Down Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury go to Kahleah Copper in the pick-and-roll to beat the Dallas Wings
The Mercury shot a season-high 59% and got a seventh 30-point game this season from Kahleah Copper.
PHOENIX – The Phoenix Mercury need to score with Diana Taurasi out “day-to-day” with a lower left leg injury.
Kahleah Copper, who is now the second-leading scorer in the WNBA (23.0 points per game), had her seventh 30-point game this season with her 32-point performance in the Mercury’s 100-84 win over the Dallas Wings on Wednesday afternoon at Footprint Center on “Camp Day” in front of more than 11,000 screaming children and campers.
The Mercury are looking to become a more multi-dimensional offense by using Copper in pick-and-roll and post scenarios for her to score and set up others.
“I think this is the most pick-and-roll she’s run,” Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts said. “It helps, she’s talked about her developing a chemistry with [Brittney Griner].”
Copper scored 29 of her 32 points in the paint. Copper also finished with four assists.
“I think she’s super comfortable off the pick-and-rolls, obviously, getting downhill, playing in the paint,” Tibbetts said. “That puts a lot of pressure on the defense, especially when we have the space around her.”
Copper said she is feeling better in many pick-and-roll actions. She and Griner combined for 55 points (Griner had 23), tying their second-most combined points in one game this season.
“We’ve been working on it before and after practice, sometimes,” Copper said. “Just seeing the different options out there on the court. Just me feeling myself getting better, I think the first part of it is just acknowledging that you’re not seeing defenders, you’re not seeing where help is coming from.
“For Nate to take the time, because you know we’re not getting a lot of practice time, he’s just taking a lot of time before and after practice to work on those things with me, making reads.
Copper is one of the WNBA’s best at getting downhill toward the basket. Now, she is adding a new element to her game.
“So being able to play out of the pick-and-roll now, coming off the screen, the big is stepping up, I’m able to play with the roller. If the help side is there, I’m able to make that pass to the riser. I’m reading it and I’m just getting better. I love that.”
“I’ve always been a downhill player,” Copper said. “That’s part of my game. I’m able to use my speed and athleticism against defenders. So whenever I’m able to get a step on somebody, I just go ahead and get us a bucket.”
Phoenix initially said early this season it wants to shoot 35 to 40 3-pointers per game. Tibbetts, who has more than a decade of NBA experience, and general manager and former Golden State Warriors president of basketball operations Nick U’Ren share a philosophy of spacing and prioritizing high-percentage layups and threes.
Even though the Mercury did not shoot a high volume of threes (21) against the Wings, they made nine and had three different players make at least two. It marked just the fifth time in franchise history and the first time since July 19, 2008, against Atlanta, that all five starters for the Mercury made a 3-pointer.
“I don’t know if our execution has gotten better, our half-court execution. But I’ve really been impressed with our spacing,” Tibbetts said.
“I think our pick-and-roll, we’re just getting more comfortable playing with each other and as a group. We’re holding the corners more, our ball handlers are having more trust finding BG on the rolls, BG’s screen angles have been great … I think we’ve taken care of the games or won the games that maybe we needed to, the only hiccup maybe is just (the) Indiana (Fever) down the stretch. I like where we’re at.”
The Mercury had four starters in double figures, led by Copper. Forward Kiki Herbert Harrigan had a career-high 12 points in the game.
Copper’s driving has opened the floor for Herbert Harrigan, who had a career-high 12 points on Wednesday, to step into her role more comfortably. Herbert Harrigan, who made a go-ahead 3-pointer late in the Mercury’s win over the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday, has seen her opportunities grow.
“She just told me to trust the work that I put in,” Herbert Harrigan said of the advice Copper gave her.
In all likelihood, Bec Allen would have been the fifth Phoenix starter to score in double figures but was limited to just 20 minutes of playing in her return from a back injury. She had eight points on 3-of-6 shooting.
Copper’s scoring comes from inside the paint and primarily thanks to her slashing ability. However, she is also an effective 3-point shooter, making 34.3% of her looks from deep this season.
Griner and Copper worked in tandem on Wednesday in their pick-and-roll actions that are becoming more effective each game. When Taurasi comes back, the Mercury will have a new element to their pick-and-roll offense that Taurasi should only help.