04-06-2021, 01:55 PM
We just won a national championship with fill-in point guards and we might end up there next year too. Tara will do that same next year - put the lineup and rotation in place that gives the team the best chance of winning. IMO, here are the ladies' natural positions:
Ki - Combo, but more of a 2 IMO. She's a scorer but had to assume the point guard spot, bringing the ball up, calling plays, and then creating her own shots. If we would have had a natural 1, Ki would have slid to the 2 where she could have come off screens and attacked from the wing. She played the 1 because she was a vocal senior leader and it was our best option. When she was a soph, Marta played the 1 and she played the 2.
Anna - 2. If she were a 1 she would have brought the ball up all season and Ki would have played the 2. She isn't very vocal - to be a point guard, you need to have a voice. Even though she has good ball handling skills, I think Tara sees her as a 2.
Hanna - 2. Obvious - pure shooting guard.
Haley - 4, but perhaps 3 if she continues to shoot the 3. She also assumed time at the 1 when Ki was struggling or needed a break.
Lexie/Lacie - 3. Lacie has played some 1 and could possible slide over, but it's not her natural position.
Jenna and Jana - 1.
The question is can either Jenna or Jana bring enough to the table to start vs having one of the other players move over away from their natural spot? I really hope so, because I'm a big fan of players in their natural spots. Haley is sooo much better at the 4 for example. If Jana or Jenna don't get the reigns, I would guess Lacie would slide to the 1, even if Anna returns.
Ki - Combo, but more of a 2 IMO. She's a scorer but had to assume the point guard spot, bringing the ball up, calling plays, and then creating her own shots. If we would have had a natural 1, Ki would have slid to the 2 where she could have come off screens and attacked from the wing. She played the 1 because she was a vocal senior leader and it was our best option. When she was a soph, Marta played the 1 and she played the 2.
Anna - 2. If she were a 1 she would have brought the ball up all season and Ki would have played the 2. She isn't very vocal - to be a point guard, you need to have a voice. Even though she has good ball handling skills, I think Tara sees her as a 2.
Hanna - 2. Obvious - pure shooting guard.
Haley - 4, but perhaps 3 if she continues to shoot the 3. She also assumed time at the 1 when Ki was struggling or needed a break.
Lexie/Lacie - 3. Lacie has played some 1 and could possible slide over, but it's not her natural position.
Jenna and Jana - 1.
The question is can either Jenna or Jana bring enough to the table to start vs having one of the other players move over away from their natural spot? I really hope so, because I'm a big fan of players in their natural spots. Haley is sooo much better at the 4 for example. If Jana or Jenna don't get the reigns, I would guess Lacie would slide to the 1, even if Anna returns.