Tulsa is about 100 miles east of Oklahoma City, which became the basketball center of the world after the Thunder routed the Lakers on Monday night. With a basketball hungry crowd athand in the sooner state the Mercury visit the Shock for their second game of the 2012 season.The season started with a disappointing loss for the Shock, but that was not really... well,a shock. Last year the team the finished 3-31 in just their second year in Tulsa. It was a disappointing season to say the least.
In four games last season against the Shock the Mercury won all four by a margin of 21 points per game. It was not close. This season they are down one star in Penny Taylor and haveanother one that is dealing with a minor injury. Diana Taurasi is listed as day-to-day officiallywith a hip flexor, but could possibly play tonight after participating in practice during the trip to Minnesota.
Overall this team is more talented than the Shock, but they will have to contend with a familiarface.
For the Mercury the biggest challenge will be containing former point guard Temeka Johnson.The scoring point guard had a solid season in 2011 with the Mercury, but after last seasonJohnson became expendable and was dealt to the Shock. The Mercury immediately targetedpoint guard Samantha Prahalis in the 2012 WNBA Draft to replace Johnson.
The Mercury are trying to avoid an 0-2 start to the 2012 season with a road win in Tulsa Tuesday night.
If Taurasi is unavailable to play tonight look for the team to lean on Charde Houston for scoring.She got off to a hot start to the season with 24 points in the opener off of five made three-pointers. The team will need more from DeWanna Bonner and Candice Dupree as well in thisgame as they combined for just 35 points, and more importantly only 8 rebounds against theLynx.
Tip-off is at 5pm local time from the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Tune in to LiveAccess toroot on your Mighty Mercury from the couch or bar stool!
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