The Rematch

Well we didn’t have to wait long for the rematch of the NLL Finals! Week 1 and here we go! For those that can’t remember, the 2019/20 season was rocked by COVID 19 but the season was finished in bubble fashion where the Milwaukee Bucks completed their season long dominance with a clean sweep of the Western Champs. Both teams are back with some new looks, major and minor, and both teams are once again expected to progress long into the wee months of the season.

The Spurs:

The Spurs were the kings of the West last year and had one goal this offseason: Resign Anthony Davis. They completed this without a hitch, as expected, and from there it was simply about making some salary saving moves so they didn’t incur a monster sized lux bill. Marcus Smart was shipped out, Seth Curry was shipped out and then at the 11^th hour they consolidated some assets into Danilo Gallinari to yet again round out one of the most complete contending rosters in the league. Their guard rotation is still frightening, their depth and offensive prowess and of course, Anthony Davis. The Spurs are hopeful again this year and will be around by the depth of it. The Spurs open the season at full strength!

The Bucks:

The Bucks were world conquerors of the highest order last year with one of the deepest rosters the entire world has ever seen. They had legit stars 9 deep and the guys below that could make a case for starting on other NLL teams also. But Wolf is Wolf and instead of keeping the dynasty together he shipped out Karl-Anthony Towns and Donovan Mitchell which turned into Anthony Edwards and Onyeka Okongwu, who are decent looking rookies, but don’t project to reach anywhere near the levels of either of the 2 guys they were traded in for. How can you argue with a roster that still boasts a line-up of Nurkic/Giannis/LaVine/SGA/Trae Young though? They’re going to be a menace still and at least top 2 in the East with Charlotte again you’d imagine, but the rookies are going to have to learn quick if they’re going to be the down right scary team they were last year, and they open the season without their starting C and a couple of prized kids.

The Projected Match-Ups:

C: Montrezl Harrell  Vs  Giannis Antetokounmpo 

Harrell was always projected to start for the Spurs and so it is so, and he’ll get first shot at trying to slow down Giannis who slides u to C in the absence of Nurkic. This won’t be all that much of a contest overall with Giannis simply on another level, but Harrell will try and slow the beast down.

PF: Anthony Davis  Vs  Patrick Williams

Imagine debuting for your first league game and having to match up on perennial MVP candidate, Anthony Davis? Can you even imagine? Patrick Williams has been thrust into a starting role with Nurkic out and Davis is going to go all Anthony Davis on him. Welcome to the big league, kid!

SF: Danilo Gallinari  Vs  Anthony Edwards

Gallinari is a shrewd move for the Spurs, though he definitely has played better at PF the recent years. When healthy, he projects to line up at SF every game though and the whiley vet meets up with the #1 overall draft pick who is immediately playing out of position at SF and giving away inches in height. He’s far more athletic however than Danilo which he’ll have to put to full use in his debut into the NLL.

SG: Fred VanVleet  Vs  Zach LaVine 

FVV was a big name in the offseason but he wanted nothing to do with testing the market and starts as the Spurs leading off guard, which is a fair change from the elite defensive minded style of Marcus Smart who gave all teams fits for the last 2 years. He’s giving up a lot of height to Zach LaVine and both guys are out and out gunners though FVV will at least try on the defensive end. Zach will step straight into a #2 scoring role this year with KAT and Mitchell gone, so look for big scoring numbers.

PG: Dejounte Murray  Vs  Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 

Murray has made it to the starters table and he’s primed for a proper break out this year. He has good size and defensive instincts and if his play making ever develops he’ll be a true 3 way threat. Shai is probably ahead of the curve on Murray, but hasn’t yet taken that step into true go-to guy and might not just yet either unless his tendencies have developed over the off season. He’s surpassed Trae for now, due to his defensive play, but it’s going to be a likely time share this year and a fairly even match up today.

Bench V Bench:

Terrence Ross, LaMelo Ball, Keldon Johnson, Markieff Morris, Josh Jackson
Vs
Trae Young, Onyeka Okongwu, Donte DiVincenzo, Sekou Doumbouya

How’s some of the young talent listed on these benches! Trae is the obvious live wire here, likely to drop 30 off the bench, but otherwise you’d have to hand the advantage to the Spurs with a more complete and veteran line up. Trae trumps all, though.

Head to Head Prediction:

This one is going to be a wild one, but you cannot look past the Spurs here today. Giannis/Zach/Trae will be a lot to handle on offence, perhaps even 100 points combined? But the Spurs are so deep and crisp and even…and Leeroy is Good King Wenceslas.

Spurs by 8.

-         Giannis. On paper, despite the offensive firepower, the Spurs should be winners here, but Giannis is Giannis and nothing is set in stone while he’s on the court.