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Message: [QUOTE="JoePgh, post: 4814341, member: 1131"] Here is something to think about -- I don't quite know how to process this data point. Last summer, the Connecticut Sun -- having lost 6-6 Jonquel Jones to the Liberty over the previous winter -- began the season with a starting front-line of 6-2 Brionna Jones as their "5", 6-2 Alyssa Thomas ("AT") as the "4", and 6-4 but rail-thin Dawanna Bonner as the "3". They were all effective rebounders even in the WNBA, where every other team had centers who were 6-4 or sometimes much taller. AT was one of the leading rebounders in the league. Olivia Nelson-Ododa (6-5) came off the bench on that Sun team. Then, early in the season, Brionna Jones had a season-ending injury and was replaced in the starting lineup by Rebecca Allen (6-1). AT individually and the Sun collectively continued to be an effective rebounding team. But eventually they lost in the semi-final series to the Liberty, who had 6-6 J. Jones, 6-4 Stewie, and 6-4 Satou Sabally. The Sun could not manage the Liberty's inside game over a 5-game series. I'm not sure that would have worked without the rebounding contributions of Bonner, even though AT continued to get the largest number of rebounds. Bonner also blocked a lot of shots, protecting the rim. But this example does prove that an undersized front line can be effective at rebounding, provided that there are three slightly undersized forwards. It isn't similar to what UConn is doing this year if Brady doesn't develop: one 6-3 post player who will probably be a first-round WNBA draft pick, and then 4 players who are 6-0 or smaller. [/QUOTE]

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