Dream versus Mystics selections, individual player props, forecasts, and odds on May 16th
Here's the revised article:
Get ready for an action-packed WNBA opening night! The Atlanta Dream go head-to-head with the Washington Mystics, all set to kick off the season at CareFirst Arena at 7:30pm ET. ION will be broadcasting the match, and it's gonna be a barnburner.
Dream vs Mystics: Picks and Predictions
ION's on it, and so are we. Here's why the Dream will dominate:
The Atlanta Dream have been busy bringin' in fresh talent, mad moves that'll make 'em a force to reckon with. Head coach Karl Smesko's all about defense and long-range bombs, and bringin' in Brittney Griner and Brionna Jones ain't helpin' neither. Griner's still a score-deckin' machine - guzzled down 18 points per game last season, along with 7 boards and 2 assists - that's gonna make the Dream's offensive rating skyrocket. The Mystics ain't got a soul on their roster who's made it to the top-25 players list.
Also, the Dream's got top scorers Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray, who's expected to launch triples like never before under Smesko's coaching. With these three powerhouses on their team, Atlanta's got the edge.
As for the Mystics, they've been blowin' it all up, traded away leading scorer Ariel Atkins and star player Karli Samuelson for first-round draft picks. They turned those picks into Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen, but rookies aren't exactly gonna set the world on fire in their debuts.
The Mystics are in dire need of some ballhandlin' backup too. Starting guard Georgia Amoore sustained an injury in practice and might not be back for the season. That means the Dream's gonna have a field day exposin' Washington's lack of depth and inexperience.
Dream vs Mystics Odds
The best place to throw down on the Dream is FanDuel. They're labelin' 'em as -6.5-point favorites, and -290 on the moneyline. Washington comes back as +225 underdogs. The total? 156.5.
Dream vs Mystics Player Props
With Smesko's system, we're anticipatin' a significant boost in three-point volume for the Dream. Here's where we think the value lies:
Rhyne Howard Over 3.5 Threes (+128 at DraftKings)
In two pre-season games under Smesko, Atlanta hoisted 72 three-point attempts. With Smesko's style of play, that's just the beginning. We believe given his playstyle, that's gonna be a regular occurrence. The Dream's gonna rely heavily on long-range bombs, and no player benefits more than Howard. The high volume plays means targeting her to splash 4 triples again is a strong bet at +128 odds.
Now, go ahead and make that bet! Just remember: We may not always be right, but what fun is life without a little gamblin', amirite? Good luck, and let's see the Dream dominate!
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- The Dream's offensive rating is expected to skyrocket with the addition of Brittney Griner and Brionna Jones, making them aavorites to dominate the WNBA match against the Washington Mystics.
- FanDuel is labeling the Atlanta Dream as -6.5-point favorites and -290 on the moneyline for the upcoming game against the Mystics, with Washington coming back as +225 underdogs.
- Rhyne Howard is anticipated to have a significant increase in three-point volume under the new coaching of Karl Smesko, and her odds to make over 3.5 threes in the upcoming game are +128 at DraftKings.
- The Dream's reliance on long-range bombs under Smesko's coaching makes Howard a strong bet to hit 4 triples again at the increased volume, given the potential regular occurrence of a high number of three-point attempts.
