2024-25 West Cross Standings - Playin - Dr Positivity* vs Snakebites

[durantbird]

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. Once the writeups are posted, I will add a poll, and the team with the most votes after 24 hours will advance. EACH MANAGER SHOULD ALSO VOTE FOR THEIR OWN TEAM IN THE POLL - IF YOU FAIL TO DO THIS, YOU ARE SIMPLY GIVING AWAY A VOTE. If the votes are tied, we will decide the matchup via AI vote.

You are not required to state or explain your vote, but you are free to comment in the thread if you want to.

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).

[Dr Positivity]

PG: Deron Williams (2010: 13.9 FGA)
SG: Manu Ginobili (2005: 10.5 FGA)
SF: Jalen Williams (2025: 16.9 FGA)
PF: Lebron James (2020: 19.4 FGA)
C: Andrew Bogut (2016: 4.0 FGA)

SF: Kyle Korver (2010: 5.4 FGA)
SF: Keon Ellis (2025: 5.8 FGA)
PF/: Shawn Kemp (1996: 11.9 FGA)

FGA: 87.8 / 88

PG: Deron Williams (38) / Lebron James (10)
SG: Manu Ginobili (32) / Kyle Korver (16)
SF: Jalen Williams (22) / Keon Ellis (16) / Kyle Korver (10)
PF: Lebron James (28) / Jalen Williams (16) / Shawn Kemp (4)
C: Andrew Bogut (24) / Shawn Kemp (24)

Defensive matchups: Deron on Barry, Manu on Klay, JDub on Kobe, Lebron on Rodman, Bogut on Hakeem

We have a pretty solid mix of offensive players in Lebron/Williams/Manu/Deron and Kemp off the bench including the two best passers in the series, while after Hakeem/Kobe/Klay he drops a bit more on that end. Deron and Kemp running PNR for the 10 minutes Lebron sits will be smooth. He lacks a PG on defense and Kobe will have to work guarding someone. Lebron being able to help off Rodman on Hakeem will be great for our D. Lebron and Manu is worse than Kobe and Hakeem but the rest of our team is stronger.

[Snakebites]

PG: Kobe Bryant 07-08 20.6 FGA
SG: Klay Thompson 15-16 16.9 FGA
SF: Brent Barry 01-02 9.8 FGA
PF: Dennis Rodman 94-95 3.7 FGA
C: Hakeem Olajuwon 92-93 19.5 FGA

B: Herb Jones 23-24 7.7 FGA
B: Trey Lyles 23-24 5.5 FGA
B: Derrick Favors 20-21 3.6 FGA

Rotation:

Bryant (38)/Barry (10)
Klay (37)/Barry (11)
Jones (36)/Barry (12)
Rodman (36)/Lyles (12)
Olajuwon (39)/Favors (9)

Alrighty lets do this.

My team is a fairly straightforward build- I've got a classic combination of Kobe Bryant with an elite bigman, in this case Hakeem Olajuwon. I'd argue that given Hakeem's defensive prowess and versatility, coupled with his midrange game, makes him a better partner to Kobe Bryant than Shaq was. Klay Thompson meanwhile serves as the perfect third banana here- feasting off of the open looks while also providing another wing and point of attack defender to throw at potent perimeter offenses in this game.

Brent Barry acts in essence as a 6th starter here, and he's my secondary playmaker. He'll see a lot of time alongside Kobe and provides terrific floor spacing and passing. He was an absurdly efficient scorer and playmaker in the chosen season, who wracked up 5.8 VORP in the selected season and really shouldn't be undervalued here.

Defensively, this team is without weaknesses. We can throw Rodman and Herb Jones at Lebron, and both are effective in their roles in that regard in distinctly different ways. Olajuwon is guarding Bogut, which means his elite help defense (staggering 4 blocks per game in the chosen season) will be in full effect. I've got Bryant and Kobe who are both extremely capable defenders for the players that Dr Positivity fields.

Overall I think my inassailable defense and the reliable offense I'll get out of my Kobe/Hakeem duo should be enough to carry the day here.

Vote Snake!

[durantbird]

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Voting is open. Doc and Snake please vote for yourselves

[durantbird]

Dr Positivity advances

[Snakebites]

Man, I just can't catch a break in these lately.

Just rough in general. Will probably take at least another few games off unless something really grabs me.

[Dr Positivity]

I thought I would lose to Mamba's Dream here, but neither of us were winning this game with teams like Magic/Drexler/Robinson or Paul/Harden/Butler/Dirk out there.

[durantbird]

Man, I just can't catch a break in these lately.

Just rough in general. Will probably take at least another few games off unless something really grabs me.

I voted for you but I think Kobe at point was a barrier for many. Also Klay is proven alongside elite playmaking, wasn't sure how he'll work next to Kobe as facilitator.

[Snakebites]

Man, I just can't catch a break in these lately.

Just rough in general. Will probably take at least another few games off unless something really grabs me.

I voted for you but I think Kobe at point was a barrier for many. Also Klay is proven alongside elite playmaking, wasn't sure how he'll work next to Kobe as facilitator.

With that knowledge I guess it’s clear I should have taken Chris Paul in round 1 or 2. Perhaps Duncan/CP and taking a scorer later would have faired better. Given how badly the PG pool was ravaged I was in a position where I needed to not have a point guard or go relatively light on talent, or else take a questionable fit like Thunder/Clippers Harden.

I took Kobe/Hakeem fully expecting someone like Nuggets Chauncey to fall in round three.

Nevertheless this is part of a recent pattern.

I need to either re-evaluate my approach to these, continue drafting the way I want and accept that it’ll usually lead to a round one exit, or stop playing these.

All are viable options. All are on the table. I’m probably not gone for good but it’s likely I’ll be sitting a couple out unless there’s just an unusually appealing idea.

[GeorgeMarcus]

Man, I just can't catch a break in these lately.

Just rough in general. Will probably take at least another few games off unless something really grabs me.

I voted for you but I think Kobe at point was a barrier for many. Also Klay is proven alongside elite playmaking, wasn't sure how he'll work next to Kobe as facilitator.

I get Snake's offensive design with Kobe/Hakeem preferring to create their own buckets rather than playing within the flow of directed scheme. I have a slight aversion to that type of design in this games though, rightly or wrongly, as I feel like a real floor general is an important anchor to have. It wasn't an easy decision but without a clear talent advantage I voted for the more traditional build.

Come back soon Snake I'm generally a fan of your builds

[Snakebites]

Man, I just can't catch a break in these lately.

Just rough in general. Will probably take at least another few games off unless something really grabs me.

I voted for you but I think Kobe at point was a barrier for many. Also Klay is proven alongside elite playmaking, wasn't sure how he'll work next to Kobe as facilitator.

I get Snake's offensive design with Kobe/Hakeem preferring to create their own buckets rather than playing within the flow of directed scheme. I have a slight aversion to that type of design in this games though, rightly or wrongly, as I feel like a real floor general is an important anchor to have. It wasn't an easy decision but without a clear talent advantage I voted for the more traditional build.

Come back soon Snake I'm generally a fan of your builds

Thanks.

And to be clear I’m not even claiming I’m being treated unfairly or that people should change how they are voting- but the first round losses (even a pretty close one like this) do get old, and it’s apparent my builds aren’t resonating with the current pool of voters. Doubt I’m gone for good. I’ve never been able to stay away for long.

[wackbone]

I voted for you as well Snake. For me it boiled down to Hakeem vs Bogut/Kemp down low, whereas Rodman and Herb are both elite covers for a somewhat lesser version of LeBron