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. Please ensure you give a rationale for your vote; votes with no explanation will not be counted.
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).
11.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 5.0 apg, 1.4 spg, 0.1 bpg, .473 FG%, .312 3P%, .768 FT%, 53 3P (0.7 pg), .549 TS% - Sixth Man of the Year
G - George Hill (2019-20)
Spoiler:
9.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 3.1 apg, 0.8 spg, 0.1 bpg, .516 FG%, .460 3P%, .842 FT%, 81 3P (1.4 pg), .659 TS% - Led the NBA in 3P%
Rotations C - Jokic (40), Andersen (8) PF - Marion (38), Battier (6), Andersen (4) SF - Battier (30), Thompson (10), McKie (8) SG - Thompson (28), McKie (15), Hill (5) PG - Lillard (38), Hill (10)
FGA Per Player
Spoiler:
Nikola Jokic - 14.8 Klay Thompson - 16.2 Shawn Marion - 13.4 Shane Battier - 6.2 George Hill - 6.4 Damian Lillard - 17.5 Aaron Mckie - 9.4 Chris Andersen - 3.8
Total: 87.7/88.0
We've taken a similar approach to the real-life Nuggets in building around Jokic, with a dynamic lead guard who can also play off ball some, and lots of shooting and defensive versatility across the roster. Marion is pretty much a rich man's Gordon, and Battier/Klay are significant upgrades on the KCP/MPJ archetypes at the wing spots. Dame's off-the-dribble game and deep shooting make him a deadly pick-and-roll/handoff partner with Jokic. Marion will thrive off Jokic's passing, both as a cutter in the halfcourt and catching outlets in transition. Klay and Marion slot in perfectly as third/fourth options who don't need the ball. Hill and SMOY McKie bring additional shooting, defense, and secondary creation off the bench. While we won't play at a high pace overall, we have some great transition weapons in Dame, Klay, and Marion, plus Jokic as an outlet passer, so when we do run our efficiency should be sky high. Defensively, the wing rotation of Klay, Battier, Marion, McKie, and Hill is rock solid, helping to mitigate Dame's flaws on that end. Birdman gives us elite shot-blocking and rim-running for a few minutes a night.
Matchup - Defensive assignments to start will be Dame-Bowen, Klay-Harden, Battier-Johnson, Marion-KD, Jokic-Lopez. We switch any Harden-KD actions. - We will continue to leverage Jokic's perimeter game in conjunction with Dame as pick-and-roll ballhandler. Lopez will be in a world of trouble trying to deal with that combination in space. Jokic also screens away for Klay which is another tough action for Lopez to handle. - Neither team's star is big on running, but we should win the transition game as Jokic is a great outlet passer, and we have Dame, Klay, and Marion who are all deadly on the break. Ardee's group lacks that element with not much in the way of team speed and athleticism outside of KD. Easy points before the halfcourt defense gets set are important in a tight series. - Once again, I think our depth comes to the fore. Beyond Jokic/Dame/Klay, Marion is wildly overqualified as fourth option, and then we have McKie to run the show for the second unit. Ardee has a great star duo and nice complementary pieces around them, but I don't think they match our variety and dynamism on the offensive end.
2017 Kevin Durant: 16.5 FGA 2018 James Harden: 20.1 FGA 2023 Brook Lopez: 11.5 FGA 2003 Bruce Bowen: 5.8 FGA 2005 Joe Johnson: 14.4 FGA 2017 Patrick Beverly: 8.1 FGA 2016 Steven Adams: 5.3 FGA 2020 Wesley Matthews: 6.3 FGA
Total: 88.0/88.0 FGA
Harden (38)/Beverly (10) Johnson (36)/Beverly (10) Bowen (36)/Matthews (12) Durant (38)/Adams (10) Lopez (38)/Adams (10)
Good luck Fade!
-Fade doesn't really have any great perimeter defenders. Klay is decent, not great, and this is a Battier fairly close to retirement. Lillard is a serious liability. Harden is going to go OFF in this matchup.
-Similarly, don't think Marion can really handle near peak KD. The Harden/KD pick and roll surrounded by snipers has won me two rounds so far and I believe it will do so again. Again: everyone shoots at least 38% from 3 on my roster with the exception of Adams.
-He also has no real rim protection with Lopez taking Jokic away from the rim. Harden is going to blow by Klay every play and have an open line to the basket. We're also going to make it a point to let Harden hunt Lillard and Jokic and abuse those mismatches.
-On the other end, we'll go with Bowen/Beverly on Lillard, Harden on Klay, Johnson on Marion, KD on Battier (conserve energy for offense) and of course Lopez on Jokic.
-My three best defenders are put on his only two creators. Let's keep in mind how subpar 2024 Lillard was for his standards, he barely shot 35% from range. Jokic will be Jokic but he has a LOT of creation responsibilities and is being guarded by a 7'1, 280 lb DPoY runner-up who is also very mobile. It's not gonna be easy for him.
-I think I have the edge here. I have easily 2 of the 3 best players. My supporting cast is guys all at or near their peaks, while his no. 2 guy had the season from hell. I also have better defensive options for his best guys than he has for mine.
You cannot ignore the difference in decision making and leadership in a Jokic team versus Harden who I'm less high on in that regard. Also Harden Durant wasn't a terrific fit in real life. Fade has better depth and Lopez will be cooked by the versatility of Jokic.
The big 2s are close enough due to Jokic being the best, so rounding out the team with Thompson/Marion/Battier compared to Johnson/Lopez/Bowen is too strong. Vote Fade.
It's going to be a glorious day... I feel my luck could change
Fade's team is basically the Nuggets with upgraded parts everywhere and better defense. Hard to go against that here.
I am fine with the fit between Harden and Durant and like ardee's team overall (these were probably the two best teams in the tourney) but I do feel like Fade has the edge here.
