Dallas Wings look to bounce back after rough start to the week
The Dallas Wings started off last week with back-to-back wins against the Phoenix Mercury, but after two straight losses the team must find a way to turn things around.
June has been a roller coaster for the Dallas Wings. The team started off the month with two straight losses against the Washington Mystics and Connecticut Sun. Dallas bounced back with wins against the Mercury. But, after suffering two losses to the New York Liberty and Los Angeles Sparks, the team looks to get back on track.
It is no question injuries have been the biggest factor. Players like Crystal Dangerfield and Diamond DeShields have been out with ankle injuries, while rookie Lou Lopez Sénéchal continues to recover from a knee injury.
However with Dangerfield set to return, this would give the Wings an extra offensive weapon. In five games this season she averaged 8.8 points on 46.5 percent shooting while completing 35% percent of her attempted threes. This could come in handy for a team who has struggled from beyond the arc.
Against the Sparks, Dallas shot 19% from three and poured in just 10 points the entire fourth quarter.
In her press conference Wednesday, Coach Latricia Trammell spoke about the lack of offensive scoring.
“I think with this team you have to get the ball falling, we missed so many little chip shots,” Trammell said. “We definitely had opportunities, we had open looks around the basket especially missed layups.”
On Wednesday, Dallas struggled moving the ball around. The team either overthrew one another other or became stagnant that they collapsed in certain areas of the court. Players struggled getting open and lacked the ability to move the ball from one side to the other. This led to Dallas completing 18 turnovers.
“It’s a timing issue, being able to catch some balls, being able to read the offense a little bit better. Our flow was off today, and I think that’s how turnovers result, we were kind of sped up in the decision making.” Satou Sabally said.
On Sunday, the Wings allowed the Liberty to shot 55.7% from the field, while making 46.4% of their attempted threes. Dallas is one of three teams this season that have allowed their opponents to shot 40% or higher from beyond the arc.
At times the team collapses inside the paint by either struggling to contain the fast break or allowing shooters around them to get open.
The Sparks’ game proved to be no different as Dallas let the opposition score 42 points inside.
“I think defensively we need to be more aggressive, myself included,” Kalani Brown said.
Before this week the Wings were 4-0 at home and 3-0 in the Commisoner’s Cup. With their next two games at home and three of their next five matchups against teams with losing records, Dallas will look to bounce back.
“We have that championship mentality and I absolutely love this team, their incredible people,” Coach Trammell said. “Their ready to get back in and work on some of those things.”