Franchise Pairs by Common Theme - R1 - durantbird* vs Laimbeer

[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. 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).

[durantbird]

PG: Kyrie Irving 24' - 19.5 (41.1% 3P%, NBA Finalist)
SG: Joe Dumars 89' - 13.1 (NBA Finals MVP)
SF: Shane Battier 12' - 4.5 (NBA Champion, 38.2% 3P% in Playoffs)
PF: Charles Barkley 93' - 18.1 (NBA MVP, NBA Finalist)
C: Tim Duncan 05' - 15.8 (4th in MVP Voting, NBA Finals MVP)

Bench (G/F): Chris Mullin 99' - 7.4 (46.5% 3P%)
Bench (F): PJ Tucker 22' - 6.0 (41.5% 3P%)
Bench (C): Bo Outlaw 02' - 3.6

Total: 88/88

PG: Irving (37), Dumars (11)
SG: Dumars (26), Mullin (22)
SF: Battier (30), Tucker (18)
PF: Barkley (38), Tucker (10)
C: Duncan (39), Outlaw (9)

vs

Dikembe Mutombo (38) / Ben Wallace (10)
Shawn Marion (38) / James Posey (10)
LeBron James (38) / James Posey (10)
Devin Booker (38) / Dyson Daniels (10)
Tyrese Haliburton (38) / Dyson Daniels (10)

Matchup:
- Defensive assignments: Kyrie vs Haliburton, Dumars vs Booker, Battier/Tucker vs LeBron, Barkley vs Marion, Duncan vs Mutombo.
- I really like our matchups here. We've got a Battier/Tucker combo against LeBron, with Duncan waiting at the rim guarding a limited offensive threat in Mutombo. While Kyrie against Hali is non ideal, who guards Kyrie on the other side? Also, Booker is a vulnerable defensive piece, where even if Dumars is not as good offensively as Kyrie, he's still a significant threat who can take advantage of the wrong defender.
- I like our backcourt and frontcourt fit, Kyrie-Dumars complement each other perfectly, while also establishing a great fitting backcourt to Sir Charles and Timmy. I think the difference between Kyrie and Booker is definitely smaller than between Hali and Barkely. Mullin, Tucker and Outlaw are all effective guys off the bench, while Daniels is pre breakthrough.

[Laimbeer]

Dikembe Mutombo ( 1999 ) 6.8 - DPOY (2)
Shawn Marion ( 2007 ) 13.4 - DPOY (4), All-star
LeBron James ( 2013 ) 17.8 - RGM Peak Season
Devin Booker ( 2024 ) 19.2 - All - NBA
Tyrese Haliburton ( 2024 ) 15.2 - All - NBA

Ben Wallace ( 2010 ) 4.2 - DPOY (17)
James Posey ( 2006 ) 5.9 - 40.3% on 4.3 3PA
Dyson Daniels ( 2024 ) 5.1 - Superb D

87.6

Dikembe Mutombo (38) / Ben Wallace (10)
Shawn Marion (38) / James Posey (10)
LeBron James (38) / James Posey (10)
Devin Booker (38) / Dyson Daniels (10)
Tyrese Haliburton (38) / Dyson Daniels (10)

Offensively, our team can really get out and run often. Hali, Booker. LeBron, and Marion would be a frightening attack on the break and in the half court as well. Hali and LeBron give us two great creators. Barkley and Irving are not noted defenders.

Defensively, straight up. We have four really high level defenders. Deke and Marion give us elite defense against their two best players. LeBron gets a break on Battier. The Duncan/Barkley pairing isn't great synergy.

Better fit and having the best player here are the difference.

[durantbird]

Voting is open. Laimbeer, please vote for yourself

[durantbird]

durantbird advances