I see a few people want to keep a rebounder in the game. It is a debatable point but my view is if you need a three to tie, you don't want to give your opponent time to come back for a quick two to win the game if you do make it.
To me that means waiting until the last 5 seconds or so to put up a shot, and probably doesn't allow enough time to get the rebound pass out to the three point line, and get another crack at it. It is a difficult position to be in, but if you don't want to give your opponent a chance at another possession, you effectively take away your chance at a second opportunity from an offensive rebound as well, particularly when you have to get it back out to the three point line.
That is one reason I stacked my lineup with tall shooters at the 4/5. If you are trying to wait for the last shot it is very difficult to run a play within a very narrow time-frame to free up your best shooters for an open look, when everyone knows you have to shoot a 3, and your opponent puts their best three point defending lineup out there.
They can have 5 defenders only worried about a 3 pointer circling the 3 point line. They can put their best defenders out there, and potentially go bigger and longer than their normal lineup. Paige and Azzi may not have a player their own size to shoot over. Teams will try to take that away and if they do your 3rd,4th, and 5th option becomes far more relevant.
People are saying get Paige or Azzi an open look. Of course you try for that, but in last second scenarios you are not very likely to get that. So if your first two options don't develop who do you want jacking up a very contested three pointer? Liv? Aaliyah Aubrey? Nika? I don't think so. A much better case can be made for Christyn or Evina because against some defenders they might be able to get off a passable 3 point attempt, since they have shown an ability to create their own shot from midrange, but they are pretty mediocre on open 3's, and we might be asking them to shoot a very contested three, possibly over a taller defender that only has to defend the 3.
Now I don't know how Caroline, Saylor or Dorka could do on contested 3's either, and that is a valid point, but both Caroline and Saylor are comfortable putting up shots from well beyond the line, and of course they are 6-2. If the defense puts some of their longer defenders on Paige and Azzi, Dorka might wind up with a size advantage allowing her to get off a decent look. Probably not a good scenario, but remember whoever is on the floor might be the one putting up that three point attempt, not by design but out of necessity.
Of course there are other combinations that could be used here. I'd be willing to go down with these 3 on the floor with either of them taking the last shot.
