Atlanta Dream Draft Preview

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First 3 Selections in 2014
Last 3 First Round Picks (Pick, Year) |
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Strengths Areas of Improvement |
The Dream has made it to the WNBA Finals three times in the past four years�and all three times the team was swept. Atlanta has fallen short too many times and new head coach Michael Cooper wants to change that.
With a similar team as last year, there is so much playoff experience. Now, according to Cooper, one element needs to be increased�speed.
�We want to push tempo,� said Cooper. �This team was a running team last year and I want to pick it up another notch. I think that we can add eight to ten more points on the offensive production.�
In addition to increasing speed, Cooper wants to improve on the defensive side of the ball and he is looking for this kind of player in the Draft.
With the No. 8 pick in this year�s Draft, the Dream are in the middle of the pack in the first round but Cooper still feels good about the position.
�The caliber of play from the last time I was here (coaching in the WNBA), for the four years I was gone, has jumped dramatically. The talent level has really risen and that�s the fun part about the draft now.�
And who is catching his eye with that pick?
�We have that middle pick, so what we�re going to do is that we have some ideas of people that might possibly be there and Bria Hartley is one of them.�
And with these changes, the Dream hope to finally power through the WNBA Finals and win the championship.
DRAFT HISTORY 2013 (top 3 picks) 13. Alex Bentley 31. Ann Marie Armstrong N/A 2012 14. Tiffany Hayes 32. Isabelle Yacoubou N/A 2011 8. Ta'Shia Phillips 18. Rachel Jarry 32. Kelsey Bolte |
2013 LEADERS
Scoring 1. Angel McCoughtry (21.5) 2. Erika de Souza (12.9) 3. Jasmine Thomas (8.5) Rebounding 1. Erika de Souza (9.9) 2. Angel McCoughtry (5.3) 3. Lecoe Willingham (4.2) Assists 1. Angel McCoughtry (4.4) 2. Jasmine Thomas (3.1) 3. Alex Bently (2.8) |
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