Last weekend, Angel Reese had a chance to win the game against the Indiana Fever when she rebounded Rhyne Howard’s missed 3-pointer. She missed the layup, and the Fever went on to win the game 95-91 in overtime. Her inefficiency around the rim has always been a knock on Reese’s game, making the missed layup sting even more.Â
That loss seems to have unlocked a whole new level. It obviously bothered Reese, and she admitted in a later media availability that she didn’t sleep afterwards. Since then, she has played great—and efficient!—basketball, leading the Dream to three wins against the Las Vegas Aces, Los Angeles Sparks, and Phoenix Mercury.Â
If Reese can sustain this new level she has unlocked, it will give the Dream a massive boost in an opening playoff round they have to win after three consecutive first-round exits.Â
Reese set a new career-high in points against the Mercury
Reese followed the loss to the Fever up with two 20-point double-doubles. She shot 6-13 from the field on her way to 21 points in a statement win against Las Vegas, and then followed it up with a perfect shooting night against Los Angeles. The latter was a statement in its own right for Reese, who has struggled to score efficiently since she entered the WNBA.Â
As if that wasn’t enough yet, Reese played a career game against the Mercury. She finished with 31 points on 14-21 shooting from the field, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, and 4 steals. She led all players in scoring and recorded a game-high +/- of +16.Â
Angel Reese helped the Dream clinch a playoff spot
After beating the Mercury, Atlanta is now one of five teams that have clinched a playoff spot. Rhyne Howard, Jordin Canada, Allisha Gray, Naz Hillmon, and Brionna Jones have been there before, but for Reese, this season will mark her first trip to the playoffs.Â
After two years of playing for struggling Chicago Sky teams, Reese will finally see how she matches up with postseason competition—and with a lot of pressure on her. Another early playoff exit would bring up some uncomfortable questions about the Dream’s core and ceiling. With Jones sidelined again and without a timetable for return, Reese will be the Dream’s main contributor in the frontcourt.Â
The Dream will likely face the Fever, Aces, or Liberty in the first round, barring some great shakeup in the standings. That means, Reese might have to go up against A’ja Wilson, Aliyah Boston, or Jonquel Jones in her first trip to the playoffs. Those are tough matchups, but if Reese plays as she has recently, alongside good performances from the guards, the Dream may finally win a series.Â
Add us as a preferred source on Google