Former Champions, Longest Droughts Draft - R1 - durantbird vs Larry_Russell

[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 wins. If neither team reaches 4 votes within 24 hours of the matchup opening, the team with the most votes when voting closes wins. If the vote is tied when voting closes, we will decide the matchup via an AI tiebreaker, except when the host is playing in the matchup, in which case there is no AI vote.

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: Jrue Holiday 2026 - 13.4
SG: Drazen Petrovic 1993 - 16.2
SF: Rick Barry 1971 - 19.4 with multiplier
PF: Deni Avdija 2025 - 11.7
C: Wilt Chamberlain 1967 - 12.1 with multiplier

Bench: Kirk Hinrich 2012 - 6.1
Bench: PJ Tucker 2018 - 5.4
Bench: Tree Rollins 1988 - 3.3

87.6/88

PG: Jrue Holiday 38 / Kirk Hinrich 10
SG: Drazen Petrovic 38 / Kirk Hinrich 10
SF: Rick Barry 38 / Deni Avdija 10
PF: Deni Avdija 26 / PJ Tucker 22
C: Wilt Chamberlain 38 / Tree Rollins 10

vs

PG: Christie (38) / Daniels (10)
SG: Roy (38) / Daniels (10)
SF: George (38) / Hart (10)
PF: Horford (38) / Hart (10)
C: Embiid (38) / Przybilla (10)

The offense runs through Barry as the primary engine, with Drazen as the off-ball scorer and Deni as the connector at the four. Jrue keeps the point organized, Wilt gives us a permanent interior threat, and Hinrich / Tucker / Rollins keep the second unit competent on both ends without needing the ball.

Matchup:
- Defensive assignments: Jrue on Roy, Avdija / Tucker on George, Barry on Horford, Petrovic on Christie, Wilt on Embiid.
- Jrue on Roy is the assignment that has to hit — 2008–09 Roy is still a top-tier creator, but Jrue is exactly the kind of POA defender you want chasing him for 38.
- Avdija and Tucker split George: Deni has the length and mobility for a prime two-way PG, and Tucker gives us a physical, switchable spell when George tries to post or curl off screens.
- Petrovic on Christie is the clean low-usage hide — Christie is an elite defender, not an offensive hub, and we're not wasting Jrue or Barry chasing him while Drazen saves energy for shooting.
- Barry on Horford is mostly about not giving up a free switch — Horford will stretch and move, but Barry has the size to stay in front and isn't giving up a layup line by helping one pass away.
- Wilt on Embiid is the other headliner. Embiid is the best player in the series, but 1967 Wilt is the one guy who can match his size and athleticism without needing a double every trip — and Embiid living in foul trouble changes their whole offense. Also, I don't entirely trust Embiid to defend an elite historical talent like Wilt without help.
- On the other end, their top three is obviously great, but the bench drops off hard after Hart. Hinrich and Tucker are real rotation players; Daniels, Przybilla, and spot minutes for Hart don't give Roy and George the same relief our bench gives Barry and Drazen.
- Horford fits their starters in theory but didn't actually mesh well with Embiid in real life, while Tucker at the four for 22 minutes is a different problem — physical, switches everything, and lives in the corner.
- Christie at point with Roy as secondary playmaker still leaves some to be desired on the playmaking front, while we feature Holiday/Hinrich at the point, with great secondary playmaking from Barry, Wilt and Deni.
- Ultimately, Wilt with two historical shooters (Barry/Petrovic), great glue guys who can also take an offensive toll (Jrue/Deni), and perfect complementary players off the bench, win the day here.

[Larry_Russell]

PG:Doug Christie (2002-03) 7
9.5ppg, 4.3rpg, 4.7apg, 2.3spg, 0.5bpg, 39.5% on 2.3-3pta
DPOY-5, DEF-1

SG:Brandon Roy (2008-09) 16.9
22.5ppg, 4.7rpg, 5.1apg, 1.1spg, 37.7% on 2.8-3pta
MVP-9, NBA-2, AS

SF: Paul George (2013-14) 17
21.7ppg, 6.8rpg, 3.5apg, 2spg, 0.5bpg, 36.5% on 6.3-3pta
MVP-9, DPOY-7, NBA-3, DEF-1, AS

PF: Al Horford (2015-16) 12.8
15.2ppg, 7.3rpg, 3.2apg, 0.8spg, 1.5bpg, 34.5% on 3-3pta
DPOY-13, NBA and DEF votes received AS

C: Joel Embiid (2020-21) 17.6
28.5ppg, 10.6rpg, 2.8apg, 1spg, 1.5bpg, 37.7% on 3-3pta
MVP-2, DPOY-7, NBA-2, DEF-2, AS

Guard: Antonio Daniels (2007-08) 6.3
8.5ppg, 3rpg, 4.8apg, 1spg

Forward:Josh Hart (2022-23) 6.8
9.8ppg, 7.8rpg, 3.8apg, 1.2spg, 37.5% on 2.2-3pta

C: Joel Przybilla (2008-09) 3.3
5.5ppg, 8.7rpg, 0.3apg, 0.5spg, 1.2bpg
DPOY and DEF votes

PG: Christie (38) / Daniels (10)
SG: Roy (38) / Daniels (10)
SF: George (38) / Hart (10)
PF: Horford (38) / Hart (10)
C: Embiid (38) / Przybilla (10)

87.7/88

Matchups
Christie on Petrovic - will chase Petrovic off 3pt line. Christie is an elite defender and will push Drazen all game
Roy on Jrue - just stay attached and conserve energy
George on Barry - George will make barry work for everything on the court. Just a different animal than anyone Barry faced
Horford on Avdija - Stay at home, help selectively against Wilt. Deni is the connector, so Horford will be more of my free safety
Embiid on Chamberlain - Protect paint and will make Wilt score OVER, not through or around

I also have great defenders off the bench who will not miss a beat in pushing and making life difficult

Offense
Identity: Embiid + Roy + George create; Horford spaces; Christie connects.

Primary action: Roy/George pick-and-roll with Embiid. Attack Wilt's drop coverage and force him to choose between the ball-handler and Embiid.
Embiid: Establish him in the post and at the elbow. Feed him against single coverage; punish doubles with quick kick-outs.
Brandon Roy: Primary perimeter creator. Attack Petrovic through screens, P&R, isolation, and transition.
Paul George: Secondary creator. Attack Barry off the dribble and run P&R with Embiid.
Horford: Pick-and-pop/stretch five-man spacing. Pull Wilt away from the rim and punish help with threes.
Christie: Low-usage connector. Cut, hit open threes, initiate offense, and make the extra pass. Don't force shots.
Attack Petrovic: Make him defend Roy/George actions repeatedly.
Attack Wilt: Don't let him camp in the paint. Use Horford's shooting and P&R to pull him away from the rim.
Transition: Roy and George push the ball; Christie fills; Horford spaces; Embiid runs to the rim.
The basic formula:
Embiid gravity → Roy/George attack → Wilt/help defense collapses → kick to Horford/Christie.

[Dr Positivity]

Vote durantbird

[Mr Ringer]

DB built a very balanced team around the best player in this matchup

Vote Durantbird

[Jon_3232]

Close but I think I like Larry’s build more. Vote Larry