By the Numbers: Mercury vs. Lynx

By Ben York, PhoenixMercury.com
Posted: August 26, 2014

Epic.

That's the word that many are using to describe the Western Conference Finals matchup between the Phoenix Mercury and Minnesota Lynx.

It's certainly appealing from an aesthetic perspective. The series features the MVP (Maya Moore), Coach of the Year (Sandy Brondello), Defensive Player of the Year (Brittney Griner) and a combined six All-Stars (Whalen, Augustus, Moore, Taurasi, Griner, Dupree).

Even looking solely at the stats and figures, the series has a chance to be something special.

16 - the Mercury's win streak when Minnesota snapped it on July 31.

11 - the Lynx's win streak when Phoenix snapped it on August 9.

14 - the number of losses by Phoenix and Minnesota combined, less than every other individual team in the league.

3-1 - the Mercury's record against the Lynx this season.

48.4 - the Mercury's shooting percentage in the regular season, a league record.

47.4 - the Lynx's shooting percentage in the 2013 regular season, the former record.

29 - the number of wins by the Mercury in the regular season, a league record.

74.12 - the average number of points allowed by the Mercury in the regular season, second-best in the league.

.409 - the opponent field goal percentage allowed by the Mercury in the regular season, best in the league.

23.9 - the number of points averaged by Maya Moore in the regular season, a league best.

3.79 - the number of blocks averaged by Brittney Griner in the regular season, a league best.

5.6 - the number of assists averaged by Diana Taurasi in the regular season, a league best.

83.5 - the number of points averaged by the Mercury in the regular season, a league best.

81.6 - the number of points averaged by the Lynx in the regular season, second-most in the league.

+9.41 - the Mercury's league-best point differential.

+4.47 - the Lynx's point differential, second-best.

20.26 - the number of assists averaged by the Lynx in the regular season, a league best.

19.44 - the number of assists averaged by the Mercury in the regular season, second-best

48.4 - the field goal percentage averaged by the Mercury in the regular season, a league best.

46.7 - the field goal percentage averaged by the Lynx in the regular season, second-best.

12.3 - the number of turnovers averaged by the Lynx in the regular season, fewest in the league.

13.0 - the number of turnovers averaged by the Mercury in the regular season, third-fewest in the league.

6 - the number of combined 2014 All-Stars on the Mercury and Lynx.

3 - the number of times the Mercury and Lynx have faced each other in the Western Conference Finals in the last four years.

2.9 - the number of seconds left when Diana Taurasi made the game-winning jumper on August 9.