Redeem Team Draft - R1 - Larry_Russell* vs durantbird

[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]

Nikola Jokic 23' - 14.8
Andrei Kirilenko 08' - 7.6
Shane Battier 12' - 4.5
Donovan Mitchell 25' - 18.6
Jamal Murray 23' - 16.0

Tristan Thompson 18' - 4.4
PJ Tucker 20' - 6.0
Gordon Hayward 17' - 15.8

87.7/88

Nikola Jokic 38 / Tristan Thompson 10
Andrei Kirilenko 34 / PJ Tucker 14
Shane Battier 18 / Gordon Hayward 22 / PJ Tucker 8
Donovan Mitchell 28 / Shane Battier 12 / Gordon Hayward 8
Jamal Murray 38 / Donovan Mitchell 10

Vs

PG: Lowry (38) / Wright (10)
SG: Green (38) / Wright (10)
SF: Leonard (38) / Odom (10)
PF: Siakam (32) / Odom (16)
C: Adebayo (38) / Andersen (10)

Matchup

- Defensive assignments: Murray vs. Lowry, Mitchell vs. Green, Battier vs. Leonard, Kirilenko vs. Siakam, Jokic vs. Bam.
- We’re in an excellent position defensively. Kawhi and Siakam are matched by two elite wing defenders in Battier and Kirilenko. Murray and Mitchell, while primarily offensive weapons, were also solid defenders in their respective years. With Tucker on the floor, our switchability improves even further—allowing us to throw Battier or Tucker on Lowry if needed.
- Our depth is a major advantage. Jokic, Mitchell, and Murray form an elite offensive trio with a significantly higher ceiling than theirs. Add Hayward—a high-IQ All-Star wing—off the bench, and we maintain offensive potency with flexibility.
- We can overwhelm them with superior passing, scoring versatility, and decision-making. While both teams rely on key role players, they’re leaning too heavily on the likes of Danny Green and Delon Wright, giving them minutes that may be tough to justify in a matchup at this level.

[Larry_Russell]

PG: Kyle Lowry (2015-16) 15.6
21.2ppg, 6.4apg, 2.1spg, 0.5bpg, 39% on 7.1-3pta
MVP-10, DPOY-13, NBA-3, 14th in All Def voting, AS

SG: Danny Green (2018-19) 7.9
10.3ppg, 4rpg, 1.6apg, 1spg, 0.7bpg, 45.5% on 5.4-3pta

SF: Kawhi Leonard (2018-19) 18.8
26.6ppg, 7.3rpg, 3.3apg, 1.8spg, 0.5bpg, 37% on 5-3pta
FMVP, MVP-9, DPOY-6, NBA-2, DEF-2, AS

PF: Pascal Siakam (2018-19) 11.8
17ppg, 7rpg, 3apg, 1spg, 0.7bpg, 37% on 2.7-3pta
MIP-1

C: Bam Adebayo (2024-2025) 14.3
18.1ppg, 9.6rpg, 4.3apg, 1.3spg, 0.7bpg, 35.7% on 2.8-3pta
Probable all defensive team

PG/SG: Delon Wright (2019-20) 5.6
7ppg, 3.8rpg, 3.3apg, 1.2spg, 37% on 1.7-3pta

SF/PF: Lamar Odom (2010-11) 10.9
14.5ppg, 8.7rpg, 3apg, 0.6spg, 0.7bpg, 38.2% on 2.2-3pta
6MOY

C: Chris Andersen (2012-13) 3
5ppg, 4rpg, 0.5apg, 0.5spg, 1bpg


PG: Lowry (38) / Wright (10)
SG: Green (38) / Wright (10)
SF: Leonard (38) / Odom (10)
PF: Siakam (32) / Odom (16)
C: Adebayo (38) / Andersen (10)

87.9/88


Defense straight up with green taking mitchell (fantastic cover for him) and peak Lowry to cover Murray.

Leonard and Siakam will be cheating on defense.
Battier at 4.5 shots and past peak AK47 with no 3pointer are not threats.

Instead Jokic is going to see a constant double cover of DPOY candidate Leonard and potential DPOY candidate in Bam. Siakam will also be within a step away.

Offensivly,
I dont think Murray cannot cover peak Lowry.
I dont think past peak miami battier is an acceptable cover for leonard.
Also AK is past peak here as well.

And thanks to bam finally taking and making 3s, that reall forces Jokic to defend in space.

Nutshell
I have elite defense.
I have a more xapable and balanced offense
All my players are 2 way players unlike mitchell and jokic
The weak offense of this version of Battier and AK allows me to double team jokic non stop

[durantbird]

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Matchup is open. LR please vote for yourself

[Fadeaway_J]

Might be on an island here, but I voted Larry for the defensive advantage. Adding Bam and Odom to the real-life Raptors is pretty terrifying.

[durantbird]

Might be on an island here, but I voted Larry for the defensive advantage. Adding Bam and Odom to the real-life Raptors is pretty terrifying.

Isn't Gasol better?

[Fadeaway_J]

Might be on an island here, but I voted Larry for the defensive advantage. Adding Bam and Odom to the real-life Raptors is pretty terrifying.

Isn't Gasol better?

2019 Gasol was still great and almost certainly would be better on Jokic in the post, but prime Bam is better overall, especially once you factor in rebounding. The defensive versatility of that frontcourt is crazy.

[durantbird]

LR advances