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The Phoenix Mercury dream big with Brittney Griner

By Brendon Kleen

PHOENIX, AZ - SEPTEMBER 3: Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury celebrates a win against the Atlanta Dream on September 3, 2017 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - SEPTEMBER 3: Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury celebrates a win against the Atlanta Dream on September 3, 2017 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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PHOENIX — The Phoenix Mercury will go as far as Brittney Griner can take them this season.

At Monday’s media day, Griner partially blamed her ankles for not cooperating during her best-ever season in 2017. That July right ankle sprain may have been the difference between winning her first MVP award and seeing it go to a rival in Sylvia Fowles. The injury stole eight games, right as Phoenix began to build momentum on offense.

Last year, Griner, 27, was one of only two roster holdovers heading into the season, and the vibe around training camp was one of a team rebuilding atop a new foundation — Griner. Phoenix brought in 10 new players, with Griner and Diana Taurasi the only remaining pieces from the 2016 season. Taurasi was the leader of those teams, but in her mid-30s, she can’t be the Mercury’s everything any longer.

So if last year was about finding young role players to grow with Griner, this year will be about developing a roster that maximizes her.

“We have that chemistry, but we all know that it’s not just gonna happen,” Griner said Monday. “We know we’re going to have to work.”

Griner notched 21.9 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game last year. She was elite, and after a championship overseas without Taurasi for the first time, she should only be better.

Coach Sandy Brondello prefers to play two bigs, despite Griner’s jumper still not quite enough a threat to create spacing like New York’s when Tina Charles shoots 3s. So the team targeted perhaps the best defensive fit in the league with Griner, Sancho Lyttle, who Brondello said will defend point guards through power forwards this year to allow Griner to stay around the rim.

The big addition last spring was Danielle Robinson, who had a frustrating season with the Mercury. Robinson told High Post Hoops before last season that she envisioned herself throwing lobs to Griner, but the Mercury operated more comfortably when backup Leilani Mitchell was in the game as a floor-spacer. To solve that problem, Phoenix went out and traded for Briann January, who should help space the floor for Griner.

“I think we can have a lot of versatility this year,” Brondello said.

The Mercury should benefit from depth as a result of their developmental 2017. Taurasi mentioned that the lessons learned during five close playoff games should help the second-year players feel more comfortable contributing down the stretch.

“Looking to be more of a facilitator suits what we have a little bit more,” Taurasi said about taking on more of a playmaking role herself to unlock the new talent. “The more people we can get involved, the harder it is to guard,” she said.

They will be relied upon to play the same way Brondello demands from the veterans — strong defense and opportunistic offense.

“Last year we would take a little dip when [Griner] went out,” Brondello added, describing how the team had to play differently when their workhorse was on the bench. She acknowledged that creating depth for the shortened season was a priority during the offseason.

Though if Griner improves upon her MVP level from 2017, she could very well pull the Mercury toward a championship all by herself.

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