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Message: [QUOTE="hoophuskee, post: 3594589, member: 3535"] The bold is what scares me which is why overall the 9the 10th players will rarely work if the plan is to consistently use them in close games other 2-3 minutes. Heck I'm one of the more optimistic posters of Paige as a frosh but maybe some aren’t - yet what you're implying is to trust the 9th and 10th player (probably freshmen) in games that will probably be tight? SO anyone who is cautious with Paige, wouldn't they be even more cautious with the 9th and 10th player as I am too? One possession could change the outcome of a game. IMO it’s a big risk to take in that you don’t need to take it. Secondly, when you press the elite teams will scout you. When they do it means they will be prepared for it. ORFC some teams UCONN will bury but on the flip-side you can look at the history of basketball in which some overwhelming pressing teams got beat by a much lesser team because the lesser team beat the press. You’re giving the other team an opportunity to beat you vs if you just play the game with periodic trapping rather than full out. Just because your players are fresher doesn't mean that they are better on that given night. For example, say you use your 9th and 10th player while a star was on the bench and you lose ground because the 9th and 10th player couldn't turn over the opposing team, and they’ve gotten some easy baskets and changed the momentum. Thus, you lose the game by a slight margin. Can we say that the coach that used the 9th and 10th player blew the game? He or she kept one of his top players on the bench while Rome began to burn. And when the star(s) came back in - they couldn't overcome the fires that were created because the bench was ineffective. That's about as frustrating way to lose as I can imagine. And by that I mean - "not playing our stars because we were hoping our 9th and 10th players could help wear down 18-21 year old opposing players" who are probably extremely fit rather than trying to win by just playing your best. Because this team has potential of 5 players with a possibility of at least Honorable Mention A/A (I know all 5 won't be), I don't think the 9th and 10th player on this team can be counted on to be playing at "reasonably high level" to potentially that ceiling of Honorable Mention A/A. I think its more wishful thinking. There will be freshmen who struggle. They aren't pros. And they are 9th and 10th for a reason. [B]******I want to add though -- I am EXCITED TO SEE the 9th and 10th players moreso than any time in recent memory. So hell yeah-- if they can do it - if the 9th and 10th players are good -- I would love it!! Play it! Punish the opposition and don't let up playing like Wild Husky dogs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) It is super exciting to watch trapping basketball leading to fastbreaks. [/B] [/QUOTE]

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