Franchise Draft Lockdown R1 - Larry_Russell* vs. JimmyPlopper

[Fadeaway_J]

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: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2023-24) 19.8
30ppg, 5.5rpg, 6.2apg, 35.5% on 3.6-3pta
MVP-2, DPOY-7, NBA-1, AS

SG: Eddie Jones (1997-98) 12.6
17ppg, 3.8rpg, 3.1apg, 2spg, 39% on 4.6-3pta
DEF-2, AS

SF: Paul Pierce (2007-08) 13.7
19.6ppg, 5rpg, 4.5apg, 1.3spg, 0.5bpg, 39.5% on 4.6-3pta
FMVP, NBA-3, AS

PF: Kevin Garnett (2007-08) 13.9
18.8ppg, 9.2rpg, 3.4apg, 1.5spg, 1.3bpg
MVP-3, DPOY, NBA-1, DEF-1 AS

C: Marc Gasol (2012-13) 10.9
14ppg, 7.8rpg, 4apg, 1spg, 1.7bpg
DPOY, NBA-2, DEF-2

PG/SG: George Hill (2019-20) 6.4
9.5ppg, 3rpg, 3apg, 0.8spg, 46% pn 3-3pta
#1- 3pt%

SF/PF: James Posey (2007-08) 5.6
7.5ppg, 4.4rpg, 1.5apg, 1spg, 38% on 3.8-3pta

C: Sam Perkins (1998-99) 4.2
5ppg, 3rpg, 0.5apg, 39% on 2-3pt


PG: SGA (38) / Hill (10)
SG: Jones (38) / Hill (10)
SF: Pierce (38) / Posey (10)
PF: Garnett (38) / Posey (10)
C: Gasol (38) / Perkins (10)

87.6/88

Defense Wins Championships.

Defense will be straight up.

SGA takes on Billups. With his incredible size, speed and hands he pester the Billups and stay glued in his face, taking away one of the only 2 3pt shooters mike has.

Jones has the unfortunate task of taking on Mike here. Impossible task, but he is going to get right up into him, knowing he has not one, but 2 DPOY guys behind him.

Pierce gets to hide on Danny Green, who is not really an offensive threat but is a great 2pt shooter. Pierce will stay close to him to take away the other 3pt shooter mike has to kick out to.

DPOY Garnett takes on Giannis. Giannis has some foot speed on Garnett, but becuase he is an absolute nothing in regards to spacing, Garnett is going to stay way off of him, daring him to shoot. Instead Garnett is staying close to paint where he can patrol

Ewing has to deal with the slightly stronger and incredibly fundamentally defensive, and DPOY winner, Marc Gasol.

My Benchs defense is vastly superior as well with Posey, Hill and even Perkins


Offensively,

I have much better balance and cohesion here. SGA runs the show for me with his insane speed and ability to break anyone down off the dribble and utilzing the pick and roll/pick and pop with either Gasol OR Garnett.

Off of that bread and butter play I have Pierce and Jones as excellent 3pt shooter and also both are very capable secondary playmakers.

My offense has elite ball movement, awesome spacing, and even a front court that can spread out the floor to around the 3pt line, Elite speed and the ability to attack mismatches from all positions.
Low post attacking
Mid range attacking
3pt attacking
rim attacking

and of course, a lot of offense will come off transition for the terror that my team is defensively.

And of offense, as well as defense, my bench is very loaded here.

[JimmyPlopper]

Chauncey Billups (38) / Steve Kerr (10)
Michael Jordan (40) / Steve Kerr (8)
Danny Green (38) / James Jones (10)
Giannis Antetokounmpo (36) / James Jones (8) / Dwight Powell (4)
Patrick Ewing (40) / Dwight Powell (8)

Michael Jordan (1991) - 22.4 FGA/G - MVP, Finals MVP, DPOY7, Defensive 1st Team
Giannis Antetokounmpo (2019) - 17.3 FGA/G - MVP, DPOY2, Defensive 1st Team
Patrick Ewing (1992) - 18.6 FGA/G - MVP5, NBA2, Defensive 2nd Team
Chauncey Billups (2006) - 12.5 FGA/G - NBA2, 43.3% 3PT, 8.6 APG, Defensive 2nd Team
Danny Green (2017) - 6.6 FGA/G - 37.9% 3PT, Defensive 2nd Team
Steve Kerr (1991) - 3.9 FGA/G - 45.2% 3PT
Dwight Powell (2021) - 3.3 - 63.1% EFG, .188 WS/48
James Jones (2012) - 3.0 FGA/G - 40.4% 3PT

87.6/88

Our approach against Larry’s team centers on leveraging our defensive versatility and elite star power to control the tempo on both ends. Chauncey Billups and Danny Green provide strong perimeter defense to limit Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s penetration and contest outside shots, while Michael Jordan will apply relentless two-way pressure on Eddie Jones. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Patrick Ewing form an imposing interior duo that will challenge Kevin Garnett and Marc Gasol at the rim, disrupting their offensive flow. Offensively, Jordan will be the primary scorer, exploiting matchups against smaller defenders, while Giannis’ dynamic playmaking and transition game will keep Larry’s defense scrambling. Billups and Green will space the floor with elite three-point shooting, and Ewing provides a reliable interior presence. Our bench unit, led by Steve Kerr’s sharpshooting and James Jones’ spacing, will ensure continued offensive efficiency. With superior top-end talent, defensive intensity, and transition dominance, we have the tools to dictate the game’s pace and take control of the matchup.

Good luck Larry

[Fadeaway_J]

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

[Larry_Russell]

For anyone who has not yet voted.

I have ZERO defensive weaknesses and an incredible fit offensively.

Gasol is a perfect center to pair with the proven combo of Garnett and Pierce (championship seasons)
Eddie Jones is an upgrade over Ray Allens role (superior defense, great shooting, more athletic)
SGA is a MASSIVE upgrade over Rondo but still brings what made rondo great as the PG

Giannis/Jordan are a clunky at best fit.

[Larry_Russell]

I dont get how I am losing this even though Jordan is on the opposing team.

Trash bench
and a terrible fit between Giannis and Jordan

[Fadeaway_J]

Chat-GPT vote: Larry_Russell

Spoiler:

This is a fascinating matchup, with both teams bringing a ton of elite talent, defensive prowess, and complementary skill sets. Let's break it down by key factors to see which team would have the edge in a seven-game series:

### 1. **Star Power**
- **Larry_Russell**: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) is a dynamic and versatile playmaker who can break down defenses with his speed and skill. Kevin Garnett is one of the best defensive players in history, and Paul Pierce and Eddie Jones provide scoring and two-way capabilities. Marc Gasol anchors the defense in the paint, while the bench (Posey, Hill, Perkins) offers solid defensive depth and versatile shooting.
- **JimmyPlopper**: Michael Jordan is arguably the best player in NBA history and will be a massive offensive force. Giannis Antetokounmpo is a two-time MVP and offers elite defense, playmaking, and scoring. Patrick Ewing provides a strong interior presence, while Chauncey Billups adds perimeter defense and shooting. Danny Green’s defense and shooting are solid, and Steve Kerr’s elite three-point shooting can stretch the floor.

**Edge**: **JimmyPlopper**. Michael Jordan’s all-around dominance, combined with Giannis’ versatility, gives his team the advantage in star power. SGA is fantastic, but Jordan’s level of impact, especially in a seven-game series, will be hard to overcome.

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### 2. **Defense**
- **Larry_Russell**: The defensive versatility of players like Garnett, Gasol, and Jones provides a strong defensive backbone. Garnett’s ability to guard multiple positions, including Giannis, along with Gasol’s post defense, should be effective. SGA's length and quickness will be valuable in hounding Billups and disrupting Jordan's shooting rhythm. Pierce can focus on Danny Green, and Jones, although overmatched against Jordan, still has defensive help behind him.
- **JimmyPlopper**: Billups and Green provide strong perimeter defense, and Jordan is an elite defender as well. Giannis can be a matchup nightmare for Garnett, as he can drive past him, but Garnett’s interior defense should be solid. Ewing gives a great rim protector presence against Gasol and Garnett. The question is whether Billups and Green can slow down SGA and whether Jordan can manage the multiple threats on the perimeter and inside.

**Edge**: **Larry_Russell**. While JimmyPlopper has some excellent individual defenders, Larry’s team has multiple DPOY-caliber players and a deeper team defense system with Posey and Perkins coming off the bench. The defensive versatility on the wing and in the paint might make it harder for JimmyPlopper to get consistent easy buckets.

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### 3. **Offensive Execution**
- **Larry_Russell**: SGA is a brilliant playmaker and scorer, and with shooters like Pierce and Jones around him, he’ll be able to facilitate offense well. Garnett and Gasol are both capable of spacing the floor and scoring in the post. The offensive balance is excellent with a mix of perimeter shooting, mid-range, and post-play. The fast break and ball movement are also strengths, especially with the defensive turnovers that could lead to easy points.
- **JimmyPlopper**: Michael Jordan will be the focal point of the offense, and he’s capable of dominating any defender. Giannis provides excellent playmaking and transition scoring, which could give Larry's defense fits. Billups' shooting can stretch the defense, and Ewing provides a strong low-post presence. The key here is how well Larry’s defense can contain Jordan and Giannis, while also managing to close out on shooters like Billups and Green.

**Edge**: **Larry_Russell**. The offensive balance, versatility, and spacing that Larry’s team brings are a huge advantage. SGA running the offense with a variety of scoring options, including shooters and post players, makes it difficult to game plan against. JimmyPlopper’s offense is more dependent on Jordan and Giannis, and while they’re elite, there may not be enough consistency from the supporting cast.

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### 4. **Bench Depth**
- **Larry_Russell**: Hill, Posey, and Perkins are all solid contributors. Hill’s shooting, Posey’s defense, and Perkins’ size provide useful depth to rotate in and out without sacrificing too much. This will be crucial in a series where managing minutes and maintaining defensive pressure is key.
- **JimmyPlopper**: Kerr’s shooting is an immediate weapon, and James Jones can space the floor as well. Powell is a role player who can provide some energy and rebounding off the bench. However, beyond Kerr and Jones, the depth isn't as robust, and that could be a concern in a long series.

**Edge**: **Larry_Russell**. His bench has more defensive options and depth, which will be crucial in wearing down JimmyPlopper’s starters over seven games.

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### 5. **Matchups**
- **SGA vs Billups**: SGA has the advantage in terms of offensive explosion, but Billups will make it tough for him on the defensive end. It’s a battle of quickness and skill against size and strength.
- **Jones vs Jordan**: Jordan will have the clear advantage in this matchup, but Jones has the defensive ability to make things difficult, at least somewhat. Still, it’s a tough task.
- **Pierce vs Green**: Pierce is the more dynamic scorer, but Green is a solid defender and shooter. This matchup will likely favor Pierce offensively, but Green can contribute defensively.
- **Garnett vs Giannis**: Giannis has the edge in terms of pure athleticism, but Garnett’s defense and basketball IQ could mitigate that. Garnett will likely give Giannis space to shoot, but that’s a risk.
- **Gasol vs Ewing**: Gasol’s smart post play and defensive positioning will be key here. Ewing can score in the paint, but Gasol’s ability to space the floor could force Ewing out of his comfort zone at times.

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### 6. **Intangibles**
- **Larry_Russell**: His team is built for defense and balance. The ability to run multiple sets offensively, combined with elite defense, is key. The cohesion of the starting unit with solid rotation pieces is a major advantage in a seven-game series.
- **JimmyPlopper**: Jordan’s leadership and Giannis' relentless energy give his team a high ceiling. The question is whether his supporting cast can consistently perform under pressure, especially when facing a more balanced team.

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### **Conclusion:**
In a seven-game series, **Larry_Russell** would have the advantage. While JimmyPlopper has superior star power with Jordan and Giannis, Larry's team has a better defensive system, greater depth, and more offensive versatility. Larry’s ability to shut down key offensive players, especially with Garnett and Gasol protecting the paint and multiple defenders rotating in, would likely stifle JimmyPlopper’s flow. The offensive balance and pace of play that Larry can generate, especially in transition and pick-and-roll situations with SGA, would put immense pressure on JimmyPlopper’s defense.

**Larry_Russell in 6 or 7 games.**

[JimmyPlopper]

gg Larry (I got a major kick out of the hysterics above). All in good fun.

[Larry_Russell]

gg Larry (I got a major kick out of the hysterics above). All in good fun.

Yeah, I like to have fun with it.