Notebook: Where is Atlanta Dream after four games?

At 6’2, Howard is one of the best shot creators and motion shooters in the world. She is able to take her photo with minimal space while still making it look effortless.

In the Dream’s 13-point loss to the Minnesota Lynx on Friday, Howard became the youngest player to record 20 points, five assists, five rebounds and five steals in a game since Swin Cash in 2003, according to Across The Timeline .

Over four games, she is averaging 21.0 points and 6.8 rebounds on 45.9% shooting from the field and 38.7% shooting from 3.

“When I see one (shot) go in and then two and three, it makes me more comfortable,” Howard said after Atlanta’s win over Los Angeles on May 15. “It makes me want to be more aggressive overall. Some of them are heat control shots, but once you have it (going) like that, you can’t get away from it.

As a rookie in 2022, Howard set a new franchise record with 85 3-pointers, then broke her own record in 2023 with 99. Will she surpass it again? It certainly looks like that so far.

Haley Jones leans on Jordin Canada through her struggles

With 8:07 left in the third quarter, Minnesota guard Courtney Williams hit a mid-range pull-up over Haley Jones to extend the Lynx lead to eight points. Atlanta Dream head coach Tanisha Wright immediately called a timeout and made a substitution, inserting Crystal Dangerfield into the game for Jones.

After the timeout, Jordin Canada, a former WNBA champion with the Seattle Storm in 2018 and 2020, sat next to Jones on the bench. There, she offered words of encouragement and advice to the 23-year-old guard.

“Jordan (Canada) is incredible. I’m trying to absorb all the knowledge she has,” Jones told The Next. “I also think about his professional career, playing behind Sue Bird (in Seattle), then becoming a starting point guard. Now I get this knowledge from her.

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With Canada sidelined by an early-season hand injury, Jones leans on the veteran guard as she continues to play point guard at the professional level.

“I think she helps me understand the speed of the game better, like Rhyne (Howard) or Allisha (Gray) who didn’t have a touch the last two possessions; they need to get to where they belong,” Jones said. “She also told me, ‘Haley, you need to go to the basket. You’re so busy running the offense that you have to score.

Jones has looked much more confident as a driver through four games, already scoring on two and-1s. For reference, she only had three and-1s her entire rookie season.

“I think it’s me getting back to what I do,” Jones said. “Last year I had the opportunity to do it, but I just didn’t do it. I let a lot of my nerves get to me. So this year, I arrive knowing that Jordin (Canada) is away at the moment. The team needs me to step up and be confident. The fact that I’m aggressive opens things up for my teammates and allows me to make easier passes.

After scoring fewer than three points in each of the last three games, Jones is aiming to bounce back. She hopes to emulate her impressive 14-point performance on 4-of-6 shooting from the field against the Sparks on opening night.

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