The Atlanta Dream will be without their leading scorer tonight.
It’s official.
Allisha Gray has been ruled out of Game 2 of Atlanta’s WNBA semifinal series against the New York Liberty because of the left-hand injury she suffered Sunday.
Gray underwent an X-ray Tuesday, and Karl Smesko said she will be considered day-to-day after Game 2. The team has not announced a timetable beyond that. FOX Sports
Obviously, that’s not what you want to hear when you’re two victories away from the WNBA Finals.
Gray averaged 19.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.4 steals while playing all 44 regular-season games for Atlanta. She had not missed a game all year. HeadlinesBriefing
You don’t simply replace that.
But something Smesko said Tuesday immediately caught my attention.
When discussing how Atlanta could adjust its rotation without Gray, Smesko specifically mentioned three players:
Isobel Borlase.
Te-Hina Paopao.
Shatori Walker-Kimbrough.
And if you’ve been reading ATL Sports Zone throughout this season, you probably already know where I’m going with this.
Give me more Isobel Borlase.
Nobody Is Going to Replace Allisha Gray
Before we go any further, this needs to be clear.
Borlase isn’t Gray.
Paopao isn’t Gray.
DeWanna Bonner isn’t Gray.
Nobody on Atlanta’s bench should enter tonight thinking they have to become Gray.
Smesko basically said the same thing Tuesday.
His message was that there is only one Allisha Gray, and Atlanta can’t expect somebody else to duplicate what one of the league’s best players provides at both ends. HeadlinesBriefing
Exactly.
This needs to be a collective response.
Jordin Canada probably has to score more.
Rhyne Howard probably gets additional offensive responsibility.
Bonner will likely play a larger role after scoring 23 points with nine rebounds in Game 1. Swish Appeal
Angel Reese has to continue affecting the game defensively.
But somebody else is going to receive those missing perimeter minutes.
That’s where this gets interesting.
Smesko Has Already Opened the Door for Borlase
Borlase played 10 minutes in Game 1.
Paopao played four.
Walker-Kimbrough has played only one minute across Atlanta’s first three postseason games. FOX Sports
Now Smesko has acknowledged all three could see increased opportunities depending on how New York handles its rotation.
I’m giving Borlase the first chance.
Not because she’s necessarily the safest option.
Actually, it’s almost the opposite.
I think she gives Atlanta the highest upside.
That’s been my stance throughout this season.
I’ve already written about the difficult Isobel Borlase versus Te-Hina Paopao decision facing Atlanta, and my opinion hasn’t changed.
I like Paopao.
She’s a good player.
She can shoot.
She can handle the basketball.
But Borlase gives Atlanta something different.
Size.
Creation.
Scoring upside.
And the ability to attack rather than simply functioning as another spot-up player.
Tonight might be the perfect opportunity to see whether that translates to playoff basketball.
Atlanta Doesn’t Need Borlase to Score 20
This is important.
If Borlase gets 15 minutes tonight, I’m not expecting some breakout 22-point performance.
That’s not what Atlanta needs.
Give me eight points.
Attack a closeout.
Make a three.
Grab a couple rebounds.
Don’t turn the basketball over.
Compete defensively.
Make New York account for you.
That’s enough.
Because Atlanta already has plenty of offensive firepower.
Canada scored 25 points Sunday.
Bonner scored 23.
Reese scored 17.
Howard finished with 16 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.
Atlanta beat New York 92-82 despite Gray playing only 11 minutes. CBS Sports
The Dream don’t need one person to replace Gray’s 19 points.
They need four or five players to replace different pieces of what she does.
Borlase can provide one of those pieces.
Her Size Could Matter Against New York
This is another reason I lean Borlase.
She’s 6-foot-2.
That matters against this Liberty roster.
New York has size everywhere.
Breanna Stewart.
Jonquel Jones.
Han Xu.
Long wings.
Big guards.
Atlanta doesn’t necessarily want to get smaller for extended stretches.
Borlase gives Smesko another perimeter player with legitimate size who can still put the basketball on the floor.
And without Gray, Atlanta loses a 6-foot guard who is a very good defender.
You’re not replacing Gray defensively.
But maintaining some length on the perimeter helps.
This Is Exactly Why Depth Matters
Remember what happened Sunday.
Gray went down.
Atlanta was trailing 40-37 at halftime.
The Dream could have folded.
Instead, they outscored New York 32-15 in the third quarter and eventually won by 10. AOL.com
Canada took over.
Bonner took over.
Everybody contributed.
That’s what championship-level depth looks like.
Now Atlanta has to do it for an entire game.
And I actually think that’s a much more difficult challenge.
New York knows Gray isn’t playing.
The Liberty have had two days to prepare accordingly.
They know Bonner is probably getting more minutes.
They know Canada will be aggressive.
They know Howard will have additional offensive responsibility.
Atlanta doesn’t have the element of surprise anymore.
That’s why somebody outside the obvious group becoming productive could completely change Game 2.
Borlase fits that description perfectly.
DeWanna Bonner Probably Moves Into the Starting Lineup
The obvious move is Bonner.
She played 30 minutes Sunday after Gray went down and scored 23 points.
She has championship experience.
She’s comfortable playing alongside Atlanta’s starters.
And the Associated Press identified Bonner as the likely candidate to replace Gray in the starting lineup. FOX Sports
I’m completely fine with that.
Actually, I love it.
But there’s a trickle-down effect.
If Bonner starts, somebody has to absorb more of the bench minutes Bonner normally occupies.
That’s where Borlase becomes important.
Atlanta can’t realistically ask Canada, Howard and Bonner to play 40 minutes.
Especially with another game coming Friday in New York.
Smesko has to trust somebody.
Tonight might tell us quite a bit about who he trusts most.
Paopao Will Have an Opportunity Too
I don’t want this to become Borlase versus Paopao unnecessarily.
Atlanta might need both.
Paopao’s shooting could become extremely valuable if New York packs the paint.
If Atlanta gets Reese touches inside and the Liberty collapse, Paopao can punish that from the perimeter.
She also provides another ball-handler when Canada sits.
There is absolutely a role there.
But if we’re talking about which young guard I’d most like to see receive an extended opportunity?
I’m still choosing Borlase.
Because I’m interested in what happens when Atlanta gives her enough minutes to actually get comfortable.
Four minutes doesn’t tell you much.
Eight minutes doesn’t always tell you much.
Give her a real stretch.
Let her make a mistake.
Let her attack.
Let’s see what happens.
This Could Matter Beyond Game 2
And this is where tonight becomes fascinating from a roster-building perspective.
Atlanta has some decisions coming eventually.
You can’t keep everybody forever.
Young players need opportunities.
Roles change.
Contracts change.
And postseason basketball has a funny way of revealing which players coaches actually trust.
Borlase getting meaningful semifinal minutes against New York would tell us considerably more than another regular-season appearance in July.
This is pressure.
The Liberty desperately need this game.
Atlanta is trying to take a 2-0 lead in a best-of-five semifinal.
Gray isn’t available.
Every possession matters.
If Borlase can contribute in this environment?
That’s valuable information for Smesko and the front office.
But Don’t Make This More Complicated Than Necessary
There’s also a temptation to completely redesign the offense because Gray is unavailable.
I wouldn’t.
Atlanta’s identity worked Sunday.
Keep pressuring the basketball.
New York committed 21 turnovers in Game 1.
Atlanta converted them into 32 points, tying a WNBA playoff record. CBS Sports
The Liberty spent Tuesday talking about how many of those mistakes were self-inflicted.
Rhyne Howard isn’t exactly buying that explanation. She pushed back on the idea that New York simply gave the game away, emphasizing the pressure Atlanta’s defense created. New York Post
I’m with Howard.
Atlanta has now forced:
22 turnovers against Washington in Game 1.
19 against Washington in Game 2.
21 against New York in Game 1.
That’s not luck.
That’s identity.
Gray being unavailable doesn’t change that.
Canada Has to Set the Tone Again
If there is one player I trust tonight, it’s Jordin Canada.
She scored 20 of her 25 points after halftime Sunday and finished with five steals. CBS Sports
Before that, she scored 13 fourth-quarter points to close out Washington.
Canada has been fantastic when Atlanta needs somebody to settle everything down.
Tonight might require another one.
Without Gray, Canada becomes even more important as a creator.
But I don’t need her chasing 30 points.
Run the offense.
Attack when it’s there.
Pressure Sabrina Ionescu.
Get Reese touches.
Find Howard.
And most importantly, help the young guards when Smesko goes to the bench.
This Is a Massive Opportunity for Atlanta
Here’s the positive side of all this.
Atlanta already leads 1-0.
Gray is day-to-day after tonight rather than being immediately ruled out for the rest of the series. HeadlinesBriefing
And the Dream already know they can beat New York without Gray on the floor because they essentially did it for the entire second half Sunday.
Tonight is an opportunity.
Win?
Atlanta goes to Brooklyn leading 2-0.
New York would need three consecutive victories to eliminate the Dream.
And Atlanta could potentially get Gray back at some point during that stretch.
That’s an enormous opportunity.
Tonight Might Be Isobel Borlase’s Moment
This is why I’m watching the rotation almost as closely as the scoreboard tonight.
Everybody knows what Howard can do.
Everybody knows what Canada can do.
We just watched Bonner score 23.
Reese is the Defensive Player of the Year.
But championship runs usually require somebody unexpected to have a moment.
Maybe tonight it’s Borlase.
Maybe she hits two threes.
Maybe she attacks New York’s second unit.
Maybe she gives Atlanta 15 excellent minutes.
Maybe she simply holds her own defensively and allows Canada to rest.
Atlanta doesn’t need a superstar performance.
It needs somebody to absorb minutes without the team falling apart.
And if Borlase does more than that?
Now Smesko has another weapon.
This Is Why I’ve Wanted Atlanta to Keep Borlase
I’ve said this before, and tonight isn’t going to completely determine whether I’m right or wrong.
But this is exactly why I’ve been reluctant to view Borlase as somebody Atlanta should casually move.
There’s upside there.
She’s young.
She’s big for her position.
She can score.
She can create.
Those players are valuable.
Sometimes young players just need an opportunity.
Well…
Here’s the opportunity.
Atlanta’s leading scorer is unavailable.
The Dream are playing one of the biggest games in franchise history.
A victory puts them one win away from the WNBA Finals.
Karl Smesko needs somebody from his bench to step forward.
Why not Isobel Borlase?
Allisha Gray cannot be replaced by one player.
Atlanta shouldn’t even try.
Let Bonner take on more responsibility.
Let Canada run the show.
Let Howard attack.
Let Reese dominate defensively.
And then give one of your most intriguing young players a legitimate opportunity to help.
Because if Isobel Borlase is part of Atlanta’s future?
Tonight would be a pretty incredible time to show us why.
Gray is officially out for Game 2 tonight, the first game she will miss all season. She remains day-to-day afterward, and Smesko specifically identified Borlase, Paopao and Walker-Kimbrough as candidates for additional rotation minutes.
