StartersC - Willis Reed (1969-70)
PF - Lamar Odom (2009-10)
SF - James Posey (2003-04)
SG - Kobe Bryant (2007-08)
PG - Scottie Pippen (1995-96)
BenchC/F - Rick Mahorn (1988-89)
F/G - Anthony Parker (2009-10)
G - Terry Porter (1997-98)
Rotations C - Reed (38), Mahorn (10)
PF - Odom (36), Posey (8), Mahorn (4)
SF - Posey (24), Parker (14), Pippen (10)
SG - Bryant (40), Parker (8)
PG - Pippen (28), Porter (20)
FGA Per PlayerWe play an inside-out game based around our MVP duo of Kobe and Reed, with Pippen filling in the blanks as the ultimate third option. Our big selling point is versatility on both ends of the floor. Kobe, Pippen, and Odom can all function as the ballhandler in a pick-and-roll, and both Odom and Reed can be the roll man. Kobe can score in an unparallelled variety of ways, either creating in isolation or moving without the ball. Reed can back his man down in the post, spot up for his deadly midranger, or crash the offensive glass. Pippen, Kobe, Odom, and Posey can make things happen on the break. We have solid shooting around our primary creators between Posey, Parker, and Porter.
Defensively, Reed anchors things in the paint but the rest of the lineup is super switchable. At 6-6, Kobe is our smallest starter, and the 6-10 Odom has the lateral mobility to hang with bigger wings and even some guards. The presence of Pippen and Posey ensures Kobe can avoid the most taxing defensive matchups and conserve his energy for the other end. Mahorn brings an old-school physical edge off the bench.
Matchup- Initial defensive assignments will be straight up. Pippen plays a key role here as we hope to cut off Price's water and therefore disrupt the entire team's offensive ecosystem.
- Related to the point above, I think we have more variety and optionality on the offensive end. Pippen, Kobe, and Odom are all plus ballhandlers and passers who can create something for us off the dribble at any given time. By contrast, Jimmy is leaning pretty heavily on Price to fulfil that role; Melo can handle but isn't much of a passer, while Jones and Sheed are finishers at this stage of their careers.
- At the other end, we have a sizeable advantage on the perimeter where Jimmy's only plus defender in the starting five is post-prime Jones. McMillan is a plus off the bench, but he's also very limited offensively compared to the two-way role players we're able to rely on (Parker and Porter).
Good luck Jimmy.