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).
24.5 ppg, 11.8 rpg, 9.8 apg, 1.3 spg, 0.7 bpg, .623 FG%, .383 3P%, .822 FT%, 57 3P (0.8 pg), .701 TS% - Led the NBA in PER (31.5), TS%, OWS (11.2), WS (14.9), WS/48 (.308), OBPM (8.5), DBPM (4.5), BPM (13.0), VORP (8.8) - NBA Champion - NBA Finals MVP - All-NBA Second Team
PF - Evan Mobley (2024-25)
Spoiler:
18.5 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 3.2 apg, 0.9 spg, 1.6 bpg, .557 FG%, .370 3P%, .725 FT%, 85 3P (1.2 pg), .633 TS% - Defensive Player of the Year - NBA All-Star - All-NBA Second Team - All-Defensive First Team
27.6 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 4.5 apg, 1.2 spg, 0.6 bpg, .447 FG%, .395 3P%, .837 FT%, 320 3P (4.1 pg), .595 TS% - Led the NBA in 3P - NBA All-Star - All-NBA Second Team
FGA Per Player Nikola Jokic - 14.8 Evan Mobley - 12.8 Anthony Edwards - 20.4 OG Anunoby - 8.2 Kyle Lowry - 13.8 Nickeil Alexander-Walker - 6.6 Grant Williams - 5.6 Keon Ellis - 5.8
Total: 88.0/88.0
Our approach is built around positional size and physicality on both ends of the court. Jokic/Mobley/OG is a massive frontcourt, and our only "small" guard is Lowry who is famous for playing bigger than his height. Needless to say, everything revolves around Jokic's all-court dominance, and he can run two-man game with the explosive Ant and a still highly effective Lowry, both of whom can weaponise the pullup three to deadly effect. Mobley is a nice complement for Jokic as he can space the floor a bit and pass from the high post, but also benefit from Jokic's incredible interior passing to do damage in the paint. The spacing is elite with everyone on the roster being at least a good outside shooter. Defensively, we have plenty of athleticism and versatility to complement the more ground-bound Jokic, led by DPOY Mobley and excellent wings like OG, Ant, NAW, and Ellis.
Matchup - We'll go with the following assignments: Lowry-KCP, Ant-PG, OG-Harden, Mobley-LeBron, Jokic-Gobert. Between the lateral quickness of Mobley and the strength and physicality of Ant, we feel like we can switch any matchups against Ness's big three and not be at a real disadvantage. If they run pick-and-roll with Gobert, Jokic shows high to give the defender time to recover, as we don't fear Gobert catching the ball and making a play on the roll. - The Jokic-Ant two-man game will be a key part of our attack here, to draw Gobert away from the rim and create lanes for us to attack the basket. Without Gobert camping in the paint, the combined rim pressure of Jokic, Ant, and Mobley will be overwhelming. - Our bench is more well-rounded with legit two-way play and reliable outside shooting from Ellis, NAW, and Williams, compared to just Beverley for Ness. Given that they only have three offensive stars to begin with, there will inevitably be some dry periods during which our second unit can create separation.
