Four-man core vol. 2, Round 1: Larry_Russell* vs lilroddyb

[flaco]

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**

[Larry_Russell]

PG: Jrue Holiday (2021-22) 14.2
18.3ppg, 4.5rpg, 6.8apg, 1.6spg, 0.5bpg, 41% on 4.8-3pta
DPOY-8, All Defense 2nd

SG: Doug Christie (2002-03) 7
9.5ppg, 4.3rpg, 4.7apg, 2.3spg, 0.5bpg, 39.5% on 2.3-3pta
DPOY-5, All Defense 1st

SF: Khris Middleton (2021-22) 15.5
20ppg, 5.4rpg, 5.5apg, 1.2spg, 0.3bpg, 37.5% on 6.6-3pta
All Star

PF: Giannis Antetokounmpo (2021-22) 18.6
30ppg, 11.6rpg, 5.8apg, 1.1spg, 1.4bpg
MVP (3), DPOY-6, All NBA 1st, All Defense 1st, All Star

C: Brook Lopez (2021-22) 10.1
12.5ppg, 4rpg, 0.5apg, 0.6spg, 1.2bpg


PG/SG: Derrick White (2022-23) 9.2
12.5ppg, 3.6rpg, 4apg, 0.7spg, 1bpg, 38% on 4.8-3pta
All Defense 2nd

SF/PF: Robert Covington (2021-22) 7
8.5ppg, 5.5rpg, 1.5apg, 1.5spg, 1.3bpg, 38% on 4.8-3pta


C: Kelly Olynyk (2019-20) 5.9
8.2ppg, 4.6rpg, 1.7apg, 0.7spg, 40% on 3.5-3pta


PG: Holiday (36) / White (12)
SG: Christie (24) / White (24)
SF: Middleton (36) / Christie (12)
PF: Giannis (38) / Covington (10)
C: Lopez (36) / Olynyk (10) / Covington (2)

87..5/88

Defense, straight up with the exception of Christie on Harden and Middleton on Reggie. This lets Giannis play a free safety defensively and be there to help on whoever needs it.

I have elite defense here. Top to Bottom there are no weak links. And all my defenders match up very well against the opposing team, I have the right size and athleticism to defend at a high level.

Offensively I have a team that just works. Giannis has all the spacing he could hope for, while still having the help when needed to score. I dont see anyone on the opposing team here that can defend Giannis, and also Harden has to defend Middleton, and that plays in my favor as well as middleton is a 20ppg scorer and harden sucks defensively.

I believe I am just a terrible matchup for Roddy here.

[lilroddyb]

C: Arvydas Sabonis 30 min / Marcus Camby 18 min
Pf: Pj Tucker 24 min / Nicolas Batum 24 min
Sf: James Harden 26 min / Trevor Ariza 22 min
Sg: Reggie Miller 38 min / Trevor Ariza 10 min
Pg: Chris Paul 36 min / James Harden 12 min

1996 Arvydas Sabonis 9.9
2018 James Harden 20.1
2018 Chris Paul 13.8
2018 PJ Tucker 5.4
2018 Trevor ariza 9.7
1995 Reggie Miller 13.5
2021 Nicolas Batum 6.1
2007 Marcus Camby 9.4

tfga: 87.9

best of luck LR

team is build around houston rockets duo in Harden and CP3 that played really well vs GSW. Harden can get anywhere on the court and it will get easier with Reggie Miller and Arvydas spacing the floor for them

defense

Sabonis on Brook
PJ on Giannis
Harden on Middleton
Reggie Miller on Doug Christie
Cp3 on Holiday

[Fadeaway_J]

This is a poor matchup for Sabonis, as he's just going to be conceding open threes to Lopez all day, and I don't think he rotates quickly enough to be an effective deterrent against Giannis either. In general, I find Sabonis to be an odd offensive fit with the Rockets core, while Reggie hurts the defensive versatility that made them such an effective unit. All of this is kind of burying the lede though, as the main issue is that Tucker is the only primary option roddy has who won't just get flattened every time by Giannis, and even he's giving up a far bit of size and overall athleticism. Roddy's team has plenty of firepower, but Larry's defensive group is also pretty stifling, and this is a matchup where they're well equipped to score efficiently.

Vote: Larry_Russell

[flaco]

Larry's team has a crystal clear plan: Giannis wreaks havoc in the paint. Everybody else spreads the floor. Simple, yet effective. Can't say the same about roddy's team. CP3 and Harden both need the ball in their hands. It kinda worked in Houston, but a) they were surrounded by off-ball specialists and b) they were playing at a fast pace, hence there were enough possessions for both of them. Arvydas is far from a rim runner in the mold of Capela. He's a Point Center who demands touches in the paint taking the ball away from Harden and CP3. I'd argue roddy has an advantage in terms of talent, but fails to maximize the impact of his best players. Leaning Larry cause his team just clicks better.

Vote: Larry_Russell

[durantbird]

I don't really find playing Paul Harden Reggie 1 to 3 particularly viable defensively, and Roddy doesn't have a good matchup against Giannis.

Vote Larry

[flaco]

Larry_Russell advances to the Semi Finals.