Since returning from injury, Atlanta has won five of eight.
By: Mason Williams
CHICAGO – An athlete’s process of trusting their body to be right after any type of injury is, in general terms, usually immense.
For 11-year veteran Danielle Robinson, who sustained a knee injury that required surgery during this year’s first regular season game, that process must be magnified – considering the wear and tear the body takes when at the peak of a profession for so long.
Eight games since her return from the aforementioned procedure though, Robinson had 32:45 of on-court time. Although head coach Tanisha Wright didn’t like the fact that she kept her on the floor for so long Friday night, Robinson says she’s feeling great.
“As the point guard, your teammates are always watching you, always look at you first and bringing the ball up, picking up the guard first on the other side of the court,” Robinson said after Friday’s victory over the Chicago Sky. On the evening, Robinson poured in 14 points, nine rebounds, six assists and three steals.
Her point, rebound and steal totals all were her season-best outputs. The six assists tie her season-high from the previous outing, a sign that Robinson is beginning to play her best basketball thus far.
Joking with her head coach, Robinson says the elevated assist numbers are an effort to catch Wright’s mark of 1,422 for her career. Following Friday night’s performance, Robinson’s total sits just 15 assists shy at 1,408.
“Just making sure I was locked in,” Robinson continued. “I think (the team), they feed off of my energy and my focus. So when I’m able to do that as consistently as I was tonight, I think it really helps our team have a calm presence about them.”
In moments where opposing teams are going on runs, the butterfly effect that Robinson’s game instills allows others to handle it properly – the same way Atlanta did when Chicago would push on Friday night, trying to get back into the game.
At the end of the day, the coaching staff has to trust the group that’s on the floor can put themselves in the right situations to be successful. A coach on the court, Robinson’s leadership is aiding in that process.
“The coaches believe in us, so we just had to right the ship a little bit,” Robinson said. “It’s not about making home run plays. It’s about staying confident and consistent. I think we have a squad that can do that.”