This chain of posts remind me of Nika's response in the comical post vs. guards video, when as she was walking along shaking her head saying it's not like I'm 4'-10" or something....
This past season Nika broke Sue Bird's 21 year old season assist record by a good margin while being forced to play more minutes than any one on the team, yet always consistently pushing pace. With teammates in and out of the rotation throughout the season, many times leaving only one great shooting option on the floor with her, she still managed to get double digit assists in 1/3 of her 36 games (another Uconn record), at one point four in a row - the first of them dishing 15 assists (yes, another two records). From the start of the season until it's twilight she led the nation in assists (only falling behind Clark, NCAA POY, during the team bad stretch of games). These are significant accomplishments!
She repeated as BE DPOY even as she was obviously self-restraining her aggression to assure that she avoid foul trouble. She was challenged preseason by Geno and under incredible pressure (as per Geno - second only to Azzi) she not only met the challenge she excelled. She was by all accounts the recognized team leader, floor general and most vocal player. She, self professedly, matured significantly, harnessed her emotions, understood and accepted her needed role(s) to best serve team success. Her scoring increased along with her willingness to attack the basket off the dribble, she reduced her fouls, increased her FT attempts and % all while maximizing her great ability to feed her teammates. Nika made significant jumps, this past season, in her game, attitude and perspective and IMO she is far from hitting her ceiling.
The point is you don't sit this kid because on paper she plays the same position, as possibly, the greatest women's college basketball player ever. They are incredibly complimentary players which will both maximize each others best attributes while playing on the floor together. The discussion really shouldn't center on Nika or Paige, it should be about who are the other three on the floor with them to maximize team success. To me, Azzi and Aaliyah are givens. The discussion should be on the fourth.
Seriously, it's not like she is 4'-10" or something....