Welcome to the NBA Finals!
This season, we have the Indiana Pacers vs the Oklahoma City Thunder. Strategy for this game shifts away from picking players from a losing team, and now focuses on simply picking the best available player. You might have all your remaining OKC Thunder left (I do!). You probably don't have all your Indiana Pacers left (I certainly don't). For the Finals, you want to line up your 4 best remaining players and pick from this list for Game 1 and Game 2. If the series is tied 1-1, you can start deviating from this list towards the 5th best option, otherwise you should continue to pick from the top 4 in case of a sweep. There's a couple other considerations during the Finals:
1) Are you leading or trailing?
If you are leading, picking a player who is likely to be a popular pick can help you maintain the lead. Alternatively, if you are behind and looking to make up ground, picking in an unusual order can help a lot.
2) What kind of player do you pick for Game 1?
Conventional wisdom would say you pick a player with big game experience to start off. This is a challenge with so many young players on both sides. Pascal Siakam seems to fit this mold the best. If I still had him, I'd consider starting off with him. The key question is, which young player from either team is the type to be poised and ready for this moment?
3) Who do you save for the first game where the championship is on the line?
Conventional wisdom would say, hold on to either SGA or Haliburton for that moment. This might be a good play, you just need to decide if its the right play for you based on your current standings.
I'm predicting OKC wins in 5. I've penciled in Chet Holmgren for game 1, but still deciding officially if I'll stick with the pick or make a change.
What's you Finals strategy?
Sound advice!
ReplyDeleteMy top four are:
Shai
Hali
J-Dub
Myles
5th guy is Nesmith.
Whoever is trying to catch me, you can see my aces. Lesgo!
I have Holmgren, Jaylen Williams, Haliburton and SGA in mind by now. Probably Hartenstein as 5th option, or someone who is playing well off the bench in this series
ReplyDeleteHow good was that Game 1?!!
ReplyDeleteAs a neutral spectator, it's very good the Pacers won. It makes the Finals (and our game) much more interesting than everyone predicted.
ReplyDeleteHolmgrens a stiff
ReplyDeleteThe last time someone stole G1 from OKC, the Thunder clamped-up on D and won G2 lopsided. So maybe don't pick any Pacer. Based on history in these pages, people will pick from the home team anyways on a G2. I'm picking J-Dub. But I'm feeling a few of you will get lucky with another Thunder outside the Big 3.
ReplyDeleteI had Chet in G1 on GD and he was a DISASTER! Now I'm taking him on FP with the belief that he won't be that awful again!
ReplyDeleteYummy 44 FPS from Hali in G3. Pacers now lead 2-1. Still feels this is OKC's. Regardless, OKC is sure to have a comeback in G4. Penciled in Nesmith prior to G3. I should change to an OKC player, but my next available (Hart and Caruso) are 5 less each than Nesmith's potential FPS. Keeping Nesmith in. And saving Myles for an elims game (free agent this coming season break).
ReplyDeleteHolgrem Did ok, not Great. Williams, was happy with the PRA, McConnel played super hard, not great PRA but prob won them the game with effort and steals. Next up Caruso, had Nesmith penciled in, but think OKC is gonna have a big game 4 on the road. Hard for me to use Dort or Matherin-so hard to pick when they go off or just hang out. After all these years, I still run low on players last round no matter how I play the game. In my mind I only had two mistakes this year. Not picking Lebron in time and choosing IND to lose to the Knicks. Hard to be a INDI Hater & Chicago, Knicks, and Lakers fan.
DeleteSwitched G4 pick to Nembhard. Half-expecting 15 PRA, but just betting on an extraordinary shooting night.
DeleteHalftime. Wrong decision to switch as Nembhard this G4 is focused solely on shutting down Shai. Oh well
DeleteGot Caruso for G5.
ReplyDeleteMyles for G6.
Nesmith or Hartenstein for G7 if necessary.