Brionna

Jones

Jones has gotten back on the right track after failing to score in double figures in four straight and six of seven games. The Dream forward has scored at least 14 points in three straight, with Sunday’s point total being a season-high. Atlanta has played its last two games without Brittney Griner due to injury, and her absence, combined with Naz Hillmon moving into the starting lineup, has benefited Jones. What Dream head coach Karl Smesko decides to do once Griner is cleared to return will be interesting to watch, as his team has scored 95 and 99 points in its last two games.

Gray really struggled hitting shots on Tuesday night, only hitting two shots, two three-pointers on the left wing. It was her least efficient performance of the season, shooting 18.2% from the field. She missed shots she usually makes right at the rim, but still managed to get down hill and earn five trips to the line where she scored half of her total points. Since Gray’s shots weren’t falling, she got on the glass and was tied with Brionna Jones as Dream’s second leading rebounder behind Naz Hillmon. Gray added two assists, which were to Maya Caldwell who hit two threes-pointers in the left corner pocket in the second and third quarters.

Hillmon was the Dream’s second leading scoring on a night when Allisha Gray struggled shooting the basketball. One of Hillmon’s many strengths is her ability to move without the basketball. Jordin Canada found her on four of her five made field goals which included three cutting layups right at the rim and a three-pointer. Hillmon, known for her high motor and knack to make effort plays, was also the Dream’s best rebounder on Tuesday night. She finished the evening playmaking as well where she found Brionna Jones and Brittney Griner on high-low actions along with getting Jordin Canada the ball on a dribble hand-off for a three-pointer.

With Allisha Gray only making two shots on Tuesday night, a different Dream guard had to step up. Canada was the most efficient player for Atlanta on the floor, shooting 55% from the field. While Canada’s bread and butter is getting downhill, the Valkyries defense forced her into open threes, and she made four of them. Canada also made plays at a high level, finding Naz Hillmon four times on the move in addition to finding Brionna Jones and Brittney Griner when they had advantageous matchups. She tied her season high with nine assists. Canada had some late game heroics, although they weren’t enough for a Dream win. She scored an and-one with 3:08 left in the fourth quarter that gave the Dream a 75-73 lead, their first of the game since 21 seconds were left in the second quarter.

While Gray continued to struggle with efficiency, only shooting 30 percent from the field, she continued to contribute in other ways that fueled the Dream. She got to the line three times and made each free throw she attempted, she was the second leading rebounder on her team behind Brionna Jones and found four different teammates in Naz Hillmon, Jones, Maya Caldwell and Te-Hina Paopao, which created her five assists.

Four different teammates in Allisha Gray, Maya Caldwell, Jordin Canada and Naz Hillmon found Jones mostly in the paint, although Canada’s kick-out to Jones yielded Jones’ seventh three-pointer of the season. In addition to her scoring, Jones put together another complete performance rebounding the ball at a high level in addition to dishing out four assists of her own including one to Griner for her third three-pointer of the season.

While her percentages from the field and the foul line were subpar, Griner finished Sunday’s defeat with her first double-double of the season. The veteran center has fit reasonably well with the Dream, but the counting stats have taken a hit. Dream head coach Karl Smesko’s offensive system has worked well in his first season with the team, and that’s with two post players, Griner and Brionna Jones, in the starting lineup. Jones, the superior fantasy option, finished Sunday’s game with eight points, seven rebounds, four assists and one blocked shot.

Coming off her All-Star snub, Jones proved why she’s been excellent this year putting up a stat line that shows all that she means to the Dream. She shot over 50 percent from the field and nearly had yet another double-double. She shined most in the third quarter when she accounted for over 71 percent of the Dream’s offense via her own scoring and playmaking. She found both Allisha Gray and Naz Hillmon for timely three-point makes within the final two minutes of that quarter.

Jones collected her eighth double-double of the season on Thursday and nearly tallied 20 points along the way. The former Most Improved Player made eight shots inside the paint and continued to dominate the interior, as she has all season long. She shot 4-of-4 in the fourth quarter and tried to will her team to victory, but a go-ahead Skylar Diggins layup in the closing moments of the game handed the Dream a crushing defeat. Jones and the Dream will face the Valkyries on Monday as they hope to get back in the win column.