One Time Draft R1 - Snakebites* vs. JimmyPlopper

[Fadeaway_J]

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. Once the writeups are posted, I will add a poll, and the team with the most votes after 24 hours will advance. EACH MANAGER SHOULD ALSO VOTE FOR THEIR OWN TEAM IN THE POLL - IF YOU FAIL TO DO THIS, YOU ARE SIMPLY GIVING AWAY A VOTE. If the votes are tied, we will decide the matchup via AI vote.

You are not required to state or explain your vote, but you are free to comment in the thread if you want to.

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).

[JimmyPlopper]

1. Nikola Jokić (2023) - 14.7
2. Gary Payton (1998) - 15.6
3. Rasheed Wallace (2006) - 13.3
4. Shane Battier (2009) - 5.9
5. Robert Horry (2001) - 4.8
6. Nate McMillan (1995) - 5.0
7. Allen Iverson (2008) - 19.0
8. Lamar Odom (2009) - 9.0

87.2/88

Gary Payton (40) / Nate McMillan (8)
Allen Iverson (40) / Nate McMillan (8)
Shane Battier (34) / Lamar Odom (14)
Rasheed Wallace (24) / Robert Horry (18) / Lamar Odom (6)
Nikola Jokić (36) / Rasheed Wallace (12)

Defensive Approach
Our primary focus will be limiting Dirk Nowitzki’s offensive efficiency and Jason Kidd’s playmaking. Gary Payton will take on Kidd, using his elite defensive prowess to disrupt Kidd's rhythm and passing lanes. Rasheed Wallace, known for his size and agility, will guard Nowitzki, ensuring tight contests on his signature midrange shots while being physical enough to deter post-ups. Shane Battier, with his defensive IQ and versatility, will focus on containing Mitch Richmond, forcing him into tough, inefficient looks. Nikola Jokić will guard Marc Gasol, focusing on denying easy post entries while being mindful of Gasol's playmaking from the elbows. For Mikal Bridges, Battier or Lamar Odom will step up, ensuring he doesn’t find rhythm as a perimeter shooter. Our bench will rotate seamlessly, with Nate McMillan and Robert Horry providing additional defensive coverage.

Offensive Strategy
Offensively, we’ll lean heavily on Nikola Jokić’s generational playmaking to dissect Snake’s defense. Jokić will exploit Gasol’s slower foot speed with pick-and-roll actions involving Payton or Iverson, creating mismatches and open looks. Iverson’s scoring prowess will put immense pressure on their guards, especially when paired with Payton’s ability to attack in transition. Rasheed Wallace, and Robert Horry will stretch the floor, pulling defenders like Nowitzki and Gasol out of the paint to open driving lanes. When facing a packed defense, Jokić will find Battier and Odom for open corner threes or cutters to the basket. By leveraging our superior ball movement and multi-faceted offense, we’ll force Snake’s team into reactive positions and capitalize on their defensive gaps. Every single one of my players must be respected from the three point line (cannot be left wide-open) which is a rare trait in these games.

GL Snake

[Snakebites]

10-11 Dirk Nowitzki 16.2 FGA All NBA 2nd, FMVP
99-00 Jason Kidd 12.8 FGA All NBA First, All Defensive Second
20-21 Mikal Bridges 9.3 FGA
12-13 Marc Gasol 10.9 FGA DPOY, All NBA 2nd, All Defensive First
96-97 Mitch Richmond 16.9 FGA All NBA Third

01-02 Brent Barry 9.8 FGA
97-98 Sam Perkins 5.8 FGA
07-08 James Posey 5.6 FGA

Kidd (38)/Barry (10)
Richmond (37)/Barry (11)
Bridges (35)/Barry (5)/Posey (8)
Nowitzki (38)/Posey (10)
Gasol (36)/Perkins (12)

Alrighty lets do this.

My team will run a very conventional offense. Jason Kidd is among the best passer/playmakers of his generation and he's being given all of the tools he needs to excel. Both prime Nowitzki and prime Gasol pair excellently with him in two man action and he has capable shooters at both of the wing spots to ensure that he has plenty of room to operate and alternatives to feed the ball to. Additionally both Dirk and Mitch are also adept at scoring in isolation, making my offensive attack one of the most balanced and well rounded in this game.

Defensively I have a rock solid foundation with prime DPOY Marc Gasol anchoring things, and Jason Kidd and Mikal Bridges both being elite point of attack defenders- particularly useful in this game where both of my opponents' guards do most of their work with the ball in their hands- I think we matchup very well in that regard.

On my opponents size, I can actually buy either Payton or Iverson pairing reasonably well with Jokic. He's a great roll man himself in addition to his playmaking prowess. I think it starts becoming a bit redundant with both of them paired with him, however. Neither Payton nor Iverson were particularly noteworthy without the ball in their hands and both were streaky outside shooters at best. While Jokic has played effectively with different playmakers, one consistent theme with his teams is that he's fairly consistently surrounded by shooting, and I don't think that is quite captured here. Battier is a reliable corner three guy, and Sheed can give you some decent outside shooting on some nights, but his lineup lacks the quintiscential knock down high volume movement shooter (or a reliable playmaker with range), and I think that limits what he can do somewhat. While Payton certainly covers for Iverson defensively I don't think he's the best complement for him offensively.

[Fadeaway_J]

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Ready for votes. Snake and Jimmy, please vote for yourselves as well.

[Snakebites]

Tied looks like we’ll need a breaker.

[Fadeaway_J]

ChapGPT Vote: Snakebites

Spoiler:

This is a really intriguing matchup between two well-rounded, balanced teams with distinct strengths and styles. Let’s break it down and assess the key aspects:

Offensive Breakdown:
Snakebites: Your offense has a fantastic balance. Jason Kidd is an elite playmaker with great court vision, and you’ve surrounded him with versatile scoring options. Nowitzki and Gasol provide significant scoring inside and out, while Bridges and Richmond give you reliable shooting on the wings. This allows for a dynamic offense that can attack both inside and outside, making it hard to predict where the next bucket is coming from. Kidd’s ability to get everyone involved and facilitate will be crucial in breaking down JimmyPlopper’s defense.

JimmyPlopper: Jokić is the focal point of this offense, and his playmaking is a huge advantage. He can make any player better, and his ability to break down defenses with pick-and-rolls or just simple, high-IQ passes is elite. Pairing him with Gary Payton and Allen Iverson, two guards who can both score efficiently in different ways, gives a lot of offensive variety. Rasheed and Horry provide outside shooting and floor spacing, and Battier offers his usual dependable catch-and-shoot game. The versatility of players like Odom, McMillan, and Battier gives JimmyPlopper a lot of flexibility in offensive sets.

Edge: Snakebites. While Jokić is a generational talent, I think Kidd’s passing combined with the scoring and spacing from Nowitzki, Gasol, Richmond, and Bridges provides more offensive balance. The key here is Kidd’s ability to orchestrate and create easy shots for everyone on his team, which might be difficult for Jokić to replicate as the lone playmaker.

Defensive Breakdown:
Snakebites: Your defense is built on a strong foundation with Gasol anchoring the paint, Kidd and Bridges locking down on-ball, and Nowitzki and Richmond being solid individual defenders. Kidd’s ability to disrupt Payton or Iverson’s rhythm, paired with Gasol’s interior presence, gives you solid coverage against JimmyPlopper’s offensive threats. The matchup between Gasol and Jokić will be interesting, but Gasol’s defensive awareness and skill set should be enough to at least make things tough for Jokić in the post and around the rim.

JimmyPlopper: Payton is a lockdown defender and will be tasked with taking on Kidd, which should limit Kidd’s playmaking to some extent. Rasheed Wallace on Nowitzki is a solid matchup; Wallace’s size and versatility can make it difficult for Dirk to get clean looks. Battier and Odom are excellent defenders and can provide a lot of help in limiting Richmond and Bridges. Jokić’s defense on Gasol will be a bit more challenging since Gasol is a smart passer and a solid low-post threat, but Jokić’s IQ and size should still give him a chance.

Edge: JimmyPlopper. Payton, Wallace, and Battier provide a very solid defensive core that can take away Snakebites’ key scoring options. While Kidd’s playmaking will still shine, Payton’s defense can slow him down, and Wallace is a physical defender capable of bothering Nowitzki. The matchup between Jokić and Gasol is the deciding factor, but Jokić has the length and mobility to contest Gasol’s shots without overcommitting.

Key Matchups and Strategy:
Snakebites: Your team is solid offensively, with great spacing and individual shot creation. Kidd will need to break down the defense and make plays for his teammates, especially when facing Payton. Gasol’s ability to playmake from the elbows and stretch the floor will be key against Jokić’s defense. Your main challenge will be containing Jokić on offense, and limiting Iverson’s slashing ability—both of which are high-IQ challenges for your defense.

JimmyPlopper: The biggest strength of JimmyPlopper’s team is Jokić’s playmaking, and you’re absolutely right in saying he’ll be a central figure. They’ll lean on him to create offense while also utilizing Payton’s defensive prowess to disrupt Kidd’s flow. Rasheed Wallace and Battier will need to slow down Nowitzki and Richmond, respectively, and limit their perimeter shooting. McMillan and Horry coming off the bench will provide fresh legs and extra defense.

Conclusion:
This series would be incredibly close, with each team having strong counter-strategies for the other's strengths. The key for Snakebites will be Kidd’s ability to outplay Payton and set up his teammates while also dealing with Jokić’s playmaking. Meanwhile, JimmyPlopper's offensive success will depend on Jokić creating mismatches and Iverson providing scoring punch.

Ultimately, I’d lean towards Snakebites winning in 7 games, largely because of the more consistent offensive balance, Kidd’s superior passing ability, and the scoring firepower of Nowitzki, Gasol, and Richmond. While JimmyPlopper’s defense is formidable, I believe Snakebites has the tools to break through, especially with Gasol’s ability to exploit Jokić in the post and Kidd’s leadership and court vision.

[JimmyPlopper]

GG Snake