Put Them Over the Top Semi-Finals: Colbinii vs Dr Positivity

[Snakebites]

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: John Stockton (1997: 9.3 FGA)
SG: Jeff Hornacek (1997: 10.4 FGA)
SF: Jimmy Butler (2023: 13.9 FGA)
PF: Karl Malone (1997: 19.2 FGA)
C: Myles Turner (2023: 11.8 FGA)

PG/SG: Charlie Ward (2001: 6.1 FGA)
SG/SF: Bryon Russell (1997: 7.7 FGA)
SF/PF: Tayshaun Prince (2004: 8.8 FGA)

87.2 / 88

PG: John Stockton (36) / Charlie Ward (12)
SG: Jeff Hornacek (30) / Charlie Ward (10) / Bryon Russell (8)
SF: Jimmy Butler (38) / Bryon Russell (10)
PF: Karl Malone (20) / Tayshaun Prince (28)
C: Myles Turner (30) / Karl Malone (18)

GL Colbinii

Defensive matchups: Stockton on Battier, Butler on Penny, Hornacek on Scott, Malone on Grant, Turner on Shaq

- Stockton/Malone fared well against Shaq teams because of weakness guarding the pick and roll, and he doesn't have great PG defenders against Stockton. While Turner will take a beating on the other end, he'll stretch out Shaq and caused some issues for his team. This isn't Shaq's best season, he is at .171 WS/48 and 3.6 WS/48. MVP Malone can match him at the least and erasing a would be talent advantage overall and Stockton and Butler can match Penny and Manu. Malone will get some time at C against Shaq allowing us to PNR him with shooters around him.

- His worst 3 players of Battier, 08 Bowen and Perk is worse than my bottom 3 of Ward, Prince and Russell. Our bench defenders gives us matchups against the Penny/Manu backcourt.

- I believe we have the defensive advantage overall with better rim protection at C and Stockton and Butler being 2 of the 3 best starting perimeter defenders, along with solid bench. Stockton and Butler may not be the perfect match, but arguably neither are Penny and Manu.

[Colbinii]

Player Year FGA
Shaquille O'Neal 1996 19.1
Penny Hardaway 1996 14.8
Horace Grant 1996 10.7
Dennis Scott 1996 13.6
Manu Ginobili 2005 10.5
Shane Battier 2009 5.9
Bruce Bowen 2008 5.3
Kendrick Perkins 2010 6.6

Total FGA 86.5

Penny Hardaway (38) Manu Ginobili (10)
Bruce Bowen (23) Manu Ginobili (25)
Shane Battier (18) Dennis Scott (24) Bruce Bowen (6)
Horace Grant (36) Shane Battier (12)
Shaquille O'Neal (38) Kendrick Perkins (10)

Overall
Incredible size and length in our starting line-up with a huge Point Guard and large 2/3 who are knock-down shooters. Grant provides spacing as a do-it-all front-court mate next to Shaq.

Our bench is compiled with a Finals MVP in Manu Ginobili, in his peak season, along with Bowen off the bench as a defensive piece and knock-down shooter.

Offense
-Shaq is going to have a field day and get the opposition into foul trouble with the smaller Turner and Malone defending him
-Bowen/Battier/Grant/Scott provide key spacing offensively to attack mismatches and Bowen/Battier can knock down the corner 3 when the double teams come on Shaq, who is a willing passer
-Manu and Penny are going to be able to get to the rim as the opposition who will have a smaller Stockton on Manu/Penny, while Malone is going to be spread out 15-18 feet on Grant for most of the game

Defense
-We have strong paint presence protection in Perkins/Shaq/Grant
-Young Shaq is more defensible in P&R Coverage compared to Lakers Shaq
-Grant is an excellent defensive piece as a help-defender and his BBIQ helps defending Malone

Penny > Hornacek
Bowen > Stockton
Battier > Butler
Grant > Malone
Shaq > Turner
Manu > Stockton

Overall
-Significant size advantage and rebounding advantage
-No Defensive Covers for Shaq while we have adequate defensive coverages for Butler/Malone
-Foul trouble is a real thing while our opponent has no bench bigs
-Best bench piece in Manu

[Fadeaway_J]

To be honest, I'm not a huge fan of starting Bowen and Battier together from an offensive standpoint; on the flip side, it does put Colbinii in a good position to shut off the water for Dr P by locking in on his primary creators. In any case, Shaq and Penny is a devastating enough combo on its own, and Grant is a solid third option for the few minutes Manu isn't in the game. I also find Shaq-Penny-Manu to be a more complementary trio than Butler interposed between the Malone-Stockton two-man game.

Vote: Colbinii

[parsnips33]

I like the Stockton-Malone formula against a Shaq team. Butler will have tough covers, but I actually think there could be some synergy with his cutting and Stockton's passing. Manu off the bench makes Colb's offense more dynamic off the bench, but I worry things might get stagnant when both Bowen and Battier are out there, especially if they can be run off the 3 point line.

Close matchup, but I'm going with Dr P

[Colbinii]

Our coach is competent enough where if the Bowen/Battier formula isn't generating consistent offense, inputting Manu or Scott into the starting line-up isn't out of question in a 7-game series, where typically 3, 4 or 5 major adjustments happen for each team.

If that happens, what is the adjustment Dr Positivities coach makes?

Regardless, Manu is playing 35 MPG--more than either Bowen AND Battier.

[parsnips33]

Our coach is competent enough where if the Bowen/Battier formula isn't generating consistent offense, inputting Manu or Scott into the starting line-up isn't out of question in a 7-game series, where typically 3, 4 or 5 major adjustments happen for each team.

If that happens, what is the adjustment Dr Positivities coach makes?

Regardless, Manu is playing 35 MPG--more than either Bowen AND Battier.

Fair point, holistically your teams got plenty of offense and you've got the versatility to swap in different lineups

[durantbird]

I'm also not a fan of Bowen and Battier both starting, but with Manu and Scott off the bench, Colbinii has more than enough firepower.

I like Penny Shaq Manu more as a trio, and I think Shaq carries the day here as best player.

Vote Colbinii

[Colbinii]

Our coach is competent enough where if the Bowen/Battier formula isn't generating consistent offense, inputting Manu or Scott into the starting line-up isn't out of question in a 7-game series, where typically 3, 4 or 5 major adjustments happen for each team.

If that happens, what is the adjustment Dr Positivities coach makes?

Regardless, Manu is playing 35 MPG--more than either Bowen AND Battier.

Fair point, holistically your teams got plenty of offense and you've got the versatility to swap in different lineups

Yeah I very clearly should be starting one of Scott or Manu. Definitely have the offensive pieces but I am not optimizing them at the moment.

Hopefully I have one more chance to address it in another matchup.

[Snakebites]

I don’t actually think you need more playmaking on the perimeter than Penny if Shaq is going to be pounding in the post during many possessions, so while I don’t love Bowen/Batrier starting I can let it ride.

I’m still not high on the Butler/Stock fit or the volume shooting from Dr P. I think a bit more shooting to space out the pick and roll better and Dr P takes this. Replace Jimmy with Ray Allen and I don’t think it’s even close. As is…

Vote Colbini

[Snakebites]

Colbini advances

I’m away from a computer. I’ll post the finals between Laimbeer and Colbini later today.