StartersC - Al Horford (2021-22)
PF - Giannis Antetokounmpo (2021-22)
SF - Kawhi Leonard (2018-19)
SG - Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (2019-20)
PG - Kyrie Irving (2023-24)
BenchC - Marc Gasol (2020-21)
F - James Posey (2007-08)
G - Alex Caruso (2022-23)
RotationsC - Horford (33), Gasol (15)
PF - Giannis (38), Posey (10)
SF - Leonard (38), Posey (10)
SG - KCP (36), Caruso (12)
PG - Irving (38), Caruso (10)
FGA Per PlayerKawhi Leonard - 18.8
Giannis Antetokounmpo - 18.6
Al Horford - 8.2
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope - 7.3
Alex Caruso - 4.3
James Posey - 5.6
Kyrie Irving - 19.5
Marc Gasol - 3.7
Total: 88.0/88.0
Standard Giannis build with awesome shooting at every other position, with the added wrinkle of Kawhi alongside him creating a dual matchup nightmare. Kyrie is the perfect third option: great floor spacer and off-ball player in general, good enough to take over offensively for long stretches, and has become great at pushing it in transition in his Dallas tenure, which dovetails nicely with Giannis. Horford and Gasol give us additional playmaking at the 5. Defensively, Horford affords us the option to play with more versatility than the real-life Bucks, and our 2 through 4 rotation is eyewatering. Kyrie also played some of the best defense of his career in the chosen season.
Matchup- Assignments are as follows: KCP-Wade, Kyrie-Bridges, Kawhi-Pierce, Giannis-Horry, Horford-Hakeem. Caruso is a great secondary option to throw at Wade for a good chunk of the game. Horry can shoot it, but not with the volume or consistency to prevent Giannis from playing his usual roving defensive role.
- I think the Giannis/Kawhi duo give us an edge here, as they have too much strength and physicality for most of Stan's defensive options. We have the shooting to seek out those unfavourable matchups using different screening actions, as well as by running off makes and misses to force crossmatches.
- Stan's spacing around Hakeem is good but I think ours is even better.
Good luck Stan.