There are several ways to look at this. But first Paige has never been a decoy, and has probably scored more off the ball than when she is on the point. Second Paige could be an All American at point guard or shooting guard, she has the skills for both and is not out of position at either one.
The principle issue has to do with the best mesh with whoever else is on the floor. Evina, Anna and to a lessor extent Christyn are pretty versatile playing more than one position. Nika unfortunately is not. She is pure point guard, she might be a 7 or 8 as a PG, but a 3 or 4 as a SG, whereas Paige can be a 10 at both.
Paige at the point has relatively few very good options to pass to. Christyn and Evina from the three point line are just OK options. Anna was the only player early in the season that opposing coaches had to try to prevent from getting open 3's, and Liv was a sometimes option underneath, but one who has trouble finishing against bigger physical defenders.
When Anna went out the dynamics changed. Inserting Nika into the starting lineup meant there was only one dangerous three point shooter in the starting unit, and that was Paige, and she can't pass to herself. Paige at the point and Nika standing in the corner, largely ignored by the defense has obvious flaws. When Paige and Nika are on the floor together, Nika at the point gets more out of that combo than the other way around, and there is at least one scary good three point shooter off the ball. When Paige is at the point nobody really scares the opposition beyond the stripe except if Anna is in the game.
So I would argue that Paige is as good at SG as PG anyway, that when teamed with Nika, clearly Nika should be the point guard, and that even if Paige was not as effective at SG, many players are asked to play out of their natural position because of team needs. Look at the other players this year.
Evina came to Uconn as a PG. Now I would consider her more of a natural combo guard, but after Anna got injured she was forced to play PF. Before that Anna was playing out of position there as well. Aaliyah is a natural 4 but has to back up Liv at the 5. Christyn is out of position at the 3 when teamed with Nika and Paige. Megan was out of position at the 4, Pheesa was never a 5, Gabby had to guard Asia Wilson quite a bit one game. Azzi could start out of her natural position at the 3 next year, who knows?
Many players are used away from their best position for major stretches of games. Paige is great at both, it isn't even an issue with her. Beyond not seeing any drop-off in production from her at the 2 vs. the 1, there is another reason for Nika being the point when she is in there. In big games Geno plays Paige almost the whole game. Against Baylor the whole game, and none of the Uconn three that played the whole game were good down the stretch when presumably they were exhausted. Just the simple change of Nika bringing the ball up helps preserve Paige to play those big minutes and be fresher at the end.
