For those that are unaware, Rethinking Basketball is one of the finest basketball sites on the Internet. And by ‘finest’, I’m not talking about just WNBA, I literally mean it’s one of the best sites to get intelligent commentary on the game of basketball that you’ll see on the web today.

One of author Q McCall’s best pieces of late recaps the Mercury’s game against the Sparks this past Sunday, and just how effective the Mercury’s offense was. Even I took for granted damn near perfect it was…

I would encourage you to visit Rethinking Basketball not only for the entire article (of which I take several quotes from below) but also for the sheer amount of fantastic articles that encompass the site on a weekly basis.

Q writes..

It’s not just that the Mercury posted a season-high 36-point third quarter, that they managed to out-rebound the Sparks 40-31, or that they ran off 11 straight points to start the fourth quarter. It’s how they did it that is noteworthy.

Q couldn’t be more right, and it’s something I initially overlooked; though watching the game did have me shaking my head in disbelief throughout the entire 2nd half offensive onslaught.

After Bonner made the two free throws, the Mercury were up five. Then the shifting tide of momentum that the Sparks had seemingly held off for the previous three and a half minutes, swung completely in the Mercury’s favor.

What the Mercury did to the Sparks during the ensuing five and a half minute stretch spanning the 3rd and 4th quarters really cannot be measured, quantified, or even fully articulated without watching it.

To describe it as the Sparks “falling apart” would be to completely ignore that the Mercury got into a zone in which they seemed to be optimally coordinated as a team while almost effortlessly taking control of the game.

Q makes a fantastic point here; it’s not just that the Sparks fell apart mentally, it directly correlated with the unstoppable prowess of the Mercury’s offense. Though, as Corey Gaines has said all season, if the Mercury don’t rebound and finish the play on defense they simply cannot run. And not being able to run takes away the Mercury’s best asset.

What the Mercury did to the Sparks during that stretch was not just Mercury basketball at its best, but it was an almost perfect realization of what a fast paced offense should be. All the elements of what it takes to run successfully were on display: defense (to prevent the other team from making shots), rebounding (to initiate the fast break), and high percentage shots (to keep the pressure on the opposing defense).

Exactly. If the Mercury don’t do a good job defending, then they cannot run. This leads to rushed shots, slower offensive sets, and takes Phoenix out of their rhythm.

However, simply making defensive stops does not guarantee a good offensive possession. Phoenix has to pass the ball effectively and use Diana, Cappie, and Temeka’s play-making skills to create shots not only for themselves, but for their teammates.

Q sees it the same way…

There are at least three key reasons for the Mercury being so effective in the open court this season. First, the addition of Temeka Johnson has been perfect for the Mercury’s system. She not only has the speed and ball skills to get out on the break and find players in rhythm, but she can also spread the defense by hitting perimeter shots.

Second, the addition of Bonner was perfect for this team. Bonner is able to beat everyone down the court for easy baskets, which only enhances the Mercury attack. However, another key asset Bonner brings is offensive rebounding. Bonner had five offensive rebounds in the game, three of which came in the third quarter.

Third, the other major “addition” to the Mercury is Cappie Pondexter’s improvement as a facilitator. It is well known that Johnson and Taurasi are playmakers with great court vision, but Pondexter has been an outstanding playmaker in her own right this season. Whereas last season she spent a lot more time looking for her own shot, often literally bulldozing her way to the basket with her head down, this season, she’s looking to set up her teammates. Last night, she recorded a pure point rating of 5.74 to lead the team.

It’s clear that the Mercury have more of a unified front that is allowing them to beat teams in multiple ways. This season, however, we have truly seen glimpses of just how prolific and effective they can be when their defense leads to more offensive possessions.

Perhaps what is more mystifying, is that Corey Gaines (and multiple players) have repeatedly told me that they can still get better on the offensive end once they truly start to click.

Scary.

July 7th, 2009 8:02 PM