STILL BORN TO RUN? HAS THE WNBA CAUGHT UP WITH THE MERCURY?

                                          MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
                     Taylor and Dupree Celebrate Game 3 Victory vs Storm

Anyone familiar with the WNBA knows that it doesn't take the Phoenix Mercury too long to excite a crowd.  They're like 100 meter dash runners with a basketball.  At their best they appear to be a female version of the Lakers' Showtime -- hooping with end to end relentlessness.  I recall a game last season that had Kara Braxton huffing and puffing trying to catch up -- and she herself was playing for the Mercury at the time!  A few weeks later she was dealt to New York in a trade both Coach Cory Gaines and shooting guard Diana Taurasi slyly criticized.  Clearly, keeping pace with the league's most demanding offense isn't for everyone.  It's a run and gun attack that is intense, aggressive, and ... unforgiving.  During this past Sunday's training camp, several of the Mercury's new players threw up their breakfast after a brutal scrimmage. 

And yet, it's also a style of play that's produced two championships and perhaps more importantly revolutionized the WNBA, injecting a heavy, much needed dose of entertainment while raising final point totals to all time highs.  Founded by Coach Paul Westhead and fostered by Gaines, this lightening pace has been the Mercury trademark for the last six seasons.  But it's come at a price.  The emphasis on offense has made the team's defense more and more vulnerable every year.  They've gone through inexplicable rough patches, had roller coaster stretches, losing games to teams less celebrated but more formidable at protecting the basket.  So the question is has the rest of the league finally caught up with Phoenix?

                                   

                                           THE STATUE OF MERCURY
                                             Winning it All in '09

I asked Gaines whether he would make defense a larger and broader part of their overall game plan.  He responded by saying that newly minted assistant coach Earl Cureton was hired to help on that end.  But he also made it crystal clear that the Westhead system stays put.  I have no qualms with that at all.  Taurasi and small forward Penny Taylor (who will miss this season due to a damaged ACL) have been more than fun to watch.  Add to that perennial Sixth Woman DeWanna Bonner and the tough Candice Dupree.  But the fact that the Mercury allow the most points season in and out tends to gnaw at the credibility of their mission to win.  Had it not been for Taurasi's explosive scoring ability it would be tough for teams to respect Phoenix giving up roughly eighty five points per forty minute contest.  It tends to make players work harder than they should.  Concentrating on forcing a turnover, serving up the swat or getting the steal can be just as crowd pleasing as the lay up at the end of a last second fast break.  In fact they can only make an offense work more efficiently and allow players to find their touch again if they start a game poorly.  Having stated that, Gaines' "Rover" defense has produced positive results here and there -- just not enough.  With Taylor gone,  I personally don't see the Mercury finishing any higher than they did last year performing at the same level.  They need a stopper, a no-nonsense presence in the middle who can rack up rejections. 

                                                             COREY'S ANGELS
                         The Mercury's Big Three: Taylor, Taurasi, And Dupree

During this year's draft, the Mercury selected Ohio Buckeye point guard Samantha Prahalis.   I like her a good deal.  She's quick, accurate, and plays with flair to spare.  The consensus is she should fit very well into Gaines' master plan.   I see it, but I also think they should've recruited a big who has the legs to not only maintain the Mercury pace but also dominate in the paint.   What made Prahalis a necessity is the trading of Temeka Johnson to Tulsa.  The thing is Prahalis, while quite impressive, doesn't seem like that much of an improvement -- especially on defense.  For starters, she's a small 5'7" (and that official listing is being generous I think.).  And yes, Temeka is 5'3", and did nab Rookie Of the Year and did help Phoenix take home their second trophy.  But she was also eaten alive on more than one occasion by the likes of more than a few guards, not all of them star caliber.  Will that change with Prahalis in her place?  We shall see. 

                                                 POINTS TAKEN 
                            Old Guard Johnson and New Guard Prahalis

The Mercury hasn't won a title in three years.  Not bad, but for a franchise with such high standards it can sometimes seem like five.  One thing is certain: The WNBA has long become accustomed to their offense and is exploiting their weakenesses.  Because of this I think it'll be a few seasons before Mercury is in the Finals again.  But I like being proven wrong.

- WNBA Jones   
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