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).

Fadeaway_J wrote:

Larry_Russell wrote:

PG: Terry Porter (1990-91) 11.7
17ppg, 3.5rpg, 8apg, 2spg, 41.5% on 4-3pta
MVP-9, AS

SG: Michael Jordan (1990-91) 22.4
31.5ppg, 6rpg, 5.5apg, 2.7spg, 1bpg
MVP, FMVP, DPOY-7, NBA-1, DEF-1, AS, Scoring leader

SF: Herb Jones (2023-24) 7.7
11ppg, 3.6rpg, 2.6apg, 1.4spg, 0.8bpg, 42% on 3.6-3pta
DPOY-5, DEF-1

PF: Lauri Markkanen (2022-23) 17.3
25.6ppg, 8.6rpg, 2apg, 0.6spg, 0.6bpg, 39% on 7.7-3pta
MIP, 17th in NBA voting, AS

C: Joel Embiid (2020-21) 17.6
28.5ppg, 10.6rpg, 2.8apg, 1spg, 1.5bpg, 37.7% on 3-3pta
MVP-2, DPOY-7, NBA-2, DEF-2, AS

PG/SG: Pablo Prigioni (2013-14) 3
3.8ppg, 2rpg, 3.5apg, 1spg, 46.5% on 2-3pts

SF/PF: Thabo Sefolosha (2011-12) 3.7
4.8ppg, 3rpg, 1.1apg, 1spg, 0.5bpg, 43.7% on 1.7-3pta

C: Bismack Biyombo (2015-16) 3.5
5.5ppg, 8rpg, 0.5apg, 1.5bpg



PG: Porter (38) / Prigioni (10)
SG: Jordan (38) / Prigioni (5) Sefolosha (5)
SF: Jones (38) / Sefolosha (10)
PF: Markkanen (38) / Sefolosha (10)
C: Embiid (38) / Biyombo (10)

86.9/88

Matchups
Porter on Nash - Face up defense and physical
Jordan on Hawkins - HE will deny any curls, Jordan can Roam and completely prevent Hawkins from touching the ball
Markkanen on Avdija - Lauri will sag off Deni as he is not an aggressive scorer nor does he really shoot. Lauri will sag and be there clogging up the middle more
Jones on Durant - Fully deny, coverage full court, non stop in KDs face
Embiid on Gasol - Joel protects the rim and gobbles boards. PLays drop d if needed in Nash/Gasol pick and rolls.

Nash–Gasol PnR
Porter fights over screens, applies back pressure.
Embiid plays conservative drop, cutting off Pau’s roll while daring Nash into floaters.
Help from Markkanen (off Deni) tagging Pau on the short roll.
Herb switches if KD is the screener, with MJ or Markkanen stunting from the weak side.

Nash–KD Pick-and-Pop
No switch unless Herb or MJ is involved.
If Markkanen is the helper, hard hedge or show, with rotation behind from MJ (off Hawkins).
Herb recovers to KD, even if it means momentarily giving up a mismatch.


Offense
A. Attack Pau Gasol in the Post with Embiid
Low post touches early to establish dominance
Pau can’t hold Embiid physically and isn’t fast enough to contest face-ups
Force help from KD or Deni, opening Markkanen or Herb for cuts/spot-ups

B. Hunt Nash Defensively with Porter and Jordan
Porter runs PnR with Embiid or Lauri, forcing Nash into switches or drop coverage
If Nash switches onto Jordan = automatic ISO/post-up
Jordan runs off-ball screens and curls, attacking Hawkins’ hips and punishing overplays

C. Involve Durant in Screen Actions to Wear Him Down
Use Markkanen as a screener on-ball and off-ball
KD is a solid defender but can't guard Embiid and chase Lauri endlessly
Force him to make help decisions off Lauri or Herb's cuts

2. Halfcourt Sets & Actions
A. Jordan/Embiid Mid-Post Triangle
Jordan at elbow or low post
Embiid at dunker spot or free-throw line extended
Porter and Lauri spaced — Herb in the corner or cutting baseline
Goal: Isolate MJ or Embiid with floor spacing, high-percentage shots, plus offensive rebounding position

B. Pick-and-Pop with Embiid & Jordan/Porter
Pau sags in drop — Embiid pops to midrange, where he’s elite
Forces KD to stunt off Lauri, giving Markkanen open looks
Jordan/Porter can also turn corner and hit floaters or pocket passes

C. Lauri Movement Sets (Chicago Action / Flare Screens)
Use off-ball screens to free Lauri from KD
If KD trails, Lauri gets open threes or cuts
If KD switches/lags, Herb slips into open space or sets flare screens for MJ

3. If Rudy Gobert Enters the Game
Drag Gobert into space
Run PnP with Embiid, Gobert has to guard at 18+ feet
If Gobert sags off Markkanen, high pick-and-pop or slip cuts
Jordan isolates perimeter if Gobert clogs paint — Embiid pulls Rudy out
Back-cut heavy motion from Herb and Porter while Rudy’s head is turned


TL/DR
Awesome defense
Perfect fitting offense around a lethal duo with no real weakness

Starters
C - Pau Gasol (2009-10)

PF - Kevin Durant (2016-17)

SF - Toumani Camara (2024-25)

SG - Hersey Hawkins (1990-91)

PG - Steve Nash (2004-05)

Bench
C - Rudy Gobert (2014-15)

F - Deni Avdija (2024-25)

G - Nate McMillan (1993-94)

Rotations
C - Gasol (34), Gobert (14)
PF - Durant (38), Avdija (10)
SF - Camara (32), Avdija (16)
SG - Hawkins (38), McMillan (6), Avdija (4)
PG - Nash (38), McMillan (10)

FGA Per Player


Like the SSOL Suns, we run at every opportunity. Nash is the perfect orchestrator, and he has a bunch of athletes and shooters to finish for him. KD becomes an even more devastating scorer with Nash and to a lesser extent Pau to set him up. The Nash-Pau pick-and-roll should be a thing of beauty, especially since Pau can also make plays out of the short roll. Hawkins is an elite third/fourth option. Camara spots up for threes and locks down the opponent's best wing. Avdija's do-it-all game makes him the perfect sixth man to carry our more defense-oriented second unit alongside young Gobert (already a major force on that end) and McMillan.

Matchup
- Defensive assignments are Hawkins-Porter, Camara-MJ, Nash-Jones, KD-Markkanen, Gasol-Embiid. McMillan will also see significant minutes guarding MJ.
- Pau is a solid post defender, and the combination of him and Gobert ensures we have 48 minutes of quality rim protection to counter the MJ-Embiid duo.
- Nash-Pau pick-and-roll is the order of the day here. We draw Embiid out into space where he's less comfortable, opening up cuts and drives for KD, Hawkins, and Camara on the weak side.
- Our bench is considerably better, particularly at the offensive end where Avdija gives us an additional outlet to run things through. Considering we also have a pretty potent starting group ourselves, this should put us over the top.

Good luck Larry.

Poll is open

Larry_Russell wrote:...

hoopsfan777 wrote:...

Dr Positivity wrote:...

lilroddyb wrote:...

Fadeaway_J wrote:...

Laimbeer wrote:...

durantbird wrote:...

ReggiesKnicks wrote:...

GG Fade

Nash wasn't easy to build around in this pool. I think Fade should've gone Marc Gasol early instead of Rudy Gobert