[cardfan1996]

I can’t seem to quote the post I am replying to but here it goes

Yes, I want Nivar as the point guard since the coaching staff has been unable to recruit a viable one since Kianna’s year (6-7 cycles ago?). If Lacie (who could not dribble in November, 2021 but looked like a viable pt guard in the Elite 8) can run the point for Stanford’s 2022 Final Four team and nearly get to that last game then Nivar or Bosgana who can actually dribble on Day 1 will work out just fine. Nivar and Bosgana are starting from much more of a fundamentally sound foundation in ballhandling than Lacie (or Anna for that matter). I can tell that Nivar and Bosgana have a lot more comfort with ballhandling than Lacie or Anna did last year or Harriel this year (who appears nervous at times but who again I think is much more sound in ballhandling than Lacie’s starting point (not her end point)). They’d have to work as hard as Lacie (which is impossible) but if they did, they can get there.

Here are my goals for the team (because no one asked):

1. Reach the final game of the NCAA tournament. To get there, we need 1) to be post-first so anyone on the perimeter needs to have basic passing ability to get our post the ball, 2) better defensive rebounding (in many ways, Haley is our best when she wants to be so I want her near the basket), 3) we need a reliable and efficient 2nd & 3rd scorer to help Brink (Haley is not efficient if she has to carry the point guard duties), and 4) we need less turnovers (Haley turns over the ball a lot as her usage rate increases and fatigue sets in).
 
2. Make sure Haley Jones is a Top 5 pick because her fallen out of the Top 5 as the #1 player in her class is bad for her and the program. No WNBA team is looking at Haley as a 1, 2 or 3 without a 3pt shot OR the perimeter defensive skills to defend other 3s in the WNBA. I’d have to sell her as a versatile undersized point forward (4) like Alyssa Thomas without the elite defensive skills  but with more elite post skills and a pretty jump shot 15 feet and in.

I couldn’t care less about Tara getting the 100th PAC-12 regular season or tourney title. These things are inconsequential to me after you can literally line Maples with past titles.

The current starters that include Lepolo and Agnes OR Haley as point guard will not allow the team to reach either Goal #1 or Goal #2. I’ve known this since November, 2022. This is still the case February 6, 2023.

So no, if I know I will not reach any of the goals going down this current path, why would I not PIVOT even with a month a half? That is the Stanford way. You don’t continue down a path with a very clear end.

[cardfan1996]

I can’t seem to quote the post I am replying to but here it goes

Yes, I want Nivar as the point guard since the coaching staff has been unable to recruit a viable one since Kianna’s year (6-7 cycles ago?). If Lacie (who could not dribble in November, 2021 but looked like a viable pt guard in the Elite 8) can run the point for Stanford’s 2022 Final Four team and nearly get to that last game then Nivar or Bosgana who can actually dribble on Day 1 will work out just fine. Nivar and Bosgana are starting from much more of a fundamentally sound foundation in ballhandling than Lacie (or Anna for that matter). I can tell that Nivar and Bosgana have a lot more comfort with ballhandling than Lacie or Anna did last year or Harriel this year (who appears nervous at times but who again I think is much more sound in ballhandling than Lacie’s starting point (not her end point)). They’d have to work as hard as Lacie (which is impossible) but if they did, they can get there.

Here are my goals for the team (because no one asked):

1. Reach the final game of the NCAA tournament. To get there, we need 1) to be post-first so anyone on the perimeter needs to have basic passing ability to get our post the ball, 2) better defensive rebounding (in many ways, Haley is our best when she wants to be so I want her near the basket), 3) we need a reliable and efficient 2nd & 3rd scorer to help Brink (Haley is not efficient if she has to carry the point guard duties), and 4) we need less turnovers (Haley turns over the ball a lot as her usage rate increases and fatigue sets in).
 
2. Make sure Haley Jones is a Top 5 pick because her fallen out of the Top 5 as the #1 player in her class is bad for her and the program. No WNBA team is looking at Haley as a 1, 2 or 3 without a 3pt shot OR the perimeter defensive skills to defend other 3s in the WNBA. I’d have to sell her as a versatile undersized point forward (4) like Alyssa Thomas without the elite defensive skills  but with more elite post skills and a pretty jump shot 15 feet and in.

I couldn’t care less about Tara getting the 100th PAC-12 regular season or tourney title. These things are inconsequential to me after you can literally line Maples with past titles.

The current starters that include Lepolo and Agnes OR Haley as point guard will not allow the team to reach either Goal #1 or Goal #2. I’ve known this since November, 2022. This is still the case February 6, 2023.

So no, if I know I will not reach any of the goals going down this current path, why would I not PIVOT even with a month a half? That is the Stanford way. You don’t continue down a path with a very clear end.