First-year Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts has expressed his desire for Phoenix to shoot “35 to 40 3-pointers” every game. Early on this season, his vision has started to become a reality.
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The Phoenix Mercury has been the most efficient volume-shooting team in the WNBA
Through three games, Phoenix has been the best volume-shooting team across the entire association. The Mercury leads the WNBA in 3-pointers attempted per game at 30.7 a contest, while shooting 40.2% from beyond the arc. The only team more efficient than Phoenix from long-range is Atlanta (40.3%) — on just 20.7 attempts per game. Phoenix practically matches that efficiency on ten extra attempts per contest.
The only other team firing 30 triples per game is the Aces. However, Las Vegas is shooting 33% from deep, compared to Phoenix’s 40.2%.
UNSTOPPABLE. pic.twitter.com/Knc2s1z7TU
— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) May 22, 2024
There’s one stat in particular that does the best job of painting the picture. Of all the points they’ve scored this season, the Mercury have scored 41.7% of their points from long-range — the most in the WNBA by a 5.7% margin.
Statistically speaking, Phoenix doesn’t rely on getting to the rim and scoring on the interior nearly as much as some other teams. But with how well the ball has been moving, that’s a good thing. The ball moves faster than people — so for a Phoenix team that is so good at moving the ball and so reliant on creating looks from the perimeter — the floodgates on the interior will naturally be opened up within the flow of the offense. This creates easier driving lanes for ball-handlers, extra opportunities for cutters, and more space to attack downhill.
"This is a get to the basket or shoot threes type of game now, so we're buying into that mindset."
Natasha Cloud (@T_Cloud4) discussed the philosophy of the Mercury's offense, as well as the team's balance of rim pressure and perimeter attack. #ValleyTogether #WNBA pic.twitter.com/juillyqxMC
— Burn City Sports (@BurnCitySports) May 23, 2024
“I think we have a perfect balance of getting to the rim, putting pressure on the rim early, so that they have to pack in and try and protect the paint,” said Mercury guard Natasha Cloud.
“It’s very intentional, with us being aggressive early and trying to get to the board, also putting other teams in foul trouble [and] getting ourselves going from the free throw line. But we’ve got shooters on the perimeter that you’ve also got to guard too. I think the balance of it is really well, we want to get off anywhere from 35 to 40 threes every single night. This is a get-to-the-basket or shoot threes type of game now, so we’re buying into that mindset now.”
Phoenix has worked to create a healthy balance between getting to the rim and firing away from downtown. Taking into account the Mercury’s volume from downtown, the looks that they’re getting at the rim have become that much more efficient thanks to their balanced, versatile attack.
Although it’s very early into the season, Phoenix’s identity is starting to shape itself. On this trajectory, expect the Mercury to be one of the league’s most high-powered offenses in 2024.
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Justin LaCertosa covers Phoenix Sports News for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @LaCertosaSports
