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mb

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/mercury/articles/2008/07/18/20080718mercury.html

Quote: Mercury rookie forward LaToya Pringle said the Mercury's struggles serve as a reminder that they cannot overlook the Dream.

"It's not like we're in first place looking down on everybody," she said. "We need every game right now. When you sleep on a team like that, that's when you know they'll sneak up and beat you. We're not going to take them lightly. We're fighting for the playoffs."

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/121147

Quote: Mercury rookie Pringle rounding into form

Quote: "When she plays well like (Thursday) night, it makes everyone’s job easier,” Taurasi said.

Quote: Scouting report: Dream – Atlanta, which played at Sacramento on Friday night, had won three of five after starting the season with a WNBA-record 17 straight losses. Betty Lennox came into Friday sixth in the league in scoring at 18.8. The Dream are averaging 74.7 points per game while allowing 84.8, second only to the Mercury.
Mercury – Phoenix is looking to win consecutive games for the first time since its four-game winning streak concluded July 1 at Atlanta. After scoring in double figures just four times in the first 16 games of the season, guard Kelly Miller has reached double digits in five of the last six games. She is averaging 12.3 points over that span, more than four points higher than her career average (8.0).

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mb · Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 10:33 am Post subject:

http://www.wnba.com/games/20080719/ATLPHO/preview.html

Quote: The Mercury have five games left before the Olympic break, and are hoping to use this stretch to regain their championship form.

"A good week's stretch in which we've shown we can play at that level and we're back in the race," Mercury star Diana Taurasi said.

The Mercury averaged 87.3 points during a three-game losing streak, but the league's highest-scoring team needed an even bigger output to snap the skid with a 99-92 win over Los Angeles on Thursday. Taurasi and Cappie Pondexter combined for 50 points despite making only 12 of 39 shots (30.8 percent).

"If we play similar to that, we'll be just fine," Phoenix coach Corey Gaines said. "We didn't shoot well, we didn't play great. We just played hard."

Pondexter did make all four of her 3-point attempts, and has made at least three in four straight games. She is averaging 27.7 points over her last three contests.

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lisa · Joined: 25 Mar 2004 Posts: 62 Location: South Phoenix

Quite a game-- and nice to see so many contributions from so many players. Brooke and Allie got some minutes, and we didn't let Atlanta back in.

1carol · Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Posts: 1049 Location: Phoenix AZ

This article was the best of several I read. Bold added for emphasis
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/121216
Quote: Apparently the WNBA’s most powerful offense has a hidden sixth gear. The Mercury debuted it Saturday night when they played at a pace that has to be considered frenetic even by their standards.

Phoenix fired a league-record 97 shot attempts against the expansion Atlanta Dream and came away with a wire-to-wire 110-84 victory at US Airways Center.

“That’s what they’re supposed to do,” coach Corey Gaines said.

The WNBA’s previous record for shot attempts was 96, but the Mercury needed double overtime to reach that total last year against Connecticut.

The regulation record was 88 set by Los Angeles in a game against Phoenix, also last year.

Circumstances dictated that the Mercury were likely to have their way all night. Atlanta (3-21), which is second in the league in points allowed to Phoenix, was making its final stop on a six-game road trip and playing for the second time in as many nights.

“It would have been easy to let down against a team like that,” said guard Cappie Pondexter, who had 17 points and a team-high seven rebounds.

“When you go out and play teams like that, you have to come out with all you have.”

That’s exactly what the Mercury did. Eleven players scored and six finished in double figures, both season highs.

Diana Taurasi led the charge with 21, her fourth straight 20-point game, matching a season high.

Phoenix also got 41 points from its bench, 20 coming from a pair of unlikely candidates. Guard Allie Quigley scored a career-high 11 points, and forward Brook Smith, who had seen only five minutes of action all season, finished with nine points in seven minutes on 4-of-4 shooting.

“Brook and Q made me look like an idiot because I haven’t played them all year,” said Gaines, who added both rookies may have earned themselves more time.

The Mercury (11-12), which scored a franchise record 38 points in the third quarter, won their second straight to complete a winning homestand.

“My realistic goal was to get two out of the three. Of course you want three, but we got two,” Gaines said.

Phoenix, which has four games before the Olympics break, is within half a game of fourth place in the West.

Box Score: http://www.wnba.com/games/20080719/ATLPHO/boxscore.html

mb · Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 4:23 pm Post subject:

The Mercury defeating the Dream was expected.

Houston beating L.A. and Minnesota beating San Antonio was not expected.

Darn it, the Western Conference continues to be a battle.

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mb · Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 5:34 pm Post subject:

Washington beat Seattle, but Sacramento held off Detroit.

mb · Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 5:39 pm Post subject:

http://www.wnba.com/games/20080719/ATLPHO/recap.html

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/mercury/articles/2008/07/19/20080719mercury.html

Quote: The Mercury still sit a half-game out of the fourth and final Western Conference playoff spot, which is shared by Sacramento and Minnesota. The Mercury are tied for last place with the Houston Comets, who defeated the Los Angeles Sparks on Saturday.

"The West is going to be ugly," Mercury coach Corey Gaines said.

Quote: The Mercury have just four games remaining before the WNBA breaks for the Olympics. Two of those will be played at home, although they are just 6-5 when playing at US Airways Center.

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mb · Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 5:55 pm Post subject:

Others relate the story quite well...so from RebKell, some thoughts on the game and ensuing karaoke party:

from SuziQ:
Quote: I won't complain too much about the FT disparity yet again, but it goes a long way towards explaining why Oga fouled out. The last call on her was a beautiful open court move to the basket that got called VERY incorrectly as an offensive foul on her. Was not. She had some good damn minutes, ref's propensity to whistle stupidly notwithstanding.

We dominated a team we should have dominated. Felt good. But I do like Atlanta - they'd be much better w/ a better coach.

It was nice to see Jen Lacy get her ring. Her Mom was sitting in front of us.

Also this was the annual Mercury Booster Club karaoke night at Marjele's. Hightlights I saw: Oga singing "YMCA" and the only thing in English was "young man" and "YMCA", Pringle singing "Proud Mary" w/ LeCoe and Barb as backup dancers channeling Tina Turner's moves, Barb singing "What Have You Done For Me Lately", LeCoe working the Beyonce thing, and Dee absolutely murdering Foreigner's "I've Been Waiting". I gotta hand it to them, they were really good sports. And I won a DT-autographed Wheaties box. All-in-all a good night.

from Caune:
Quote: tora11iu wrote:
Quote: Anybody go to the game? Wouldn't mind a nice report regarding the Merc? Seems like the bench played well from looking at box score, but wouldn't mind some details

LOL, most of us who went to the game then went on to the karaoke party...so I am in no condition to report anything except my ears are still bleeding from Dianas singing

more from SuziQ:
Quote: BSmith started out slowly, but once she had a chance to shake loose the splinters outta her ass and got over a few stupid mistakes, she began to show hints of why we keep her on the roster. Nice hook shot, not afraid to mix it up and charge in down low.

Allie got good after an equally jittery start. But she played solid D and wasn't shy about shooting either. Seems her Merc indoctrination is taking effect.

Pringle just continues to impress. Very busy on the low post, and doesn't back down from bigger threats or dirty play, as evidenced by her handling of the Monster Feenstra, and LLL/CP on Thursday.

Barb Farris actually tried a few slightly outside shots, so she must be getting the MercPost bug, too. But they were wide open, much like Le'Coe's 3 - ATL gave us lots of time when we rotated the ball well.

I am just tickled w/ Yuko Oga. Yes, she sometimes makes dumb mistakes, but she is SO fast, and SO aggressive on defense. Plus her release is quick and she's damn fearless. She gets smacked and just keeps goin' for it. She's enthusiastic and hard-working. I think she's a better back-up to Jen D. She moves the ball faster, shoots more, and doesn't dribble the clock down. JD's got some competition, and FWIW, she did not dress yesterday.

Maz looked much more confident w/ her stroke. She did much better on taking a short dribble to the side to get herself open for a better look at a 3. She either took what the Dream's D gave her or got just open enough.

I know that a game against a team struggling like Atlanta is a misnomer - we can't take for granted that wins will be this easy, nor that our bench will do as well. However, it does remind us that when we play consistent D, get good position and hit the boards, and feast on opponents' flaws (they all have a few), we can win. My wish is that the Mercury continues to rise as we move towards the O break.

from tora11iu:
Quote: Damn, Sacramento beats Detroit and has Atlanta next, Minnesota wins over San Antonio.... I guess be glad Seattle lost, but I'd like to see the other bottom dwellers lose instead I think. It just means Mercury have to control it themselves - important week, need to get crucial wins Tuesday against Houston, Thursday against Sacramento, and Friday against Seattle... this is going to be tough!

*bold and color added for emphasis

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mb · Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 6:15 pm Post subject:

My response to SuziQ's recap:

Great recap of the Karaoke night...the players looked great and were terrific sports. Great to see many Dream players in attendance as well, esp. former Mercury players Lacy and Strother.

Yuko's very attractive friend and I shared smiles during a great performance by a U of A football player, after which she stated in her very limited English, "I love Bob Marley!"

Caune, when she wasn't flailing around to "Supaman" with GAGirl was drooling over one of Yuko's other attracive friends.

Our WNBA ladies clean up very well...very classy and attractive ladies.

I will complain about the refs. There were bad calls both for and against us. After one horrible call that went my teams way, I found my self arguing the call just as adamantly as ones going against us.

Atlanta had 33 freethrow attempts to our 11 attempts. Mind you, we shoot a record 97 attempts and 42 of our points were IN the paint.

Penny Davis and Byron Jarrett had some poor calls. Towards the end of thegame, there were many ticky-tack fouls. After one of many bad calls by Roy Gulbeyan I shouted, "If you keep blowing your whistle, your 'Just for Men Hair Color' won't continue to last." Coach Gaines turns around and says, "Now that was funny!"

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MercuryBoFan · Joined: 29 Aug 2004 Posts: 258 Location: Glendale

Beating Atlanta was expected but finally Mercury basketball is being played. Houston will be looking for revenge so the ladies need to come out strong.

Go Mercury !