2023-2024 midseason draft play-in: Dr Positivity vs murphyslamz (murphyslamz advances)

[Dr Positivity]

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**

[Dr Positivity]

PG: Mike Conley (8.0 FGA)
SG: Anthony Edwards (19.3 FGA)
SF: OG Anunoby (11.7 FGA)
PF: Lauri Markkanen (16.2 FGA)
C: Nikola Jokic (17.7 FGA)

SF: Joe Ingles (3.9 FGA)
SF/PF: Dorian Finney-Smith (7.8 FGA)
C: Kevon Looney (3.4 FGA)

64 / 88

PG: Mike Conley (34) / Anthony Edwards (14)
SG: Anthony Edwards (26) / Joe Ingles (14) / OG Anunoby (8)
SF: OG Anunoby (32) / Dorian Finney-Smith (16)
PF: Lauri Markkanen (38) / Dorian Finney-Smith (10)
C: Nikola Jokic (38) / Kevon Looney (10)

GL murphyslamz

Defensive matchups: Conley on Curry (Edwards sees some time on him), Edwards on Dort, Anunoby on Lebron, Markkanen on Siakam, Jokic on Lopez

I believe Jokic and Edwards can keep up with Curry and Lebron as a top 2 considering Jokic is the best of the four and this is the 2024 version of Lebron. While Curry/Lebron are a dream pairing, Jokic's passing and Edwards athleticism should also work together well. Siakam is a better fit on defense than Markkanen but a worse fit on offense as his playmaking game will overlap with Lebron's as it did Barnes this year leading to a slightly underwhelming season before his trade.

The rest of our starting lineup is more complete with a major advantage being Anunoby over Dort who's caliber is closer to DFS. Conley and Jokic should be a nice pick and roll partnership. I like what he did with his bench but I'd probably trust Ingles and Looney as much as Covington and Hartenstein, so it comes down to Caruso and DFS and while the latter isn't in the best situation he is still a useful player - and Caruso is one of his 5 best players so the bottom 3 on each team is really Dort, Hartenstein and Covington vs DFS, Ingles and Looney which looks pretty close.

His team is a tough matchup for my defense however I also don't think can stop my team either with Jokic having 4 shooters around him, and having to guard Edwards with the defense worried about Jokic and Markkanen. Lopez is not in the best position for his strengths on defense having to guard a five 3pt shooter team so his team along with the older perimeter stars could have issues on that end. In a shootout Anunoby overall is the best defender in the series and in a good position to make an impact on Lebron.

[murphyslamz]

Congrats Dr Positivity on drafting a nice team. Jokic is obviously a tough cover and you put tons of shooters around him.

This is my team:

PG: Stephen Curry (19.8 FGA) | 42% from 3
SG: Lu Dort (8.2 FGA) | 39.3% from 3
SF: Lebron James (17.9 FGA) | 39.5% from 3
PF: Pascal Siakam (15.8 FGA) | 34.7% from 3
C: Brook Lopez ( 10.2 FGA) | 34.2 from 3 | 2nd in 2023 NBA DPOY voting

6th: Alex Caruso (7.1 FGA) | 40% from 3 | 2023 1st team all defence

7th: Isaiah Hartenstein (4.6 FGA) |Has the highest D-EPM (Defensive estimated plus minus) per 100 possessions in the NBA (https://dunksandthrees.com/epm)

8th: Robert Covington (3.4 FGA) | 35.4% from 3 | Still a very good help defender, which might pay dividends vs. Jokic.

87/88 FGA

Minutes ->

PG: Steph Curry (27) | Caruso (21)
SG: Lu Dort (22) | Caruso (16) | Curry (10)
SF: Lebron James (26) | Dort (14) | Roco (8)
PF: Siakam (37)| Lebron (11)
C: Lopez (30) | Harteinstein (18)

Matchups:

Curry guards Conley

Dort and Caruso take turns guarding Edwards

Lebron guards OG

Siakam guards Lauri

Lopez on Jokic. Hartenstein will also get some time, and he is a good mobile defender.

Bench: Caruso, Hartenstein & Covington vs. Ingles, DFS, and Looney.


This is why I think my team will win:

1. Alex Caruso (2023 1st team all Defence) & Lu Dort's perimeter defence vs Anthony Edwards

2. Pascal Siakam. We have seen just how much more effective and efficient Siakam is when he is not the #1 option. He shot 37% on 3pointers during the year the raptors won the chip and is currently 21 for 48 (42.8%) from 3 with the Pacers. Siakam will do a good job defending Lauri and I think Siakam is going to feast in the paint against Lauri and Jokic , especially with Brook Lopez spacing the floor.

3. Steph Curry & Lebron James surrounded by defence, shooting, and a tertiary star

[Dr Positivity]

[Fadeaway_J]

Both big man pairings raise some questions: Jokic-Markkanen is a match made in heaven offensively but quite problematic on the other end, while LeBron-Siakam is kind of an awkward fit. However, 2023-24 LeBron has noticeably rediscovered his jumper, and Siakam has shown he can be decent on the kind of looks he'll be getting on this team; combine that with the shooting at other positions and it seems workable. I just don't see how Jokic and Markkanen is viable defensively though, especially once Steph enters the chat. The thing that gives me pause for murphy is Caruso averaging 37 minutes which I don't think is sustainable, but I have to grin and bear it because I'm also not wild about Dr P's bench in 2024.

Vote: murphyslamz

[MadNESS]

Both teams have really obvious strengths and really obviously weaknesses.

I wish Caruso wasn't playing 37 minutes and Murph had true big to exploit Dr. P's weak defensive front court.

Due to Jokic being the best player in the league, I have to vote Dr. P.

[Laimbeer]

Even 2024 LeBron/Curry is a great pairing and Dr P's soft interior D doesn't help. Both builds are solid.

Vote - murphyslamz

[Fifii]

murphyslamz has a better defensive players

vote : murphyslamz

[Dr Positivity]

murphyslamz advances