Team White Chocolate:
PG - Tony Parker / Kevin Johnson
SG - Vince Carter / Klay Thompson
SF - Tracy McGrady / Glen Rice
PF - Tim Duncan / Blake Griffin
C - David Robinson / Mark Eaton
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
White Chocolate's Case:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNHjX_08FE0
My starting five's best statistical year:
Tony Parker - 22.0 PPG, 6.9 APG, 3.1 RPG, 50.6% from field (2008-09)
Vince Carter - 27.6 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 3.9 APG, 40.8% from three (2000-01)
Tracy McGrady - 32.1 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 5.5 APG, 38.6% from three (2002-03)
Tim Duncan - 21.9 PPG, 12.0 RPG, 2.8 BPG, 49.6% from field (2004-05)
David Robinson - 25.6 PPG, 13.0 RPG, 3.9 BPG, 55.2% from field (1990-91)
6th man's best statistical year:
Klay Thompson - 22.1 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.1 APG, 42.5% from three (2015-16)
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.
The Difference Maker in this Series: Wade and Worthy are proven clutch players in playoff settings when it mattered the most (6 Championship Rings combined, Worthy Finals MVP in 1988, DWade Finals MVP in 2006), will likely be too strong for the McGrady/Carter duo (No rings, no finals appearances combined).
In the 2nd unit 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 Parker as well. He is definitely quick enough to do it, and will relish the chance to get in Parker's face.
Match-up with White Chocolate
- Post: SHAQ/Webber = Robinson/Duncan
- PG: Payton > Parker
- Wings: Wade/Worthy >> Carter/McGrady
- 2nd Unit: Lillard/Redd/Robinson/Aldridge/Gasol = Johnson/Thompson/Rice/Griffin/Eaton
White Chocolate has put together a solid team. In the post, the Shaq/Webber combination is equal to the Robinson/Duncan combination, so that match-up is a wash.
Defensively the Payton is more than a match for Parker. At the point, Gary Payton will stick to Parker like glue and disrupt everything that Parker wants to do.
The tipping point in this series will be the experience of the Wade/Worthy combo playoff situation (6 Rings combined, Worthy Finals MVP in 1988, Wade Finals MVP in 2006) against the inexperienced Carter/McGrady - both of whom have never won a ring.
In summary, the front court is pretty equal, but the playoff experience of Wade/Worthy over Carter/McGrady will likely push my team over the top, translating to a 4-3 series win.
PG - Tony Parker / Kevin Johnson
SG - Vince Carter / Klay Thompson
SF - Tracy McGrady / Glen Rice
PF - Tim Duncan / Blake Griffin
C - David Robinson / Mark Eaton
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
White Chocolate's Case:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNHjX_08FE0
My starting five's best statistical year:
Tony Parker - 22.0 PPG, 6.9 APG, 3.1 RPG, 50.6% from field (2008-09)
Vince Carter - 27.6 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 3.9 APG, 40.8% from three (2000-01)
Tracy McGrady - 32.1 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 5.5 APG, 38.6% from three (2002-03)
Tim Duncan - 21.9 PPG, 12.0 RPG, 2.8 BPG, 49.6% from field (2004-05)
David Robinson - 25.6 PPG, 13.0 RPG, 3.9 BPG, 55.2% from field (1990-91)
6th man's best statistical year:
Klay Thompson - 22.1 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.1 APG, 42.5% from three (2015-16)
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.
The Difference Maker in this Series: Wade and Worthy are proven clutch players in playoff settings when it mattered the most (6 Championship Rings combined, Worthy Finals MVP in 1988, DWade Finals MVP in 2006), will likely be too strong for the McGrady/Carter duo (No rings, no finals appearances combined).
In the 2nd unit 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 Parker as well. He is definitely quick enough to do it, and will relish the chance to get in Parker's face.
Match-up with White Chocolate
- Post: SHAQ/Webber = Robinson/Duncan
- PG: Payton > Parker
- Wings: Wade/Worthy >> Carter/McGrady
- 2nd Unit: Lillard/Redd/Robinson/Aldridge/Gasol = Johnson/Thompson/Rice/Griffin/Eaton
White Chocolate has put together a solid team. In the post, the Shaq/Webber combination is equal to the Robinson/Duncan combination, so that match-up is a wash.
Defensively the Payton is more than a match for Parker. At the point, Gary Payton will stick to Parker like glue and disrupt everything that Parker wants to do.
The tipping point in this series will be the experience of the Wade/Worthy combo playoff situation (6 Rings combined, Worthy Finals MVP in 1988, Wade Finals MVP in 2006) against the inexperienced Carter/McGrady - both of whom have never won a ring.
In summary, the front court is pretty equal, but the playoff experience of Wade/Worthy over Carter/McGrady will likely push my team over the top, translating to a 4-3 series win.
