Team tfivas:
PG - Isiah Thomas / Deron Williams
SG - Michael Jordan / Jeff Hornacek
SF - Scottie Pippen / Peja Stojakovic / Ron Artest
PF - Kevin McHale
C - Alonzo Mourning / Marcus Camby
Team ONE LOVE:
PG - Gary Payton / Damian Lillard
SG - Dwayne Wade / Michael Redd
SF - James Worthy / Glenn Robinson
PF - Chris Webber / LaMarcus Aldridge
C - Shaquille O'Neal / Marc Gasol
tfivas' Case:
n/a
ONE LOVE's Case:
Offensive Philosophy
This team will play inside-out basketball with the ever reliable Gary Payton running the offense. Shaq & Webber will both feature prominently offensively. They will both demand the ball and score at will down low. Webber can step out and shoot the jumpshot, but he is also a very good passer and will likely give Shaq, Wade and Worthy easy looks as well.
Shaq VS Mourning: Over their whole career, Shaq averaged 30.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 3 blocks, (1993-2004). So we know Shaq can, and will dominate Mourning in this match-up.
In the 2nd unit: The Gasol/Aldridge combo is going to be too strong for Camby to handle (tfivas doesn't have a back-up PF). On the floor there are scorers galore, all are dynamic players that demand double teams: LaMarcus Aldridge, Glenn Robinson, Michael Redd and Damian Lillard. Marc Gasol with his passing will anchor the post. Plenty of spacing with Redd and Lillard are elite 3 point shooters, and Robinson and Aldridge both great mid range shooter/scorers.
Defensive Philosophy
Defense starts at the PG with Gary Payton, the only point guard to have ever won a DPOY. Dwayne Wade and James Worthy provide physical wing defense, and Shaq and Webber are terrific defensive anchors, with Shaq averaging 3 blocks per game in his prime. In the 2nd unit, Marc Gasol the former DPOY will play the pivot and will organise the defensive strategy. His presence and intensity alone makes the team better defensively.
Gary Payton in his prime is considered the best defender of Michael Jordan, and in this match-up, Payton will really relish the chance to stop Thomas as well as guard Jordan (again) on the switch and we all know he'll get in Jordan's face and do a terrific job on him.
Match-up with tfivas
- Post: SHAQ/Webber >> Mourning/McHale
- PG: Payton = Thomas
- Wings: Wade/Worthy < Jordan/Pippen
- 2nd Unit: Lillard/Redd/Robinson/Aldridge/Gasol >> Williams/Hornacek/Stojakovic/Artest/Camby
tfivas has put together a solid team. But Defensively Payton is going to match punch-for-punch with Thomas, and on the switch will (again) really get in Jordan's face. Both Wade and Worthy are competitors (Wade Finals MVP in 2006 and Worthy in 1988) will rise to the challenge against Jordan and Pippen both offensively and defensively. Worthy with his 6'9 frame will hold his own against Pippen.
But the tipping point will be in the post: The Shaq/Webber combination will dominate the Mourning/McHale combo offensively. Shaq especially is going to be too strong for Mourning to contain.. Historically: Shaq VS Mourning, Shaq averaged 30.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 3 blocks... a dominating performance.
Moreover in the 2nd unit, tfivas doesn't have a backup PF (only Camby).. effectively playing 4 vs 3 in the front court, translating to an offensive trashing up front.
In summary, the dominant post play up front and overall balanced scoring should translate to a 4-3 series win.
PG - Isiah Thomas / Deron Williams
SG - Michael Jordan / Jeff Hornacek
SF - Scottie Pippen / Peja Stojakovic / Ron Artest
PF - Kevin McHale
C - Alonzo Mourning / Marcus Camby
Team ONE LOVE:
PG - Gary Payton / Damian Lillard
SG - Dwayne Wade / Michael Redd
SF - James Worthy / Glenn Robinson
PF - Chris Webber / LaMarcus Aldridge
C - Shaquille O'Neal / Marc Gasol
tfivas' Case:
n/a
ONE LOVE's Case:
Offensive Philosophy
This team will play inside-out basketball with the ever reliable Gary Payton running the offense. Shaq & Webber will both feature prominently offensively. They will both demand the ball and score at will down low. Webber can step out and shoot the jumpshot, but he is also a very good passer and will likely give Shaq, Wade and Worthy easy looks as well.
Shaq VS Mourning: Over their whole career, Shaq averaged 30.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 3 blocks, (1993-2004). So we know Shaq can, and will dominate Mourning in this match-up.
In the 2nd unit: The Gasol/Aldridge combo is going to be too strong for Camby to handle (tfivas doesn't have a back-up PF). On the floor there are scorers galore, all are dynamic players that demand double teams: LaMarcus Aldridge, Glenn Robinson, Michael Redd and Damian Lillard. Marc Gasol with his passing will anchor the post. Plenty of spacing with Redd and Lillard are elite 3 point shooters, and Robinson and Aldridge both great mid range shooter/scorers.
Defensive Philosophy
Defense starts at the PG with Gary Payton, the only point guard to have ever won a DPOY. Dwayne Wade and James Worthy provide physical wing defense, and Shaq and Webber are terrific defensive anchors, with Shaq averaging 3 blocks per game in his prime. In the 2nd unit, Marc Gasol the former DPOY will play the pivot and will organise the defensive strategy. His presence and intensity alone makes the team better defensively.
Gary Payton in his prime is considered the best defender of Michael Jordan, and in this match-up, Payton will really relish the chance to stop Thomas as well as guard Jordan (again) on the switch and we all know he'll get in Jordan's face and do a terrific job on him.
Match-up with tfivas
- Post: SHAQ/Webber >> Mourning/McHale
- PG: Payton = Thomas
- Wings: Wade/Worthy < Jordan/Pippen
- 2nd Unit: Lillard/Redd/Robinson/Aldridge/Gasol >> Williams/Hornacek/Stojakovic/Artest/Camby
tfivas has put together a solid team. But Defensively Payton is going to match punch-for-punch with Thomas, and on the switch will (again) really get in Jordan's face. Both Wade and Worthy are competitors (Wade Finals MVP in 2006 and Worthy in 1988) will rise to the challenge against Jordan and Pippen both offensively and defensively. Worthy with his 6'9 frame will hold his own against Pippen.
But the tipping point will be in the post: The Shaq/Webber combination will dominate the Mourning/McHale combo offensively. Shaq especially is going to be too strong for Mourning to contain.. Historically: Shaq VS Mourning, Shaq averaged 30.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 3 blocks... a dominating performance.
Moreover in the 2nd unit, tfivas doesn't have a backup PF (only Camby).. effectively playing 4 vs 3 in the front court, translating to an offensive trashing up front.
In summary, the dominant post play up front and overall balanced scoring should translate to a 4-3 series win.
