Post#4 » by uberhikari » Fri Mar 15, 2024 4:44 pm
PG: 2021 Lonzo Ball: 15-5-6, 8.3 3PA, 37.8 3P%
SG: 2017 Danny Green: 7 ppg, 4.6 3PA, 37.93P%; All-Defense 2nd
SF: 1973 John Havlicek: 24-7-7; All-NBA 1st, All-Defense 2nd
PF: 2005 Kevin Garnett: 22-14-6; All-NBA 2nd, All-Defense 1st
C: 2010 Dwight Howard: 18-13, 63 TS%; All-NBA 1st, All-Defense 1st, MVP(4), DPOY
Bench
PG/SG: 2005 Jason Terry: 12-3-5, 3.1 3PA, 42 3P%
SF: 2011 Keith Bogans: 4 ppg, 2.9 3PA, 38 3P%
PF: 1982 Kevin McHale: 14-7, 57 TS%
Rotations
PG: Lonzo Ball (36) / Jason Terry (12)
SG: Danny Green (32) / Jason Terry (16)
SF: John Havlicek (40) / Keith Bogans (8)
PF: Kevin Garnett (27) / Kevin McHale (21)
C: Dwight Howard (37) / Kevin Garnett (11)
Matchups: Ball on Caruso; Green on Allen; Havlicek on Brown; KG on LeBron; Howard on Gilmore.
Although LeBron is the best player here, Havlicek, KG, and Howard should be comparable to Allen, LeBron, and Gilmore. Brown gives Laimbeer slightly more top-end talent, but I have significantly better depth with Lonzo, Terry, and McHale.
On defense, I have a significant advantage because Caruso is a low-volume, unreliable 3pt shooter (30.2 % in 31 playoff games), and not an offense. Plus, I might have the best defense in this game with no weaknesses in my starting lineup + McHale. Green is a high IQ, off-ball defender, Havlicek is an elite on-ball defender, and Howard will patrol the paint vs Gilmore who can't shoot.
KG vs LeBron is the vital matchup, and I'm employing the Popovich strategy: go under every screen, allow him to shoot from 3, and wall off the paint. LeBron won't have fun trying to attack the paint against KG + Howard, and I'm also sending Lonzo to blitz him whenever he gets the ball to close off his driving lanes.
On offense, I have a balanced attack and firepower coming from everywhere: 3pt shooting and perimeter creation with Lonzo, Terry, and Green + scoring in the paint with KG, Howard, and McHale. My offense starts on the fastbreak with Lonzo playing to his strengths with his ability to push the pace and throw passes in transition to Green, Havlicek, KG, and lobs to Howard. In the halfcourt, I have fantastic synergy with Lonzo, Havlicek, and KG being +passers who can keep the ball moving.
Finally, when LeBron goes to the bench Laimbeer's defense should collapse. I have 48 minutes of KG and McHale at PF and the only person who can defend either is LeBron.