2014 WNBA Finals Preview: Breaking Down the Phoenix Mercury player-by-player

The Phoenix Mercury were the best team in the league this season and will be the heavy favorites going into the WNBA Finals. If Diana Taurasi and gang stick to the things that got them here, I like their chances. Team chemistry is an undervalued portion of team sports and it can make or break a team. Very seldom in the WNBA do you get a team that likes each other from start to finish but this team genuinely likes each other and wants to win for the player next to them as much as for themselves.

Before we get into matchups with the Chicago Sky, let's take stock of how each Mercury player has done individually during the first two rounds of the 2014 WNBA Playoffs.

G - Diana Taurasi, 6'0"

Player	G	FG%	3P%	FT%	MP	TRB	AST	Stls	Blks	Tovs	PTS
Diana Taurasi	5	0.47	0.33	0.84	33.6	4.8	5.4	0.8	0.4	3.8	22.8

The 2014 MVP runner-up has raised her game in the playoffs. Taurasi has continued her league-leading pace in assists while getting her scoring closer to what we're used to from DT. She did a fantastic job of leading by example and keeping her composure in Game 3 after losing her cool a bit in Minnesota, which caused a domino effect. Taurasi has returned to her mantle as the best player in the world and she'll need to continue that pace to grab her 3rd WNBA trophy.

G - Penny Taylor, 6'0"

Player	G	FG%	3P%	FT%	MP	TRB	AST	Stls	Blks	Tovs	PTS
Penny Taylor	5	0.5	0.27	0.91	27	5.2	4.2	1.6	0.2	1	11.4

Swish Appeal's 2014 Comeback Player of the Year has done a fantastic job of what she's called "filling in the gaps." The Aussie's transition into the starting lineup kick-started the Mercury's 16 game winning streak and has filled up the stat sheet in the playoffs so far. In the deciding game of the Conference Finals series vs Minnesota, Penny's line included 17 points, (10-11 free throws) 13 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals. If Penny finds her three-point stroke in the WNBA Finals, Phoenix can start clearing space on the trophy rack.

G/F - DeWanna Bonner, 6'4"

Player	G	FG%	3P%	FT%	MP	TRB	AST	Stls	Blks	Tovs	PTS
DeWanna Bonner	5	0.34	0.33	0.92	36.6	5.6	2.2	1.8	0.6	2	11.4

DB must've known that I removed her from my All-Defensive Team at the last second because she has made me regret it since the playoffs began. With the exception of her field goal percentage and nightly assist average (2.3 to 2.2) all of Bonner's numbers have increased in the postseason while playing 7 additional minutes per night. Bonner will likely face her toughest matchup of the playoffs so far in the Finals, likely seeing Delle Donne for long stretches.

F - Candice Dupree, 6'2"

Player	G	MP	FG%	3P%	FT%	TRB	AST	Stls	Blks	Tovs	PTS
Candice Dupree	5	35.6	0.6	0	0.88	6.6	0.4	1.6	0.6	2.2	14.2

Dupree continues to do an amazing job of picking her spots and making the defense pay. Her FG and FT shooting numbers are up but her rebounding and scoring numbers are down, illustrating that "CanDu" is being extremely efficient in limited touches. Phoenix has made a concerted effort to take advantage of Griner's size advantage in the playoffs but the "Smooth Operator" has continued at nearly the same rate of the regular season.

C - Brittney Griner, 6'8"

Player	G	MP	FG%	3P%	FT%	TRB	AST	Stls	Blks	Tovs	PTS
Brittney Griner	5	30.8	0.65	N/A	1	5.8	1.8	0.4	2.4	2.2	17.2

I mentioned above about Griner's increased touches, and boy has she responded. Shooting just under 65% and having made all of her free throws, Griner has done a fantastic job of making teams pay on the offensive end. Her rebounding and block numbers are down as teams have tried to pull her out of the paint as much as possible, but this team has called upon Griner and she's come to their rescue.

G - Erin Phillips, 5'8"

Player	G	MP	FG%	3P%	FT%	TRB	AST	Stls	Blks	Tovs	PTS
Erin Phillips	5	15.8	0.35	0.33	1	2.4	3.2	0.8	0.2	0.8	3.8

Erin Phillips was brought in to be an additional ball-handler and three-point shooter while playing solid defense and she's done just that. Earlier in the season, I spoke about Phillips' efficiency as a ball-handler while she was struggling with her shot early in the season and it's continued in the playoffs. With an assist-to-turnover ratio of 4:1, EP has quietly played fantastic basketball in the postseason.

F - Mistie Bass, 6'3"

Player	G	MP	FG%	3P%	FT%	TRB	AST	Stls	Blks	Tovs	PTS
Mistie Mims	5	12.8	0.44	N/A	0.5	1.8	0.4	0.2	0.2	0.4	2.2

Bass has done a great job, as she always does, of coming into  the game and playing physicaly, solid defense and rebounding the ball. It could be difficult for a player to have the pressures of coming off the bench behind Candice Dupree and Brittney Griner but Bass is a true professional and brings maximum effort on a nightly basis.

G - Shay Murphy, 5'11

Player	G	MP	FG%	3P%	FT%	TRB	AST	Stls	Blks	Tovs	PTS
Shay Murphy	4	7	0.29	0	N/A	1.3	0.3	0.5	0	0.5	1

Shay Murphy gives this team a hard-nosed guard that can knock down shots from long range and get to the free throw line off the bounce. Murphy also plays good team defense and can be disruptive in the passing lanes. Shay's done a fantastic job of staying prepared on the sidelines and is a fantastic teammate

G - Anete Jekabsone-Zogota, 5'9

Player	G	MP	FG%	3P%	FT%	TRB	AST	Stls	Blks	Tovs	PTS
Anete Jekabsone-Zogota	2	3	0.5	100	N/A	0.5	0	0	0	0	1.5

AJZ is a deadly shooter from three-point range and has shown an improved handle this season. She hasn't seen any meaningful minutes in the playoffs but she's a veteran player that both Taurasi and Brondello are comfortable with and they know what they are going to get from her. AJZ scored 31 baskets during the regular season, 15 were three-pointers.

C - Ewelina Kobryn, 6'4"

Player	G	MP	FG%	3P%	FT%	TRB	AST	Stls	Blks	Tovs	PTS
Ewelina Kobryn	2	2.5	0.67	N/A	0	0	0	0	0	0	2

Kobryn, a member of the UMMC Ekaterinburg team that Brondello coaches in Russia that includes Taurasi and AJZ, is a solid backup post with range out to the three-point line. Kobryn has a bit of a quick trigger and doesn't move very well defensively but she's won championships before and can give you solid minutes in a pinch. She also knows she has 5 fouls and she's unafraid to use them

G Tiffany Bias 5'6"

Player	G	MP	FG%	3P%	FT%	TRB	AST	Stls	Blks	Tovs	PTS
Tiffany Bias	2	1.5	N/A	N/A	N/A	0.5	0	0	0	0	0

2014 has been a year of development and learning for the second round pick out of Oklahoma State. Bias hasn't seen a minute of time in a competitive game but competing against Olympians like Taurasi, Taylor and Phillips in practice each day, along with having a former All-Star guard in Brondello as a coach, has been invaluable and the rookie seems to have enjoyed every bit of the ride. Bias' speed and propensity for disrupting offenses will give her a shot to stick in the league but she'll need to improve in all facets to dent a rotation in the future.

MERCURY STRENGTHS

• SIZE; Diana Taurasi is the Mercury's shortest starter at 6'0" and this creates problems on both ends of the floor. The Mercury's length and size creates mismatches on the offensive end while also helping with rotations/recovery on the defensive end. Sandy Brondello and her staff do a fantastic job of taking advantage of the mismatches this size difference creates.
• OFFENSIVE EFFICIENCY and TEAM SHOOTING: Phoenix has been known for their offense for years but they went about it differently this season. In years past, it was all about pace and taking more shots than your opponent but this season they led the WNBA in FG%, pace, PPG, total points scored, 2FG%, and offensive rating while finishing second in the league in 3FG%, FT%, total field goals made, total free throws made, and assists.
• DEFENSE: For most, it seems to still be weird to talk about defense but that's the case this season. Phoenix was the WNBA's stingiest team in terms of FG%, 3FG%, while leading the league in blocks and defensive rating. This team also allowed the second fewest total points, points per game, 2FG% while also allowing the least free throw attempts in the league by committing the least fouls in the WNBA. Phoenix also lead the WNBA in the regular season in shot clock violations forced, with 42.