Giannis 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, you may post a vote by commenting to this post (notice we will not be using a poll) - all participants of the draft are invited and encouraged to post a vote, so as other regular participants of the games in the forum. You are not required to explain your vote, but you are welcome to do so if you want.

First to 4 votes advances. There is no AI vote when the host is playing in the matchup.

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: Steve Nash 2005 - 11.4 - non lotto
SG: Jrue Holiday 2024 - 10.0 - brother
SF: LeBron James 2013 - 17.6 - no college
PF: Karl Malone 2000 - 18.0 - 10+ years
C: Kristaps Porzingis 2024 - 13.2 - small-scale international

Bench: Mikal Bridges 2021 - 9.3 - playoffs opponent
Bench: Joe Ingles 2016 - 3.6 - teammate
Bench: Alonzo Mourning 2006 - 4.8 - 1 of 1

PG: Steve Nash 38 / Jrue Holiday 10
SG: Jrue Holiday 28 / Mikal Bridges 20
SF: LeBron James 34 / Joe Ingles 8 / Mikal Bridges 6
PF: Karl Malone 38 / Kristaps Porzingis 6 / LeBron James 4
C: Kristaps Porzingis 30 / Alonzo Mourning 18

87.9/88

vs

PG: Brunson (38) / Hill (10)
SG: White (38) / Hill (10)
SF: Giannis (28) / Sefolosha (20)
PF: Dirk (38) / Giannis (10)
C: Gasol (38) / Robinson (10)


Matchup:
- Defensive assignments: Holiday on Brunson, Nash on White, LeBron on Dirk, Malone on Giannis, Porzingis on Gasol.
- We match up well. I'm not a big fan of Giannis at SF, but in this specific matchup it's even worse, because Giannis has to be the man-to-man defender of prime LeBron, which is a misuse of Larry's best help defender. On the other hand, LeBron will do fine on Dirk, with Malone also being a good defender for Giannis. Our Holiday/Mikal/LeBron/Ingles rotation is a lot of tools to throw at Brunson/White, or even Giannis (Holiday is strong enough to guard bigger players).
- Nash-Malone pick and roll is one of the best PNR duos imaginable, and will be pretty tough to guard, can expose Dirk's defense. When this PNR is flanked by prime LeBron, with pick and pop options with Porzingis, lethal shooting and defense all around, our team is very well rounded and cohesive.

[Larry_Russell]

PG: Jalen Brunson (2024-25) 18.5
26ppg, 3rpg, 7.3apg, 1spg, 38.5% on 6.1-3pta
MVP-10, NBA-2, AS, COPY-1, Cat: 1

SG: Derrick White (2023-24) 11.5
15.2ppg, 4.2rpg, 5.2apg, 1spg, 1.2bpg, 39.5% on 6.8-3pta
DPOY-8, DEF-2, Cat: 8

SF: Giannis Antetokounmpo (2018-19) 17.3
27.7ppg, 12.5rpg, 6apg, 1.3spg, 1.5bpg
MVP, DPOY-2, NBA-1, DEF-1, AS, Cat: 6

PF: Dork Nowitzki (2010-11) 16.2
23ppg, 7rpg, 2.6apg, 0.5spg, 0.6bpg, 39.5% on 2.3-3pta
FMVP, MVP-6, NBA-2, AS, Cat: 2

C: Marc Gasol (2012-13) 10.9
14.1ppg, 7.8rpg, 4apg, 1spg, 1.7bpg
DPOY, NBA-2, DEF-2, Cat: 3

PG/SG: George Hill (2019-20) 6.4
9.4ppg, 3rpg, 3apg, 0.8spg, 46% on 3-3pta
6MOY-4, Cat: 7

SF: Thabo Sefolosha (2011-12) 3.7
4.8ppg, 3rpg, 1.1apg, 1spg, 0.5bpg, 43.7% on 1.7-3pta
Cat: 4

C: Mitchell Robinson (2025-26) 3.4
5.7ppg, 8.8rpg, 1apg, 1spg, 1.2bpg
6MOTY-8, Cat: 5

PG: Brunson (38) / Hill (10)
SG: White (38) / Hill (10)
SF: Giannis (28) / Sefolosha (20)
PF: Dirk (38) / Giannis (10)
C: Gasol (38) / Robinson (10)

87.9/88

Defense
Brunson on Jrue
White on Nash
Giannis on Lebron
Dirk on Malone
Gasol on KP

I have great defense here and am not at all concerned about Giannis guarding Lebron or not being used how some might like. I also have the Brunson/Dirk combination so Giannis doesnt have to carry the offensive load.
Brunson hides off of Nash and White takes him instead being an elite cover for this type of PG. Malone is big and strong but older and doesnt have the type of speed at this point to punish Dirk offensively. Dirk jsut has to be a 7 footer. Gasol is my backbone DPOY guy.

My offense is Giannis/Dirk pick and Pops. Malone is going to be forced to try and defend an uberathlete from outside as Dirk forces that to happen with his gravity opening the opportunity for downhill drives from Giannis

We will look to hunt nash every single possession with Brunson/Giannis and White

Lebron will be forced to defend screens repeatedly

Transition attacking relentlessly.

[Dr Positivity]

Vote durantbird

[trelos6]

Vote: Durantbird

[Mr Ringer]

I think Larry can contain DB’s offense better the the other
On a full season I’d take DB’s team but on a matchup it gets complicated

Vote LR

[Jon_3232]

Close

Vote LR

[Fadeaway_J]

Vote durantbird

[durantbird]

durantbird advances