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Message: [QUOTE="Bone Dog, post: 5298604, member: 12088"] Nice analysis, very thorough. I don't think many have postulated 90+ scoring. But a few have and it has triggered many responses, mostly from folks who are skeptical of it. So, it's good to see a careful breakdown of the factors that would be involved. Two distinctions I'd add to support your analysis: [LIST=1] [*]to note that the rotation in February is typically when the paring down of playing time becomes really noticeable. Early season lineups tend to be much more 'experimental.' Since the scoring average is season long, it will include the early season period when more players will get into games. [*]you're right, I think, that Geno is not likely to run a [B]pressing[/B] game in the second half of the season. But he will emphasize the [B]transition[/B] game. This is not the result of turnovers generated in a full court press. It belongs more properly under the heading of the 'half court offense' you mention, but with a nuance. He encourages the team to run not merely on turnovers generated in the half-court defense but also on missed shots. It is still a half-court offense, sort of, but it doesn't allow opposing teams to settle into their half-court defense. We saw this quite a bit in this last tournament run. [/LIST] Geno has always encouraged a transition game, but it received an extra boost last season because of the presence of Sarah, who runs the floor really well. I think she was the primary (not the exclusive) beneficiary of the long passes from Paige, and seems to have taken up the role we saw Aubrey play so frequently in former years. With Sarah in the game he was also able to emphasize the small lineups more than ever merely because she plays much bigger than she is on defense. Having a big who can run the floor has always been part of his thinking, and we will tend to see much more of it over the next few years. If he has to play Jana or Ice, then the speed of his bigs in a big lineup inhibits a bit this style of play. I wonder if we'll see Serah running in transition along with Sarah. The reason I also think 90+ is unlikely is because so much of the team culture is about defense. Yes, this means lots of transition opportunities, and that can produce quick scores. But the careful defense also encourages the 'extra pass' offense which isn't simply about quick scores. [/QUOTE]

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