A Recycle Rush Reflection

[Citrus Dad]

Originally Posted by JesseK

I don't think this is correct for 80-90% of teams at a typical event. In Quals, QF's and SF's you aren't directly competing with the opposing alliance, but also all of the other teams. Denying the RC's in one match is irrelevant unless their next opposing alliance can also deny the RC's. All that matters in Qual/QF/SF are individual scores - so Canburglaring is only effective if used as the means to that end. At a typical events, I seriously doubt they made a big difference before Finals.

At champs they matter even in Quals because there is a good chance that average teams are paired with elite teams who can use 4+ RC's.

A superior chokehold is a virtual guarantee out of the semifinals. Assuming the transitive property holds (Team A is faster than B is faster than C is faster than D), so long at Team A puts up 5 stacks of 36 points in each match (and ignoring uncapped stacks) Team C can only advance by putting up 7 stacks of 42 points in its match where it is faster than D and puts ups 3 stacks of 42 in its matches against A and B.