The Connecticut Sun are a team the Mercury should be able to beat if they want to prove they are on track to defend their title. In their last game on Sunday, Phoenix played three very flat quarters of basketball and got pounded inside by Tina Charles and outside by fellow former Huskie, Renee Montgomery.
Then in the fourth quarter the Mercury woke up and benched Tangela Smith and with Nicole Ohlde were able to body up on Charles and stay home on the shooters. The result was a holding the Sun to a 12 point fourth quarter after giving up 84 in the first three.
There could be a lesson there if Coach Gaines is willing to heed it.
The team has had a few other issue as well including DeWanna Bonner's inflamed big toe along with a sprained ankle that have combined to limit some of her explosive first step. The team gave her three full days off this week which included keeping her in a walking boot to aid recovery. By Wednesday, she was already feeling better and will play tonight.
Without Bonner's points off the bench, more pressure fell on Taurasi who had a very inefficient game against the Sun. Bonner averaged 13.4 points in her first seven games of the season and only 7.2 in the next five.
With the WNBA season 35 percent over, the time for the Mercury to start winning is now and the Suns are a team they should beat.