The Atlanta Dream are just three wins away from advancing to the WNBA Finals, but first they have to get past the New York Liberty, who are a veteran team that just won a championship two seasons ago. They know what it takes to get to this moment, and they showed it early in the playoffs by sweeping the No. 1-seeded Minnesota Lynx.
The Dream may not have as much championship experience as the Liberty do, but what they do have is a roster full of talented players ready to compete at a high level. That was evident in the first round against the Washington Mystics, and everyone found a way to make an impact, whether they were on the floor or not.
Against the Liberty, they'll definitely have to raise their level of play, but Rhyne Howard is the one player who will be a major key to success for the Dream if they want to get to the finals.
Rhyne Howard has a big task against the Liberty
Howard showed in the first round her ability to get a bucket on any part of the floor, while also defending the best player on the other end. It's something that she's done all season and throughout her career, but the stakes have gotten even higher. Against the Liberty, her matchup will most likely be Breanna Stewart, who is one of the top players in the league. It's not going to be easy to stop her, and the best thing you can do is try to contain her.
Howard has what it takes to do that, and her frame and physicality should be enough to throw her off her game just a little. There will be times when better offense beats better defense, but as long as the Dream can make her uncomfortable, they should be in good shape. There's no doubt that Howard takes pride in defending the best player on the other team, and that'll be her challenge in this series.
Rhyne Howard has to attack on all levels of offense
On offense, Howard will have to stay aggressive as she did against the Mystics. She's one of the best 3-point shooters in the league, and every shot will be important for the Dream throughout the series. Not only has Howard shown consistency in her perimeter shooting, but she can finish in the paint at a high level. It'll be interesting to see who the Liberty decide to use to guard her, but it won't be easy for them.
This is a big moment for the Dream, and they'll have to come prepared when facing a team like the Liberty. Howard has been the leader on the team since she was drafted, and they'll go as far as she takes them this postseason.
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