Atlanta Dream Draft Preview

With Angel McCoughtry back and a new head coach in Michael Cooper, can the Dream finally push through the Finals?
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First 3 Selections in 2014 No. 8 overall No. 18 overall No. 20 overall Last 3 First Round Picks (Pick, Year) Ta'Shia Phillips (8, 2011) Chanel Mokango (9, 2010) Angel McCoughtry (1, 2009)

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Strengths Experience Angel McCoughtry Areas of Improvement Transition Defense Backcourt

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.