[76lsjumb]

Nice analysis. To the degree we think this is a conscious choice by Payne, then only the past three seasons matter, since she's in her fourth season as coach now. And if 2/3 of those games evince this pattern, coupled with the Santa Clara game, I'd say it's on purpose.

Absolutely it is on purpose.  It is the strategy, the scouting report.  An offense like Stanford's relies on timing--those back door cuts (and probably more important the effect a few of those cuts have on the rest of the defense) are only successful if there is perfect coordination and timing.  A sloppy, physical game makes it that much more difficult to execute those cuts.  They are like timing patterns in football that are unstoppable unless the receiver gets bumped or the quarterback gets pressured.

So, then, if we’re a talented team with smart coaches, we devise and execute a game plan that goes against tendencies and renders their scouting report defense less effective. 

Pretty simple, it seems to me.

[76lsjumb]

Nice analysis. To the degree we think this is a conscious choice by Payne, then only the past three seasons matter, since she's in her fourth season as coach now. And if 2/3 of those games evince this pattern, coupled with the Santa Clara game, I'd say it's on purpose.

Absolutely it is on purpose.  It is the strategy, the scouting report.  An offense like Stanford's relies on timing--those back door cuts (and probably more important the effect a few of those cuts have on the rest of the defense) are only successful if there is perfect coordination and timing.  A sloppy, physical game makes it that much more difficult to execute those cuts.  They are like timing patterns in football that are unstoppable unless the receiver gets bumped or the quarterback gets pressured.

So, then, if we’re a talented team with smart coaches, we devise and execute a game plan that goes against tendencies and renders their scouting report defense less effective. 

Pretty simple, it seems to me.