Round 4 semifinal: Pacers vs Bulls

Winner goes on to face the Magic in the championship


Indiana Pacers

PG: Kyle Lowry/Jordan Farmar/John Lucas
SG: Ray Allen/Daniel Green
SF: Shawn Marion/Corey Maggette
PF: Carlos Boozer/Antawn Jamison/Drew Gooden
C: Dwight Howard/Boris Diaw/Drew Gooden


VS


Chicago Bulls

PG- Russell Westbrook/Ramon Sessions
SG- Klay Thompson/Mo Williams
SF- Shane Battier/Corey Brewer/Dahntay Jones
PF- Chris Bosh/Lamar Odom/Gustavo Ayon
C- Joakim Noah/Gustavo Ayon/Ben Wallace

Team Description

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NOH2313

The basic premise behind every good team is that it has one superstar. So I traded for Westbrook. Check. Next, I wanted to surround Westbrook with players who could run the floor with him, and stretch the defense in half court situations with their outside shooting. In comes Klay Thompson and Corey Brewer. Every good team needs secondary scoring options. I think Bosh is as good as those come. Now Bosh isn't an elite defender by any means, so I needed a Center who would do the dirty work and provide second chance points/opportunities. Done, with the trade for Noah. Lastly, a good team needs depth. And with that depth, there needs to be a good blend of offensive firepower and defensive prowess. Offensive firepower: Moe Williams and Lamar Odom. Two of the better scoring bench players in the NBA, including a former sixth man of the year. Ben Wallace and Ayon round out what I consider an excellent, versatile frontcourt. Sessions was a steal, and is an excellent 1 to bring off the bench. I needed a true point. Someone who could beat their man, penetrate, and make the high percentage plays. Sessions does all those things. Finally I needed a bit more depth and perimeter defense. In my opinion, Battier is one of the most underrated/underappreciated players in the league. He is extremely smart and continues to be one of the better perimeter defenders in the game. Watch Game 1 of the NBA Finals or the Lakers-Rockets series in 2008. Those games will give you a clue to just how good he has been and remains. Dahntay Jones was the last player I drafted. He gives my team an edge, additional perimeter defense, and outside shooting. All in all, I wanted a team that primarily runs the floor and utilizes Westbrook's talents. Check. I also wanted the team to be versatile enough to execute half court sets when neccesary. Check. I wanted the team to have a unique blend of offensive firepower and defensive intensity. Check. And I wanted to have a team with length. Check. Hope you like my team as much as I do.

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Once again, I acknowledge that my matchup is a tough one. But I still like my team to come out with the W. Here's why.

PG: Kyle Lowry/Jordan Farmar/John Lucas
SG: Ray Allen/Daniel Green
SF: Shawn Marion/Corey Maggette
PF: Carlos Boozer/Antawn Jamison/Drew Gooden
C: Dwight Howard/Boris Diaw/Drew Gooden

A- Where's his scoring going to come from? Looking at his team, he doesn't have one go-to-guy. And don't bother saying Dwight. If you think that, you clearly don't watch basketball.
B- Westbrook will have his way with any defender on this team. There is absolutely nobody on this Pacers roster who can guard him.
C- Boozer is a statue. There's a reason he fell so far down in the draft. Bosh will have his way all day on him.
D- His team has some efficient three point-shooters. But none of them can create their own shots. That would be fine IF their roster had a player who could consistently penetrate and kick out. I don't see a player of that caliber.
E- Other than his rotation at the 5, I like my bench better. Sessions>Farmar, Mo>Green, Brewer>Maggette, Odom>Jamison, and Diaw/Gooden>Ayon/Wallace.
F- I truly believe that if you look at and compare our teams, I have the better players/rotation from 1-4. And Noah is an above average post defender. Howard will definitely have to work to score and contribute on the boards.

PG- Russell Westbrook/Ramon Sessions
SG- Klay Thompson/Mo Williams
SF- Shane Battier/Corey Brewer/Dahntay Jones
PF- Chris Bosh/Lamar Odom/Gustavo Ayon
C- Joakim Noah/Gustavo Ayon/Ben Wallace

While his team is "well-rounded", it doesn't do anything exceptionally well. It's not a great scoring team, and it's not a great defensive team. It's not a great passing team, and its not a great rebounding team (though Dwight may help there). And most importantly, it has nobody who can take over a game. If you watched the NBA Finals, you would see just how important that is.

If you're looking at the top 3 players just as far as individual talent, the Bulls get the edge, I just don't think they fit as well as the Pacers big 3. Throw in the fact that the Pacers are as good or better 4-12 and they get the slight edge to me.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BeeBall Reasons

If you're looking at the top 3 players just as far as individual talent, the Bulls get the edge, I just don't think they fit as well as the Pacers big 3. Throw in the fact that the Pacers are as good or better 4-12 and they get the slight edge to me.

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I don't even see a Pacers Big 2?

Can we post the finals/championship in the Nest?

Pacers should have the OLD 3 with Marion, Boozer, and Allen

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BeeBall Reasons

Can we post the finals/championship in the Nest?

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I'll try..out of town right now so I'll post the finals on Monday

I thought the Bulls were the better team on paper.

very surprised the Pacers won -

Meh, I'm surprised too. Well more at getting destroyed. But congrats to Mr.West. Should be an interesting finals.