PG: Jrue Holiday 24' - 10.0 -
North American, non All NBASG: Kawhi Leonard 17' - 17.7 -
North American, All NBASF: Andrei Kirilenko 05' - 10.2 -
AsianPF: Giannis Antetokounmpo 21' - 18.0 -
EuropeanC: Kristaps Porzingis 24' - 13.2 -
EuropeanBench: Steve Kerr 97' - 5.7 -
Additional non North American (Asian)Bench: Andre Iguodala 16' - 5.7 -
North American, non All NBABench: Serge Ibaka 12' - 7.4 -
AfricanRotation:PG: Jrue Holiday 32 / Steve Kerr 16
SG: Kawhi Leonard 38 / Andre Iguodala 10
SF: Andrei Kirilenko 32 / Andre Iguodala 16
PF: Giannis Antetokounmpo 38 / Serge Ibaka 6 / Andrei Kirilenko 4
C: Kristaps Porzingis 30 / Serge Ibaka 18
87.9/88
vs
PG: Porter (38) / Prigioni (10)
SG: Jordan (38) / Prigioni (5) Sefolosha (5)
SF: Jones (38) / Sefolosha (10)
PF: Markkanen (38) / Sefolosha (10)
C: Embiid (38) / Biyombo (10)
Defensive StrategyOur defensive assignments are tailor-made to disrupt their two primary engines: Jordan and Embiid. Each of our defenders is either neutralizing or actively helping, without overcommitting or leaving gaps.
Jrue Holiday on Terry PorterHoliday takes on Porter at the point of attack. Jrue’s screen navigation and physical defense make it difficult for Porter to initiate clean actions or create advantages. With Jrue pressuring the ball, Porter becomes more of a connector than a threat, which limits MJ's off-ball space.
Kawhi Leonard on Michael JordanKawhi is one of the few perimeter defenders in NBA history capable of making MJ work for every bucket. He has the hands, strength, and discipline to contest fadeaways, absorb contact, and avoid foul trouble. But what really swings the matchup is that Kawhi doesn’t have to do it alone. Our scheme sends early help from multiple angles, constantly showing Jordan a crowd.
Andrei Kirilenko on Lauri MarkkanenAK-47’s length and mobility are ideal for chasing a stretch four like Lauri. He can close out hard while still recovering, and his off-ball instincts allow him to stunt toward MJ or Embiid when needed. Markkanen won’t get many clean catch-and-shoot looks, and if he tries to attack off the dribble, AK can stay with him and contest.
Giannis Antetokounmpo on Herb Jones (roamer)This is where we break their offense. Giannis guards Herb — a low-usage wing — and roams. That gives us an All-NBA defender free to clog driving lanes, rotate on Embiid, and block weakside layups. His presence alone forces Jordan into tougher reads and reduces the space Embiid has to operate in the post.
Kristaps Porzingis on Joel EmbiidWe’re not asking KP to win this matchup solo. His length helps challenge Embiid’s shot without fouling, and he’ll be supported by digs from Jrue, stunts from AK, and backline help from Giannis. We show help early and recover fast, forcing Embiid to either shoot over length or give up the ball.
Team Defensive Principles- We show help early to Jordan and Embiid, but rotate tightly to avoid overhelping
- Giannis and AK allow us to help and recover faster than most lineups
- We’re happy to give up spot-ups to Herb, Thabo, or Prigioni — we’ll close out under control and live with the results
- There are no easy mismatches to hunt — everyone on our side defends at a high level
Structural AdvantagesIf MJ is slowed, they don’t have another reliable advantage-creator.
No easy transition buckets: Our team is long, mobile, and doesn’t crash recklessly. They’ll see a set defense nearly every time.
This is one of the rare defensive units that can challenge MJ without sending doubles. Kawhi does the heavy lifting, but he’s backed by help from Giannis, AK, and Jrue — all elite defenders with the instincts and tools to rotate and recover. Porzingis holds the line against Embiid, and our overall defensive IQ and length shrink the court. Every possession becomes a grind for them.
Offensive OutlookWe don’t rely on a heliocentric scorer. Our offense flows through multiple capable ball-handlers — Jrue, Kawhi, Giannis — all of whom can initiate, attack mismatches, and make the extra pass. We space the floor with KP and AK, and punish switches with Giannis as a roller or slasher. Kawhi is a true go-to scorer who can generate efficient looks late in the clock, and the rest of our unit can score or create off movement. This group is cohesive, unselfish, and built to score in a variety of ways.
Why They Struggle to Contain UsDefensively, they just don’t have the personnel to match up across the board. Who guards Giannis? Lauri can’t handle that assignment physically, and if they try to put Herb on him, Giannis just powers through or draws fouls. If Thabo sees minutes at PF against Giannis, the size mismatch becomes even more brutal. Kawhi also demands serious attention, and asking Jordan to guard him for 38 minutes is a recipe for fatigue and foul trouble — and MJ also doesn’t have the size to contain him consistently. Embiid is an elite rim protector, but KP spaces him out to the perimeter, forcing him into pick-and-pop coverage and away from the paint. That opens the lane for Giannis and Kawhi to attack downhill. Even beyond those mismatches, we have too much movement and too many creators to allow them to load up — and they don’t have the depth or flexibility to hide weak defenders without creating new problems elsewhere.
Depth AdvantageTheir bench brings energy but lacks any reliable offensive weapon. Ours is light years ahead. Iguodala gives us defensive switchability and secondary playmaking. Ibaka brings playoff-tested rim protection and spacing at the 5. Kerr is a lights-out shooter and smart floor spacer. We don’t start a low-usage 3&D like Herb — we start five real offensive threats — and off the bench, we continue to apply pressure with versatile, high-IQ players. There’s no fall-off.
