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Message: [QUOTE="Bone Dog, post: 4364103, member: 12088"] By my ranking, they were #1 and #2 I think the rebounding question is a little more complicated. We don't send 4 to the boards at either end because we play for the transition game. This is a gamble, but over the years it's paid off. This means we're not going to win the rebounding battle every night. But the fact is last year SC averaged 71 pts and 48 rebounds while we averaged 75 points and 39 rebounds -- and we did that without Paige most of the year, of course, but also with an injury riddled team. This year, I think we could be even stronger than SC across the front court, though not taller, depending on how quickly Ice and Ayanna can contribute. Obviously we have no winning matchup for Boston -- Dorka and Amari just have to keep her from dominating the floor. But Saxton struggled against Aaliyah two years ago, and barely held her own last year. Much as I admire Victaria's game, the fact is Aaliyah is too strong and quick for her and that difference is likely to be even more pronounced this year. Two years ago, she barely held her own against Aubrey. I wonder how she'll do against Aaliyah with Aubrey and Ice spelling her. It might not be pretty. Dawn could go to the twin towers with Cardoso for more of the game, but then they become a quite slow team, or Amihere but she can't outmuscle Aaliyah on the boards. After the front court starters, I think we could have the advantage if Ice and Ayanna develop well. I don't think SC would have anyone who could matchup with them -- certainly not Saxton or Amihere -- and having to try could prove exhausting. This is just a guess, but I'm pretty confident in this one. As for the 3 position, I don't think that's even close. Beal is an excellent wing on D, only so-so on O. But she's going to be stuck trying to contain Azzi, just as she pulled Paige duty the last two years, and that's bound to be a losing battle for her, just as it is for us with Boston. But who's going to contain Caroline and Lou? I don't think Cooke is up to that battle, and I think she'll get a lot of Nika attention. Of course the season may not turn out this way -- Amari and the freshmen may not develop, Aubrey may not recover her strength and speed, Nika might struggle on O, someone else might get injured. All sorts of things could go wrong. But if things go as I predict... [/QUOTE]

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