<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><span class="vitstorybody"><span class="vitstorybody"> Despite a 3-1 season series advantage, Phoenix Mercury coach Paul Westhead isn't relaxing as his team prepares for the Western Conference finals against San Antonio. </p> "We know that they are a dangerous team," Westhead said. "I mean, we have some good feelings, but they did beat us at home." </p> All-Star Diana Taurasi is taking the long view. </p> "The beauty about this team this year is that we really don't look at the opponent, as silly as that might sound," Taurasi said. "We're really concentrating on what we have to do, on what we are focused on to be successful. We can't change what the other team does, we can only affect what we do on the court." </p> The best-of-3 conference finals between the Mercury and Silver Stars tips off Thursday in San Antonio. It shifts to Phoenix for Game 2 and, if necessary, Game 3. </p> Both teams are looking inward for confidence, but they're mindful of the lessons of the past. </p> "Phoenix beat us three times in the regular season, but we didn't play our best basketball," said San Antonio veteran Vickie Johnson. "The playoffs are different than the regular season." </p> Fans in Phoenix and San Antonio may be doing a double-take. The Silver Stars and Mercury are meeting in the second round of the playoffs, just like the Spurs and Suns. </p> The Spurs, like the Silver Stars, were the lower seed but beat the Suns in six games en route to the NBA title. </p> The Mercury beat the Seattle Storm in two games in the first round of the playoffs, while the Silver Stars needed three games to eliminate the reigning two-time WNBA finalists, the Sacramento Monarchs. </p> "We're healthy and we're playing some of our best, if not our best, basketball," said San Antonio coach Dan Hughes. </p> Monarch coach Jenny Boucek was impressed by the talent of the Silver Stars. </p> "It's a special team," Boucek said. "Now that my team is out, I'll be rooting for San Antonio." </p> In the only win against Phoenix, Sophia Young had a career-high 26 points and 12 rebounds in an 87-77 victory on July 11. Becky Hammon scored 10 of her 18 points in the fourth quarter in her return from a sprained foot to help lift the Silver Stars. </p> Young likely will be matched up against Phoenix's Penny Taylor. The 6-foot-1 forwards have stepped up their games during the playoffs, with Young averaging 19.3 points, up from 16.8 during the regular season. Taylor has scored 20 points per game, up from 17.8. </p> "I see that as probably being the biggest matchup, when you think about it, because both players really dictate the game on both sides," Taurasi said.</div></p> LINK</p></span></span>
