Least Playoff Appearances Franchises Draft - R1 - durantbird* vs JimmyPlopper

[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**

[durantbird]

PG: Kyle Lowry 18' - 12.1
SG: James Harden 21' - 16.7
SF: Shane Battier 06' - 7.7
PF: Pascal Siakam 19' - 11.8
C: Shaquille O'Neal 95' - 20.2

Bench: Jaden McDaniels 24' - 8.7
Bench: Anthony Parker 10' - 5.9
Bench: Nate Thurmond 76' - 3.7 with multiplier

86.8/88

Lowry 37 / Harden 11
Harden 27 / Parker 21
Battier 30 / McDaniels 15 / Parker 3
Siakam 34 / McDaniels 14
O'Neal 38 / Thurmond 10

Vs

Jrue Holiday (34) / Steve Kerr (14)
Julius Erving (24) / Jrue Holiday (4) / Tony Allen (20)
Rick Barry (40) / Julius Erving (8)
Anthony Mason (40) / Julius Erving (8)
Pau Gasol (38) / Chris Andersen (10)

Matchup
- Defensive assignments: Kyle Lowry vs. Jrue Holiday, Shane Battier vs. Julius Erving, Pascal Siakam vs. Rick Barry, James Harden vs. Anthony Mason, Shaquille O'Neal vs. Pau Gasol.
- We match up well here, because in our starting line-up, we got Shane Battier as a great defender to defend Julius Erving, and Siakam is another versatile defender to throw at Rick Barry. Generally, Jimmy's offense is heavily based on two forwards, and we've got more than enough tools to defend them in our squad, with also Jaden McDaniels and Anthony Parker coming off the bench. On the other hand, Pau Gasol trying to contain Shaquille O'Neal, even in his younger version, might be too much for his defensive abilities.
- I think we got a very nice fit. Shaquille has great spacing all around him. Besides Thurmond as backup center, all of our squad are elite to good shooters. They can space the floor for Shaq to operate inside, or to find the open man on offense. The fit of Harden and Lowry is nice, because they can both set up plays for each other, and they have already shown that they can work well with another point guard in Chris Paul and Fred VanVleet respectively. I also like our bench better, because I think McDaniels and Parker are more useful overall as two-way versatile wings, compared to Steve Kerr and Tony Allen, who are both single-minded on either side of the game.

[JimmyPlopper]

Jrue Holiday (34) / Steve Kerr (14)
Julius Erving (24) / Jrue Holiday (4) / Tony Allen (20)
Rick Barry (40) / Julius Erving (8)
Anthony Mason (40) / Julius Erving (8)
Pau Gasol (38) / Chris Anderson (10)

(1976) Julius Erving - 19
(1971) Rick Barry - 19.4
(2008) Pau Gasol - 3.5
(2000) Anthony Mason - 8.1
(2017) Jrue Holiday - 13.3
(1992) Steve Kerr - 4.9
(2013) Chris Anderson - 3
(2011) Tony Allen - 6.8

88/88


Matchup Strategy:
DB made some solid points about the matchup, but I believe I can still counter effectively with my squad. Here’s how I’m approaching it:

1. Defensive Matchups on Erving and Barry:
Battier on Erving and Siakam on Barry: While I respect Battier and Siakam as defenders, Erving’s athleticism and Barry’s skillset give them an advantage. Erving can use his explosiveness to outplay Battier, and Barry’s ability to score from various spots on the floor should be enough to take advantage of Siakam’s defense. I’ll keep Erving on the floor during critical stretches when it matters most, maximizing his impact in key moments. I’ll also ensure that Rick Barry gets his chances to operate against Siakam, using his versatility to keep DB on their toes.

2. Shaq’s Paint Presence:
Pau Gasol on Shaq: I know Pau might struggle against Shaq’s physicality, but Gasol’s perimeter shooting can pull Shaq out of the paint. This will allow Erving and Barry to attack the basket without Shaq waiting to swat shots. I also plan on using Chris Andersen to relieve Pau, adding some rim protection and energy to slow Shaq down. Andersen’s shot-blocking could really disrupt Shaq’s rhythm and help me stay competitive in the paint.

3. Perimeter Play and Shooting:
Limiting Harden with Tony Allen: I’m going to use Tony Allen on Harden as much as possible. I know DB sees Allen as one-dimensional, but his elite defense can really slow down Harden, which is crucial. If I can disrupt Harden’s rhythm, it will throw off DB’s offense and force him to rely too heavily on Shaq. With Jrue Holiday facilitating, I’m confident I can keep things flowing on offense.

Spacing with Steve Kerr’s Shooting: DB may think Kerr is just a shooter, but that’s exactly what I need off the bench. Kerr’s shooting ability will force DB’s defense to stretch out, especially when his stars are off the court. I’ll use him as a spacer to open up lanes for Erving and Barry to operate. He can hit those critical shots when DB’s defense is focused elsewhere.

4. Playmaking Edge with Holiday:
Jrue Holiday’s Versatility: I trust Holiday to handle the ball and create offense for both himself and others. He’s a great scorer, defender, and playmaker, so even though Lowry will try to limit him, I know Holiday can still be a difference-maker. I’ll make sure to stagger Holiday and Erving’s minutes to ensure there’s always a playmaker on the floor to keep the offense flowing.

5. Bench Comparison:
Two-Way Value from Andersen and Allen: DB thinks McDaniels and Parker are more versatile, but Andersen and Allen bring a lot of defensive value. Andersen can protect the rim, and Allen can shut down perimeter players, which is going to be huge when I need to give my starters a break. Plus, Steve Kerr’s shooting is something DB can’t match off the bench. While McDaniels and Parker are good, I trust Kerr to contribute key points in limited minutes.

My Final Strategy:
I’ll ensure Erving gets the floor time needed to have the biggest impact, especially in crucial moments. He’ll be on the floor for stretches when I need his scoring and defensive versatility the most.

I’m going to put Tony Allen on Harden as much as possible. His defense will be a huge asset in containing DB’s main scoring threat.
I plan to use Pau Gasol’s shooting to stretch the floor and pull Shaq out of the paint. That’s going to free up space for my other players to attack.

I’ll also lean on Steve Kerr’s shooting when my main scorers draw defenders. His ability to hit shots will keep DB’s defense honest.
I'll manage Erving's rotation and keep him fresh for key moments in the game. I’ll rotate Chris Andersen and Tony Allen to ensure that my defense stays strong and my stars get timely breaks.

With this strategy in place, I’m confident I can effectively counter DB’s strengths and come out on top in this matchup. My versatility, defensive tools, and shooting will give me the edge. Let’s do this!

[Fadeaway_J]

Love Pau, but this is exactly the kind of matchup I don't like for him. Also, while he can certainly hit the long midranger if that's what's available, he doesn't do it at enough volume to make Shaq super uncomfortable; he's primarily a post player, and he'll have trouble doing that against Shaq. In general, I don't think there's enough outside shooting to open things up for Doc, Barry, and Pau, while Shaq has a well-spaced floor and and two high-level playmakers to deliver him the ball in the right spots.

Vote: durantbird

[Dr Positivity]

I think Shaq killing Pau is made up enough by Siakam on Barry and Harden being in the torture chamber, otherwise I like Jimmy's talent a bit more with those two star wings and his other starters all being quality. Vote Jimmy.

[wackbone]

I see Jimmy as having a sizeable talent edge but durantbird seems to have an even larger spacing edge, and as has been said 1000x before, with these superteams having a multitude of guys to space the defense is critical. Kerr is just one guy, and he's only playing 14 minutes. And Kerr will get eaten alive on the other end. Meanwhile Tony Allen is one of the best perimeter defenders ever but is a blackhole on offense.

Vote: durantbird

[Snakebites]

Overall, I think db's offense flows better. I think Shaq/Harden with solid Lowry and Battier to help spread the floor is a fundamentally good combination. I don't absolutely love Siakam here as his outside shot is pretty shakey, but on the other hand his mobility makes him a solid defensive fit.

I agree that Pau on Shaq is a tough matchup that swings what otherwise might have been a close series. I actually do think the Dr. J/Barry combination could have worked, though I'd have certainly liked to have seen at least one reliable three point shooter among the other 3 players starting alongside them. Jrue's shot was still fairly unreliable at that stage in his career. Gasol had a decent midrange shot but wouldn't develop to three point range until much later, and is fundamentally a guy who needs space more than he provides it. If you're camping him out at the elbow or further you aren't necessarily getting the best use out of him and I don't think it particularly deters Shaq from staying close to the basket on defense.

Vote DB

[durantbird]

durantbird advances