“Defending” a championship is a relative term.

That is to say, for those players who were on the Phoenix Mercury last year, there is a huge sense of pride and anticipation as they begin their quest to “defend” the 2014 WNBA Title when the playoffs begin on September 17.

For others, this is a fresh, unique experience; remember, the Mercury has seven new players on the roster in 2015.

In the end, it’s all semantics; the goal for everyone on the franchise is to win a championship – regardless of what number it is.

“That’s absolutely our focus,” Sandy Brondello said. “I think we’ve made progress. We want to play as hard as we can, execute the [scouting report], and hopefully that’s good enough to win.”

Phoenix hosts the No. 3-seed Tulsa Shock in the best-of-three Western Conference Semifinals beginning on Thursday. It’s the sixth postseason appearance for the Mercury in the last seven years, and the first for the Shock since moving from Detroit in 2010.

But that certainly doesn’t mean the Mercury is overlooking the Shock, who had an impressive regular season despite being ravaged by injuries.

“They play tough,” Candice Dupree said. “Their guards are quick; they shoot the ball well and are a really good rebounding team – especially on the offensive end.

“We’re not taking them lightly at all; they’re a good team.”

Phoenix won the season series 3-2 this season, going 2-0 at home (which included one of the best moments of the season when DeWanna Bonner hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer on August 4) and 1-2 in Tulsa. The Mercury is 10-1 against the Shock at US Airways Center since 2010 and has won eight of 11 games in Tulsa during the same period.

“We’re very familiar with them,” Monique Currie added. “This will be the sixth time we’ve played them this season so it really just comes down to executing what we want to do on both ends of the floor, and fine-tuning some things.”

Indeed, the two teams are no strangers to each other, but this is a different — and better — Shock team than we’ve seen in recent years.

“Offensively they have very explosive guards,” Brondello said. “They have so many players that can score and that makes them a very difficult team to guard. Their players compliment each other. We’re going to have to make sure we come prepared to defend.”

As for the Mercury, their focus has remained on the defensive end of the floor where their identity has firmly resided over the past two years. The goal, in theory, is to turn everything up a notch.

“I can see them when we’re in practice; there’s more attention to detail,” Brondello said. “The execution is at a higher level. It’s been good that we’ve had these days off because it gives us a little bit of rest as well. That certainly helps with the focus. As the playoffs approach, that’s normal; you go to another level.”

With seven new faces on the team, Brondello will likely rely on her veterans more than at any point this year — and for good reason. During the regular season DeWanna Bonner, Brittney Griner and Candice Dupree combined to average 45 points, nearly 20 rebounds, six assists and six blocks.

“It’s really everyone’s responsibility [to step up] but it does start with the veterans,” Brondello said when asked about her team’s leadership. “They’re focused. Players around them know the situation we’re in. The playoffs are a whole new season, basically. We know we’re in a good position and if we can play to the best of our ability, we give ourselves a chance to go as far as we want to go. That’s what it comes down to. The veteran, experienced players have led the way all season long.

“We haven’t peaked yet, but we’re heading in the right direction at the right time.”