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Message: [QUOTE="oldhusky, post: 5062261, member: 9844"] Adding to these points, it is Paige's great versatility that allows most of the other players to play their best positions. It is quite possible that Paige may play as much at her third and fourth best positions as her first two. I think while the 1 and 2 are her best, she is almost as good as a 3, and while certainly not her best, she is still a star at the 4. Last year when Nika was on the floor, it made far more sense to have Paige play elsewhere and Nika man the point. Not because Nika was the better point guard, but because Nika's effectiveness as a SG is much worse than at the point, and Paige is literally exceptional at the three perimeter positions and very very good even at the 4. To a lesser degree that still applies this year. If you just compare our options at the 1 and the 3, there are far more concerns over the 3. We have two talented PG's other than Paige. At SF/3 there are some talented possibilities, but a few more question marks, largely health and inexperience. Most presume both KK and Kaitlin will see significant time. I do too, but mostly at PG. If either of those is on the floor they should be the PG not Paige. While not as extreme an issue as with Nika it still applies. Kaitlin might be close to a swing guard 1/2, but KK is far more a pure PG. Remember KK had to play out of position pretty much the whole season with both Nika and Paige on the floor with her. You could make a pretty logical argument that her potential improvement over her freshmen season could be a lot if allowed to spend most of her time at the point. While Kaitlin can be a pretty good 2 as well as 1, there is not much need for her to play there, not because she can't, but because of who else we have that could be great there, namely Azzi, Ash, Allie, and of course if needed Paige. So if KK and Kaitlin get minutes, the vast majority of those will be at the point, meaning Paige will be elsewhere, and with so many great players at the 2, that means Paige's primary position is more likely to be the 3. Then if you look at the 4, I hope for and believe Sarah will start there. But even if you assume that, there is still an issue with the backup minutes there. At the start of the season even if you pencil Sarah in for 30 good minutes a game, Ayanna and Ice have not yet lived up to their HS rankings, one is coming off surgery, and the other will also be needed for backup minutes at the 5, presumably behind Jana. So the clear cut best option behind Sarah is probably Paige, at least until Aubrey returns. Because of the mix with other players and greater needs at the 3 and the 4, Paige may play less at the point than many assume. She is the team's best 1,2,3 and even possibly 4. KK and Kaitlin are better at the 1 than the 2, Azzi and Ash are a little miscast at the 3 and better at the 2, Caroline is better at the 3 than the 2 or the 4, Q is more 3 than 4 etc. Because of Paige's greatness at so many positions we can get the most out of our other players. Last year's team didn't have options. The only player playing their best position at year end was Nika. KK at the 2 instead of the 1, Ash at the 3 instead of the 2, Paige at the 4 instead of 1-3, and Aaliyah at the 5 instead of the 4 after Aubrey got injured. All teams wind up with players out of their best position part of the time, but last year it was the norm, this year it should be the exception IMO. [/QUOTE]

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