I am very busy for a few hours, I apologize.
As I come home I will go through this.
edit: here I am.
Once again let me quote my team presentation:
Dirk Nowitzki 2011 16.2
Alonzo Mourning 1998 12.6
Steve Nash 2004 10.2
OG Anunoby 2020 8.2
Doug Christie 2000 11.7
Chauncey Billups 2002 10.0
Lonzo Ball 2019 10.9
Herb Jones 2022 7.4
87.2/88
Nash (30)/Billups (13)/Lonzo (5)
Christie (16)/Lonzo (17)/Billups (15)
Anunoby (14)/Christie (16)/ Jones (20)
Dirk (30)/Anunoby (12)/Jones (6)
Zo (34)/Dirk (6)/Anunoby (8)
Philosophy:
The base is having Nash and Dirk together, that guarantee you a top offense, with a number complementary players that can close any gap defensively.
A combination of strong&quick wing sized high level defensive players in OG, Christie, Herb and Lonzo, three of the shooting in the high 30s from three but all able to keep the ball moving after the advantage had been created. Lonzo and Christie in particular are actually very good to elite passers.
An absolutely elite paint protector like Lonzo that is also a great offensive option especially with the space this team would have a next to a PG like Nash.
2002 was the year Billups blossomed average 20ppg in the playoff, he had positional size and good defense so that he can even play good minutes next to Nash.
About Nash, the main difference between 2005 Nash and 2004 Nash was his durability and a different system. We will play spread pick and roll and move the ball to give Dirk easy looks without overusing his high post iso.
Some other interesting lineups that I can throw:
Nash/Christie/Jones/Anunoby/Dirk stationing Herb on the dunker spot, against team without a strong paint presence
Billups/Lonzo/Christie/Anunoby/Zo to max defense while keeping a strong offense
Key comments about this matchup:
* this is a series where I can somewhat protect Nash putting him on Danny Green. This version of Nash is between his All NBA seasons and his MVP seasons, so we must check what was the context. It was during the Nelson/Cuban feud, when the philosophy of the team that went so close to the finals was all junked up with the likes of Walker and Jamison, reducing his role both as a finisher and as a creator. But that still was Steve Nash, and still that team was (and I think still is) the the best offensive team of all time vs league average. I am now taking that player, put a healthier ecosystem (especially on defense) around him and in the modern game with less hand checking. I will not let the likes of Mike Bibby isolate against him in space. It's not yet vegan Nash, that's why I will preserve him in terms of minutes
* about the guard rotation, Nash and Billups can easily play together. Both can handle, shoot the ball on the catch and make a play with an advantage. Of course you need the right matchup defensively but on offence I see zero issues. Lonzo is not a modern PG, for me, he can't create in halfcourt. But he has enough size and rebounding to to guard 1-3 while this version already fixed his outside shot to 38% in high volume. he will then make all the right reads and keep the advantage created mainly by Dirk, in a way similar 2011 Kidd was doing. So, he can either play the two next to Nash or Billups or the one with Dirk
* This is not peak Zo but we're not far from it. And in this team he will focus on defense and play finishes, as he's going to have tons of space to establish position and passers like Nash and Lonzo to deliver him the ball inside. He's good enough that he won't need just a lob, he can finish and put Shaq in foul trouble if you move the ball around, I can't imagine any version of Shaq defend a Spain pick and roll with Zo rolling and Dirk popping
* I think Zo is an excellent defender against Shaq, and Christie will make the entry pass difficult and Dirk has the length to bother him on the double. Also consider that's not Shaq's best as a passer, and I am not so scared of giving Horace a mid range, if necessary
* I think my wings are as good as anyone to limit Vince, especially OG. VInce will score but on low efficiency, and he was not the creator who could pick apart a defense like Luka or Lebron
* This is Dirk at his best as an offensive hub, and I am trusting him here. But even the minutes with Billups and Zo can guarantee an excellent offence
* Last point, he's using his starters so much and his bench is not very impressive. He'll be really exposed to fatigue, foul trouble or anything that could limit the minutes of his starters
Ryoga in 6
