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Record: 13-3 (.812)
Place In Standings: First (+1.5 on Minnesota)
Points Per Game: 85.38 (1st)
Points Against: 77.38 (6th)
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At full strength the Phoenix Mercury are proving to be one of the toughest teams the WNBA has seen in years. Right now the team finds itself riding a seven game winning streak and have won nine out of their last ten games as we hit the middle point of the season. Last year at this time, with virtually the same roster, the Mercury were 9-7 and playing well.
They went to the Western Conference Finals.
This year they are playing significantly better.
Last week is a key indicator in the change in the team as they blew the Chicago Sky out of the gym at home in a fashion any potentially great team should do. Candice Dupree went off for the easiest looking 26 points and 14 rebounds I have ever seen. So smooth and easy. Then they outlasted a contender, albieit a struggling contender, in the Los Angeles Sparks on the road.
Speaking of Dupree, she became the 22nd player ever to score 4,000 points during that performance. Yeah, so much history, greatness, and awesomeness.
The team gets that kind of performance from Dupree, Penny Taylor, DeWanna Bonner, and other members of the cast nightly with someone stepping up based on the situation. Like a well oiled machine. The Mercury have the weapons to give Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner a great No. 3 option of a different name every game.
Speaking of Taurasi...
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Taurasi is 2nd All-Time in Scoring...
Here is the link to an awesome tribute video put together by the Mercury for Taurasi for after she became the 2nd All-Time leading Scorer in WNBA history.
To play teh "compare the WNBA to the NBA" game here let's look at where Taurasi would be at roughly 16,395 points and 3,555 assists if she played the same percentage of games in her career on an 82-game schedule. Her per game numbers are modest as well because of the minutes she can play (40 max rather than the 48 in the NBA), but after ten years here is how she would compare to the players she is most associated with at the NBA level:
Kobe Bryant after 10 seasons: 16,866 Points & 3,148 Assists
Steve Nash after 10 seasons: 9,495 Points & 5,006 Assists
With 10 NBA years she would be comparable to Kobe Bryant and with her demeanor, style, and swagger there has never been any question to me that Taurasi is the WNBA equivalent of Bryant over the years. Two weeks ago the Mercury Meter showcased Taurasi's case as the G.O.A.T. in WNBA History.
On a sidenote: Brittney Griner is No. 1 All-Time in dunking. She has three total WNBA dunks in two seasons, which is two more that the entire history of the WNBA Like every player and team since 1996 when the league began.
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...and Let's Compare The Mercury/Suns.
Alright, this was fun when it looked like the Mercury were going to be a fun team with a good record. Now we are seeing that this is a really, really good team with the potential to win it all. The Phoenix Suns were never that team last year, but were fun as hell.
Let's see how the teams compare at this stage in the season.
Through 16 games the Mercury are 13-3 (.812%) and are about 47% of the way through the season. That translates to about 39 NBA games, which, at that point, the Suns were struggling. They had lost five of seven (22-17, .564%) and were in the midst of an identity crisis without Eric Bledsoe. Don't worry (SPOILER ALERT) they found that identity and went on to win 48 games nearly making the playoffs.
So this Mercury team is a little better than the scrappy upstarts that surprised the league and captured the hearts of a fanbase. They are legit contenders. Suns fans, you are close. Hang in there and enjoy this awesome run by the Mercury!
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Upcoming Schedule
Wednesday vs. Seattle Storm at 12:30 p.m. AZ Time
Friday @ Chicago Sky at 5:30 p.m. AZ Time
Sunday vs. San Antonio Silver Stars at 3:00 p.m. AZ Time