2024-25 West Cross Standings Draft - R1 - GeorgeMarcus* 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, I will add a poll, and the team with the most votes after 24 hours will advance. EACH MANAGER SHOULD ALSO VOTE FOR THEIR OWN TEAM IN THE POLL - IF YOU FAIL TO DO THIS, YOU ARE SIMPLY GIVING AWAY A VOTE. If the votes are tied, we will decide the matchup via AI vote.

You are not required to state or explain your vote, but you are free to comment in the thread if you want to.

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).

[Larry_Russell]

PG: Mike Conley (2012-13) 11.8
14.6ppg, 2.8rpg, 6.1apg, 2.2spg, 36.5% on 3.7-3pta
DEF-2

SG: Luka Doncic (2024-25) 20.5
28.2ppg, 8.2rpg, 7.7apg, 1.8spg, 0.5bpg, 37% on 9.6-3pta

SF: Bruce Bowen (2005-06) 6.5
7.5ppg, 4rpg, 1.5apg, 1spg, 0.5bpg, 42.5% on 3-3pta
DPOY-2, Def-1

PF: Jaren Jackson Jr (2022-23) 13
18.6ppg, 6.8rpg, 1apg, 1spg, 3bpg, 35.5% on 4.5-3pta
DPOY, DEF-1, AS

C: Shaquille ONeal (1999-00) 21.1
29.7ppg, 13.6rpg, 3.8apg, 0.5spg, 3bpg
MVP, FMVP, SPOY-2, NBA-1, Def-2, AS, MIP-10

PG/SG: Nate McMillan (1993-94) 5.4
6ppg, 3.9rpg, 5.3apg, 3spg, 39% on 1.8-3pta
6MPTY-2, DPOY-7, DEF-2

SF/PF: Boris Diaw (2012-13) 4.4
7.8ppg, 3.6rpg, 1apg, 0.5spg, 0.7bpg, 41% on 3.5-3pta


C: Mark Eaton (1989-90) 3.7
4.8ppg, 7.3rpg, 0.5apg, 0.4spg, 2.5bpg
DPOY-5


PG: Conley (38) / McMillan (10)
SG: Doncic (38) / McMillan (10)
SF: Bowen (38) / Diaw (10)
PF: Jackson Jr (38) / Diaw (10)
C: ONeal (38) / Eaton (10)

86.4/88

Matchups as follows
Bruce Bowen on Steph Curry
Mike COnley defends Doug Christie
Luka Defends Amen Thompson
Shaq defends Karl Malone
Jaren Jackson Jr defends Towns

I am locked and loaded here for defense in this one. JJjr gives me the ability to cover on the perimeter with a big man, and lets Shaq stay at home on the paint and bully defend Malone and rotating to still cover the rim.
Luka hides on Thompson who is a non threat from the outside which lets him stay close to the paint and look for deflections and tips.
Conley is an awesome cover for Christie who doesnt shoot a bunch or score a bunch and loves to move
ANd Bowen is arguably the greatest defender for shooters the league has ever had. He has the foot speed, intelligence and unbelievable close out ability to cover Steph. Steph will still score, but he is going to have to work harder than he ever has before....and when Bowen takes a rest....Out comes another elite defensive lead guard in McMIllan to take him on.


Offensively I am physically DOMINATE.

Shaq
No one here can guard him or really even come close to it. He is going to FEAST.

He has great spacing all around and an elite guard to run pick and rolls, and set him up.
Luka/Shaq pairing should be pretty lethal with Luka loving to toss lobs to his bigman, and shaq loving to catch and crush them

Conley gives me a great steady lead playmaker who can set Shaq up in the post while the defense is spread out from all my shooting.

[GeorgeMarcus]

Starting Lineup:
18 Karl-Anthony Towns ~ 14.3 FGA ~ NBA3
99 Karl Malone ~ 16.3 FGA ~ MVP, DEF1
25 Amen Thompson ~ 10.1 FGA ~ Soon-to-be DEF1/DEF2
03 Doug Christie ~ 7.0 FGA ~ DEF1
15 Steph Curry ~ 16.8 FGA ~ MVP, NBA Champion

Bench:
01 PJ Brown ~ 7.0 FGA ~ DEF2
95 Detlef Schrempf ~ 12.2 FGA ~ NBA3
96 Scott Brooks ~ 4.2 FGA

87.9/88 FGA

Rotation:
Towns (33) / Brown (15)
Malone (38) / Brown (10)
Amen (15) / Schrempf (33)
Christie (33) / Amen (15)
Curry (38) / Brooks (10)

Write-Up
Gotta keep this brief. In addition to the best shooter of all time, our offense features floor spacing big men who should make Shaq/Eaton's lives difficult defensively.

Defensively, we're putting Malone on Shaq and KAT on JJJ. Malone is strong as an ox and has the body to push back in the post, giving weak side defenders time to swoop in. PJ Brown is another big, physical body we have to throw against Diesel. We also have Amen Thompson/Doug Christie to harass Luka throughout the game.

Our bench is a clear advantage with Schrempf leading the way as a dangerous offensive piece off the bench.

GL LR and nice building!

[durantbird]

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Voting is open. GeorgeMarcus and LR please vote for yourselves

[durantbird]

GeorgeMarcus advances

[Larry_Russell]

I can honestly say ai am surprised I lost this matchup.

Awesome cover for steph and malone versus terrible cover for shaq.

[GeorgeMarcus]

I can honestly say ai am surprised I lost this matchup.

Awesome cover for steph and malone versus terrible cover for shaq.

Malone is actually a solid cover for Shaq. He was one of the only players strong enough not to get pushed around by him in the post. They usually matched up H2H where Malone consistently held his own.

KAT on the other hand would have been bullied relentlessly if I didn't switch him onto JJJ.