If the Dream were going to snap their losing streak, something different had to happen.
After losing six straight games, the team had a different approach on Tuesday. They warmed up on the opposite side of the court. Coach Michael Cooper was more animated on the sidelines, taking more control of the calls being made.
But the biggest difference in Atlanta’s 77-64 victory over the Storm was the ball movement. After struggling to find offensive success in the recent drought, three Dream players — Sancho Lyttle, Angel McCoughtry and Tiffany Hayes — ended the night in double-digit points.
Lyttle was a player on a mission, and for good reason. She said after the game that Cooper had challenged her specifically to step up if the team was going to get back to its winning ways. Atlanta had struggled when the veteran forward had left for four games to help Spain qualify for the Olympics, and her return still left something to be wanted.
The result of the coach’s challenge was tangible: Lyttle scored a season-high 22 points and recorded her third double-double of 2016 thanks to her 10 rebounds.
“I have to commend Sancho,” McCoughtry said. “She took constructive criticism and went out and showed action. That shows a true leader.”
But Lyttle wasn’t the only one getting guidance from Cooper. He pointed out after Sunday’s loss to Phoenix that McCoughtry and Hayes both needed to be more methodical in moving the ball around and not trying to do too much on their own.
That ball movement certainly came in play on Tuesday.
When Minnesota upended Atlanta 110-78 back on June 10, Cooper pointed toward the Lynx’s unselfish ball movement as a catalyst in the blowout victory. It was something he wanted to see more from his team in order to keep opposing defenses guessing on who to key in on.
It may have taken almost a full month to happen, but the Dream showed their first steps in following the Lynx’s lead.
“That’s what we need,” McCoughtry said. “That’s the great thing about Minnesota: They always have three or four or five in double digits all the time. The more players we have on the stat sheet, the better off we are.”
