Infrequent Finalist Franchises - R2 - JimmyPlopper* vs Larry_Russell

[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. Once the writeups are posted, I will add a poll, and the team with the most votes after 24 hours will advance. EACH MANAGER SHOULD ALSO VOTE FOR THEIR OWN TEAM IN THE POLL - IF YOU FAIL TO DO THIS, YOU ARE SIMPLY GIVING AWAY A VOTE. If the votes are tied, we will decide the matchup via AI vote.

You are not required to state or explain your vote, but you are free to comment in the thread if you want to.

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).

[Larry_Russell]

PG: Kyle Lowry (2017-18) 12.1
16.2ppg, 5.6rpg, 7apg, 1.1spg, 40% on 7.6-3pta
AS, All NBA votes received, All Defense votes received

SG: Raja Bell (2007-08) 10
12ppg, 3.7rpg, 2.2apg, 0.7spg, 0.5bpg, 40% on 6-3pta
Def-2

SF: Julius Erving (1975-76) 19
29.3ppg, 11rpg, 5apg, 2.5spg, 2bpg, 33% on 1.2-3pta
MVP, FMVP, ABA-1, Def-1, AS,

PF: Charles Barkley (1992-93) 18.1
25.6ppg, 12.2rpg, 5.1apg, 1.6spg, 1bpg, 30% on 3-3pta
MVP, NBA-1, AS, All Def Shares

C: Brook Lopez (2022-23) 11.5
16ppg, 6.7rpg, 1.3apg, 0.5spg, 2.5bpg, 37.5% on 4.7-3pta
DPOY-2, Def-1

PG/SG: Fred VanVleet (2017-18) 7.2
8.6ppg, 2.4rpg, 3.2apg, 1spg, 41.5% on 3.5-3pta
6MOY-3

SF/PF: Robert Covington (2021-22) 7
8.5ppg, 5.5rpg, 1.3apg, 1.5spg, 1.3bpg, 38% on 4.8-3pta

C: Chris Andersen (2010-11) 3
5.6ppg, 5rpg, 0.5apg, 1.3bpg


PG: Lowry (38) / FVV (10)
SG: Bell (38) / FVV (10)
SF: Erving (40) / Covington (8)
PF: Barkley (38) / Covington (10)
C: Lopez (38) / Andersen (8) / Covington (2)

87.8/88



We will matchup as follows.

Lowry will take on old man Kidd. Makes sense here. Lowry is an excellent man to man defender who doesnt give up size or strength to Kidd.

Raja Bell will take on defending Drazen. My Kobe Stopper is the perfect proto type defender for Petrovic. He is elite at perimeter defense and is a monster competitor.

Dr J will take on Johnson. Averaging 5 stocks per game and using his incredible length and athleticism, Dr J will sag off the poor shooting Johnson to help down onto Dirk with weakside shotblooking and quick hands

Barkley will take on Dirk. Its obvious that Charles is going to give up some points to Dirk, but with Dr J being able to help down and having Brook behind him at the rim will limit the damage that Dirk can do, also see the other side of the ball here.

Lopez will guard Chandler. Good matchup here as Chandler will not bring Lopez away from the rim offensively letting him be there to help in the paint all game long.

Offense
We will run everything through DrJ and Barkley with awesome spacing around them.

Dr J is going to feast in this matchup, regardless of the defensive prowess of Johnson. In the Johnson season chosen, DrJ put up 27.5ppg, 7.5rpg, 4.5apg in 4 games....at age 30. DrJ wasnt not prime/peak DRJ at that point. I am using his peak seld in this draft. Peak Erving who still had 100% of his athleticism. He can blow by Marques and get to the rim.

Dirk is going to HAVE to guard Chuck in this one and that is going to put points back in my favor. MVP Chuck was an absolute MONSTER offensiely, powerful, elite postups, jumpers. He did it all and a truly elite level. Dirk cannot defend that, so I assume that Chandler will be defending Chuck. And that doesnt work either as Chuck can still body Tyson, as well as blow past him offensively putting Dirk as the rim protector.

That means that if Chandler is guarding Chuck, Dirk is protecting the Rim when Dr J attacks it. Thats great for me.

Benches
I believe my bench has the nod on both sides of the court here.
FVV a top 3 6MOTY candidate brings in scoring, shooting and hustle at guard
Covington bring elite defense and 3pt shooting and passing at forward
Andersen give me a rim running shot blocker.

[JimmyPlopper]

PG: Jason Kidd (38) / Delon Wright (10)
SG: Drazen Petrovic (38) / Delon Wright (5) / Kyle Korver (5)
SF: Marques Johnson (38) / Kyle Korver (10)
PF: Dirk Nowitzki (38) / Clifford Robinson (10)
C: Tyson Chandler (32) / Clifford Robinson (16)

1. Dirk Nowitzki (2007) - 17.2
2. Jason Kidd (2010) - 8.4
3. Tyson Chandler (2011) - 5.5
4. Drazen Petrovic (1993) - 16.2
5. Kyle Korver (2010) - 5.4
6. Delon Wright (2019) - 5.6
7. Marques Johnson (1981) - 15.2
8. Clifford Robinson (1999) - 12.6

86.1/88

Play Through Dirk & Dražen:
Use Dirk in high pick-and-pop situations to take advantage of Brook Lopez’s slower foot speed.
Dražen should be the primary off-ball mover, using screens to get open looks against Bell.

Push the Pace with Kidd:
Attack in transition before LR’s defense gets set. Kidd’s vision can exploit mismatches, especially with Barkley and Lopez lagging behind.

Stretch the Floor & Attack Inside:
Korver and Dirk will space the floor to pull defenders out.
Marques Johnson and Kidd should attack the rim when spacing allows.

Make Erving Work:
Assign Marques Johnson to Erving and force him into tough mid-range shots.
Collapse on his drives to disrupt his rhythm.

Double Barkley on the Block:
Send help from Chandler or Clifford Robinson when Barkley gets deep position.
Rotate quickly to cover open shooters.

Limit Lowry’s Playmaking:
Pick him up full court with Kidd to wear him down.
Close out hard on his threes but don’t overcommit.

Key Adjustments
If Barkley is dominating, go zone to clog the paint.
If Bell is hitting too many shots, swap in Delon Wright for better perimeter defense.
If Lowry struggles, expect more minutes from VanVleet—attack him defensively.
Win Condition: Control the tempo, stretch their defense, and force Erving & Barkley into inefficient shots.

Good Luck Larry

[durantbird]

Ready for votes. Larry and Jimmy, please vote for yourselves

[durantbird]

JimmyPlopper advances

[Larry_Russell]

meh, thought I had this one in the bag with 2 MVPs with proven synergy. oh well.

[JimmyPlopper]

GG Larry