Coach Pairs Draft R1 - Laimbeer vs Dr Positivity*

[durantbird]

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. Please ensure you give a rationale for your vote; votes with no explanation will not be counted.

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).

**First to 3 votes advances**

[Dr Positivity]

PG: Chris Paul (2018: 13.8 FGA)
SG: Manu Ginobili (2005: 10.5 FGA)
SF: Andrew Wiggins (2022: 14.0 FGA)
PF: Anthony Davis (2020: 17.7 FGA)
C: David Robinson (2000: 12.9 FGA)

PG/SG: Patrick Beverley (2017: 8.1 FGA)
SF: Tony Snell (2015: 5.2 FGA)
PF: Jonathan Isaac (2024: 4.9 FGA)

87.1 / 88

PG: Chris Paul (38) / Patrick Beverley (10)
SG: Manu Ginobili (32) / Patrick Beverley (16)
SF: Andrew Wiggins (40) / Tony Snell (8)
PF: Anthony Davis (24) / Jonathan Isaac (24)
C: David Robinson (34) / Anthony Davis (14)

GL Laimbeer

Defensive matchups: Robinson on Embiid, Davis on Herb, Wiggins on Durant, Manu on Allen, Paul on Holiday. I believe Allen and Manu may be guarding each other here.

- A key to the matchup is getting Embiid to struggle as we have a great experienced defender in Robinson on him along with Davis and Isaac to help. Our Durant D is also good. As a combo, they could be stagnant and iso driven compared to Paul and Manu with Davis/Robinson.

- Our depth is stronger with Wiggins, Beverley, Isaac and Snell as our 5th-8th vs Jones, Caruso, Thybulle and Okongwu, he could use one more impact bench player.

- 17 Holiday isn't the best version of him as he has .532 TS and .084 WS/48 on a non playoff team.

[Laimbeer]

Joel Embiid ( 2021 ) 17.6 - MVP (2), DPOY (7)
Kevin Durant ( 2017 ) 16.5 - Finals MVP; PER (2nd), W/S per 48 (1st)
Herbert Jones ( 2024 ) 7.7 - DPOY (5), 41.8% on 3.6 3PA
Ray Allen ( 2001 ) 16.0 - MVP (11), W/S (3), All-NBA
Jrue Holiday ( 2017 ) 13.3 - All-D votes, Assists per game (8th)

Onyeka Okongwu ( 2022 ) 4.7 - 10.3 reb/ 2.2 blk per 36
Matisse Thybulle ( 2023 ) 3.6 - All-D votes, 36.5% on 2.1 3PA
Alex Caruso ( 2024 ) 7.6 - All-D, 40.8% on 4.7 3PA

87.0

Joel Embiid (38) / Onyeka Okongwu (10)
Kevin Durant (38) / Herbert Jones (10)
Herbert Jones (28) / Matisse Thybulle (14) / Alex Caruso (6)
Ray Allen (38) / Alex Caruso (10)
Jrue Holiday (38) / Alex Caruso (10)

Good luck, Dr P


We've got a nicely balanced offense with multiple high-level threats. DRob is a little past prime so I think Embiid's advantage will be felt. Wiggins isn't a great answer for Durant.

Defensively it's Embiid/Robinson, Durant/Davis, Jones/Wiggins, Allen/Manu and Jrue/Paul. All pretty solid. Durant's ht/wt is virtually identical to AD's, and Embiid patrolling the paint will help everyone. Jrue is an excellent POA defender to put a bit of a crimp in things.

Caruso is the best bench player though overall it's pretty close.

[Snakebites]

I think that Dr P's offense flows better.

Even at the older age CP3 is a terrific P/R floor general and Robinson and AD are both terrific pick and roll partners. He also has in Ginobili a guy who can generate his own shot as well, and he does it without being too ball dominant.

Laimbeer's fit isn't bad per se, but it is fairly reliant on isolation scoring from Embiid and KD, and they'll both be contested by solid defenders, especially since I don't really see Herb Jones as enough of a threat to command AD's attention too much, leaving him able to roam. I think all of that spells a tough series for Embiid.

Vote Dr P

[Fadeaway_J]

I've gone back and forth on this one. Laimbeer has better individual scorers in KD and Embiid, but AD playing off Manu and CP3 seems like it would flow better, and Jrue is just OK as a lead ballhandler. Allen helps a lot as third scorer who can also provide some extra playmaking. Up against Jrue, I'll say having to use Houston CP3 makes a meaningful difference as AD is going to be more dependent on the guards than a typical #1 option.

Vote: Laimbeer

[lilroddyb]

it could go either way but I think I like Dr P's team slightly more. Both teams have awesome rosters and Laimbeer has great offball players and probably the two best individual scorers but I think he lacks a bit in playmaking compared to dr P to take advantage of Durant/ Ray etc..

vote Dr P

[wackbone]

Both teams are elite, it's really close. Ultimately I see Laimbeer as having a pretty sizeable spacing advantage which should give his team more room to operate.

Vote: Laimbeer

[durantbird]

AD Robinson is up for a great series defensively while KD on Davis isn't really ideal. That's what decides this for me.

Vote Dr Positivity

[durantbird]

Dr Positivity advances