Phoenix Mercury 2019 thread

[Ronin]

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[BC867]

It's Wed. July 17th - 12:30 PM and the Mercury-Dallas game in Phoenix is on Fox Sports AZ.

Diana Taurasi, after playing limited minutes in her first game back vs. Connecticut on Friday,
did not play Sunday and is not playing today. She tweaked her back following the surgery.

At the end of the 1st quarter, the Mercury lead the Wings 21-17. The Wings are up by 3 at
the half. DeWanna Bonner, as is often the case, does the bulk of her scoring in the 2nd half.
Griner had 3 fouls in the 1st half and a quick 4th in the 3rd quarter.

The Wings dominated points in the paint and rebounds in the 1st half. Each team scored in
spurts and the Mercury leads by three after 3 quarters.

Dallas is smothering DeWanna Bonner and she barely got into double digit scoring.

But the Mercury hold on to win 69-64.

 

[thirty-two]

We have beat Dallas two games in a row, well done!

 

[BC867]

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Alas, the TV listing was wrong. Fox Sports AZ + was carrying the D-backs Spanish broadcast on Saturday, not the Mercury game. _______|

 

[BC867]

Saturday's back-to-back victory box score.

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[BC867]

The Mercury won its third in a row before the All Star break, with a big 4th quarter to beat Indiana 95-77. They had led by six at the end of the 3rd quarter.

The WNBA All Star game will be Saturday at 12:30 Phoenix time on ABC.

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[GatorAZ]

I heard on the radio they’re moving to the Madhouse. That’s a bad look for a professional team. Place old and ratty looking.

 

[BC867]

I heard on the radio they’re moving to the Madhouse. That’s a bad look for a professional team. Place old and ratty looking.

Temporarily while repairs are going on at Talking Stick Resort Arena.
Or as Kevin Ray would say, Talking Stick Resor Tarena.

Last I heard the Mercury was considering other arenas as well, such as ASU.

I wouldn't mind seeing the Mercury at the Madhouse on McDowell for old
time sake. Go, Sweet D!

I saw an intra-squad Suns game there a few years ago. It was fun!

 

[BC867]

I watched the game in L.A. on ESPN2 with the Mercury playing the red hot Sparks.

Brittney got her 23 or so points, but they smothered Bonner. Oh, how we miss Diana.

Inside or outside, we couldn't find the basket. Of course, L.A. is the hottest team
in the NBA. Las Vegas, picked by many to win it all has dropped to 3rd place.

 

[BC867]

A major brawl in Saturday's loss to Dallas, when the Mercury come to the defense of Brittney, who has been getting mauled game after game lately.

https://www.azcentral.com/story/spo...edge-mercury-game-dunk-near-brawl/1738616001/

 

[Yuma]

A major brawl in Saturday's loss to Dallas, when the Mercury come to the defense of Brittney, who has been getting mauled game after game lately.

https://www.azcentral.com/story/spo...edge-mercury-game-dunk-near-brawl/1738616001/

I missed that! I saw five were ejected. The ladies getting frisky!

 

[BC867]

I missed that! I saw five were ejected. The ladies getting frisky!

Brittney has been suspended for three games. And Diana for one. I wonder how they will administer that. I don't
believe DT is on the DL again, just not playing. But I could be wrong.

 

[Mainstreet]

The shocker for me is not the brawl but learning Brittney Griner is only making about $115,000 a season with the Mercury.

I know she plays in Russia as well but how can an WNBA star make such a small salary?

I had no idea women players were so underpaid.

"I'm not doing it for the money because we don't make enough and they want to fine me for every little thing," Griner said. "I'm getting techs for protecting myself in games and flagrants because they always only see me. They never see anything beforehand. I'm basically not getting paid this summer already (due to fines)."

Although that's an exaggeration, Griner, WNBA scoring leader, six-time All-Star and league MVP contender, is making close to the league maximum $115,000 with the Mercury this season. She makes a seven-figure salary with her Russian team UMMC Ekaterinburg during the WNBA's offseason.

https://www.azcentral.com/story/spo...wl-could-impact-her-future-league/1990765001/

 

[BC867]

It is Wed. the 14th, the first of three games of Griner's suspension.
Not too many Mercury games televised on my Cox Contour TV (2nd
from the top) package.

The Mercury severely understaffed. At one point, the Connecticut
Sun led by 20. But the Mercury fought back and got it down to 3
midway through the 4th quarter and lost by 7.

The Mercury have heart. 'Proud of them!

 

[Yuma]

It's a shame. Just like the women's soccer team, which is by far a more watchable soccer team than the men. Sponsors in Phoenix need to get behind the Mercury and help make up salary with promotions. Lots of old time NFL guys have stories of making it back when salaries were low, with businesses giving them off season jobs, commercials, etc., so they could make a livable salary.

 

[BC867]

It's a shame. Just like the women's soccer team, which is by far a more watchable soccer team than the men. Sponsors in Phoenix need to get behind the Mercury and help make up salary with promotions. Lots of old time NFL guys have stories of making it back when salaries were low, with businesses giving them off season jobs, commercials, etc., so they could make a livable salary.

Many play overseas during the WNBA off-season and get paid multi times more
than what they get paid in the States.

After the suspension, Brittney Griner announced that she is considering retiring
from the WNBA and playing strictly overseas.

A couple of seasons ago, Taurasi's Russian team paid her relatively big bucks
to sit out an entire Mercury season.

They play in the WNBA only out of loyalty to our country.

 

[BC867]

It's Sunday Aug. 25th and Fox Sports joins the Mercury game in progress
after the D-backs post-game show.

The Merc come on to lead by 5 at the end of the 1st quarter. Brittney is
back and scoring. And Diana is back for her second game of the season.

Diana had five free throws in her one game earlier in the season. And now
she scores her first bucket.

Two Chicago players with eight rebounds in the first quarter. And many
offensive boards. The Mercury is deficient in rebounding with Griner's
lack of success. Bonner can't carry the rebounding from Small Forward.

And Chicago is keeping Griner from scoring so far half way through the
2nd quarter. But she winds up with 20 for the half. I hope she doesn't
shut down in the 2nd half.

At halftime, the Mercury lead by 8. Diana has over ten and is looking
good in, hopefully, her permanent return.

 

[thirty-two]

Nice to see DT back on the court. Good game so far

Forgot to post after last game vs the Aces but the rookie Turner played tremendous D on Aja Wilson and had bunch of blocks. I’ve been really impressed with her D.

 

[BC867]

Chicago wins the 3rd quarter 28-15 to take a 5 point lead after 3 quarters.

Our only dependable scorers are the big three -- Brittney, DeWanna and
Diana working her way back. Lelani's scoring role has been diminished with
the return of Diana, who is back on the court to start the 4th quarter.

Despite being down by 5, I fully expect the Mercury to win this game.

 

[BC867]

But Chicago wins by 8. Diana has missed all of her 3-point attempts
and was scoreless in the 2nd half until a couple of free throws late
in the game. She needs to work her way back.

 

[thirty-two]

Caught the 4th quarter after work. Good win against a team we should have beat. Next up is the Dream - which is also a team we need to and should beat. Hunting for the playoffs!

 

[thirty-two]

Looks like we are in the playoffs with tonight’s win

 

[BC867]

Looks like we are in the playoffs with tonight’s win

If Diana can get back into full game shape by the playoffs, it's a whole new ballgame.

The Mercury has treaded water well. As they say, her absence made the bench stronger.

And Leilani won't have as high scoring numbers as she did, but she'll be a threat on any
play. Also, DeWanna will probably drop from being the #2 scorer in the league, but she
is our best all-around player and rebounder and can concentrate on that role.

To clarify, Diana is clearly the GOAT. But DeWanna fills so many different roles, which is
important on a playoff team.

Good timing!

 

[BC867]

It's Tuesday Sep. 3rd and the Mercury are hosting the Seattle Storm,
who have two of their top players out, including Sue Storm. The two
teams are 7-8 for a playoff spot, with the Storm a game ahead.

But Diana Taurasi is still trying to find her shot since returning and the
Mercury are down by 7 at the end of the 1st quarter. So far, the Merc
do not look like a playoff team. But that could change in these next
three games. Taurasi is on a 25 minute limit per game.

 

[BC867]

The Mercury are down by 15 at the half and 20 at the end of the
3rd quarter.

'Not looking good right now. They have the final playoff spot, but
they need to get in a winning way.

Diana is not in full game shape and certainly not in GOAT shape.

The D-backs (correction, the Mercury), with Taurasi, Griner, Bonner
and Mitchell on the bench cut a (I think it was) 23 point deficit to
12 and lose 82-70.

Will the final two games on Friday and Sunday be any different?

Both games (at 7PM and 1PM) will be televised on Fox Sports
Arizona following the conclusion of the D-backs games.