[Brandon Holley]

I have a different, #2 scenario, because this one directly applies to us this year at the boston regional:

Your team puts up a good showing, managing to get around a 4-5 tube average. It seems that however hard you try, you just cannot seem to win a match. The "algorithm of death" seems to be taking its toll on you. You play matches against 121 and 1403. You find yourself near the end of the rankings. However, some good scouts have seen that your team has some talent. Come down to alliance selections, the top 8 is a little off. It seems the "algorithm of death" may have struck again with some very high numbered teams making the top 8, not necessarily for their performance, but because of their partners. Their scouting is still new so they see your ranking as low as sign of weakness so you fall all the way to the 2nd half of the 2nd round of pickings. The 3rd alliance spots that your available and snatches you up.

You go onto the elims...the quarters were fairly competitive, some solid defense was played, but the other alliance fails to score enough points to contend with your solid alliance. You go onto the semifinals where you find your team firing on all cylinders. Your alliance gets a row of 8, not once, but twice. Onto the finals. By far the most difficult matchup, you are playing the number 1 alliance of arguably the 2 best robots at the competition. Their 3rd partner may not be the best, but they certainly hold their own. You win the first match, lose the 2nd, and enter the 3rd. Your alliance gives it their all. With 3 seconds left your team manages to climb your partners ramp which gives you a 15 pt. lead, thus WINNING THE REGIONAL. Your partners thank you, knowing if they had a different partner they may not have stood a chance.

Now what do you pick, 1 or 2?