Are the triplets the best robots in FIRST? I would tend to say no, but I havn't seen them in person. I will say that the triplets are the best "perimeter shooters" I know of.
Additionally there is no way to tell, not even Atlanta. With any form of alliance structure you can often determine which alliance is the best, but very rarely which team is the best.
Team 25 is having arguably the best regional season, ever. 31-0, 2 regional championships, a regional chairmans, woodie flowers finalist award, and the list goes on. 1114 and 1503 have won 3 regionals together. 1680 has kicked some serious butt as well. 254 is dominant as usual. Etc etc etc
As mentioned, the triplets are NOT unstoppable. 45 shut down 1503 in Q93 in GTR. Did 1503 use low gear? Only 1503 knows. As Paul Copioli mentioned in another thread, the "Division by Chicken" alliance was in far from top condition in SF matches 2 and 3. 229's shooter was busted, and 4 was expieriencing several problems (they didn't even get their robot until friday of the regional due to a shipping fiasco). Would 229, 217, and 4 have won out if they were in optimal condition? Nobody knows.
Alot has been said about playing defense against human loading robots. Even I have made this mistake in other posts, but remember this. There is no "Human loading zone" in this year's game. You can load a robot wherever on the field you so chose. Sure, closer may be a higher % shot, but it's not the only space you can load. Robbie, 116's excellent HP, managed to load one ball (his last ball) into34 during a practice match in Peachtree when 34 was at squaring up to shoot. 34's hopper is somewhat similar to 25's, just alot more square.
Will a triplet be on Einstein? I'm willing to bet yes. Will a triplet go home as Champions? I can't say yet.
Oh yeah, congratulations to this thread. You made me read 6 pages in one sitting!
