2024-25 Season Draft R1 - Larry_Russell vs. durantbird*

[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).

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[durantbird]

Nikola Jokic 25' - 19.5
Deni Avdija 25' - 11.7
Jaden McDaniels 25' - 10.2
Donovan Mitchell 25' - 18.6
Derrick White 25' - 12.6

Jonathan Isaac 25' - 4.6
Keon Ellis 25' - 5.8
Gary Payton II 25' - 4.8

87.8/88

Nikola Jokic 40 / Jonathan Isaac 8
Deni Avdija 38 / Jonathan Isaac 10
Jaden McDaniels 38 / Keon Ellis 10
Donovan Mitchell 31 / Gary Payton II 12 / Keon Ellis 5
Derrick White 38 / Donovan Mitchell 8 / Gary Payton II 2

vs

PG: Curry (38) / Curry (10)
SG: Braun (38) / Curry (10)
SF: Anunoby (38) / Anderson (10)
PF: James (38) / Stewart (6) Anderson (4)
C: Zubac (38) / Stewart (10)

Matchup
- Assignments: White vs Curry, Mitchell vs Braun, McDaniels vs LeBron, Avdija vs Anunoby, Jokic vs Zubac.
- White, Ellis and GPII are all great options to throw at Curry, while McDaniels, Avdija and Issac are great against LeBron. We'll slow down as best as someone can their two main focal points, and limit their effectiveness.
- Jokic-Mitchell are two All-NBA First caliber talents this season, and given this is 2025 we're talking about, we probably got the higher offensive ceiling, even though LBJ and Curry are great. White and Avdija give us two very legitimate third and fourth options who will thrive off Jokic. Our bench continues our very switchable defensive identity.

[Larry_Russell]

PG: Steph Curry (2024-25) 18
24.5ppg,m 4.4rpg, 6apg, 1.1spg, 0.5bpg, 40% on 11.2-3pta

SG: Christian Braun (2024-25) 10.4
15.5ppg, 5.2rpg, 2.6apg, 1.1spg, 0.5bpg, 40% on 3-3pta

SF: OG Anunoby (2024-25) 13.9
18ppg, 4.8rpg, 2.2apg, 1.5spg, 1bpg, 37.5% on 6.2-3pta

PF: Lebron James (2024-25) 18.1
24.5ppg, 7.8rpg, 8.2apg, 1spg, 0.6bpg, 37.5% on 5.7-3pta

C: Ivaca Zubac (2024-2025) 11.8
16.8ppg, 12.6rpg, 2.7apg, 0.7spg, 1.1bpg

PG/SG: Seth Curry (2024-25) 5
6.5ppg, 1.7rpg, 1apg, 0.5spg, 45.6% on 2.7-3pta

SF/PF: Kyle Anderson (2024-25) 5
6ppg, 3.5rpg, 2.5apg, 0.7spg, 0.5bpg, 35.7% on 1-3pta

C: Isaiah Stewart (2024-25) 4.4
6ppg, 5.5rpg, 1.7apg, 0.5spg, 1.5bpg


PG: Curry (38) / Curry (10)
SG: Braun (38) / Curry (10)
SF: Anunoby (38) / Anderson (10)
PF: James (38) / Stewart (6) Anderson (4)
C: Zubac (38) / Stewart (10)

86.6/88

Lets go.

Matchups will be:
Curry covers White
Braun Covers Mitchell
Lebon cover McDaniels
OG cover Avdija
Zubac covers Jokic

I feel like me defense is best where it is needed in this matchup. All 3 of Braun, OG and Zubac are awesome defenders who can all be tasked to cover the more difficult defensive matchups on the opposing team.
I know some will look at Lebron and Currys defense as subpar, and while that isnt untrue I dont think McDaniels or White are players that can really take advantage of that.

Derrick white is a scorer when capilazing off collapsing defenses. Yes he scored 30 points in Game 1 of the playoffs this year, but it was off 7-12 3pt shooting. He capilazies off the gravity of Brown and Tatum and KP and thrives in the 3pt heavy offense of the Celtics. He isnt a go and score type of guard that can hunt curry.
And Mc Daniels is not a guy that can take Lebron either.


OFfensively I have a ludicrous combination with Steph and Lebron. Even in their older age, they are both possible all nba guys this season who will form a lethal duo together. I have surrounded them with capable 3pt shooters in Braun and OG and a hyper efficient scorer in Zubac who can score on the post out while setting great screens for Curry to run off.

I dont think the offense on my team can be slowed down and believe that my defense is good enough to keep opponet from outscoring me in this one.

[Fadeaway_J]

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

[Dr Positivity]

A durantbird Jokic and Mitchell team vs Larry_Russell... seems familiar.

[Larry_Russell]

wow, did not forsee a Lebron Curry pairing be so hated.

[Fadeaway_J]

Durantbird advances