Dream Vs. Sky: Playoff Positioning On The Line Tonight In Chicago

There are major playoff implications for the Atlanta Dream surrounding tonight's match up against the Chicago Sky. Currently Atlanta is holding down the fourth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with a 13-13 record. Chicago is one game behind at 12-14 and looks to pull even tonight in Chicago. Atlanta has won two of the three meetings this season with both wins coming at Philips Arena. 

Atlanta's three game winning streak was snapped with a 96-87 loss to Connecticut on Sunday. Scoring hasn't been much of a problem for the Dream this season and they are averaging over 90 points a game over its last five contests. Angel McCoughtry is second in the league in scoring with a 20.4 average and was recently named WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the third time this season. However, it is on the defensive end of the floor where Atlanta has struggled and tightening up in the paint will be key against Sylvia Fowles and the Sky.

Fowles is nipping at the heels of McCoughtry in the scoring race at 20.3 per game and has been red hot of late averaging 27 points and 13.6 rebounds in her last three games. 

A victory tonight would give Atlanta some much needed breathing room as they head into a home and home match up with the East's top team the Indiana Fever later this week. The schedule eases for the Dream after that as they have a home and home series with Washington and a home game with Tulsa. Atlanta will closes out the season against Connecticut and another match up with the Fever. 

Chicago's road to the playoffs isn't any easier as they still have a home and home series with the New York Liberty, a home game against Indiana, and a three game western road trip that will take them through Minnesota, Los Angeles, and Seattle to close out the season.