Atlanta Dream fans have spent weeks debating whether Karl Smesko should stay or go, but the conversation could always be worse. The Dream lost 88-83 on Saturday night at home, bringing their losing streak to five straight games.
It was the same story told so many times throughout this season: missed free throws, a stagnant offense, and a failure to use the bench wisely.
After playing a decent first quarter, the Dream were able to lead 22-19 before falling behind 42-35 at halftime. They did reclaim the lead in the third quarter, outscoring the Valkyries 24-15 to take a 59-57 advantage into the fourth quarter. However, the Dream’s energy level during the final quarter was disappointing to say the least. Not only did they miss crucial free throws, but their failure to produce consistent scoring in clutch time cost them the win.
As many pointed out on social media, it feels as though apathy is starting to set in. Fans are not only exhausted by all the losing, but also by the manner in which they lose. And they let their frustrations be known, directing them straight at Smesko.
Here is a look at some of their reactions:
Allisha Gray led the team with 22 points but missed a crucial layup in the closing seconds, which was one of the main reasons behind the loss. Rhyne Howard finished with 19 points, followed by Angel Reese, who recorded a double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds.
Karl Smesko needs to address big concerns to save his job
Something is off with the Atlanta Dream team, and they haven’t been able to figure it out all season. There have been a few solid games here and there, but never a consistent stretch where this group looked like the elite squads of seasons past. There has been no dominance, and no stretches of play where they look like they could and should beat anyone.
The question moving forward is how many more performances like this the fans are going to tolerate. Fans are constantly voicing their frustrations on social media, and for good reason, as the Dream now find themselves 12th in field goal percentage and 13th in free throw percentage. If they don’t turn their season around, it is fair to wonder if Atlanta fans could get their wish regarding Smesko.
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