Photo courtesy of Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal

By Morris Phillips

On the surface, teaming a 36-year old point guard with a 6’8″ back-to-the-basket center, and having them play at the WNBA’s fastest pace seems like a recipe for disaster. But when the names–Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner–are plugged in, it’s readily apparent how the Las Vegas Aces found themselves in a pickle at the Delano Las Vegas on Wednesday night attempting to combat the Phoenix Mercury’s dynamic duo.

While the super-engaged Taurasi dropped 37 points and nine assists, and was ablely assisted by Griner, who added 25 points and 11 rebounds, you could argue that the Mercury’s 104-93 win wasn’t as much about the two stars, but the hypersonic pace employed by Phoenix, that tricked the Aces into rushing shots and committing fouls.

Afterwards, Aces head coach Bill Laimbeer didn’t seem so much focused on which of the factors was most responsible for his Aces’ shortcomings, just that his team didn’t meet the challenge in what was arguably their biggest game to date.

“I though that it was a game that if we came and played with intensity, we could have won,” Laimbeer revealed. “Well, we didn’t play very well across the board.”

With the loss, the Aces (12-14) fell two games behind the Dallas Wings in the race for the eighth and final postseason spot. In order to inch closer to Dallas, the Aces will have to get it done on the road with their next three contests away from the Mandalay Bay Events Center, part of a grueling stretch of nine games in 19 days to end their inaugural season in Las Vegas.