Why "paul Ball" And Phoenix's Shooting Led To A Championship

The Phoenix Mercury struggled for a fewer seasons, arsenic they vanished nan 2001 play pinch a grounds of 13-19. They regressed moreover much successful 2002, arsenic they had a grounds of 11-21.

Phoenix had immoderate difficult years, and aft rebuilding pinch players for illustration Diana Taurasi and Cappie Pondexter, nan Mercury recovered themselves backmost successful nan playoffs.

The Mercury vanished nan 2007 play pinch a grounds of 23-11, and they made nan playoffs for nan first clip since 2000.

June 27, 2010; Washington, DC, USA; Phoenix Mercury guardant Penny Taylor (13) is surrounded by Washington Mystics players Chasity Melvin (44) and Crystal Langhorne (1) and Monique Currie (25) and Ashley Houts (12) during nan first half astatine nan Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images / Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images

Phoenix played good that year, and Taurasi was nan starring scorer. She averaged 19.2 points, and she was 1 of 4 players who averaged astatine slightest 10 points that season. Penny Taylor was down Taurasi, arsenic she averaged 17.8 points. Pondexter was 3rd successful scoring, and she averaged 17.2 points. Then, Tangela Smith averaged 12.6.

Taurasi and her teammates were scoring astatine a precocious level, and they were knocking down their stock of shots. They changeable 35.3 percent from deep, and nan subordinate pinch nan highest percent was a unsocial situation.

Adriana Moisés Pinto had a cleanable percentage, and it was owed to her 3-pointer successful a crippled against nan Seattle Storm. That was her first and past effort from beyond nan arc that season.

After Moisés Pinto, nan subordinate pinch nan champion percent was Kelly Schumacher. Schumacher made 3 3-pointers, and she attempted seven. So, for illustration Moisés Pinto, she did not return galore shots. She had a precocious percentage, arsenic she changeable astir 43 percent.

Detroit Shock's Deanna Nolan dribbles past Phoenix Mercury's Kelly Miller during Game 1 of nan WNBA Finals astatine nan Palace of Auburn Hills, Sept. 5. 2007. The Shock defeated nan Mercury, 108-100. / Kimberly P. Mitchell / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Kelly Miller was down Schumacher, and she changeable astir 39 percent. She made 27 3-pointers that season, and she attempted 70. Miller had a bully year, and her shooting played a domiciled successful Phoenix's success.

Sep 25, 2011; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Mercury guardant Penny Taylor (13) warms up anterior to nan crippled against nan Minnesota Lynx during nan first half astatine nan US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-Imagn Images / Jennifer Stewart-Imagn Images

Taylor was 4th erstwhile it came to 3-point percentage, and she changeable astir 38 percent from deep. She made 34 3-pointers that season, and she took 90. Then, Taurasi was down her, arsenic she changeable astir 37 percent. The Mercury defender made 95 3-pointers that season, and she took 259.

The Mercury were flourishing nether Paul Westhead, arsenic they utilized his fast-paced "Paul Ball" style of play. They were knocking down shots, and they gave opposing teams headaches. Phoenix made history, and arsenic clip revealed, that would not beryllium nan past clip nan squad won a championship.

Please travel america connected X to publication much astir nan 2007 Mercury and really they played during that historical seasowhen you click correct here!