First thing this morning, our coffee-dependent statistician Renata took a look at this matchup between the Atlanta Dream and the Dallas Wings and let out a rather charming yawn while studying the data. Yes folks, we're in for that kind of a game tonight.
The Dallas Wings, bless their enthusiastic little hearts, seem to think that big names like Arike Ogunbowale and Natasha Howard are enough to save their chicken-feather season. Sure, Ogunbowale was a scoring machine last month with an average of 22.3 points per game, but it's obvious she's not winning games single-handedly. Howard has also been consistent, but consistency sample size: one month.
Now, we drop our gaze to Atlanta Dream. I must say, Tina Charles has been brilliantly mediocre this season. She's trailing behind Gray, who has averaged 15.5 points per game last month with a flat-line consistent trend, but who's counting? As for Rhyne Howard, she's been juggling with an average of about 14.2 points per game last month. Not quite the top but it is what it is.
For the sports historians amongst us who live for past matchups, the two teams have teeter-tottered back and forth but Atlanta seems to have a slight upper hand recently. Or we can recall more distant history - the Dallas Wings' performances have been nothing less than spectacular...ly lacking courage and conviction.
Looking at the recent results, Atlanta's barely keeping their nose above the waterline whereas Dallas seems like they're trying to find the treasure at the bottom of the ocean - or so their record would have you believe.
Don't know about you, but from my perch here in the slightly stained commentary booth, this looks to be an uphill battle for Dallas. So folks, place your bets carefully. On a good day, this matchup should end as humorously as it started with the Dream making the Wings' flight a tad turbulent and taking home the win.
Albert’s Prediction: Atlanta Dream by 3