I want Nika to start as point guard and Paige to be the shooting guard, but the difference you are bringing up is not related to skill. If Geno wants Paige to push the ball up like Nika, Paige can do it. In the end it’s Geno’s decision. Paige is the better point guard in almost every way or maybe in every way.
Paige could push the ball up the court but clearly she doesn't if it isn't a coaching mandate. I realize some of that is because Paige plays heavy minutes. She probably could push the ball all the time if her minutes were reduced. Nika played heavy minutes last year, pushed the pace all the time and maintained all out defensive intensity at the same time.
One difference is we didn't press much due to injuries and a limited bench. I hope that all changes this year, not just push the pace on offense, but press on defense as well. That might limit our best players to more like 30 minutes a game which is fine as long as the substitutes are very high quality too and we are at the same time exhausting the other team's starters, and forcing them to rely on far inferior benches more.
If our bench is much better than our opponents, by an even bigger margin than comparing starters, then a fast paced game on both ends making more of the game a battle between the benches is to our advantage.
Also the question is not, nor has it ever been, who is the best PG overall. Even the start Nika crowd believes Paige is a better overall PG than Nika. The relevant comparison for the starting Nika debate is Caroline or Aubrey, not Paige. Paige and Azzi are going to start, that is a universal opinion. The question is Nika, Caroline or Aubrey for the third guard.
Because of Aubrey's lack of a perimeter shot and the fact we may need her to play upfront more this year, most view her best role as a great 3/4 backup. That leaves Nika vs. Caroline, and regardless of who that is, that player will be at their natural position, either PG for Nika or SF for Caroline. Nika's value off the point goes down a great deal, Paige's does not.
Because she is so good and so versatile Paige could be an All American at three positions. If Nika starts with Paige, Nika should be the principle PG, that has already been demonstrated in their first two years when they played together. Further when it comes to who plays the 3, Paige is a better choice than Azzi, although most reverse that pairing for reasons I don't understand. Even though they are both listed at 5-11, clearly Paige is taller, longer, and a much better rebounder and shot blocker.
Finally I prefer Nika as the PG not Paige, because of how great and versatile Paige is., and the focus of this discussion should really be on Nika vs. other alternatives, mostly Caroline who has ongoing injury concerns, is coming off a disappointing season, and clearly has more question marks at least at this point than Nika. Nika is also a senior, and clearly the leader on offense and defense for the team last year.
Paige can have a great great season whether she starts at PG or not. She will play some at all three guard positions and be excellent at all of them. In fact Paige's versatility can enable the other smalls to all play the vast majority of their minutes at their best position, Nika at the 1, Azzi the 2, Caroline at the 3, KK at the 1, Ashlynn the 2, Q the 3, and Aubrey when she isn't used upfront at the 3.
