As we head into the second half of the WNBA regular season, it’s time for teams to buckle down and get serious about their seasons. The Portland Fire are fading out of the playoff picture, and need to pick up some wins in a hurry, or else face the prospect of a trade deadline full of goodbyes. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Dream are stumbling through a cold streak, and need to re-assert themselves in the playoff picture. Which team can get back on track today?
Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. ET. The Dream are a 12.5-point home favorite with -625 moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. A Fire upset is priced at +455, with the game total set at O/U 172.5 points.
Let’s get into a pick and prediction for this Fire-Dream game.
Fire vs. Dream Preview
If you read my previews, I probably sound like a broken record to you when discussing the Portland Fire. But their issues are defense, defense, and defense. They did a solid job defensively in their last two games, but that bucked a brutal trend. Before that, Portland had surrendered 100+ points in three straight games, including two embarrassing 124-point debacles. Plain and simple, their top offensive players have to be better; Carla Leite, Bridget Carleton, and Sarah Ashlee Barker have all struggled to lock in when defending the perimeter and playing in rotation.
At least they can pile up the points at times. Leite has proven to be a strong floor general, and they have great floor spacing between Carleton, Barker, and Megan Gustafson. When they can get downhill and put opposing defenses in rotation, the results have been promising. But like most of their problems, it comes down to the lack of cohesion as a team.
Cohesion hasn’t been a problem for the Dream, at least in the starting lineup. Angel Reese has fit wonderfully, improving their already-excellent defense and providing an elite screening threat for Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray, and Jordin Canada. Naz Hillmon’s adjustment to the starting lineup has been rocky at times, but she’s rounding into form. Though the bench hasn’t been their strong point, Te-Hina Pao Pao gives them a lot of interesting lineup looks.
It’s a clash of very different styles here. Atlanta wants to set the tone defensively, go big, and live in the paint. Portland is an offense-first team that wants to go small and space the floor. Which team is forced to break their style first? That may well decide the game.
Fire vs. Dream Pick, Best Bet
It’s tough to see how the Fire tilt the energy in this game. I don’t trust their offense to break the Dream’s excellent defense, nor do I trust their defense to contain Atlanta’s All-Star trio. They’re the overwhelming favorites for a reason. This will be a comfortable home win for the Dream.
