RollWithEm

I apologize for the large delay between second round match-ups. I’ve been a little busy. At any rate, here comes the penultimate second round match-up from the two-horse-race that is the Larue Martin region. Here we have the tournament’s best two-seed against a surprising, upstart little 6-seed. Here’s your 2/6 match-up:

(6) 1993
Starters:
PG Sam Cassell
SG Penny Hardaway
SF Jamal Mashburn
PF Chris Webber
C Vin Baker
Bench:
G Allan Houston
G Nick Van Exel
F George Lynch
Utility:
C Shawn Bradley
G Isaiah Rider
F Byron Russell
F Chris Mills

This team made it out of their first round match-up on the strength of it’s balance in the starting line-up. Are they a bit out-manned in this round?

VS

(2) 2003
Starters:
PG Kirk Hinrich
SG Dwayne Wade
SF Lebron James
PF Chris Bosh
C Chris Kaman
Bench:
F Carmelo Anthony
G Leandrinho Barbosa
F David West
F Josh Howard
G TJ Ford
Utility:
F Boris Diaw
G Jason Kapono

This team is obviously stacked with talented players, but will they all mesh together? Will Melo accept his 6th man role for the good of the team? Who do you think would win?

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But that's just me.

VCHighFly

This is got some tight match-ups:

Cassell and Penny/Hinrich and Wade – Penny’s gonna have to guard Wade but Hinrich will probably get Penny on the other end because he’s a more solid defender than Wade. Wade will try to keep Cassell from getting to spots. At their prime levels these 4 would be very closely matched. Whichever couple dudes comes to play will have the advantage any given night.

Webber/Bosh – This would be a nice little one to watch. Webber hates it when quicker guys take him out on the perimeter but how would Bosh slow Webber down low? I love this one.

Van Exel/Barbosa – That would be two of the quickest guards ever in the league.

If you take Lebron off the 2003 team this one would be tough to call but I gotta go with 2003 to win. Star power that could actually mash together well is a scary thing.

GregOden

2003, hands down. Better bench, better starting 5.

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Diophantos

Both teams have a lot firepower from the backcourt: Penny, Cassell, NVE for 93 vs. Hinrich, Wade, Barbosa for 03. I think prime Wade is slightly better than prime Penny, but prime Cassell and NVE are better than Hinrich and Barbosa. So that's pretty even.

Both teams have versatile scorers in the frontcourt: Webber, Baker were both good post up players with mid-range jumpers, ball-handling, and passing abilities. Bosh is the same way for 03, and West is a versatile scorer as well. Kaman is a good bruiser and rebounder; something that the 93 team lacks.

03 is deeper.

But the 93 team lacks any sort of answer for Lebron I think. He and Wade will change the game with their forays to the rim, and 93 lacks the shot-blockers or perimeter defenders to do much about it. I think the 03 team gets to the line a lot, Webber and Vin get into foul trouble, and there's just too much slashing firepower from the 03 team. Unless Penny and Webber magically click and both go off huge, I see 03 taking this.

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"However," replied the universe,
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kflo

yeah, defensively the '93 team is weak, and they'd have no answer for wade and lebron penetration. the '93 team has better interior scoring, and great guard play (allan houston was a stud in his prime), but lacks the toughness. the weakness of the '03 team is that they don't have the shooters or the post game, so you could pack it in against them to stop the penetration.

BadBaronRudigor

2003

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RollWithEm

Although I'm on record as being a fan of 1993's backcourt AND starting frontcourt, 2003's overall athletism and depth takes this match-up rather easily. The LaRue Martin region is looking like a tough one to call.

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But that's just me.

PauloCatarino

2003.

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Pioneer10

2003

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