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).
PG: Chris Paul (2020: 12.7 FGA) SG: Ray Allen (2001: 16.0 FGA) SF: Jalen Williams (2025: 16.9 FGA) PF: Lebron James (2013: 17.8 FGA) C: Dikembe Mutombo (1995: 7.7 FGA)
PG: Charlie Ward (2000: 6.2 FGA) SF: Christian Braun (2024: 5.9 FGA) C: Alonzo Mourning (2006: 4.8 FGA)
88 / 88
PG: Chris Paul (36) / Charlie Ward (12) SG: Ray Allen (36) / Charlie Ward (14) SF: Jalen Williams (30) / Christian Braun (14) / Ray Allen (4) PF: Lebron James (40) / Jalen Williams (8) C: Dikembe Mutombo (34) / Alonzo Mourning (14)
GL Fadeaway
Defensive matchups: Mutombo on Duncan, Lebron on Jackson, Willians on SGA, Paul on KCP, Allen on Middleton
The matchup is great for us as double big has a problem guarding a Lebron team and we have solid defenders against Duncan and SGA. Lebron spacing out JJJ also makes his shotblocking frontcourt a bit less imposing. While he has an elite top 2 Allen and JDub as 3rd and 4th options is stronger than Middleton and JJJ and gives Lebron a lot of talent around him. Our bench has the biggest X factor in Mourning's championship season, Ward can keep up wiht his best bench playerr Hill in value and 24 Braun is also a credible 8th man.
20.0 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 3.4 apg, 0.8 spg, 2.4 bpg, .546 FG%, .637 FT%, .579 TS% - Led the NBA in DWS (6.8) - NBA Champion - NBA All-Star - All-NBA First Team - All-Defensive First Team
PF - Jaren Jackson Jr. (2022-23)
Spoiler:
18.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 1.0 apg, 1.0 spg, 3.0 bpg, .506 FG%, .355 3P%, .788 FT%, 100 3P (1.6 pg), .613 TS% - Led the NBA in bpg, BLK% (9.6) - Defensive Player of the Year - NBA All-Star - All-Defensive First Team
9.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 3.1 apg, 0.8 spg, 0.1 bpg, .516 FG%, .460 3P%, .842 FT%, 81 3P (1.4 pg), .659 TS% - Led the NBA in 3P%
Rotations C - Duncan (38), Jackson (10) PF - Jackson (26), Highsmith (22) SF - Middleton (38), Miller (10) SG - KCP (36), Hill (12) PG - SGA (38), Hill (10)
FGA Per Player
Spoiler:
Tim Duncan - 14.1 Jaren Jackson Jr. - 13.0 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - 21.8 Kentavious Caldwell-Pope - 8.3 Khris Middleton - 15.3 Haywood Highsmith - 5.0 George Hill - 6.4 Mike Miller - 3.9
Total: 87.8/88.0
We've got arguably the best inside-outside combo in this game in SGA and Duncan. The offensive ecosystem around SGA is pretty much an upgraded version of the real-life Thunder. Duncan is obviously a much more capable individual scorer than Hartenstein, but he can also fulfill a lot of the same functions as a passing hub and pick-and-roll finisher. JJJ, like Chet, is a prototypical stretch 4 who can also attack off the dribble and finish efficiently at the rim. Middleton is a less athletic but better shooting iteration of J-Dub as a secondary wing scorer and playmaker. KCP is what Dort would be with a more reliable jumper and the ability to score on the move. In general, I would say our halfcourt offense has more consistent outside shooting as well as a proven fail-safe option (Duncan in the post) which makes us less susceptible to the droughts that plagued OKC in the playoffs.
Defensively, this is a more modern Twin Towers with Duncan and JJJ completely walling off the paint. Throw in Shai and our rim protection becomes pretty much God-tier. We have no weaknesses on the perimeter either, with KCP and Highsmith being the standouts.
Matchup - Defensive assignments are straight up, except JJJ takes J-Dub and Middleton guards LeBron with Highsmith deputising off the bench. J-Dub's erratic outside shooting and reliance on drives makes this the best approach for us. Duncan and JJJ blotting out the sun is just what you need against a LeBron team. - Once again, we will use Middleton as a screener to force his defender (Allen) into the action and attack him through SGA. - JJJ at the 5 will cause a lot of problems for both Deke and Zo during those minutes, especially since we can have SGA and Middleton run different actions with JJJ as a screener which neither big is well equipped to defend against.
