Dream confident despite Game 1 loss

By Sekou Smith

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

No artificial confidence booster was needed at the Dream’s practice Thursday.

Not with energetic point guard Ivory Latta leading the positivity parade on the eve of the Dream’s first home playoff game, Friday night against Detroit at Gwinnett Arena.

“Man, we’re so pumped right now. I don’t know if you can hear it in my voice,” Latta said of the challenge facing the Dream tonight in Game 2. “But we are so pumped up because we know when we come back here and have our fans behind us we can accomplish anything. They’ve truly been our sixth man this year, and we’re going to be focused and have a lot of energy. I promise you we’re going to come out of the gate strong and ready to go.”

After the way they lost Game 1 on Wednesday night on the road, an emotional letdown wouldn’t surprise anyone. The Dream led by as many as 18 points in the first half but couldn’t hold off the defending champion Shock and lost 94-89.

“It was right there in our hands,” Latta said. “But it’s like coach said, we have to let that game go and move on to the next game.”

Game 3, if necessary, is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday at Gwinnett Arena.

Holdsclaw ready to go

Veteran Dream forward Chamique Holdsclaw is expected to play tonight. She played only 12 minutes and 41 seconds in Game 1, finishing with three points.

Holdsclaw missed the Dream’s final nine regular-season games and had arthroscopic surgery on her right knee Aug. 27.

Nolan expected to play

Shock leading scorer Deanna Nolan left Game 1 with 16.2 seconds to play suffering from dizziness. But Shock coach Rick Mahorn said he expected Nolan to be ready to play Friday night.