2023 East Cross-Standings Draft - R1 - Dr Positivity* vs Snakebites

[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. Please ensure you give a rationale for your vote; votes with no explanation will not be counted.

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 3 votes advances.**

[Dr Positivity]

PG: Mark Price (1992: 12.5 FGA)
SG: Trevor Ariza (2013: 8.1 FGA)
SF: Julius Erving (1981: 18.6 FGA)
PF: Kevin Durant (2022: 20.3 FGA)
C: Bill Laimbeer (1990: 9.7 FGA)

PG/SG: George Hill (2020: 6.4 FGA)
SG: JJ Redick (2010: 6.7 FGA)
PF/C: Dennis Rodman (1996: 4.8 FGA)

87.1 / 88

PG: Mark Price (38) / George Hill (10)
SG: Trevor Ariza (20) / JJ Redick (18) / George Hill (10)
SF: Julius Erving (38) / Trevor Ariza (10)
PF: Kevin Durant (38) / Dennis Rodman (10)
C: Bill Laimbeer (30) / Dennis Rodman (18)

GL Snakebites

Defensive matchups: Price on FVV, Ariza on Petrovic, Erving on Pippen, Durant on Siakam, Laimbeer/Rodman on Shaq.

- Durant/Dr. J/Price/Laimbeer is relatively close to Shaq/Pippen/Petrovic/Siakam in talent, however I think our combo fits a bit better. Pippen and Siakam are two only ok 3pt shooters beside Shaq, and FVV is decent but not dominant as a shooter. Siakam benefitted from with the spacing of Gasol/Ibaka and took a few years to be as effective with low spacing bigs. Dr J who has a case for best player in this series considering this is Orl Shaq and Bkn Durant, has amazing spacing around him.

- Our depth is definitely better. Rodman makes more sense playing with Durant and Laimbeer than 84 Jones does beside Shaq. I don't like Hawks Thabo as much as Thunder version and he is playing 30 minutes. I'd take Hill and Redick combo over him and Wright.

- I believe having to put Siakam on Erving or Durant is a bigger matchup problem than any on our end. Laimbeer has the toughness to be acceptable against younger Shaq and throwing Rodman on him is also great. He is using 94/2nd year Shaq who's regular season stats were great but in his first playoffs his inexperience may have contributed to only putting up 20.7 pts on .517 TS%. We certainly think we can beat him on defense with Laimbeer stretching him out and Price's PNR ability being a good matchup against him. While Ariza is playing a bit out of position, in 2013 he is more athletic than his Rockets version, I think he can hang with Petrovic and bother him with his length. Ariza's handling may be weak for a 2 but having Durant who averaged 6.4 assists per game this season and Erving at the forward spots help make up for it. While Dr J will use some energy guarding Pippen, it also goes the other way with Pippen spending energy guarding a superstar wing and while being relied on for a pretty huge role offensively.

Overall our team is a little more dynamic with the Erving, Durant and Price combo and has a depth advantage. Our D isn't the best in the draft but I think young Shaq, Petrovic and Siakam guarding Durant or Erving adds up this team also being beatable on that end.

[Dr Positivity]

[Snakebites]

Pick 1:

Shaquille O’Neal 1993-94 19.6 FGA
Bobby Jones 1983-84 5.8 FGA

Pick 2:

Scottie Pippen 1993-94 16.7 FGA
Drazen Petrovic 1992-93 16.2 FGA

Pick 3:

Pascal Siakam 19-20 11.8 FGA
Delon Wright 21-22 3.5 FGA

Pick 4:

Fred VanVleet 19-20 9.1 FGA
Thabo Sefolosha 15-16 5.0 FGA

FVV (30)/Wright (18)
Drazen (37)/Thabo (11)
Pippen (38)/Thabo (20)
Siakam (25)/Jones (23)
Shaq (38)/Siakam (10)

Alrighty.

I’ve got a pretty straightforward build here. Shaq is the number one option, and Pippen/Drazen is the elite wing combo that fits extremely well with them. Drazen, FVV, and Siakam are all plus shooters around Shaq, with Pippen as the primary playmaker and FVV as the secondary one. Drazen is an extremely crafty scorer who should have a terrific series here without an ideal defender. Pippen and FVV are both strong covers for Erving and Price. Siakam isn’t a perfect answer to KD but he’s pretty big and mobile- it’s not as big a mismatch as what’s on the other end.

Furthermore, I see Shaq as the likely MVP of this series- I think he pretty much wipes the floor with Laimbeer every time down- I think that’s the worst matchup in the series. Laimbeer never had to deal with a big man with the combination of size and mobility of young Orlando Shaq- and I think it will give him no end of trouble. He’s neither strong nor fast enough.

[Dr Positivity]

Pascal Siakam 19-20 11.8 FGA

I think Snake meant 18-19 here, for the record

[ChicagoSportsFan21]

I think the biggest mismatch and difference here is Laimbeer/Rodman guarding Shaq. I think Shaq will do very well. Although I do prefer Dr. P’s bench slightly, I don’t think it’s enough. Drazen is the weakest defender in the starting lineup for Snake and Ariza isn’t the right player to exploit that matchup offensively.

Vote-Snakebites

[Snakebites]

Pascal Siakam 19-20 11.8 FGA

I think Snake meant 18-19 here, for the record

Yes correct sorry.

I’ll note that FVV is also 18-19

Both issues are fixed.

[durantbird]

I don't think Shaq being guarded by Laimbeer is significantly more of a mismatch than Siakam guarding KD, especially considering it's Orlando Shaq and probably not the best version of Orlando Shaq. To me Price-Erving-Durant is the stronger trio offensively and Dr P has better depth as Atlanta Sefolosha plays too much.

Vote Dr Positivity

[lilroddyb]

Great teams guys

Both teams have certain matchup advantage like Shaq should feast vs Laimbeer, Rodman backing him up could help a bit vs Shaq and I don't see Siakam slowing down KD much. in the end I like the fit more on Dr P's team and I think he also has a small talent advantage. I think the playmaking gap is to big in Dr P's favor with Mark price being awesome playmaker/passer while I feel like Fred Vanvleet plays with tunnel vision quite often.

should be close but I'll vote Dr P

[wackbone]

Dr P's team just seems a bit more potent to me. Snake has a few off/unusual years. 00/01 Shaq vs 94 Shaq would make a huge difference. Very much not a fan of Snake's PG play.

Vote: Dr P

[Snakebites]

Yeah, I lost this one when I didn’t get my point guard early enough- waiting on a PG was the worst decision I ever made. That was the worst round I’ve ever seen- I lost every one of my 5 options. And I guess people don’t like Orlando Shaq enough for that to have been a worthy first rounder. I’m starting to question Pippen’s value in these- haven’t had success with him in forever.

Wasn’t super happy with my final product here.

GG

[durantbird]

Dr Positivity advances