Howard's Team
Russell Westbrook / Elfrid Payton
Khris Middleton / Victor Oladipo
Otto Porter / Danilo Gallinari
Serge Ibaka / Markieff Morris
Chris Bosh / Brook Lopez
vs.
Hack's Team
Kyrie Irving/ Zach Lavine
Kevin Martin/ Mario Hezonja
Chandler Parsons/ Shabazz Muhammad
Anthony Davis/ Terrence Jones
Derrick Favors / Mason Plumlee
Howard's Case:
PG: Russ - 28.1 ppg/8.6 apg/7.3rpg
The NBA LEADER in points with 28.1 a game, he threw in 8.6 assists and 7.3 rebounds per game. Stud. Gets to the line at will, but can create as well. Post all star game he put up 31/10/9. I don't even need to comment on that. Oh and did I mention he's a good defender?! Irving might be talented on offense, but he's a sieve on defense, and Westbrook will take advantage of him big time. Oh and did I mention he as the NBA leader in PER? He's kinda good.
SG: Khris Middleton - 13.4 ppg/2.3 apg/4.4rpg
Owner of a big new contract, this guy is still underrated. Prototypical 3 and D guy, he's going to help shut down one of Hack's only scorers in Kevin Martin. Now his numbers may not look great, but let's not forget that after the all star break when he got 35 minutes, he was putting up 17/4/3 on good shooting numbers while playing phenomenal defense. Opposing players shot 39% against Middleton, 32% on 3's. So Kevin Martin, who doesn't play defense is matched up with this guy?! Not even close.
SF: Otto Porter - 6 ppg/1 apg/3 rpg
This is my surprise starter, and it's for a very good reason. Parsons is like Hayward-lite. He can run the offense, do a lot of things pretty decently, but not great at anything. I need a good defender on him. That's where Porter comes in to play. Dude can play defense, (Shaqtin' moment aside). Porter finally got big minutes in the playoffs where he put up about 10 and 8 while shooting 37.5% from 3. His most important contribution was defense though. He had an offensive rating of 115 and defensive rating of 101 during the playoffs. Pretty damn good, and he's only going to get better. Now let's talk about his playoff defense...he held opposing players to 38% shooting!! 29% on 3's. And he played against Atlanta, a team known for their shooting. So yeah, Parsons is good, but he's not scoring much against a proven playoff defender.
PF: Serge Ibaka -14 ppg/8 rpg/2.4 bpg
Serge Ibaka is the 2nd best rim defender behind a guy we know quite well, Rudy Gobert. Ibaka's rim FG% allowed is 40.8%. That's insane. Throw in the fact that he shoots 38% from deep on 3+ attempts a game, and you have a very unique player. He's quite possibly the best 3rd fiddle in the league. Interestingly enough, when Durant went down he started putting up 17 and 9.4, he can ball when given the chance. Him and Favors will be a great matchup, but I think the fact that Ibaka can stretch out to the 3-pt line and hit his FT's at a good rate give Ibaka the edge.
C: Chris Bosh - 21 ppg/ 7 rpg/ 2.2 apg
Bosh is one of the most versatile post players in the league. He also shot 38% from 3's on about 4 attempts a game...not too shabby. Has one of the best midrange shots in the league. I'm putting Bosh on Davis because Bosh is probably my weakest defender, and well, Davis is gonna get his no matter what. I have plus defenders on all of his other players...quite frankly, I'm going to let Davis get his and he won't win this series by himself. And let's not act like Bosh won't score. Davis allows 49% of shots at the rim to go in. Sure he gets some blocked shots, but he's an overrated defender. Bosh will stretch Davis from the paint and open the lanes up.
Bench:
PG: Elfrid Payton - 9 ppg/ 6.5 apg/ 4.3 rpg/ 1.7 spp
Payton was a great defender for a rookie. He can't shoot worth a ****, but he can do everything else well. Great backup, especially with a lineup full of shooters. Put up 11/8/5 post all-star break.
SG: Victor Oladipo - 18/4/4
I'm letting Dipo and Payton team up again. Dipo is one of the best young SG's in the league. He has an improving shot, but his bread and butter is getting to the rim. Plays pretty solid defense. He's going to be a great scorer off the bench and occasional starter depending on matchup.
SF: Danilo Gallinari - 12/4/1.4
Gallinari's numbers are misleading. As a starter he put up 18/5/2 while shooting 40% from deep. A very underrated player, he's going to get me big buckets off the bench.
PF: Markieff Morris- 15/6
Another floor stretcher, Morris can shoot the 3 and adds a toughness that any team could use.
C: Brook Lopez- 17/7/2
Steal of the draft here. Put up 20/9/2 in the playoffs, and pretty much averaged that after the all star break as well. If Bosh struggles at all against Davis, Lopez is going in. Lopez will physically dominate any backup that Hack has, and would do damn well against Davis too.
Strategy: As you can see, everybody in my starting lineup can shoot 3's. The worst shooter is probably Russ, which actually works out well. His game is driving the ball, and what does having a lineup full of shooters do? It opens up the lane. Hack can keep Favors or Davis in the paint, but Russ will kick it to an open Bosh or Ibaka who are excellent corner 3 shooters. Porter is a solid shooter, and Middleton is a very good shooter who can create a little offense of his own. Bosh may be getting old, but very few bigs have his offensive repertoire. Him and Russ will be my main offensive guys. My bench is freaking awesome. Payton is a great distributor, plays solid defense, and will get it to my playmakers. Oladipo will be starting on occasion, he's a good all around player. He can shoot it a bit, can drive if, dish it, defend, he can do a little of everything. Gallinari is a really good offensive 3, one of the best in the league tbh. Morris lacks in some areas, but he can spread the court which is a huge part of my strategy. And that leaves us with Lopez. When he's on the court, the offense is going through him. A dominant post scorer, not even Davis is going to stop him, and Favors just isn't strong enough to get good position on Lopez. If Bosh struggles, Lopez is going in ASAP.
In summary, my bench is a ton better than Hack's, and my starters will lock down his sans Davis. He doesn't have anybody that can stop my perimeter players. I have the better overall team, and quite frankly, it isn't that close.
Hack's Case:
My team is going to play Quin Snyder style of basketball. My team will counter anything that Howard tries and dominate his team.
Russell Westbrook / Elfrid Payton
Khris Middleton / Victor Oladipo
Otto Porter / Danilo Gallinari
Serge Ibaka / Markieff Morris
Chris Bosh / Brook Lopez
vs.
Hack's Team
Kyrie Irving/ Zach Lavine
Kevin Martin/ Mario Hezonja
Chandler Parsons/ Shabazz Muhammad
Anthony Davis/ Terrence Jones
Derrick Favors / Mason Plumlee
Howard's Case:
PG: Russ - 28.1 ppg/8.6 apg/7.3rpg
The NBA LEADER in points with 28.1 a game, he threw in 8.6 assists and 7.3 rebounds per game. Stud. Gets to the line at will, but can create as well. Post all star game he put up 31/10/9. I don't even need to comment on that. Oh and did I mention he's a good defender?! Irving might be talented on offense, but he's a sieve on defense, and Westbrook will take advantage of him big time. Oh and did I mention he as the NBA leader in PER? He's kinda good.
SG: Khris Middleton - 13.4 ppg/2.3 apg/4.4rpg
Owner of a big new contract, this guy is still underrated. Prototypical 3 and D guy, he's going to help shut down one of Hack's only scorers in Kevin Martin. Now his numbers may not look great, but let's not forget that after the all star break when he got 35 minutes, he was putting up 17/4/3 on good shooting numbers while playing phenomenal defense. Opposing players shot 39% against Middleton, 32% on 3's. So Kevin Martin, who doesn't play defense is matched up with this guy?! Not even close.
SF: Otto Porter - 6 ppg/1 apg/3 rpg
This is my surprise starter, and it's for a very good reason. Parsons is like Hayward-lite. He can run the offense, do a lot of things pretty decently, but not great at anything. I need a good defender on him. That's where Porter comes in to play. Dude can play defense, (Shaqtin' moment aside). Porter finally got big minutes in the playoffs where he put up about 10 and 8 while shooting 37.5% from 3. His most important contribution was defense though. He had an offensive rating of 115 and defensive rating of 101 during the playoffs. Pretty damn good, and he's only going to get better. Now let's talk about his playoff defense...he held opposing players to 38% shooting!! 29% on 3's. And he played against Atlanta, a team known for their shooting. So yeah, Parsons is good, but he's not scoring much against a proven playoff defender.
PF: Serge Ibaka -14 ppg/8 rpg/2.4 bpg
Serge Ibaka is the 2nd best rim defender behind a guy we know quite well, Rudy Gobert. Ibaka's rim FG% allowed is 40.8%. That's insane. Throw in the fact that he shoots 38% from deep on 3+ attempts a game, and you have a very unique player. He's quite possibly the best 3rd fiddle in the league. Interestingly enough, when Durant went down he started putting up 17 and 9.4, he can ball when given the chance. Him and Favors will be a great matchup, but I think the fact that Ibaka can stretch out to the 3-pt line and hit his FT's at a good rate give Ibaka the edge.
C: Chris Bosh - 21 ppg/ 7 rpg/ 2.2 apg
Bosh is one of the most versatile post players in the league. He also shot 38% from 3's on about 4 attempts a game...not too shabby. Has one of the best midrange shots in the league. I'm putting Bosh on Davis because Bosh is probably my weakest defender, and well, Davis is gonna get his no matter what. I have plus defenders on all of his other players...quite frankly, I'm going to let Davis get his and he won't win this series by himself. And let's not act like Bosh won't score. Davis allows 49% of shots at the rim to go in. Sure he gets some blocked shots, but he's an overrated defender. Bosh will stretch Davis from the paint and open the lanes up.
Bench:
PG: Elfrid Payton - 9 ppg/ 6.5 apg/ 4.3 rpg/ 1.7 spp
Payton was a great defender for a rookie. He can't shoot worth a ****, but he can do everything else well. Great backup, especially with a lineup full of shooters. Put up 11/8/5 post all-star break.
SG: Victor Oladipo - 18/4/4
I'm letting Dipo and Payton team up again. Dipo is one of the best young SG's in the league. He has an improving shot, but his bread and butter is getting to the rim. Plays pretty solid defense. He's going to be a great scorer off the bench and occasional starter depending on matchup.
SF: Danilo Gallinari - 12/4/1.4
Gallinari's numbers are misleading. As a starter he put up 18/5/2 while shooting 40% from deep. A very underrated player, he's going to get me big buckets off the bench.
PF: Markieff Morris- 15/6
Another floor stretcher, Morris can shoot the 3 and adds a toughness that any team could use.
C: Brook Lopez- 17/7/2
Steal of the draft here. Put up 20/9/2 in the playoffs, and pretty much averaged that after the all star break as well. If Bosh struggles at all against Davis, Lopez is going in. Lopez will physically dominate any backup that Hack has, and would do damn well against Davis too.
Strategy: As you can see, everybody in my starting lineup can shoot 3's. The worst shooter is probably Russ, which actually works out well. His game is driving the ball, and what does having a lineup full of shooters do? It opens up the lane. Hack can keep Favors or Davis in the paint, but Russ will kick it to an open Bosh or Ibaka who are excellent corner 3 shooters. Porter is a solid shooter, and Middleton is a very good shooter who can create a little offense of his own. Bosh may be getting old, but very few bigs have his offensive repertoire. Him and Russ will be my main offensive guys. My bench is freaking awesome. Payton is a great distributor, plays solid defense, and will get it to my playmakers. Oladipo will be starting on occasion, he's a good all around player. He can shoot it a bit, can drive if, dish it, defend, he can do a little of everything. Gallinari is a really good offensive 3, one of the best in the league tbh. Morris lacks in some areas, but he can spread the court which is a huge part of my strategy. And that leaves us with Lopez. When he's on the court, the offense is going through him. A dominant post scorer, not even Davis is going to stop him, and Favors just isn't strong enough to get good position on Lopez. If Bosh struggles, Lopez is going in ASAP.
In summary, my bench is a ton better than Hack's, and my starters will lock down his sans Davis. He doesn't have anybody that can stop my perimeter players. I have the better overall team, and quite frankly, it isn't that close.
Hack's Case:
My team is going to play Quin Snyder style of basketball. My team will counter anything that Howard tries and dominate his team.
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