PG: Tyrese Haliburton 25' - 13.8
SG: Jrue Holiday 21' - 13.9
SF: Paul George 18' - 17.0
PF: Kevin Durant 17' - 16.5
C: Rudy Gobert 24' - 8.1
Bench: Tayshaun Prince 03' - 3.0
Bench: Harrison Barnes 15' - 8.0
Bench: Serge Ibaka 12' - 7.4
Rotation:PG: Tyrese Haliburton 38 / Jrue Holiday 10
SG: Jrue Holiday 28 / Paul George 14 / Tasyhaun Prince 6
SF: Paul George 24 / Harrison Barnes 18 / Prince 4 / Durant 2
PF: Kevin Durant 36 / Serge Ibaka 12
C: Rudy Gobert 34 / Serge Ibaka 14
87.7/88
Vs
G Middleton 38 / Lebron 10
G Butler 38 / GP2 10
F Lebron 30 / GP2 10 / Miller 8
F Holmgren 20 / Odom 28
C Turner 34 / Holmgren 14
Matchup - Defensive Assignments (straight up): Haliburton on Middleton, Holiday on Butler, George on LeBron, Durant on Holmgren, Gobert on Turner.
- We match up well across the board. Haliburton is a solid defender who proved in the 2025 playoffs that targeting him doesn't yield much. Middleton, on the other hand, has a heavier defensive stride—more in the Paul Pierce mold—and isn't suited to stay with a fast-paced, shifty guard like Haliburton. That matchup tilts in our favor.
Between Haliburton, George, Durant, and Holiday, there’s no soft spot to rest a weaker defender or conserve a star. Butler is probably their best point-of-attack option, but he can’t guard all three perimeter threats. If he takes Durant, who checks Haliburton? Middleton can’t chase him. If he’s on George, they’re giving Durant a more favorable matchup. If he guards Haliburton, it stretches him across screens and tempo all game long. Chet Holmgren may end up forced into perimeter coverage more than he’s comfortable with, chasing switches and closing out on elite shooters. Their defensive puzzle doesn’t quite fit without compromising somewhere—and Haliburton will quickly expose that.
- Our Haliburton–George–Durant core creates a smooth, high-IQ offensive engine. There's pace, spacing, and unselfish shot creation. Holiday complements perfectly as a secondary creator and elite catch-and-shoot threat. Compared to that, LeBron and Butler—both ball-dominant wings who thrive in similar areas—have overlapping roles that can stall the offense when things tighten up. Trying to incorporate Odom into that action creates even higher congestion. We’ve also got four shooters around Gobert, whose vertical gravity gives Haliburton an easy outlet when defenses overplay. That’s a nightmare to cover when you can’t help off anyone.
- Pace, Identity, and Synergy:
We open with two guards, but looking at the full rotation, the teams are structurally similar—both carry size and versatility across the board especially when considering the bench. The difference lies in how we use it. Our advantage is Haliburton's fast-paced, pass-first offense, which thrives with elite spacing and quick decision-makers. With George and Durant flanking him and Gobert pulling defenders toward the rim, it becomes overwhelming. This system knocks opponents off balance before they can get set.
