RollWithEm

Depth Charts:

Jazz
PG Mark Price/Dennis Johnson
SG Sidney Moncreif/Russell Westbrook
SF Elgin Baylor/Adrian Dantley
PF Bill Walton/Rasheed Wallace
C Kareem Abdul-Jabbar/Marcus Camby

Warriors
PG Steve Nash/Maurice Cheeks
SG John Havlicek/Latrell Sprewell
SF Bernard King/Mark Aguirre
PF Dirk Nowitzki/Maurice Lucas
C Hakeem Olajuwon/Robert Parish

__________________
But that's just me.

PauloCatarino

First of all, i have to thank all the fellow posters who voted for my team to get this far.
Going in, i dind't think (picking where i picked) i would be able to gather a team of players who would contend for this championship.
I tried the best i could to provide a bunch of players who not only would be great players (like all the others in all the other teams in this championship) but who i thought could work/mesh well together (to be fair, there was at least one team i thought was better, team-wise, than mine - and i am biased!! ).

For this particular match-up:

1- STARTERS:

BACKCOURT:

I think i have a huge edge in the PG/SG spots.
I've always loved Mark's shooting and demeanor, but he is not the floor leader that Nash is (who is also a great shooter). Steve Nash is a 2 time MVP winner who is arguably a Top-3 all-time offensive PG. Nash is not a good defender, i concede. But Price ain't, also.
Moncrief, i love. He was a great two-way player. But Hondo is amongst the greatest 2-way permiter players ever. He was much better than Moncrief.

Like others have said, the Jazz have 3 guys who operate on the paint in Baylor, Walton and Cap.
I don't think it will work well.
Baylor was a great scorer, no doubt, but with terrible, terrible shooting percentages. For this kind of championship, i prefer Bernard King over him (Bernard was a quick scorer, with excelent touch). And King won't hog the ball.
The Jazz have 2 7footers in the paint. I have 2 7footers who can operate in the offensive end from deep (Dirk will score from everywhere; Hakeem had a nifty (sp?) jumper) and are not shy onscoring near the basket.
Walton was a great rebounder and a good defender. But playing PF? And having to chase Dirk around till the 3 point line? Hmmm....

KAJ is the greatest and better player in both teams. There's no way i can stop him. But to try and contain him i have a Top-3 defensive center all-time in Hakeem.

2- BENCH:

I believe i have the better bench (keep in mind that bench players probably won't play more than 15/20 minutes per game).
DJ is awesome. But Cheeks is not very far from him.
Russell and Dantley (as great as they individually are) can hurt your team (the first - playing SG! - with his erratic shots and decision-making, the second freezing the ball). Sprewell was a dynamic, athletic combo-guard in the year i selected him and Aguirre, well, he was a monster scorer who didn't stop the offense.
Wallace/Camby against Mo and Chief? I have more firepower WHILE still having defenders and rebounders.

3- OVERVIEW:

Since the first moment i did envision my team playing as a balanced (defense/offense) unit,
with team-players who could knew their roles and play accordingly.
I think that's the key for this match-up: Nash will set up the offense and drill open jumpers; Hondo will be a jack-of-all-trades; King will be counted upon to score (efficiently) being spoonfed by both Nash and Hondo; Dirk will benefit from Walton's lack of mobility in the perimeter; Hakeem will try to bring Cap out.
Defensive-wise, it's obvious i have a problem with KAJ (i don't think i have it with any other Jazz starter). But the most i can do is stick Hakeem to him and hope for the best!

Just my 2 cents...

__________________
2012 Legends Draft Winner

Golden State Warriors:
PG- Steve Nash - Maurice Cheeks;
SG- John Havlicek - Latrell Sprewell;
SF- Bernard King - Mark Aguirre;
PF- Dirk Nowitzki - Maurice Lucas;
C- Hakeem Olajuwon - Robert Parish.

jericho

Really interesting matchups individually. I'm hoping to see the Jazz's gameplan/argument before voting. This should be a close one.

__________________
Favorite players: Hakeem Olajuwon, Moses Malone, Bill Russell, Alex English, Kiki Vandeweghe, Sidney Moncrief, Lafayette Lever, Dan Issel, Bobby Jones, Julius Erving, Rick Barry, John Havlicek, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West...and Brooks Thompson

LEGENDS DRAFT:

C - Dwight Howard / Mel Daniels
PF - Dennis Rodman / Buck Williams
SF - Larry Bird / Connie Hawkins
SG - David Thompson / Shane Battier
PG - Chris Paul / Fat Lever

RollWithEm

Offense: This New Orleans Jazz squad has always been a read and react team offensively. We feature two big men who thrived in a John Wooden UCLA-style offense. Walton was one of the best high-post passers of all-time, and Kareem was an expert at down-screening for wing shooters/slashers off weakside ball rotation. On top of that, Price was one of the best post-feeders of all-time. What really gives my line-up the offensive advantage over most of the teams in this league, though, is Baylor’s superb offensive rebounding at the SF position. With smart, low turnover players everywhere on the floor, the surest two points in history down in the low block, and with the best offensive rebounding front court in the league, it’s just too hard to get a stop against the Jazz.

In this match-up, the offense (with the starters on the floor) will be running through Walton for the most part. My main focus offensively will be abusing Dirk’s defensive weaknesses and setting hard screens on Nash and Hondo to get shots for Price and Moncreif. Kareem will be used as more of a midrange scorer and passer than as a lowpost best in this game. Once Price gets hot over Nash’s token defense, the idea will be to pull Hakeem away from the basket just enough to allow back cuts set up by this good perimeter shooting. In a pinch, I have full confidence in Baylor’s ability to score on King one-on-one with the shot clock running down.

Once the bench mob enters the game, it will get ugly. My whole bench is basically just the upgraded version of the Warriors bench. DJ did well everything that Cheeks did well… he was just better defensively and more polished as a scorer. Prime Spree was one of the most explosive attackers of the basket the league has seen. Westbrook is simply more explosive and more consistent. Dantley and Aguirre is an even match-up. Prime Rasheed was the taller, more skilled version of prime Lucas. And prime Camby was more explosive and better defensively than prime Chief.

My bench was designed to overwhelm teams with defensive intensity, quickness, and end-to-end play. This match-up will be no different.

Defense: My defense throughout the tournament has been fairly similar. The Squid gets the assignment against the best guard on the other team (in this case Hondo). Baylor plays very physical against one of the opposing forwards (in this case King). The twin towers protect the paint on the backside. The only real problem with that approach in this case is the perimeter shooting of Dirk and Nash.

Prime Walton was one of the few players ever long enough, quick enough off his feet, and with enough defensive instincts to bother Dirk’s low post fade-away game. This will probably force him to the outside. Out there, the Squid will spend some time on Dirk trying to follow the Stephen Jackson blueprint by turning him (at his MVP level) into an uncomfortable 18-20 foot jump shooter.

Price’s (and later DJ’s) job will be to make Nash a scorer. He will try to close down passing lanes, take away his open threes, and force him to hit floaters to beat us. He is a very adept midrange scorer, but not getting Hakeem his touches will work to our advantage.

I already discussed the defensive approach of the bench mob. Pressure, pressure, and more pressure.

__________________
But that's just me.

Diophantos

This is a great matchup. I've said throughout the whole contest that I like Golden State's team construction more than the Hornets', and the write-ups are still making me lean towards Golden State. I'll wait and see if I have any more to say before voting.

__________________

"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less."
"The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make words mean so many different things."
"The question is," said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be master— that's all."

Legends Draft - Miami Heat
PG Penny Hardaway / Tim Hardaway
SG Dwyane Wade / Michael Redd
SF Kevin Durant / Peja Stojakovic
PF Dave Cowens / Elton Brand
C Shaquille O'Neal / Tyson Chandler

PauloCatarino

Great write-up, RWE! A few comments, though:

I'm a little confused about this.

Obviously, it was a good move subbing DJ for Price, considering that, eventhough DJ was the (much) greater player, if you didn't make the adjustment, you would have no great perimeter shooter in the starting line-up. Now you have (only) one.
Off course, doing so, you lost the floor general to the bench. Your transition game will hurt.

So you will be running the offense through Bill Walton? Hmmm... And you have your best offensive weapon as a "midrange scorer"? Double Hmmm...
Considering i only have one guy to worry about in the perimeter (and he was no volume scorer), the simple answer would be to play 4-1, crowding the paint and sticking Nash close to Price (Nash has the athletic and quickness edge, so i bet he would be able to stick to him).
Dirk is not a great defender, but walton isn't a major scorer, either. Nor had much range. If Walton is playing far from the basket, Dirk has the size to keep him from the rim (and God knows Walton wouldn't drive).

Regarding Baylor, there HAS to be made some adjustment from his game to this League. His rebounding numbers won't be anywhere near what they were. Not when he will be fighting 4 7footers for the ball. And 2 of them great rebounders.
And Baylor in the crunch? The guy who scored in the low .400FG%s thorought his career?

Reading your offensive gameplan, i think it ain't exactly the best. And it severely undermines KAJ's greatness (his skyhook was unstopable - if your name isn't Wilt - but he had to be feed in position to score. And Price wasn't great at that - nor war Squid.

Guardplay lacks range. Westbrook is a me-first low percentage shooter with erratic decision-making. Dantley holds the ball and stop rythm.
Rasheed was a basket-case that will probably fold after the first time he disputes a rebound with Mo. You see, i believe in imagining how things would probably work out in reality if this matches occurred. We all know Rasheed's caracter and game. And Mo's. I'm not saying Mo will punk Sheed right from the bat, he will make him retort to his old 3-point line hoisting of shots.
And are you really saying Camby > Robert Parish??????

Nor Price nor Baylor (IIRC) were good defenders. And i doubt Walton sticks Dirk in the perimeter.
And you are forgetting the athleticism (sp?) part. You have one runner in Baylor. and 2 plodding 7 footers. Going against quick, athletic guys like Nash (who will run around Price all day), Hondo (whose stamina was legendary), King and Hakeem..

Dirk will be called to score on the perimeter (King in motion, Hakeem in the low post). I'm happy about his chances being defended by Walton (waaaaaay out of his confort zone) or the much smaller Moncrief.

Like i've said thorought the tournament, eventhough Nash is the floor general, Hondo can and will do some playmaking. You can't stop me from getting the ball to Hakeem when i have such adept passers in those 2 guys.

I already discussed the defensive approach of the bench mob. Pressure, pressure, and more pressure.[/QUOTE]

Not a problem. Cheeks, Mo, Aguirre and Chief all played in championship games. They are hard-nosed, team-first players who know how to win.

EDIT: Btw, just to remember folks:

Steve Nash 2005-2006: 18.8ppg, 10.5apg, 4.2rpg, .512FG%, .4393P%, .931FT%, 23.3 PER – League MVP
John Havlicek 1970-71: 28.9ppg, 9.0rpg, 7.5apg, 20,8 PER, All-Nba 1st team, All-D 2nd team;
Bernard King 1984-1985: 32.9ppg, 5.8rpg, 3.7apg, .530FG%, 25,2 PER – All-Nba 1st team;
Dirk Nowitzki 2005-2006: 26.6ppg, 9.0rpg, 2.8apg, .4063P%, 28,1 PER - All-Nba 1st team
Hakeem Olajuwon 1992-1993: 26.1ppg, 13.0rpg, 3.5apg, 1.8spg, 4.2bpg, PER 27,3 – All-Nba 1st team, DPOY;
Maurice Cheeks 1985-1986: 15.4ppg, 2.9rpg, 9.2apg, 2.5spg, PER 17,9 – All-D 1st team;
Latrell Sprewell 1996-1997: 24.2ppg, 4.6rpg, 6.3apg, .3543P%, 19,7 PER
Mark Aguirre 1983-1984: 29.5ppg, 5.9rpg, 4.5apg, .524FG%, 23.5 PER
Maurice Lucas 1976-1977: 20.2ppg, 11.4rpg, 2.9apg, PER 18,3
Robert Parish 1980-1981: 18.9ppg, 9.5rpg, 1.8apg, 2.6bpg, .545FG%, PER 25,2

__________________
2012 Legends Draft Winner

Golden State Warriors:
PG- Steve Nash - Maurice Cheeks;
SG- John Havlicek - Latrell Sprewell;
SF- Bernard King - Mark Aguirre;
PF- Dirk Nowitzki - Maurice Lucas;
C- Hakeem Olajuwon - Robert Parish.

Diophantos

Another way of looking at the matchup would be to use what Dean Oliver calls the "Four Factors", basically accounting for what happens to all the possessions. The four factors are: getting and making free throws, rebounding, shooting from the field (efg%), and turnovers. In my opinion:


Foul shooting I think is pretty close. New Orleans might have players who get to the line a bit more but Golden State has higher percentage foul shooters. Let's call it a wash.

Rebounding is an advantage for New Orleans, especially with Baylor and Walton being much better on the glass than King and Dirk.

Shooting from the field is an advantage for Golden State, which has better floor spacing and better three-point shooting, and the best playmaker on either side in Nash. Obviously Kareem is great, but Baylor is not efficient, and Price, Moncrief, and Walton don't score as efficiently as Nash, King, and Dirk (especially if Walton is out of position chasing Dirk defensively). Finally, Hakeem is the best help defender on either team (though Walton and Kareem is of course also a formidable frontcourt to try and score on).

And the turnover battle I think is also won by Golden State. Nash is the best ball-handler on either side, and Dirk is one of the best high-usage players ever in terms of holding onto the ball, while guys like Walton and (so I've heard) Baylor are more TO-prone.

Of course, all these battles are close, and I think this would be a great series, but ultimately I have to go with the Warriors.

__________________

"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less."
"The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make words mean so many different things."
"The question is," said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be master— that's all."

Legends Draft - Miami Heat
PG Penny Hardaway / Tim Hardaway
SG Dwyane Wade / Michael Redd
SF Kevin Durant / Peja Stojakovic
PF Dave Cowens / Elton Brand
C Shaquille O'Neal / Tyson Chandler

Jamel Irief

I voted because this was on the home screen, not know what it was. I demand my vote count.

__________________

PauloCatarino

Is the Tournament over? Can i start bragging in the most obscene and/or insulting and/or annoying way?

EDIT: what's the prize?

__________________
2012 Legends Draft Winner

Golden State Warriors:
PG- Steve Nash - Maurice Cheeks;
SG- John Havlicek - Latrell Sprewell;
SF- Bernard King - Mark Aguirre;
PF- Dirk Nowitzki - Maurice Lucas;
C- Hakeem Olajuwon - Robert Parish.

Diophantos

Congrats to Paulo on a well-deserved victory, and to RollWithEm for second place. And thanks to Knick_Killer for setting up the draft and RollWithEm for setting up the tournament. I had a lot of fun.

__________________

"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less."
"The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make words mean so many different things."
"The question is," said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be master— that's all."

Legends Draft - Miami Heat
PG Penny Hardaway / Tim Hardaway
SG Dwyane Wade / Michael Redd
SF Kevin Durant / Peja Stojakovic
PF Dave Cowens / Elton Brand
C Shaquille O'Neal / Tyson Chandler

RollWithEm

Congrats to Paulo and the Warriors! Nice draft.

__________________
But that's just me.

Knick Killer

Congrats dude. And the prize is.......bragging rights!

No problem man. Glad you had fun.

__________________

PauloCatarino

I second that.
Props to RollWithEm and Knick_Killer for putting this up and to all involved.
Lots of fun.

__________________
2012 Legends Draft Winner

Golden State Warriors:
PG- Steve Nash - Maurice Cheeks;
SG- John Havlicek - Latrell Sprewell;
SF- Bernard King - Mark Aguirre;
PF- Dirk Nowitzki - Maurice Lucas;
C- Hakeem Olajuwon - Robert Parish.

jericho

Absolutely. I echo all the kudos. Ready to do this again as soon as Knick Killer or anyone else is ready to start it up.

__________________
Favorite players: Hakeem Olajuwon, Moses Malone, Bill Russell, Alex English, Kiki Vandeweghe, Sidney Moncrief, Lafayette Lever, Dan Issel, Bobby Jones, Julius Erving, Rick Barry, John Havlicek, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West...and Brooks Thompson

LEGENDS DRAFT:

C - Dwight Howard / Mel Daniels
PF - Dennis Rodman / Buck Williams
SF - Larry Bird / Connie Hawkins
SG - David Thompson / Shane Battier
PG - Chris Paul / Fat Lever

RollWithEm

I was thinking about doing another one, actually.

__________________
But that's just me.