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Message: [QUOTE="BlueSkyGLW, post: 5296850, member: 11281"] 12 players in roster Alas, not enough guards: Moriah is ravaged by injuries, Nika is out for the year, Katie Lou who can play there is out for the year; Lou Lopez sitting out the year. Bria is just coming back, getting back in shape; Kia playing so-so. That leaves Paige and Tiffany in relative good health and playing well enough, the former will continue to improve. Gabby to the rescue, again except in reverse? Front court is loaded: Breanna, Napheesa, Tina, Azura, Aaliyah, Kiah, Stef, Olivia with Dorka and Katie Lou sitting out the year. If everyone were healthy, which 12 players would you select for best chance to win the title? Would you tilt to unstoppable offense, lock-down defense or a good balance on both sides? Some considerations: [LIST=1] [*]Moriah of old, yes no doubt about it! but those injuries have really slowed her down, so sorry.... [*]So, Nika has to be in for backup PG duty and defense against high-scoring guards, especially CC. [*]Do I need Kiah as rebounder and rim protector, basically to strengthen defense? [*]Are positionless players (more than one position) embedded in the roster an advantage? (Yes) There are a few, should one take them all? [*]How many in the roster should be 3 levels on offense? [*]Should there be a pure 3 pt specialist? (Actually, from the available players, no one is just a 3pt specialist, so that's good) [*]Should one favor speed and BB IQ to ensure everyone won't miss a beat when playing fast, reading-and-reacting, switching on both sides of the ball? [/LIST] No doubt about it - the core group: [LIST] [*]Breanna [*]Napheesa [*]Gabby [*]Paige [*]Tina [*]Azura (doing well now) [/LIST] That's only one guard, need?: [LIST] [*]Nika as backup PG [*]Tiffany [*]Bria [*]Kia [/LIST] To complete the roster, who among these? [LIST] [*]Stef [*]Aaliyah [*]Kiah [*]Olivia [*]Katie Lou [*]Dorka [*]Lou Lopez [/LIST] Frankly, I am having a hard time. But I would take the core group which has 5 among them with positionless qualities. And, [LIST] [*]Add Katie Lou for another positionless player (she has never quite played as well in the WNBA as she has in Spain) but I recall how well she and Gabby read each other on both offense and defense in their FF runs after the fourpeat. Well, neither did Gabby - show what she can do fully - until this season..... [*]Backup PG important, so Nika is in; plus she will take backcourt high-scorer defensive duties along with Gabby [/LIST] That makes it 8, need four more. [LIST] [*]Who can run the court, rebound, defend and shoot well enough among the remaining front court players: Kiah, Olivia, Dorka, Aaliyah and Stef......and, a big-body defender in addition to Tina? Two from here would do. [*]And, to complete the guards: Tiffany, Bria, Kia? Tiffany and Kia are better defenders, Bria looks like her shot is back. Oh dear, which ones? If Gabby weren't the French Army Knife, I would probably take all three. [/LIST] But can these collection of UConn Alums guarantee a title? Alas, no team can afford them together! BTW, I think 9 or 10 of these players were part of the fourpeat run..... Have fun anyway...... [/QUOTE]

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