ATFL Western: (5) ThunderDan9 vs. (7) O_6

[whitehops]

sorry I haven't checked in recently and that I won't break the matchup down with a lengthy post.

ThunderDan9 would win the series.

[MisterHibachi]

bastillon
TMACFORMVP
penbeast0: ThunderDan9
ronnymac2: O_6
Doctor MJ: ThunderDan9
SideshowBob
Texas Chuck: ThunderDan9
therealbig3: O_6
whitehops: ThunderDan9
Quotatious: O_6
john248
MisterHibachi: ThunderDan9

ThunderDan9 leads 5-3

[john248]

Such great teams and terrific write-up's by both guys. Everyone else has covered this really really well and while I hate to do this and its gonna make Q mad---LArry Bird really is the deciding factor for me. I just dont see that guy on O_6's team to seize the team and lead it when times get tough. Durant may become that guy but he isnt yet and Penny and Ewing definitely arent. Talent-wise is so close, but Bird, Price, and Manu I think provide a mental edge that decides it.

Vote: ThunderDan9

Why do you feel Price is part of that mental edge when he's had 4th quarter playoff moments when he's turned the ball over? Or has multiple years of under a 100 ORTG, including 2 of the 3 years selected, in the playoffs which is what this format is. Really, there were instances where Ehlo and Nance had to bring the ball up court just so the Cavs would have more time to set up their half court offense and 1 other instance when Wilkins benched him in the 4th. Really doesn't scream clutch or composed. What helps here is that Ginobili can also bring the ball up court which moves Price as a spot up shooter.

Anyways, I haven't voted yet since it's really close. I do like O_6's defense more, but like the Bird/Ginobili pairing too. Bird was near perfect in the years chosen where Grant can just stand to get some open jumpers and put back & Dwight can also get put backs and some dump offs.

[Texas Chuck]

guess we just viewMark Price differently

[O_6]

Patiently waiting to see this semi-Final round come to a close. ThunderDan9 has a nice little lead on me, I think I'm still alive but clearly the underdog at this point. Since this has been dead for a couple of days I thought I'd post some thoughts.

ThunderDan9 has my favorite offense in the league. I think ardee may very well have a "better" offense led by Nash/Dirk and all that floor spacing, but I think TD9's offense is more versatile and harder to gameplan against. I think the main reason for that is Larry Bird but TD9 also drafted some very high IQ offensive players in Price/Manu/Grant and an excellent 2014 style PnR big in Howard. He has a great offense.

But I still feel like my defense gives me the edge. The longer this tournament takes to finish, the better and better my Ewing/Rasheed/Noah frontcourt looks. All 3 of them are excellent defensive players and are also valuable on offense. I love how Rasheed/Noah are both valuable on offense in two completely different ways, Rasheed with the spacing he provides and Noah with his interior passing. I think I might have the best defensive interior in this entire league with Ewing/Sheed/Noah. And then on the wings I have Battier and DJ who are brilliant perimeter defenders. I think my defensive edge over his team is pretty clear.

If I lose to ThunderDan9, I wouldn't be too disappointed because he had one of my favorite teams post-draft and I thought he would be a contender to win the whole thing. But I still think my team is better when you take into account offense and defense while also looking at the matchups. He has Horace Grant guarding Kevin Durant, I have Shane Battier guarding Larry Bird. That is a massive advantage for me in terms of the defender guarding the opponents best player. You could argue Bird is a better offensive player than Durant but I don't think that's happening in this series where Durant has a much more favorable matchup.

Interested to see how this plays out. ThunderDan9 has a great team and I think both of our teams deserved to make it to the Final 4. Hopefully I still have a miracle comeback left in me, but that will be up to the remaining judges.

[john248]

vote O_6. his was my fav team from the start which I wasn't too shy to admit through the draft and until now with versatility on both ends. i've refrained from voting because i didn't want to come off as someone who was voting against TD9 because my team lost to him and was hoping the other judging would just decide this series. definitely not a series where 1 team is blowing another team out. and if i needed to pick a team from the 2 for that needed defensive stop, i'd go with O_6. hard to vote against Bird since he was incredible these years and Manu is a perfect compliment. this is what i feel is the finals, no disrespect to the next series.

[MisterHibachi]

bastillon
TMACFORMVP
penbeast0: ThunderDan9
ronnymac2: O_6
Doctor MJ: ThunderDan9
SideshowBob
Texas Chuck: ThunderDan9
therealbig3: O_6
whitehops: ThunderDan9
Quotatious: O_6
john248: O_6
MisterHibachi: ThunderDan9

ThunderDan9 wins 5-4 and moves onto the Finals to meet Bruh Man.