Basketball Hall-of-Famer and ESPN analyst Nancy Lieberman answers your questions and e-mails throughout the year. Click here to submit a question of your own.

But today, Nancy provides her insight on the winner-take-all Game 5 between the Mercury and Shock at The Palace.

There's no doubt in my mind that this is the best WNBA Finals series we've ever seen. The contrasting styles, the physicality of each game, the star power with names like Taurasi, Nolan, Pondexter… not big-name players on their way out, names whose legends are growing with every game.

I expect Deanna Nolan to play great, I expect Katie Smith to have a big game, I expect Diana Taurasi, Penny Taylor and Cappie Pondexter to have big numbers. These are some of the best players our game has seen, and I think they'll all step up when it counts.

These teams don't like each other, but they have the ultimate respect for each other. You've got two unbelievable coaches. And it's the defending champs against a fun, up-tempo team like the Mercury. It's got all the elements. If you fans haven't enjoyed this series, I honestly don't know what else we can do.

Phoenix Dialing Long Distance

If a fast-break team is doing its job, running and getting a lot of shots, and making those shots (which is obviously the key), you can't defend it. No matter how good a defensive team you are, if they're running and making those shots, it's nearly impossible to stop it. You're constantly guarding people on the move, so you're more susceptible to fouling because you're not set.

Detroit's defense has been spectacular, and they've tried to get back to defend the Mercury fast-break and they've been very solid in the half-court. But this game today, and therefore this series, still depend on the Mercury's ability to make shots. If they make shots, they win. Detroit can be as solid on the boards as they always are, but if Phoenix makes shots, there aren't any rebounds to get.

I think they can work their way out of a shooting slump. The thing that goes first on a shooter when they're tired are their legs, and having the extra day off between Games 4 and 5 could help them.

Even if Phoenix doesn't shoot all that well, they still need to be careful about turning the ball over and they need to take a high quantity of shots. Even a lower shooting percentage with a high quantity will still add up to a lot of points.

Can 'The Closer' Close it Out

Cappie is going to get plenty of attention from the Shock's defense. She's a break-you-down-off-the-dribble type of player with a totally different skill set than her fellow All-Star teammates Taurasi and Taylor.

It was wise of Paul Westhead to put the ball in her hands in Game 4 and to run almost everything through her. She can penetrate, she can draw a foul and she was just a huge catalyst in their comeback the other night because of her aggression to the rim. I also love her confidence in coming right back at Deanna Nolan after Nolan blocked two of her shots. That speaks volumes about her poise and self-assurance.

Ford Stuck in Neutral?

If Detroit is without Cheryl Ford, which is the way things look now, that's a huge loss for them. She had 14 rebounds on one leg in Game 4 and even though she didn't score much, she was a huge presence in the middle for the Shock. Having her out there also puts less pressure on Katie Feenstra and Kara Braxton, both of whom will probably be asked to do more today. If she can go, there's much less need for those two to put up off-the-chart numbers like they did in Game 1. If they're only relied upon to be solid, not spectacular, they're much more likely to live up to expectations.

Detroit is who they are. And they're great at it. They're the best rebounding team in this league. But they have to be more careful with the ball and cut down on turnovers. They also can't give Phoenix extra-volume possessions where they get two or three shots in one trip, because sooner or later, they're going to hit that shot.

Slowing it Down

The thing you heard over and over from Bill Laimbeer is patience, patience, patience. Patience means slow the ball down, see what you have on offense and don't hurry a shot or force a bad pass. Detroit will run with you if they can, but they're more comfortable in a half-court setting at both ends of the floor.

They'll find success defensively if they can slow Phoenix down and make them a two-point shooting team. If they can make Phoenix put the ball on the floor and dribble-penetrate or get the ball inside, that's more Detroit's style. Relying on the Mercury to miss threes is a dangerous way to live.

Taking it to a Higher Level

Legends are built on championships and I can't wait to see who really comes today with the goods. Who's not afraid to win? Who has that will? You look at the titles that Michael Jordan and Cynthia Cooper won… in those series, you saw superstars take it up to a higher level. And having been a player, a coach and now a commentator, I can't wait to see who really steps it up today.