Two Rings or Less Draft : Semis - Laimbeer* vs Dr Positivity

[Laimbeer]

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).

**First to 3 votes advances**

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[Dr Positivity]

PG: Chris Paul (2017: 12.9 FGA)
SG: Devin Booker (2021: 19.2 FGA)
SF: Doug Christie (2003: 7.0 FGA)
PF: Karl Malone (1998: 18.2 FGA)
C: Patrick Ewing (1992: 18.6 FGA)

PG: Pablo Prigioni (2014: 2.9 FGA = 3.0)
SF/PF: Nicolas Batum (2021: 6.1 FGA)
C: Nick Collison (2014: 3.0 FGA)

88 / 88

PG: Chris Paul (38) / Pablo Prigioni (10)
SG: Devin Booker (40) / Doug Christie (8)
SF: Doug Christie (28)/ Nicolas Batum (20)
PF: Karl Malone (38) / Nicolas Batum (10)
C: Patrick Ewing (38) / Nick Collision (10)

GL Laimbeer

Defensive matchups: Paul on Stockton, Christie on Allen, Booker on Middleton, Malone on Horford, Ewing on Jokic. The only issue would be Booker/Middleton, however he does not have best D for Booker either.

- He has a strong offensive team however I have the advantage on defense, as I have more of a true anchor in Ewing, and his wing defense of Allen/Middleton isn't elite.

- Paul and Booker gave a Jokic team problems in 2021 with their pick and roll offense which we will be using a ton of between them and Malone. With two center lineup in Horford and Jokic our guards can have a great series putting them out of position.

- He has a stronger bench however I'm not convinced MitchRob is really higher impact than Collision.

- Our ability to score off the dribble on the perimeter is better which could come in handy in tighter defensive series

[Laimbeer]

Nikola Jokic ( 2023 ) 14.8 - Second in MVP; Finals MVP
Al Horford ( 2016 ) 12.8 - All-star; all-NBA votes; all-D votes
Khris Middleton ( 2020 ) 15.5 - All-star; all-NBA votes; all-D votes
Ray Allen ( 2001 ) 16.0 - All-NBA; MVP votes; led league in OWS
John Stockton ( 1995 ) 9.6 - All-NBA; MVP votes; all-D

Mitchell Robinson ( 2023 ) 4.7 - Led league in ORB%; 12.6 rebs & 2.5 blks per 36
Jared Dudley ( 2011 ) 7.7 - Excellent defender, 41.5% on 3.1 3PA
Brent Barry ( 2001 ) 6.0 - Led league with 47.6% on 3.4 3PA

87.9 / 88.0 87.1

Nikola Jokic (38) / Mitchell Robinson (10)
Al Horford (36) / Jared Dudley (12)
Khris Middleton (36) / Brent Barry (4) / Jared Dudley (6)
Ray Allen (38) / Brent Barry (10)
John Stockton (38) / Brent Barry (10)

Good luck, Dr P


Good luck, Larry


Our offense will hum around Joker. The surrounding cast all provide space (Horford established himself as a three point shooter that season). Allen and Mids are great secondary scoring options and will thrive off that passing. As Dr P mentioned, Booker will have a tough time with Mids. Each of our starters got all-NBA votes. These are prime versions of Allen and Horford, not always seen.

Horford in his athletic prime is a near ideal cover for Malone. Joker has Ewing, Stockton on Paul, Allen on Christie and Mids on Booker. Mids is a long, dogged defender who should slow Booker. Dr P's offense is heavily reliant on pick and roll with two bigs that don't shoot distance. There will just be more bodies closer to the hoop. Stockton is a master at gumming up this kind of attack.

Our bench is better, as Dr P suggests. But please note it's an important difference. Collison and Prig are 3 fga bargain bin filler. Batum is okay. Top to bottom I prefer Barry, Dudley, and Robinson. Brent Barry can light it up and Robinson is an impact defender.

[Fadeaway_J]

Dr P has a stronger defensive group, but the offensive and depth advantages are simply too large in Laimbeer's favour, even though I think Stockton will be somewhat underutilised.

Vote: Laimbeer

[lilroddyb]

Pretty even teams overall

LAimbeer has the edge on Offense by quite a bit and a better bench ( Dr P bench is not bad though imo ) but I think the Defensive gap is bigger in Dr P's favor and I think Dr P's starting lineup is more talented overall.

pretty close but I think Dr P wins

vote Dr P

[Laimbeer]

Votes please.

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[uberhikari]

I went back and forth on this but I agree with Fade. Dr P has the more talented team and fantastic synergy built on the CP3/Malone P&R + perimeter synergy with CP3/Booker, however, Jokic is the X-factor. Stockton still seems redundant to me but Jokic operating on the perimeter as a point center has a plethora of options to hit from all around the 3 pt line + slashers in Middleton/Allen. And Barry/Dudley just increases the offensive advantage. Vote: Laimbeer

[Square]

Tough one. I’m voting Dr. P, barely. Just see the pnrs and pull-up jumpers giving Jokic some trouble. He also has the option to try Malone banging with Jokic and Ewing as a more free floating rim protector. Could see it going either way, but that’s my take.

[uberhikari]

Votes please.

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[Snakebites]

This one is tough.

Ewing is a good post defender but would be totally out of his element guarding Jokic as a perimeter play maker.

I also generally think that Laimbeer’s offense is superior despite not loving the Stockton fit.

Dr P’s defense is solid but I’m not wild about how he matches up with Laimbeer- his defense feels like it’s designed to be elite in the 90s while Laimbeer very much has a 2020s offense.

Which wouldn’t be a deal breaker if I didn’t think Laimbeer’s offense and depth were appreciably better.

Vote Laimbeer

[Laimbeer]

Laimbeer advances.