About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dream star Allisha Gray sat for Game 2 of a second-round series against the Liberty.
And her status for the rest of the series is up in the air as both teams head to New York for Game 3 on Friday.
Still, Liberty head coach Chris DeMarco doesn't expect Karl Smesko's squad to recreate the wheel moving forward despite being without its leading scorer.
"At this point, you don't want to recreate yourself. They're going to probably play the same brand that they play. They had success in Game 1 doing so ," DeMarco said of the Dream, who got just seven points in 11 minutes from Gray due to the hand injury. "Probably more minutes for some players, but it's also an opportunity for others."
Gray's early exit in Atlanta's Game 1 allowed for veteran DeWanna Bonner to shine in an expanded reserve role.
Bonner, who started in place of Gray in Game 2, logged 23 points, nine rebounds and two assists in 30 minutes of action after Gray was ruled out in the second quarter due to a left hand injury.
Gray appeared to initially injure the hand in the first quarter of Game 1, headed to the locker room and returned in the second quarter with a wrap around her pinky and ring finger.
She later removed the tape after misfiring on a field goal. She appeared to injure the hand again diving for a loose ball minutes before halftime. This time, she went into the locker room and the team ruled her out.
The void presented an opportunity for Bonner, the WNBA's most experienced postseason player — her 102 playoff games entering Game 3 is the most ever in league history.
She steadied the Dream in Gray's absence and sparked the team with a halftime speech which led to a historic third quarter.
Bonner recorded two steals in a third period the Liberty committed nine turnovers in, resulting in 16 points off turnovers, tying a playoff record in any quarter (WNBA switched to quarters in 2006), per ESPN.
Minutes mounting for Breanna Stewart as Liberty continue series vs. Atlanta Dream: 'We're just going to continue to monitor it'
In 17th season, DeWanna Bonner still moving the needle for WNBA Finals hopeful Atlanta Dream
After best scoring game in months, Sabrina Ionescu vows to get Liberty teammates in 'better positions' for series vs. Dream
Atlanta Dream dominate Liberty in historic third quarter to secure 1-0 series lead in Game 1 of second-round series
Liberty Notebook: Road success gives New York confidence heading to Atlanta
Overall, Atlanta forced New York to cough up the ball 21 times, which led to 32 points off turnovers, a WNBA playoff record.
In Game 1, it was Bonner who stepped up to allow the Dream to maintain their brand of basketball: fast-paced offense and high-pressure defense.
And it could be another Dream reserve ready to step up against the Liberty if their number is called.
"It's a 40-minute game. Sometimes it's not enough minutes for the bench, but somebody can find a rhythm. Somebody who hasn't played yet will come in and impact the game," DeMarco said. "We know [Gray is] out, but we're not taking that lightly.
Source: Sport
0 Comments