The Finals Twist RD2 - LA Bird* vs. Tony Snell

[8on]

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.

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.

First to 4 votes advances.

[LA Bird]

Starters
C: 2000 Alonzo Mourning (22/10/4/60). DPOY, All NBA, All Defense, 44% from mid range.
PF: 2009 Pau Gasol (19/10/4/62). All NBA, 44% from mid range.
SF: 2009 Shane Battier (7/5/2/57). All Defense, 38% from 3.
SG: 1991 Michael Jordan (32/6/6/61). MVP, FMVP, All NBA, All Defense.
PG: 1991 Terry Porter (17/4/8/63). All Star, 42% from 3.

Bench
F: 1980 Cedric Maxwell (17/9/3/68). Led league in FG%.
F: 1998 Jud Buechler (3/1/1/55). 39% from 3.
G: 1997 Ron Harper (6/3/3/54). 37% from 3.

Rotation
C: Mourning (36) / Gasol (12)
PF: Gasol (24) / Maxwell (24)
SF: Battier (36) / Buechler (8) / Maxwell (4)
SG: Jordan (36) / Harper (12)
PG: Porter (36) / Harper (12)

Writeup
• Curry/Harden have completely opposite offensive styles. An iso-heavy and motion offense don't exactly fit together.
• Neither of TS's bigs have the passing ability needed to capitalize on Curry's off ball movements.
• 1984 McHale was still a bench player (behind Maxwell actually) and hasn't yet reached the scoring efficiency/volume he would later achieve in his career.
• McAdoo is more suited as a PF and doesn't bring anywhere near the amount of defense needed from a center to make up for the defense of a Curry/Harden backcourt.
• Harden and Curry have some the biggest postseason declines relative to regular season. I assume TS is going to cross-match to avoid a direct Jordan-Harden matchup but even so, a Jordan-led offense is still far more reliable.
• TS only has 1 All-Defense player. Our team's stronger two way play led by peak MJ and Mourning will lead us to the win here.

[Tony Snell]

PG: 14/15 Steph Curry 16.8
SG: 16/17 James Harden 18.9
SF: 02/03 Bruce Bowen 5.8
PF: 83/84 Kevin McHale 12.9
C: 73/74 Bob McAdoo 19.0

BE: 07/08 James Posey 5.6
BE: 12/13 Boris Diaw 4.4
BE: 12/13 Joel Anthony 1.1

Total: 84.5 / 85.0

Rotation:

PG: Curry (38) Harden (10)
SG: Harden (30) Bowen (18)
SF: Bowen (18) Posey (30)
PF: McHale (36) Diaw (12)
C: McAdoo (38) Anthony (8) Diaw (2)

Write up:

I think we match up pretty well here. Defensively we will throw Bowen at MJ and Harden can take Battier. McHale will take Mourning and McAdoo will take Pau. McHale is the same height as Mourning, so I don't think he will get bullied to badly. I don't understand the McAdoo is a PF narrative. By far his most productive seasons came at the C position. Overall, I think that our big three of Curry, Harden, and McAdoo will prove too potent for our opposition, we have solid defenders for his two main offensive weapons, we have solid bench production, so please vote for TS!

[8on]

This one's ready for voting.

[8on]

The way I see it, Harden's isolation and penetration opens things up for Steph and Bowen. Unfortunately, that kind of offense is contrary to how you would use McHale. McAdoo can space the floor well, but it's unknown how he would shoot from 3.

I think LA's defense and fit are better, and you never have to worry about offense when you have Michael Jordan.

vote: LA Bird

[Fadeaway_J]

Bird has the firepower to match Snell, and his fit, balance, and defense are all superior. Still not sold on the Harden-Steph fit but it's all the defensive trouble spots that doom Snell in this one.

Vote: LA Bird

[Jon_3232]

I like that Snell has good matchups for Jordan and Pau , but Bird just has such a great fitting team that matches up great against Snell. Im not big on the Steph/Harden duo and Porter/MJ is great D against them.

Vote: Bird

[DerrickNoah]

I absolutely love this Jordan team. MJ & Battier taking turns guarding Harden would be awesome to watch. Curry would make this a 7 game series but...

my vote is LA Bird

[8on]

LA Bird advances

[Jory04]

The difference to me comes down to the frontcourt, McAdoo cannot check either frontcourt player. Vote Bird

[euroleague]

McAdoo criminally underrated, I predicted this one