Here is a quick list of what you need in your writeup.
1. Specific years for each player on your team 2. Rotations and minutes for each player 3. Reasoning as to why your team will win and/or why people should vote for you.
Do not vote in this thread until both managers have submitted their writeups.
If writeups aren't posted within 24 hours, we will vote solely based on the players they have drafted (and any rotations they have posted on their roster page).
PG: Derek Harper 90' - 14.2 SG: Ray Allen 01' - 16.0 SF: Paul Pierce 08' - 13.7 PF: OG Anunoby 20' - 8.2 C: Kevin Garnett 08' - 13.9
Bench: George Hill 13' - 11.5 Bench: James Posey 08' - 5.6 Bench: Kendrick Perkins 08' - 4.5
87.6/88
Derek Harper 34 / George Hill 14 Ray Allen 36 / George Hill 10 / James Posey 2 Paul Pierce 36 / James Posey 12 OG Anunoby 32 / James Posey 16 Kevin Garnett 40 / Kendrick Perkins 8
Vs
C - Davis (26), Williams (22) PF - James (36), Davis (12) SF - Battier (36), Green (10), James (2) SG - KCP (30), Green (14), McMillan (4) PG - Irving (37), McMillan (11)
Matchup: - Defensive assignments straight up: Harper vs Kyrie, Allen vs KCP, Pierce vs Battier, Anunoby vs LeBron, Garnett vs Davis. - We match up perfectly here. Harper, Anunoby and Garnett are some of the best defenders you could hope for against Irving, James and Davis. With KCP and Battier being low offensive threats, Pierce/Allen/Posey can help on LeBron as well. Even with some great defensive pieces around him, it might be hard to hide Kyrie here. Having a very potent lineup will force LeBron to work hard on both sides. Lakers LeBron is still great, but it should be remembered that there is still some cost to using this version, matching him against Pierce for example will have its toll. - We have the advantage of having 4 offensive stars in our lineup whereas Fade starts two 3 and D players. Also, Anunoby is the most offensively dangerous 3 and D in the series, and George Hill is the best bench piece. - We have a proven formula, with some clear upgrades, e.g. Allen in his prime years in Bucks, Harper/Hill as a great two way duo that are both an improvement over Rondo in my eyes being able to space the floor while keeping up with good defense, and Anunoby for added versatility. Our team presents great spacing with everyone on our team expect Perkins being outside shooters, led by the dynamic wing duo of Allen and Pierce.
26.1 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.5 spg, 2.3 bpg, .503 FG%, .333 3P%, .846 FT%, 72 3P (1.2 pg), .610 TS% - NBA Champion - NBA All-Star - All-NBA First Team - All-Defensive First Team
PF - LeBron James (2019-20)
Spoiler:
25.3 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 10.2 apg, 1.2 spg, 0.5 bpg, .493 FG%, .348 3P%, .693 FT%, 148 3P (2.2 pg), .577 TS% - Led the NBA in apg, AST% (49.1) - NBA Champion - NBA Finals MVP - NBA All-Star - All-NBA First Team
Rotations C - Davis (26), Williams (22) PF - James (36), Davis (12) SF - Battier (36), Green (10), James (2) SG - KCP (30), Green (14), McMillan (4) PG - Irving (37), McMillan (11)
FGA Per Player
Spoiler:
LeBron James - 19.4 Anthony Davis - 17.7 Danny Green - 7.0 Kentavious Caldwell-Pope - 7.3 Shane Battier - 5.9 Robert Williams - 6.0 Nate McMillan - 4.3 Kyrie Irving - 19.7
Total: 87.3/88.0
We're essentially defaulting to the alignment that the 2020 Lakers would break out when it was winning time, with AD at the 5, LeBron at the 4, and a bunch of quality defensive role players around them. In doing so, we've addressed that roster's main weaknesses: the lack of another elite shot creator besides LeBron (Kyrie) and so-so outside shooting (Kyrie again, along with Battier). As was their dynamic in Cleveland, LeBron still functions as the lead decision-maker, while Kyrie can focus primarily on scoring while also being able to absorb some of those playmaking responsibilities. Whichever one of them has the ball, AD will thrive as a play finisher (as will Timelord off the bench).
Defensively, this team has the entire package: KCP and McMillan at the point of attack; Green, Battier, and LeBron as switchable wings; and two dominant rim protectors in AD and Timelord. As a bonus, AD is the rare big who can excel both as an orthodox drop big and switching onto smaller players. Kyrie is the only weaker defender in the rotation, but we have plenty of ways to cover for him, and he at least has good size for his position.
Matchup - Initial assignments will be Kyrie-Harper, KCP-Allen, LeBron-OG, Battier-Pierce, AD-KG. Outside of Kyrie, we feel comfortable switching pretty much any matchup, and we will shift Kyrie out of the action ahead of time if we see him being targeted. Between AD, LeBron, and Battier, our collective defensive IQ should keep us out of too many unfavourable matchups. - Starting out on OG allows LeBron to conserve his energy so he can ramp up down the stretch. He's still a quality defender in the chosen season and can comfortable switch onto Pierce at the end of a possession if needs be. - A lot is being asked of KG here, as he's durantbird's only rim protector while also having to deal with the LeBron-AD or Kyrie-AD spread pick-and-roll. He's not going to get exploited because he's KG, but there also isn't the option of gapping off his man to zone off his area as he did for the Celtics in real life, especially against a genius passer like LeBron. - Durantbird does have a fourth offensive option in Harper, but there's also a notable gap between the top three on both teams. LeBron/AD/Kyrie are able to shoulder such a massive offensive burden that we only need good spot-up shooters around them. In the playoffs for the chosen seasons, LeBron averaged 27.6 ppg (on 64.7 TS) and 8.8 apg, AD 27.7 on 61.0 TS, and Kyrie 25.9 on 58.0 TS. Beyond the raw numbers, that level of offensive talent bends the defense in a manner that I would say only Ray at his best can approach. It's why Shaq and Kobe were so dominant despite other teams technically having "more" offensive options.
Yeah, this is tough. Both teams are very strong. Leaning db cause I'm low on Kyrie. While he's obviously a talented scorer, I think he kills team chemistry on both sides of the floor. I'm pretty low on Perk as well, but he's playing just 8 minutes. Db has a tiny bit more firepower with Harper instead of two 3&D starters.
I’m not wild about Kyrie in general but if there’s a situation where he can work it’s here, where he’s proven to be a solid wingman to Lebron. I think the Lebron/AD two man game with crazy spacing is tough in general to beat in this pool.
