Final
Sky-Dream Preview
Jun 3, 2010 - 5:26 PM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior WriterChicago (2-4) at Atlanta (6-1), 7:00 p.m. EDT
In their most recent game, the Atlanta Dream became the WNBA's last team to lose in 2010. How they respond to a humbling performance will be a big concern.
The Dream look to bounce back Friday night when they host the Chicago Sky, who will try to match a franchise record with their third straight win.
After beating Los Angeles 101-82 on Sunday for its most lopsided victory of the season, Atlanta (6-1) had its worst showing of the year during Tuesday's 90-72 loss to Seattle in the finale of a four-game road trip.
The Dream missed 18 of 22 shots in the first quarter to trail 17-9, and later fell behind by as many as 24. Atlanta, which outrebounded its first six opponents by an average of 8.8, was outrebounded 48-40 and outscored 42-24 in the paint.
"We backed down on some things that we shouldn't have backed down on," Dream coach Marynell Meadors said. "We didn't hit the boards like we were capable of."
Atlanta also didn't get much production from top scoring threat Angel McCoughtry. The league leader with an average of 22.9 points, McCoughtry missed 17 of 24 shots to finish with 16.
"It was just one of those days when things didn't go our way," said McCoughtry, who missed her first seven shots. "But at the same time, we've got to learn how to play through it. This is a humbling experience for us."
Trying to get back on track against Chicago might not be easy. The Dream lost all three games to the Sky last season, and are 1-6 all-time against them.
Chicago (2-4) is playing its best basketball after opening the season with four consecutive losses. The Sky, now in their fifth season, have won three straight four times, most recently from June 23-30, 2009.
"We're still trying to gel and we're just trying to learn from each other as we go along," center Sylvia Fowles said after Saturday's 73-58 win over Minnesota.
Fowles had a game-high 18 points on 6 of 7 shooting, but the Sky received contributions from nearly everyone. Ten different players scored for Chicago with the bench recording 32 points.
"A lot of teams are only playing seven, eight players, but we can go 10 or 11," reserve guard Erin Thorn. "It's a huge advantage because we don't get tired or in foul trouble as much."
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