Post#2 » by durantbird » Fri Jul 11, 2025 10:41 am
PG: Jrue Holiday 24' - 10.0 - North American, non All NBA
SG: Kawhi Leonard 17' - 17.7 - North American, All NBA
SF: Andrei Kirilenko 05' - 10.2 - Asian
PF: Giannis Antetokounmpo 21' - 18.0 - European
C: Kristaps Porzingis 24' - 13.2 - European
Bench: Steve Kerr 97' - 5.7 - Additional non North American (Asian)
Bench: Andre Iguodala 16' - 5.7 - North American, non All NBA
Bench: Serge Ibaka 12' - 7.4 - African
Rotation:
PG: Jrue Holiday 32 / Steve Kerr 16
SG: Kawhi Leonard 38 / Andre Iguodala 10
SF: Andrei Kirilenko 32 / Andre Iguodala 16
PF: Giannis Antetokounmpo 38 / Serge Ibaka 6 / Andrei Kirilenko 4
C: Kristaps Porzingis 30 / Serge Ibaka 18
87.9/88
Vs
PG - Kyrie Irving (38) / Dante Exum (10)
SG - Mikal Bridges (28) / Alex Caruso (20)
SF - Peja Stojakovic (28) / LeBron James (10) / Mikal Bridges (10)
PF - LeBron James (30) / Peja Stojakovic (10) / Precious Achiuwa (8)
C - Marc Gasol (38) / Precious Achiuwa (10)
Defensive Matchup Assignments:
Jrue Holiday → Kyrie Irving
Kawhi Leonard → LeBron James
Andrei Kirilenko → Peja Stojaković
Giannis Antetokounmpo → Help/roamer, nominally on Mikal
Kristaps Porzingis → Marc Gasol
Defensive Philosophy and Matchup Analysis:
Our defense is built on intelligent, versatile, and elite defenders at every level. We are particularly well-suited to slow down a LeBron-led offense due to our unique combination of size, mobility, and help instincts—anchored by four elite defenders: Kawhi Leonard, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Andrei Kirilenko and Jrue Holiday.
LeBron James → Kawhi Leonard:
This is the centerpiece of our defense. Kawhi, at his 2017 peak, had the lateral quickness, strength, and technique to guard large initiators like LeBron. His ability to absorb contact without fouling and disrupt drives with his massive hands is ideal. We're not trying to stop LeBron entirely—no one can—but Kawhi can make him inefficient, force him into tough mid-range jumpers, and limit his ability to collapse the defense.
Kyrie Irving → Jrue Holiday:
Jrue is arguably the best possible one-on-one defender for Kyrie among non-All-NBA guards. His discipline on-ball and ability to fight through screens without switching unnecessarily keeps Kyrie in front, while his strength allows him to contest at the rim if Kyrie gets there. This also reduces the need for Giannis to step up early, letting him remain in help position more often.
Peja Stojaković → Andrei Kirilenko:
Kirilenko is a dream cover for a movement shooter like Peja. He has length, elite anticipation, and the quickness to chase around screens. He can blow up actions with timely switches, deflections, and off-ball positioning—limiting Peja’s clean looks and denying rhythm.
Marc Gasol → Kristaps Porzingis:
Porzingis has enough size to contest Marc Gasol's high post work and passing angles, and he can stretch out to challenge threes without giving up much interior scoring. Since Gasol won’t break him down off the dribble or require double-teams, Porzingis can stay home and be a secondary rim protector when Giannis roams.
Giannis Antetokounmpo → Free safety role:
This is our defensive superpower. By placing Giannis nominally on the least threatening offensive player, we free him to wreak havoc as a roamer. He’ll be the one rotating over to block Kyrie’s layup attempts when Jrue forces him baseline, stunting at LeBron when he drives left, and closing out on corner shooters if the ball swings. Giannis's length and instincts cover mistakes before they become points.
Overall Defensive Strategy:
Wall up against LeBron: We’ll funnel him into crowded lanes with Giannis lurking and Porzingis waiting at the rim. Kawhi takes away the first move, Giannis takes away the second. No easy buckets.
No clean spot-ups for Peja or Bridges: With Kirilenko and Iguodala rotating onto these shooters, we’ll contest everything. We’re switching off-ball when needed and denying dribble handoffs.
Force tough 2s, limit corner 3s: With Giannis sagging and helping early, we bait mid-range shots while rotating out with length. Our wings all have plus wingspans, and we’re disciplined in our closeouts.
Low need to help on post-ups: Gasol and LeBron can’t back us down easily. We don’t need to send help, which preserves our perimeter integrity.
Offensive plan and Depth:
Offensively, our strategy is built on versatility, spacing, and intelligent decision-making. Giannis is our primary engine in transition and in the halfcourt, drawing help and kicking out to elite shooters like Porzingis, Holiday, Kerr and Kawhi, while Kawhi provides isolation scoring and mid-post efficiency against weaker defenders like Peja. Kirilenko thrives as a connector, slashing, cutting, and playmaking when defenses overload. Our depth gives us a clear edge—while their bench relies on limited offensive players like Exum and Achiuwa, we bring in Steve Kerr for elite shooting, Iguodala for playmaking and wing defense, and Ibaka for interior presence and shot blocking. Compared to their shallow second unit—where only Caruso can be trusted—our bench extends leads instead of just surviving, keeping pressure on both ends across all 48 minutes.
Another key advantage is their lack of a true answer for Giannis. Neither Peja, LeBron, nor Achiuwa has the combination of size, agility, and discipline to contain him. LeBron might take the challenge at times, but at this stage and with such a heavy offensive load, he’s not ideal. That means Giannis will repeatedly collapse the defense, draw fouls, and create open looks for our shooters and cutters throughout the game.
