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Message: [QUOTE="Bone Dog, post: 4390652, member: 12088"] Interesting speculation, because it asks us to think about why each player should get pt. I’m not as confident as you that Nika would have started next to Paige. I’ve been assuming Caroline would start next to Azzi and Paige, and without Paige the only change is that Nika would start. But your reflection has me wondering about my assumption. Geno could well have looked at Caroline as the best “sixth man” he could have. Or may be Caroline and Lou as the best tandem substitution he could have. If that’s the case, the real change in his lineup thinking since Paige’s injury might be that Caroline now has to start and he’s lost a powerful substitution option. This is what Evina gave him and it must have felt overwhelming in the latter half of last season to have to face her coming off the bench. Now his main substitutes at the guard spots are Lou and Ines. That’s not a weak rotation but it’s asking a lot of them to bring what Evina could bring off the bench. Lou may not be the defender Evina was but she’s probably a more consistent shooter — though Evina’s perimeter accuracy always seemed to improve markedly in big games and when it really mattered. I’m not forgetting Ayanna and Aubrey, but I still don’t see them as primary players at 1-3. I look forward to being happily surprised if they can give major minutes at the 3. [/QUOTE]