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 Phoenix Mercury

Mercury Focusing on Themselves as Conference Finals Approach

September 21, 2015 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Phoenix Mercury News Release


How do you effectively prepare for the 2015 WNBA Western Conference Finals when you're not sure who you're facing?

For the Mercury, it's simple.

"We're just continuing to focus on what we can control," Sandy Brondello said. "Obviously we know we'll be playing the Lynx or the Sparks, but they are two very different teams. We're studying film and scouting them both, but right now our focus is on getting better as a team - and there's a lot we can improve on."

Phoenix returned to the practice floor Monday after advancing to the Western Conference Finals with two blowout victories over the Tulsa Shock. Needless to say, with the Lynx/Sparks series going to a third and deciding game on Tuesday night, the Mercury is more than thankful to have a few days in between games to prepare - even if they're not sure who they'll play just yet.

"It's big for us," Candice Dupree said. "We're still practicing and going hard, but just having a couple days to be home before the next round helps a lot - even just mentally."

In the Semifinals against the Shock, Brittney Griner turned in two dominant performances with cumulative totals of 41 points and 16 blocks. Prior to Game 1, BG had several days of rest to recharge her proverbial batteries; her subsequent on-court play was not a coincidence.

"It helps just to give our bodies a small break," Griner said. "We don't need a ton of time, even just a day to get in the gym and do some corrective work is huge. It's something we'll definitely take advantage of no matter who we play on Thursday."

Not knowing what team they're facing does make things a bit harder on the coaches, however. Sandy Brondello, Julie Hairgrove and Todd Troxel will pull double duty this week preparing equally for both teams until Tuesday night when they'll know for certain who their opponent will be.

Indeed, while the Mercury isn't taking either of their potential opponents lightly, there is a very clear sense of confidence in the lockerroom as evidenced by their Playoff mantra: "We're all we have. We're all we need."

"We have more work to do as a team so we can't be worried about who we'll play," DeWanna Bonner said. "We have to work to get better as individual and collectively as a team. Whoever it is [that we are playing], we'll be ready."


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