The Finals Twist Semis - 8on vs Laimbeer*

[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.

[8on]

PG Kevin Johnson (40) / Cory Joseph (8)
SG Mitch Richmond (40) / Cory Joseph (8)
SF Julius Erving (40) / Robert Horry (8)
PF Robert Horry (26) / Matt Bonner (22)
C Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (40) / JaVale McGee (8)

FGA
1976-77 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 18.7
1973-74 Julius Erving: 21.3 * 0.85 = 18.1
1995-96 Mitch Richmond: 16.9
1996-97 Kevin Johnson: 12.7
2001-02 Robert Horry: 5.7
2013-14 Cory Joseph: 3.9
2011-12 Matt Bonner: 5.4
2017-18 JaVale McGee: 3.4
84.8/85

Defensive assignments
KJ on George Hill
Mitch on Kobe
Doc on Peace
Horry on Dirk
Kareem on Deke

I'm assuming MWP is guarding Dr. J. Metta is a great defender. ABA Doc averaged 38/14/5 on Bobby Jones in the 1976 ABA Finals. In other words, Metta is going to need all the help he can get. I'd argue that Doc had a greater peak than Kobe, and was a little more efficient (55.8 TS% to 55). In fact, the advanced numbers favor Doc in just about every metric.

Similarly, Deke is great, but Kareem averaged 35/18/4 in the 1977 playoffs. Kareem can draw him out of the paint, opening up the lane for Doc, Mitch and KJ.

One big difference between our teams is the playmaking. Kareem is an elite playmaker out of the post, whereas no one on Laimbeer's squad is an elite playmaker. When George Hill is out of the game, the offense will suffer from maximum Kobe iso ball. In contrast, Kevin Johnson is another elite playmaker who will keep the offense running smoothly. We have more firepower and a much better floor general.

Danny Green is great, but 94.2% of his 3s have been assisted, which Laimbeer doesn't have a lot of here. Outside of Danny, Dirk and Mutombo, Laimbeer doesn't have a lot of efficient scoring or shooting. Guys like Pau and Odom were critical to the Lakers' success because they could make shots and find the open man. Rambis hurts his spacing, unlike Matt Bonner.

Defensively, we're comfortable helping off Peace (51.1 TS%, 31% from 3) to force Kobe to take bad shots and stop him from passing. I see a lot of high turnover, low efficiency games for Kobe in this one.

Overall, we have more scoring options and better playmaking by a long shot. Laimbeer's team isn't nearly efficient enough to keep with us on offense, and we have too many guys who can create their own shot or create for others. Kareem/Doc is a better duo than Kobe/Dirk, and we have more support for them. Vote 8on

[Laimbeer]

Kobe Bryant ( 2008 ) 20.6 - Voted peak season by RealGM PC forum, MVP
Dirk Nowitzki ( 2011 ) 16.2 - Voted peak season by RealGM PC forum, Finals MVP
Dikembe Mutombo ( 1995 ) 7.7 - Defensive Player of the Year, 12.5 rebs/3.9 blks per game
Metta World Peace ( 2004 ) 15.2 - Defensive Player of the Year, career highs in W/S & VORP
George Hill ( 2013 ) 11.5 - Career highs in W/S, 36.8% on 4.6 3PA
Danny Green ( 2015 ) 9.1 - Career highs in PER, W/S, BPM & VORP, 41.8% on 5.6 3PA
Kurt Rambis ( 1986 ) 3.6 - Started 74 games for 62 win team, 21.3 MPG, 11.8 rebs per 36, TS 63.2%
Charles Jones ( 1993 ) 0.9 - 67 games, 18.0 MPG, 8.3 rebs / 2.3 blks per 36

84.8/85

Dikembe Mutombo (38) / Charles Jones (8) / Kurt Rambis (2)
Dirk Nowitzki (38) / Kurt Rambis (10)
Metta World Peace (38) / Danny Green (10)
Kobe Bryant (38) /Danny Green (10)
George Hill (38) / Danny Green (10)

Offensively, we have two elite players with versatile offensive games leading the way. 8on's defense is underwhelming in the context of this game. Horry is not a good match-up for Dirk and Matt Bonner is playing nearly half the game. Dirk will feast. Mitch also isn't an elite defender on Kobe. It's not a great defensive team and the match-ups are problematic.

Defensively we match up very well Deke/Kareem, Dirk/Horry, Metta/Doc, Kobe/Mitch, and Hill/KJ. Kareem and Doc aren't a great fit and there will be some traffic in the paint with Kareem low and Deke nearby.

Neither bench is overwhelming, but I feel like Green gives us something of an edge.

Good luck 8on.

[euroleague]

Dirk will go off in this series. Kobe will go off. DPOYs on Dr J and Kareem. This is a pretty easy one.

Laimbeer takes it

[8on]

Bonner did average 16.9 MPG and shot 41.4% from 3 for his career while putting up solid defensive metrics, but, you know, no one cares.

[ardee]

Personally I don't buy that Erving is a Kobe/Dirk level player. His floor game was limited, and his inferior jumpshot may have been ok in another league in the 70s but in the modern game I think he's a notch down from these kinds of elite offensive players.

Kareem will have a big series but Deke is as good a defender as you can ask for. Kobe and Dirk will absolutely murder their matchups and I expect that to be the decider.

Vote: Laimbeer

[Fadeaway_J]

Yeah this is a bad matchup for 8on. Horry and Bonner vs Dirk will be a bloodbath, and there isn't a great counter for Kobe either. MWP and Deke at their defensive peaks will do as much as one could hope for to slow Doc and Kareem. The idea that Kobe can't run an offense for 10 minutes when he was essentially the PG for five championship teams is almost slanderous.

Vote: Laimbeer

[wackbone]

Basically ditto what Fade said.

Vote: Laimbeer


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[8on]

Laimbeer advances