Create a Team to Beat the Warriors

[PhoSita]

The game is simple.  You must build a team to defeat the Warriors.

Rules:

- You may only use two All-Star players.  That means All-Stars this season and I'm gonna say anybody who was an All-Star either of the last two years counts as well.

- You may not use players from any of the top 4 teams in the league -- GSW, CLE, SAS, OKC

- You may put bench players in your starting lineup, but your bench has to be comprised of guys who actually come off the bench in real life.

- State your strategy, i.e. how do you see this team beating the Warriors.



Example:

Try to emulate what the Cavs did in the playoffs last year and CONTROL THE BOARDS and CONTROL PACE to take the Warriors out of their game.


Starting lineup:

Kyle Lowry, Jae Crowder, Paul George, Kenneth Faried, Hassan Whiteside

Bench:

Evan Turner, Marcus Smart, Thabo Sefolosha, Omri Casspi, Kosta Koufos



Give it a try.



*I can't wait until Celtics18 responds with the Celtics roster*   

[chilidawg]

Challenging.

Lowry, Butler, Crowder, Marvin Williams, Gobert

Holiday, Smart, RHJ, Olynyk, Dieng.

You need mobile defenders who can guard multiple positions and handle switches, plus guys who can score.  Not all these guys can do both, but trying to create a mix.

[arctic 3.0]

The 2016 Celtics plus Anthony Davis or KAT.
 
Play Celtics d on the perimeter with the mistake eraser manning the paint.

Play Celtics offense, move the ball and generate mismatches, exploit the opponents scrambling by feeding the big man in the middle.

[CroCorvus]

We gave them fists with this team so I will not get fantasy on this and say give me Al Horford and some 3&D small forward like Ariza off the bench and it could be very interesting. They would probably win in six but I think our style of play, coaching ability, extreme aggressive defense with pitbulls on steroids in AB, Smart and Jae do not suite well to them...

[PaulAllen]

This current team can beat GS on any given night... Could they do it in a 7 game series ... prob not but there is not reason to tear what is a great team of role players that share some of the best chemistry in the league.. They still need a game changer in the middle but if any team has a shot shutting down Curry its Smart and Bradley..

[Celtic Fan Forever]

C: Anthony Davis/ Bismack Biyombo
F: Danilo Galinari/ Ryan Anderson
F: Giannis Antetokounpo/ Wesley Johnson
G: Nicolas Batum/ Jeremy Lamb
G: Chris Paul/ Marcus Smart

Plenty of length, defense, and shooting to give Golden State fits. And can handle their small ball lineup in multiple ways. By the way, a late game defensive lineup of:

Davis
Giannis
Batum
Smart
Paul 

Is frightening.

[KeepRondo]

C - Towns
PF - Davis
SF - Crowder
SG - Butler
PG - Conley

[Who]

 C: I.Mahinmi, K.Olynyk
PF: B.Griffin, T.Booker
SF: D.Carroll, J.Dudley
SG: A.Bradley, M.Smart
PG: D.Lillard, N.Cole

Can stay big or go small. Olynyk can play alongside B.Griffin to keep two legit bigs on the court or smaller again with either Booker (PF/SF) or Dudley (SF/PF). Two strong guard defenders in Bradley and Smart. A top scoring PG in Lillard. A near MVP caliber big in B.Griffin. Sturdy glue guy in D.Carroll. Solid backup PG in Norris Cole.

- Got some hard nosed players in Carroll, Booker, Smart and Bradley. Cole can be feisty too.
- Two top stars who can play a two man game in Lillard and B.Griffin.
- Big man passing in Griffin and Olynyk.

[chilidawg]

C: Anthony Davis/ Bismack Biyombo
F: Danilo Galinari/ Ryan Anderson
F: Giannis Antetokounpo/ Wesley Johnson
G: Nicolas Batum/ Jeremy Lamb
G: Chris Paul/ Marcus Smart

Plenty of length, defense, and shooting to give Golden State fits. And can handle their small ball lineup in multiple ways. By the way, a late game defensive lineup of:

Davis
Giannis
Batum
Smart
Paul 

Is frightening.

That's a good one.

[Csfan1984]

This is my update dream off season.
Cousins via Nets 2016, Dallas first, Nets 2018, AJ, Young and Rozier.

Ibaka via Wolves 2nd, JJ and AB. Thunder need to trim salary and AB is a great fit for them. They actually need him for GS. Adams is their defender inside and KD may play more 4 so Ibaka is traded.

Hayward via Hunter, KO, C's 1st after selection, 2017 Nets swap rights.
Sign Ryan Anderson with all remaining non cap hold $.
Sign Zeller. Maybe before RA if lower than cap hold.
Sign Turner if at discount to continue role.


Draft Hammons with Philly 2nd.
Then also Selden, Uthoff, Finn-Smith. (Warney UD)

Starters: IT*, Hayward, Crowder, Ibaka, Cousins*
Bench: Smart, Turner, Anderson, Mickey, Zeller
Reserves: Selden, Finn, Uthoff, Warney, Hammons

[Who]

 C: D.Cousins, C.Capela
PF: T.Young, N.Mirotic
SF: P.George, P.Pierce
SG: K.Bazemore, T.Allen
PG: M.Conley, M.Chalmers

Similar concept in a different form

- Skilled big man
- Top perimeter scorer
- Strong defensive guards
- Versatile defensive PF
- Depth
- hard workers (especially around the combustible Cousins)

[manl_lui]

Starters

C - Karl Anthony Towns
PF - Anthony Davis
SF - Jae Crowder
SG - Paul George
PG - Rondo (there I said it lol)

Bench

C - Whiteside (He's a benched center so far lol)
PF - Taj Gibson
SF - The Truth
SG - Bradley (Being a bit bias here, Smart and Bradley are two guys I want to guard Curry)
PG - Smart (No Brainer, just a defensive guy)

Great defenders in the paint with Towns, AD. Wing defenders in Crowder and Rondo. I think Rondo strives in an environment where he isn't the best player...in this case, 4th best player here, and someone who can grab boards, and has excellent court vision.

Jae Crowder - D and 3 guy, excellent at SF and can also help out

I think this team is comprised of mostly shooters, defensive guys. Bradley, George, Crowder and Pierce are all capable of hitting 3s in big moments. Rebounding is a high priority. Davis, and Towns are two guys who can rebound out of their minds. Coming off the bench you have Hassan Whiteside who will be an excellent defender in the paint. 

[indeedproceed]

C- Gobert
PF- George
SF- Crowder
SG - Bradley Beal
PG - Damian Lillard

Bench:
Marcus Smart (PG/SG), Greg Monroe (C), Allan Crabbe (SG/SF), Meyers Leonard (PF/C), Trey Lyles (SF/PF), Langston Galloway (PG/SG)

[Yoki_IsTheName]

G - Damian Lillard
G - Kentavious Caldwell - Pope
F - Jae Crowder
F - Anthony Davis
C - Karl Towns

The bench:

Corey Joseph, Marcus Smart, Evan Turner, Josh Smith, Kelly Olynyk

--

Dame has lit up the Dubs twice already. KCP has given Curry a bit of a hard time in their two meetings. There's enough offense, ball handling, rim protection and defense on the squad.

I like my chances.

[Moranis]

C - Gobert, Biyombo
PF - Davis, Anderson
SF - Crowder, Ross
SG - Butler, Burks
PG - Rondo, LaVine

All Stars - Butler, Davis

Gobert and Davis form the ultimate interior defense and force GS to play bigger in order to guard them on the interior (and thus forcing Bogut and the lesser shooters to play more).  Rondo, Butler, and Crowder play intense harassing defense on Curry, Thompson, and Barnes, while Butler and Crowder hit down the outside shots to help keep pace with GS on the other end of the floor.  The second unit gets the interior defense of Biyombo and the excellent shooting of Anderson down low and the versatile offensive games of Ross, Burks, and LaVine in the backcourt.  This team is young and fast and will keep up with the Warriors on both ends of the floor.