http://server.cafemerc.com/service/getFeed.kickAction?quantity=25 New blogs from BenYork on CafeMerc Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:29:12 GMT Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:29:12 GMT cafemerc@phoenixmercury.com (phxmercury) cafemerc@phoenixmercury.com (phxmercury) KickApps Feed Builder 2009-10-12T20:29:12Z 32 http://server.cafemerc.com/service/searchEverything.kickAction?as=46100&sortType=recent 0 http://server.cafemerc.com/_Do-You-Believe-in-Magic/BLOG/1074490/46100.html If you didn't before, I'd be willing to bet you do now.When I say 'magic', I'm not talking about making things disappear, over-the-top illusions, or pulling a rabbit out of a hat. I'm talking about the type of magic that cannot ever accurately be described in words. Rather, it's a subconscious awareness that even for a few small moments, absolutely everything is right in the world.It's a type of euphoria where everything just feels good; there's really no better way to describe it. Any existential worries in other areas of one's life seemingly are lifted away in an instant, and a very real cognizance of joy and exuberance occurs that some individuals may only be privy to a couple of times throughout their lives.An entire season of hard work and dedication culminated with one of these rare moments Friday night as the Mercury were crowned 2009 WNBA Champions; and for a few moments, we were fortunate enough to witness multiple levels of real magic. As soon as you entered the arena Friday night, there was a palpable feeling of electricity; one of those few experiences in professional sports where you just knew it was going to be a night to remember. Almost 18,000 fans filed into US Airways Center in support of not just the Mercury, but the WNBA and women's basketball in general. It was the most attended Finals in league history, a 43.3% increase from last season, and garnered double-digit growth for ESPN2's coverage of the WNBA Finals (an average of 522,000 viewers - an increase of 66% over last year). This type of support for the league is unprecedented and shows a paradigm shift in respect and admiration for these phenomenal athletes that they've long deserved. In the end, it becomes increasingly difficult to solidify a single point in this season as "greater" than another. Obviously winning the Championship will stand out, but the 2009 season was comprised of dozens of lesser-known, equally as meaningful episodes involving the collective team. It was never about a single player or individual recognition.  Here are a few memories that should stand out.The immediate impact of rookie DeWanna Bonner - a double-double in her first WNBA gameTemeka Johnson's leadership on the court, and her game-winning shot in SacramentoKetia Swanier, Nicole Ohlde, Kelly Mazzante, and Brooke Smith comprising the deepest bench in the leagueThe legendary return of Penny Taylor, and her immeasurable significance to the team's successTangela Smith's two momentum saving three-pointers in game 5Le'coe Willingham's career year and toughnessCappie Pondexter's inspiring play all season long, and command of the gameDiana Taurasi - the MVP's, the heart, the intensity, and the passionWhile words fail to label the true sense of bliss that was evident Friday night, the expressions of the players, coaches, organization, and fans capture it best. Seeing the genuine out-pouring of emotions from the team whether it was tears of joy, a smile from ear to ear, or a celebratory hug from teammate to teammate undeniably manifested what true magic really is.I, for one, am now a believer. If you didn't before, I'd be willing to bet you do now.When I say 'magic', I'm not talking about making things disappear, over-the-top illusions, or pulling a rabbit out of a hat. I'm talking about the type of magic that cannot ever accurately be described in words. Rather, it's a subconscious awareness that even for a few small moments, absolutely everything is right in the world.It's a type of euphoria where everything just feels good; there's really no better way to describe it. Any existential worries in other areas of one's life seemingly are lifted away in an instant, and a very real cognizance of joy and exuberance occurs that some individuals may only be privy to a couple of times throughout their lives.An entire season of hard work and dedication culminated with one of these rare moments Friday night as the Mercury were crowned 2009 WNBA Champions; and for a few moments, we were fortunate enough to witness multiple levels of real magic. As soon as you entered the arena Friday night, there was a palpable feeling of electricity; one of those few experiences in professional sports where you just knew it was going to be a night to remember. Almost 18,000 fans filed into US Airways Center in support of not just the Mercury, but the WNBA and women's basketball in general. It was the most attended Finals in league history, a 43.3% increase from last season, and garnered double-digit growth for ESPN2's coverage of the WNBA Finals (an average of 522,000 viewers - an increase of 66% over last year). This type of support for the league is unprecedented and shows a paradigm shift in respect and admiration for these phenomenal athletes that they've long deserved. In the end, it becomes increasingly difficult to solidify a single point in this season as "greater" than another. Obviously winning the Championship will stand out, but the 2009 season was comprised of dozens of lesser-known, equally as meaningful episodes involving the collective team. It was never about a single player or individual recognition.  Here are a few memories that should stand out.The immediate impact of rookie DeWanna Bonner - a double-double in her first WNBA gameTemeka Johnson's leadership on the court, and her game-winning shot in SacramentoKetia Swanier, Nicole Ohlde, Kelly Mazzante, and Brooke Smith comprising the deepest bench in the leagueThe legendary return of Penny Taylor, and her immeasurable significance to the team's successTangela Smith's two momentum saving three-pointers in game 5Le'coe Willingham's career year and toughnessCappie Pondexter's inspiring play all season long, and command of the gameDiana Taurasi - the MVP's, the heart, the intensity, and the passionWhile words fail to label the true sense of bliss that was evident Friday night, the expressions of the players, coaches, organization, and fans capture it best. Seeing the genuine out-pouring of emotions from the team whether it was tears of joy, a smile from ear to ear, or a celebratory hug from teammate to teammate undeniably manifested what true magic really is.I, for one, am now a believer. Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:29:12 GMT http://server.cafemerc.com/_Do-You-Believe-in-Magic/BLOG/1074490/46100.html BenYork 2009-10-12T20:29:12Z Players CafeMerc If you didn't before, I'd be willing to bet you do now.When I say 'magic', I'm not talking about making things disappear, over-the-top illusions, or pulling a rabbit out of a hat. I'm talking about the type of magic that cannot ever accurately be described in words. Rather, it's a subconscious awareness that even for a few small moments, absolutely everything is right in the world.It's a type of euphoria where everything just feels good; there's really no better way to describe it. Any existential worries in other areas of one's life seemingly are lifted away in an instant, and a very real cognizance of joy and exuberance occurs that some individuals may only be privy to a couple of times throughout their lives.An entire season of hard work and dedication culminated with one of these rare moments Friday night as the Mercury were crowned 2009 WNBA Champions; and for a few moments, we were fortunate enough to witness multiple levels of real magic. As soon as you entered the arena Friday night, there was a palpable feeling of electricity; one of those few experiences in professional sports where you just knew it was going to be a night to remember. Almost 18,000 fans filed into US Airways Center in support of not just the Mercury, but the WNBA and women's basketball in general. It was the most attended Finals in league history, a 43.3% increase from last season, and garnered double-digit growth for ESPN2's coverage of the WNBA Finals (an average of 522,000 viewers - an increase of 66% over last year). This type of support for the league is unprecedented and shows a paradigm shift in respect and admiration for these phenomenal athletes that they've long deserved. In the end, it becomes increasingly difficult to solidify a single point in this season as "greater" than another. Obviously winning the Championship will stand out, but the 2009 season was comprised of dozens of lesser-known, equally as meaningful episodes involving the collective team. It was never about a single player or individual recognition.  Here are a few memories that should stand out.The immediate impact of rookie DeWanna Bonner - a double-double in her first WNBA gameTemeka Johnson's leadership on the court, and her game-winning shot in SacramentoKetia Swanier, Nicole Ohlde, Kelly Mazzante, and Brooke Smith comprising the deepest bench in the leagueThe legendary return of Penny Taylor, and her immeasurable significance to the team's successTangela Smith's two momentum saving three-pointers in game 5Le'coe Willingham's career year and toughnessCappie Pondexter's inspiring play all season long, and command of the gameDiana Taurasi - the MVP's, the heart, the intensity, and the passionWhile words fail to label the true sense of bliss that was evident Friday night, the expressions of the players, coaches, organization, and fans capture it best. Seeing the genuine out-pouring of emotions from the team whether it was tears of joy, a smile from ear to ear, or a celebratory hug from teammate to teammate undeniably manifested what true magic really is.I, for one, am now a believer. players nonadult false Do You Believe in Magic? text blog players 1109 4 5.0 http://server.cafemerc.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=8194234&as=46100 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/46100/photos/PHOTO_4277610_46100_8194234_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 Players 1 1074490 8194234 MVP 2004 http://server.cafemerc.com/_Basketball-Simplified/BLOG/1037226/46100.html [image]I'm not a huge fan of statistical figures and over-hyped analysis of integers. I guess you could say I'm more "old school" in that way. In my opinion, basketball is a fairly simple sport and making it too complicated usually doesn't equate to wins.Don't get me wrong, there are stats that matter; I'm just not a big proponent of the more complicated ones as I believe they can be construed in multiple ways. As Mark Twain said, "there are lies, damned lies, and statistics."At Mercury shoot-around today, the very last one of the season, I found out the team and organization have a very similar outlook for their decisive game 5 against the Fever."You know, bottom line is it comes down to just another 40 minutes of basketball," Diana Taurasi said. "If we look at it that way then we have nothing to worry about."As Dee said that, her tone of voice and body language was that of confidence and simplicity. In fact, as a Mercury fan, it was incredibly reassuring. It probably would be a mistake to add things into the game plan that they haven't worked on the entire year, and Gaines clearly wasn't going to confuse or burden the players with any additional things.Hence, whoever wins tonight will do the following things better than the other team.Have more energyBetter composureIt's really that simple.Former Suns coach, Mike D'Antoni, used to say "the ball finds energy." How true! Energy leads to rebounds, better defense, improved focus on offense, and more shot attempts. Composure leads to an increased will power, determination, never panicking, and staying loose in a high pressure situation.We all know how good the Fever can be on defense. We all know how fantastic the Mercury can be on offense. We all know how multiple players can step up for both teams and, essentially, be the key to a victory. But the winner tonight will be the team that lets the game come to them, and go all out for an entire 40 minutes.That's it.You could probably make a strong case for a plethora of statistical analyses that will "prove" which team is going to win or has the better chance of winning. You could say the Mercury have an advantage at home but you could also make a case for the Fever being the team with less pressure and expectations which would lead to a more free-flowing game for Indiana. Maybe you could try and compare offensive efficiency vs. defensive efficiency, turnovers forced, shooting percentage, rebounding percentage, offensive rating vs. defensive rating etc. But all of those figures stem from the team that out-hustles and out-energizes the other team, all while remaining composed in such a high profile game.Though, it certainly doesn't hurt that Phoenix is playing at home. Interestingly enough, this series should become the most attended Finals series of all time, over 81,000 people attending the 5 games. The series will also have the highest average attendance (about 16,000) since the Finals went to 5 games."I'm expecting a dog fight," Cappie Pondexter said. "It's been a battle the whole series and I wouldn't be surprised if it was very close or went to overtime. At this point home-court doesn't really matter. We just have to come out with a lot of energy and use that to our advantage."However, Cappie did acknowledge the significance of this game. "If I walk away with a championship tonight, it will be one of the top achievements ever."Still, the winner of tonight's game isn't going to implement anything new to completely disorient the other team. They're not going to add new offensive schemes, or do anything different than what got them to this point. And this, more so than anything, makes tonight's game 5 so compelling and important.Quite simply, it should be one for the books. [image]I'm not a huge fan of statistical figures and over-hyped analysis of integers. I guess you could say I'm more "old school" in that way. In my opinion, basketball is a fairly simple sport and making it too complicated usually doesn't equate to wins.Don't get me wrong, there are stats that matter; I'm just not a big proponent of the more complicated ones as I believe they can be construed in multiple ways. As Mark Twain said, "there are lies, damned lies, and statistics."At Mercury shoot-around today, the very last one of the season, I found out the team and organization have a very similar outlook for their decisive game 5 against the Fever."You know, bottom line is it comes down to just another 40 minutes of basketball," Diana Taurasi said. "If we look at it that way then we have nothing to worry about."As Dee said that, her tone of voice and body language was that of confidence and simplicity. In fact, as a Mercury fan, it was incredibly reassuring. It probably would be a mistake to add things into the game plan that they haven't worked on the entire year, and Gaines clearly wasn't going to confuse or burden the players with any additional things.Hence, whoever wins tonight will do the following things better than the other team.Have more energyBetter composureIt's really that simple.Former Suns coach, Mike D'Antoni, used to say "the ball finds energy." How true! Energy leads to rebounds, better defense, improved focus on offense, and more shot attempts. Composure leads to an increased will power, determination, never panicking, and staying loose in a high pressure situation.We all know how good the Fever can be on defense. We all know how fantastic the Mercury can be on offense. We all know how multiple players can step up for both teams and, essentially, be the key to a victory. But the winner tonight will be the team that lets the game come to them, and go all out for an entire 40 minutes.That's it.You could probably make a strong case for a plethora of statistical analyses that will "prove" which team is going to win or has the better chance of winning. You could say the Mercury have an advantage at home but you could also make a case for the Fever being the team with less pressure and expectations which would lead to a more free-flowing game for Indiana. Maybe you could try and compare offensive efficiency vs. defensive efficiency, turnovers forced, shooting percentage, rebounding percentage, offensive rating vs. defensive rating etc. But all of those figures stem from the team that out-hustles and out-energizes the other team, all while remaining composed in such a high profile game.Though, it certainly doesn't hurt that Phoenix is playing at home. Interestingly enough, this series should become the most attended Finals series of all time, over 81,000 people attending the 5 games. The series will also have the highest average attendance (about 16,000) since the Finals went to 5 games."I'm expecting a dog fight," Cappie Pondexter said. "It's been a battle the whole series and I wouldn't be surprised if it was very close or went to overtime. At this point home-court doesn't really matter. We just have to come out with a lot of energy and use that to our advantage."However, Cappie did acknowledge the significance of this game. "If I walk away with a championship tonight, it will be one of the top achievements ever."Still, the winner of tonight's game isn't going to implement anything new to completely disorient the other team. They're not going to add new offensive schemes, or do anything different than what got them to this point. And this, more so than anything, makes tonight's game 5 so compelling and important.Quite simply, it should be one for the books. Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:48:39 GMT http://server.cafemerc.com/_Basketball-Simplified/BLOG/1037226/46100.html BenYork 2009-10-09T19:48:39Z Players CafeMerc [image]I'm not a huge fan of statistical figures and over-hyped analysis of integers. I guess you could say I'm more "old school" in that way. In my opinion, basketball is a fairly simple sport and making it too complicated usually doesn't equate to wins.Don't get me wrong, there are stats that matter; I'm just not a big proponent of the more complicated ones as I believe they can be construed in multiple ways. As Mark Twain said, "there are lies, damned lies, and statistics."At Mercury shoot-around today, the very last one of the season, I found out the team and organization have a very similar outlook for their decisive game 5 against the Fever."You know, bottom line is it comes down to just another 40 minutes of basketball," Diana Taurasi said. "If we look at it that way then we have nothing to worry about."As Dee said that, her tone of voice and body language was that of confidence and simplicity. In fact, as a Mercury fan, it was incredibly reassuring. It probably would be a mistake to add things into the game plan that they haven't worked on the entire year, and Gaines clearly wasn't going to confuse or burden the players with any additional things.Hence, whoever wins tonight will do the following things better than the other team.Have more energyBetter composureIt's really that simple.Former Suns coach, Mike D'Antoni, used to say "the ball finds energy." How true! Energy leads to rebounds, better defense, improved focus on offense, and more shot attempts. Composure leads to an increased will power, determination, never panicking, and staying loose in a high pressure situation.We all know how good the Fever can be on defense. We all know how fantastic the Mercury can be on offense. We all know how multiple players can step up for both teams and, essentially, be the key to a victory. But the winner tonight will be the team that lets the game come to them, and go all out for an entire 40 minutes.That's it.You could probably make a strong case for a plethora of statistical analyses that will "prove" which team is going to win or has the better chance of winning. You could say the Mercury have an advantage at home but you could also make a case for the Fever being the team with less pressure and expectations which would lead to a more free-flowing game for Indiana. Maybe you could try and compare offensive efficiency vs. defensive efficiency, turnovers forced, shooting percentage, rebounding percentage, offensive rating vs. defensive rating etc. But all of those figures stem from the team that out-hustles and out-energizes the other team, all while remaining composed in such a high profile game.Though, it certainly doesn't hurt that Phoenix is playing at home. Interestingly enough, this series should become the most attended Finals series of all time, over 81,000 people attending the 5 games. The series will also have the highest average attendance (about 16,000) since the Finals went to 5 games."I'm expecting a dog fight," Cappie Pondexter said. "It's been a battle the whole series and I wouldn't be surprised if it was very close or went to overtime. At this point home-court doesn't really matter. We just have to come out with a lot of energy and use that to our advantage."However, Cappie did acknowledge the significance of this game. "If I walk away with a championship tonight, it will be one of the top achievements ever."Still, the winner of tonight's game isn't going to implement anything new to completely disorient the other team. They're not going to add new offensive schemes, or do anything different than what got them to this point. And this, more so than anything, makes tonight's game 5 so compelling and important.Quite simply, it should be one for the books. 5, cappie, diana, fever, finals, game, indiana, mercury, phoenix, players, pondexter, taurasi, wnba nonadult false Basketball, Simplified text blog 5,cappie,diana,fever,finals,game,indiana,mercury,phoenix,players,pondexter,taurasi,wnba 968 1 5.0 http://server.cafemerc.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=8194234&as=46100 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/46100/photos/PHOTO_4277610_46100_8194234_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 Players 0 1037226 8194234 MVP 2004 http://server.cafemerc.com/_Cappie-is-Legend/BLOG/1000709/46100.html [image]It would, quite literally, be impossible to overstate what an amazing and inspiring game Cappie Pondexter had tonight.Pick an adjective - phenomenal, sensational, marvelous, unparalleled, gutsy, invaluable...any of them would be fitting. Though, if I'm honest, none of them would do her justice. Cappie displayed a basketball IQ tonight that should solidify her as legend, and sheer play-making ability that is second to none.Her stat line was incredible (22 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals) but it's how she attained those points that mattered most to the Mercury. Only taking 15 shots, Cappie took exactly what the defense gave her and knew when to pull it out for a jumper or the precise time to take it inside the lane to draw a foul. Whether it was a transition bucket, or simply an unrivaled 1 on 1 step-back jumper (no one does it better), Pondexter displayed a type of athleticism and fervor that has rarely been seen in this league."We had to come out and play Mercury basketball, which I think we did for 40 minutes," Cappie said. "We wanted to come out very positive with a lot of energy on both ends of the floor and attack. I think that was the key for us tonight."Keep in mind, it wasn't exactly like Indiana let her have open looks. The Fever played great defense tonight; Cappie was just..well...better. She was double and triple teamed for the vast majority of the night and still was able to create good looks at the basket. Not only did she score, she knew exactly when to dish the ball out to her teammates (namely Tangela Smith and Penny Taylor) who converted her passes into points. Cappie was on the floor for 35 minutes of this game, and single-handily rose up and took complete control of the outcome. There was simply no way she was going to let the Mercury lose."I thought we did a great job on the perimeter attacking the defense, using the pick-and-roll," Cappie said after the game. "We know that Indiana has a great defense, especially that weak-side help, but we were looking to be aggressive from the beginning and I think we did a great job of that."Cappie's game tonight was, in a word, legendary.For those that may think I'm exaggerating, you must not have seen the game. Anyone that watched game 4 knows exactly what I'm talking about. Cappie's game tonight embodies what legends are made of. Not that this is new for Cappie by any means. She's had these types of games all year long. I remember interviewing her for SLAM earlier in the season when she was leading the league in scoring and assists and being in complete awe of her game.Tonight, she proved to me that there was (amazingly) still a deeper level to her ability.As I said above, this is the stuff that legends are made out of. The atmosphere in Indiana was absolutely electric. Anticipation of winning a championship at home permeated the entire arena. It would've been a legitimate excuse for the Mercury to come out and struggle. Instead, Cappie took charge from the get-go and wouldn't let that happen. Not every player can make a conscious decision like that and if they can, following through on that decision/thought is even more challenging. It's easy to freeze up and remain stagnant. Cappie, however, rose to the challenge and played (in my humble opinion) one of the best games of her career.Games like tonight are what defines the true heart and character of a player. As John Wooden said, "basketball doesn't build character, it reveals it." Cappie Pondexter just revealed her true character to all of us, and proved to me she is a living legend. [image]It would, quite literally, be impossible to overstate what an amazing and inspiring game Cappie Pondexter had tonight.Pick an adjective - phenomenal, sensational, marvelous, unparalleled, gutsy, invaluable...any of them would be fitting. Though, if I'm honest, none of them would do her justice. Cappie displayed a basketball IQ tonight that should solidify her as legend, and sheer play-making ability that is second to none.Her stat line was incredible (22 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals) but it's how she attained those points that mattered most to the Mercury. Only taking 15 shots, Cappie took exactly what the defense gave her and knew when to pull it out for a jumper or the precise time to take it inside the lane to draw a foul. Whether it was a transition bucket, or simply an unrivaled 1 on 1 step-back jumper (no one does it better), Pondexter displayed a type of athleticism and fervor that has rarely been seen in this league."We had to come out and play Mercury basketball, which I think we did for 40 minutes," Cappie said. "We wanted to come out very positive with a lot of energy on both ends of the floor and attack. I think that was the key for us tonight."Keep in mind, it wasn't exactly like Indiana let her have open looks. The Fever played great defense tonight; Cappie was just..well...better. She was double and triple teamed for the vast majority of the night and still was able to create good looks at the basket. Not only did she score, she knew exactly when to dish the ball out to her teammates (namely Tangela Smith and Penny Taylor) who converted her passes into points. Cappie was on the floor for 35 minutes of this game, and single-handily rose up and took complete control of the outcome. There was simply no way she was going to let the Mercury lose."I thought we did a great job on the perimeter attacking the defense, using the pick-and-roll," Cappie said after the game. "We know that Indiana has a great defense, especially that weak-side help, but we were looking to be aggressive from the beginning and I think we did a great job of that."Cappie's game tonight was, in a word, legendary.For those that may think I'm exaggerating, you must not have seen the game. Anyone that watched game 4 knows exactly what I'm talking about. Cappie's game tonight embodies what legends are made of. Not that this is new for Cappie by any means. She's had these types of games all year long. I remember interviewing her for SLAM earlier in the season when she was leading the league in scoring and assists and being in complete awe of her game.Tonight, she proved to me that there was (amazingly) still a deeper level to her ability.As I said above, this is the stuff that legends are made out of. The atmosphere in Indiana was absolutely electric. Anticipation of winning a championship at home permeated the entire arena. It would've been a legitimate excuse for the Mercury to come out and struggle. Instead, Cappie took charge from the get-go and wouldn't let that happen. Not every player can make a conscious decision like that and if they can, following through on that decision/thought is even more challenging. It's easy to freeze up and remain stagnant. Cappie, however, rose to the challenge and played (in my humble opinion) one of the best games of her career.Games like tonight are what defines the true heart and character of a player. As John Wooden said, "basketball doesn't build character, it reveals it." Cappie Pondexter just revealed her true character to all of us, and proved to me she is a living legend. Thu, 08 Oct 2009 02:35:40 GMT http://server.cafemerc.com/_Cappie-is-Legend/BLOG/1000709/46100.html BenYork 2009-10-08T02:35:40Z Players CafeMerc [image]It would, quite literally, be impossible to overstate what an amazing and inspiring game Cappie Pondexter had tonight.Pick an adjective - phenomenal, sensational, marvelous, unparalleled, gutsy, invaluable...any of them would be fitting. Though, if I'm honest, none of them would do her justice. Cappie displayed a basketball IQ tonight that should solidify her as legend, and sheer play-making ability that is second to none.Her stat line was incredible (22 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals) but it's how she attained those points that mattered most to the Mercury. Only taking 15 shots, Cappie took exactly what the defense gave her and knew when to pull it out for a jumper or the precise time to take it inside the lane to draw a foul. Whether it was a transition bucket, or simply an unrivaled 1 on 1 step-back jumper (no one does it better), Pondexter displayed a type of athleticism and fervor that has rarely been seen in this league."We had to come out and play Mercury basketball, which I think we did for 40 minutes," Cappie said. "We wanted to come out very positive with a lot of energy on both ends of the floor and attack. I think that was the key for us tonight."Keep in mind, it wasn't exactly like Indiana let her have open looks. The Fever played great defense tonight; Cappie was just..well...better. She was double and triple teamed for the vast majority of the night and still was able to create good looks at the basket. Not only did she score, she knew exactly when to dish the ball out to her teammates (namely Tangela Smith and Penny Taylor) who converted her passes into points. Cappie was on the floor for 35 minutes of this game, and single-handily rose up and took complete control of the outcome. There was simply no way she was going to let the Mercury lose."I thought we did a great job on the perimeter attacking the defense, using the pick-and-roll," Cappie said after the game. "We know that Indiana has a great defense, especially that weak-side help, but we were looking to be aggressive from the beginning and I think we did a great job of that."Cappie's game tonight was, in a word, legendary.For those that may think I'm exaggerating, you must not have seen the game. Anyone that watched game 4 knows exactly what I'm talking about. Cappie's game tonight embodies what legends are made of. Not that this is new for Cappie by any means. She's had these types of games all year long. I remember interviewing her for SLAM earlier in the season when she was leading the league in scoring and assists and being in complete awe of her game.Tonight, she proved to me that there was (amazingly) still a deeper level to her ability.As I said above, this is the stuff that legends are made out of. The atmosphere in Indiana was absolutely electric. Anticipation of winning a championship at home permeated the entire arena. It would've been a legitimate excuse for the Mercury to come out and struggle. Instead, Cappie took charge from the get-go and wouldn't let that happen. Not every player can make a conscious decision like that and if they can, following through on that decision/thought is even more challenging. It's easy to freeze up and remain stagnant. Cappie, however, rose to the challenge and played (in my humble opinion) one of the best games of her career.Games like tonight are what defines the true heart and character of a player. As John Wooden said, "basketball doesn't build character, it reveals it." Cappie Pondexter just revealed her true character to all of us, and proved to me she is a living legend. cappie, fever, indiana, mercury, phoenix, players, pondexter nonadult false Cappie is Legend text blog cappie,fever,indiana,mercury,phoenix,players,pondexter 935 0 0.0 http://server.cafemerc.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=8194234&as=46100 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/46100/photos/PHOTO_4277610_46100_8194234_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 Players 0 1000709 8194234 MVP 2004 http://server.cafemerc.com/_Why-I-Love-the-Mercury/BLOG/994804/46100.html As the Mercury face a pivotal game 4 in Indy tomorrow night, I’ve taken some time to look back on the 2009 season and how much it has impacted and influenced me for the better. As I’m writing this, I fully realize it probably goes against all unwritten (or written) rules of the so-called ‘media’, but to be frank, I don’t really care. Many of you know that I write for a few different outlets (DIME Magazine, Fanster, etc.) and I’d like to preface that the rule of “objective journalism” most definitely does not apply in the following paragraphs. Quite simply, I love the Mercury. Not that it’s a new revelation by any means. I’ve covered basketball (namely the NBA) for a while and have always been a fan and supporter of the WNBA. In fact, one of my best friends growing up was former Mercury player Ann Strother whom I frequently lost to when we played basketball together (and by ‘frequently’ I mean ‘every single time’). Not just because I was a foot shorter than her (and still am) but because she was (and still is) a much better basketball player than me. I had absolutely no shame or embarrassment in admitting it then, and still don’t to this day. It was never a gender issue in the least and I certainly never felt emasculated – she was damn good for crying out loud! The amount of respect I have for the women’s game has, and will continue to be, immeasurable. However, it still bothers me that society tends to make a big deal out of something like this. It shouldn’t matter if a player is a man or woman; if they’re better than you at the game just be thankful you had the opportunity to play with or against them as it undeniably made you better. On that topic, I’ve never understood the immediate dismissal of the WNBA by men. If I’m honest, I think it deals with some deeper personal issues for many guys out there rather than the typical sentiment of “they’re not as fun to watch” as the NBA. I’ve also spent time calling out the guys who have ignored or downplayed the significance of the WNBA and as a result have been called every negative adjective you’ve ever heard. From time to time, I see articles defending the WNBA and defining various reasons why it should be recognized. While I have done the same, it also saddens me that those articles even have to be written in the first place. In the year 2009, I believe as a culture we should be past the point where selling out a WNBA game is a major event – it should already be that way due to how amazing these ladies are. I stand firm to the belief, and will happily defend it to anyone, that if you dismiss the WNBA you’re not a true fan of the game of basketball. There is nothing to dislike about the WNBA. Not a single thing. Thus, when I started covering the Mercury this year in much greater depth than ever before, I quickly became immersed in the culture – perhaps more so than the NBA, and this is coming from a guy who has the Phoenix Suns logo tattooed on my forearm (FYI - I still love the Suns). Those who have followed the league just as closely for a long period of time know exactly what I’m talking about. There is a sort of “magical” aura that surrounds the WNBA (and the Phoenix Mercury) and there really aren’t any words describing it that would do it justice. I was fortunate enough to truly devote the vast majority of my time this summer to this Mercury team, a group of individuals who are not only phenomenal basketball players but even better human beings. To see firsthand the dedication and devotion they have to the sport was eye-opening and inspiring to me both as a basketball player and as a person. I’ve had the privileged opportunity to get to know a few players beyond the superficial and it has been a humbling and moving experience. The amount of class, character, and integrity every lady has on this team is second to none. Whether it be spending a few extra minutes talking to the media answering the same question 5 times in a row, discussing their faith and how it’s impacted them, or just smiling and saying ‘hi’ it’s been a refreshing experience for me compared to other professional teams and/or athletes that I’ve covered or had experience with. It’s amazing how far a little kindness goes, and this Mercury team is overflowing with it. Now, I’ve certainly had my share of negative experiences with professional athletes. About 11 or 12 years ago I worked maintenance at a high-profile golf course in Colorado. I was the guy you see on the riding mower or cutting weeds in the rough, making far too much noise when you’re trying to concentrate on your next golf shot. Anyway, a plethora of professional athletes would golf there and while I won’t name them personally, I was very much looked down on and dismissed as a second-class citizen. Not that this unfortunate occurrence is unique to the sports world, but as a die-hard sports and basketball fan and player my whole life, needless to say, my perspective on professional athletes changed. It became a bit jaded and my view of the “perfect world of sports” was not what I thought it was. This feeling fluctuated in subsequent years but never truly went away. Nevertheless, that spirit was completely rejuvenated over this past summer much to my delight. Seeing the genuineness of these Mercury players brought that feeling back in full force that there are, in fact, decent human beings in this business. They spend countless hours out in the community making things better, set extraordinary examples for young women to follow, and deserve the recognition that other professional athletes get. That’s why, quite frankly, I’m not ready for this to end – and certainly not tomorrow. Like you, I’ve enjoyed this season far too much to have it be over already, especially after the magical season the Mercury has had thus far. If there is anything I’ve learned about this Mercury team, it’s that they have zero quit in them; it’s not in their vocabulary. I’ve stated many times that they are the most resilient team in the WNBA and I have the utmost faith that we’ll see that from them on Wednesday. With the amount of adversity they’ve faced this year, and how they’ve bounced back strongly every time, I’m excited to see their collective response tomorrow evening – it will be one for the books. While this article may be over-the-top for some people and perhaps too personal, I’m okay with that because I can assure you it’s the honest truth. And while we gear up to support the Mighty Mercury tomorrow, lets also be thankful for what they have already done and why we invest so much of ourselves in them. Now, what do you say we get that game 4 win and bring it home on Friday in front of the X-Factor – you know I’ll be there.  As the Mercury face a pivotal game 4 in Indy tomorrow night, I’ve taken some time to look back on the 2009 season and how much it has impacted and influenced me for the better. As I’m writing this, I fully realize it probably goes against all unwritten (or written) rules of the so-called ‘media’, but to be frank, I don’t really care. Many of you know that I write for a few different outlets (DIME Magazine, Fanster, etc.) and I’d like to preface that the rule of “objective journalism” most definitely does not apply in the following paragraphs. Quite simply, I love the Mercury. Not that it’s a new revelation by any means. I’ve covered basketball (namely the NBA) for a while and have always been a fan and supporter of the WNBA. In fact, one of my best friends growing up was former Mercury player Ann Strother whom I frequently lost to when we played basketball together (and by ‘frequently’ I mean ‘every single time’). Not just because I was a foot shorter than her (and still am) but because she was (and still is) a much better basketball player than me. I had absolutely no shame or embarrassment in admitting it then, and still don’t to this day. It was never a gender issue in the least and I certainly never felt emasculated – she was damn good for crying out loud! The amount of respect I have for the women’s game has, and will continue to be, immeasurable. However, it still bothers me that society tends to make a big deal out of something like this. It shouldn’t matter if a player is a man or woman; if they’re better than you at the game just be thankful you had the opportunity to play with or against them as it undeniably made you better. On that topic, I’ve never understood the immediate dismissal of the WNBA by men. If I’m honest, I think it deals with some deeper personal issues for many guys out there rather than the typical sentiment of “they’re not as fun to watch” as the NBA. I’ve also spent time calling out the guys who have ignored or downplayed the significance of the WNBA and as a result have been called every negative adjective you’ve ever heard. From time to time, I see articles defending the WNBA and defining various reasons why it should be recognized. While I have done the same, it also saddens me that those articles even have to be written in the first place. In the year 2009, I believe as a culture we should be past the point where selling out a WNBA game is a major event – it should already be that way due to how amazing these ladies are. I stand firm to the belief, and will happily defend it to anyone, that if you dismiss the WNBA you’re not a true fan of the game of basketball. There is nothing to dislike about the WNBA. Not a single thing. Thus, when I started covering the Mercury this year in much greater depth than ever before, I quickly became immersed in the culture – perhaps more so than the NBA, and this is coming from a guy who has the Phoenix Suns logo tattooed on my forearm (FYI - I still love the Suns). Those who have followed the league just as closely for a long period of time know exactly what I’m talking about. There is a sort of “magical” aura that surrounds the WNBA (and the Phoenix Mercury) and there really aren’t any words describing it that would do it justice. I was fortunate enough to truly devote the vast majority of my time this summer to this Mercury team, a group of individuals who are not only phenomenal basketball players but even better human beings. To see firsthand the dedication and devotion they have to the sport was eye-opening and inspiring to me both as a basketball player and as a person. I’ve had the privileged opportunity to get to know a few players beyond the superficial and it has been a humbling and moving experience. The amount of class, character, and integrity every lady has on this team is second to none. Whether it be spending a few extra minutes talking to the media answering the same question 5 times in a row, discussing their faith and how it’s impacted them, or just smiling and saying ‘hi’ it’s been a refreshing experience for me compared to other professional teams and/or athletes that I’ve covered or had experience with. It’s amazing how far a little kindness goes, and this Mercury team is overflowing with it. Now, I’ve certainly had my share of negative experiences with professional athletes. About 11 or 12 years ago I worked maintenance at a high-profile golf course in Colorado. I was the guy you see on the riding mower or cutting weeds in the rough, making far too much noise when you’re trying to concentrate on your next golf shot. Anyway, a plethora of professional athletes would golf there and while I won’t name them personally, I was very much looked down on and dismissed as a second-class citizen. Not that this unfortunate occurrence is unique to the sports world, but as a die-hard sports and basketball fan and player my whole life, needless to say, my perspective on professional athletes changed. It became a bit jaded and my view of the “perfect world of sports” was not what I thought it was. This feeling fluctuated in subsequent years but never truly went away. Nevertheless, that spirit was completely rejuvenated over this past summer much to my delight. Seeing the genuineness of these Mercury players brought that feeling back in full force that there are, in fact, decent human beings in this business. They spend countless hours out in the community making things better, set extraordinary examples for young women to follow, and deserve the recognition that other professional athletes get. That’s why, quite frankly, I’m not ready for this to end – and certainly not tomorrow. Like you, I’ve enjoyed this season far too much to have it be over already, especially after the magical season the Mercury has had thus far. If there is anything I’ve learned about this Mercury team, it’s that they have zero quit in them; it’s not in their vocabulary. I’ve stated many times that they are the most resilient team in the WNBA and I have the utmost faith that we’ll see that from them on Wednesday. With the amount of adversity they’ve faced this year, and how they’ve bounced back strongly every time, I’m excited to see their collective response tomorrow evening – it will be one for the books. While this article may be over-the-top for some people and perhaps too personal, I’m okay with that because I can assure you it’s the honest truth. And while we gear up to support the Mighty Mercury tomorrow, lets also be thankful for what they have already done and why we invest so much of ourselves in them. Now, what do you say we get that game 4 win and bring it home on Friday in front of the X-Factor – you know I’ll be there.  Tue, 06 Oct 2009 18:28:14 GMT http://server.cafemerc.com/_Why-I-Love-the-Mercury/BLOG/994804/46100.html BenYork 2009-10-06T18:28:14Z Players CafeMerc As the Mercury face a pivotal game 4 in Indy tomorrow night, I’ve taken some time to look back on the 2009 season and how much it has impacted and influenced me for the better. As I’m writing this, I fully realize it probably goes against all unwritten (or written) rules of the so-called ‘media’, but to be frank, I don’t really care. Many of you know that I write for a few different outlets (DIME Magazine, Fanster, etc.) and I’d like to preface that the rule of “objective journalism” most definitely does not apply in the following paragraphs. Quite simply, I love the Mercury. Not that it’s a new revelation by any means. I’ve covered basketball (namely the NBA) for a while and have always been a fan and supporter of the WNBA. In fact, one of my best friends growing up was former Mercury player Ann Strother whom I frequently lost to when we played basketball together (and by ‘frequently’ I mean ‘every single time’). Not just because I was a foot shorter than her (and still am) but because she was (and still is) a much better basketball player than me. I had absolutely no shame or embarrassment in admitting it then, and still don’t to this day. It was never a gender issue in the least and I certainly never felt emasculated – she was damn good for crying out loud! The amount of respect I have for the women’s game has, and will continue to be, immeasurable. However, it still bothers me that society tends to make a big deal out of something like this. It shouldn’t matter if a player is a man or woman; if they’re better than you at the game just be thankful you had the opportunity to play with or against them as it undeniably made you better. On that topic, I’ve never understood the immediate dismissal of the WNBA by men. If I’m honest, I think it deals with some deeper personal issues for many guys out there rather than the typical sentiment of “they’re not as fun to watch” as the NBA. I’ve also spent time calling out the guys who have ignored or downplayed the significance of the WNBA and as a result have been called every negative adjective you’ve ever heard. From time to time, I see articles defending the WNBA and defining various reasons why it should be recognized. While I have done the same, it also saddens me that those articles even have to be written in the first place. In the year 2009, I believe as a culture we should be past the point where selling out a WNBA game is a major event – it should already be that way due to how amazing these ladies are. I stand firm to the belief, and will happily defend it to anyone, that if you dismiss the WNBA you’re not a true fan of the game of basketball. There is nothing to dislike about the WNBA. Not a single thing. Thus, when I started covering the Mercury this year in much greater depth than ever before, I quickly became immersed in the culture – perhaps more so than the NBA, and this is coming from a guy who has the Phoenix Suns logo tattooed on my forearm (FYI - I still love the Suns). Those who have followed the league just as closely for a long period of time know exactly what I’m talking about. There is a sort of “magical” aura that surrounds the WNBA (and the Phoenix Mercury) and there really aren’t any words describing it that would do it justice. I was fortunate enough to truly devote the vast majority of my time this summer to this Mercury team, a group of individuals who are not only phenomenal basketball players but even better human beings. To see firsthand the dedication and devotion they have to the sport was eye-opening and inspiring to me both as a basketball player and as a person. I’ve had the privileged opportunity to get to know a few players beyond the superficial and it has been a humbling and moving experience. The amount of class, character, and integrity every lady has on this team is second to none. Whether it be spending a few extra minutes talking to the media answering the same question 5 times in a row, discussing their faith and how it’s impacted them, or just smiling and saying ‘hi’ it’s been a refreshing experience for me compared to other professional teams and/or athletes that I’ve covered or had experience with. It’s amazing how far a little kindness goes, and this Mercury team is overflowing with it. Now, I’ve certainly had my share of negative experiences with professional athletes. About 11 or 12 years ago I worked maintenance at a high-profile golf course in Colorado. I was the guy you see on the riding mower or cutting weeds in the rough, making far too much noise when you’re trying to concentrate on your next golf shot. Anyway, a plethora of professional athletes would golf there and while I won’t name them personally, I was very much looked down on and dismissed as a second-class citizen. Not that this unfortunate occurrence is unique to the sports world, but as a die-hard sports and basketball fan and player my whole life, needless to say, my perspective on professional athletes changed. It became a bit jaded and my view of the “perfect world of sports” was not what I thought it was. This feeling fluctuated in subsequent years but never truly went away. Nevertheless, that spirit was completely rejuvenated over this past summer much to my delight. Seeing the genuineness of these Mercury players brought that feeling back in full force that there are, in fact, decent human beings in this business. They spend countless hours out in the community making things better, set extraordinary examples for young women to follow, and deserve the recognition that other professional athletes get. That’s why, quite frankly, I’m not ready for this to end – and certainly not tomorrow. Like you, I’ve enjoyed this season far too much to have it be over already, especially after the magical season the Mercury has had thus far. If there is anything I’ve learned about this Mercury team, it’s that they have zero quit in them; it’s not in their vocabulary. I’ve stated many times that they are the most resilient team in the WNBA and I have the utmost faith that we’ll see that from them on Wednesday. With the amount of adversity they’ve faced this year, and how they’ve bounced back strongly every time, I’m excited to see their collective response tomorrow evening – it will be one for the books. While this article may be over-the-top for some people and perhaps too personal, I’m okay with that because I can assure you it’s the honest truth. And while we gear up to support the Mighty Mercury tomorrow, lets also be thankful for what they have already done and why we invest so much of ourselves in them. Now, what do you say we get that game 4 win and bring it home on Friday in front of the X-Factor – you know I’ll be there.  cappie, corey, diana, fever, finals, gaines, indiana, johnson, ketia, mercury, phoenix, players, pondexter, smith, swanier, tangela, taurasi, temeka, wnba nonadult false Why I Love the Mercury text blog cappie,corey,diana,fever,finals,gaines,indiana,johnson,ketia,mercury,phoenix,players,pondexter,smith,swanier,tangela,taurasi,temeka,wnba 945 2 5.0 http://server.cafemerc.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=8194234&as=46100 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/46100/photos/PHOTO_4277610_46100_8194234_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 Players 1 994804 8194234 MVP 2004 http://server.cafemerc.com/_Loss-No-Reason-to-PanicPenny-Taylor-Alright/BLOG/876762/46100.html "Sometimes they go in, sometimes they don't," said an indifferent Diana Taurasi after the game. She's not panicking, and nor should you.We all know Diana is hilarious, but it was awesome to see an entire room of riggid reporters crack up when she was asked what the reason was behind the Fever winning. Taurasi responded, "They scored more points than us."Sometimes, a little laugh and making things lighter is the best remedy for a loss.Clearly, it was one of those games where shots were falling for the Fever and they just weren't going in for the Mercury. For example...Indiana shot almost 50% from the floor, made 23 free throws, had 40 total rebounds, and 17 assists on 33 made shots.Phoenix, on the other hand, shot just 39% from the floor, made just 18 free throws, had only 35 rebounds, and 15 assists. Again, if you solely look at the box score, it's clear that the game was in the Fever's control for the vast majority of the night. Yet, Phoenix still cut the lead to within 5 points with 1:20 left in the game in spite of allowing 42 points in the paint by the Fever.Again, I say, don't panic.When is the last time that Diana and Cappie have shot anywhere close to a combined 12/38 (31%) two games in a row? Yes, Indiana is a good defensive team but the shots they were getting were open; it was just one of those nights where they weren't going in. Still, every time the Mercury have had their backs against the wall this season, they've responded with an unrivaled amount of energy and fervor.I was at the game and can tell you (as will Corey Gaines) that it wasn't anything that Indiana did defensively that was different than Tuesday night. Quite simply, the Mercury just weren't hitting shots. Layups weren't even going in. "They weren't," said Gaines when asked if they were doing anything different. "We missed shots and instead of taking three's, we decided to go in and get to the basket."The Fever, however, will tell you it was because of an increased focus on the defensive end and putting pressure on the ball. I don't necessarily see it the same way. I see it more of missed opportunities by the Mercury rather than stellar defense by the fever. "We just played with a lot more energy," Katie Douglas said about their defense. "A lot more effort and a lot more communication. Obviously, the rebounding numbers from the other night were overwhelming, 24 second-chance points. Everybody made a concerted effort to box out tonight. Also, to be able to disrupt them and get them to take some off-balance shots, not allowing them to shoot a high percentage was crucial."[image]Still, even with the so-called increase in effort and communication, the Mercury were within reaching distance with the game on the line. These kinds of things happen in basketball, and it's all about how you bounce back. "I mean, we just have to knock those shots down," said Cappie. "They weren't falling tonight. But we're confident in each other, and I know we haven't lost two in a row all year, and I don't think anybody's going to stop that."Of course, the loss of Penny Taylor left a major hole since she made an instant impact off the bench for the Mercury with 14 first-half points before an errand elbow by Briann January made her bleed profusely and took her out of the game for good. Penny didn't lose any teeth, but her front tooth was pushed back and it sliced through her lip up to her gum line. The doc fitted her with a metal 'brace' and will fit her with a mouthguard for Sunday's game. "It definitely hurt," Gaines said about Taylor's absence. "She had 14 in the first half and she got hit in the mouth, I'm not sure, I haven't talked to the doctors so I don't know exactly what's wrong. I know for sure she'll play the next game. I know Penny Taylor and she'll play next game, for sure, 100%.""It affected us a lot," Cappie Pondexter said about the loss of Penny. "Especially our rotation. It wasn't as deep as it normally is but some things happen like that, but we have to keep fighting no matter what."Sometimes it's not about how often you get knocked down, it's how many times you get back up. "It came down to a lot of things, but we just didn't play the kind of basketball that we usually play. We weren't playing defense, missing free throws, missing shots that we usually make. That's stuff we can easily fix and we'll get on it for the next game."Couldn't say it any better myself. "Sometimes they go in, sometimes they don't," said an indifferent Diana Taurasi after the game. She's not panicking, and nor should you.We all know Diana is hilarious, but it was awesome to see an entire room of riggid reporters crack up when she was asked what the reason was behind the Fever winning. Taurasi responded, "They scored more points than us."Sometimes, a little laugh and making things lighter is the best remedy for a loss.Clearly, it was one of those games where shots were falling for the Fever and they just weren't going in for the Mercury. For example...Indiana shot almost 50% from the floor, made 23 free throws, had 40 total rebounds, and 17 assists on 33 made shots.Phoenix, on the other hand, shot just 39% from the floor, made just 18 free throws, had only 35 rebounds, and 15 assists. Again, if you solely look at the box score, it's clear that the game was in the Fever's control for the vast majority of the night. Yet, Phoenix still cut the lead to within 5 points with 1:20 left in the game in spite of allowing 42 points in the paint by the Fever.Again, I say, don't panic.When is the last time that Diana and Cappie have shot anywhere close to a combined 12/38 (31%) two games in a row? Yes, Indiana is a good defensive team but the shots they were getting were open; it was just one of those nights where they weren't going in. Still, every time the Mercury have had their backs against the wall this season, they've responded with an unrivaled amount of energy and fervor.I was at the game and can tell you (as will Corey Gaines) that it wasn't anything that Indiana did defensively that was different than Tuesday night. Quite simply, the Mercury just weren't hitting shots. Layups weren't even going in. "They weren't," said Gaines when asked if they were doing anything different. "We missed shots and instead of taking three's, we decided to go in and get to the basket."The Fever, however, will tell you it was because of an increased focus on the defensive end and putting pressure on the ball. I don't necessarily see it the same way. I see it more of missed opportunities by the Mercury rather than stellar defense by the fever. "We just played with a lot more energy," Katie Douglas said about their defense. "A lot more effort and a lot more communication. Obviously, the rebounding numbers from the other night were overwhelming, 24 second-chance points. Everybody made a concerted effort to box out tonight. Also, to be able to disrupt them and get them to take some off-balance shots, not allowing them to shoot a high percentage was crucial."[image]Still, even with the so-called increase in effort and communication, the Mercury were within reaching distance with the game on the line. These kinds of things happen in basketball, and it's all about how you bounce back. "I mean, we just have to knock those shots down," said Cappie. "They weren't falling tonight. But we're confident in each other, and I know we haven't lost two in a row all year, and I don't think anybody's going to stop that."Of course, the loss of Penny Taylor left a major hole since she made an instant impact off the bench for the Mercury with 14 first-half points before an errand elbow by Briann January made her bleed profusely and took her out of the game for good. Penny didn't lose any teeth, but her front tooth was pushed back and it sliced through her lip up to her gum line. The doc fitted her with a metal 'brace' and will fit her with a mouthguard for Sunday's game. "It definitely hurt," Gaines said about Taylor's absence. "She had 14 in the first half and she got hit in the mouth, I'm not sure, I haven't talked to the doctors so I don't know exactly what's wrong. I know for sure she'll play the next game. I know Penny Taylor and she'll play next game, for sure, 100%.""It affected us a lot," Cappie Pondexter said about the loss of Penny. "Especially our rotation. It wasn't as deep as it normally is but some things happen like that, but we have to keep fighting no matter what."Sometimes it's not about how often you get knocked down, it's how many times you get back up. "It came down to a lot of things, but we just didn't play the kind of basketball that we usually play. We weren't playing defense, missing free throws, missing shots that we usually make. That's stuff we can easily fix and we'll get on it for the next game."Couldn't say it any better myself. Fri, 02 Oct 2009 04:26:44 GMT http://server.cafemerc.com/_Loss-No-Reason-to-PanicPenny-Taylor-Alright/BLOG/876762/46100.html BenYork 2009-10-02T04:26:44Z Players CafeMerc "Sometimes they go in, sometimes they don't," said an indifferent Diana Taurasi after the game. She's not panicking, and nor should you.We all know Diana is hilarious, but it was awesome to see an entire room of riggid reporters crack up when she was asked what the reason was behind the Fever winning. Taurasi responded, "They scored more points than us."Sometimes, a little laugh and making things lighter is the best remedy for a loss.Clearly, it was one of those games where shots were falling for the Fever and they just weren't going in for the Mercury. For example...Indiana shot almost 50% from the floor, made 23 free throws, had 40 total rebounds, and 17 assists on 33 made shots.Phoenix, on the other hand, shot just 39% from the floor, made just 18 free throws, had only 35 rebounds, and 15 assists. Again, if you solely look at the box score, it's clear that the game was in the Fever's control for the vast majority of the night. Yet, Phoenix still cut the lead to within 5 points with 1:20 left in the game in spite of allowing 42 points in the paint by the Fever.Again, I say, don't panic.When is the last time that Diana and Cappie have shot anywhere close to a combined 12/38 (31%) two games in a row? Yes, Indiana is a good defensive team but the shots they were getting were open; it was just one of those nights where they weren't going in. Still, every time the Mercury have had their backs against the wall this season, they've responded with an unrivaled amount of energy and fervor.I was at the game and can tell you (as will Corey Gaines) that it wasn't anything that Indiana did defensively that was different than Tuesday night. Quite simply, the Mercury just weren't hitting shots. Layups weren't even going in. "They weren't," said Gaines when asked if they were doing anything different. "We missed shots and instead of taking three's, we decided to go in and get to the basket."The Fever, however, will tell you it was because of an increased focus on the defensive end and putting pressure on the ball. I don't necessarily see it the same way. I see it more of missed opportunities by the Mercury rather than stellar defense by the fever. "We just played with a lot more energy," Katie Douglas said about their defense. "A lot more effort and a lot more communication. Obviously, the rebounding numbers from the other night were overwhelming, 24 second-chance points. Everybody made a concerted effort to box out tonight. Also, to be able to disrupt them and get them to take some off-balance shots, not allowing them to shoot a high percentage was crucial."[image]Still, even with the so-called increase in effort and communication, the Mercury were within reaching distance with the game on the line. These kinds of things happen in basketball, and it's all about how you bounce back. "I mean, we just have to knock those shots down," said Cappie. "They weren't falling tonight. But we're confident in each other, and I know we haven't lost two in a row all year, and I don't think anybody's going to stop that."Of course, the loss of Penny Taylor left a major hole since she made an instant impact off the bench for the Mercury with 14 first-half points before an errand elbow by Briann January made her bleed profusely and took her out of the game for good. Penny didn't lose any teeth, but her front tooth was pushed back and it sliced through her lip up to her gum line. The doc fitted her with a metal 'brace' and will fit her with a mouthguard for Sunday's game. "It definitely hurt," Gaines said about Taylor's absence. "She had 14 in the first half and she got hit in the mouth, I'm not sure, I haven't talked to the doctors so I don't know exactly what's wrong. I know for sure she'll play the next game. I know Penny Taylor and she'll play next game, for sure, 100%.""It affected us a lot," Cappie Pondexter said about the loss of Penny. "Especially our rotation. It wasn't as deep as it normally is but some things happen like that, but we have to keep fighting no matter what."Sometimes it's not about how often you get knocked down, it's how many times you get back up. "It came down to a lot of things, but we just didn't play the kind of basketball that we usually play. We weren't playing defense, missing free throws, missing shots that we usually make. That's stuff we can easily fix and we'll get on it for the next game."Couldn't say it any better myself. cappie, catchings, diana, douglas, fever, indiana, johnson, katie, mercury, penny, phoenix, players, pondexter, smith, tamika, tangela, taurasi, taylor, temeka nonadult false Loss No Reason to Panic/Penny Taylor Alright text blog cappie,catchings,diana,douglas,fever,indiana,johnson,katie,mercury,penny,phoenix,players,pondexter,smith,tamika,tangela,taurasi,taylor,temeka 2786 0 0.0 http://server.cafemerc.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=8194234&as=46100 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/46100/photos/PHOTO_4277610_46100_8194234_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 Players 0 876762 8194234 MVP 2004 http://server.cafemerc.com/_WNBA-Finals-Media-Day-Energy-is-the-Theme-For-Mercury/BLOG/859919/46100.html Every player I spoke with on WNBA Finals media day each said the same thing - energy will be the difference in this series.When you look at each team's roster, there are a lot of similarities between the two teams and the make-up of the Fever and Mercury are eerily alike. "You have the duo in Diana and I, then they have Tamika and Katie," Cappie Pondexter said. "They have Sutton-Brown we have Tangela. We bring Ketia off the bench for energy and they have January. The match-ups are very similar."Thus, it's truly going to come down to who wants it more - and it starts and ends with energy.We saw that type of intensity and energy in game 3 against the Sparks. "We just had so much energy that game," Ketia Swanier told me. "We threw the first punch and just kept punching and punching. We kept the defense and energy coming."Ketia makes a great point; it's really about throwing that first "punch" and keeping it going throughout the game. We hear a lot about how good a defensive team that Indiana is, but the Mercury held Candace Parker to below double-digits in game 3 and certainly kept some explosive scorers in check throughout the entire series. The Fever unquestionably don't have as many weapons as the Sparks, but the way they counteract that is by playing extremely hard on both ends of the floor, and never relenting.You'll hear a lot about the contrasting styles, but Corey Gaines doesn't necessarily see it that way. "Everybody says they're a defensive team," Gaines said on Monday."But they can score a lot of points. We have to be ready for that." At the same time, don't expect the Mercury to change their run & gun ways anytime soon. It's what got them to where they are now, and it's worked. The key for Gaines and the Mercury will be to sustain that tempo against a re-energized Fever defense.There's no doubt that the Mercury received a much needed day off yesterday. Playing 3 games in 5 days for the past few weeks, the players used Sunday to relax and get their mind right heading into the finals. "Having that day off really helped," Swanier said. "Just to get some rest and get prepared." Tangela Smith said the same thing. "Oh my goodness, it was great," Smith told me. "I just chilled all day and rested."Make no mistake about it, the Mercury are pumped and ready to play. "We'll be ready," Tangela told me. "I wish we could play now!" Energy really boils down to heart, and the Mercury is comprised of some of the best human beings I've ever been around. As I've said multiple times throughout the year, there is something special surrounding this team that almost can't be put into words. The chemistry they've been able to develop on and off the court with each other is inspiring to be around. The team truly enjoys being with each other and are definitely not ready for this season to end and all go their separate ways. Media Day RandomnessThere was a great turn-out for the WNBA media day, especially considering the Phoenix Suns media day was going on at the same time. Seeing so many people come out is fantastic and a testament to the rising popularity of the WNBA.Based on the reviews of multiple players I spoke with, 'Fame' isn't the best of movies...Players were all smiles and in good spirits, they also looked like they had an extra 'pep' in their step at practice which is encouraging.The Fever got into town this morning, and also had a full day off on Sunday. Every player I spoke with on WNBA Finals media day each said the same thing - energy will be the difference in this series.When you look at each team's roster, there are a lot of similarities between the two teams and the make-up of the Fever and Mercury are eerily alike. "You have the duo in Diana and I, then they have Tamika and Katie," Cappie Pondexter said. "They have Sutton-Brown we have Tangela. We bring Ketia off the bench for energy and they have January. The match-ups are very similar."Thus, it's truly going to come down to who wants it more - and it starts and ends with energy.We saw that type of intensity and energy in game 3 against the Sparks. "We just had so much energy that game," Ketia Swanier told me. "We threw the first punch and just kept punching and punching. We kept the defense and energy coming."Ketia makes a great point; it's really about throwing that first "punch" and keeping it going throughout the game. We hear a lot about how good a defensive team that Indiana is, but the Mercury held Candace Parker to below double-digits in game 3 and certainly kept some explosive scorers in check throughout the entire series. The Fever unquestionably don't have as many weapons as the Sparks, but the way they counteract that is by playing extremely hard on both ends of the floor, and never relenting.You'll hear a lot about the contrasting styles, but Corey Gaines doesn't necessarily see it that way. "Everybody says they're a defensive team," Gaines said on Monday."But they can score a lot of points. We have to be ready for that." At the same time, don't expect the Mercury to change their run & gun ways anytime soon. It's what got them to where they are now, and it's worked. The key for Gaines and the Mercury will be to sustain that tempo against a re-energized Fever defense.There's no doubt that the Mercury received a much needed day off yesterday. Playing 3 games in 5 days for the past few weeks, the players used Sunday to relax and get their mind right heading into the finals. "Having that day off really helped," Swanier said. "Just to get some rest and get prepared." Tangela Smith said the same thing. "Oh my goodness, it was great," Smith told me. "I just chilled all day and rested."Make no mistake about it, the Mercury are pumped and ready to play. "We'll be ready," Tangela told me. "I wish we could play now!" Energy really boils down to heart, and the Mercury is comprised of some of the best human beings I've ever been around. As I've said multiple times throughout the year, there is something special surrounding this team that almost can't be put into words. The chemistry they've been able to develop on and off the court with each other is inspiring to be around. The team truly enjoys being with each other and are definitely not ready for this season to end and all go their separate ways. Media Day RandomnessThere was a great turn-out for the WNBA media day, especially considering the Phoenix Suns media day was going on at the same time. Seeing so many people come out is fantastic and a testament to the rising popularity of the WNBA.Based on the reviews of multiple players I spoke with, 'Fame' isn't the best of movies...Players were all smiles and in good spirits, they also looked like they had an extra 'pep' in their step at practice which is encouraging.The Fever got into town this morning, and also had a full day off on Sunday. Mon, 28 Sep 2009 21:42:29 GMT http://server.cafemerc.com/_WNBA-Finals-Media-Day-Energy-is-the-Theme-For-Mercury/BLOG/859919/46100.html BenYork 2009-09-28T21:42:29Z Players CafeMerc Every player I spoke with on WNBA Finals media day each said the same thing - energy will be the difference in this series.When you look at each team's roster, there are a lot of similarities between the two teams and the make-up of the Fever and Mercury are eerily alike. "You have the duo in Diana and I, then they have Tamika and Katie," Cappie Pondexter said. "They have Sutton-Brown we have Tangela. We bring Ketia off the bench for energy and they have January. The match-ups are very similar."Thus, it's truly going to come down to who wants it more - and it starts and ends with energy.We saw that type of intensity and energy in game 3 against the Sparks. "We just had so much energy that game," Ketia Swanier told me. "We threw the first punch and just kept punching and punching. We kept the defense and energy coming."Ketia makes a great point; it's really about throwing that first "punch" and keeping it going throughout the game. We hear a lot about how good a defensive team that Indiana is, but the Mercury held Candace Parker to below double-digits in game 3 and certainly kept some explosive scorers in check throughout the entire series. The Fever unquestionably don't have as many weapons as the Sparks, but the way they counteract that is by playing extremely hard on both ends of the floor, and never relenting.You'll hear a lot about the contrasting styles, but Corey Gaines doesn't necessarily see it that way. "Everybody says they're a defensive team," Gaines said on Monday."But they can score a lot of points. We have to be ready for that." At the same time, don't expect the Mercury to change their run & gun ways anytime soon. It's what got them to where they are now, and it's worked. The key for Gaines and the Mercury will be to sustain that tempo against a re-energized Fever defense.There's no doubt that the Mercury received a much needed day off yesterday. Playing 3 games in 5 days for the past few weeks, the players used Sunday to relax and get their mind right heading into the finals. "Having that day off really helped," Swanier said. "Just to get some rest and get prepared." Tangela Smith said the same thing. "Oh my goodness, it was great," Smith told me. "I just chilled all day and rested."Make no mistake about it, the Mercury are pumped and ready to play. "We'll be ready," Tangela told me. "I wish we could play now!" Energy really boils down to heart, and the Mercury is comprised of some of the best human beings I've ever been around. As I've said multiple times throughout the year, there is something special surrounding this team that almost can't be put into words. The chemistry they've been able to develop on and off the court with each other is inspiring to be around. The team truly enjoys being with each other and are definitely not ready for this season to end and all go their separate ways. Media Day RandomnessThere was a great turn-out for the WNBA media day, especially considering the Phoenix Suns media day was going on at the same time. Seeing so many people come out is fantastic and a testament to the rising popularity of the WNBA.Based on the reviews of multiple players I spoke with, 'Fame' isn't the best of movies...Players were all smiles and in good spirits, they also looked like they had an extra 'pep' in their step at practice which is encouraging.The Fever got into town this morning, and also had a full day off on Sunday. cappie, corey, diana, fever, finals, gaines, indiana, johnson, ketia, mercury, phoenix, players, pondexter, smith, swanier, tangela, taurasi, temeka, wnba nonadult false WNBA Finals Media Day: "Energy" is the Theme For Mercury text blog cappie,corey,diana,fever,finals,gaines,indiana,johnson,ketia,mercury,phoenix,players,pondexter,smith,swanier,tangela,taurasi,temeka,wnba 640 1 5.0 http://server.cafemerc.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=8194234&as=46100 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/46100/photos/PHOTO_4277610_46100_8194234_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 Players 0 859919 8194234 MVP 2004 http://server.cafemerc.com/_Too-Many-Mind/BLOG/820009/46100.html [image]Stay with me. I promise this will all make sense...You probably aren't aware that I'm a huge fan of the movie, "The Last Samurai" starring Tom Cruise. For that matter, you probably don't know that it inspired a tattoo of mine that says (well, I hope it says) "No Mind" in Japanese characters.If you haven't seen it, the movie centers around an American soldier who is sent to Japan in the 1800's to help stop an internal uprising by the Samurai. For centuries, the Samurai were relied upon to protect the Japanese kingdom; however, a money-driven consultant to the Emperor is attempting to industrialize Japan, and the Samurai culture. Tom Cruise's character (yes, the American) is sent to guide the Japanese army to stop the Samurai uprising. He ends up getting captured by the Samurai, finds their way of life to be simplistic and honorable, and falls in love with their beliefs and culture. Hence, the movie's themes very much deal with honor, integrity, resilience, redemption, and sacrifice.At one point in the movie, Tom Cruise's character (Nathan) is being taught how to fight with a Samurai sword. Obviously, he's struggling and having a difficult time adjusting to the technique. He's thinking about the position of his hands, his stance on the ground, the correct motions of the sword, the people watching him, and what the right attack/protection is. That is, until a member of the Samurai comes and gives him the best advice possible. "Too many mind," says the Samurai. "Mind the sword, mind the people watch, mind the enemy. Too many mind."Of course, the Samurai is trying to tell Nathan to stop thinking so much. He's focusing on way too many things to be effective. He's not letting the fighting come to him, and accepting that his natural instincts will pay off. Nathan listens to the Samurai's advice, frees his mind, and competes against his teacher (an expert) beautifully.If you haven't guessed yet, this is exactly what the Mercury need to do - stop thinking. Stop thinking about everyone's expectations, about Lisa Leslie's last game, about awards, about the Finals, about the back-to-back, about everything.Just play basketball. Mercury basketball.Let's not forget how poorly the Mercury shot from the floor all game, the free-throws they uncharacteristically missed, the 7 lay-ups they didn't convert, the -15 rebounding deficit, and the 23 second-chance points and, yet, still cut the Sparks lead to 9 with about 5 minutes to go. In fact, if you take away the 1st quarter, the Mercury outscored the Sparks by 3 in the subsequent quarters.At this point in the season, over-thinking can get you in a lot of trouble - and it's easy to do. There are a lot of "shoulds" that come with the territory of being an elite team and winning multiple awards; but the Mercury must block all that out. They have to ignore the fact that they "should" get out-rebounded by a taller team. They have to ignore that they "should" be able to run on the Sparks. And most importantly, they have to ignore the fact that they "should" win at home tomorrow. "Shoulds" lead to stagnant activity, and a false sense of confidence.Rather, Phoenix just needs to go out and play their behind's off. That's it. They need to follow the example of Diana Taurasi not backing down from Lisa Leslie. They have to ensure their collective mind is clear, and go out and quite literally...just play. That's when they are at their best - the Mighty Mercury.And something tells me that's the exact mindset they'll have going into the deciding game 3 tomorrow. [image]Stay with me. I promise this will all make sense...You probably aren't aware that I'm a huge fan of the movie, "The Last Samurai" starring Tom Cruise. For that matter, you probably don't know that it inspired a tattoo of mine that says (well, I hope it says) "No Mind" in Japanese characters.If you haven't seen it, the movie centers around an American soldier who is sent to Japan in the 1800's to help stop an internal uprising by the Samurai. For centuries, the Samurai were relied upon to protect the Japanese kingdom; however, a money-driven consultant to the Emperor is attempting to industrialize Japan, and the Samurai culture. Tom Cruise's character (yes, the American) is sent to guide the Japanese army to stop the Samurai uprising. He ends up getting captured by the Samurai, finds their way of life to be simplistic and honorable, and falls in love with their beliefs and culture. Hence, the movie's themes very much deal with honor, integrity, resilience, redemption, and sacrifice.At one point in the movie, Tom Cruise's character (Nathan) is being taught how to fight with a Samurai sword. Obviously, he's struggling and having a difficult time adjusting to the technique. He's thinking about the position of his hands, his stance on the ground, the correct motions of the sword, the people watching him, and what the right attack/protection is. That is, until a member of the Samurai comes and gives him the best advice possible. "Too many mind," says the Samurai. "Mind the sword, mind the people watch, mind the enemy. Too many mind."Of course, the Samurai is trying to tell Nathan to stop thinking so much. He's focusing on way too many things to be effective. He's not letting the fighting come to him, and accepting that his natural instincts will pay off. Nathan listens to the Samurai's advice, frees his mind, and competes against his teacher (an expert) beautifully.If you haven't guessed yet, this is exactly what the Mercury need to do - stop thinking. Stop thinking about everyone's expectations, about Lisa Leslie's last game, about awards, about the Finals, about the back-to-back, about everything.Just play basketball. Mercury basketball.Let's not forget how poorly the Mercury shot from the floor all game, the free-throws they uncharacteristically missed, the 7 lay-ups they didn't convert, the -15 rebounding deficit, and the 23 second-chance points and, yet, still cut the Sparks lead to 9 with about 5 minutes to go. In fact, if you take away the 1st quarter, the Mercury outscored the Sparks by 3 in the subsequent quarters.At this point in the season, over-thinking can get you in a lot of trouble - and it's easy to do. There are a lot of "shoulds" that come with the territory of being an elite team and winning multiple awards; but the Mercury must block all that out. They have to ignore the fact that they "should" get out-rebounded by a taller team. They have to ignore that they "should" be able to run on the Sparks. And most importantly, they have to ignore the fact that they "should" win at home tomorrow. "Shoulds" lead to stagnant activity, and a false sense of confidence.Rather, Phoenix just needs to go out and play their behind's off. That's it. They need to follow the example of Diana Taurasi not backing down from Lisa Leslie. They have to ensure their collective mind is clear, and go out and quite literally...just play. That's when they are at their best - the Mighty Mercury.And something tells me that's the exact mindset they'll have going into the deciding game 3 tomorrow. Sat, 26 Sep 2009 05:34:21 GMT http://server.cafemerc.com/_Too-Many-Mind/BLOG/820009/46100.html BenYork 2009-09-26T05:34:21Z Players CafeMerc [image]Stay with me. I promise this will all make sense...You probably aren't aware that I'm a huge fan of the movie, "The Last Samurai" starring Tom Cruise. For that matter, you probably don't know that it inspired a tattoo of mine that says (well, I hope it says) "No Mind" in Japanese characters.If you haven't seen it, the movie centers around an American soldier who is sent to Japan in the 1800's to help stop an internal uprising by the Samurai. For centuries, the Samurai were relied upon to protect the Japanese kingdom; however, a money-driven consultant to the Emperor is attempting to industrialize Japan, and the Samurai culture. Tom Cruise's character (yes, the American) is sent to guide the Japanese army to stop the Samurai uprising. He ends up getting captured by the Samurai, finds their way of life to be simplistic and honorable, and falls in love with their beliefs and culture. Hence, the movie's themes very much deal with honor, integrity, resilience, redemption, and sacrifice.At one point in the movie, Tom Cruise's character (Nathan) is being taught how to fight with a Samurai sword. Obviously, he's struggling and having a difficult time adjusting to the technique. He's thinking about the position of his hands, his stance on the ground, the correct motions of the sword, the people watching him, and what the right attack/protection is. That is, until a member of the Samurai comes and gives him the best advice possible. "Too many mind," says the Samurai. "Mind the sword, mind the people watch, mind the enemy. Too many mind."Of course, the Samurai is trying to tell Nathan to stop thinking so much. He's focusing on way too many things to be effective. He's not letting the fighting come to him, and accepting that his natural instincts will pay off. Nathan listens to the Samurai's advice, frees his mind, and competes against his teacher (an expert) beautifully.If you haven't guessed yet, this is exactly what the Mercury need to do - stop thinking. Stop thinking about everyone's expectations, about Lisa Leslie's last game, about awards, about the Finals, about the back-to-back, about everything.Just play basketball. Mercury basketball.Let's not forget how poorly the Mercury shot from the floor all game, the free-throws they uncharacteristically missed, the 7 lay-ups they didn't convert, the -15 rebounding deficit, and the 23 second-chance points and, yet, still cut the Sparks lead to 9 with about 5 minutes to go. In fact, if you take away the 1st quarter, the Mercury outscored the Sparks by 3 in the subsequent quarters.At this point in the season, over-thinking can get you in a lot of trouble - and it's easy to do. There are a lot of "shoulds" that come with the territory of being an elite team and winning multiple awards; but the Mercury must block all that out. They have to ignore the fact that they "should" get out-rebounded by a taller team. They have to ignore that they "should" be able to run on the Sparks. And most importantly, they have to ignore the fact that they "should" win at home tomorrow. "Shoulds" lead to stagnant activity, and a false sense of confidence.Rather, Phoenix just needs to go out and play their behind's off. That's it. They need to follow the example of Diana Taurasi not backing down from Lisa Leslie. They have to ensure their collective mind is clear, and go out and quite literally...just play. That's when they are at their best - the Mighty Mercury.And something tells me that's the exact mindset they'll have going into the deciding game 3 tomorrow. angeles, candace, cappie, diana, leslie, lisa, los, mercury, parker, phoenix, players, pondexter, sparks, taurasi nonadult false "Too Many Mind" text blog angeles,candace,cappie,diana,leslie,lisa,los,mercury,parker,phoenix,players,pondexter,sparks,taurasi 1072 1 5.0 http://server.cafemerc.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=8194234&as=46100 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/46100/photos/PHOTO_4277610_46100_8194234_ap_160X120.jpg false 2 Players 1 820009 8194234 MVP 2004 http://server.cafemerc.com/_An-Open-Letter-to-Arizona-Residents-A-Mercury-Rally-Call/BLOG/816932/46100.html Dear Residents of Arizona,To those that have supported the Mercury throughout the entire season and will be there to do the same on Friday - thank you! To those that haven't - this is my rally call, and plea, to you.If you're not planning on attending the Phoenix Mercury vs. Los Angeles Sparks game at US Airways Center on Friday, you're missing out.But...I forgive you.Maybe you don't know that your Phoenix Mercury are one (1) win away from returning to the WNBA Finals for the 2nd time in 3 years. For that matter, you may or may not know they play the dreaded Los Angeles Sparks to get there - have you already forgotten the "Beat LA!" chants we Arizonans know and love?Again, I forgive you...Perhaps you weren't aware that the Mercury posted a WNBA league-best 23 wins this season. Or that the Mercury led the lead in scoring. Again. Both as a team and individually. Or that Phoenix has the 6th Woman of the Year. Or that they have the 3pt percentage leader. Or that the Mercury have 2 of the 5 All-WNBA 1st team selections (Diana, Cappie). Or that they're averaging almost 100 points per game in 40 minutes in the playoffs. Or that the Mercury's pace of play is actually faster than your Phoenix Suns, and would average more points than the Suns in a 48 minute game. Or that they have the best team free-throw percentage in league history. Or that they have the probable MVP of the league in Diana Taurasi. Or the respect that these ladies are getting on a national basis.Maybe you didn't know those things.Well...now you do. And the team needs your home-town support more than ever to rally them past Lisa Leslie, Candace Parker, and the Sparks.If you're not necessarily a WNBA fan, need I remind you that Kobe Bryant hails from the same city as the Sparks? Need I remind you of the myriad of annoying fans that infiltrate Suns games wearing a Kobe jersey and taunting us? By the way, they're still there at Mercury games. Need I remind you of how many championships the city of Los Angeles has? Need I remind you of the atmosphere at Suns games when they play the Lakers? As Arizonans, we shouldn't even think twice of about attending an event or showing our support for a Phoenix team when their opponent starts with a 'Los Angeles' or 'San Antonio'!!If ticket prices are a concern, let's put that to bed right now. You can get fantastic lower level seats for insanely low prices starting at just $16. Or, for an upper level seat, you can purchase them starting at $2 (are you kidding me?!?!). If you're worried about getting your money's worth, just ask the thousands of fans around you on Friday when Diana does her "rally call" during the player introductions - the chills you'll have are normal, and the other 10,000 fans will have them too.If you're strictly a Suns fan, sorry, that's no excuse either. Almost the entire Suns team has supported the Mercury at some point throughout the year (some on multiple occasions) including Amare Stoudemire, Grant Hill, Alando Tucker, Robin Lopez, Taylor Griffin, Goran Dragic - and yes, even Sir Charles Barkley. Grant Hill even asked Ann Meyers-Drysdale (Mercury GM) if the Suns could borrow Diana Taurasi for the NBA season! If you're a Suns fan, you're a Mercury fan.To close, if you have a personal vendetta against the WNBA, there's not much I can do about that (except this). All I ask is that you come out, and support your Phoenix Mercury team - they need you. They need the same love and support you've shown the Suns for over 40 years. They need the same energy and passion you have at Cardinals games. They need that type of enthusiasm and quite frankly, they absolutely deserve it.For those that are fans, and plan on attending, please feel free to forward this letter/message on to others. If anyone has any questions, you are more than welcome to give them my personal email address (bjyork15@gmail.com) and I'd be happy to go over their reasons why they wouldn't want to come - and convince them otherwise.So, I ask, will you join me Friday to help get this Mercury team to the 2009 WNBA Finals?Sincerely,Ben York Dear Residents of Arizona,To those that have supported the Mercury throughout the entire season and will be there to do the same on Friday - thank you! To those that haven't - this is my rally call, and plea, to you.If you're not planning on attending the Phoenix Mercury vs. Los Angeles Sparks game at US Airways Center on Friday, you're missing out.But...I forgive you.Maybe you don't know that your Phoenix Mercury are one (1) win away from returning to the WNBA Finals for the 2nd time in 3 years. For that matter, you may or may not know they play the dreaded Los Angeles Sparks to get there - have you already forgotten the "Beat LA!" chants we Arizonans know and love?Again, I forgive you...Perhaps you weren't aware that the Mercury posted a WNBA league-best 23 wins this season. Or that the Mercury led the lead in scoring. Again. Both as a team and individually. Or that Phoenix has the 6th Woman of the Year. Or that they have the 3pt percentage leader. Or that the Mercury have 2 of the 5 All-WNBA 1st team selections (Diana, Cappie). Or that they're averaging almost 100 points per game in 40 minutes in the playoffs. Or that the Mercury's pace of play is actually faster than your Phoenix Suns, and would average more points than the Suns in a 48 minute game. Or that they have the best team free-throw percentage in league history. Or that they have the probable MVP of the league in Diana Taurasi. Or the respect that these ladies are getting on a national basis.Maybe you didn't know those things.Well...now you do. And the team needs your home-town support more than ever to rally them past Lisa Leslie, Candace Parker, and the Sparks.If you're not necessarily a WNBA fan, need I remind you that Kobe Bryant hails from the same city as the Sparks? Need I remind you of the myriad of annoying fans that infiltrate Suns games wearing a Kobe jersey and taunting us? By the way, they're still there at Mercury games. Need I remind you of how many championships the city of Los Angeles has? Need I remind you of the atmosphere at Suns games when they play the Lakers? As Arizonans, we shouldn't even think twice of about attending an event or showing our support for a Phoenix team when their opponent starts with a 'Los Angeles' or 'San Antonio'!!If ticket prices are a concern, let's put that to bed right now. You can get fantastic lower level seats for insanely low prices starting at just $16. Or, for an upper level seat, you can purchase them starting at $2 (are you kidding me?!?!). If you're worried about getting your money's worth, just ask the thousands of fans around you on Friday when Diana does her "rally call" during the player introductions - the chills you'll have are normal, and the other 10,000 fans will have them too.If you're strictly a Suns fan, sorry, that's no excuse either. Almost the entire Suns team has supported the Mercury at some point throughout the year (some on multiple occasions) including Amare Stoudemire, Grant Hill, Alando Tucker, Robin Lopez, Taylor Griffin, Goran Dragic - and yes, even Sir Charles Barkley. Grant Hill even asked Ann Meyers-Drysdale (Mercury GM) if the Suns could borrow Diana Taurasi for the NBA season! If you're a Suns fan, you're a Mercury fan.To close, if you have a personal vendetta against the WNBA, there's not much I can do about that (except this). All I ask is that you come out, and support your Phoenix Mercury team - they need you. They need the same love and support you've shown the Suns for over 40 years. They need the same energy and passion you have at Cardinals games. They need that type of enthusiasm and quite frankly, they absolutely deserve it.For those that are fans, and plan on attending, please feel free to forward this letter/message on to others. If anyone has any questions, you are more than welcome to give them my personal email address (bjyork15@gmail.com) and I'd be happy to go over their reasons why they wouldn't want to come - and convince them otherwise.So, I ask, will you join me Friday to help get this Mercury team to the 2009 WNBA Finals?Sincerely,Ben York Fri, 25 Sep 2009 01:06:19 GMT http://server.cafemerc.com/_An-Open-Letter-to-Arizona-Residents-A-Mercury-Rally-Call/BLOG/816932/46100.html BenYork 2009-09-25T01:06:19Z Players CafeMerc Dear Residents of Arizona,To those that have supported the Mercury throughout the entire season and will be there to do the same on Friday - thank you! To those that haven't - this is my rally call, and plea, to you.If you're not planning on attending the Phoenix Mercury vs. Los Angeles Sparks game at US Airways Center on Friday, you're missing out.But...I forgive you.Maybe you don't know that your Phoenix Mercury are one (1) win away from returning to the WNBA Finals for the 2nd time in 3 years. For that matter, you may or may not know they play the dreaded Los Angeles Sparks to get there - have you already forgotten the "Beat LA!" chants we Arizonans know and love?Again, I forgive you...Perhaps you weren't aware that the Mercury posted a WNBA league-best 23 wins this season. Or that the Mercury led the lead in scoring. Again. Both as a team and individually. Or that Phoenix has the 6th Woman of the Year. Or that they have the 3pt percentage leader. Or that the Mercury have 2 of the 5 All-WNBA 1st team selections (Diana, Cappie). Or that they're averaging almost 100 points per game in 40 minutes in the playoffs. Or that the Mercury's pace of play is actually faster than your Phoenix Suns, and would average more points than the Suns in a 48 minute game. Or that they have the best team free-throw percentage in league history. Or that they have the probable MVP of the league in Diana Taurasi. Or the respect that these ladies are getting on a national basis.Maybe you didn't know those things.Well...now you do. And the team needs your home-town support more than ever to rally them past Lisa Leslie, Candace Parker, and the Sparks.If you're not necessarily a WNBA fan, need I remind you that Kobe Bryant hails from the same city as the Sparks? Need I remind you of the myriad of annoying fans that infiltrate Suns games wearing a Kobe jersey and taunting us? By the way, they're still there at Mercury games. Need I remind you of how many championships the city of Los Angeles has? Need I remind you of the atmosphere at Suns games when they play the Lakers? As Arizonans, we shouldn't even think twice of about attending an event or showing our support for a Phoenix team when their opponent starts with a 'Los Angeles' or 'San Antonio'!!If ticket prices are a concern, let's put that to bed right now. You can get fantastic lower level seats for insanely low prices starting at just $16. Or, for an upper level seat, you can purchase them starting at $2 (are you kidding me?!?!). If you're worried about getting your money's worth, just ask the thousands of fans around you on Friday when Diana does her "rally call" during the player introductions - the chills you'll have are normal, and the other 10,000 fans will have them too.If you're strictly a Suns fan, sorry, that's no excuse either. Almost the entire Suns team has supported the Mercury at some point throughout the year (some on multiple occasions) including Amare Stoudemire, Grant Hill, Alando Tucker, Robin Lopez, Taylor Griffin, Goran Dragic - and yes, even Sir Charles Barkley. Grant Hill even asked Ann Meyers-Drysdale (Mercury GM) if the Suns could borrow Diana Taurasi for the NBA season! If you're a Suns fan, you're a Mercury fan.To close, if you have a personal vendetta against the WNBA, there's not much I can do about that (except this). All I ask is that you come out, and support your Phoenix Mercury team - they need you. They need the same love and support you've shown the Suns for over 40 years. They need the same energy and passion you have at Cardinals games. They need that type of enthusiasm and quite frankly, they absolutely deserve it.For those that are fans, and plan on attending, please feel free to forward this letter/message on to others. If anyone has any questions, you are more than welcome to give them my personal email address (bjyork15@gmail.com) and I'd be happy to go over their reasons why they wouldn't want to come - and convince them otherwise.So, I ask, will you join me Friday to help get this Mercury team to the 2009 WNBA Finals?Sincerely,Ben York angeles, candace, cappie, diana, leslie, lisa, los, mercury, parker, phoenix, players, pondexter, sparks, taurasi nonadult false An Open Letter to Arizona Residents - A Mercury Rally Call text blog angeles,candace,cappie,diana,leslie,lisa,los,mercury,parker,phoenix,players,pondexter,sparks,taurasi 1045 1 5.0 http://server.cafemerc.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=8194234&as=46100 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/46100/photos/PHOTO_4277610_46100_8194234_ap_160X120.jpg false 1 Players 0 816932 8194234 MVP 2004 http://server.cafemerc.com/_Mercury-Needs-Team-Effort-to-Get-By-Sparks/BLOG/795514/46100.html The Phoenix Mercury's "All In" theme of the 2009 WNBA Playoffs couldn't be more fitting as we head into the Western Conference Finals. Undoubtedly, the Mercury/Sparks series will be touted more for the epic match-up of two of the greatest in the game, Candace Parker vs. Diana Taurasi. Heck, it’s already being written about on a national level, and perhaps rightfully so. It’s the Lebron vs. Kobe showdown of the WNBA. However, it is my belief that the series will be determined by other key factors, rather than each team’s respective superstars. Don’t get me wrong, the Mercury and Sparks will need huge games from Taurasi and Parker to advance to the WNBA Finals. But this series will ultimately be won by the team who gets the best play out of their supporting cast. For the Sparks, they’ll need players other than Leslie, Parker, and Thompson to step up to counteract the depth of the Mercury. Players like Betty Lennox and DeLisha Milton-Jones will be relied on heavily not just on the defensive end, but offensively as well. Even though we hear a lot about the height and size of the Sparks, the Mercury can throw a big lineup on the court if need be, as we saw in the last 4 minutes of game 3 against the Silver Stars. Cappie played the 1 and was the smallest person on the court for the Mercury. “I can get big,” Gaines said at practice Tuesday. “Maybe not as big, but I can go longer. I can even get bigger too and put Diana at the point, Penny at the 2, DB [DeWanna] at the 3, Tangela at the 4, and Ohlde at the 5. But we run either way so it doesn’t matter.” The Sparks’ success this season has come from finding an exploitable weakness of the team their facing and using it to their advantage. However, that one-dimensional approach doesn’t necessarily always work, especially in the playoffs. “What they do is try to take advantage of mismatches,” Gaines said. “But you also have to understand that by doing so, they’re taking away from the flow of their game. Let’s say, for instance, that DeLisha wants to post up down low all game. Then they’re taking away one of the best post up players of all time, Leslie, away from the basket.” For the Mercury, it will be business as usual – running their butts off. “Everyone says in playoff ball, you don’t run as much,” Gaines said. “For us, we go faster. It’s the opposite for us. The other team will tend to buy into the pace of play a little bit more and get caught up in the game.” That means that players like Penny Taylor, DeWanna Bonner, Ketia Swanier, Kelly Mazzante, and Le’coe Willingham will need to have productive nights both offensively and defensively for the Mercury to get the win. It will certainly be difficult to match the Sparks size down low, but Tangela and Nicole have proven they can get the job done this year, contributing to the Mercury’s victory on the boards 8 out of the last 10 opponents they’ve faced. With the tremendous play of Diana Taurasi in the Silver Stars series, a somewhat forgotten player was Cappie Pondexter. Cappie did a fantastic 1 on 1 job against Becky Hammon and disrupted her from getting her teammates involved, which makes her one of the most deadly players in the league. This energy spent on the defensive end didn’t allow Cappie to be as aggressive offensively as she normally is, but that certainly shouldn’t take anything away from her fantastic play. Against the Sparks, however, Cappie should be due for one of her phenomenal games of 25-30 points with the match-up problems she creates for the Sparks defense. Her highest scoring game against the Silver Stars was 18, but expect that to be one of her lowest scoring totals in the Sparks series. And let’s not forget the importance of Temeka Johnson to this Mercury team. She’s had great games against her former team this year, essentially willing the team to a victory in their first match-up in the regular season. Most importantly, Meek only has 3 turnovers in her last 4 games combined. Her vision and leadership on the court will be invaluable during the Sparks series. Another unique situation for both teams will occur in game 1 when the Sparks, technically, won’t be playing at ‘home’ due to scheduling conflicts. Instead, they’ll play at UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion. When asked if that was actually to the Mercury’s advantage, Gaines shrugged it off. “Not unless they turn the lights off, or lower the rims,” said an indifferent Gaines. “I mean, last time I checked it’s still a gym so it won’t matter.” Still, the Staples Center is no easy place to play basketball in, and the majority of the Mercury’s victories there have come during the last couple of years (including 2 this year with Candace not 100%). Although the game is still in Los Angeles, the Mercury should feel a little bit better that they avoided a raucous Staples Center. One last thought – I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed hearing the “Beat L.A.!” chants last night at US Airways Center; and I’m sure there will be 10,000 plus fans there on Friday doing the same. The Phoenix Mercury's "All In" theme of the 2009 WNBA Playoffs couldn't be more fitting as we head into the Western Conference Finals. Undoubtedly, the Mercury/Sparks series will be touted more for the epic match-up of two of the greatest in the game, Candace Parker vs. Diana Taurasi. Heck, it’s already being written about on a national level, and perhaps rightfully so. It’s the Lebron vs. Kobe showdown of the WNBA. However, it is my belief that the series will be determined by other key factors, rather than each team’s respective superstars. Don’t get me wrong, the Mercury and Sparks will need huge games from Taurasi and Parker to advance to the WNBA Finals. But this series will ultimately be won by the team who gets the best play out of their supporting cast. For the Sparks, they’ll need players other than Leslie, Parker, and Thompson to step up to counteract the depth of the Mercury. Players like Betty Lennox and DeLisha Milton-Jones will be relied on heavily not just on the defensive end, but offensively as well. Even though we hear a lot about the height and size of the Sparks, the Mercury can throw a big lineup on the court if need be, as we saw in the last 4 minutes of game 3 against the Silver Stars. Cappie played the 1 and was the smallest person on the court for the Mercury. “I can get big,” Gaines said at practice Tuesday. “Maybe not as big, but I can go longer. I can even get bigger too and put Diana at the point, Penny at the 2, DB [DeWanna] at the 3, Tangela at the 4, and Ohlde at the 5. But we run either way so it doesn’t matter.” The Sparks’ success this season has come from finding an exploitable weakness of the team their facing and using it to their advantage. However, that one-dimensional approach doesn’t necessarily always work, especially in the playoffs. “What they do is try to take advantage of mismatches,” Gaines said. “But you also have to understand that by doing so, they’re taking away from the flow of their game. Let’s say, for instance, that DeLisha wants to post up down low all game. Then they’re taking away one of the best post up players of all time, Leslie, away from the basket.” For the Mercury, it will be business as usual – running their butts off. “Everyone says in playoff ball, you don’t run as much,” Gaines said. “For us, we go faster. It’s the opposite for us. The other team will tend to buy into the pace of play a little bit more and get caught up in the game.” That means that players like Penny Taylor, DeWanna Bonner, Ketia Swanier, Kelly Mazzante, and Le’coe Willingham will need to have productive nights both offensively and defensively for the Mercury to get the win. It will certainly be difficult to match the Sparks size down low, but Tangela and Nicole have proven they can get the job done this year, contributing to the Mercury’s victory on the boards 8 out of the last 10 opponents they’ve faced. With the tremendous play of Diana Taurasi in the Silver Stars series, a somewhat forgotten player was Cappie Pondexter. Cappie did a fantastic 1 on 1 job against Becky Hammon and disrupted her from getting her teammates involved, which makes her one of the most deadly players in the league. This energy spent on the defensive end didn’t allow Cappie to be as aggressive offensively as she normally is, but that certainly shouldn’t take anything away from her fantastic play. Against the Sparks, however, Cappie should be due for one of her phenomenal games of 25-30 points with the match-up problems she creates for the Sparks defense. Her highest scoring game against the Silver Stars was 18, but expect that to be one of her lowest scoring totals in the Sparks series. And let’s not forget the importance of Temeka Johnson to this Mercury team. She’s had great games against her former team this year, essentially willing the team to a victory in their first match-up in the regular season. Most importantly, Meek only has 3 turnovers in her last 4 games combined. Her vision and leadership on the court will be invaluable during the Sparks series. Another unique situation for both teams will occur in game 1 when the Sparks, technically, won’t be playing at ‘home’ due to scheduling conflicts. Instead, they’ll play at UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion. When asked if that was actually to the Mercury’s advantage, Gaines shrugged it off. “Not unless they turn the lights off, or lower the rims,” said an indifferent Gaines. “I mean, last time I checked it’s still a gym so it won’t matter.” Still, the Staples Center is no easy place to play basketball in, and the majority of the Mercury’s victories there have come during the last couple of years (including 2 this year with Candace not 100%). Although the game is still in Los Angeles, the Mercury should feel a little bit better that they avoided a raucous Staples Center. One last thought – I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed hearing the “Beat L.A.!” chants last night at US Airways Center; and I’m sure there will be 10,000 plus fans there on Friday doing the same. Tue, 22 Sep 2009 20:41:53 GMT http://server.cafemerc.com/_Mercury-Needs-Team-Effort-to-Get-By-Sparks/BLOG/795514/46100.html BenYork 2009-09-22T20:41:53Z Players CafeMerc The Phoenix Mercury's "All In" theme of the 2009 WNBA Playoffs couldn't be more fitting as we head into the Western Conference Finals. Undoubtedly, the Mercury/Sparks series will be touted more for the epic match-up of two of the greatest in the game, Candace Parker vs. Diana Taurasi. Heck, it’s already being written about on a national level, and perhaps rightfully so. It’s the Lebron vs. Kobe showdown of the WNBA. However, it is my belief that the series will be determined by other key factors, rather than each team’s respective superstars. Don’t get me wrong, the Mercury and Sparks will need huge games from Taurasi and Parker to advance to the WNBA Finals. But this series will ultimately be won by the team who gets the best play out of their supporting cast. For the Sparks, they’ll need players other than Leslie, Parker, and Thompson to step up to counteract the depth of the Mercury. Players like Betty Lennox and DeLisha Milton-Jones will be relied on heavily not just on the defensive end, but offensively as well. Even though we hear a lot about the height and size of the Sparks, the Mercury can throw a big lineup on the court if need be, as we saw in the last 4 minutes of game 3 against the Silver Stars. Cappie played the 1 and was the smallest person on the court for the Mercury. “I can get big,” Gaines said at practice Tuesday. “Maybe not as big, but I can go longer. I can even get bigger too and put Diana at the point, Penny at the 2, DB [DeWanna] at the 3, Tangela at the 4, and Ohlde at the 5. But we run either way so it doesn’t matter.” The Sparks’ success this season has come from finding an exploitable weakness of the team their facing and using it to their advantage. However, that one-dimensional approach doesn’t necessarily always work, especially in the playoffs. “What they do is try to take advantage of mismatches,” Gaines said. “But you also have to understand that by doing so, they’re taking away from the flow of their game. Let’s say, for instance, that DeLisha wants to post up down low all game. Then they’re taking away one of the best post up players of all time, Leslie, away from the basket.” For the Mercury, it will be business as usual – running their butts off. “Everyone says in playoff ball, you don’t run as much,” Gaines said. “For us, we go faster. It’s the opposite for us. The other team will tend to buy into the pace of play a little bit more and get caught up in the game.” That means that players like Penny Taylor, DeWanna Bonner, Ketia Swanier, Kelly Mazzante, and Le’coe Willingham will need to have productive nights both offensively and defensively for the Mercury to get the win. It will certainly be difficult to match the Sparks size down low, but Tangela and Nicole have proven they can get the job done this year, contributing to the Mercury’s victory on the boards 8 out of the last 10 opponents they’ve faced. With the tremendous play of Diana Taurasi in the Silver Stars series, a somewhat forgotten player was Cappie Pondexter. Cappie did a fantastic 1 on 1 job against Becky Hammon and disrupted her from getting her teammates involved, which makes her one of the most deadly players in the league. This energy spent on the defensive end didn’t allow Cappie to be as aggressive offensively as she normally is, but that certainly shouldn’t take anything away from her fantastic play. Against the Sparks, however, Cappie should be due for one of her phenomenal games of 25-30 points with the match-up problems she creates for the Sparks defense. Her highest scoring game against the Silver Stars was 18, but expect that to be one of her lowest scoring totals in the Sparks series. And let’s not forget the importance of Temeka Johnson to this Mercury team. She’s had great games against her former team this year, essentially willing the team to a victory in their first match-up in the regular season. Most importantly, Meek only has 3 turnovers in her last 4 games combined. Her vision and leadership on the court will be invaluable during the Sparks series. Another unique situation for both teams will occur in game 1 when the Sparks, technically, won’t be playing at ‘home’ due to scheduling conflicts. Instead, they’ll play at UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion. When asked if that was actually to the Mercury’s advantage, Gaines shrugged it off. “Not unless they turn the lights off, or lower the rims,” said an indifferent Gaines. “I mean, last time I checked it’s still a gym so it won’t matter.” Still, the Staples Center is no easy place to play basketball in, and the majority of the Mercury’s victories there have come during the last couple of years (including 2 this year with Candace not 100%). Although the game is still in Los Angeles, the Mercury should feel a little bit better that they avoided a raucous Staples Center. One last thought – I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed hearing the “Beat L.A.!” chants last night at US Airways Center; and I’m sure there will be 10,000 plus fans there on Friday doing the same. angeles, candace, cappie, corey, diana, gaines, johnson, los, mercury, nicole, ohlde, parker, penny, phoenix, players, pondexter, sparks, taurasi, taylor, temeka, thompson, tina nonadult false Mercury Needs Team Effort to Get By Sparks text blog angeles,candace,cappie,corey,diana,gaines,johnson,los,mercury,nicole,ohlde,parker,penny,phoenix,players,pondexter,sparks,taurasi,taylor,temeka,thompson,tina 552 1 5.0 http://server.cafemerc.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=8194234&as=46100 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/46100/photos/PHOTO_4277610_46100_8194234_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 Players 0 795514 8194234 MVP 2004 http://server.cafemerc.com/_We-Have-Taurasi-and-You-Dont/BLOG/779385/46100.html [image]"We have Diana, and you don't."Those were the proverbial words spoken by UConn head coach, Geno Auriemma, before the Huskies played in the 2003-2004 National Championship game.Tonight, Corey Gaines could've said the exact same thing.It wasn't just her 30 points on 11-17 shots. It wasn't the additional 6 assists. It wasn't just her being active on the glass with a solid 5 rebounds.It was much more than that.It was her leadership and confidence that inspired this Mercury team to prevail over the Silver Stars, advancing to the Western Conference Finals. You could tell by watching her activeness on the court that she wasn't going to let the Mercury lose. Every single time the Mercury needed a big shot, or simply just to settle down, Taurasi was there to send a spark (pun intended) through the team and inspire confidence throughout the entire game.As always, Taurasi deflected any individual credit to the entire team. "That's the way we want to play, we want to play unselfish," Diana said. "We want to make the extra pass, we want to create problems for people and you can only do that when you have people who are confident in taking and making shots and today was a perfect example of no matter what point in the game, whoever was in, those are the people we have confidence in. There were five people in double figures tonight, that is the way we want to play."Still, it is hard to ignore the phenomenal game Diana had. "She's being modest," Cappie said about Taurasi. "But the way she played is team basketball. I had to tell her to go a couple times. That's what we do for each other." It's also hard to ignore the huge emphasis the X-Factor had in the game tonight. Over 7,000 loud fans kept the Mercury motivated and pumped. "I guess the home court came into effect," Gaines said after the game about the home court.Taurasi helped ignite the rest of the Mercury too, when needed. Tangela Smith had a huge 4th quarter with 8 points and 2 big rebounds in the closing minutes. DeWanna Bonner came off the bench with 11 points and 6 rebounds, including 3 huge free-throws. Penny Taylor had a game-saving loose ball deflection in the final :30 seconds as well as her 11 points, 4 assists, and 6 rebounds.Quite simply, it was an exceptional team effort that propelled the Mercury to victory.After all, we knew the Silver Stars weren't going down without a fight. Becky Hammon and Vickie Johnson played brilliantly in the loss. "I'm really proud of my team," said Dan Hughes. "They did a lot of things well in this game it just wasn't enough. That's the type of team Phoenix has. You have to hit the mark in a lot of ways to beat them. We got close but we couldn't get it done. Give Phoenix a lot of credit."As mentioned, Becky Hammon shot the ball out of her mind tonight hitting 6 three's on her way to a 29 point performance. "They have a lot of great players, that's what happened," said Becky. "I thought we did some things well but we had a couple of back-to-back turnovers down the stretch and they really hurt us. Phoenix will hurt anybody that doesn't take care of the ball because they're immediately coming back at you the other way."On a more dreary note, Vickie Johnson played a fantastic game, which will be her last in the WNBA. "I just wanted to go out there and give everything I had," Johnson said about her distinguished career. "To leave everything on the court and just play hard. I think I did that, I have no regrets. I hope the fans of the WNBA know that I tried to play the game of basketball the right way." Perhaps more so than anyone, Silver Stars head coach Dan Hughes will miss Vickie. "The loss tonight is going to sting me," Hughes said. "But the way she [Vickie] played tonight is going to enrich me. I'm a better person and coach because I have had four seasons with her. I'm so privileged to be able to coach her. She looked like she was 23 years old on the court tonight."In all, this win along with the play of captains Diana Taurasi and Cappie Pondexter should provide a setting for an epic showdown against the Los Angeles Sparks. "This is a great way to prepare for LA," Penny Taylor said after the game. "This is a tough, tough team but LA is a different team in the sense that they're bigger and have other threats. But this team loves to play basketball, we don't like resting, we want to play more games."Luckily for Mercury fans, they will.Plus, the Mercury has Diana Taurasi. The Sparks don't.Other NotesPhoenix's 100-92 victory over the Silver Stars marked the first time in league history a squad has posted back-to-back games of at least 100 points in postseason play.Phoenix beat the Silver Stars on the glass each of the three games, and 8 out of the last 10 opponents they've faced.The Mercury are 14-0 when hitting at least 35 shots.Phoenix's benched outscored the Silver Stars bench, 26-4. [image]"We have Diana, and you don't."Those were the proverbial words spoken by UConn head coach, Geno Auriemma, before the Huskies played in the 2003-2004 National Championship game.Tonight, Corey Gaines could've said the exact same thing.It wasn't just her 30 points on 11-17 shots. It wasn't the additional 6 assists. It wasn't just her being active on the glass with a solid 5 rebounds.It was much more than that.It was her leadership and confidence that inspired this Mercury team to prevail over the Silver Stars, advancing to the Western Conference Finals. You could tell by watching her activeness on the court that she wasn't going to let the Mercury lose. Every single time the Mercury needed a big shot, or simply just to settle down, Taurasi was there to send a spark (pun intended) through the team and inspire confidence throughout the entire game.As always, Taurasi deflected any individual credit to the entire team. "That's the way we want to play, we want to play unselfish," Diana said. "We want to make the extra pass, we want to create problems for people and you can only do that when you have people who are confident in taking and making shots and today was a perfect example of no matter what point in the game, whoever was in, those are the people we have confidence in. There were five people in double figures tonight, that is the way we want to play."Still, it is hard to ignore the phenomenal game Diana had. "She's being modest," Cappie said about Taurasi. "But the way she played is team basketball. I had to tell her to go a couple times. That's what we do for each other." It's also hard to ignore the huge emphasis the X-Factor had in the game tonight. Over 7,000 loud fans kept the Mercury motivated and pumped. "I guess the home court came into effect," Gaines said after the game about the home court.Taurasi helped ignite the rest of the Mercury too, when needed. Tangela Smith had a huge 4th quarter with 8 points and 2 big rebounds in the closing minutes. DeWanna Bonner came off the bench with 11 points and 6 rebounds, including 3 huge free-throws. Penny Taylor had a game-saving loose ball deflection in the final :30 seconds as well as her 11 points, 4 assists, and 6 rebounds.Quite simply, it was an exceptional team effort that propelled the Mercury to victory.After all, we knew the Silver Stars weren't going down without a fight. Becky Hammon and Vickie Johnson played brilliantly in the loss. "I'm really proud of my team," said Dan Hughes. "They did a lot of things well in this game it just wasn't enough. That's the type of team Phoenix has. You have to hit the mark in a lot of ways to beat them. We got close but we couldn't get it done. Give Phoenix a lot of credit."As mentioned, Becky Hammon shot the ball out of her mind tonight hitting 6 three's on her way to a 29 point performance. "They have a lot of great players, that's what happened," said Becky. "I thought we did some things well but we had a couple of back-to-back turnovers down the stretch and they really hurt us. Phoenix will hurt anybody that doesn't take care of the ball because they're immediately coming back at you the other way."On a more dreary note, Vickie Johnson played a fantastic game, which will be her last in the WNBA. "I just wanted to go out there and give everything I had," Johnson said about her distinguished career. "To leave everything on the court and just play hard. I think I did that, I have no regrets. I hope the fans of the WNBA know that I tried to play the game of basketball the right way." Perhaps more so than anyone, Silver Stars head coach Dan Hughes will miss Vickie. "The loss tonight is going to sting me," Hughes said. "But the way she [Vickie] played tonight is going to enrich me. I'm a better person and coach because I have had four seasons with her. I'm so privileged to be able to coach her. She looked like she was 23 years old on the court tonight."In all, this win along with the play of captains Diana Taurasi and Cappie Pondexter should provide a setting for an epic showdown against the Los Angeles Sparks. "This is a great way to prepare for LA," Penny Taylor said after the game. "This is a tough, tough team but LA is a different team in the sense that they're bigger and have other threats. But this team loves to play basketball, we don't like resting, we want to play more games."Luckily for Mercury fans, they will.Plus, the Mercury has Diana Taurasi. The Sparks don't.Other NotesPhoenix's 100-92 victory over the Silver Stars marked the first time in league history a squad has posted back-to-back games of at least 100 points in postseason play.Phoenix beat the Silver Stars on the glass each of the three games, and 8 out of the last 10 opponents they've faced.The Mercury are 14-0 when hitting at least 35 shots.Phoenix's benched outscored the Silver Stars bench, 26-4. Tue, 22 Sep 2009 05:25:31 GMT http://server.cafemerc.com/_We-Have-Taurasi-and-You-Dont/BLOG/779385/46100.html BenYork 2009-09-22T05:25:31Z Players CafeMerc [image]"We have Diana, and you don't."Those were the proverbial words spoken by UConn head coach, Geno Auriemma, before the Huskies played in the 2003-2004 National Championship game.Tonight, Corey Gaines could've said the exact same thing.It wasn't just her 30 points on 11-17 shots. It wasn't the additional 6 assists. It wasn't just her being active on the glass with a solid 5 rebounds.It was much more than that.It was her leadership and confidence that inspired this Mercury team to prevail over the Silver Stars, advancing to the Western Conference Finals. You could tell by watching her activeness on the court that she wasn't going to let the Mercury lose. Every single time the Mercury needed a big shot, or simply just to settle down, Taurasi was there to send a spark (pun intended) through the team and inspire confidence throughout the entire game.As always, Taurasi deflected any individual credit to the entire team. "That's the way we want to play, we want to play unselfish," Diana said. "We want to make the extra pass, we want to create problems for people and you can only do that when you have people who are confident in taking and making shots and today was a perfect example of no matter what point in the game, whoever was in, those are the people we have confidence in. There were five people in double figures tonight, that is the way we want to play."Still, it is hard to ignore the phenomenal game Diana had. "She's being modest," Cappie said about Taurasi. "But the way she played is team basketball. I had to tell her to go a couple times. That's what we do for each other." It's also hard to ignore the huge emphasis the X-Factor had in the game tonight. Over 7,000 loud fans kept the Mercury motivated and pumped. "I guess the home court came into effect," Gaines said after the game about the home court.Taurasi helped ignite the rest of the Mercury too, when needed. Tangela Smith had a huge 4th quarter with 8 points and 2 big rebounds in the closing minutes. DeWanna Bonner came off the bench with 11 points and 6 rebounds, including 3 huge free-throws. Penny Taylor had a game-saving loose ball deflection in the final :30 seconds as well as her 11 points, 4 assists, and 6 rebounds.Quite simply, it was an exceptional team effort that propelled the Mercury to victory.After all, we knew the Silver Stars weren't going down without a fight. Becky Hammon and Vickie Johnson played brilliantly in the loss. "I'm really proud of my team," said Dan Hughes. "They did a lot of things well in this game it just wasn't enough. That's the type of team Phoenix has. You have to hit the mark in a lot of ways to beat them. We got close but we couldn't get it done. Give Phoenix a lot of credit."As mentioned, Becky Hammon shot the ball out of her mind tonight hitting 6 three's on her way to a 29 point performance. "They have a lot of great players, that's what happened," said Becky. "I thought we did some things well but we had a couple of back-to-back turnovers down the stretch and they really hurt us. Phoenix will hurt anybody that doesn't take care of the ball because they're immediately coming back at you the other way."On a more dreary note, Vickie Johnson played a fantastic game, which will be her last in the WNBA. "I just wanted to go out there and give everything I had," Johnson said about her distinguished career. "To leave everything on the court and just play hard. I think I did that, I have no regrets. I hope the fans of the WNBA know that I tried to play the game of basketball the right way." Perhaps more so than anyone, Silver Stars head coach Dan Hughes will miss Vickie. "The loss tonight is going to sting me," Hughes said. "But the way she [Vickie] played tonight is going to enrich me. I'm a better person and coach because I have had four seasons with her. I'm so privileged to be able to coach her. She looked like she was 23 years old on the court tonight."In all, this win along with the play of captains Diana Taurasi and Cappie Pondexter should provide a setting for an epic showdown against the Los Angeles Sparks. "This is a great way to prepare for LA," Penny Taylor said after the game. "This is a tough, tough team but LA is a different team in the sense that they're bigger and have other threats. But this team loves to play basketball, we don't like resting, we want to play more games."Luckily for Mercury fans, they will.Plus, the Mercury has Diana Taurasi. The Sparks don't.Other NotesPhoenix's 100-92 victory over the Silver Stars marked the first time in league history a squad has posted back-to-back games of at least 100 points in postseason play.Phoenix beat the Silver Stars on the glass each of the three games, and 8 out of the last 10 opponents they've faced.The Mercury are 14-0 when hitting at least 35 shots.Phoenix's benched outscored the Silver Stars bench, 26-4. antonio, becky, bonner, cappie, corey, dan, dewanna, diana, gaines, hammon, hughes, johnson, mercury, penny, phoenix, players, pondexter, san, silver, sophia, stars, taurasi, taylor, temeka, young nonadult false We Have Taurasi, and You Don't text blog antonio,becky,bonner,cappie,corey,dan,dewanna,diana,gaines,hammon,hughes,johnson,mercury,penny,phoenix,players,pondexter,san,silver,sophia,stars,taurasi,taylor,temeka,young 1355 0 0.0 http://server.cafemerc.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=8194234&as=46100 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/46100/photos/PHOTO_4277610_46100_8194234_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 Players 1 779385 8194234 MVP 2004 http://server.cafemerc.com/_Mercury-Hope-to-Sustain-Momentum-in-Decisive-Game-3/BLOG/770911/46100.html [image]Well, here we are.September 21st. 2009 WNBA Playoffs. Game 3 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals. Series tied at 1-1.It all comes down to this. For the Mercury, it's win...or stay home.However, the Mercury has managed to shift the momentum back in their favor, and have several things they should feel good about in this proverbial elimination game.To start, the series has clearly shifted momentum with the Mercury's convincing and inspiring home win in game 2. Essentially, they did just about everything right in that game, and it's reflected in one of the most amazing box scores I've ever seen. Though, as any championship coach would tell you, Corey Gaines isn't quite comfortable or content. "There's always something you can find to work on after watching the film," said Gaines at practice Sunday. "We'll be ready."Phoenix also will have a healthy, fresh squad of players to go on Monday. No Mercury played more than 26 minutes, and the starters essentially sat the entire fourth quarter. "That was huge," Gaines told me. "I know they sat theirs too earlier than usual but for us to get rest was big." Unquestionably, the most important part of their win in game 2 was the way Phoenix put away the game early, and never let the Silver Stars back in. Had they let San Antonio go on any sort of run, the Silver Stars could've found a positive to take away and build upon heading into the deciding game Monday. Instead, they'll need to start from scratch after a demoralizing 28 point loss. Still, don't expect San Antonio to come out and lay an egg. We should certainly expect better games from both Hammon and Young; some of the best competitors in the league.Perhaps most encouraging, we finally saw a break-out game from both Diana and Cappie that we hadn't seen of late. Although they will almost certainly get their 20+ points each game, they really haven't shot their normal percentage from the floor the past 5-8 games. On Saturday, the two combined for 42 points on 18-28 shooting in only about 24 minutes each. Undeniably, this type of confidence will permeate throughout the entire Mercury team, but most importantly, the two captains - Diana and Cappie.We also saw a bit more of the human side to the Silver Stars bench, which was held in check by the Mercury's energy and defense. In addition, DeWanna Bonner and Penny Taylor off the bench for Phoenix kept the tempo fast, allowed the Mercury to continue their relentless attack, and energized the Phoenix crowd.Last, but certainly not least, it's a home game and the X-Factor will be louder than they have all year. After all, it's what the Mercury played all season for. The team is healthy, confident, and will have 10,000+ fans cheering them on. However, as we all know, stranger things have happened than a Silver Stars victory Monday. Hence, the Mercury will need to play with the same type of urgency and intensity that they did on Saturday night. At practice on Sunday, it was clear the team is still all business and just as motivated as we saw on Saturday. Still, it's safe to say the exact same attitude is consumed by San Antonio.Quite simply, this is the type of basketball we all love.But, I think we'd all love it a *bit* more with a Mercury win and advancement into the Western Conference Finals. [image]Well, here we are.September 21st. 2009 WNBA Playoffs. Game 3 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals. Series tied at 1-1.It all comes down to this. For the Mercury, it's win...or stay home.However, the Mercury has managed to shift the momentum back in their favor, and have several things they should feel good about in this proverbial elimination game.To start, the series has clearly shifted momentum with the Mercury's convincing and inspiring home win in game 2. Essentially, they did just about everything right in that game, and it's reflected in one of the most amazing box scores I've ever seen. Though, as any championship coach would tell you, Corey Gaines isn't quite comfortable or content. "There's always something you can find to work on after watching the film," said Gaines at practice Sunday. "We'll be ready."Phoenix also will have a healthy, fresh squad of players to go on Monday. No Mercury played more than 26 minutes, and the starters essentially sat the entire fourth quarter. "That was huge," Gaines told me. "I know they sat theirs too earlier than usual but for us to get rest was big." Unquestionably, the most important part of their win in game 2 was the way Phoenix put away the game early, and never let the Silver Stars back in. Had they let San Antonio go on any sort of run, the Silver Stars could've found a positive to take away and build upon heading into the deciding game Monday. Instead, they'll need to start from scratch after a demoralizing 28 point loss. Still, don't expect San Antonio to come out and lay an egg. We should certainly expect better games from both Hammon and Young; some of the best competitors in the league.Perhaps most encouraging, we finally saw a break-out game from both Diana and Cappie that we hadn't seen of late. Although they will almost certainly get their 20+ points each game, they really haven't shot their normal percentage from the floor the past 5-8 games. On Saturday, the two combined for 42 points on 18-28 shooting in only about 24 minutes each. Undeniably, this type of confidence will permeate throughout the entire Mercury team, but most importantly, the two captains - Diana and Cappie.We also saw a bit more of the human side to the Silver Stars bench, which was held in check by the Mercury's energy and defense. In addition, DeWanna Bonner and Penny Taylor off the bench for Phoenix kept the tempo fast, allowed the Mercury to continue their relentless attack, and energized the Phoenix crowd.Last, but certainly not least, it's a home game and the X-Factor will be louder than they have all year. After all, it's what the Mercury played all season for. The team is healthy, confident, and will have 10,000+ fans cheering them on. However, as we all know, stranger things have happened than a Silver Stars victory Monday. Hence, the Mercury will need to play with the same type of urgency and intensity that they did on Saturday night. At practice on Sunday, it was clear the team is still all business and just as motivated as we saw on Saturday. Still, it's safe to say the exact same attitude is consumed by San Antonio.Quite simply, this is the type of basketball we all love.But, I think we'd all love it a *bit* more with a Mercury win and advancement into the Western Conference Finals. Sun, 20 Sep 2009 23:24:32 GMT http://server.cafemerc.com/_Mercury-Hope-to-Sustain-Momentum-in-Decisive-Game-3/BLOG/770911/46100.html BenYork 2009-09-20T23:24:32Z Players CafeMerc [image]Well, here we are.September 21st. 2009 WNBA Playoffs. Game 3 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals. Series tied at 1-1.It all comes down to this. For the Mercury, it's win...or stay home.However, the Mercury has managed to shift the momentum back in their favor, and have several things they should feel good about in this proverbial elimination game.To start, the series has clearly shifted momentum with the Mercury's convincing and inspiring home win in game 2. Essentially, they did just about everything right in that game, and it's reflected in one of the most amazing box scores I've ever seen. Though, as any championship coach would tell you, Corey Gaines isn't quite comfortable or content. "There's always something you can find to work on after watching the film," said Gaines at practice Sunday. "We'll be ready."Phoenix also will have a healthy, fresh squad of players to go on Monday. No Mercury played more than 26 minutes, and the starters essentially sat the entire fourth quarter. "That was huge," Gaines told me. "I know they sat theirs too earlier than usual but for us to get rest was big." Unquestionably, the most important part of their win in game 2 was the way Phoenix put away the game early, and never let the Silver Stars back in. Had they let San Antonio go on any sort of run, the Silver Stars could've found a positive to take away and build upon heading into the deciding game Monday. Instead, they'll need to start from scratch after a demoralizing 28 point loss. Still, don't expect San Antonio to come out and lay an egg. We should certainly expect better games from both Hammon and Young; some of the best competitors in the league.Perhaps most encouraging, we finally saw a break-out game from both Diana and Cappie that we hadn't seen of late. Although they will almost certainly get their 20+ points each game, they really haven't shot their normal percentage from the floor the past 5-8 games. On Saturday, the two combined for 42 points on 18-28 shooting in only about 24 minutes each. Undeniably, this type of confidence will permeate throughout the entire Mercury team, but most importantly, the two captains - Diana and Cappie.We also saw a bit more of the human side to the Silver Stars bench, which was held in check by the Mercury's energy and defense. In addition, DeWanna Bonner and Penny Taylor off the bench for Phoenix kept the tempo fast, allowed the Mercury to continue their relentless attack, and energized the Phoenix crowd.Last, but certainly not least, it's a home game and the X-Factor will be louder than they have all year. After all, it's what the Mercury played all season for. The team is healthy, confident, and will have 10,000+ fans cheering them on. However, as we all know, stranger things have happened than a Silver Stars victory Monday. Hence, the Mercury will need to play with the same type of urgency and intensity that they did on Saturday night. At practice on Sunday, it was clear the team is still all business and just as motivated as we saw on Saturday. Still, it's safe to say the exact same attitude is consumed by San Antonio.Quite simply, this is the type of basketball we all love.But, I think we'd all love it a *bit* more with a Mercury win and advancement into the Western Conference Finals. antonio, becky, bonner, cappie, corey, dan, dewanna, diana, gaines, hammon, hughes, johnson, mercury, penny, phoenix, players, pondexter, san, silver, sophia, stars, taurasi, taylor, temeka, young nonadult false Mercury Hope to Sustain Momentum in Decisive Game 3 text blog antonio,becky,bonner,cappie,corey,dan,dewanna,diana,gaines,hammon,hughes,johnson,mercury,penny,phoenix,players,pondexter,san,silver,sophia,stars,taurasi,taylor,temeka,young 432 2 5.0 http://server.cafemerc.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=8194234&as=46100 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/46100/photos/PHOTO_4277610_46100_8194234_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 Players 0 770911 8194234 MVP 2004 http://server.cafemerc.com/_Defense-Energy-Fuels-Game-2-Win/BLOG/743728/46100.html After the unfortunate let-down that was game 1, the Mercury faced an improbable elimination from the playoffs tonight after one of the best regular seasons in franchise history. However, as we have come to see from this Mercury team throughout the course of the year, they certainly weren't going down without a fight.And fight they did...Not that I feel remotely bad for them, but if you're the San Antonio Silver Stars, what do you do when the Mercury compile the following stats?A 64 point first half, including a 35 point scoring outburst in the 1st quarter 64% shooting from the floor46 made field goals56% shooting from beyond the arc9 made three-pointers39-20 rebounding edge24 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists from Diana Taurasi in just 25 minutes of play16 points, 13 rebounds from DeWanna Bonner off the bench in just 22 minutes of playWell, honestly, there isn't anything they can do in that situation except...lose...which they did, by a sum of 28 points.In my previous blog, I stated that the Mercury were poised for a gigantic game 2 - luckily, I was right. There was a clear difference in energy and intensity from the entire Phoenix team tonight that was missing in game 1. "We have a lot of veteran players on our team," Corey Gaines said about the Mercury's response. "They've been in this situation before, whether it's overseas, in college, or in the WNBA. Diana for instance, you knew she was going to come out and have a big game. That's just what she does. Last game she didn't shoot too well, but I knew she was going to shoot well tonight."Shooting "well" could be the understatement of the century. Taurasi had 20 points in the first half and finished with 24 points on 10-15 shooting in just 25 minutes of play. In typical selfless-Diana fashion, Taurasi deflected individual credit and pointed to the team effort. "We could probably focus on that [her amazing game and the Mercury's offense] but in the locker room we were all talking about how active we were and how much energy we had on the defensive side of the ball," Taurasi said.Part of the Mercury's ability to put up so many points stemmed from their increase in energy and focus on rebounding. Out-rebounding the Silver Stars 39-20, this allowed the Mercury to get out in transition and push the tempo. "We made shots tonight," said Gaines. "They were missing shots and we rebounded the ball really well. It's as simple as that. Our defense gets better when we are making shots. Everything just gets easier."Not surprisingly, Silver Stars coach Dan Hughes didn't have a solution to combat the Mercury's offense, and acknowledged there wasn't much San Antonio could do to stop it. "I thought Phoenix did a great job coming out and being the aggressor today," Hughes said after the game. "From an offensive perspective they were extremely aggressive converting shots consistently. Give them credit, they were assertive, and really put us in catch-up mode early in the game."Gaines affirmed that the Mercury made necessary adjustments tonight, but wouldn't say specifically what. "We made one adjustment," Gaines said. "But I'm not going to tell you what that is." Perhaps the best adjustment they made was on Becky Hammon and not allowing her to get into a rhythm and create for her teammates. Becky had just 13 points and 1 assist tonight. "With Becky in game 1, she really was all over the court and created so much for her teammates," Taurasi said about Hammon tonight. "It's a team effort to stop her and Meek, Cappie, and Ketia did a great job individually."To the Mercury's credit, they never let the Silver Stars back into the game. Perhaps more so than anything, this should be a huge confidence booster for Phoenix heading into game 3. Earlier in the year, they struggled with letting teams back into games and allowing opposing teams to feel better about facing them in subsequent contests. This was not the case tonight. Once Phoenix got a huge lead, the Silver Stars never got closer than 16 the rest of the game. Quite simply, the Mercury put the Silver Stars away like champions would - never letting up, and staying intense the rest of the game.Still, this Mercury team isn't (and shouldn't be) content. It would be foolish to expect the Mercury to shoot 64% from the floor and 56% from beyond the arc again on Monday, but there is no reason to think the intensity or determination from this team would be any different."We know San Antonio is going to come and play out of their minds on Monday," said Taurasi. "We expect that from them. That just means we are going to come in and play with the same sense of urgency. Every possession counts. When you go through a game where you value each possession on both sides hopefully at the end of 40 minutes we've won the game."If that's any indication of how the Mercury will come out Monday night, I'll say it again...watch out Silver Stars.*Note: I'll have a full preview of game 3 complete with player quotes Sunday evening. After the unfortunate let-down that was game 1, the Mercury faced an improbable elimination from the playoffs tonight after one of the best regular seasons in franchise history. However, as we have come to see from this Mercury team throughout the course of the year, they certainly weren't going down without a fight.And fight they did...Not that I feel remotely bad for them, but if you're the San Antonio Silver Stars, what do you do when the Mercury compile the following stats?A 64 point first half, including a 35 point scoring outburst in the 1st quarter 64% shooting from the floor46 made field goals56% shooting from beyond the arc9 made three-pointers39-20 rebounding edge24 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists from Diana Taurasi in just 25 minutes of play16 points, 13 rebounds from DeWanna Bonner off the bench in just 22 minutes of playWell, honestly, there isn't anything they can do in that situation except...lose...which they did, by a sum of 28 points.In my previous blog, I stated that the Mercury were poised for a gigantic game 2 - luckily, I was right. There was a clear difference in energy and intensity from the entire Phoenix team tonight that was missing in game 1. "We have a lot of veteran players on our team," Corey Gaines said about the Mercury's response. "They've been in this situation before, whether it's overseas, in college, or in the WNBA. Diana for instance, you knew she was going to come out and have a big game. That's just what she does. Last game she didn't shoot too well, but I knew she was going to shoot well tonight."Shooting "well" could be the understatement of the century. Taurasi had 20 points in the first half and finished with 24 points on 10-15 shooting in just 25 minutes of play. In typical selfless-Diana fashion, Taurasi deflected individual credit and pointed to the team effort. "We could probably focus on that [her amazing game and the Mercury's offense] but in the locker room we were all talking about how active we were and how much energy we had on the defensive side of the ball," Taurasi said.Part of the Mercury's ability to put up so many points stemmed from their increase in energy and focus on rebounding. Out-rebounding the Silver Stars 39-20, this allowed the Mercury to get out in transition and push the tempo. "We made shots tonight," said Gaines. "They were missing shots and we rebounded the ball really well. It's as simple as that. Our defense gets better when we are making shots. Everything just gets easier."Not surprisingly, Silver Stars coach Dan Hughes didn't have a solution to combat the Mercury's offense, and acknowledged there wasn't much San Antonio could do to stop it. "I thought Phoenix did a great job coming out and being the aggressor today," Hughes said after the game. "From an offensive perspective they were extremely aggressive converting shots consistently. Give them credit, they were assertive, and really put us in catch-up mode early in the game."Gaines affirmed that the Mercury made necessary adjustments tonight, but wouldn't say specifically what. "We made one adjustment," Gaines said. "But I'm not going to tell you what that is." Perhaps the best adjustment they made was on Becky Hammon and not allowing her to get into a rhythm and create for her teammates. Becky had just 13 points and 1 assist tonight. "With Becky in game 1, she really was all over the court and created so much for her teammates," Taurasi said about Hammon tonight. "It's a team effort to stop her and Meek, Cappie, and Ketia did a great job individually."To the Mercury's credit, they never let the Silver Stars back into the game. Perhaps more so than anything, this should be a huge confidence booster for Phoenix heading into game 3. Earlier in the year, they struggled with letting teams back into games and allowing opposing teams to feel better about facing them in subsequent contests. This was not the case tonight. Once Phoenix got a huge lead, the Silver Stars never got closer than 16 the rest of the game. Quite simply, the Mercury put the Silver Stars away like champions would - never letting up, and staying intense the rest of the game.Still, this Mercury team isn't (and shouldn't be) content. It would be foolish to expect the Mercury to shoot 64% from the floor and 56% from beyond the arc again on Monday, but there is no reason to think the intensity or determination from this team would be any different."We know San Antonio is going to come and play out of their minds on Monday," said Taurasi. "We expect that from them. That just means we are going to come in and play with the same sense of urgency. Every possession counts. When you go through a game where you value each possession on both sides hopefully at the end of 40 minutes we've won the game."If that's any indication of how the Mercury will come out Monday night, I'll say it again...watch out Silver Stars.*Note: I'll have a full preview of game 3 complete with player quotes Sunday evening. Sun, 20 Sep 2009 05:18:08 GMT http://server.cafemerc.com/_Defense-Energy-Fuels-Game-2-Win/BLOG/743728/46100.html BenYork 2009-09-20T05:18:08Z Players CafeMerc After the unfortunate let-down that was game 1, the Mercury faced an improbable elimination from the playoffs tonight after one of the best regular seasons in franchise history. However, as we have come to see from this Mercury team throughout the course of the year, they certainly weren't going down without a fight.And fight they did...Not that I feel remotely bad for them, but if you're the San Antonio Silver Stars, what do you do when the Mercury compile the following stats?A 64 point first half, including a 35 point scoring outburst in the 1st quarter 64% shooting from the floor46 made field goals56% shooting from beyond the arc9 made three-pointers39-20 rebounding edge24 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists from Diana Taurasi in just 25 minutes of play16 points, 13 rebounds from DeWanna Bonner off the bench in just 22 minutes of playWell, honestly, there isn't anything they can do in that situation except...lose...which they did, by a sum of 28 points.In my previous blog, I stated that the Mercury were poised for a gigantic game 2 - luckily, I was right. There was a clear difference in energy and intensity from the entire Phoenix team tonight that was missing in game 1. "We have a lot of veteran players on our team," Corey Gaines said about the Mercury's response. "They've been in this situation before, whether it's overseas, in college, or in the WNBA. Diana for instance, you knew she was going to come out and have a big game. That's just what she does. Last game she didn't shoot too well, but I knew she was going to shoot well tonight."Shooting "well" could be the understatement of the century. Taurasi had 20 points in the first half and finished with 24 points on 10-15 shooting in just 25 minutes of play. In typical selfless-Diana fashion, Taurasi deflected individual credit and pointed to the team effort. "We could probably focus on that [her amazing game and the Mercury's offense] but in the locker room we were all talking about how active we were and how much energy we had on the defensive side of the ball," Taurasi said.Part of the Mercury's ability to put up so many points stemmed from their increase in energy and focus on rebounding. Out-rebounding the Silver Stars 39-20, this allowed the Mercury to get out in transition and push the tempo. "We made shots tonight," said Gaines. "They were missing shots and we rebounded the ball really well. It's as simple as that. Our defense gets better when we are making shots. Everything just gets easier."Not surprisingly, Silver Stars coach Dan Hughes didn't have a solution to combat the Mercury's offense, and acknowledged there wasn't much San Antonio could do to stop it. "I thought Phoenix did a great job coming out and being the aggressor today," Hughes said after the game. "From an offensive perspective they were extremely aggressive converting shots consistently. Give them credit, they were assertive, and really put us in catch-up mode early in the game."Gaines affirmed that the Mercury made necessary adjustments tonight, but wouldn't say specifically what. "We made one adjustment," Gaines said. "But I'm not going to tell you what that is." Perhaps the best adjustment they made was on Becky Hammon and not allowing her to get into a rhythm and create for her teammates. Becky had just 13 points and 1 assist tonight. "With Becky in game 1, she really was all over the court and created so much for her teammates," Taurasi said about Hammon tonight. "It's a team effort to stop her and Meek, Cappie, and Ketia did a great job individually."To the Mercury's credit, they never let the Silver Stars back into the game. Perhaps more so than anything, this should be a huge confidence booster for Phoenix heading into game 3. Earlier in the year, they struggled with letting teams back into games and allowing opposing teams to feel better about facing them in subsequent contests. This was not the case tonight. Once Phoenix got a huge lead, the Silver Stars never got closer than 16 the rest of the game. Quite simply, the Mercury put the Silver Stars away like champions would - never letting up, and staying intense the rest of the game.Still, this Mercury team isn't (and shouldn't be) content. It would be foolish to expect the Mercury to shoot 64% from the floor and 56% from beyond the arc again on Monday, but there is no reason to think the intensity or determination from this team would be any different."We know San Antonio is going to come and play out of their minds on Monday," said Taurasi. "We expect that from them. That just means we are going to come in and play with the same sense of urgency. Every possession counts. When you go through a game where you value each possession on both sides hopefully at the end of 40 minutes we've won the game."If that's any indication of how the Mercury will come out Monday night, I'll say it again...watch out Silver Stars.*Note: I'll have a full preview of game 3 complete with player quotes Sunday evening. antonio, becky, bonner, cappie, corey, dan, dewanna, diana, gaines, hammon, hughes, johnson, mercury, penny, phoenix, players, pondexter, san, silver, sophia, stars, taurasi, taylor, temeka, young nonadult false Defense, Energy Fuels Game 2 Win text blog antonio,becky,bonner,cappie,corey,dan,dewanna,diana,gaines,hammon,hughes,johnson,mercury,penny,phoenix,players,pondexter,san,silver,sophia,stars,taurasi,taylor,temeka,young 858 0 0.0 http://server.cafemerc.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=8194234&as=46100 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/46100/photos/PHOTO_4277610_46100_8194234_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 Players 1 743728 8194234 MVP 2004 http://server.cafemerc.com/_Mercury-Poised-to-Bounce-Back-in-Game-2/BLOG/725512/46100.html [image]I think I can safely say I'm not the only Mercury follower that is still mulling the following question around in my head - what just happened?However, even though it was somewhat of a disappointing and confusing game, I'm still encouraged. There is no doubt in my mind that Phoenix will bounce back in a big way in games 2 and 3.Honestly, I'm not exactly sure what to feel or think about this game. I'm still trying to comprehend what happened throughout the course of the night and attempting to make sense of it. It wasn't a typical game that we've become accustomed to seeing from the Mercury, but I hesitate in giving too much credit to San Antonio; partly because it's against my nature as a Phoenician, but also because I'm not sure it's fully deserved. "The tempo of the game was in our favor going into halftime despite the 3-point play by the Stars at the end of the half," Corey Gaines said after the game. "Their players were tired and we made our run, which we usually do. They had big shots from players who don't usually hit them. When we were on we were on their heels at the end of the game we turned the ball over. Turnovers will do you in especially with a team of this caliber."So, instead of recapping the game and analyzing play-by-play, maybe it's better if I address the questions that have inevitably came up in the majority of our minds.First, I'm sure the immediate initial thought is one of panic, but let's not get too ahead of ourselves. As I mentioned in Part 1 of my series preview, one of the lone keys that would lead to a Silver Stars would be the phenomenal play of their bench or someone other than the normal stars to step up.  Personally, with how inconsistent they've been all season, this scenario was the furthest from my mind. I was more worried about Becky Hammon and Sophia Young going off for 20-25 each. Well, they certainly proved me wrong tonight. San Antonio had over 20 bench points led by 11 from Crossley as well as a huge night 16 point game from an unexpected source, Lawson-Wade. "Edwige Lawson-Wade really gave us a solid game," Dan Hughes said. "It was just a good team win. We got good play off the bench in different ways, defensively and offensively. it was just a tough game and luckily we were able to control enough of it in the last two minutes to come away with a victory."Second, tonight was a rare night for the Mercury's seemingly unstoppable 1-2 punch in Taurasi and Pondexter. They combined for a 9-26 night from the floor and never really got going. Still, the Mercury lost by just 1 point thanks in large part to the play of Penny Taylor (18 points) and DeWanna Bonner (15 points). "We have to be able to learn from this loss and take it back to Phoenix," Penny Taylor said about the game. "We were down the majority of the game. They were able to play good defense on us tonight. Offensively we struggled and we have to make sure to get set in our defense next game. We are down in the series but not out of it."The offense seemed a bit lethargic throughout the game, as San Antonio would answer every time that Phoenix started making a run. Surprisingly, many of the shots came from an unlikely player like Riley, Wauters, Crossley, or Lawson-Wade. "There are some things that we can look at that we'll have to address for Game 2, but we did have enough periods where I thought our defense gave us a chance to play back at them," Hughes said. "We got some scores out of our offense in the transition, and that starts with your defense and your ability to play out of it."Last, let's address the play at the very end of the game. With just under 30 seconds left and down by 4, the Mercury didn't foul and let the Silver Stars shot clock run down, taking a chance on their defense. I won't pretend to know more about basketball than Corey Gaines, so I'll just chalk that up to an unfortunate end to a strange start to the playoffs.So, let's recap...The Silver Stars shot 46% from the field,Made 8 three-pointers,Had more assists,Less turnovers,Held Diana and Cappie to just 9 combined field goals,Played as well as they have all season,While the Mercury struggled all night......and beat the Mercury by a measly 1 point. 1.This Mercury team, as we've seen all season long, is the most resilient team in the league; they never are out of a game and never give up. I, for one, actually feel encouraged with how poorly the Mercury played and still had a legitimate chance at winning the game - and probably should have! San Antonio played as well as I have seen them play all season and, theoretically, had the opportunity to win by double digits with the way the Mercury played.There is no quit in this Mercury team, and they'll show it on Saturday night.Watch out San Antonio...The Mighty Mercury are coming... [image]I think I can safely say I'm not the only Mercury follower that is still mulling the following question around in my head - what just happened?However, even though it was somewhat of a disappointing and confusing game, I'm still encouraged. There is no doubt in my mind that Phoenix will bounce back in a big way in games 2 and 3.Honestly, I'm not exactly sure what to feel or think about this game. I'm still trying to comprehend what happened throughout the course of the night and attempting to make sense of it. It wasn't a typical game that we've become accustomed to seeing from the Mercury, but I hesitate in giving too much credit to San Antonio; partly because it's against my nature as a Phoenician, but also because I'm not sure it's fully deserved. "The tempo of the game was in our favor going into halftime despite the 3-point play by the Stars at the end of the half," Corey Gaines said after the game. "Their players were tired and we made our run, which we usually do. They had big shots from players who don't usually hit them. When we were on we were on their heels at the end of the game we turned the ball over. Turnovers will do you in especially with a team of this caliber."So, instead of recapping the game and analyzing play-by-play, maybe it's better if I address the questions that have inevitably came up in the majority of our minds.First, I'm sure the immediate initial thought is one of panic, but let's not get too ahead of ourselves. As I mentioned in Part 1 of my series preview, one of the lone keys that would lead to a Silver Stars would be the phenomenal play of their bench or someone other than the normal stars to step up.  Personally, with how inconsistent they've been all season, this scenario was the furthest from my mind. I was more worried about Becky Hammon and Sophia Young going off for 20-25 each. Well, they certainly proved me wrong tonight. San Antonio had over 20 bench points led by 11 from Crossley as well as a huge night 16 point game from an unexpected source, Lawson-Wade. "Edwige Lawson-Wade really gave us a solid game," Dan Hughes said. "It was just a good team win. We got good play off the bench in different ways, defensively and offensively. it was just a tough game and luckily we were able to control enough of it in the last two minutes to come away with a victory."Second, tonight was a rare night for the Mercury's seemingly unstoppable 1-2 punch in Taurasi and Pondexter. They combined for a 9-26 night from the floor and never really got going. Still, the Mercury lost by just 1 point thanks in large part to the play of Penny Taylor (18 points) and DeWanna Bonner (15 points). "We have to be able to learn from this loss and take it back to Phoenix," Penny Taylor said about the game. "We were down the majority of the game. They were able to play good defense on us tonight. Offensively we struggled and we have to make sure to get set in our defense next game. We are down in the series but not out of it."The offense seemed a bit lethargic throughout the game, as San Antonio would answer every time that Phoenix started making a run. Surprisingly, many of the shots came from an unlikely player like Riley, Wauters, Crossley, or Lawson-Wade. "There are some things that we can look at that we'll have to address for Game 2, but we did have enough periods where I thought our defense gave us a chance to play back at them," Hughes said. "We got some scores out of our offense in the transition, and that starts with your defense and your ability to play out of it."Last, let's address the play at the very end of the game. With just under 30 seconds left and down by 4, the Mercury didn't foul and let the Silver Stars shot clock run down, taking a chance on their defense. I won't pretend to know more about basketball than Corey Gaines, so I'll just chalk that up to an unfortunate end to a strange start to the playoffs.So, let's recap...The Silver Stars shot 46% from the field,Made 8 three-pointers,Had more assists,Less turnovers,Held Diana and Cappie to just 9 combined field goals,Played as well as they have all season,While the Mercury struggled all night......and beat the Mercury by a measly 1 point. 1.This Mercury team, as we've seen all season long, is the most resilient team in the league; they never are out of a game and never give up. I, for one, actually feel encouraged with how poorly the Mercury played and still had a legitimate chance at winning the game - and probably should have! San Antonio played as well as I have seen them play all season and, theoretically, had the opportunity to win by double digits with the way the Mercury played.There is no quit in this Mercury team, and they'll show it on Saturday night.Watch out San Antonio...The Mighty Mercury are coming... Fri, 18 Sep 2009 04:47:34 GMT http://server.cafemerc.com/_Mercury-Poised-to-Bounce-Back-in-Game-2/BLOG/725512/46100.html BenYork 2009-09-18T04:47:34Z Players CafeMerc [image]I think I can safely say I'm not the only Mercury follower that is still mulling the following question around in my head - what just happened?However, even though it was somewhat of a disappointing and confusing game, I'm still encouraged. There is no doubt in my mind that Phoenix will bounce back in a big way in games 2 and 3.Honestly, I'm not exactly sure what to feel or think about this game. I'm still trying to comprehend what happened throughout the course of the night and attempting to make sense of it. It wasn't a typical game that we've become accustomed to seeing from the Mercury, but I hesitate in giving too much credit to San Antonio; partly because it's against my nature as a Phoenician, but also because I'm not sure it's fully deserved. "The tempo of the game was in our favor going into halftime despite the 3-point play by the Stars at the end of the half," Corey Gaines said after the game. "Their players were tired and we made our run, which we usually do. They had big shots from players who don't usually hit them. When we were on we were on their heels at the end of the game we turned the ball over. Turnovers will do you in especially with a team of this caliber."So, instead of recapping the game and analyzing play-by-play, maybe it's better if I address the questions that have inevitably came up in the majority of our minds.First, I'm sure the immediate initial thought is one of panic, but let's not get too ahead of ourselves. As I mentioned in Part 1 of my series preview, one of the lone keys that would lead to a Silver Stars would be the phenomenal play of their bench or someone other than the normal stars to step up.  Personally, with how inconsistent they've been all season, this scenario was the furthest from my mind. I was more worried about Becky Hammon and Sophia Young going off for 20-25 each. Well, they certainly proved me wrong tonight. San Antonio had over 20 bench points led by 11 from Crossley as well as a huge night 16 point game from an unexpected source, Lawson-Wade. "Edwige Lawson-Wade really gave us a solid game," Dan Hughes said. "It was just a good team win. We got good play off the bench in different ways, defensively and offensively. it was just a tough game and luckily we were able to control enough of it in the last two minutes to come away with a victory."Second, tonight was a rare night for the Mercury's seemingly unstoppable 1-2 punch in Taurasi and Pondexter. They combined for a 9-26 night from the floor and never really got going. Still, the Mercury lost by just 1 point thanks in large part to the play of Penny Taylor (18 points) and DeWanna Bonner (15 points). "We have to be able to learn from this loss and take it back to Phoenix," Penny Taylor said about the game. "We were down the majority of the game. They were able to play good defense on us tonight. Offensively we struggled and we have to make sure to get set in our defense next game. We are down in the series but not out of it."The offense seemed a bit lethargic throughout the game, as San Antonio would answer every time that Phoenix started making a run. Surprisingly, many of the shots came from an unlikely player like Riley, Wauters, Crossley, or Lawson-Wade. "There are some things that we can look at that we'll have to address for Game 2, but we did have enough periods where I thought our defense gave us a chance to play back at them," Hughes said. "We got some scores out of our offense in the transition, and that starts with your defense and your ability to play out of it."Last, let's address the play at the very end of the game. With just under 30 seconds left and down by 4, the Mercury didn't foul and let the Silver Stars shot clock run down, taking a chance on their defense. I won't pretend to know more about basketball than Corey Gaines, so I'll just chalk that up to an unfortunate end to a strange start to the playoffs.So, let's recap...The Silver Stars shot 46% from the field,Made 8 three-pointers,Had more assists,Less turnovers,Held Diana and Cappie to just 9 combined field goals,Played as well as they have all season,While the Mercury struggled all night......and beat the Mercury by a measly 1 point. 1.This Mercury team, as we've seen all season long, is the most resilient team in the league; they never are out of a game and never give up. I, for one, actually feel encouraged with how poorly the Mercury played and still had a legitimate chance at winning the game - and probably should have! San Antonio played as well as I have seen them play all season and, theoretically, had the opportunity to win by double digits with the way the Mercury played.There is no quit in this Mercury team, and they'll show it on Saturday night.Watch out San Antonio...The Mighty Mercury are coming... antonio, becky, bonner, cappie, corey, dan, dewanna, diana, gaines, hammon, hughes, johnson, mercury, penny, phoenix, players, pondexter, san, silver, sophia, stars, taurasi, taylor, temeka, young nonadult false Mercury Poised to Bounce Back in Game 2 text blog antonio,becky,bonner,cappie,corey,dan,dewanna,diana,gaines,hammon,hughes,johnson,mercury,penny,phoenix,players,pondexter,san,silver,sophia,stars,taurasi,taylor,temeka,young 785 0 0.0 http://server.cafemerc.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=8194234&as=46100 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/46100/photos/PHOTO_4277610_46100_8194234_ap_160X120.jpg false 3 Players 0 725512 8194234 MVP 2004 http://server.cafemerc.com/_Mercury-Silver-Stars-Series-Preview-Part-2/BLOG/716534/46100.html This is Part 2 of a two-part series preview. Yesterday, we looked at background for both teams, regular season summaries, and the season match-up between the two teams. Today, we'll look at the keys for each team, head-to-head match-ups, series predictions, and quotes from the team.Be sure to check back for a full recap, with quotes from both sides, after the game on Thursday. I will be at the viewing party at the Native New Yorker if anyone wants to stop by and say 'hi'! Keys for Each TeamSilver Stars - They'll win if...They can do the impossible - slow the Mercury downThey receive career-defining contributions from both Becky Hammon and Sophia YoungDan Hughes finds a way to utilize his bench, and they come through for the teamRuth Riley and Ann Wauters outplay the Mercury benchThe Mercury simply don't show up to play (both literally and mentally)They can somehow force Diana and Cappie away from the ball...the only problem is there are 4 other players who could put up 20 points a night...Mercury - They'll win if...They continue to play Phoenix Mercury basketballThey limit their turnoversTheir bench continues to average close to 30 points a nightThey match San Antonio's bigs rebound for reboundThey continue to get big games from Cappie and DianaThey move the ball, and play their consistent up-tempo gameHead-to-Head Match-UpsBecky Hammon vs. Temeka JohnsonBecky has been a consistent threat on both ends of the floor for the entire season. Although they each have very different roles on their respective teams, they are both equally as important to their team's success. Meek is the floor general and constant for the Mercury while Hammon is the legit superstar for the Silver Stars.Advantage: Silver Stars (but it's closer than you might think)Edwige Lawson-Wade vs. Diana TaurasiNot to be mean to Lawson-Wade, but you could replace her name with any other player's name and the result would still be the same Geno Auriemma mantra - "We have Diana Taurasi, and you don't."Advantage: MercuryVickie Johnson vs. Cappie PondexterSimilar to the Lawson-Wade/Taurasi match-up, Cappie is the most effective player at her position at scoring the ball but also gets her team involved. Vickie is a nice player, but her age is catching up with her and Cappie will certainly exploit that.Advantage: MercurySophia Young vs. Le'coe WillinghamSophia Young is one of the most underrated players in the WNBA. However, you could make a similar case for Le'coe and her contributions that go way beyond what shows up in the box score. Still, Young has consistently torched the Mercury the past couple of years in spite of the different defensive combinations thrown at her.Advantage: Silver StarsAnn Wauters vs. Tangela SmithTwo very different players - Wauters is more physical while Tangela is more finesse. Yet, they both fit extremely well in their respective roles on each team. In this case, Tangela's experience and ability to hit the three, while fitting seamlessly into the Mercury's system, make her the more valuable asset.Advantage: MercuryIntangibles/BenchNo question here - the Mercury have one of the deepest and most effective benches in the league. The additions of DeWanna Bonner, Nicole Ohlde, and Ketia Swanier provided the Mercury will much needed depth and assurance at every position. Penny Taylor can erupt for 25 at anytime, and there is still a solid game from Kelly Mazzante that I think we'll see. The Silver Stars, however, have routinely seen a disorganized bench and have continually asked for more production from players other than Hammon and Young.Advantage: MercuryPREDICTION: If the Mercury can steal a win in San Antonio (and I think they will), this series will be over in 2 games. Either way, I see the Merc facing the Sparks in the Western Conference Finals.Team Thoughts/Quotes:Coach Corey GainesOn the team's mindset heading into the playoffs: "I think they're feeling really good. We're healthy so that's good. We're an older team with more veterans and better playoffs so I think everyone is confident."On preparing any differently: "We'll prepare the same way. We just have to keep playing our up-tempo style and we should be fine."On utilizing different lineups: "My bench averages close to 30 points and we can attack a lot of different ways on the floor. It should be a great series."Diana TaurasiOn opening up the series in San Antonio: "It's a little different but it will be great to win and get to come back and close it out at home, it's going to be tough. It's difficult to play a team 2-3 times in a row and it's really the will of a team to get that victory on the road."On the team's mindset: "We're feeling really good. We have to work on those little things that we always need to, but I think everyone is feeling confident and ready to play."On preparing any differently: "I never prepare any differently. I always try to stay consistent and go hard all the time and I think the team does as well." This is Part 2 of a two-part series preview. Yesterday, we looked at background for both teams, regular season summaries, and the season match-up between the two teams. Today, we'll look at the keys for each team, head-to-head match-ups, series predictions, and quotes from the team.Be sure to check back for a full recap, with quotes from both sides, after the game on Thursday. I will be at the viewing party at the Native New Yorker if anyone wants to stop by and say 'hi'! Keys for Each TeamSilver Stars - They'll win if...They can do the impossible - slow the Mercury downThey receive career-defining contributions from both Becky Hammon and Sophia YoungDan Hughes finds a way to utilize his bench, and they come through for the teamRuth Riley and Ann Wauters outplay the Mercury benchThe Mercury simply don't show up to play (both literally and mentally)They can somehow force Diana and Cappie away from the ball...the only problem is there are 4 other players who could put up 20 points a night...Mercury - They'll win if...They continue to play Phoenix Mercury basketballThey limit their turnoversTheir bench continues to average close to 30 points a nightThey match San Antonio's bigs rebound for reboundThey continue to get big games from Cappie and DianaThey move the ball, and play their consistent up-tempo gameHead-to-Head Match-UpsBecky Hammon vs. Temeka JohnsonBecky has been a consistent threat on both ends of the floor for the entire season. Although they each have very different roles on their respective teams, they are both equally as important to their team's success. Meek is the floor general and constant for the Mercury while Hammon is the legit superstar for the Silver Stars.Advantage: Silver Stars (but it's closer than you might think)Edwige Lawson-Wade vs. Diana TaurasiNot to be mean to Lawson-Wade, but you could replace her name with any other player's name and the result would still be the same Geno Auriemma mantra - "We have Diana Taurasi, and you don't."Advantage: MercuryVickie Johnson vs. Cappie PondexterSimilar to the Lawson-Wade/Taurasi match-up, Cappie is the most effective player at her position at scoring the ball but also gets her team involved. Vickie is a nice player, but her age is catching up with her and Cappie will certainly exploit that.Advantage: MercurySophia Young vs. Le'coe WillinghamSophia Young is one of the most underrated players in the WNBA. However, you could make a similar case for Le'coe and her contributions that go way beyond what shows up in the box score. Still, Young has consistently torched the Mercury the past couple of years in spite of the different defensive combinations thrown at her.Advantage: Silver StarsAnn Wauters vs. Tangela SmithTwo very different players - Wauters is more physical while Tangela is more finesse. Yet, they both fit extremely well in their respective roles on each team. In this case, Tangela's experience and ability to hit the three, while fitting seamlessly into the Mercury's system, make her the more valuable asset.Advantage: MercuryIntangibles/BenchNo question here - the Mercury have one of the deepest and most effective benches in the league. The additions of DeWanna Bonner, Nicole Ohlde, and Ketia Swanier provided the Mercury will much needed depth and assurance at every position. Penny Taylor can erupt for 25 at anytime, and there is still a solid game from Kelly Mazzante that I think we'll see. The Silver Stars, however, have routinely seen a disorganized bench and have continually asked for more production from players other than Hammon and Young.Advantage: MercuryPREDICTION: If the Mercury can steal a win in San Antonio (and I think they will), this series will be over in 2 games. Either way, I see the Merc facing the Sparks in the Western Conference Finals.Team Thoughts/Quotes:Coach Corey GainesOn the team's mindset heading into the playoffs: "I think they're feeling really good. We're healthy so that's good. We're an older team with more veterans and better playoffs so I think everyone is confident."On preparing any differently: "We'll prepare the same way. We just have to keep playing our up-tempo style and we should be fine."On utilizing different lineups: "My bench averages close to 30 points and we can attack a lot of different ways on the floor. It should be a great series."Diana TaurasiOn opening up the series in San Antonio: "It's a little different but it will be great to win and get to come back and close it out at home, it's going to be tough. It's difficult to play a team 2-3 times in a row and it's really the will of a team to get that victory on the road."On the team's mindset: "We're feeling really good. We have to work on those little things that we always need to, but I think everyone is feeling confident and ready to play."On preparing any differently: "I never prepare any differently. I always try to stay consistent and go hard all the time and I think the team does as well." Wed, 16 Sep 2009 03:32:19 GMT http://server.cafemerc.com/_Mercury-Silver-Stars-Series-Preview-Part-2/BLOG/716534/46100.html BenYork 2009-09-16T03:32:19Z Players CafeMerc This is Part 2 of a two-part series preview. Yesterday, we looked at background for both teams, regular season summaries, and the season match-up between the two teams. Today, we'll look at the keys for each team, head-to-head match-ups, series predictions, and quotes from the team.Be sure to check back for a full recap, with quotes from both sides, after the game on Thursday. I will be at the viewing party at the Native New Yorker if anyone wants to stop by and say 'hi'! Keys for Each TeamSilver Stars - They'll win if...They can do the impossible - slow the Mercury downThey receive career-defining contributions from both Becky Hammon and Sophia YoungDan Hughes finds a way to utilize his bench, and they come through for the teamRuth Riley and Ann Wauters outplay the Mercury benchThe Mercury simply don't show up to play (both literally and mentally)They can somehow force Diana and Cappie away from the ball...the only problem is there are 4 other players who could put up 20 points a night...Mercury - They'll win if...They continue to play Phoenix Mercury basketballThey limit their turnoversTheir bench continues to average close to 30 points a nightThey match San Antonio's bigs rebound for reboundThey continue to get big games from Cappie and DianaThey move the ball, and play their consistent up-tempo gameHead-to-Head Match-UpsBecky Hammon vs. Temeka JohnsonBecky has been a consistent threat on both ends of the floor for the entire season. Although they each have very different roles on their respective teams, they are both equally as important to their team's success. Meek is the floor general and constant for the Mercury while Hammon is the legit superstar for the Silver Stars.Advantage: Silver Stars (but it's closer than you might think)Edwige Lawson-Wade vs. Diana TaurasiNot to be mean to Lawson-Wade, but you could replace her name with any other player's name and the result would still be the same Geno Auriemma mantra - "We have Diana Taurasi, and you don't."Advantage: MercuryVickie Johnson vs. Cappie PondexterSimilar to the Lawson-Wade/Taurasi match-up, Cappie is the most effective player at her position at scoring the ball but also gets her team involved. Vickie is a nice player, but her age is catching up with her and Cappie will certainly exploit that.Advantage: MercurySophia Young vs. Le'coe WillinghamSophia Young is one of the most underrated players in the WNBA. However, you could make a similar case for Le'coe and her contributions that go way beyond what shows up in the box score. Still, Young has consistently torched the Mercury the past couple of years in spite of the different defensive combinations thrown at her.Advantage: Silver StarsAnn Wauters vs. Tangela SmithTwo very different players - Wauters is more physical while Tangela is more finesse. Yet, they both fit extremely well in their respective roles on each team. In this case, Tangela's experience and ability to hit the three, while fitting seamlessly into the Mercury's system, make her the more valuable asset.Advantage: MercuryIntangibles/BenchNo question here - the Mercury have one of the deepest and most effective benches in the league. The additions of DeWanna Bonner, Nicole Ohlde, and Ketia Swanier provided the Mercury will much needed depth and assurance at every position. Penny Taylor can erupt for 25 at anytime, and there is still a solid game from Kelly Mazzante that I think we'll see. The Silver Stars, however, have routinely seen a disorganized bench and have continually asked for more production from players other than Hammon and Young.Advantage: MercuryPREDICTION: If the Mercury can steal a win in San Antonio (and I think they will), this series will be over in 2 games. Either way, I see the Merc facing the Sparks in the Western Conference Finals.Team Thoughts/Quotes:Coach Corey GainesOn the team's mindset heading into the playoffs: "I think they're feeling really good. We're healthy so that's good. We're an older team with more veterans and better playoffs so I think everyone is confident."On preparing any differently: "We'll prepare the same way. We just have to keep playing our up-tempo style and we should be fine."On utilizing different lineups: "My bench averages close to 30 points and we can attack a lot of different ways on the floor. It should be a great series."Diana TaurasiOn opening up the series in San Antonio: "It's a little different but it will be great to win and get to come back and close it out at home, it's going to be tough. It's difficult to play a team 2-3 times in a row and it's really the will of a team to get that victory on the road."On the team's mindset: "We're feeling really good. We have to work on those little things that we always need to, but I think everyone is feeling confident and ready to play."On preparing any differently: "I never prepare any differently. I always try to stay consistent and go hard all the time and I think the team does as well." ann, antonio, becky, belinda, bonner, cappie, dewana, diana, hammon, johnson, kelly, ketia, le'coe, mazzante, mercury, nicole, ohlde, penny, phoenix, players, pondexter, riley, ruth, san, silver, smith, snell, sophia, stars, swanier, tangela, taurasi, taylor, temeka, wauters, willingham, young nonadult false Mercury-Silver Stars Series Preview: Part 2 text blog ann,antonio,becky,belinda,bonner,cappie,dewana,diana,hammon,johnson,kelly,ketia,le'coe,mazzante,mercury,nicole,ohlde,penny,phoenix,players,pondexter,riley,ruth,san,silver,smith,snell,sophia,stars,swanier,tangela,taurasi,taylor,temeka,wauters,willingham,young 279 1 5.0 http://server.cafemerc.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=8194234&as=46100 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/46100/photos/PHOTO_4277610_46100_8194234_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 Players 0 716534 8194234 MVP 2004 http://server.cafemerc.com/_Mercury-Silver-Stars-Series-Preview-Part-1/BLOG/715153/46100.html [image]This is Part 1 of a two-part series preview which will conclude with part 2 on Wednesday. The first part will encompass general background information for both teams, team season summaries, and the regular season recap. Part 2 will feature the keys for each team to succeed, head-to-head match-ups, and series predictions. Part 1 - Background, Season Summaries, Regular Season Series RecapBackgroundWhenever you hear the words 'Phoenix' and 'San Antonio' in the same sentence in regards to professional basketball, one can't help but feel immediate pain (if you're from Phoenix) or immense joy (if you're from San Antonio). There is simply too much history between the two cities, from a basketball standpoint, that it becomes difficult to ignore the rivalry and implications even from a WNBA perspective. And that's what makes the 1st round match-up so very compelling, and one that that should inspire hope if you're a Mercury fan.Season Summary - Silver StarsAfter beating the Sparks in the Western Conference Finals last season, many picked the Silver Stars to either repeat as champions or have an equally impressive season. Unfortunately for San Antonio, the 2009 campaign was more up and down than they would've liked.Posting just 15-19 record, the Silver Stars struggled to get effective production outside of Becky Hammon and Sophia Young. However, when they do receive a solid contribution from the Ruth Riley's, Belinda Snell's etc. they are certainly a difficult team to contend with. The problem is, that hasn't been the case for the majority of the season and coach Dan Hughes has struggled to find the right combination off the bench to combat some of the more physical and explosive teams this season - like the Mercury.Becky Hammon and Sophia Young have been phenomenal as usual. Becky caps the season averaging 19.5 ppg, 5.0 apg - which are good for 2nd and 3rd in the league respectively. When Becky starts to feel it, she's continually shown she is nearly unstoppable as evidenced by her 38 point outburst against the Monarchs in July. She also does a fantastic job of getting her teammates involved averaging 5.0 apg, good for 3rd in the league. Sophia Young has been just as deadly for the Silver Stars this season averaging 18.2 ppg and 6.5 rpg and tallying 29 points or more 4 different times throughout the year.All in all, in spite of their sub-par record, the Silver Stars are certainly a team the Mercury should not overlook.Season Summary - Phoenix MercuryThe Mercury, on the other hand, surpassed any and all expectations thus far - but they aren't satisfied yet.  After a disappointing 2008 campaign, the Mercury stormed back in 2009 with a league-best record of 23-11. Led by MVP candidates Diana Taurasi and Cappie Pondexter, Phoenix once again showed the league what an amazing duo they are.Taurasi captured the scoring championship (again) while shooting 46% from the floor. Cappie had her best all-around season with 19 ppg, 4 rpg, and 5 apg. Perhaps the greatest surprise of the season is the emergence of Rookie of the Year candidate DeWanna Bonner. DB provides so much to this Mercury team that cannot be quantified. She is an imposing presence down low, can score without having plays drawn for her, and is active on the glass - something the Mercury will need to see more from her.In addition, the acquisitions of Temeka Johnson and Nicole Ohlde have solidified the Mercury as one of the deepest, most effective teams in the league. Penny Taylor is quickly regaining her 2007 form, Ketia Swanier is a huge energy boost off the bench, and Tangela Smith and Le'coe Willingham provide the Mercury with consistency and a solid foundation in the paint (and outside - Tangela led the league in 3 pt%).Phoenix has not only proven to be an almost unbeatable force offensively, but also has bolstered their defensive presence and have an increased focus on rebounding. They also have proven to the rest of the league that they have multiple ways of beating opponents; no longer is it simply the Diana and Cappie show.The Regular Season Match-upIt's been the tale of the home teams for the Mercury and Silver Stars this season, as each team beat the other twice at home.In the 1st game, the Mercury went on a shooting burst in the 2nd half to take control of the game. Diana had 25, Cappie had 23, and rookie DeWanna Bonner had a fantastic career start with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Becky Hammon paced the Silver Stars with 20 points and 8 assists. In their 2nd game, the Mercury never really got rolling offensively and made too many mistakes down the stretch in a 91-87 loss. I actually traveled with the team that road trip, and you can read my recap of the game here. Game 3 was almost a carbon copy of their first game with the Mercury scoring 95 holding the Silver Stars to just 83. Taurasi erupted for 29 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists to lead the Mercury while the defense kept Becky Hammon from both scoring and getting her teammates involved. Sophia Young did have 29 points, but the next closest scorer was Ann Wauters with just 12. Game 4 was a blowout for the Silver Stars, 106-89, in a game that featured the prowess and power of Becky Hammon and Sophia Young when they are darn near unbeatable. Hammon had 21 points and 6 assists while Young had 30 points and 8 rebounds. It's certainly ironic that each team played so well at home to get the wins. However, come playoff time, it's anyone's game. Check back Wednesday for Part 2 of the Mercury-Silver Stars preview as we'll talk about the keys for each team, head-to-head match-ups, series predictions, and player quotes! [image]This is Part 1 of a two-part series preview which will conclude with part 2 on Wednesday. The first part will encompass general background information for both teams, team season summaries, and the regular season recap. Part 2 will feature the keys for each team to succeed, head-to-head match-ups, and series predictions. Part 1 - Background, Season Summaries, Regular Season Series RecapBackgroundWhenever you hear the words 'Phoenix' and 'San Antonio' in the same sentence in regards to professional basketball, one can't help but feel immediate pain (if you're from Phoenix) or immense joy (if you're from San Antonio). There is simply too much history between the two cities, from a basketball standpoint, that it becomes difficult to ignore the rivalry and implications even from a WNBA perspective. And that's what makes the 1st round match-up so very compelling, and one that that should inspire hope if you're a Mercury fan.Season Summary - Silver StarsAfter beating the Sparks in the Western Conference Finals last season, many picked the Silver Stars to either repeat as champions or have an equally impressive season. Unfortunately for San Antonio, the 2009 campaign was more up and down than they would've liked.Posting just 15-19 record, the Silver Stars struggled to get effective production outside of Becky Hammon and Sophia Young. However, when they do receive a solid contribution from the Ruth Riley's, Belinda Snell's etc. they are certainly a difficult team to contend with. The problem is, that hasn't been the case for the majority of the season and coach Dan Hughes has struggled to find the right combination off the bench to combat some of the more physical and explosive teams this season - like the Mercury.Becky Hammon and Sophia Young have been phenomenal as usual. Becky caps the season averaging 19.5 ppg, 5.0 apg - which are good for 2nd and 3rd in the league respectively. When Becky starts to feel it, she's continually shown she is nearly unstoppable as evidenced by her 38 point outburst against the Monarchs in July. She also does a fantastic job of getting her teammates involved averaging 5.0 apg, good for 3rd in the league. Sophia Young has been just as deadly for the Silver Stars this season averaging 18.2 ppg and 6.5 rpg and tallying 29 points or more 4 different times throughout the year.All in all, in spite of their sub-par record, the Silver Stars are certainly a team the Mercury should not overlook.Season Summary - Phoenix MercuryThe Mercury, on the other hand, surpassed any and all expectations thus far - but they aren't satisfied yet.  After a disappointing 2008 campaign, the Mercury stormed back in 2009 with a league-best record of 23-11. Led by MVP candidates Diana Taurasi and Cappie Pondexter, Phoenix once again showed the league what an amazing duo they are.Taurasi captured the scoring championship (again) while shooting 46% from the floor. Cappie had her best all-around season with 19 ppg, 4 rpg, and 5 apg. Perhaps the greatest surprise of the season is the emergence of Rookie of the Year candidate DeWanna Bonner. DB provides so much to this Mercury team that cannot be quantified. She is an imposing presence down low, can score without having plays drawn for her, and is active on the glass - something the Mercury will need to see more from her.In addition, the acquisitions of Temeka Johnson and Nicole Ohlde have solidified the Mercury as one of the deepest, most effective teams in the league. Penny Taylor is quickly regaining her 2007 form, Ketia Swanier is a huge energy boost off the bench, and Tangela Smith and Le'coe Willingham provide the Mercury with consistency and a solid foundation in the paint (and outside - Tangela led the league in 3 pt%).Phoenix has not only proven to be an almost unbeatable force offensively, but also has bolstered their defensive presence and have an increased focus on rebounding. They also have proven to the rest of the league that they have multiple ways of beating opponents; no longer is it simply the Diana and Cappie show.The Regular Season Match-upIt's been the tale of the home teams for the Mercury and Silver Stars this season, as each team beat the other twice at home.In the 1st game, the Mercury went on a shooting burst in the 2nd half to take control of the game. Diana had 25, Cappie had 23, and rookie DeWanna Bonner had a fantastic career start with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Becky Hammon paced the Silver Stars with 20 points and 8 assists. In their 2nd game, the Mercury never really got rolling offensively and made too many mistakes down the stretch in a 91-87 loss. I actually traveled with the team that road trip, and you can read my recap of the game here. Game 3 was almost a carbon copy of their first game with the Mercury scoring 95 holding the Silver Stars to just 83. Taurasi erupted for 29 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists to lead the Mercury while the defense kept Becky Hammon from both scoring and getting her teammates involved. Sophia Young did have 29 points, but the next closest scorer was Ann Wauters with just 12. Game 4 was a blowout for the Silver Stars, 106-89, in a game that featured the prowess and power of Becky Hammon and Sophia Young when they are darn near unbeatable. Hammon had 21 points and 6 assists while Young had 30 points and 8 rebounds. It's certainly ironic that each team played so well at home to get the wins. However, come playoff time, it's anyone's game. Check back Wednesday for Part 2 of the Mercury-Silver Stars preview as we'll talk about the keys for each team, head-to-head match-ups, series predictions, and player quotes! Tue, 15 Sep 2009 05:26:00 GMT http://server.cafemerc.com/_Mercury-Silver-Stars-Series-Preview-Part-1/BLOG/715153/46100.html BenYork 2009-09-15T05:26:00Z Players CafeMerc [image]This is Part 1 of a two-part series preview which will conclude with part 2 on Wednesday. The first part will encompass general background information for both teams, team season summaries, and the regular season recap. Part 2 will feature the keys for each team to succeed, head-to-head match-ups, and series predictions. Part 1 - Background, Season Summaries, Regular Season Series RecapBackgroundWhenever you hear the words 'Phoenix' and 'San Antonio' in the same sentence in regards to professional basketball, one can't help but feel immediate pain (if you're from Phoenix) or immense joy (if you're from San Antonio). There is simply too much history between the two cities, from a basketball standpoint, that it becomes difficult to ignore the rivalry and implications even from a WNBA perspective. And that's what makes the 1st round match-up so very compelling, and one that that should inspire hope if you're a Mercury fan.Season Summary - Silver StarsAfter beating the Sparks in the Western Conference Finals last season, many picked the Silver Stars to either repeat as champions or have an equally impressive season. Unfortunately for San Antonio, the 2009 campaign was more up and down than they would've liked.Posting just 15-19 record, the Silver Stars struggled to get effective production outside of Becky Hammon and Sophia Young. However, when they do receive a solid contribution from the Ruth Riley's, Belinda Snell's etc. they are certainly a difficult team to contend with. The problem is, that hasn't been the case for the majority of the season and coach Dan Hughes has struggled to find the right combination off the bench to combat some of the more physical and explosive teams this season - like the Mercury.Becky Hammon and Sophia Young have been phenomenal as usual. Becky caps the season averaging 19.5 ppg, 5.0 apg - which are good for 2nd and 3rd in the league respectively. When Becky starts to feel it, she's continually shown she is nearly unstoppable as evidenced by her 38 point outburst against the Monarchs in July. She also does a fantastic job of getting her teammates involved averaging 5.0 apg, good for 3rd in the league. Sophia Young has been just as deadly for the Silver Stars this season averaging 18.2 ppg and 6.5 rpg and tallying 29 points or more 4 different times throughout the year.All in all, in spite of their sub-par record, the Silver Stars are certainly a team the Mercury should not overlook.Season Summary - Phoenix MercuryThe Mercury, on the other hand, surpassed any and all expectations thus far - but they aren't satisfied yet.  After a disappointing 2008 campaign, the Mercury stormed back in 2009 with a league-best record of 23-11. Led by MVP candidates Diana Taurasi and Cappie Pondexter, Phoenix once again showed the league what an amazing duo they are.Taurasi captured the scoring championship (again) while shooting 46% from the floor. Cappie had her best all-around season with 19 ppg, 4 rpg, and 5 apg. Perhaps the greatest surprise of the season is the emergence of Rookie of the Year candidate DeWanna Bonner. DB provides so much to this Mercury team that cannot be quantified. She is an imposing presence down low, can score without having plays drawn for her, and is active on the glass - something the Mercury will need to see more from her.In addition, the acquisitions of Temeka Johnson and Nicole Ohlde have solidified the Mercury as one of the deepest, most effective teams in the league. Penny Taylor is quickly regaining her 2007 form, Ketia Swanier is a huge energy boost off the bench, and Tangela Smith and Le'coe Willingham provide the Mercury with consistency and a solid foundation in the paint (and outside - Tangela led the league in 3 pt%).Phoenix has not only proven to be an almost unbeatable force offensively, but also has bolstered their defensive presence and have an increased focus on rebounding. They also have proven to the rest of the league that they have multiple ways of beating opponents; no longer is it simply the Diana and Cappie show.The Regular Season Match-upIt's been the tale of the home teams for the Mercury and Silver Stars this season, as each team beat the other twice at home.In the 1st game, the Mercury went on a shooting burst in the 2nd half to take control of the game. Diana had 25, Cappie had 23, and rookie DeWanna Bonner had a fantastic career start with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Becky Hammon paced the Silver Stars with 20 points and 8 assists. In their 2nd game, the Mercury never really got rolling offensively and made too many mistakes down the stretch in a 91-87 loss. I actually traveled with the team that road trip, and you can read my recap of the game here. Game 3 was almost a carbon copy of their first game with the Mercury scoring 95 holding the Silver Stars to just 83. Taurasi erupted for 29 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists to lead the Mercury while the defense kept Becky Hammon from both scoring and getting her teammates involved. Sophia Young did have 29 points, but the next closest scorer was Ann Wauters with just 12. Game 4 was a blowout for the Silver Stars, 106-89, in a game that featured the prowess and power of Becky Hammon and Sophia Young when they are darn near unbeatable. Hammon had 21 points and 6 assists while Young had 30 points and 8 rebounds. It's certainly ironic that each team played so well at home to get the wins. However, come playoff time, it's anyone's game. Check back Wednesday for Part 2 of the Mercury-Silver Stars preview as we'll talk about the keys for each team, head-to-head match-ups, series predictions, and player quotes! ann, antonio, becky, belinda, bonner, cappie, dewana, diana, hammon, johnson, kelly, ketia, le'coe, mazzante, mercury, nicole, ohlde, penny, phoenix, players, pondexter, riley, ruth, san, silver, smith, snell, sophia, stars, swanier, tangela, taurasi, taylor, temeka, wauters, willingham, young nonadult false Mercury-Silver Stars Series Preview: Part 1 text blog ann,antonio,becky,belinda,bonner,cappie,dewana,diana,hammon,johnson,kelly,ketia,le'coe,mazzante,mercury,nicole,ohlde,penny,phoenix,players,pondexter,riley,ruth,san,silver,smith,snell,sophia,stars,swanier,tangela,taurasi,taylor,temeka,wauters,willingham,young 467 0 0.0 http://server.cafemerc.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=8194234&as=46100 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/46100/photos/PHOTO_4277610_46100_8194234_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 Players 0 715153 8194234 MVP 2004 http://server.cafemerc.com/_Mercurys-Near-Win-Should-Worry-Silver-Stars/BLOG/714571/46100.html The Mercury made a bigger statement losing against the Sparks, than actually winning.  This probably sounds crazy when you first read it, but take a moment to think about the game, and you’ll know what I’m talking about.Corey Gaines knew that by resting Diana Taurasi, it made this game a lose-lose for the Sparks. If they lost, then the belief is they still can’t beat the Mercury without DT3. If they won, then they only beat the Mercury when Diana wasn’t playing and the Mercury’s starters only saw about 20 minutes. This was a brilliant psychological move by Coach Gaines. Yes, the Sparks won…but barely. The win for Los Angeles deals more with the following than it does with the Sparks actually playing well or deserving the victory: Diana Taurasi, the probable MVP, didn’t play.Candace Parker and Tina Thompson played over 30 minutes each.No starter played more than 25 minutes for the Mercury.Phoenix shot 33% from the floor and 33% beyond the arc. Yet, the Mercury still had a legitimate shot to win, and probably should have.In my humble opinion, this says more about how phenomenal and deep the Mercury is than game the entire season. Make no mistake about it, the Sparks wanted to win this game; nay, needed to win this game after losing the previous 3 against the Mercury. Candace Parker is back to her old self; the Sparks are getting their groove back, and are healthy for the first time all year. But it did more to bolster the Mercury’s confidence than you might think. Even though the final score was in the Sparks favor, the Mercury was clearly the psychological and emotional winners of this game.  Everyone and their mother predicted the Sparks to come out on top of the West this season, basically crowning them champions. This is a team with multiple Olympians, All-Stars, and superstars. Yet, as the Sparks supposedly found a way to make it work as the season closes, they could barely beat a Phoenix team who rested their starters for the majority of the game. For instance, here is what Michael Cooper said about the win after the game. “They were a little short-handed, but the last three times they played us we were short-handed so I’m not feeling sorry for them in that respect,” Sparks coach Michael Cooper said. “We put up a good battle for it being the last game of the season with really nothing to play for other than we want to keep going with what we had, this is our third (straight) win now. It’s nice to go into the playoffs on a winning note.” Now, let me address a few points that Cooper made. First, yes the Mercury was short-handed playing the Sparks, but there was no question the Mercury was in full control of all the previous 3 games they played each other. Last night, however, the Sparks had to fight tooth and nail simply to gain control and played their starters a considerate amount of time just to squeak out a victory. Second, I don’t believe Cooper looked at this game as “nothing to play for,” not for a minute. Essentially, this was a lose-lose game for the Sparks, and Gaines understood that perfectly.  Temeka Johnson puts it best. “I think it was a good thing,” said Meek about the reserves being in the game to finish. “It gives a lot of people a lot more motivation and become more comfortable in certain situations. You never know, we could be seeing each other pretty soon if both of us keep winning.” Last, I think this win gives the Sparks a false sense of hope heading into the playoffs. Yes, they won 3 in a row. Yes, the beat the Mercury. But the wins weren’t good wins. They were lucky. One thing’s for sure, I’m hoping (and looking forward to) this match-up in the Western Conference Finals. Check back here tomorrow for a comprehensive preview of the Mercury/Silver Stars series. The Mercury made a bigger statement losing against the Sparks, than actually winning.  This probably sounds crazy when you first read it, but take a moment to think about the game, and you’ll know what I’m talking about.Corey Gaines knew that by resting Diana Taurasi, it made this game a lose-lose for the Sparks. If they lost, then the belief is they still can’t beat the Mercury without DT3. If they won, then they only beat the Mercury when Diana wasn’t playing and the Mercury’s starters only saw about 20 minutes. This was a brilliant psychological move by Coach Gaines. Yes, the Sparks won…but barely. The win for Los Angeles deals more with the following than it does with the Sparks actually playing well or deserving the victory: Diana Taurasi, the probable MVP, didn’t play.Candace Parker and Tina Thompson played over 30 minutes each.No starter played more than 25 minutes for the Mercury.Phoenix shot 33% from the floor and 33% beyond the arc. Yet, the Mercury still had a legitimate shot to win, and probably should have.In my humble opinion, this says more about how phenomenal and deep the Mercury is than game the entire season. Make no mistake about it, the Sparks wanted to win this game; nay, needed to win this game after losing the previous 3 against the Mercury. Candace Parker is back to her old self; the Sparks are getting their groove back, and are healthy for the first time all year. But it did more to bolster the Mercury’s confidence than you might think. Even though the final score was in the Sparks favor, the Mercury was clearly the psychological and emotional winners of this game.  Everyone and their mother predicted the Sparks to come out on top of the West this season, basically crowning them champions. This is a team with multiple Olympians, All-Stars, and superstars. Yet, as the Sparks supposedly found a way to make it work as the season closes, they could barely beat a Phoenix team who rested their starters for the majority of the game. For instance, here is what Michael Cooper said about the win after the game. “They were a little short-handed, but the last three times they played us we were short-handed so I’m not feeling sorry for them in that respect,” Sparks coach Michael Cooper said. “We put up a good battle for it being the last game of the season with really nothing to play for other than we want to keep going with what we had, this is our third (straight) win now. It’s nice to go into the playoffs on a winning note.” Now, let me address a few points that Cooper made. First, yes the Mercury was short-handed playing the Sparks, but there was no question the Mercury was in full control of all the previous 3 games they played each other. Last night, however, the Sparks had to fight tooth and nail simply to gain control and played their starters a considerate amount of time just to squeak out a victory. Second, I don’t believe Cooper looked at this game as “nothing to play for,” not for a minute. Essentially, this was a lose-lose game for the Sparks, and Gaines understood that perfectly.  Temeka Johnson puts it best. “I think it was a good thing,” said Meek about the reserves being in the game to finish. “It gives a lot of people a lot more motivation and become more comfortable in certain situations. You never know, we could be seeing each other pretty soon if both of us keep winning.” Last, I think this win gives the Sparks a false sense of hope heading into the playoffs. Yes, they won 3 in a row. Yes, the beat the Mercury. But the wins weren’t good wins. They were lucky. One thing’s for sure, I’m hoping (and looking forward to) this match-up in the Western Conference Finals. Check back here tomorrow for a comprehensive preview of the Mercury/Silver Stars series. Mon, 14 Sep 2009 21:53:05 GMT http://server.cafemerc.com/_Mercurys-Near-Win-Should-Worry-Silver-Stars/BLOG/714571/46100.html BenYork 2009-09-14T21:53:05Z Players CafeMerc The Mercury made a bigger statement losing against the Sparks, than actually winning.  This probably sounds crazy when you first read it, but take a moment to think about the game, and you’ll know what I’m talking about.Corey Gaines knew that by resting Diana Taurasi, it made this game a lose-lose for the Sparks. If they lost, then the belief is they still can’t beat the Mercury without DT3. If they won, then they only beat the Mercury when Diana wasn’t playing and the Mercury’s starters only saw about 20 minutes. This was a brilliant psychological move by Coach Gaines. Yes, the Sparks won…but barely. The win for Los Angeles deals more with the following than it does with the Sparks actually playing well or deserving the victory: Diana Taurasi, the probable MVP, didn’t play.Candace Parker and Tina Thompson played over 30 minutes each.No starter played more than 25 minutes for the Mercury.Phoenix shot 33% from the floor and 33% beyond the arc. Yet, the Mercury still had a legitimate shot to win, and probably should have.In my humble opinion, this says more about how phenomenal and deep the Mercury is than game the entire season. Make no mistake about it, the Sparks wanted to win this game; nay, needed to win this game after losing the previous 3 against the Mercury. Candace Parker is back to her old self; the Sparks are getting their groove back, and are healthy for the first time all year. But it did more to bolster the Mercury’s confidence than you might think. Even though the final score was in the Sparks favor, the Mercury was clearly the psychological and emotional winners of this game.  Everyone and their mother predicted the Sparks to come out on top of the West this season, basically crowning them champions. This is a team with multiple Olympians, All-Stars, and superstars. Yet, as the Sparks supposedly found a way to make it work as the season closes, they could barely beat a Phoenix team who rested their starters for the majority of the game. For instance, here is what Michael Cooper said about the win after the game. “They were a little short-handed, but the last three times they played us we were short-handed so I’m not feeling sorry for them in that respect,” Sparks coach Michael Cooper said. “We put up a good battle for it being the last game of the season with really nothing to play for other than we want to keep going with what we had, this is our third (straight) win now. It’s nice to go into the playoffs on a winning note.” Now, let me address a few points that Cooper made. First, yes the Mercury was short-handed playing the Sparks, but there was no question the Mercury was in full control of all the previous 3 games they played each other. Last night, however, the Sparks had to fight tooth and nail simply to gain control and played their starters a considerate amount of time just to squeak out a victory. Second, I don’t believe Cooper looked at this game as “nothing to play for,” not for a minute. Essentially, this was a lose-lose game for the Sparks, and Gaines understood that perfectly.  Temeka Johnson puts it best. “I think it was a good thing,” said Meek about the reserves being in the game to finish. “It gives a lot of people a lot more motivation and become more comfortable in certain situations. You never know, we could be seeing each other pretty soon if both of us keep winning.” Last, I think this win gives the Sparks a false sense of hope heading into the playoffs. Yes, they won 3 in a row. Yes, the beat the Mercury. But the wins weren’t good wins. They were lucky. One thing’s for sure, I’m hoping (and looking forward to) this match-up in the Western Conference Finals. Check back here tomorrow for a comprehensive preview of the Mercury/Silver Stars series. angeles, candace, cappie, corey, diana, gaines, johnson, los, mercury, nicole, ohlde, parker, penny, phoenix, players, pondexter, sparks, taurasi, taylor, temeka, thompson, tina nonadult false Mercury’s Near Win Should Worry Silver Stars text blog angeles,candace,cappie,corey,diana,gaines,johnson,los,mercury,nicole,ohlde,parker,penny,phoenix,players,pondexter,sparks,taurasi,taylor,temeka,thompson,tina 340 1 5.0 http://server.cafemerc.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=8194234&as=46100 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/46100/photos/PHOTO_4277610_46100_8194234_ap_160X120.jpg false 1 Players 0 714571 8194234 MVP 2004 http://server.cafemerc.com/_Mercury-Clicking-at-the-Right-Time/BLOG/647114/46100.html As I've continually said, coach Corey Gaines has repeatedly told me that despite the Mercury's record, they still haven't truly clicked to the point they are capable of as a team.If tonight's 100-82 win against the Dream is any indication, they are undeniably coming together as a group at the absolute best time.Game SummaryThe Mercury came out with as much energy as I've personally seen all season long. They were passing the ball well, getting back in transition, and the flow of the game was perfect for Phoenix. Honestly, the pace continued for the rest of the game (save one run by the Dream in the 3rd quarter).It was clear that the Mercury were as close, if not the closest, they've been all year to firing on all cylinders. They scored 28 points in the opening period followed by a 31-point 3rd quarter. The Mercury are now 5-2 in their last 7 games and have averaged an astounding 97.9 points per game during that stretch.With the Mercury's win and the Storm's loss, Phoenix has clinched the #1 seed and home-court advantage throughout their Western Conference playoff run - and they did so in Mighty Mercury fashion.The Mercury shot 50% as a team, notched 25 assists in their 42 made shots, had 22 fast-break points, and forced 14 Atlanta turnovers.Most importantly, they have now out-rebounded their opponents in their last 5 games; and 2 of those came against the league's top two rebounding teams - the Sparks and now the Dream."We're gang-rebounding teams," Gaines said after the game. "I tell the players we can't do it individually, we must do it as a group."In fact, 5 players in tonight's game for Phoenix had 5 or more rebounds.Though he wouldn't say they are there quite yet, Gaines did acknowledge they are getting closer. "Players are starting to gel," Gaines said after the game. "They're starting to know their roles. We want to be the best we have to play the best."Spectacular Individual PerformancesCollectively, the Mercury played as well as we've seen them play as a team all season; they rebounded fiercely, defended the paint, and made a key decision to push the tempo all game long.However, there were some amazing performances by a few select players that are certainly worth noting.First, is there any doubt as to who the Rookie of the Year should be? DeWanna Bonner put that debate to rest with her team-high 20 points and 7 rebounds in just 24 minutes of play. Angel McCoughtry, the previous so-called favorite, had just 7 points on 2-11 shooting. "I just want to win," DeWanna said after the game. "I don't really look at that stuff, I just want to win a championship my first year in the league."Temeka Johnson (happy birthday to Meek!) played one of her best games as a Mercury tonight with her 16 points, 4 assists, and 5 rebounds with only 1 turnover."I think we just came out collectively and we capitalized off each other," Meek said. "Whatever Atlanta gave us I think we did a good job taking, and we came out with a victory."Diana Taurasi, who became the fastest WNBA player of all time to score 4,000 career points, had an all-around fantastic game with 13 points, 7 assists, and 6 rebounds. "She's evolved into an extremely well-rounded player," said Gaines about Diana's night. Diana, on the other hand, brushed off the accomplishment in true humble fashion. "Eh, I'm not one for records, but that's kinda cool," Taurasi said about the 4,000 point mark.Cappie Pondexter, the Mercury's constant, had another phenomenal game with 15 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds in just 27 minutes. "We just have to keep pushing, keep working," Cappie told me after the game. "We need to get our conditioning level better and improve our 'Rover' defense."Penny Taylor, who has put together a string of games that looks like the Penny of old, had 16 points on 6/9 shooting. "She's really starting to come along and be the old Penny," Gaines said. "What she's doing is tough and not a lot of players would be playing right now with the surgery she had."Significance of the WinAs I mentioned above, not only did the Mercury clinch the #1 seed in the West, they did so without having any major hiccups or things to be concerned about.While other teams might have peaked too early (Seattle, Los Angeles) the Mercury are quickly coming together and at the perfect time - heading into the playoffs.With their 22nd win, the Mercury are just one shy of their franchise-record of 23 set by the 2007 championship team. Phoenix has two games left to tie or surpass that mark (Seattle and Los Angeles).Perhaps what is most encouraging, is their focus on improving what we could previously call deficiencies. Their rebounding is getting better, their depth is improved, and their defense in the paint has upgraded. In fact, the Mercury are now 13-1 (4-0 at home) when winning the battle of the boards - something that was a concern early on in the year.Next Two GamesDon't expect the Mercury to lie down the next two games against the Storm and the Sparks."No, we're not going to relax," Cappie said about having already secured the #1 seed. "We have potential and we're still trying to get better so we can't rest. We're not a great team, we haven't won anything. It's always good to win a Western Conference championship, but the big title is definitely the championship, so we'll keep pushing and we'll keep working."Buckle up folks, we're in for an exciting next few weeks... As I've continually said, coach Corey Gaines has repeatedly told me that despite the Mercury's record, they still haven't truly clicked to the point they are capable of as a team.If tonight's 100-82 win against the Dream is any indication, they are undeniably coming together as a group at the absolute best time.Game SummaryThe Mercury came out with as much energy as I've personally seen all season long. They were passing the ball well, getting back in transition, and the flow of the game was perfect for Phoenix. Honestly, the pace continued for the rest of the game (save one run by the Dream in the 3rd quarter).It was clear that the Mercury were as close, if not the closest, they've been all year to firing on all cylinders. They scored 28 points in the opening period followed by a 31-point 3rd quarter. The Mercury are now 5-2 in their last 7 games and have averaged an astounding 97.9 points per game during that stretch.With the Mercury's win and the Storm's loss, Phoenix has clinched the #1 seed and home-court advantage throughout their Western Conference playoff run - and they did so in Mighty Mercury fashion.The Mercury shot 50% as a team, notched 25 assists in their 42 made shots, had 22 fast-break points, and forced 14 Atlanta turnovers.Most importantly, they have now out-rebounded their opponents in their last 5 games; and 2 of those came against the league's top two rebounding teams - the Sparks and now the Dream."We're gang-rebounding teams," Gaines said after the game. "I tell the players we can't do it individually, we must do it as a group."In fact, 5 players in tonight's game for Phoenix had 5 or more rebounds.Though he wouldn't say they are there quite yet, Gaines did acknowledge they are getting closer. "Players are starting to gel," Gaines said after the game. "They're starting to know their roles. We want to be the best we have to play the best."Spectacular Individual PerformancesCollectively, the Mercury played as well as we've seen them play as a team all season; they rebounded fiercely, defended the paint, and made a key decision to push the tempo all game long.However, there were some amazing performances by a few select players that are certainly worth noting.First, is there any doubt as to who the Rookie of the Year should be? DeWanna Bonner put that debate to rest with her team-high 20 points and 7 rebounds in just 24 minutes of play. Angel McCoughtry, the previous so-called favorite, had just 7 points on 2-11 shooting. "I just want to win," DeWanna said after the game. "I don't really look at that stuff, I just want to win a championship my first year in the league."Temeka Johnson (happy birthday to Meek!) played one of her best games as a Mercury tonight with her 16 points, 4 assists, and 5 rebounds with only 1 turnover."I think we just came out collectively and we capitalized off each other," Meek said. "Whatever Atlanta gave us I think we did a good job taking, and we came out with a victory."Diana Taurasi, who became the fastest WNBA player of all time to score 4,000 career points, had an all-around fantastic game with 13 points, 7 assists, and 6 rebounds. "She's evolved into an extremely well-rounded player," said Gaines about Diana's night. Diana, on the other hand, brushed off the accomplishment in true humble fashion. "Eh, I'm not one for records, but that's kinda cool," Taurasi said about the 4,000 point mark.Cappie Pondexter, the Mercury's constant, had another phenomenal game with 15 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds in just 27 minutes. "We just have to keep pushing, keep working," Cappie told me after the game. "We need to get our conditioning level better and improve our 'Rover' defense."Penny Taylor, who has put together a string of games that looks like the Penny of old, had 16 points on 6/9 shooting. "She's really starting to come along and be the old Penny," Gaines said. "What she's doing is tough and not a lot of players would be playing right now with the surgery she had."Significance of the WinAs I mentioned above, not only did the Mercury clinch the #1 seed in the West, they did so without having any major hiccups or things to be concerned about.While other teams might have peaked too early (Seattle, Los Angeles) the Mercury are quickly coming together and at the perfect time - heading into the playoffs.With their 22nd win, the Mercury are just one shy of their franchise-record of 23 set by the 2007 championship team. Phoenix has two games left to tie or surpass that mark (Seattle and Los Angeles).Perhaps what is most encouraging, is their focus on improving what we could previously call deficiencies. Their rebounding is getting better, their depth is improved, and their defense in the paint has upgraded. In fact, the Mercury are now 13-1 (4-0 at home) when winning the battle of the boards - something that was a concern early on in the year.Next Two GamesDon't expect the Mercury to lie down the next two games against the Storm and the Sparks."No, we're not going to relax," Cappie said about having already secured the #1 seed. "We have potential and we're still trying to get better so we can't rest. We're not a great team, we haven't won anything. It's always good to win a Western Conference championship, but the big title is definitely the championship, so we'll keep pushing and we'll keep working."Buckle up folks, we're in for an exciting next few weeks... Sun, 06 Sep 2009 05:22:41 GMT http://server.cafemerc.com/_Mercury-Clicking-at-the-Right-Time/BLOG/647114/46100.html BenYork 2009-09-06T05:22:41Z Players CafeMerc As I've continually said, coach Corey Gaines has repeatedly told me that despite the Mercury's record, they still haven't truly clicked to the point they are capable of as a team.If tonight's 100-82 win against the Dream is any indication, they are undeniably coming together as a group at the absolute best time.Game SummaryThe Mercury came out with as much energy as I've personally seen all season long. They were passing the ball well, getting back in transition, and the flow of the game was perfect for Phoenix. Honestly, the pace continued for the rest of the game (save one run by the Dream in the 3rd quarter).It was clear that the Mercury were as close, if not the closest, they've been all year to firing on all cylinders. They scored 28 points in the opening period followed by a 31-point 3rd quarter. The Mercury are now 5-2 in their last 7 games and have averaged an astounding 97.9 points per game during that stretch.With the Mercury's win and the Storm's loss, Phoenix has clinched the #1 seed and home-court advantage throughout their Western Conference playoff run - and they did so in Mighty Mercury fashion.The Mercury shot 50% as a team, notched 25 assists in their 42 made shots, had 22 fast-break points, and forced 14 Atlanta turnovers.Most importantly, they have now out-rebounded their opponents in their last 5 games; and 2 of those came against the league's top two rebounding teams - the Sparks and now the Dream."We're gang-rebounding teams," Gaines said after the game. "I tell the players we can't do it individually, we must do it as a group."In fact, 5 players in tonight's game for Phoenix had 5 or more rebounds.Though he wouldn't say they are there quite yet, Gaines did acknowledge they are getting closer. "Players are starting to gel," Gaines said after the game. "They're starting to know their roles. We want to be the best we have to play the best."Spectacular Individual PerformancesCollectively, the Mercury played as well as we've seen them play as a team all season; they rebounded fiercely, defended the paint, and made a key decision to push the tempo all game long.However, there were some amazing performances by a few select players that are certainly worth noting.First, is there any doubt as to who the Rookie of the Year should be? DeWanna Bonner put that debate to rest with her team-high 20 points and 7 rebounds in just 24 minutes of play. Angel McCoughtry, the previous so-called favorite, had just 7 points on 2-11 shooting. "I just want to win," DeWanna said after the game. "I don't really look at that stuff, I just want to win a championship my first year in the league."Temeka Johnson (happy birthday to Meek!) played one of her best games as a Mercury tonight with her 16 points, 4 assists, and 5 rebounds with only 1 turnover."I think we just came out collectively and we capitalized off each other," Meek said. "Whatever Atlanta gave us I think we did a good job taking, and we came out with a victory."Diana Taurasi, who became the fastest WNBA player of all time to score 4,000 career points, had an all-around fantastic game with 13 points, 7 assists, and 6 rebounds. "She's evolved into an extremely well-rounded player," said Gaines about Diana's night. Diana, on the other hand, brushed off the accomplishment in true humble fashion. "Eh, I'm not one for records, but that's kinda cool," Taurasi said about the 4,000 point mark.Cappie Pondexter, the Mercury's constant, had another phenomenal game with 15 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds in just 27 minutes. "We just have to keep pushing, keep working," Cappie told me after the game. "We need to get our conditioning level better and improve our 'Rover' defense."Penny Taylor, who has put together a string of games that looks like the Penny of old, had 16 points on 6/9 shooting. "She's really starting to come along and be the old Penny," Gaines said. "What she's doing is tough and not a lot of players would be playing right now with the surgery she had."Significance of the WinAs I mentioned above, not only did the Mercury clinch the #1 seed in the West, they did so without having any major hiccups or things to be concerned about.While other teams might have peaked too early (Seattle, Los Angeles) the Mercury are quickly coming together and at the perfect time - heading into the playoffs.With their 22nd win, the Mercury are just one shy of their franchise-record of 23 set by the 2007 championship team. Phoenix has two games left to tie or surpass that mark (Seattle and Los Angeles).Perhaps what is most encouraging, is their focus on improving what we could previously call deficiencies. Their rebounding is getting better, their depth is improved, and their defense in the paint has upgraded. In fact, the Mercury are now 13-1 (4-0 at home) when winning the battle of the boards - something that was a concern early on in the year.Next Two GamesDon't expect the Mercury to lie down the next two games against the Storm and the Sparks."No, we're not going to relax," Cappie said about having already secured the #1 seed. "We have potential and we're still trying to get better so we can't rest. We're not a great team, we haven't won anything. It's always good to win a Western Conference championship, but the big title is definitely the championship, so we'll keep pushing and we'll keep working."Buckle up folks, we're in for an exciting next few weeks... atlanta, bonner, cappie, dewanna, diana, dream, johnson, mercury, nicole, ohlde, penny, phoenix, players, pondexter, taurasi, taylor, temeka nonadult false Mercury Clicking at the Right Time text blog atlanta,bonner,cappie,dewanna,diana,dream,johnson,mercury,nicole,ohlde,penny,phoenix,players,pondexter,taurasi,taylor,temeka 288 0 0.0 http://server.cafemerc.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=8194234&as=46100 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/46100/photos/PHOTO_4277610_46100_8194234_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 Players 0 647114 8194234 MVP 2004 http://server.cafemerc.com/_Stats-Illustrate-Mercurys-Remarkable-Season/BLOG/634296/46100.html [image]As Mercury fans and enthusiasts, we already know how enjoyable it has been to watch the Mighty Mercury this season.We see first-hand the unrivaled abilities that Cappie and Diana exude, the floor leadership of Temeka, the toughness of Le'coe and Nicole, the consistency of Tangela, and the underrated value of Ketia, Penny, and DeWanna. However, there are some that need quantifiable evidence as to how brilliant the Mercury have been, and I am more than happy to provide that.DefensivelyTo start, let's give Corey Gaines and his staff credit for focusing much more on the defensive end of the floor this season; their work to make the Mercury better is evident. Yes, Phoenix gives up the most points (89.8), but it's clear their defense has improved drastically over the past couple of years.The Mercury currently hold opponents to an average of just 42.4% from the floor, good for 6th best in the league. This tells us that Phoenix does the majority of things right on the defensive end. However, it also tells us that teams are getting points somewhere, and that usually comes from rebounding (which has also improved).Phoenix gives up 37.7 rebounds per game, and about 12 offensive rebounds per game. Now, you must take into account the pace at which the Mercury force teams to play at before getting too concerned. The Mercury play such an up-tempo game that, by nature, they will give up (and attain) more rebounds than the majority of teams in the league.The key is, quite simply, winning the battle of the boards. Currently, the Mercury are 4th in the league with average rebounds per game (35.0). Compared to what they give up, that's a difference of -2.7 rebounds per contest. Before panicking, this differential used to be much worse at the beginning of the season as it previously ranged from -4.2 to -6.5. Much of the credit goes to having more able bodies to focus on crashing the boards, like Nicole and an underrated rebounder in Penny Taylor.The Mercury also average a league-best 5.5 blocks per game. You could make a case that it's because so many teams get into the paint against Phoenix, but I choose to look at this stat in a different way - they might get into the paint, but at least we have players ready and able to thwart opponent's shots.Like our other beloved Phoenix basketball team, the Mercury continually get unjustly maligned for their defense. Sure, it's not the best in the league, but it is much better than they get credit for.OffensivelyNow, the fun stuff...Kevin Pelton, writer for Storm Tracker, does a fantastic job of compiling WNBA stats from across the league. Most recently, he put together the offensive efficiency rating of every WNBA team - guess who was on top?Phoenix has an offensive rating of 109.3 (offensive rating is points per 100 possessions) and eclipses the rest of the WNBA. Minnesota, the next closest, has a 104.2 rating. The worst offensive team in the league, in terms of rating, is the Sparks at just 95.6.For the more traditional offensive stats, here is a quick breakdown of how amazing the Mercury's offense has been: Points Per Game (1st): 93.1Field Goal % (1st): 46.4%FG's Made Per Game (1st): 33.4Free-Throw % (1st): 85.1%FT's Made Per Game (1st): 18.7Assists Per Game (1st): 18.33-Pt % (1st): 40.0%3-Pt Made Per Game (1st): 7.7Point Differential (2nd): +3.29Average Points at Home (1st): 92.9Average Points Away (1st): 93.3FG% at Home (1st): 46.5%FG% Away (1st): 46.4%Average Points vs. Conference (1st): 93.3There's so much more I could add (including points per game in wins, losses, 0 days rest, 1 days rest etc.) but the theme stays the same throughout - the Mercury lead in essentially every offensive statistical category in the WNBA, and it's not even a close race.IndividuallyFrom an individual player perspective, the Mercury have more than established themselves as leaders. In addition, the majority of the roster has also attained career highs in a significant amount of categories.Diana Taurasi:1st in scoring (20.6)5th in FG's made per game (6.6)12th in assists (3.4)1st in FT's made per game (4.9)9th in blocks per game (1.4)1st in efficiency (21.4)Career highs in rebounds, FG%, 3-Pt%, FT%, and blocksCappie Pondexter:3rd in scoring (19.4)3rd in assists (5.0)1st in FG's made per game (7.1)4th in efficiency (18.6)Career highs in assists, rebounds, FG%, and 3-Pt%Temeka Johnson:6th in assists (4.8)Career highs in points, rebounds, 3-Pt%, and FT%Tangela Smith:3rd in blocks (1.7)4th in 3-Pt% (50.0%)Career highs in blocks, FG%, 3-Pt%, and FT%Le'coe Willingham:10th in FG% (53.8)Career highs in points, assists, FG's made, and FT%DeWanna Bonner:7th in double-doubles (5) (1st in double-doubles amongst rookies)6th in scoring amongst rookies (7.5)6th in rebounds amongst rookies (5.0)2nd in blocks amongst rookies (1.0)Nicole Ohlde:Career high in FG% (54.6%)Ketia Swanier:Career highs in points, assists, rebounds, minutes, FG%, and FT%Not Done Yet...While these benchmarks are quite amazing, it won't matter much to the Mercury if they don't attain their #1 goal of a championship.However, these stats are certainly a testament to how hard they've worked all season and the amount of dedication that the collective team has put forth.Encouraging? Yes. Fulfilled? Almost...  [image]As Mercury fans and enthusiasts, we already know how enjoyable it has been to watch the Mighty Mercury this season.We see first-hand the unrivaled abilities that Cappie and Diana exude, the floor leadership of Temeka, the toughness of Le'coe and Nicole, the consistency of Tangela, and the underrated value of Ketia, Penny, and DeWanna. However, there are some that need quantifiable evidence as to how brilliant the Mercury have been, and I am more than happy to provide that.DefensivelyTo start, let's give Corey Gaines and his staff credit for focusing much more on the defensive end of the floor this season; their work to make the Mercury better is evident. Yes, Phoenix gives up the most points (89.8), but it's clear their defense has improved drastically over the past couple of years.The Mercury currently hold opponents to an average of just 42.4% from the floor, good for 6th best in the league. This tells us that Phoenix does the majority of things right on the defensive end. However, it also tells us that teams are getting points somewhere, and that usually comes from rebounding (which has also improved).Phoenix gives up 37.7 rebounds per game, and about 12 offensive rebounds per game. Now, you must take into account the pace at which the Mercury force teams to play at before getting too concerned. The Mercury play such an up-tempo game that, by nature, they will give up (and attain) more rebounds than the majority of teams in the league.The key is, quite simply, winning the battle of the boards. Currently, the Mercury are 4th in the league with average rebounds per game (35.0). Compared to what they give up, that's a difference of -2.7 rebounds per contest. Before panicking, this differential used to be much worse at the beginning of the season as it previously ranged from -4.2 to -6.5. Much of the credit goes to having more able bodies to focus on crashing the boards, like Nicole and an underrated rebounder in Penny Taylor.The Mercury also average a league-best 5.5 blocks per game. You could make a case that it's because so many teams get into the paint against Phoenix, but I choose to look at this stat in a different way - they might get into the paint, but at least we have players ready and able to thwart opponent's shots.Like our other beloved Phoenix basketball team, the Mercury continually get unjustly maligned for their defense. Sure, it's not the best in the league, but it is much better than they get credit for.OffensivelyNow, the fun stuff...Kevin Pelton, writer for Storm Tracker, does a fantastic job of compiling WNBA stats from across the league. Most recently, he put together the offensive efficiency rating of every WNBA team - guess who was on top?Phoenix has an offensive rating of 109.3 (offensive rating is points per 100 possessions) and eclipses the rest of the WNBA. Minnesota, the next closest, has a 104.2 rating. The worst offensive team in the league, in terms of rating, is the Sparks at just 95.6.For the more traditional offensive stats, here is a quick breakdown of how amazing the Mercury's offense has been: Points Per Game (1st): 93.1Field Goal % (1st): 46.4%FG's Made Per Game (1st): 33.4Free-Throw % (1st): 85.1%FT's Made Per Game (1st): 18.7Assists Per Game (1st): 18.33-Pt % (1st): 40.0%3-Pt Made Per Game (1st): 7.7Point Differential (2nd): +3.29Average Points at Home (1st): 92.9Average Points Away (1st): 93.3FG% at Home (1st): 46.5%FG% Away (1st): 46.4%Average Points vs. Conference (1st): 93.3There's so much more I could add (including points per game in wins, losses, 0 days rest, 1 days rest etc.) but the theme stays the same throughout - the Mercury lead in essentially every offensive statistical category in the WNBA, and it's not even a close race.IndividuallyFrom an individual player perspective, the Mercury have more than established themselves as leaders. In addition, the majority of the roster has also attained career highs in a significant amount of categories.Diana Taurasi:1st in scoring (20.6)5th in FG's made per game (6.6)12th in assists (3.4)1st in FT's made per game (4.9)9th in blocks per game (1.4)1st in efficiency (21.4)Career highs in rebounds, FG%, 3-Pt%, FT%, and blocksCappie Pondexter:3rd in scoring (19.4)3rd in assists (5.0)1st in FG's made per game (7.1)4th in efficiency (18.6)Career highs in assists, rebounds, FG%, and 3-Pt%Temeka Johnson:6th in assists (4.8)Career highs in points, rebounds, 3-Pt%, and FT%Tangela Smith:3rd in blocks (1.7)4th in 3-Pt% (50.0%)Career highs in blocks, FG%, 3-Pt%, and FT%Le'coe Willingham:10th in FG% (53.8)Career highs in points, assists, FG's made, and FT%DeWanna Bonner:7th in double-doubles (5) (1st in double-doubles amongst rookies)6th in scoring amongst rookies (7.5)6th in rebounds amongst rookies (5.0)2nd in blocks amongst rookies (1.0)Nicole Ohlde:Career high in FG% (54.6%)Ketia Swanier:Career highs in points, assists, rebounds, minutes, FG%, and FT%Not Done Yet...While these benchmarks are quite amazing, it won't matter much to the Mercury if they don't attain their #1 goal of a championship.However, these stats are certainly a testament to how hard they've worked all season and the amount of dedication that the collective team has put forth.Encouraging? Yes. Fulfilled? Almost...  Fri, 04 Sep 2009 18:50:41 GMT http://server.cafemerc.com/_Stats-Illustrate-Mercurys-Remarkable-Season/BLOG/634296/46100.html BenYork 2009-09-04T18:50:41Z Players CafeMerc [image]As Mercury fans and enthusiasts, we already know how enjoyable it has been to watch the Mighty Mercury this season.We see first-hand the unrivaled abilities that Cappie and Diana exude, the floor leadership of Temeka, the toughness of Le'coe and Nicole, the consistency of Tangela, and the underrated value of Ketia, Penny, and DeWanna. However, there are some that need quantifiable evidence as to how brilliant the Mercury have been, and I am more than happy to provide that.DefensivelyTo start, let's give Corey Gaines and his staff credit for focusing much more on the defensive end of the floor this season; their work to make the Mercury better is evident. Yes, Phoenix gives up the most points (89.8), but it's clear their defense has improved drastically over the past couple of years.The Mercury currently hold opponents to an average of just 42.4% from the floor, good for 6th best in the league. This tells us that Phoenix does the majority of things right on the defensive end. However, it also tells us that teams are getting points somewhere, and that usually comes from rebounding (which has also improved).Phoenix gives up 37.7 rebounds per game, and about 12 offensive rebounds per game. Now, you must take into account the pace at which the Mercury force teams to play at before getting too concerned. The Mercury play such an up-tempo game that, by nature, they will give up (and attain) more rebounds than the majority of teams in the league.The key is, quite simply, winning the battle of the boards. Currently, the Mercury are 4th in the league with average rebounds per game (35.0). Compared to what they give up, that's a difference of -2.7 rebounds per contest. Before panicking, this differential used to be much worse at the beginning of the season as it previously ranged from -4.2 to -6.5. Much of the credit goes to having more able bodies to focus on crashing the boards, like Nicole and an underrated rebounder in Penny Taylor.The Mercury also average a league-best 5.5 blocks per game. You could make a case that it's because so many teams get into the paint against Phoenix, but I choose to look at this stat in a different way - they might get into the paint, but at least we have players ready and able to thwart opponent's shots.Like our other beloved Phoenix basketball team, the Mercury continually get unjustly maligned for their defense. Sure, it's not the best in the league, but it is much better than they get credit for.OffensivelyNow, the fun stuff...Kevin Pelton, writer for Storm Tracker, does a fantastic job of compiling WNBA stats from across the league. Most recently, he put together the offensive efficiency rating of every WNBA team - guess who was on top?Phoenix has an offensive rating of 109.3 (offensive rating is points per 100 possessions) and eclipses the rest of the WNBA. Minnesota, the next closest, has a 104.2 rating. The worst offensive team in the league, in terms of rating, is the Sparks at just 95.6.For the more traditional offensive stats, here is a quick breakdown of how amazing the Mercury's offense has been: Points Per Game (1st): 93.1Field Goal % (1st): 46.4%FG's Made Per Game (1st): 33.4Free-Throw % (1st): 85.1%FT's Made Per Game (1st): 18.7Assists Per Game (1st): 18.33-Pt % (1st): 40.0%3-Pt Made Per Game (1st): 7.7Point Differential (2nd): +3.29Average Points at Home (1st): 92.9Average Points Away (1st): 93.3FG% at Home (1st): 46.5%FG% Away (1st): 46.4%Average Points vs. Conference (1st): 93.3There's so much more I could add (including points per game in wins, losses, 0 days rest, 1 days rest etc.) but the theme stays the same throughout - the Mercury lead in essentially every offensive statistical category in the WNBA, and it's not even a close race.IndividuallyFrom an individual player perspective, the Mercury have more than established themselves as leaders. In addition, the majority of the roster has also attained career highs in a significant amount of categories.Diana Taurasi:1st in scoring (20.6)5th in FG's made per game (6.6)12th in assists (3.4)1st in FT's made per game (4.9)9th in blocks per game (1.4)1st in efficiency (21.4)Career highs in rebounds, FG%, 3-Pt%, FT%, and blocksCappie Pondexter:3rd in scoring (19.4)3rd in assists (5.0)1st in FG's made per game (7.1)4th in efficiency (18.6)Career highs in assists, rebounds, FG%, and 3-Pt%Temeka Johnson:6th in assists (4.8)Career highs in points, rebounds, 3-Pt%, and FT%Tangela Smith:3rd in blocks (1.7)4th in 3-Pt% (50.0%)Career highs in blocks, FG%, 3-Pt%, and FT%Le'coe Willingham:10th in FG% (53.8)Career highs in points, assists, FG's made, and FT%DeWanna Bonner:7th in double-doubles (5) (1st in double-doubles amongst rookies)6th in scoring amongst rookies (7.5)6th in rebounds amongst rookies (5.0)2nd in blocks amongst rookies (1.0)Nicole Ohlde:Career high in FG% (54.6%)Ketia Swanier:Career highs in points, assists, rebounds, minutes, FG%, and FT%Not Done Yet...While these benchmarks are quite amazing, it won't matter much to the Mercury if they don't attain their #1 goal of a championship.However, these stats are certainly a testament to how hard they've worked all season and the amount of dedication that the collective team has put forth.Encouraging? Yes. Fulfilled? Almost...  bonner, cappie, corey, dewanna, diana, gaines, johnson, ketia, le'coe, mercury, nicold, ohlde, penny, phoenix, players, pondexter, smith, swanier, tangela, taurasi, taylor, temeka, willingham nonadult false Stats Illustrate Mercury's Remarkable Season text blog bonner,cappie,corey,dewanna,diana,gaines,johnson,ketia,le'coe,mercury,nicold,ohlde,penny,phoenix,players,pondexter,smith,swanier,tangela,taurasi,taylor,temeka,willingham 643 1 5.0 http://server.cafemerc.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=8194234&as=46100 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/46100/photos/PHOTO_4277610_46100_8194234_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 Players 0 634296 8194234 MVP 2004 http://server.cafemerc.com/_Mercury-Show-Heart-in-Win-Over-Indiana/BLOG/630596/46100.html "This was just another regular season game. We did some good things early tonight. Indiana is a good defensive team so it is difficult to put up 100 points against a half court defensive team like Indiana. We don't worry about our record, we just play each game. Tonight we have to give credit to our big players doing a good job crashing the boards." - Diana TaurasiDiana's quote summed up everything I (and probably you) love about her and the Mercury.They don't make too big a deal out of a big win like tonight or a tough loss like in Detroit.They acknowledge what they do well, but are never content.They constantly deflect credit to other teammates, or opposing teams.They have some of the biggest hearts I've ever seen in a professional team.For anyone that was concerned or worried about this Mercury team...tonight should’ve quelled the majority of your tension.Against the WNBA’s best defensive team, the Mercury scored 106 points including quarters of 28, 27, 32 points. 8 players had 8 or more points, 4 players were in double figures, the team shot almost 60% both from the floor and beyond the arc (including 10 made three-pointers), out-rebounded the Fever, had 5 more assists, and forced 14 turnovers. More importantly, every lady that saw minutes put points on the board for Phoenix.Clearly, this was a statement-making win for the Mighty Mercury.After a tough loss against a physical Detroit team less than 24 hours ago, Phoenix responded tonight with heart and (as always) resilience in the 2nd game of their last back-to-back set of the season. It would’ve been easy for the Mercury to come out lackadaisical or play with heavy legs; instead, they stormed out of the gates catching the Fever off-guard with their energy and enthusiasm as a team.Leading the charge from the start was Temeka Johnson. Meek made it a mission of hers to lead the Mercury to victory on both ends of the floor tonight doing a little bit of everything for Phoenix. She had 13 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals in just 23 minutes of play. Helping Temeka out was another fantastic game by Cappie Pondexter who scored 25 points, notched 4 assists, and grabbed 3 rebounds.Though, what ultimately won the game for the Mercury tonight was the collective effort as a team. There wasn’t any focus on individual stats or accolades – if an extra pass needed to be made, they made it. If they needed a rebound, they went out and got it. If they needed points, they had 9 ladies who could put the ball in the basket.This team has heart, and tonight's game showed it more than ever.What impressed me the most is how bad the Mercury wanted this win tonight; and it wasn't because they were playing the Indiana Fever or that they got beat at home when these teams last played each other. No, it wasn’t about the Fever, per se, it was about wanting to bounce back from a difficult loss in Detroit. That attitude, my friends, is the mindset of champions, and it's extremely encouraging to see that type of response this late in the season.Perhaps more important than the win itself, is the Mercury are consistently demonstrating they are able to win without solely relying on Diana and Cappie to carry them to victory. Instead of needing DT3 or CP23 to play 35-40 minutes a night, and score 25-30 points each, they have multiple ways of beating you even if Diana and Cappie are having an off-shooting night. They have a clear floor general in Temeka, an anchor in both Penny and Nicole, and the Shawn Marion-esque DeWanna Bonner that round out their already solid roster.I've said it countless times this season, even from my early days watching the team's two-a-days in training camp - this team is special. This team has heart.And tonight's game made me look like a genius. "This was just another regular season game. We did some good things early tonight. Indiana is a good defensive team so it is difficult to put up 100 points against a half court defensive team like Indiana. We don't worry about our record, we just play each game. Tonight we have to give credit to our big players doing a good job crashing the boards." - Diana TaurasiDiana's quote summed up everything I (and probably you) love about her and the Mercury.They don't make too big a deal out of a big win like tonight or a tough loss like in Detroit.They acknowledge what they do well, but are never content.They constantly deflect credit to other teammates, or opposing teams.They have some of the biggest hearts I've ever seen in a professional team.For anyone that was concerned or worried about this Mercury team...tonight should’ve quelled the majority of your tension.Against the WNBA’s best defensive team, the Mercury scored 106 points including quarters of 28, 27, 32 points. 8 players had 8 or more points, 4 players were in double figures, the team shot almost 60% both from the floor and beyond the arc (including 10 made three-pointers), out-rebounded the Fever, had 5 more assists, and forced 14 turnovers. More importantly, every lady that saw minutes put points on the board for Phoenix.Clearly, this was a statement-making win for the Mighty Mercury.After a tough loss against a physical Detroit team less than 24 hours ago, Phoenix responded tonight with heart and (as always) resilience in the 2nd game of their last back-to-back set of the season. It would’ve been easy for the Mercury to come out lackadaisical or play with heavy legs; instead, they stormed out of the gates catching the Fever off-guard with their energy and enthusiasm as a team.Leading the charge from the start was Temeka Johnson. Meek made it a mission of hers to lead the Mercury to victory on both ends of the floor tonight doing a little bit of everything for Phoenix. She had 13 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals in just 23 minutes of play. Helping Temeka out was another fantastic game by Cappie Pondexter who scored 25 points, notched 4 assists, and grabbed 3 rebounds.Though, what ultimately won the game for the Mercury tonight was the collective effort as a team. There wasn’t any focus on individual stats or accolades – if an extra pass needed to be made, they made it. If they needed a rebound, they went out and got it. If they needed points, they had 9 ladies who could put the ball in the basket.This team has heart, and tonight's game showed it more than ever.What impressed me the most is how bad the Mercury wanted this win tonight; and it wasn't because they were playing the Indiana Fever or that they got beat at home when these teams last played each other. No, it wasn’t about the Fever, per se, it was about wanting to bounce back from a difficult loss in Detroit. That attitude, my friends, is the mindset of champions, and it's extremely encouraging to see that type of response this late in the season.Perhaps more important than the win itself, is the Mercury are consistently demonstrating they are able to win without solely relying on Diana and Cappie to carry them to victory. Instead of needing DT3 or CP23 to play 35-40 minutes a night, and score 25-30 points each, they have multiple ways of beating you even if Diana and Cappie are having an off-shooting night. They have a clear floor general in Temeka, an anchor in both Penny and Nicole, and the Shawn Marion-esque DeWanna Bonner that round out their already solid roster.I've said it countless times this season, even from my early days watching the team's two-a-days in training camp - this team is special. This team has heart.And tonight's game made me look like a genius. Thu, 03 Sep 2009 02:52:57 GMT http://server.cafemerc.com/_Mercury-Show-Heart-in-Win-Over-Indiana/BLOG/630596/46100.html BenYork 2009-09-03T02:52:57Z Road Trip CafeMerc "This was just another regular season game. We did some good things early tonight. Indiana is a good defensive team so it is difficult to put up 100 points against a half court defensive team like Indiana. We don't worry about our record, we just play each game. Tonight we have to give credit to our big players doing a good job crashing the boards." - Diana TaurasiDiana's quote summed up everything I (and probably you) love about her and the Mercury.They don't make too big a deal out of a big win like tonight or a tough loss like in Detroit.They acknowledge what they do well, but are never content.They constantly deflect credit to other teammates, or opposing teams.They have some of the biggest hearts I've ever seen in a professional team.For anyone that was concerned or worried about this Mercury team...tonight should’ve quelled the majority of your tension.Against the WNBA’s best defensive team, the Mercury scored 106 points including quarters of 28, 27, 32 points. 8 players had 8 or more points, 4 players were in double figures, the team shot almost 60% both from the floor and beyond the arc (including 10 made three-pointers), out-rebounded the Fever, had 5 more assists, and forced 14 turnovers. More importantly, every lady that saw minutes put points on the board for Phoenix.Clearly, this was a statement-making win for the Mighty Mercury.After a tough loss against a physical Detroit team less than 24 hours ago, Phoenix responded tonight with heart and (as always) resilience in the 2nd game of their last back-to-back set of the season. It would’ve been easy for the Mercury to come out lackadaisical or play with heavy legs; instead, they stormed out of the gates catching the Fever off-guard with their energy and enthusiasm as a team.Leading the charge from the start was Temeka Johnson. Meek made it a mission of hers to lead the Mercury to victory on both ends of the floor tonight doing a little bit of everything for Phoenix. She had 13 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals in just 23 minutes of play. Helping Temeka out was another fantastic game by Cappie Pondexter who scored 25 points, notched 4 assists, and grabbed 3 rebounds.Though, what ultimately won the game for the Mercury tonight was the collective effort as a team. There wasn’t any focus on individual stats or accolades – if an extra pass needed to be made, they made it. If they needed a rebound, they went out and got it. If they needed points, they had 9 ladies who could put the ball in the basket.This team has heart, and tonight's game showed it more than ever.What impressed me the most is how bad the Mercury wanted this win tonight; and it wasn't because they were playing the Indiana Fever or that they got beat at home when these teams last played each other. No, it wasn’t about the Fever, per se, it was about wanting to bounce back from a difficult loss in Detroit. That attitude, my friends, is the mindset of champions, and it's extremely encouraging to see that type of response this late in the season.Perhaps more important than the win itself, is the Mercury are consistently demonstrating they are able to win without solely relying on Diana and Cappie to carry them to victory. Instead of needing DT3 or CP23 to play 35-40 minutes a night, and score 25-30 points each, they have multiple ways of beating you even if Diana and Cappie are having an off-shooting night. They have a clear floor general in Temeka, an anchor in both Penny and Nicole, and the Shawn Marion-esque DeWanna Bonner that round out their already solid roster.I've said it countless times this season, even from my early days watching the team's two-a-days in training camp - this team is special. This team has heart.And tonight's game made me look like a genius. bonner, cappie, dewanna, diana, fever, indiana, johnson, mercury, nicole, ohlde, phoenix, pondexter, road trip, taurasi, temeka nonadult false Mercury Show Heart in Win Over Indiana text blog bonner,cappie,dewanna,diana,fever,indiana,johnson,mercury,nicole,ohlde,phoenix,pondexter,road trip,taurasi,temeka 707 2 5.0 http://server.cafemerc.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=8194234&as=46100 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/46100/photos/PHOTO_4277610_46100_8194234_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 Road Trip 0 630596 8194234 MVP 2004 http://server.cafemerc.com/_Its-All-Part-of-the-Plan/BLOG/629741/46100.html For those who know me personally, it's no secret I'm a HUGE fan of "The Dark Knight." In my humble opinion, it's one of the best movies ever made.[image]In the movie, one of the Joker's most famous lines was "It's all...part of the plan." Now (stay with me here) I think this is the perfect way to look at the Mercury as we head into the playoffs.It's clear that the Mercury's goal reaches beyond attaining the #1 record in the league - the sole vision and driving force is bringing another championship to the Valley. I'm sure we've all noticed how coach Corey Gaines has been experimenting with different lineups in the last several games (including not having Cappie and Diana on the floor as much together) but there is a glaring reason for this that we tend to overlook - it's the first time the entire season the Mercury have been 100% healthy as a collective squad! It's no secret that with Nicole Ohlde finally healthy and Penny Taylor quickly returning to form, the Mercury have one of the deepest teams in the league. Thus, in order to maximize the effectiveness of that deep lineup, different combinations have to be looked at and experimented with. Truthfully, we are lucky this is happening now (with just 4 games left) rather than during the playoffs when it's all or nothing. Plus, if we're honest, it's a good problem to have! Including tonight's game in Indiana, the Mercury play just 4 games in the next 12 days. Hence, there's not many "in-game" situations left where Gaines and his staff can experiment with different lineup variations.In addition, I'm grateful the Mercury have such a significant amount of time between their last 4 games. Barring any catastrophe, this will allow the team to truly rid themselves of many nagging injuries and become rejuvenated for what we are all hoping is a deep playoff run. At the same time, they'll also be able to (literally) run opponents off the floor with the ample rest periods they'll receive in between.There is certainly something to be said about gaining momentum heading into the playoffs, but I'd much rather have a healthy Mercury team that understands everyone's respective roles on the floor rather than over-playing some of our starters simply to get a win - this could lead to a false sense of security. Hypothetically speaking, if the Mercury lose their last 4 games (which they won't) I'd be just as confident as I would be if they won the last 4, provided that the team has shown signs of finally clicking (which they have).Part of being a championship team is never being satisfied with wins, and always looking for ways to improve. This is exactly what coach Gaines and the Mercury are doing - looking for multiple ways, both offensively and defensively, to enhance the team as a whole. We'd all love for Phoenix to finish the season with 24 wins and the best record in the league, but a sense of contentment (at this point in the season) is something they undeniably want to avoid.That's the mindset of this Mercury team - these last 4 games are not as important as it is heading into the playoffs a confident, motivated, and mission-driven team. Make no mistake about it - the Mercury will be.It's all part of the plan. For those who know me personally, it's no secret I'm a HUGE fan of "The Dark Knight." In my humble opinion, it's one of the best movies ever made.[image]In the movie, one of the Joker's most famous lines was "It's all...part of the plan." Now (stay with me here) I think this is the perfect way to look at the Mercury as we head into the playoffs.It's clear that the Mercury's goal reaches beyond attaining the #1 record in the league - the sole vision and driving force is bringing another championship to the Valley. I'm sure we've all noticed how coach Corey Gaines has been experimenting with different lineups in the last several games (including not having Cappie and Diana on the floor as much together) but there is a glaring reason for this that we tend to overlook - it's the first time the entire season the Mercury have been 100% healthy as a collective squad! It's no secret that with Nicole Ohlde finally healthy and Penny Taylor quickly returning to form, the Mercury have one of the deepest teams in the league. Thus, in order to maximize the effectiveness of that deep lineup, different combinations have to be looked at and experimented with. Truthfully, we are lucky this is happening now (with just 4 games left) rather than during the playoffs when it's all or nothing. Plus, if we're honest, it's a good problem to have! Including tonight's game in Indiana, the Mercury play just 4 games in the next 12 days. Hence, there's not many "in-game" situations left where Gaines and his staff can experiment with different lineup variations.In addition, I'm grateful the Mercury have such a significant amount of time between their last 4 games. Barring any catastrophe, this will allow the team to truly rid themselves of many nagging injuries and become rejuvenated for what we are all hoping is a deep playoff run. At the same time, they'll also be able to (literally) run opponents off the floor with the ample rest periods they'll receive in between.There is certainly something to be said about gaining momentum heading into the playoffs, but I'd much rather have a healthy Mercury team that understands everyone's respective roles on the floor rather than over-playing some of our starters simply to get a win - this could lead to a false sense of security. Hypothetically speaking, if the Mercury lose their last 4 games (which they won't) I'd be just as confident as I would be if they won the last 4, provided that the team has shown signs of finally clicking (which they have).Part of being a championship team is never being satisfied with wins, and always looking for ways to improve. This is exactly what coach Gaines and the Mercury are doing - looking for multiple ways, both offensively and defensively, to enhance the team as a whole. We'd all love for Phoenix to finish the season with 24 wins and the best record in the league, but a sense of contentment (at this point in the season) is something they undeniably want to avoid.That's the mindset of this Mercury team - these last 4 games are not as important as it is heading into the playoffs a confident, motivated, and mission-driven team. Make no mistake about it - the Mercury will be.It's all part of the plan. Wed, 02 Sep 2009 19:04:29 GMT http://server.cafemerc.com/_Its-All-Part-of-the-Plan/BLOG/629741/46100.html BenYork 2009-09-02T19:04:29Z Players CafeMerc For those who know me personally, it's no secret I'm a HUGE fan of "The Dark Knight." In my humble opinion, it's one of the best movies ever made.[image]In the movie, one of the Joker's most famous lines was "It's all...part of the plan." Now (stay with me here) I think this is the perfect way to look at the Mercury as we head into the playoffs.It's clear that the Mercury's goal reaches beyond attaining the #1 record in the league - the sole vision and driving force is bringing another championship to the Valley. I'm sure we've all noticed how coach Corey Gaines has been experimenting with different lineups in the last several games (including not having Cappie and Diana on the floor as much together) but there is a glaring reason for this that we tend to overlook - it's the first time the entire season the Mercury have been 100% healthy as a collective squad! It's no secret that with Nicole Ohlde finally healthy and Penny Taylor quickly returning to form, the Mercury have one of the deepest teams in the league. Thus, in order to maximize the effectiveness of that deep lineup, different combinations have to be looked at and experimented with. Truthfully, we are lucky this is happening now (with just 4 games left) rather than during the playoffs when it's all or nothing. Plus, if we're honest, it's a good problem to have! Including tonight's game in Indiana, the Mercury play just 4 games in the next 12 days. Hence, there's not many "in-game" situations left where Gaines and his staff can experiment with different lineup variations.In addition, I'm grateful the Mercury have such a significant amount of time between their last 4 games. Barring any catastrophe, this will allow the team to truly rid themselves of many nagging injuries and become rejuvenated for what we are all hoping is a deep playoff run. At the same time, they'll also be able to (literally) run opponents off the floor with the ample rest periods they'll receive in between.There is certainly something to be said about gaining momentum heading into the playoffs, but I'd much rather have a healthy Mercury team that understands everyone's respective roles on the floor rather than over-playing some of our starters simply to get a win - this could lead to a false sense of security. Hypothetically speaking, if the Mercury lose their last 4 games (which they won't) I'd be just as confident as I would be if they won the last 4, provided that the team has shown signs of finally clicking (which they have).Part of being a championship team is never being satisfied with wins, and always looking for ways to improve. This is exactly what coach Gaines and the Mercury are doing - looking for multiple ways, both offensively and defensively, to enhance the team as a whole. We'd all love for Phoenix to finish the season with 24 wins and the best record in the league, but a sense of contentment (at this point in the season) is something they undeniably want to avoid.That's the mindset of this Mercury team - these last 4 games are not as important as it is heading into the playoffs a confident, motivated, and mission-driven team. Make no mistake about it - the Mercury will be.It's all part of the plan. cappie, corey, diana, gaines, mercury, nicold, ohlde, penny, phoenix, players, pondexter, taurasi, taylor nonadult false It's All Part of the Plan text blog cappie,corey,diana,gaines,mercury,nicold,ohlde,penny,phoenix,players,pondexter,taurasi,taylor 704 1 5.0 http://server.cafemerc.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=8194234&as=46100 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/46100/photos/PHOTO_4277610_46100_8194234_ap_160X120.jpg false 2 Players 0 629741 8194234 MVP 2004 http://server.cafemerc.com/_Despite-Loss-Mercury-Show-Signs-of-Brilliance-in-Detroit/BLOG/628635/46100.html [image]The Mercury lost a back-and-forth battle in Detroit tonight in spite of a depleted Shock team, 101-99. While no one enjoys losing, I'd like to caution Mercury fans and followers not to do the following three things;Panic.Make too big a deal out of this loss.Worry about the Storm being just 1 game behind the Mercury.Perhaps the most important thing I can say is not to panic. The Mercury are fine. I've said this several times throughout the season - Phoenix hasn't peaked yet but are darn close. Truthfully, this is the perfect scenario heading into the playoffs. Had Diana hit the three at the end on tonight's game, I think it would've been their best win of the season. Instead, it's just a tough loss that the Mercury will put behind them and focus on the Fever tomorrow night (the more important game).Second, this was an absolute must-win game for Detroit. They obviously came out with a chip on their shoulder, rallied as a team without Katie Smith, and made the key shots when they counted. It happens. Instead of getting down on the Mercury, give the credit to the Shock for persevering and getting a much needed win. So, let's look at the positives in this loss. The Mercury won the rebounding battle, Diana and Cappie both had phenomenal games, and in spite of 19 turnovers the Mercury had a great chance to win the game. Phoenix also started slow but was able to get back in the game and in a position to win. "I think we just focused in on defense and brought energy," Cappie Pondexter said of their second half comeback. "Unfortunately, our turnovers didn't allow us to capitalize on the offensive end, which allowed them to capitalize defensively. We just have to do a better job of taking care of the ball."Last, with the Storm beating New York and moving into 1 game of the Mercury for the #1 seed in the West, I still caution fans about worrying too much.  The Storm play 3 of their last 4 games on the road (game at home is vs. Phoenix) and this will probably be without Lauren Jackson; thus, I'd anticipate their 6-game winning streak and momentum could come to a screeching halt. The Mercury, on the other hand, have a fantastic opportunity to gain a significant amount of momentum heading into the post-season. "It's vital, not just because of our record or to get a better record, to just be a better team overall," Cappie said. "And having that momentum in the playoffs is definitely going to be the team that's probably going to take it all."Instead of getting frustrated about the Mercury's slow starts, let's be thankful how resilient of a team they are. Ultimately, if I had to choose whether to be a fast-starting team or a resilient team I'd absolutely choose to be resilient; that no matter what, you feel like there is always a chance to win.Another positive - the Mercury's rebounding has been exponentially better over the past 10 games. With an improved and healthy front line, there isn't as much of a worry regarding the rebounding battle as there was in the first half of the season.And if I'm honest, it's the perfect time for the Mercury to truly click. As I mentioned above, the Mercury as a team showed some very encouraging signs tonight. They still won the rebounding battle, shot well from the floor, and despite 19 turnovers had a chance to win.So, I guess the theme of this article is to just stick with the Mercury during these tough losses.It will all be worth it in a few short weeks... [image]The Mercury lost a back-and-forth battle in Detroit tonight in spite of a depleted Shock team, 101-99. While no one enjoys losing, I'd like to caution Mercury fans and followers not to do the following three things;Panic.Make too big a deal out of this loss.Worry about the Storm being just 1 game behind the Mercury.Perhaps the most important thing I can say is not to panic. The Mercury are fine. I've said this several times throughout the season - Phoenix hasn't peaked yet but are darn close. Truthfully, this is the perfect scenario heading into the playoffs. Had Diana hit the three at the end on tonight's game, I think it would've been their best win of the season. Instead, it's just a tough loss that the Mercury will put behind them and focus on the Fever tomorrow night (the more important game).Second, this was an absolute must-win game for Detroit. They obviously came out with a chip on their shoulder, rallied as a team without Katie Smith, and made the key shots when they counted. It happens. Instead of getting down on the Mercury, give the credit to the Shock for persevering and getting a much needed win. So, let's look at the positives in this loss. The Mercury won the rebounding battle, Diana and Cappie both had phenomenal games, and in spite of 19 turnovers the Mercury had a great chance to win the game. Phoenix also started slow but was able to get back in the game and in a position to win. "I think we just focused in on defense and brought energy," Cappie Pondexter said of their second half comeback. "Unfortunately, our turnovers didn't allow us to capitalize on the offensive end, which allowed them to capitalize defensively. We just have to do a better job of taking care of the ball."Last, with the Storm beating New York and moving into 1 game of the Mercury for the #1 seed in the West, I still caution fans about worrying too much.  The Storm play 3 of their last 4 games on the road (game at home is vs. Phoenix) and this will probably be without Lauren Jackson; thus, I'd anticipate their 6-game winning streak and momentum could come to a screeching halt. The Mercury, on the other hand, have a fantastic opportunity to gain a significant amount of momentum heading into the post-season. "It's vital, not just because of our record or to get a better record, to just be a better team overall," Cappie said. "And having that momentum in the playoffs is definitely going to be the team that's probably going to take it all."Instead of getting frustrated about the Mercury's slow starts, let's be thankful how resilient of a team they are. Ultimately, if I had to choose whether to be a fast-starting team or a resilient team I'd absolutely choose to be resilient; that no matter what, you feel like there is always a chance to win.Another positive - the Mercury's rebounding has been exponentially better over the past 10 games. With an improved and healthy front line, there isn't as much of a worry regarding the rebounding battle as there was in the first half of the season.And if I'm honest, it's the perfect time for the Mercury to truly click. As I mentioned above, the Mercury as a team showed some very encouraging signs tonight. They still won the rebounding battle, shot well from the floor, and despite 19 turnovers had a chance to win.So, I guess the theme of this article is to just stick with the Mercury during these tough losses.It will all be worth it in a few short weeks... Wed, 02 Sep 2009 03:28:56 GMT http://server.cafemerc.com/_Despite-Loss-Mercury-Show-Signs-of-Brilliance-in-Detroit/BLOG/628635/46100.html BenYork 2009-09-02T03:28:56Z Road Trip CafeMerc [image]The Mercury lost a back-and-forth battle in Detroit tonight in spite of a depleted Shock team, 101-99. While no one enjoys losing, I'd like to caution Mercury fans and followers not to do the following three things;Panic.Make too big a deal out of this loss.Worry about the Storm being just 1 game behind the Mercury.Perhaps the most important thing I can say is not to panic. The Mercury are fine. I've said this several times throughout the season - Phoenix hasn't peaked yet but are darn close. Truthfully, this is the perfect scenario heading into the playoffs. Had Diana hit the three at the end on tonight's game, I think it would've been their best win of the season. Instead, it's just a tough loss that the Mercury will put behind them and focus on the Fever tomorrow night (the more important game).Second, this was an absolute must-win game for Detroit. They obviously came out with a chip on their shoulder, rallied as a team without Katie Smith, and made the key shots when they counted. It happens. Instead of getting down on the Mercury, give the credit to the Shock for persevering and getting a much needed win. So, let's look at the positives in this loss. The Mercury won the rebounding battle, Diana and Cappie both had phenomenal games, and in spite of 19 turnovers the Mercury had a great chance to win the game. Phoenix also started slow but was able to get back in the game and in a position to win. "I think we just focused in on defense and brought energy," Cappie Pondexter said of their second half comeback. "Unfortunately, our turnovers didn't allow us to capitalize on the offensive end, which allowed them to capitalize defensively. We just have to do a better job of taking care of the ball."Last, with the Storm beating New York and moving into 1 game of the Mercury for the #1 seed in the West, I still caution fans about worrying too much.  The Storm play 3 of their last 4 games on the road (game at home is vs. Phoenix) and this will probably be without Lauren Jackson; thus, I'd anticipate their 6-game winning streak and momentum could come to a screeching halt. The Mercury, on the other hand, have a fantastic opportunity to gain a significant amount of momentum heading into the post-season. "It's vital, not just because of our record or to get a better record, to just be a better team overall," Cappie said. "And having that momentum in the playoffs is definitely going to be the team that's probably going to take it all."Instead of getting frustrated about the Mercury's slow starts, let's be thankful how resilient of a team they are. Ultimately, if I had to choose whether to be a fast-starting team or a resilient team I'd absolutely choose to be resilient; that no matter what, you feel like there is always a chance to win.Another positive - the Mercury's rebounding has been exponentially better over the past 10 games. With an improved and healthy front line, there isn't as much of a worry regarding the rebounding battle as there was in the first half of the season.And if I'm honest, it's the perfect time for the Mercury to truly click. As I mentioned above, the Mercury as a team showed some very encouraging signs tonight. They still won the rebounding battle, shot well from the floor, and despite 19 turnovers had a chance to win.So, I guess the theme of this article is to just stick with the Mercury during these tough losses.It will all be worth it in a few short weeks... detroit, mercury, phoenix, road trip, shock nonadult false Despite Loss, Mercury Show Signs of Brilliance in Detroit text blog detroit,mercury,phoenix,road trip,shock 820 1 5.0 http://server.cafemerc.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=8194234&as=46100 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/46100/photos/PHOTO_4277610_46100_8194234_ap_160X120.jpg false 4 Road Trip 0 628635 8194234 MVP 2004 http://server.cafemerc.com/_Mercury-Shock-Preview/BLOG/627537/46100.html Tonight is one of those strange games that doesn't really mean a whole lot, but at the same time, it kind of does.At 20-9, the Mercury have all but secured the #1 seed in the Western Conference with just a few games left in the regular season. However, they do have a somewhat difficult schedule to end the season starting in Detroit tonight, Indiana tomorrow, host the Dream on the 5th, travel to Seattle on the 10th, and finish the season at home against the Sparks on the 13th. This game means much more to the Shock than it does the Mercury (though that is certainly not Phoenix's collective mindset). Detroit is currently sitting at 13-15 and a game behind Connecticut and Chicago for 4th place in the Eastern Conference and is in dire need of a win. It will be increasingly difficult as they could be potentially without Katie Smith, who is nursing a back injury.The last time these teams played each other, Phoenix was without Diana Taurasi and Le'coe Willingham stepped up for the Mercury in an overtime win, 97-90.  Looking at Detroit's schedule, if they play well, they could feasibly win 3-4 of their last 6 games (including 2 against Chicago) which would put them at 16-17 wins for the season. However, both Chicago and Connecticut have the ability to win a similar amount of games which would all but eliminate Detroit from playoff contention.Thus, this is a huge game for Detroit.Though, the Mercury are also looking at tonight's game as just as important. They have a goal to attain the best record in the WNBA and with a game in Indiana tomorrow night, getting a win against Detroit becomes that much more important.Keys to the GameWatch out for the trap: The Shock could be without Katie Smith, and the Mercury certainly don't need this game as much as Detroit...but they can't think that way.DT3 and CP23: Diana and Cappie are both due for a break-out game.Play your game: It's easy to fall into the chippy nature of the Shock. Phoenix just needs to continue their up-tempo game and push the ball for a full 40 minutes.I'll have a recap of the game, including quotes from players, later on. Be sure to tune in to www.phoenixmercury.com to catch the game on Live Access at 4:30 AZ time. Tonight is one of those strange games that doesn't really mean a whole lot, but at the same time, it kind of does.At 20-9, the Mercury have all but secured the #1 seed in the Western Conference with just a few games left in the regular season. However, they do have a somewhat difficult schedule to end the season starting in Detroit tonight, Indiana tomorrow, host the Dream on the 5th, travel to Seattle on the 10th, and finish the season at home against the Sparks on the 13th. This game means much more to the Shock than it does the Mercury (though that is certainly not Phoenix's collective mindset). Detroit is currently sitting at 13-15 and a game behind Connecticut and Chicago for 4th place in the Eastern Conference and is in dire need of a win. It will be increasingly difficult as they could be potentially without Katie Smith, who is nursing a back injury.The last time these teams played each other, Phoenix was without Diana Taurasi and Le'coe Willingham stepped up for the Mercury in an overtime win, 97-90.  Looking at Detroit's schedule, if they play well, they could feasibly win 3-4 of their last 6 games (including 2 against Chicago) which would put them at 16-17 wins for the season. However, both Chicago and Connecticut have the ability to win a similar amount of games which would all but eliminate Detroit from playoff contention.Thus, this is a huge game for Detroit.Though, the Mercury are also looking at tonight's game as just as important. They have a goal to attain the best record in the WNBA and with a game in Indiana tomorrow night, getting a win against Detroit becomes that much more important.Keys to the GameWatch out for the trap: The Shock could be without Katie Smith, and the Mercury certainly don't need this game as much as Detroit...but they can't think that way.DT3 and CP23: Diana and Cappie are both due for a break-out game.Play your game: It's easy to fall into the chippy nature of the Shock. Phoenix just needs to continue their up-tempo game and push the ball for a full 40 minutes.I'll have a recap of the game, including quotes from players, later on. Be sure to tune in to www.phoenixmercury.com to catch the game on Live Access at 4:30 AZ time. Tue, 01 Sep 2009 17:56:43 GMT http://server.cafemerc.com/_Mercury-Shock-Preview/BLOG/627537/46100.html BenYork 2009-09-01T17:56:43Z Players CafeMerc Tonight is one of those strange games that doesn't really mean a whole lot, but at the same time, it kind of does.At 20-9, the Mercury have all but secured the #1 seed in the Western Conference with just a few games left in the regular season. However, they do have a somewhat difficult schedule to end the season starting in Detroit tonight, Indiana tomorrow, host the Dream on the 5th, travel to Seattle on the 10th, and finish the season at home against the Sparks on the 13th. This game means much more to the Shock than it does the Mercury (though that is certainly not Phoenix's collective mindset). Detroit is currently sitting at 13-15 and a game behind Connecticut and Chicago for 4th place in the Eastern Conference and is in dire need of a win. It will be increasingly difficult as they could be potentially without Katie Smith, who is nursing a back injury.The last time these teams played each other, Phoenix was without Diana Taurasi and Le'coe Willingham stepped up for the Mercury in an overtime win, 97-90.  Looking at Detroit's schedule, if they play well, they could feasibly win 3-4 of their last 6 games (including 2 against Chicago) which would put them at 16-17 wins for the season. However, both Chicago and Connecticut have the ability to win a similar amount of games which would all but eliminate Detroit from playoff contention.Thus, this is a huge game for Detroit.Though, the Mercury are also looking at tonight's game as just as important. They have a goal to attain the best record in the WNBA and with a game in Indiana tomorrow night, getting a win against Detroit becomes that much more important.Keys to the GameWatch out for the trap: The Shock could be without Katie Smith, and the Mercury certainly don't need this game as much as Detroit...but they can't think that way.DT3 and CP23: Diana and Cappie are both due for a break-out game.Play your game: It's easy to fall into the chippy nature of the Shock. Phoenix just needs to continue their up-tempo game and push the ball for a full 40 minutes.I'll have a recap of the game, including quotes from players, later on. Be sure to tune in to www.phoenixmercury.com to catch the game on Live Access at 4:30 AZ time. detroit, mercury, phoenix, players, shock nonadult false Mercury-Shock Preview text blog detroit,mercury,phoenix,players,shock 156 0 0.0 http://server.cafemerc.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=8194234&as=46100 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/46100/photos/PHOTO_4277610_46100_8194234_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 Players 0 627537 8194234 MVP 2004 http://server.cafemerc.com/_Temeka-Johnsons-Night-of-HOPE/BLOG/620102/46100.html [image]On Saturday August 29th, Temeka Johnson hosted her "Night of HOPE" event at US Airways Center with one goal in mind - to learn more about what is needed in the Phoenix community that her foundation can support and help. Meek's H.O.P.E. (Heaven Opens People's Eyes) is largely centered around improving the lives of others through increasing self-esteem, encouraging physical activity, and making a difference in local communities as a whole. However, the driving mission behind much of the organization's commitments and goals is simply providing hope to others in such a trying time. "I've been fortunate enough to be able to inspire hope in others with what I've been able to do on the basketball court," Temeka said in a special appearance after the Connecticut game. "A lot of it is based on my size and values. We want to really focus on helping the community find hope now in Phoenix." Meek's HOPE is active in the community in a number of ways and has made a key decision to help underprivileged children find hope and better their lives. She offers the Jewel Johnson Teacher Scholarship, in honor of her grandmother, to deserving students from Louisiana or attending Louisiana institutions. In addition, Meek's HOPE has adopted schools to help with projects, mentoring, and fundraising. HOPE also sponsors area youth to receive personal hygiene makeovers for both girls and boys, works with local schools and agencies to identify organizational needs, and hosts "A Very Meek Christmas" for local youth where HOPE and Temeka take them on a Christmas shopping spree. Being new to the Phoenix community, the theme of the event was largely a sounding board where Meek and agency representatives were able to receive important information on the needs in the local community. It clearly impacted Temeka, upon hearing what could be done, that she and HOPE have a plethora of opportunities to make a difference. It was also evident that Temeka has already greatly impacted the Mercury organization in her short time in Phoenix. Multiple members of the Mercury organization came by to show their support for Temeka and her passion for giving back including head coach Corey Gaines, Mercury President and COO Jay Parry, General Manager Ann Meyers Drysdale, and VP of Game Entertainment Kip Helt.   One couldn't help but feel an enormous sense of pride and inspiration upon seeing Temeka's passion first-hand for helping others and making a difference in the Valley. For more information on how you can help Temeka and HOPE, please visit www.meekshope.org. [image]On Saturday August 29th, Temeka Johnson hosted her "Night of HOPE" event at US Airways Center with one goal in mind - to learn more about what is needed in the Phoenix community that her foundation can support and help. Meek's H.O.P.E. (Heaven Opens People's Eyes) is largely centered around improving the lives of others through increasing self-esteem, encouraging physical activity, and making a difference in local communities as a whole. However, the driving mission behind much of the organization's commitments and goals is simply providing hope to others in such a trying time. "I've been fortunate enough to be able to inspire hope in others with what I've been able to do on the basketball court," Temeka said in a special appearance after the Connecticut game. "A lot of it is based on my size and values. We want to really focus on helping the community find hope now in Phoenix." Meek's HOPE is active in the community in a number of ways and has made a key decision to help underprivileged children find hope and better their lives. She offers the Jewel Johnson Teacher Scholarship, in honor of her grandmother, to deserving students from Louisiana or attending Louisiana institutions. In addition, Meek's HOPE has adopted schools to help with projects, mentoring, and fundraising. HOPE also sponsors area youth to receive personal hygiene makeovers for both girls and boys, works with local schools and agencies to identify organizational needs, and hosts "A Very Meek Christmas" for local youth where HOPE and Temeka take them on a Christmas shopping spree. Being new to the Phoenix community, the theme of the event was largely a sounding board where Meek and agency representatives were able to receive important information on the needs in the local community. It clearly impacted Temeka, upon hearing what could be done, that she and HOPE have a plethora of opportunities to make a difference. It was also evident that Temeka has already greatly impacted the Mercury organization in her short time in Phoenix. Multiple members of the Mercury organization came by to show their support for Temeka and her passion for giving back including head coach Corey Gaines, Mercury President and COO Jay Parry, General Manager Ann Meyers Drysdale, and VP of Game Entertainment Kip Helt.   One couldn't help but feel an enormous sense of pride and inspiration upon seeing Temeka's passion first-hand for helping others and making a difference in the Valley. For more information on how you can help Temeka and HOPE, please visit www.meekshope.org. Tue, 01 Sep 2009 03:10:04 GMT http://server.cafemerc.com/_Temeka-Johnsons-Night-of-HOPE/BLOG/620102/46100.html BenYork 2009-09-01T03:10:04Z Players CafeMerc [image]On Saturday August 29th, Temeka Johnson hosted her "Night of HOPE" event at US Airways Center with one goal in mind - to learn more about what is needed in the Phoenix community that her foundation can support and help. Meek's H.O.P.E. (Heaven Opens People's Eyes) is largely centered around improving the lives of others through increasing self-esteem, encouraging physical activity, and making a difference in local communities as a whole. However, the driving mission behind much of the organization's commitments and goals is simply providing hope to others in such a trying time. "I've been fortunate enough to be able to inspire hope in others with what I've been able to do on the basketball court," Temeka said in a special appearance after the Connecticut game. "A lot of it is based on my size and values. We want to really focus on helping the community find hope now in Phoenix." Meek's HOPE is active in the community in a number of ways and has made a key decision to help underprivileged children find hope and better their lives. She offers the Jewel Johnson Teacher Scholarship, in honor of her grandmother, to deserving students from Louisiana or attending Louisiana institutions. In addition, Meek's HOPE has adopted schools to help with projects, mentoring, and fundraising. HOPE also sponsors area youth to receive personal hygiene makeovers for both girls and boys, works with local schools and agencies to identify organizational needs, and hosts "A Very Meek Christmas" for local youth where HOPE and Temeka take them on a Christmas shopping spree. Being new to the Phoenix community, the theme of the event was largely a sounding board where Meek and agency representatives were able to receive important information on the needs in the local community. It clearly impacted Temeka, upon hearing what could be done, that she and HOPE have a plethora of opportunities to make a difference. It was also evident that Temeka has already greatly impacted the Mercury organization in her short time in Phoenix. Multiple members of the Mercury organization came by to show their support for Temeka and her passion for giving back including head coach Corey Gaines, Mercury President and COO Jay Parry, General Manager Ann Meyers Drysdale, and VP of Game Entertainment Kip Helt.   One couldn't help but feel an enormous sense of pride and inspiration upon seeing Temeka's passion first-hand for helping others and making a difference in the Valley. For more information on how you can help Temeka and HOPE, please visit www.meekshope.org. johnson, mercury, phoenix, players, temeka nonadult false Temeka Johnson's Night of H.O.P.E. text blog johnson,mercury,phoenix,players,temeka 1303 0 0.0 http://server.cafemerc.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=8194234&as=46100 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/46100/photos/PHOTO_4277610_46100_8194234_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 Players 0 620102 8194234 MVP 2004 http://server.cafemerc.com/_Resilient-Mercury-Beat-Sun-95-84/BLOG/599727/46100.html With a healthy Nicole Ohlde, and Penny Taylor quickly returning to form, the Mercury are able to thwart opposing teams with multiple variations on not just the offensive end of the floor, but also the defensive end.Phoenix can now play whatever style is needed to get a victory. If teams want to throw size at them, they can counter with a lineup of Ohlde, Cappie, Diana, Penny, and Le'coe whick make them one of the bigger teams in the league. If teams want to play small ball, Meek can lead the charge with a smaller lineup with Tangela at the 5 position. Either way, they have the tools and abilities to beat you in multiple ways.The Mercury got off to another slow start, like they did in the Sparks game, as the Sun came out to an early 15-4 lead. At that point, Diana Taurasi started to heat up scoring 7 straight points to put the Mercury back in the game down just 8 with over 4 minutes still to play. Phoenx got open shots and out on the break, but weren't able to convert them into points early on. Nicole Ohlde really helped the Mercury down low with an intense effort on the defensive end, and also more activity on the offensive end. She looked noticeably more active and had that extra pep in her step that was very encouraging to see as the Mercury head into the post-season. Penny Taylor continued her solid from the Sparks game with a perfect 2/2 from the floor and 6 points. At the end of the first, the Sun led the Mercury in a high scoring game 35-28.It certainly didn't help the Mercury's high-octane offense that 23 fouls were called in the 1st quarter. When this happens, the Mercury aren't able to get into a consistent rhythm or into a consistent frame of mind on either end of the court.The Sun started to cool off as a team in the 2nd quarter, but then again, so did the Mercury. It wasn't until the 5:00 minute mark until the Sun became stifled with Phoenix's more physical defense and focus on the offensive boards that the game truly became competitive. With about 3:00 left in the half, the Mercury's ball movement really improved which led to Le'coe Willingham putting the Mercury up by 1 at the foul line. Though it won't show up in the box score, Nicole Ohlde played her best half of basketball in a Phoenix uniform with her interior defense and ability to open things up along the perimeter for the Mercury to go along with her 5 points and 5 rebounds at the half.The 3rd quarter once again started a bit stagnant for the Mercury with the Sun tying the game at 58 a piece with just over 7 minutes left. Phoenix had a good amount of opportunities that they just weren't able to convert into points, including an unusual amount of missed layups. Also, we saw the pace of play slow down considerably with (roughly) 972 fouls called in the quarter (note - this may or may not be a huge exaggeration). In all seriousness, however, it prevents the Mercury from playing their game and severely limits their superiority over the opposition. Regardless, the Mercury were able to grind the quarter out and headed into the 4th tied at 71 with Connecticut.Phoenix stormed out of the gates in the 4th quarter with a noticeable increase in their energy level scoring the first 6 points in just over 1 minute of play. More importantly, this finally got the crowd more involved in the game and led to a panicking Sun team...for about :30 seconds until Anete Jekabsone-Zogota hit two 3's in a row to put the Sun within 1 with 7:02 left in the game. The Sun took the lead after 4 Lindsay Whalen free-throws with a huge 9-2 run to put the momentum back in the Sun's favor. That was until Temeka Johnson hit a three to put the Mercury up by 2 followed by a Diana Taurasi jumper (after 3 straight misses) to bring the lead to 4. Connecticut cut into the lead with another jumper by Jekabsone-Zogota but Penny Taylor drilled a 3 to increase the Mercury lead back to 3 with just under 3:00 minutes left, followed by 2 ft's and a pass to Nicole Ohlde for a 7 point Phoenix lead with just over 1 minute remaining and they never looked back from there - 95-84 Mercury win.Perhaps the most encouraging portion of tonight's game was the bench play. "I have Penny and DB coming off the bench and playing hard that give me points," Gaines said after the game. "You always chalk up points for Cappie and Dee but those bench points are big for us. Ohlde is now in that mix, so you give me 30 points off the bench, it's pretty tough to beat."What really ended up sealing the deal for the Mercury tonight was their multiple combinations they threw at the Sun defensively. "It came to a point where we were playing really well and they were too, we just had to buckle down on the defensive end," Taurasi said. "We just had to limit some of the shots in the last half of the quarter, and I think we did that."The Mercury once again proved how resilient they are after falling behind early. "That was a tough game," Cappie Pondexter said. "We had to fight that one out all the way to the end. Connecticut had an edge I'm sure because we beat them pretty badly in Connecticut, so I'm sure they came in focused but we were able to battle it out to the end and come away with a win."More coverage on Temeka Johnson's "Night of HOPE" event is coming in the next day or so and a huge "thank you" goes out to Temeka for the invite - she is doing some truly amazing things with her foundation.The Mercury next take on the Shock, in Detroit, on Tuesday. With a healthy Nicole Ohlde, and Penny Taylor quickly returning to form, the Mercury are able to thwart opposing teams with multiple variations on not just the offensive end of the floor, but also the defensive end.Phoenix can now play whatever style is needed to get a victory. If teams want to throw size at them, they can counter with a lineup of Ohlde, Cappie, Diana, Penny, and Le'coe whick make them one of the bigger teams in the league. If teams want to play small ball, Meek can lead the charge with a smaller lineup with Tangela at the 5 position. Either way, they have the tools and abilities to beat you in multiple ways.The Mercury got off to another slow start, like they did in the Sparks game, as the Sun came out to an early 15-4 lead. At that point, Diana Taurasi started to heat up scoring 7 straight points to put the Mercury back in the game down just 8 with over 4 minutes still to play. Phoenx got open shots and out on the break, but weren't able to convert them into points early on. Nicole Ohlde really helped the Mercury down low with an intense effort on the defensive end, and also more activity on the offensive end. She looked noticeably more active and had that extra pep in her step that was very encouraging to see as the Mercury head into the post-season. Penny Taylor continued her solid from the Sparks game with a perfect 2/2 from the floor and 6 points. At the end of the first, the Sun led the Mercury in a high scoring game 35-28.It certainly didn't help the Mercury's high-octane offense that 23 fouls were called in the 1st quarter. When this happens, the Mercury aren't able to get into a consistent rhythm or into a consistent frame of mind on either end of the court.The Sun started to cool off as a team in the 2nd quarter, but then again, so did the Mercury. It wasn't until the 5:00 minute mark until the Sun became stifled with Phoenix's more physical defense and focus on the offensive boards that the game truly became competitive. With about 3:00 left in the half, the Mercury's ball movement really improved which led to Le'coe Willingham putting the Mercury up by 1 at the foul line. Though it won't show up in the box score, Nicole Ohlde played her best half of basketball in a Phoenix uniform with her interior defense and ability to open things up along the perimeter for the Mercury to go along with her 5 points and 5 rebounds at the half.The 3rd quarter once again started a bit stagnant for the Mercury with the Sun tying the game at 58 a piece with just over 7 minutes left. Phoenix had a good amount of opportunities that they just weren't able to convert into points, including an unusual amount of missed layups. Also, we saw the pace of play slow down considerably with (roughly) 972 fouls called in the quarter (note - this may or may not be a huge exaggeration). In all seriousness, however, it prevents the Mercury from playing their game and severely limits their superiority over the opposition. Regardless, the Mercury were able to grind the quarter out and headed into the 4th tied at 71 with Connecticut.Phoenix stormed out of the gates in the 4th quarter with a noticeable increase in their energy level scoring the first 6 points in just over 1 minute of play. More importantly, this finally got the crowd more involved in the game and led to a panicking Sun team...for about :30 seconds until Anete Jekabsone-Zogota hit two 3's in a row to put the Sun within 1 with 7:02 left in the game. The Sun took the lead after 4 Lindsay Whalen free-throws with a huge 9-2 run to put the momentum back in the Sun's favor. That was until Temeka Johnson hit a three to put the Mercury up by 2 followed by a Diana Taurasi jumper (after 3 straight misses) to bring the lead to 4. Connecticut cut into the lead with another jumper by Jekabsone-Zogota but Penny Taylor drilled a 3 to increase the Mercury lead back to 3 with just under 3:00 minutes left, followed by 2 ft's and a pass to Nicole Ohlde for a 7 point Phoenix lead with just over 1 minute remaining and they never looked back from there - 95-84 Mercury win.Perhaps the most encouraging portion of tonight's game was the bench play. "I have Penny and DB coming off the bench and playing hard that give me points," Gaines said after the game. "You always chalk up points for Cappie and Dee but those bench points are big for us. Ohlde is now in that mix, so you give me 30 points off the bench, it's pretty tough to beat."What really ended up sealing the deal for the Mercury tonight was their multiple combinations they threw at the Sun defensively. "It came to a point where we were playing really well and they were too, we just had to buckle down on the defensive end," Taurasi said. "We just had to limit some of the shots in the last half of the quarter, and I think we did that."The Mercury once again proved how resilient they are after falling behind early. "That was a tough game," Cappie Pondexter said. "We had to fight that one out all the way to the end. Connecticut had an edge I'm sure because we beat them pretty badly in Connecticut, so I'm sure they came in focused but we were able to battle it out to the end and come away with a win."More coverage on Temeka Johnson's "Night of HOPE" event is coming in the next day or so and a huge "thank you" goes out to Temeka for the invite - she is doing some truly amazing things with her foundation.The Mercury next take on the Shock, in Detroit, on Tuesday. Sun, 30 Aug 2009 06:20:08 GMT http://server.cafemerc.com/_Resilient-Mercury-Beat-Sun-95-84/BLOG/599727/46100.html BenYork 2009-08-30T06:20:08Z Players CafeMerc With a healthy Nicole Ohlde, and Penny Taylor quickly returning to form, the Mercury are able to thwart opposing teams with multiple variations on not just the offensive end of the floor, but also the defensive end.Phoenix can now play whatever style is needed to get a victory. If teams want to throw size at them, they can counter with a lineup of Ohlde, Cappie, Diana, Penny, and Le'coe whick make them one of the bigger teams in the league. If teams want to play small ball, Meek can lead the charge with a smaller lineup with Tangela at the 5 position. Either way, they have the tools and abilities to beat you in multiple ways.The Mercury got off to another slow start, like they did in the Sparks game, as the Sun came out to an early 15-4 lead. At that point, Diana Taurasi started to heat up scoring 7 straight points to put the Mercury back in the game down just 8 with over 4 minutes still to play. Phoenx got open shots and out on the break, but weren't able to convert them into points early on. Nicole Ohlde really helped the Mercury down low with an intense effort on the defensive end, and also more activity on the offensive end. She looked noticeably more active and had that extra pep in her step that was very encouraging to see as the Mercury head into the post-season. Penny Taylor continued her solid from the Sparks game with a perfect 2/2 from the floor and 6 points. At the end of the first, the Sun led the Mercury in a high scoring game 35-28.It certainly didn't help the Mercury's high-octane offense that 23 fouls were called in the 1st quarter. When this happens, the Mercury aren't able to get into a consistent rhythm or into a consistent frame of mind on either end of the court.The Sun started to cool off as a team in the 2nd quarter, but then again, so did the Mercury. It wasn't until the 5:00 minute mark until the Sun became stifled with Phoenix's more physical defense and focus on the offensive boards that the game truly became competitive. With about 3:00 left in the half, the Mercury's ball movement really improved which led to Le'coe Willingham putting the Mercury up by 1 at the foul line. Though it won't show up in the box score, Nicole Ohlde played her best half of basketball in a Phoenix uniform with her interior defense and ability to open things up along the perimeter for the Mercury to go along with her 5 points and 5 rebounds at the half.The 3rd quarter once again started a bit stagnant for the Mercury with the Sun tying the game at 58 a piece with just over 7 minutes left. Phoenix had a good amount of opportunities that they just weren't able to convert into points, including an unusual amount of missed layups. Also, we saw the pace of play slow down considerably with (roughly) 972 fouls called in the quarter (note - this may or may not be a huge exaggeration). In all seriousness, however, it prevents the Mercury from playing their game and severely limits their superiority over the opposition. Regardless, the Mercury were able to grind the quarter out and headed into the 4th tied at 71 with Connecticut.Phoenix stormed out of the gates in the 4th quarter with a noticeable increase in their energy level scoring the first 6 points in just over 1 minute of play. More importantly, this finally got the crowd more involved in the game and led to a panicking Sun team...for about :30 seconds until Anete Jekabsone-Zogota hit two 3's in a row to put the Sun within 1 with 7:02 left in the game. The Sun took the lead after 4 Lindsay Whalen free-throws with a huge 9-2 run to put the momentum back in the Sun's favor. That was until Temeka Johnson hit a three to put the Mercury up by 2 followed by a Diana Taurasi jumper (after 3 straight misses) to bring the lead to 4. Connecticut cut into the lead with another jumper by Jekabsone-Zogota but Penny Taylor drilled a 3 to increase the Mercury lead back to 3 with just under 3:00 minutes left, followed by 2 ft's and a pass to Nicole Ohlde for a 7 point Phoenix lead with just over 1 minute remaining and they never looked back from there - 95-84 Mercury win.Perhaps the most encouraging portion of tonight's game was the bench play. "I have Penny and DB coming off the bench and playing hard that give me points," Gaines said after the game. "You always chalk up points for Cappie and Dee but those bench points are big for us. Ohlde is now in that mix, so you give me 30 points off the bench, it's pretty tough to beat."What really ended up sealing the deal for the Mercury tonight was their multiple combinations they threw at the Sun defensively. "It came to a point where we were playing really well and they were too, we just had to buckle down on the defensive end," Taurasi said. "We just had to limit some of the shots in the last half of the quarter, and I think we did that."The Mercury once again proved how resilient they are after falling behind early. "That was a tough game," Cappie Pondexter said. "We had to fight that one out all the way to the end. Connecticut had an edge I'm sure because we beat them pretty badly in Connecticut, so I'm sure they came in focused but we were able to battle it out to the end and come away with a win."More coverage on Temeka Johnson's "Night of HOPE" event is coming in the next day or so and a huge "thank you" goes out to Temeka for the invite - she is doing some truly amazing things with her foundation.The Mercury next take on the Shock, in Detroit, on Tuesday. players nonadult false Resilient Mercury Beat Sun, 95-84 text blog players 481 0 0.0 http://server.cafemerc.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=8194234&as=46100 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/46100/photos/PHOTO_4277610_46100_8194234_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 Players 0 599727 8194234 MVP 2004 http://server.cafemerc.com/_Mercury-Sun-Game-Preview/BLOG/599433/46100.html After such an impressive win over the Los Angeles Sparks on Thursday night, the Mercury once again face another difficult team in the Connecticut Sun Saturday evening at US Airways Center.The Sun have shown signs of brilliance this season but have sorely missed leading scorer Asjha Jones who will not be with the team for another 2 weeks or so with an Achilles' Tendon injury. Lindsay Whalen has certainly done her part averaging an impressive 16 points and 7 assists in Jones absence, but the Sun still find themselves dangerously close of losing a playoff spot with 4 teams hot on their trail.Still, the Mercury have a challenge ahead of them with as hard as Mike Thibault's team plays on a nightly basis. The Sun are a very good defensive team holding opponents to an average of just 42% from the floor, an average of 75 points, and force about 15 turnovers per game.Offensively for the Sun, they are also a good passing team with a 2nd best assists per night average (trailing the Mercury) of 17.8. Their currently 4th best in the league averaging about 77 points per night and crash the offensive glass getting over 10 offensive rebounds a game.Phoenix comes into the game with a statement-making win over the Sparks as we saw the Mercury play very good transition defense, crash the boards offensively and defensively, and distribute the scoring throughout the entire team which makes them so deadly.For the Mercury to win, there cannot be a letdown or lackadaisical approach to the game. Here are the keys for a Mighty Mercury victory:Rebounding: As we saw in the Sparks game, the more rebounds Phoenix has the better chance they have of getting out on the break and putting up their 90+ points. Containing Lindsay Whalen: The Sun go as Whalen goes. If the Mercury can find a way to prevent her from getting her teammates involved, Phoenix should run away with this one. DT3: Diana is due for one of her amazing shooting nights, and I'd expect that to happen against a depleted Sun team. Meek: When Meek is finding her teammates open and knocking down shots (which is basically every game) the Mercury are darn near unbeatable.I'll have a recap with player interviews and quotes after the game Saturday night. Go MERC! After such an impressive win over the Los Angeles Sparks on Thursday night, the Mercury once again face another difficult team in the Connecticut Sun Saturday evening at US Airways Center.The Sun have shown signs of brilliance this season but have sorely missed leading scorer Asjha Jones who will not be with the team for another 2 weeks or so with an Achilles' Tendon injury. Lindsay Whalen has certainly done her part averaging an impressive 16 points and 7 assists in Jones absence, but the Sun still find themselves dangerously close of losing a playoff spot with 4 teams hot on their trail.Still, the Mercury have a challenge ahead of them with as hard as Mike Thibault's team plays on a nightly basis. The Sun are a very good defensive team holding opponents to an average of just 42% from the floor, an average of 75 points, and force about 15 turnovers per game.Offensively for the Sun, they are also a good passing team with a 2nd best assists per night average (trailing the Mercury) of 17.8. Their currently 4th best in the league averaging about 77 points per night and crash the offensive glass getting over 10 offensive rebounds a game.Phoenix comes into the game with a statement-making win over the Sparks as we saw the Mercury play very good transition defense, crash the boards offensively and defensively, and distribute the scoring throughout the entire team which makes them so deadly.For the Mercury to win, there cannot be a letdown or lackadaisical approach to the game. Here are the keys for a Mighty Mercury victory:Rebounding: As we saw in the Sparks game, the more rebounds Phoenix has the better chance they have of getting out on the break and putting up their 90+ points. Containing Lindsay Whalen: The Sun go as Whalen goes. If the Mercury can find a way to prevent her from getting her teammates involved, Phoenix should run away with this one. DT3: Diana is due for one of her amazing shooting nights, and I'd expect that to happen against a depleted Sun team. Meek: When Meek is finding her teammates open and knocking down shots (which is basically every game) the Mercury are darn near unbeatable.I'll have a recap with player interviews and quotes after the game Saturday night. Go MERC! Sat, 29 Aug 2009 22:51:32 GMT http://server.cafemerc.com/_Mercury-Sun-Game-Preview/BLOG/599433/46100.html BenYork 2009-08-29T22:51:32Z Players CafeMerc After such an impressive win over the Los Angeles Sparks on Thursday night, the Mercury once again face another difficult team in the Connecticut Sun Saturday evening at US Airways Center.The Sun have shown signs of brilliance this season but have sorely missed leading scorer Asjha Jones who will not be with the team for another 2 weeks or so with an Achilles' Tendon injury. Lindsay Whalen has certainly done her part averaging an impressive 16 points and 7 assists in Jones absence, but the Sun still find themselves dangerously close of losing a playoff spot with 4 teams hot on their trail.Still, the Mercury have a challenge ahead of them with as hard as Mike Thibault's team plays on a nightly basis. The Sun are a very good defensive team holding opponents to an average of just 42% from the floor, an average of 75 points, and force about 15 turnovers per game.Offensively for the Sun, they are also a good passing team with a 2nd best assists per night average (trailing the Mercury) of 17.8. Their currently 4th best in the league averaging about 77 points per night and crash the offensive glass getting over 10 offensive rebounds a game.Phoenix comes into the game with a statement-making win over the Sparks as we saw the Mercury play very good transition defense, crash the boards offensively and defensively, and distribute the scoring throughout the entire team which makes them so deadly.For the Mercury to win, there cannot be a letdown or lackadaisical approach to the game. Here are the keys for a Mighty Mercury victory:Rebounding: As we saw in the Sparks game, the more rebounds Phoenix has the better chance they have of getting out on the break and putting up their 90+ points. Containing Lindsay Whalen: The Sun go as Whalen goes. If the Mercury can find a way to prevent her from getting her teammates involved, Phoenix should run away with this one. DT3: Diana is due for one of her amazing shooting nights, and I'd expect that to happen against a depleted Sun team. Meek: When Meek is finding her teammates open and knocking down shots (which is basically every game) the Mercury are darn near unbeatable.I'll have a recap with player interviews and quotes after the game Saturday night. Go MERC! players nonadult false Mercury-Sun Game Preview text blog players 177 0 0.0 http://server.cafemerc.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=8194234&as=46100 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/46100/photos/PHOTO_4277610_46100_8194234_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 Players 0 599433 8194234 MVP 2004