RealGM

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).

Stan wrote:

PG: James Harden 17' - 18.9
SG: Mikal Bridges 21' - 9.3
SF: Jimmy Butler 25' - 10.9
PF: Jalen Williams 25' - 16.9
C: Shaquille O'Neal 01' - 19.2

Bench: Patrick Beverley 19' - 6.1
Bench: Nicolas Batum 25' - 3.1
Bench: Dikembe Mutombo 05' - 3.0

87.4/88

PG: James Harden 39 | Patrick Beverley 9 | Jimmy Butler
SG: Mikal Bridges 34 | Patrick Beverley 14 | Jimmy Butler
SF: Jimmy Butler 38 | Jalen Williams 8 | Mikal Bridges 2 | Nicolas Batum
PF: Jalen Williams 32 | Nicolas Batum 16 | Jimmy Butler
C: Shaquille O'Neal 38 | Dikembe Mutombo 10

Vs

Nash (36) Reaves (12)
Wiggins (36) Reaves (12)
Marion (36) Turkoglu (12)
Holmgren (36) Turkoglu (12)
Gasol (36) Reed (12)

Matchup Breakdown

Defensive Assignments:

Harden → Wiggins

Mikal → Nash

Butler → Holmgren

Jalen Williams → Marion

Shaq → Pau Gasol


We like our matchups across the board. Bridges guarding Nash gives us a strong on-ball defender against their primary creator. Butler’s physicality against Holmgren disrupts a finesse player who struggles with contact. Jalen matches up well with Marion’s athleticism and off-ball activity. Shaq is a major advantage against Pau, who lacks the strength to hold his position or defend him without fouling. Harden is fine guarding Wiggins, who won’t punish him off the dribble.

Offensive Advantage

We have the two best scorers in this series: Shaq and Harden. Harden was an elite offensive engine in 2017, drawing attention and creating for others. Shaq in 2001 is simply unstoppable one-on-one, and there’s no clear defender on their side who can slow him down. Butler, Mikal, and Jalen round out the lineup with efficient off-ball scoring and secondary playmaking.

Their Defensive Issues

Their defense has real holes. Nash will be attacked in pick-and-rolls or isolated by Harden or Butler. Gasol will struggle to guard Shaq without getting into foul trouble. Their bench doesn’t have strong defenders either—Turkoglu, for example, is very vulnerable against our wings.

Bench and Versatility

We stay big and physical all game long. Mutombo gives us strong rim protection when Shaq sits. Batum adds size and smart defense, while Beverley provides tough minutes against guards like Reaves or Nash. Our second unit holds up defensively and fits smoothly with the starters.

Conclusion

We’re the more balanced team with elite scoring, better defenders, and a physical edge they can’t match. Their lack of answers for Shaq, weak perimeter defenders, and reliance on finesse make this a tough series for them.

Snakebites wrote:...

MadNess wrote:...

lilroddyb wrote:...

Fadeaway_J wrote:...

Dr Positivity wrote:...

durantbird wrote:...

Stan wrote:...

Laimbeer wrote:...

iamgine wrote:...

Larry_Russell wrote:...

Matchup is open, Stan please vote for yourself

durantbird advances