Famed NBA trainer Drew Hanlen recently addressed the backlash he faced after candidly critiquing Atlanta Dream star Angel Reese. On the latest episode of his “No Hesitation” podcast, co-hosted with Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, Hanlen emphasized that Reese must enhance her finishing ability at the rim to elevate her game further.
In Games 2 and 3 of the WNBA Finals, Reese posted impressive numbers, averaging 25.5 points while shooting an efficient 60.7%, helping the Dream secure back-to-back wins and a 2-1 lead in the series. However, her offensive efficiency declined sharply in Games 3 and 4, scoring just 7.5 points on 20% shooting, mostly inside the paint, as Atlanta dropped both games and ultimately lost the championship to the Las Vegas Aces in Game 7.
While discussing Reese’s performance, Hanlen acknowledged her improvements in free throws and three-point shooting but pointed out that missed layups remain a critical area holding her back. He noted, “We’ve highlighted how much she’s improved her free-throw shooting… but missing her layups is the thing that holds her back because in Games 2 and 3, she looked so dominant.”
Hanlen revealed that some of Reese’s supporters reacted angrily to his remarks. To support his argument, he shared Reese’s statistics that illustrated her struggles—she converted just 32.5% of shots from 3 to 10 feet and missed over half of her layups this season. Despite this critique, both Hanlen and Cunningham praised Reese highly during the podcast, with Cunningham even naming Reese the MVP at the start of the Finals.
For Reese to become an even greater presence for the Dream, continued offensive growth will be essential. Already recognized as one of the league’s premier defenders, increasing her consistency on offense would make her nearly unstoppable.
Fan Take: This critique highlights the fine margins separating good players from great ones in the WNBA and underscores the league’s growing emphasis on skill refinement. For fans, Reese’s development symbolizes the rising level of competition and the exciting future for women’s basketball.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
