Mercury Begin 2006 Season vs. Champs

By Andrew Nicholson, PhoenixMercury.com
Posted: May 19, 2006

After finishing the preseason with a 1-1 record, the Mercury have a lot to look forward to as the season tips off Saturday afternoon against the WNBA Champion Sacramento Monarchs.

With their new Head Coach Paul Westhead making his official debut, the Mercury will unveil their new fast-paced offense before a national TV audience (1 p.m., ABC), with hope that their athleticism and scoring prowess will be too much for the Monarchs to handle.

�I think it�s a good opportunity for this team and this franchise going on national television and making a statement,� said rookie guard Cappie Pondexter, the Mercury�s first-round draft choice. �We just want to go out there with a great deal of energy. I�m excited!�

Not only will the game mark the introductory appearances of Westhead and Pondexter, who had the WNBA logo and �The Future� tattooed on her shoulder a few years back, but it marks the beginning of the 10th Anniversary season for the league. A particularly meaningful stepping stone for the Phoenix franchise, which was one of the original eight clubs when the league launched in 1997.

The new season also brings new rules, as games will now have four quarters, 10 minutes a piece, as opposed to the traditional two 20-minute halves, and a 24 second shot-clock rather than the previous 30-second clock. Another unique twist added to the rulebook involves the jump ball. The team that wins the opening tip will also receive the ball to start the fourth quarter, while the team that loses the tip will receive possession to begin the second and third quarters.

In a league where high scoring isn�t the norm, the Mercury expect to give the scoreboard a workout and the fans something to cheer about. If their preseason games are any indication, Phoenix will average more than 80 points, a plateau reached only four times last season.

Of course, Phoenix couldn�t introduce its new system against a tougher challenge than Sacramento. Yes, the Mercury split their season series with the Monarchs last summer, 2-2, but they know the title holders are going to be fired up on Saturday, as they will receive their championship rings during a pre-game ceremony.

�We�re working on a game plan,� Westhead said. �Until somebody changes the situation, they are the best team in the WNBA, so there is a whole bunch of things we have to do against them.

�We have to defend their break, they are a sticky and stingy defensive team, and they are powerful inside and rebound well. That�s why they are the best team.�

The Mercury definitely look headed in the right direction, but a lot also depends on the health of their backcourt, Diana Taurasi and new point guard Kelly Miller. Although they didn�t participate in the two preseason games, the guards are expected to play on Saturday.

�They�ve proven themselves over the past couple years, so I don�t think (their play) is a question mark at all,� said Pondexter. �It�s a matter of whether they are ready health wise to perform. I think our trainer has done a great job of taking care of them, so Saturday they�ll be prepared and ready.�

With Miller running the show and Taurasi doing what she does best � putting points on the board and creating opportunities for her teammates by drawing double teams � the Mercury have a lot of players capable of scoring.

As for the defensive end, that is where Sandora Irvin expects to make an impact.

�When somebody is talking about this team, I want them to say Sandora Irvin is a big part of this team, especially defensive wise,� said the second-year post player. �We have a lot of scorers, so I�m focused on getting after it on defense.

�I definitely can tell my teammates are expecting big things this year, even the rookie, Cappie, is giving me encouragement and staying on me. I have to take a second and reflect because last year I didn�t play much. Especially with this system, there is a big opportunity for me to step up and really show my game, and really be a big part of this team.�

As for the taking on the champs on Saturday, Irvin likes her team�s chances and thinks fans across the country will see a style similar to the Mercury�s NBA brother team.

�With this new system it doesn�t matter who we go against. We played against Detroit for instance, and you would think they would smash us, but with this new system (our opponent) has to be able to go,� said Irvin of Phoenix�s 85-84 preseason win over the Shock. �We can do our thing, like the Suns � they are running and no one can really beat them. So if we play the system, it should go our way.�