2023-2024 mid season draft Finals - murphyslamz vs flaco (murphyslamz wins)

[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 wins the championship**

[flaco]

Best of luck, murphy!



Rotation
PG: Damian Lillard (38) / Jordan McLaughlin (10)
SG: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (38) / Mikal Bridges (10)
SF: Jimmy Butler (20) / Mikal Bridges (28)
PF: Nicolas Batum (30) / Jimmy Butler (18)
C: Joel Embiid (38) / Dwight Powell (10)

Offense
The big 3 of Lillard-Butler-Embiid should complement each other well. I decided to bring Bridges off the bench to maximize his scoring output. He would have been a glorified 3+D glue guy playing 4th fiddle in my starting unit. KCP and Batum stretch the floor. Batum isn't getting any younger, but he's still effective on both ends of the floor. We know for a fact he has great synergy with Embiid being the starting PF for the Sixers this season. Btw, Embiid is having a monster season averaging 34.27 in PER which is an all-time NBA record way ahead of the competition.



Defense
Embiid follows Brook on the perimeter. 35-year-old Brook lacks the atheticism to beat him off the dribble. All Embiid has to do is contest the 3. He has the size and length to get the job done. KCP/Bridges/McLaughlin are my POA defenders. Bridges was regularly guarding Steph while at the Suns. On 30 October 2021, Steph had one of the worst shooting games of his career against Bridges recording 4/21 from the field and 3/14 from the 3pt line. I'd expect Bridges to at least slow down 35-year-old Steph. McLaughlin averages a whopping +4.2 in DBPM this season. Wing D should be strong with loads of switchable (s)wings to throw at 39-year-old LeBron.

FGA
Joel Embiid 22.2
Jimmy Butler 13.4
Mikal Bridges 16.9
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope 7.9
Nicolas Batum 4.0
Dwight Powell 3.0
Damian Lillard 17.4
Jordan McLaughlin 3.0

Total: 87.8

[murphyslamz]

Congrats, and best of luck to you too Flaco


PG: Alex Caruso (7.1) | 40% from 3 | 2023 1st team all defence
SG: Stephen Curry (19.8) | 42% from 3
SF: Lebron James (17.9) | 39.5% from 3
PF: Pascal Siakam (15.8) | 34.7% from 3
C: Brook Lopez (10.2) | 34.2 from 3 | 2nd in 2023 NBA DPOY voting

6th: Lu Dort (8.2) | 39.3% from 3

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

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

87/88 FGA


Minutes ->

PG: Alex Caruso (33) Curry (15)
SG: Steph Curry (23) | Dort (24)
SF: Lebron James (26) | Dort (10) | ROCO (13)
PF: Siakam (37) | James (11)
C: Brook Lopez (31) | Isiah Hartenstein (17)


Defensive Matchups:

- Lopez on Embiid. Harteinstein is a solid defender, and will also get some time vs Embiid.

- Siakam guards Buttler. Siakam has a lot of length and quickness to make things difficult for Jimmy. Dort & Roco will spend a bit of time on him too.

- Lebron guards Batum. Lebron essentially gets to rest.

- Curry guards KCP

- Caruso guards Dame. Dort will get some time.


Why Murphyslamz will win:

1) Lebron and Curry do not have to expend a ton of energy on defence. Not sure if benching Bridges was the right play.

2) Alex Caruso's point of attack defence vs. Lillard.

3) Brook Lopez spacing the floor from the 5 pulling Embiid out the paint a bit. Siakam is also much more efficient when he is not the #1 option. He shot 37% on 3pointers during the year the raptors won the chip and went 21 for 48 (42.8%) from 3 between the time of his trade and the all star break.

4) Who's guarding Siakam? Batum!? If Embiid is guarding Lopez on the perimeter, Siakam is going to eat inside.

5) Strong defensive supporting cast --> Caruso / Dort / Roco / Siakam / Lopez / Harteinstein

[Dr Positivity]

I haven't decided yet

[Fadeaway_J]

As I mentioned in a previous matchup, I'm pretty low on flaco's depth. Batum is still a solid backup but I don't buy him as a 30-minute starter, and I don't want McLaughlin or Powell in my regular rotation at this level. Also, Dame has looked a notch or two below his prime levels this season, and the Caruso/Dort tandem will give him a warm time. I don't see flaco being able to protect the rim effectively against LeBron and Siakam if Embiid is out on the perimeter against Lopez. Murphy's team has fewer question marks for me even a bit less star power.

Vote: murphyslamz

[durantbird]

I agree with Fade there are some depth problems for flaco. Powell and McLaughlin are borderline-useful players for their own teams. And flaco has the right scrubs to enable Curry and LeBron to rest on defense.

Vote Murphy

[Dr Positivity]

flaco has more top end talent though I like the chemistry and depth more on murphy's team. This is close but I think Siakam can't guard Butler and I'll use that as the decider. Vote flaco.

[Dr Positivity]

[Fadeaway_J]

Come on folks

[Laimbeer]

I'm a slappy for LeBron and Curry as a combination and in big games, more so than Dame/Embiid. Flaco may have a bit of a talent edge but that doesn't bridge it for me.

Vote - murphyslamz

[Snakebites]

Wow. Rookie wins their first game.

Nice!

[Dr Positivity]

murphyslamz wins

[murphyslamz]

Thanks everybody! Good game! Thanks Dr. Positivity for hosting

[flaco]

Congrats murphy! Steph and LeBron are an amazing combo!