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By RUSS OVIATT
Cronkite News
PHOENIX – The Phoenix Mercury can put a rocky regular season in their rear view mirror Thursday. With a victory against the Seattle Storm, they can clinch a playoff spot and hit the reset button.
The Mercury, coming off a loss to the Los Angeles Spark Tuesday, are 14-18 and a game ahead of the Washington Mystics with two games left.
The Mercury are no strangers to the playoffs; they have been there six of the last seven years and won three WNBA titles in franchise history. But this season the team has struggled with maintaining defensive consistency from game to game.
Coach Sandy Brondello said working together will be key to making the playoffs. She also said consistency and effort are critical.
“It’s not just individual, it’s just making sure we’re all a unit, with all the plays involved and being engaged and executing,” Brondello said.
Not many people expected the Mercury to be in the position they are in after a 1-5 start, but a three-game win streak after the Olympics gave them new life.
The Mercury are averaging 84.7 points, 5.4 blocks per game, 83.7 free throw percentage, all higher than the league average.
“If you aren’t motivated for the next game, you have no business being in the playoffs,” Mercury forward Candice Dupree said.
Dupree is a key defensive weapon against the Storm. The Mercury are 2-2 against Seattle this season.
“Main goal is to try and take away the other team’s transition defense and kind of congest the paint so they can’t drive and open layups,’’ Dupree said.
The Mercury can also make the playoffs with a Washington loss at Atlanta Thursday. The Mercury regular season ends Sunday in San Antonio.
