I have to say, All In the Name has been the most pleasant surprise of this game. Not because of the team he's built, or anything like that, but with his original post count, there was speculation if he would be active enough. Not only has he proven that, but he's proved to be arguably the most reliable poster in this competition, that has a great knowledge, and feel for the game. You can tell from some of the guys immediately in terms of who "get it," and "who don't." He definitely has that "it" and in doing so built a magnificent team, that's perfectly thought out.
It should be a great, and long series. And may the best team win, which I fully intend to do so.
LINEUPSAll In the Name
Terry Porter (31) / Michael Cooper (9) /
Michael Cooper (14) / Manu Ginobili (29) / Grant Hill (5)
Grant Hill (30) / Bruce Bowen (18)
Kevin Garnett (41) / Clifford Robinson (7)
Shaquille O'Neal (41) / Arvydas Sabonis (7)v.
TMACFORMVP
PG - Steve Nash (36) - Jeff Hornacek (8) Dwyane Wade (4)
SG - Dwayne Wade (32) - Joe Johnson (16)
SF - Ron Artest (30) - Dennis Rodman (14) - Joe Johnson (4)
PF - Kevin McHale (32) - Dennis Rodman (16) -
Cc - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (40) - Jeff Ruland (8)As always, I'm never a strong believer in head to head matchups determining a series, though, we also do understand, with players so evenly matched, that it's almost inveitable to avoid a certain head to head matchup. In this writeup, in general, I'll try to address the main points in what determines the outcome of the series, with particular interesting matchups, that are bound to happen. Without further a due:
REBOUNDING - (stats adjusted for minutes played)
Terry Porter (31) - 3.5 rebounds per game (34.1 minutes per game) - 3.1 rebounds
Michael Cooper (23) - 3.2 rebounds per game (28.2 minutes per game) - 2.6 rebounds
Grant Hill (35) - 8.8 rebounds per game (40.2 minutes per game) - 7.6 rebounds
Kevin Garnett (41) - 13.6 rebounds per game - (39.3 minutes per game) - 14.1 rebounds
Shaquille O'neal (41) - 12.4 rebounds per game - (38.5 minutes per game) - 13.2 rebounds
Manu Ginobili (29) - 4.3 rebounds per game (28.8 minutes per game) - 4.3 rebounds
Bruce Bowen (8) - 3.2 rebounds per game (31.7 minutes per game) - 0.8 rebounds
Clifford Robinson (7) - 4.3 rebounds per game (34.6 minutes per game) - 0.8 rebounds
Aryvdas Sabonis (7) - 8.7 rebounds per game (27.1 minutes per game) - 2.2 rebounds
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Overall Rebounding - 48.7 rebounds per gameSteve Nash (36) - 3.7 rebounds per game (35.0 minutes per game) - 3.8 rebounds
Dwyane Wade (36) - 5.2 rebounds per game (38.3 minutes per game) - 4.8 rebounds
Ron Artest (30) - 5.8 rebounds per game (37.1 minutes per game) - 4.6 rebounds
Kevin McHale (32) - 8.8 rebounds per game (37.4 minutes per game) - 7.5 rebounds
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - 10.0 rebounds per game (36.9 minutes per game) - 10.8 rebounds
Dennis Rodman (30) - 16.5 rebounds per game (37.5 minutes per game) - 13.2 rebounds
Joe Johnson (20) - 4.4 rebounds per game (40.5 minutes per game) - 2.1 rebounds
Jeff Ruland (8) - 10.8 rebounds per game (34.7 minutes per game) - 2.8 rebounds
Jeff Hornacek (8) - 4.4 rebounds per game (36.1 minutes per game) - 0.9 rebounds
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Overall Rebounding - 50.5 rebounds per gameIt's pretty similar, as All In the Name points out, we have the edge on the offensive glass, while his team has a slight edge on the defensive boards, but overall if anyone were to have the advantage, our players are the better rebounders for the minutes they're receiving, thus making our team better defensively.
FRONT COURT PLAYI think it's widely accepted that All In The Name's squad has the best front court play in this competition. Our goal is to prove, that our team, while maybe not as explosive is not too shabby either, and can most definitely hold their own. We feel if we can do that, our sizable edge in the backcourt, and overall perimeter play will lead us to the victory.
We're not going to stop Shaq, obviously not, but All In the Name's squad won't have success in stopping Kareem either. There's not much to say, other than both of these greats will beat each other up. Kareem, while past his prime, is still the 2nd best offensive C in this competition, an MVP, and has three year peak averages of 25/10, with elite defense, and supreme efficiency. He's arguably the most fundamentally sound center left in this game. He's faced the likes of Hakeem, and played him well enough, and that's far past his prime. To put this in perspective, this "Kareem past his prime," also won a finals MVP AFTER the years I've chosen. Imagine how good one would be, to be considered far past his prime, and win Finals MVP, with another HOF in his prime playing as well.
The whole "Kareem struggles against physicality," thing is garbage. I'm not saying All In the Name claimed that, but I mean in general. I've even heard critics say that he struggled against an aggressive defensive guy like Dave Cowens. Kareem only averaged roughly 32/16/5 on 50% in that series. Kareem won't do much to Shaq, not because he's not a great defender, in fact he's even better than Shaq, but because Shaq is that good. But the same case, for when Shaq comes up to defend Kareem.
On KG, All In the Name conceded that he would have a lesser role, and while we stop another All-Time great, we feel we have the best options to contain him, especially in the first regard considering KG was never a scorer that would blow up in your face. McHale is a multiple time All-Defensive player, and proven he can defend the bigger guys, and the perimeter guys, so he's fully equipped to defend Garnett, whether he's out on the perimeter. Off the bench, we have the most versatile defender in the game in Rodman proving to have defended anyone from PG to C.
Barkley, whom is a considerably better offensive player than Garnett, has gone on to say nobody has played him tougher than Kevin McHale. Again, we won't stop him, but if anyone was equipped to slow him down, it would be our team.
On the other end, McHale will be guarded, by Garnett. KG being the competitor and defensive player that he is, should do an admirable job, but once again, much like the Shaq, and Kareem matchup, McHale should still get his touches, and points. He was one of the most skilled, and gifted offensive PF's of all time. Some call him a black hole, which I don't get, as he was ridiculously efficient from the floor, came off the bench when his team asked of him, and was an integral second option on multiple championship teams.
I'm not writing this to prove that my frontcourt is better, but with Kareem, and McHale being all time greats in their own right, there's no frontcourt actually assembled that can completely outplay the frontcourt my team boasts. We feel if we can hold our own in this department, then our play, the rest of the roster would lead us to victory.
The Grant Hill matchup is the intriguing one. I feel sometimes his peak before he got injured was overrated. Not saying he wasn't a great player, because he most certainly was, and a definite superstar, but the whole "next MJ," comparisons take it a bit too far. His game didn't really improve all that much in his first six seasons, while an exceptional all round player, not a threat to beat you from the outside (and with Shaq, that's crucial, arguably moreso than any other C in the league history). He's not much a closer, and he's more like KG, a cerebral offensive player, that's not ridiculously pressed to explode.
We'll have our hands full, as he could do many things on the floor, we'll use Artest offensively to try to attack him a bit defensively, but his energy will be exerted more on the offensive end. We had to pick and choose, between which Artest we wanted. One that was crazy, but a superstar defensive player, and inefficient offensive player, OR, one that's a surprisingly efficient three point shooter, and lesser defensively. We chose the latter, and he's proving more, with the current Lakers squad, with an extended supporting cast, he's looking more like his old self defensively. Not to that extent, because he has lost some quickness, but there's also a reason why the Lakers defensive numbers have jumped up across the board.
And with Rodman off the bench, playing thirty minutes, he'll also take on the challenge of guarding Hill, and while we won't convince anyone from saying he'll stop him, he's the best option anyone at this point in the competition can. Rodman is the same man, that made Larry Bird look terrible in one of their playoff series together. And we'll force him to beat us from the outside, because Grant Hill is NOT a proficient three point shooter.
With KG, not being a floor spacer either, we can easily help a bit more with Rodman/Artest, downlow on Shaq, and with their prowess, be able to recover if Hill were to step in. One could argue it's the same affect, with our team and Wade, but we'd like to point out, that O'neal takes up considerably more space in the post. Even if we dare Hill to shoot, KG, being more an 18 and in foot player, and Shaq in the paint, he's almost forced into that role at times. Kareem was very effective playing outside the post, and a very good passer, and solid shooter from mid-range.
Much like All In the Name's team, we possess two shooters, in Nash, and Artest, Nash being one of the greatest of all time, arguably the best, but having that third shooter in the lineup is not so crucial to us because of Kareem's versatility on offense, compare to Shaq, who takes up nearly entire the whole space on the floor in the paint.
BACK COURT PLAYAs we've already stated, we feel our frontcourt is fully capable of holding their own, and where we take the edge, is the difference in perimeter play. Cooper serves as an elite defensive player, but offensively, he wasn't a large volume three point shooter, and not a threat to beat you offensively.
Porter was a fine player, but in this case, he's used primarily as a spot up shooter. In this series, Wade is far, and away the best perimeter player in this series.
Cooper is only playing fourteen minutes at the SG position, and seven more at PG. I'd presume those minutes are also when Wade would be getting his stretch minutes at the PG. That means, for fifteen minutes on the floor, that Wade would be guarded by Manu Ginobili.
- Manu is a good defender, but that's in a team aspect, slightly overrated to the defensive prowess of the San Antonio Spurs. This is where we'll take advantage, Wade will have his way, both offensively and defensively. It's similar to the competition last round, in facing Brandon Roy, where Wade has a supreme advantage on both ends of the floor.
We also feel, Cooper wouldn't be able to contain Wade (nobody can, but moreso in general), Cooper has been prone to letting quicker players get the best of him, relative to the more flat footed scorers of the 80's, among Dantley, King, and etc. Drexler, whom is a very similar player to Wade, Dwyane being possibly even more explosive offensively, normally had his way with Cooper, including multiple thirty point games, including one 43 point game. His stats are as follows (21 game sample size)
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24.0 points per game, 7.5 rebounds per game, 6.2 assists per game, on 46% from the floor. There's also the case, that Bowen who is playing minutes at the SF, another one of those, even moreso, offensive threats that are not to be worried about, or in other words, a one dimensional defender, hasn't had success against Wade, whenever the two have matched off. His stats are as follows (9 game sample size, I understand Bowen was older in 2009, but this also includes Wade's rookie season, in which he only dropped 14 against him):
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26.3 points per game, 5.2 rebounds per game, 6.8 assists per game on .460% from the field.Kind of like a modern day, Drexler v. Cooper matchup, in which Wade, should definitely have the edge, regardless of who is guarding him.
The same is the case with Steve Nash. Porter is a good defender, but not one disruptive enough to change, or have a legitimate impact on what Steve Nash wants do on the floor. Aside from being arguably the greatest shooter of all time, with godly percentages from the floor, Nash will also be orchestrating our offense. Meaning, when he has the ball, he'll be finding Kareem, and McHale in spots they like it, run with Wade in transition, or knock down the open three pointer off the dribble penetration of Wade in iso situations.
If Cooper, in these situations would be on Nash, that just means, it's more like Wade is being covered by either Ginobili, or Porter, making the job easier on Wade. If, All In the Name were to choose to put both Bowen, and Cooper in the game, then having two offensive liabilities in the lineip, in a competition like this spells doom. Another modern day comparison, though noted as not as good a defender, or player in general, is Chauncey Billups, who's been regarded to doing a
better job on Nash.
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18.0 points per game ON 62-119, 17-37, 39-40
.521% from the floor, .459 from three, .975 from the line. His assists do go slightly down, but it's obvious that a player of Billups caliber, defensively, really had no bearing on what Nash was able to do offensively. Not to mention, the Pistons team up until last year (in which Billups was not on the team), was a defensive juggernaut, AROUND Chauncey as well. We completely expect, both Nash, and Wade to have their way in this series, both due to the lack of complete offensive, or defensive game that the likes of Porter, Cooper, Ginobili, and Bowen bring.
Against Bowen, he did struggle in 2008, but in 06, and 05, Nash not only did not play well, but his numbers went up.
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2005 Playoff Series
Game One: 29 points, 13 assists on 12-22 shooting. Didn't not attempt a three.
Game Two: 29 points, 15 assists on 13-22 shooting. 1-2 from three.
Game Three: 20 points, 3 assists on 8-18 shooting. 1-3 from three.
Game Four: 17 points, 12 assists on 6-10 shooting. 0-1 from three.
Game Five: 21 points, 9 assists on 9-10 shooting. 0-3 from three.
2007 Playoff Series
Game One: 31 points, 8 assists on 11-18 shooting. 2-4 from three.
Game Two: 20 points, 16 assists on 7-17 shooting. 1-2 from three.
Game Three: 16 points, 11 assists on 6-17. 2-5 from three.
Game Four: 24 points, 15 assists on 8-12 shooting. 2-3 from three.
Game Five: 19 points, 12 assists on 6-19 shooting. 3-7 from three.20.5 points per game, 10.3 assists per game on .539 FG%, and .400% from distance.
We'll make you pick your poison, if you choose to put either Cooper/Bowen on Nash, then Wade will run free (regardless he will, but even moreso), if you do vice versa, Nash will pick apart the defense, with both his shooting and passing ability. If both were to be in the game, we've already expressed how comfortable we are with Wade, and Nash orchestrating the offense, and they're likely to get the better of two players that would be offensive liabilities in this series. There's no way to spin it, but our backcourt will thoroughly outplay All In the Name's in every aspect of the game.
We feel, if we can hold on our own in the front-court, our overwhelming edge in the backcourt will help us prevail.
DOWN THE STRETCHIn any close series, execution down the stretch will be key. In this case, we feel we can execute better, both offensively, and defensively to win this series.
- O'neal, for all his greatness, is still a horrible FT shooter, and a below average pick and roll defender. With the majority of plays involving picks in the NBA, we'll expose that, despite Garnett's prowess in that department, and on offense, make Shaq earn it from the line. On the other hand, Kareem is both a better recovering defender, and a better FT shooter, that can at the very least, be entrusted in to hit his FT's a solid rate.
- KG unfairly got the reputation of a guy that couldn't close out, but unfortunately, for the most part of his career, he was a first round virgin, that wasn't able to help his team advance past the first round. It's a team game, and I don't blame him for that, I mean look at my monkier, but it's well noted that KG isn't a guy that would close out a game for you. I know I'm fully aware of that Game 7, against the Lakers, but I'm talking more in general, on a consistent basis, taking over the game down the stretch.
- Hill is in the same boat, except he still is a first round virgin. The Pistons team were no good as well, just like the Timberwolves, and Garnett, but Hill still wasn't able to lift his team to even greater heights. It's also noted, while he isn't a choker, he's not neccessariley the perimeter star you want closing out games, without that experience, in a competition of this depth, and magnitude.
- Cooper, Bowen, Ginobili, and Porter are all fine players, that have won on the biggest of stages, but as role players. In this game situation, they're not the type of players you'd expect to get the ball, and create in the final minutes.
On the other hand, Wade is a proven clutch player. He was the NBA Finals MVP, with one of the most historic, and clutch performances of all time. He consistently took over down the stretch, and always among the top fourth quarter scorers in the NBA. Everyone, and most definitely All In the Name knows how dynamite Wade is down the stretch.
Nash's reputation is widely discussed, as he's yet to win a championship, but he's never been known as a player that was not clutch. And being that primary closer for his current, and past Suns team, Nash is not new to any sort of playoff experience. And as noted, Kareem is not a liability, like Shaq can potentially be when he's in the game for the final stretch, in fact, McHale, Kareem, and Wade all being champions at least once in the chosen seasons.
Bottom line is, we feel we can execute better, and possess better options down the stretch to take a game, in the winding minutes of a close game.
DEFENSIVE/OFFENSIVE COMPARISON --> Offensively, All In the Name noted our "lack" of three point shooting. I don't mind the argument, but as he notes Nash is an amazing shooter, I feel it's wrong to dismiss both Artest, and Johnson, both of whom make more threes, at a higher percentage than both of the starters my opponent boasts. Artest shoots 38% from downtown, and JJ 40% himself during the three year peak chosen. Leave them open, and they'll hit the shot.
And as we pointed out, Cooper not being a volume three point shooter, and Porter really being the only major floor spacer, spacing is a bigger problem for my opponent to the sole fact that Shaq takes up considerably more space in the post. Having that spacing around his C, is more important to his team, than it is to ours, just due to the amount of space both of our centers take in the post. Manu is a solid shooter, much like Artest percentage wise, so in affect we'll both have two floor spacers on the floor at all times. But to me, personally, potentially having a better floor spacer at that three would be much more beneficial to the offense.
Efficiency wise, Shaq, and Kareem are similar. Edge to Shaq due to the fact he gets to the line more. McHale is clearly more efficient than McHale, when we factor in volume and scoring FG%. TS isn't so much needed, considering neither attempted threes. When we look at the perimeter stars, Wade is more efficient than Hill, much like the Kareem, and Shaq comparison, very similar, and could go either way, but the amount of times, Wade heads to the line, makes him the more efficient player. Porter is efficient, but Nash is at an all time level, that edge in terms of efficiency would go to us. Then it comes down to Cooper, and Artest. Both are used more in a role, primarily for their spot up shooting, Artest being the more prolific shooter, on better percentages. For Cooper being sold as a major floor spacer, he shot 36%, which is average, and didn't make one three per game. That may be due to era differences, but nonethless, that's not impressive.
Again, we have to reiterate, Porter is the only legit shooter on the perimeter, the main reason, we're keeping Wade on him, as his role will be primarily spot up shoot, Wade has the size and shot-blocking ability, and athleticism to at least contest his shots.
Defensively, it doesn't get much better than the frontcourt both of our team boasts, McHale and Kareem versus, Shaq and Garnett. We feel Kareem is better than Shaq defensively, but KG enough an advantage to potentially give them the edge there. We feel we have the edge defensively on the perimeter.
Cooper, and Bowen versus Rodman, and Artest. In terms of offensively, both are clearly better than their counterparts, but just as good as them defensively, Rodman being the best defender among the group. Wade's defense in the now-a-days isn't all much different from the years I've chosen, in terms of blocks and steals, they're virtually the same, and Wade when his mind is to it, is a very good man defender. That didn't change over the course of a few injury prone seasons, and he'd have the edge over his counterpart in Hill.
BENCHWe feel we have the edge here. Manu Ginboili is proven off the bench, but we feel both he and Johnson are comparable in terms of what they bring to the table. Some shooting, playmaking and ability to create for themselves. Aside from Ginobili, Sabonis, and Robinson don't play many minutes, similar to Ruland. Both are bigs with size, and passing ability, while Robinson provides some defense, and spacing, but not enough minutes to counteract the problem of spacing.
In that sense, since Robinson wasn't much a rebounder, his role would be to space the floor for seven minutes. Like that on our team is Hornecak, provides the same role, and is an even more efficient and prolific three pointer. And then the prized possession, is Dennis Rodman. He's not much a scorer, but he's the best rebounder, and I'd venture to say the best defender in the game.
Off the bench, we have Johnson to counter Ginobili's production, Hornecak to outshoot Robinson, Ruland to match up with Sabonis, but our biggest edge comes in the Rodman and Bowen matchup. I think our bench accomplishes the goal more in compliments, and shooting, with defense, rebounding, and toughness.
CONCLUSIONOverall, All In the Name has built a magnificent team. In getting Garnett to play with Shaq was arguably the best move in this competition. And again, it's really exciting to know that there's now another poster that can become a "regular," and dominant force in these competitions. Should be a long, and extended series, that can go either way, but due to the fact that we can at the worst keep the boards at a standstill, if not have the edge, provide better spacing for the team we've created, and have better matchup advantages, than their players do against ours, we feel good.
Mainly, the strategy for All In the Name is to dominate the inside, and hope that overweighs the lack of perimeter options. In most cases that's true, and an effective strategy, but we feel a frontcourt of Kareem and McHale can hold their own, and with perimeter defenders of the likes of Artest, and Rodman against Hill, that and our perimeter play of Nash, Wade, and JJ will eventually give us the edge in the series, as they should thoroughly win the matchup in all aspects of the game.
Once again, best of luck, and truly may the best team win. Looking forward to this one.
