Game Thread & Preview: Mercury Rising in Tulsa? Phoenix (8-12) vs. Tulsa (4-17)

“I never sleep cause sleep is the cousin of death.”

http://visionz74.blogspot.com/2006/02/sleep-is-cousin-of-death.html

That’s not the kind of family I want to associate myself with…

Now, if we can just ban third quarters for Shock games…

For the Phoenix Mercury:
G Tameka Johnson
G Diana Taurasi
F Candice Dupree
F Penny Taylor
F/C Tangela Smith

For the Tulsa Shock:
G Shanna Crossley
G Scholanda Robinson
C Chante Black
G Ivory Latta
F Tiffany Jackson

Officials: Clarke Stevens, Tony Dawkins, Lamont Simpson

Tonight’s Christmas promo has a Santa Claus and Volt the mascot wearing a Santa suit too. Nolan Richardson happens to be wearing his red trousers (so I asked if they were for the promo). They’re not – he’s proudly wearing team colors. LOL.

Wow. This game is physical early on. Getting chippy early in the game.

“Diana’s got two, take it to her!!”

Tulsa is hanging with Tangela Smith…err…the Mercury. Smith has just over half of the team’s points (7). All five Tulsa starters have a basket in the first five minutes. Phoenix has 8 points in the paint already and (as previously stated) Taurasi has herself two early fouls.

They’ve got 7 already, including a travel, some bad bad passes and just overall silliness with the ball.

I like that about her. Even though her first shot was easily blocked, getting her own rebound, going back up and getting to the line is a play I like to see. She hit 1-of-1 from the stripe.

This is definitely a came of spurts so far. The score will be close one second and then is followed by a 6-point swing. It’s been a fast and physical first 10 minutes.

Candice Dupree leads all scorers with 12, Tangela Smith and Tulsa’s Kara Braxton are next with 7 each. Diana Taurasi already has five assists and the rebound leader is Penny Taylor. Phoenix shooting 56.5% and Tulsa hitting at 50% (but have taken five less shots).

“You can’t let them throw and elbow like that!” Richardson
“That’s enough” Clarke Stevens
“That’s ridiculous!” Richardson
“Coach, you made your point. That’s it. You’re done.” Tony Dawkins

Not quite as unfair as 2010 LJ maybe… but just unfair…

This has been an all Phoenix, all the time last 3 minutes or so. Now DT has 13 points to join Dupree’s 14. Tulsa up to 10 turnovers now. Ew.

…which I guess is made easier by the fact that nobody was guarding Ohlde…

I mean it’s not impossible…

But you can’t do a whole lot about it…

oops. Already started. Yikes.

Man, oh man.

New franchise record for Phoenix with 67 points in a half. Oh my word.

Leading scorers: three in double-digits for the Mercury – Dupree (16), Taurasi (16), Smith (11); no one to hit double-digits for Tulsa yet. Braxton is close, with 9. Assist leaders are Taurasi and Johnson with 5 each. Latta has 4 for Tulsa. Phoenix is winning the boards 21-14 and have forced 11 Tulsa turnovers.

Was gonna go to the loo, but the LiveAccess camera was on me the whole time. Guess I’ll have to wait til post-game!

so, back to the record setting stuffs…now Phoenix has set or tied 16 WNBA and franchise records against Tulsa this season. Ca. Ra. Zy.

“Oh come on! Where’s our three point shooters!” Guess she’s not out of hope, but seriously ma’am. We’re down by 27 now.

Taurasi..

Oh. My. Word. Thinking we’re going to get a total points record tonight, eh? FIVE Phoenix players in double figures. WOWZA.

“Let’s win this quarter!!” Hmmm…don’t know if he’s seen the first three quarters this evening. Hahaha.

That’s a bleak situation…

I’ll try to get a handy-dandy summary out at some point, but this is 19 total records against Tulsa, also the Mercury now have 8 of the top 9 scoring performances in WNBA history.

Glad this one is over for the Shock. That was a rough game to watch. That was classy though – Latta thanked the fans for their support after the game was over on the PA. Very gracious to do that after getting thumped like that.