Larry's Strategy Flaws:First, let’s talk about your "3-2 zone" strategy. You're relying on Boris Diaw and Josh Howard to funnel Wade and Giannis into the paint. There’s a fundamental problem here: neither Diaw nor Howard have the defensive chops to handle Giannis’ athleticism or Wade’s explosiveness in one-on-one situations. Giannis is an MVP who thrives on blowing past defenders, and Wade, in his prime, is one of the most dangerous perimeter slashers. Diaw’s lateral quickness isn’t enough to handle either of them, and while Howard was a solid defender, he’s outmatched by Wade’s agility.
Shaq and Gasol down low certainly provide size, but they are not quick enough to guard Giannis in space. Funneling two of the most athletic slashers in NBA history into Shaq and Gasol, who lack the lateral mobility, isn’t a solid plan. Giannis and Wade both operate well in transition and can get around slower defenders. Your belief that neither Giannis nor Wade is a shooting threat ignores the fact that Wade could knock down mid-range shots consistently, and Giannis doesn’t need to shoot from outside when he can dominate driving into the paint.
Offensive Gameplan:
You state that you’re going to play "bully basketball," but size alone doesn’t win games. Kidd and Diaw, though great facilitators, don't present offensive threats on their own that could reliably create space for Shaq and Gasol. You’re lacking a strong perimeter threat besides Howard’s unreliable outside shooting. When your team collapses into the paint, my team’s perimeter defenders—Holiday, Sefolosha, and DiVincenzo—will be disruptive, forcing turnovers and choking off passing lanes.
Your "athletic shooter" in Josh Howard shot a mediocre 38% from three in his peak, and you’re relying on Kidd, who shot an inefficient 34% from deep that season (Does the name -ason Kidd ring a bell? - Jason without the J
). Compare that to my team, which has Jrue Holiday, a consistent outside shooter and excellent playmaker, alongside Wade’s ability to get to the basket at will. Donte DiVincenzo also provides much better spacing with his 37.9% 3-point shooting, something your bench can’t match.
Your Bench is Overrated:Your claim that you have a superior bench is laughable. Relying on Billups in his early years and Mike Miller well past his prime does not constitute bench superiority. Miller in 2011-12 averaged only 6 points, and Billups in 2000-01 wasn’t the Finals MVP yet—he was still developing and not even close to his prime. Meanwhile, my bench includes a defensive ace in Sefolosha (All-Defense caliber), DiVincenzo’s two-way play, and Bo Outlaw, who provides hustle, rebounds, and defensive versatility.
You also mentioned Rasho Nesterovic—a center who adds no real offensive firepower and only grabs 4 rebounds a game. He’s not even a reliable defensive presence compared to Serge Ibaka, who led the league in blocks twice and can step out to hit mid-range jumpers.
My Team's Strength:The core of my team is built on MVP-caliber players in Giannis and Wade, paired with the incredible two-way skills of Jrue Holiday. Giannis’ ability to dominate in the post, run the fast break, and defend any position blows your frontcourt out of the water. Your entire game plan revolves around size and strength, but you lack athleticism and versatility. With Wade and Holiday orchestrating, and Giannis wreaking havoc on both ends, your slow, size-reliant squad won’t be able to keep up.
Even on defense, your "bully basketball" approach is countered by elite defenders like Holiday, Sefolosha, and Giannis. Their length and quickness will disrupt your predictable offense, while Ibaka provides elite rim protection to neutralize your bigs.
In short, your entire argument hinges on outdated reasoning about size and slow-footed players. You’ve underestimated my team's athleticism, shooting, and defensive versatility. This matchup isn’t close.
Good luck Larry - you'll need it!
PG: Jrue Holiday (38) / Dwyane Wade (10)
SG: Dwyane Wade (28) / Donte DiVincenzo (20)
SF: Steve Smith (22) / Thabo Sefolosha (18) / Donte DiVincenzo (8)
PF: Giannis Antetokounmpo (26) / Bo Outlaw (12) / Steve Smith (10)
C: Serge Ibaka (36) / Giannis (12)
2011 Wade: 18.2
2019 Antetokounmpo: 17.3
2022 Holiday: 14.2
2012 Sefolosha: 3.7
2015 Ibaka: 12.3
2021 DiVincenzo: 9.1
2002 Smith: 8.9
2003 Outlaw: 3.5
Some truths are spoken for closure. Others are recognized privately for peace.
