There are storylines upon storylines for this game between the Atlanta Dream and the New York Liberty.
For starters, there’s the Commissioner’s Cup. After Atlanta defeated Washington, New York dropped its first game of the season, and both teams are 3-1 going into the final match. If New York wins, it will need Indiana (the third 3-1 team) to lose to the 2-8 Connecticut Sun. If Atlanta wins, it will clinch a Championship appearance outright. It’s safe to say a lot is on the line just off the strength of the Cup.
Then there are the playoff implications. Currently, Atlanta is the only team positioned to stop the Liberty from running away with the Eastern Conference. A Dream victory would put Atlanta just one game behind New York in the loss column. It’s an excellent chance for Atlanta to seize momentum by handing the Liberty back-to-back losses. That’s your B plot.
Our C plot goes back to last season, as the Liberty rolled over the Dream 2-0 in the first round of the playoffs. Losing a playoff series leaves a bad taste in anyone’s mouth, no matter how much of an underdog they were. A Commissioner’s Cup Championship appearance would be the ice cream, closing the standings gap would be whipped cream, and sweet revenge would be the cherry on top.
The Liberty are eight-point favorites at home and are -360 on the Moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. The total is set at 164 points. Let’s look at the best bets and predictions for this contest.
Dream vs. Liberty prediction
This game could go in a lot of directions. Both squads are in the top three in offensive and defensive rating at the season’s quarter pole. Both are capable of grinding things down in the halfcourt, or getting out and running for a high-scoring game. It’s tough to predict how the points could shape up in this one.
One thing is sure: these teams are closer than our oddsmakers imply. This Dream team is for real. Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray are a killer backcourt, the Brionna Jones-Brittney Griner frontcourt tandem is working, and the role players are coming together nicely. They may not have the star power of the Liberty, but they have a cohesive identity. That goes a long way in this league.
Dream vs. Liberty pick
Atlanta Dream +8
With so much on the line in this one, both teams will give maximum effort. A maximum-effort game for the Atlanta Dream can go a long way.
They have the shotmakers to bend New York’s defense, and the frontcourt to give Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart issues. It’s a great contest on paper and should be even better in practice. I wouldn’t be surprised if this one came down to the final few possessions. That’s what happens when excellent teams meet up with huge stakes.
