Karl Smesko Calls Angel Reese Most Improved Player During WNBA Finals Run

Karl Smesko Praises Angel Reese's Growth

Atlanta Dream head coach Karl Smesko praised forward Angel Reese on Thursday, calling her perhaps the most improved player from the beginning of the season to now. The Dream hold a 2-1 lead over the Golden State Valkyries in the best of seven WNBA Finals after winning Game 3 on Wednesday. Atlanta hosts Game 4 on Saturday afternoon.

Reese is a three time All Star and the recently named Defensive Player of the Year. Even though this is her first WNBA playoff appearance, she is playing her best basketball when it counts most.

Hard Work Pays Off on the Court

After coming to Atlanta in an offseason trade from the Chicago Sky, Reese worked on her outside shot with Smesko. She also worked with assistant coach LaToya Sanders to refine her offensive moves and finishing around the rim.

The results show in her numbers. Reese shot 45 percent in the paint through the first 21 games, when Atlanta went 12-9. Since then, she has converted 51 percent of those shots, helping the Dream win 25 of their last 30 games.

Her 3 point shooting has improved too. Reese made just 12 percent of her 3s before the All Star break and 25 percent after it. In the playoffs, she has hit 8 of 17 shots from deep, which is 47.1 percent.

Historic Performances in the Finals

Reese is currently the top scorer in the Finals. She is averaging 21.7 points on 56.4 percent shooting, along with 13.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.0 steals, and 1.0 block per game.

In Game 3, she became the first player in WNBA history to post a double double in her first three Finals games. She is also the youngest player with three straight double doubles in the Finals, and only the second player alongside A'ja Wilson to post back to back games with 20 points and 10 rebounds in the series.

Teammate DeWanna Bonner said it is impressive to see Reese dominate in her first postseason. Reese stated that her main goal is to bring energy and confidence to her team every day.

What it means for the next game

Golden State Valkyries at Atlanta Dream (WNBA, Sat, 24 Oct): Atlanta Dream win 60%, Golden State Valkyries win 40%; projected score Atlanta Dream 80, Golden State Valkyries 76. Our safest pick: Valkyries +11.5.

Atlanta Dream at Golden State Valkyries (WNBA, Tue, 27 Oct): Golden State Valkyries win 44%, Atlanta Dream win 56%; projected score Golden State Valkyries 76, Atlanta Dream 77. Our safest pick: Valkyries +8.5.