[archiver]

Posted by Joe Johnson at 2/4/2001 7:59 PM EST


Engineer on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.



I am torn in my mind about the way the Semi-Finals and
Finals are going to go.

CONSTANT SCORES => REDUNDANT SEMIS & FINALS
Part of my brain can see alliance scores being more or
less constant from round to round. That is, an
alliance that scores 520 in the first match of the
Quarter-Finals will score 520 in every round they play
from then on.

When I think this way, I think to myself that by the
time that teams get to the elimination rounds at the
Nationals, only the best of the best will be there. AND
all the confusion about how to maximize scoring will be
resolved to a few key moves that almost everyone will
understand clear.


VOLITILE SCORES => SEMIS AND FINALS MUST BE PLAYED TO
KNOW WHO'LL WINS

The other part of my brain sees the scores in the
elimination rounds as anything but constant.

When I think this way, I think that all 4 teams will
each have to perform everything perfect to get the
alliance's highest possible score. Beyond this there
is the risk factor. Because time figures into the
score, teams will rush themselves and take chances in
order to shave precious seconds off their time. Teams
may take the ramp at higher speeds or try to balance
the goals in a hurried fashion. All this leading to
uncertain scores as the risks sometimes payoff and
sometimes panout.

One final wild card that makes the Semis and Finals
more than a repeat performance is the limited
availability of stretcher tickets. Think about it.
Suppose an alliance gets their highest scores in the
Quarter Finals by using a stretcher ticket for a
particular team. The question is then when to use the
second ticket? If they use it in the Semis, they may
not have it when they need it in the Finals. If they
don't use it, they may not make it to the Finals.

BOTTOM LINE:

I can see this breaking both ways, with the volatile
score version being a bit more likely (I'd place the
odds at 60-40)

Which way do you think it will break?

Do tell.

Joe J.