Post#3 » by Snakebites » Sat Oct 4, 2025 2:45 am
PG: Steve Nash
SG: Jrue Holiday
SF: Vince Carter
PF: LeBron James
C: Dwight Howard
B: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
B: Shane Battier
B: Sam Perkins
Category 1: Dwight Howard 09-10 10.2 FGA
All NBA First, DPOY, 4th in MVP
Category 2: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope 20-21 7.6 FGA
DPOY votes, 41% 3pt on 4.4 Att
Category 3: Shane Battier 08-09 5.9 FGA
All Defensive 2nd, DPOY votes, 38% 3pt on 4 Att
Category 4: Jrue Holiday 23-24 10.0 FGA
All Defensive 2nd, 43% 3pt on 4.7 ATt
Category 5: Sam Perkins 98-99 4.2 FGA
39% 3pt on 2 ATt
Category 6: LeBron James 12-13 17.8 FGA
MVP, FMVP, All NBA First, All Def First
64%TS, 41% 3pt on 3.3 Att, 27/8/7/2
Category 7: Steve Nash 04-05 11.4 FGA
MVP, All NBA First, 50/43/89, 61% TS
Category 8: Vince Carter 99-00 20.7 FGA
All NBA Third, 26/6/4, 40% 3pt on 3 Att
Rotation:
Nash (37)/Jrue (11)
Jrue (19)/KCP (25)/Battier (4)
Carter (36)/Battier (12)
Lebron (38)/Battier (10)
Howard (37)/Perkins (11)
Alrighty, lets do this.
This team is built around 2 of the best ball handlers in the history of the game, and two of its smartest players. Surrounding them is a pace and space lineup that is strong defensively and has a clear identity. Orlando Dwight is the perfect roll man to complement Nash and Lebron. I'd also argue that Nash and Lebron can be effective in the two man game together. I think we've seen that Lebron has the ability to play with a suitable ball handler as a roll man, and that he and Nash will also be very effective together. Vince Carter has the ability to create his own shot, but is also a good enough shooter and cutter to be a terrific complementary piece here as well. The overall depth speaks for itself.
As to this matchup- I have a few key points.
1) Luka and Shaq are not an optimal fit on either end of the floor. Shaq is not really a pick and roll player, and the spread pick and roll is Luka's bread and butter. And on the defensive end the pair is extremely exploitable in the pick and roll, a play my team is extremely apt to perform. Sheed isn't an ideal offensive fit for Luka either, and while Sheed and Shaq fit well together defensively, that's undermined by forcing Sheed to guard prime Vince Carter.
2) Pippen can only guard one guy. Mario Elie is not a point of attack defender and Nash is going to run absolute circles around him. Rasheed Wallace trying to guard Vince Carter is also very problematic.
3) By contrast, I've got Dwight who can do a solid job against Shaq, and I've got multiple larger defenders (Jrue, KCP, Shane, Lebron) who can all spend time on Luka, though initially it will of course be Jrue Holiday. It's simply a defensive matchup that plays much better to my strengths than it does to his.
Off the bench, KCP, Shane, and Perkins are all terrific role players who either help on defense, help spread the floor, or do both at the same time. The contrast with Ringer's bench (old man Grant, old man CP3, and James Jones) is pretty stark.
Overall I think in terms of both fit and high end talent in its prime that my team has a decisive edge, and should be able to take this matchup.
