RealGM

Final round of the playoffs. Each team will face one other team, and can write about how they are going to beat their opponent. I am putting some limits on how long they will be, because we have had some long ones in the past, and this way we can get things done faster.

Writeup Limits:

-700 words max
-A max of 1 rebuttal, max of 300 words (quoting words your opponent says doesn't count against word count)
-Any pics/charts included that have words on them will be counted and added to total word count
-Numbers count as words
-Rotations/minutes, pics without words, messages before the writeups not regarding basketball will all not be counted towards the word count.

The deadline will be 6/28, at 4 PM EST (or whenever both writeups are in). I know that only gives about a day and a half, but with a 700 word limit, the writeups shouldn't take very long. If we can't get everyone in by then, we may extend it 12 hours or something.

Finals:
TMACFORMVP vs. -Kees-

Kyrie Irving 30 / Goran Dragic 18
Nic Batum 32 / Tyreke Evans 16 / JR Smith 0
Danny Granger 34 / Caron Butler 14
Marc Gasol 14 / LaMarcus Aldrridge 34 / Taj Gibson 0
Nikola Pekovic 28 / [Marc Gasol 20] / Marcus Camby 0

*May not be a final rotation, waiting to see what TMAC puts out

Gasol will only be at PF when Dirk is, and when AV or Asik is at center. If they put Milsap at center, we will go to a more traditional rotation, with Gasol and Pek at center, LMA and Taj at PF.

VS

TMACFORMVP

Offense:

TMAC's weakness is my strength: size. Both Gasol and Pek are bigger than anyone on TMAC's whole team, and have power in the post, which we will, yet again, work through. Gasol will either tower over the 6'10 Varejao, or out-skill the average defender that is Dirk. Dirk is used to using his size to his advantage on defense, but with him covering Gasol or LMA, his size advantage will be gone.

Once again our offense has terrific spacing, even better this round since Evans is only playing 16 minutes a game. Our starting perimeter shoots a combined 38.8% from 3PT land, and you add in Butler's 36% shooting and Dragic's 38% shooting from down town, and there is absolutely no way that TMAC's team will be able to think about doubling down low.

Basically, we will stay with our offensive game plan that we have been using this whole time: Use our 3 bigs to punish the other team down low, and with our fantastic spacing, there is no way double teams can be affective. If, for some odd reason, our bigs can't get going, Granger, Irving, Dragic and Evans can all run the offense, get into the lane and get stuff going for the whole team. I don't really see any team with an average defense stopping that whatsoever.

Defense:

Batum on Wade - Batum has been a terrific defender all year, and has matched up against plenty of SGs. Wade has shown throughout the season and in the playoffs that he is inconsistent, and Batum's defense should make that even more apparent.

Irving on Lawson - With Dirk and Wade taking up so much of the offense, Lawson should have a limited roll as a third option. Irving isn't much of a defender, but Lawson is very much used to having the ball in his hands, and we think as a team we can keep him to what he usually gets.

Granger on Marion - This allows Granger to rest a bit, save his energy for offense.

Gasol/LMA on Dirk - Gasol may be the best player in the NBA in terms of blocking shots of the man he is covering. Should cause Dirk at least a bit of a struggle. Dirk VS LMA, last 5 meetings:

LMA - 28.2 / 10.0 / 1.2 on 52 FG%
Dirk - 21.6 / 8.8 / 2.0 on 49 FG%

We are comfortable with this matchup as well.

Pek/Gasol on AV - Not much on offense here, so help defense may be a good option here. If they try and post him up, we have size advantage down low.

Overall:

I think I have this matchup mainly because TMACs biggest weakness is my biggest strength, which is size and talent down low. I feel like I have too strong of an advantage down low, and are able to slow down/outplay the likes of Dirk and Wade. His defensive roll players aren't the best, and can be beaten, so as we slow down Dirk and Wade, I am doubtful we will be slowed down.

I'm honestly perplexed about the lineup change, because frankly speaking, I think this benefits our team GREATLY. This is why...

- Gasol isn't going to punish Dirk, because:

a.) He's not that type of scorer, he isn't one that's going to kill you. Even against a Clippers team with a horrible defender in Jordan, and PF's in Evans and Martin playing center, he was just average.

b.) Dirk is a pretty solid defender.

But most importantly...Marc Gasol on Dirk is a very big mistake.

He's too quick for Marc, and stretches him out much further than he wants to. And Dirk isn't called a nightmare matchup for nothing..because if you put size on him, he'll exploit them from range and quickness, or w/ his height over shorter defenders.

Keep in mind that last point too, they are putting their DEFENSIVE ANCHOR on a perimeter scoring superstar. That only opens up the court offensively for guys like Lawson or Wade to penetrate to the basket. Especially when you consider Pekovic isn't a defensive anchor.

So in essence, Kees is benching a better offensive player in favor of Pekovic, while dramatically reducing the effectiveness of his defense, by putting his anchor on Dirk.

I think it's important to hammer this point in. This lineup change makes The Reaganization far more easier to defend (harder to defend LMA than Pek/Gasol), and considerably worse defensively (defensive anchor will be on the perimeter).

We will certainly take advantage of that.

Other points

- Lawson and Irving; neither will outplay the other (at this point in their careers).
- Batum is a good defender, but Wade will still have a big series, b/c he's DWade. And honestly, that's all that needs to be said. One on one, it's very hard to stop Wade (Celtics double teamed Wade, and he murdered the Pacers, and still had a solid finals against Sefolosha). So, if you consider one on defense, w/ their defensive anchor/help defender being on the perimeter, Wade should have a nice series as well.
- Granger had a 5-18 game against Marion/Mavs in their only meeting this season.
- Again, that lineup makes them easier to defend, and easier to score on.

I think we have the two best players in the series.

Dirk will explode (keep in mind, in a playoff format, which this is; he's a tremendous playoff performer) and Wade will have a big series as well. With Wade/Marion defensively, we can limit Granger, and it's out of nature for Gasol to become a big time scorer. LMA will be covered by Varejao/Millsap whenever he's in the game -- he'll still get his, but we'll at least be able to put good defenders on him to make him work a bit (similar to Wade, but to a greater extent, IMO).

Kyrie was even called out by his own coach for being a bad defender. I think the impact, despite the roles between he and Lawson, their impact will be similar.

In short, Irving wouldn't outplay his counterpart, neither will LMA, and both of them are their Kees's biggest offensive weapons. Then consider still having to match up w/ Wade, and Millsap being a comparable scorer to even Marc, I think we have too much firepower coupled w/ better offensive and defensive matchups, which should allow our team to come out on top.

Alright, so we can begin judging now I guess. Please vote for either Kees or TMAC, send your choice to Keeslinator@gmail.com. Thanks.

Ok, this is dragging on a bit too long. TMAC has gotten 2 votes, and since he has swept threw every other matchup, I think it's safe to say he would beat me if we got another vote.

Goes to TMAC.

Dirk will absolutely ABUSE Gasol. Not seeing the logic in the lineup change, as Gasol's impact will be far outweighed by Nowitzki's. Wade will most definitely get his on Batum and Marion has fared well defending Granger. AV can hold his own here and Lawson/Irving is a wash (although experience tends to have me favor Lawson)

Both of you built great squads, congrats to you both, but I gotta go with TMAC.

TMAC...dwade/dirk duo too deadly.

Congrats to TMAC, and thanks to everyone who played and stayed in it in the long run!