ATLANTA — On June 10, the Atlanta Dream held the Indiana Fever to just nine points in the third quarter, their second-lowest total allowed in any quarter this season.
“I think defensive intensity can be contagious,” Smesko said days ahead of a June 13 matchup against the Chicago Sky.
“As soon as some of [ the players] see the pressure on the ball, and you’re behind it, you’re like, ‘Well, I better be ready to go right now. So, I think it starts with how you’re guarding the ball, everybody being aware of what their responsibilities are.”
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Smesko’s team has seemingly hit its stride with forming an identity and figuring out who they want to be on the defensive side of the ball. However, pockets of limited practice throughout the season have prevented them from keeping it as consistent as they would like.
“There’s been some times where I feel like our defense has been a top two or three defense, Smesko shared. “As soon as the intensity or the focus wanes a little bit, the drop is pretty significant.
And he would be right. Atlanta was very disruptive against Chicago during the first quarter of its Friday matchup. It forced multiple shot clock violations and was very active with defensive pressure. But it went downhill quick in the second quarter.
The Dream gave up 27 points, including a 16-5 run, after holding Chicago to just 12 points during the first. The Sky had also 22 paint points to Atlanta’s 16 by halftime.
In the third quarter, the Dream found their offense, and it seemingly started on the defensive side of the ball when forward Naz Hillmon forced a shot clock violation on Sky forward Angel Reese that invigorated the team and the arena.
“I definitely noticed that possession. That was some fantastic defense,” Smesko said, reflecting on the play. “I thought the energy in the building went way up after that stop, and then, you know, it carried over into knocking down some shots. So, that was a lot of fun.”
Shortly after Hillmon’s clutch play, she joined forward Nia Coffey to force a jump ball. Moment later, guard Allisha gray blocked Chicago forward Michaela Onyenwere. Forward Bri Jones gathered the ball in transition to starting guard point guard Canada, who pushed it down the court, and then back to Jones with a heads-up behind-the-back pass. Jones finished the incredible sequence with a bucket, and an avalanche started.
Double checking the game notes reads like a movie that you want to play on a loop.
Atlanta went on a 30-9 run between the third and fourth quarters fueled by Howard, who hit a game-high 36 points down the stretch. The former Kentucky product hit a staggering nine — yes, nine — shots from behind the arc during an eletric performance. Her outing against Chicago broke a franchise record and tied the WNBA record for most 3-pointers in a game.
“I think just seeing the first couple go in gets me going,” Howard said of her recording-breaking night. “Obviously, in the past, I’ve forgot what its like to shoot a three, but you know I always say, ‘shooters shoot.’”
(When later asked if she was aware that she was close to history, Howard cracked a smile before revealing, “I knew when I was at eight, I needed one more. That’s all I’mma say.”)
In the midst of an offensive explosion, the lead ballooned as high as 20 points Friday, and Atlanta went on to win 88-70.
The Dream ended their night with four starters in double-digits, center Brittney Griner also making WNBA history (she’s now second on the all-time blocks list with 823) and a 7-3 record before traveling to Washington, D.C. to play the Mystics on Sunday.
“I think we’ve only beat ourselves,” Howard shared about the potential of the Dream. “So, the things that we’re doing, we’re only doing them for periods of time. We’re only doing them for half of games. I think once we get everything clicking, you know, put together — a full 40 minutes, day in and day out — I think It will be really dangerous.”
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