Carmelo Anthony Draft - Semi - Mr Ringer* vs Larry_Russell

[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).

[Larry_Russell]

PG/SG: Jalen Brunson (2024-25) 18.5
26ppg, 3rpg, 7.3apg, 1spg, 38.5% on 6-3pta
MVP-10, COPY-1, NBA-2, AS

SG: Mario Elie (1996-97) 7.5
11.7ppg, 3rpg, 4apg, 1.2spg, 42% on 3.2-3pta
DPOY-6

SF: Eddie Jones (1997-98) 12.6
17ppg, 3.8rpg, 3apg, 2spg, 39% on 4.6-3pta
DEF-2, AS

PF: Kevin Durant (2012-13) 17.7
28ppg, 8rpg, 4.6apg, 1.5spg, 1.3bpg, 41.5% on 4-3pta
MVP-2, NBA-1, AS

C: Joel Embiid (2020-21) 17.6
28.5ppg, 1.5rpg, 2.8apg, 1spg, 1.5bpg, 37.7% on 3-3pta
MVP-2, DPOY-7, NBA-2, DEF-2, AS

PG/SG: Danny Ainge (1994-95) 5.7
7.7ppg, 1.5rpg, 2.8apg, 0.6spg, 36.5% on 3-3pta

SF/PF: Maurice Harkless (2017-18) 5
6.5ppg, 2.7rpg, 1apg, 0.8spg, 0.7bpg, 41.5% on 2-3pta

C: Chris Andersen (2010-11) 3
5.6ppg, 5rpg, 0.5apg, 0.5spg, 1.3bpg

Offense
PG: Brunson (38) / Ainge (10)
SG: Elie (38) / Ainge (10)
SF: Jones (38) / Harkless (10)
PF: Durant (38) / Harkless (10)
C: Embiid (38) / Andersen (10)

Defense
PG: Brunson (38) / Ainge (10)
SG: EJones (38) / Ainge (10)
SF: Elie (38) / Harkless (10)
PF: Durant (38) / Harkless (10)
C: Embiid (38) / Andersen (10)

87.6/88


Defense as listed above and we will to shrink the floor as much as possible. This is not prime Chris Paul and and a result he doesnt have the speed at this point in his career to punish Brunson defensively, so I can live with that.

Jones is a perfect Kobe defender and I also have Elie to throw at him for a different look at times. Elie covers Batum and looks to, at times, help off into the midrange where Kobe and Yao want to live

Embiid has the beef to deal with Yao.


OFfensively I can punish this team. I have prime Embiid and he will just run Yao off the floor,
Brunson can attack at will against Paul as this version has absolutely lost his defensive speed.

And Durant/Embiid duo will be able to destroy Mobley and Yao. Mobely is a very verry good defnder, but he doesnt have the tools to come close to slowing PEAK KD, and Yao is 3 steps too slow to try and cover Embiid.

We are going to pace and space this team to the point where Kobe gets pissy and starts trying to go hero ball.

[Mr Ringer]

Chris Paul 20' - 13.7 (OKC)
Kobe Bryant 09' - 20.9 (LAL)
Nicolas Batum 14' - 10.0 (POR)
Evan Mobley 25' - 12.8 (3rd pick)
Yao Ming 09' - 13.4 (HUO)

Mark Jackson 91' - 7.1 (benched AS)
Michael Potter Jr. 20' - 7.0 (DEN)
Isiah Hartenstein 23' - 4.0 (NYK)

87.9/80

Paul 35\Jackson 13
Kobe 38\Batum 5\Jackson 5
Batum 30\MPJ 18
Mobley 38\MPJ 10
Yao 38\IHart 10

Defensive assignments per position.
CP3 as one of the best perimeter guards in history covers Brunson perfectly.
My wing defense is elite while the wings offense against us are pretty limited.
Mobley is a DPOY covering KD wherever he go. No place quite for KD, outside or inside, jumpshots or dribbles.
Embiid, not even his best season, loses his entire size and physical advantage against Yao. And when Embiid tries to space away from Yao he gets locked on switches.

All this beauty without even mentioning Kobe, the best player and defender in this match up without any challenge in his area to defend, can help cover anyone, anytime.

Offense is so simple and so smooth.
The Point God runs things around
Kobe is the go-to guy and my main scorer, and he always shows up when it matters.
Batum is a classic 3&D, but on AS level, as my spot-up shooter, can't left him alone.
Mobley can play whatever he wants on the defensive limited KD who doesn't even have any physical edge here.
Yao have all the power he needs against Embiid.

All can create for themselves and others.
They can score, pass, run and with 4 shooters they have all the spacing they need to do so.

Even on resting time, I take my entire bench first to this match up.
Mark Jackson is an all star and a finals starting PG, coming off the bench just to Mo Cheeks in NYK that season.
A genius PG with special passing abilities and good efficient, classic PG scoring.
MPJ was a vital part on the WCF team of 2020, way before Jokic or Murray was even close to what they became
He can shoot from wherever and complete my roster well
IHart keeps my spacing anytime on the court, adds more playmaking even on the inside.

Good Luck LR.

[durantbird]

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Matchup is open. Team owners please vote for yourselves

[durantbird]

ChatGPT vote Mr Ringer - Ringer advances

https://chatgpt.com/share/68db8156-d9bc-800a-b8af-ff87b652e21f

Let’s break it down matchup by matchup and then look at the series dynamics.


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Team Larry_Russell

Starters:

Jalen Brunson (2025)

Mario Elie (1997)

Eddie Jones (1998)

Kevin Durant (2013)

Joel Embiid (2021)


Bench: Danny Ainge, Maurice Harkless, Chris Andersen

Identity: Pace, space, and star power through Durant + Embiid, with Brunson punishing mismatches. Defense relies on Eddie Jones and Elie on the wings, Embiid’s size on Yao.


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Team Mr Ringer

Starters:

Chris Paul (2020 OKC)

Kobe Bryant (2009)

Nicolas Batum (2014)

Evan Mobley (2025, DPOY)

Yao Ming (2009)


Bench: Mark Jackson (1991), Michael Porter Jr. (2020), Isaiah Hartenstein (2023)

Identity: Elite perimeter defense (CP3 + Kobe + Batum + Mobley), with Kobe as offensive fulcrum. Yao provides size advantage over Embiid, Mobley tasked with KD. Bench offers more creation and spacing than Larry_Russell’s.


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Matchup Analysis

Backcourt

Brunson vs CP3 – Brunson had an elite 2025 year, but 2020 Chris Paul was still an All-NBA level guard (All-Star, 2nd Team All-NBA, MVP-7). CP3’s defense + IQ minimizes Brunson’s advantages. Slight edge to CP3 here.

Elie + Eddie Jones vs Kobe + Batum – Kobe ’09 is the best player in the series and is going to bend LR’s defense. Jones/Elie are quality defenders, but neither can contain peak Kobe for 7 games. Batum adds length and spacing. Clear edge to Mr Ringer.


Frontcourt

Durant vs Mobley – This is fascinating. Mobley 2025 was DPOY, mobile, versatile. But KD ’13 is one of the most unstoppable scorers in league history (TS% 64%, MVP runner-up). Mobley makes KD work, but KD still gets his numbers. Slight edge KD.

Embiid vs Yao – Yao ’09 was 7’6", 22/10, elite efficiency (0.600 TS%). Embiid ’21 was MVP runner-up, dominant two-way. Yao’s size is unique, but Embiid’s quickness and strength tilt it in his favor overall. Edge Embiid.


Benches

Larry_Russell: Ainge, Harkless, Andersen – light bench, minimal scoring/playmaking.

Mr Ringer: Mark Jackson (AS PG), MPJ (elite shooting), Hartenstein (modern passing big) – deeper, more versatile.


Bench edge: Mr Ringer comfortably.


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Series Dynamics

Team Larry_Russell wins when: Durant and Embiid overwhelm Mobley + Yao, Brunson exploits CP3’s age/size, and spacing works to stretch out the defense.

Team Mr Ringer wins when: Kobe dominates the series, CP3 controls tempo, Yao stays out of foul trouble, and Mobley keeps KD below efficiency norms. Their depth wears down LR’s thin rotation.



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Prediction

Kobe is the single biggest difference-maker. 2009 Kobe can anchor an offense and take over late games.

Mr Ringer has superior depth and perimeter defense. CP3, Kobe, Batum, Mobley cover every perimeter/wing base.

Durant and Embiid are LR’s hope. KD still scores against Mobley, and Embiid can punish Yao at times. But double coverage + rim help from Mobley shifts balance.


Result: Team Mr Ringer in 7 games.
Kobe + CP3’s control + defensive versatility + deeper bench outweigh LR’s KD/Embiid star power.


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Do you want me to break this down game-by-game (who likely wins which matchup over a 7-game stretch), or keep it at the overall series verdict?