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Takeaways: Griner and the Mercury beat the Sun at home

By Brendon Kleen

PHOENIX, AZ - SEPTEMBER 1: Diana Taurasi
PHOENIX, AZ - SEPTEMBER 1: Diana Taurasi /
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UNCASVILLE, CT – AUGUST 04: Phoenix Mercury head coach Sandy Brondello reacts during the second half of an WNBA game between Phoenix Mercury and Connecticut Sun on August 4, 2017, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. Connecticut defeated Phoenix 93-92. (Photo by M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
UNCASVILLE, CT – AUGUST 04: Phoenix Mercury head coach Sandy Brondello reacts during the second half of an WNBA game between Phoenix Mercury and Connecticut Sun on August 4, 2017, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. Connecticut defeated Phoenix 93-92. (Photo by M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

2. Brondello’s trademarks finally visible for Mercury

Ask Mercury Coach Sandy Brondello, at any point really, what her focuses are as a basketball coach and you’ll hear a lot about team basketball. Rotations and proper coverage on defense, plus ball and player movement on offense. Because of the construction of this team and its problems staying healthy and consistent, however, Brondello’s vision has rarely shone through.

Tonight against the Sun, especially in the first quarter, the Mercury looked like a prototype of Brondello Basketball. They forced four turnovers over the first five minutes, and then another four over the course of the rest of the first half. The ball found each player’s hands multiple times over the first half-dozen possessions. And to Brondello’s credit, her team had doubled up Connecticut by the end of the first quarter with a 21-10 lead.

Point Guard Danielle Robinson told espnW’s Mechelle Voepel in July that she’s “where [she’s] supposed to be at this point in my career.” But for the Mercury themselves and for those watching this team, it’s not difficult to notice the team’s best moment have come with Leilani Mitchell on the court at the point guard position. Though her primary value is always going to come on the defensive end, Robinson has been a thorn in the side of the Mercury offense. The team is nearly nine points worse offensively this season with Robinson on the court.

Tonight, Mitchell made an even stronger case for herself as a starter, revving the Mercury defense with some of the strongest individual defense by this team all season at the point of attack. She finished with four steals and maintained that aggressiveness on offense, finding cracks in the Griner and Diana Taurasi-centric Phoenix offense and making things happen.

After cycling through lineups all season, it appears Brondello has found the rhythm that best brings her ideology to life: the smarts of Mitchell and Camille Little in the starting lineup, the physicality and fight of Robinson, Mo Currie and Emma Cannon off the bench. For time and consistency’s sake, she’ll hope this is the last change she makes.

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