, Bria Hartley
The game can be seen on WNBA League Pass as Amazon Prime, which is broadcasting for India has no rights for the match. The post-match highlights can be enjoyed on WNBA’s official YouTube channel.
None. No official streaming in India.