{"id":128259,"date":"2026-05-12T23:13:08","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T02:13:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ubirataonline.com.br\/great-screener-roller-passer-paige-bueckers-reveals-thoughts-on-angel-reese-ahead-of-dream-clash\/"},"modified":"2026-05-12T23:13:11","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T02:13:11","slug":"great-screener-roller-passer-paige-bueckers-reveals-thoughts-on-angel-reese-ahead-of-dream-clash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ubirataonline.com.br\/en\/great-screener-roller-passer-paige-bueckers-reveals-thoughts-on-angel-reese-ahead-of-dream-clash\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cGreat Screener, Roller, Passer\u201d: Paige Bueckers Reveals Thoughts on Angel Reese Ahead of Dream Clash"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings<\/a> might have just found the second gear. For years, this Dallas Wings car has been driving backwards, having reached the playoffs only 3 times in the last 8 years. Paige Bueckers\u2019 arrival gave them hope and the uptick showed in the opening game win against the Indiana Fever<\/a>. After the Caitlin Clark test, Bueckers is slated to face her next rival, as the point guard has detailed how Angel Reese might trouble them ahead of the Atlanta Dream<\/a> clash.<\/p>\n

Bueckers and Reese have no personal rivalry as such. But that healthy competition breeds some fire in Bueckers whenever she plays Reese. \u201cI love Angel as a competitor. We\u2019re great friends off the court as well. and she just brings the best out of you. She\u2019s a crap talker just like me to be able to have that,\u201d Bueckers said. Now as they are set to face each other for the first time this season, Paige Bueckers has opened up on Reese\u2019s impact on the floor.<\/p>\n

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\u201cOn both ends of the floor, she\u2019s a paint presence on both sides. Defensively, she can switch and guard one through five,\u201d Bueckers said. \u201cOffensively, she\u2019s a great screener, great roller, great passer, can finish around the rim, and provides a different spark for them. Her energy is contagious and brings confidence to her teammates.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Reese showed how she elevates this Atlanta team in that first game. She had 11 points, 14 rebounds, three blocks, and two assists, including the game-winning block. Her paint protection was the reason the Dream brought her in to give their shooters a presence inside. And the effect was evident in the first game. With Reese on the floor, the Lynx shot at 51.9 eEFG%. But when she was off, that number went up to 59.4%.<\/p>\n

Reese wasn\u2019t in the same form offensively, shooting 4-11 from the field. However, she did not let it drag her down in other areas and recovered with some clutch buckets later in the game. But her screening was essential in getting their shooters free. That spirit is even more promising for the Dream and dangerous for Paige Bueckers and Co. Her versatility gives them too many problems to worry about.<\/p>\n

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Nevertheless, even the Wings possess the weapons to shut down Reese, atleast on her offense. They have brought in the 2025 Defensive Player Of the Year in Alanna Smith<\/a> along with Jessica Sheperd. Bueckers herself has bulked up and improved on her defense too. And there are weaknesses in Reese\u2019s game. Her finishing around the rim is improving but still clunky so a mildly contested shot is difficult for her. Especially when she has not yet settled into her new team.<\/p>\n

While handling her defense, they have brought in enough size in Awak Kuier and Li Yueru<\/a> to try and screen her off when she switches to the perimeter. They can also stretch the floor with 3-level shooters like Azzi Fudd, Arike Ogunbowale<\/a> and Paige Bueckers. However, to counter pesky defenders like Reese and others, the Wings are adjusting with a change in position for Bueckers.<\/p>\n

Paige Bueckers Moving Away From The Point Guard After Odyssey Sims<\/a>\u2019 Emergence<\/h2>\n

Last year, the Wings had Paige Bueckers doing everything. She was creating chances, scoring while being the needle of the team. However, this season the team has added some veteran pieces around her for support. And one of them is Odyssey Sims, who impressed in the first game. She had 20 points and 2 assists while adding 2 steals.<\/p>\n

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The interesting part was that there were periods where Sims took over the point guard position over Bueckers. Bueckers finished with a usage rate of just 17.4% and was successful too with 20 points and 4 assists. And Jose Fernandez\u2019s comments suggest that this trend will continue.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought she did well, scored 20 points, did a very good job defensively,\u201d Fernandez said regarding Sims (via Dallas Hoops Journal). \u201cIt\u2019s just, for me, I want to save Paige\u2019s legs down the stretch in the fourth quarter. The more I can play her off the ball, we know she\u2019s going to get trapped at the point guard spot and in some pick-and-roll situations. And also, when she\u2019s at the point guard spot, what do other teams do? They pick her up 94 feet and try to wear her out for 60 of it. So, I mean, for right now, that\u2019s our lineup, and that\u2019s what I\u2019m gonna go with.\u201d<\/p>\n

Going against the likes of Reese and the Dream, which have immense length, Bueckers will be tested. But the Wings showed that they can move the ball around effectively to get a good look for anyone on the floor. And with the quality that Bueckers has, she can impact games just with her midrange gravity collapsing the defense inside. It is set to be a tasty clash between two teams who are vying to take the next step in their progression and become a playoff regular.<\/p>\n

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