One savvy lineup change may be all it takes for Dream to reach the next level

Atlanta is having a great season. With a 12-7 record, Karl Smesko’s squad is one of the best teams in the league. Led by Allisha Gray, the Dream have already beaten the Fever, Storm, and Liberty. 

Adding Brionna Jones and Brittney Griner to the team and creating an offense that allows Gray to flourish has paid off big time for the Dream. However, Atlanta could be even better, and a small lineup change may be all it takes to get the team to the next level. 

Karl Smesko should consider starting Naz Hillmon over Brittney Griner. 

Dream lineups with Hillmon have a better net rating

When everyone is healthy and available, the Dream’s starting lineup has been Jordin Canada, Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Brionna Jones, and Brittney Griner. That is the Dream’s most-played lineup. Over 100 minutes, the starting lineup has racked up a 100.5 offensive rating, 99.5 defensive rating, and 1.0 net rating. It is not the team’s best lineup.

The Dream’s best lineup is their second-most-used one, in which Naz Hillmon fills in for Brittney Griner. Over 64 minutes, the lineup of Gray, Jones, Canada, Howard, and Hillmon has recorded a 112.2 offensive rating, 81.9 defensive rating, and 30.3 net rating. 

Atlanta’s second-best lineup consists of Gray, Howard, Jones, Hillmon, and Paopao. One common denominator between the Dream’s best lineups is the trio of Gray, Howard, and Jones playing together. However, replacing Griner with Hillmon also has a positive effect on Atlanta’s production. 

Naz Hillmon is a better fit next to Brionna Jones 

Playing two traditional bigs who do not space the floor is becoming increasingly more difficult in the modern WNBA. And yet, that is what the Dream are trying to do with Brionna Jones and Brittney Griner. While Jones has upped her 3-point attempts, she is still not making a ton of them, converting only 21.4 percent of her 1.5 attempts. 

Hillmon, on the other hand, has taken massive strides as a 3-point shooter. She went from being a non-shooter to taking 2.8 shots from long range per game and making 35.2 percent. Putting her next to Jones gives the latter the room necessary to do her thing in the paint without having to worry about it being too crowded. 

Playing Griner and Jones together can give the Dream a massive size advantage against certain teams. However, in most games, it is more valuable to have a floor spacer in the frontcourt. Putting Hillmon in Griner’s spot gives the Dream more flexibility and versatility. 

Hillmon already leads all reserves in fourth-quarter minutes and has played more minutes in the last quarter than Griner. Smesko often leans on Hillmon late in games. Putting her into the starting lineup seems like the next logical step. 

This isn’t as much of a knock on Griner as it is a reminder of the limitations of playing two traditional bigs next to each other.