2023-24 Season Draft R1 - Laimbeer vs. Fadeaway_J*

[Fadeaway_J]

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. Please ensure you give a rationale for your vote; votes with no explanation will not be counted.

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).

**First to 3 votes advances.**

[Fadeaway_J]

Starters
C - Chet Holmgren (2023-24)

Spoiler:

16.5 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 2.4 apg, 0.6 spg, 2.3 bpg, .530 FG%, .370 3P%, .793 FT%, 129 3P (1.6 pg), .632 TS%
- Rookie of the Year Finalist

PF - OG Anunoby (2023-24)

Spoiler:

14.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.4 spg, 0.7 bpg, .489 FG%, .382 3P%, .753 FT%, 102 3P (2.0 pg), .595 TS%

SF - Jaylen Brown (2023-24)

Spoiler:

23.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 3.6 apg, 1.2 spg, 0.5 bpg, .499 FG%, .354 3P%, .703 FT%, 145 3P (2.1 pg), .580 TS%
- NBA All-Star

SG - Alex Caruso (2023-24)

Spoiler:

10.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.5 apg, 1.7 spg, 1.0 bpg, .468 FG%, .408 3P%, .760 FT%, 136 3P (1.9 pg), .613 TS%

PG - Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2023-24)

Spoiler:

30.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 6.2 apg, 2.0 spg, 0.9 bpg, .535 FG%, .353 3P%, .874 FT%, 95 3P (1.3 pg), .636 TS%
- NBA All-Star
- Most Valuable Player Finalist

Bench
C - Larry Nance Jr. (2023-24)

Spoiler:

5.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.9 apg, 0.3 spg, 0.8 bpg, .573 FG%, .415 3P%, .770 FT%, .653 TS%

F - Nicolas Batum (2023-24)

Spoiler:

5.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.1 apg, 0.8 spg, 0.6 bpg, .453 FG%, .395 3P%, .714 FT%, 73 3P (1.2 pg), .603 TS%

F/G - Trey Murphy III (2023-24)

Spoiler:

14.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.2 apg, 0.9 spg, 0.5 bpg, .443 FG%, .380 3P%, .815 FT%, 169 3P (3.0 pg), .612 TS%

Rotations
C - Holmgren (34), Nance (14)
PF - Anunoby (34), Batum (14)
SF - Brown (24), Murphy (16), Batum (8)
SG - Caruso (20), Brown (12), Murphy (12)
PG - SGA (38), Caruso (10)

FGA Per Player

Spoiler:

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - 19.8
Chet Holmgren - 11.6
OG Anunoby - 11.5
Alex Caruso - 7.6
Nicolas Batum - 4.3
Jaylen Brown - 17.9
Larry Nance Jr. - 4.0
Trey Murphy III - 10.9

Total: 87.7/88.0

Our foundation is the two-way excellence of OKC teammates SGA and Holmgren. Like the real-life Thunder, we've stacked our rotation with players who can both shoot and make plays off the dribble. SGA is unstoppable as a perimeter creator with this much space around him, particularly Holmgren's shooting from the 5. Brown fits in nicely alternating between second and third option, similarly to J-Dub for the Thunder. OG, Caruso, Murphy, and Batum can all hit the three and make plays when the ball is swung to them (OG/Murphy more as slashers, Caruso/Batum as passers/connectors).

Defensively, we have size and versatility on the perimeter around the dominant rim protection of Holmgren. With Caruso, OG, and Brown able to take on the toughest individual assignments, SGA can wreak havoc with his elite help instincts. Holmgren is great in drop coverage but also has the mobility and intelligence to show high if necessary. Nance off the bench gives us an even more switchable look at the 5.

Matchup
- Defensive assignments will be SGA-Jrue, Caruso-Beal, OG-Kawhi, Brown-Draymond, Holmgren-Lopez. I'm don't really see a team based around Kawhi and Beal running a high ball-movement style that will force us to switch a lot, but in any case we'll have Caruso and OG fight through any off-ball screens to maintain the base matchups.
- Holmgren creates a real challenge for the slow-footed Lopez/Sabonis tandem, as he's not only a great outside shooter but can also attack a closeout by taking them off the dribble.
- In theory Jrue seems like a good cover for SGA, but it's should be noted that SGA absolutely roasted Jrue in their one matchup this season:

Watch on YouTube

- While the names may appear to favour Laimbeer, it's worth considering the level these players are at and how they're being used. Jrue has fallen off pretty hard as a primary creator, and Draymond is many years beyond being any kind of legit scoring threat. Beal is still solid but a sub-All-Star level player nowadays. He and Kawhi will be up against Caruso and OG, playing alongside two starters who provide no real scoring pressure. I think their lack of off-the-dribble creation makes them easier to defend than SGA/Brown/Holmgren plus elite spacing. Similarly, Sabonis is a flashy name off the bench, but between his poor fit with Draymond and playing half the game at the 4, I don't see him having near the impact his rep would indicate.

Good luck Laimbeer

[Laimbeer]

Brook Lopez ( 2024 ) 9.6
Draymond Green ( 2024 ) 6.8
Kawhi Leonard ( 2024 ) 17.1
Bradley Beal ( 2024 ) 13.9
Jrue Holiday ( 2024 ) 10.0

Domantas Sabonis ( 2024 ) 13.0
Khris Middleton ( 2024 ) 11.7
Patrick Beverley ( 2024 ) 5.2

87.3

Brook Lopez (36) / Domantas Sabonis (12)
Draymond Green (36) / Domantas Sabonis (12)
Kawhi Leonard (38) / Khris Middleton (10)
Bradley Beal (36) / Khris Middleton (12)
Jrue Holiday (38) / Patrick Beverley (10)


Good luck, Fade

On offense, we're set up nicely with go-to scorers, space, and creators. Our crazy depth ensures we'll always have a creator in the front court (Green or Sabonis). Middleton keeps up the high level wing scoring for 48 minutes as well. Lopez can muscle Holmgren for an occasional low post bucker as well as doing damage on the offensive glass.

The defensive matchups are pretty solid - Lopez/Holmgren, Green/Brown, Kawhi/OG, Beal/Caruso, Jrue/SGA. Lopez and Green are a heckuva defensive interior.

The bench is where we separate ourselves with high level starters (normally) in Sabonis and Middleton. Fade's bench is okay, but this is a series changer.

[Snakebites]

I’m not sure why Laimbeer went the route of benching Sabonis rather than Draymond here. I’d have sooner just leaned into Sabonis here- he has question marks sure but I don’t think he has nearly so many as current Draymond does. I don’t think forcing Sabonis into the PF role (when he famously wasn’t the best fit alongside Turner) does many favors in that regard.

As is I just don’t see enough oomph here alongside Kawhi, and while I do see Fade’s team being a bit more reliant on SGA than one would want the construction feels sounder overall.

Vote Fade

[wackbone]

I think Laimbeer has too many guys who had either down years or REALLY down years. Bit questionable to play Sabonis and Middleton only 24/22 minutes each but play guys like Lopez and Draymond 36 minutes each. Beal had a down year as well.

Just like the overall construction and rotations for Fade a bit more.

Vote: Fade

[MadNESS]

Ditto to wackbone and Snake. Seems weird.
Vote Fade.