It took a long time to get here — two regular seasons, one global pandemic — but we can finally crown a Razzball Dynasty Association champion! Congrats to DEN, who rode a playoff eighth seed all the way to the Finals before toppling a mighty MIL that was on its own fantastical ride to the title game.
When RDA first began, Kevin Durant was still recovering from a catastrophic injury and just on his way to Brooklyn, Gordon Hayward was the third-banana in Boston, and some were still wondering if Domantas Sabonis or Myles Turner was the better young big in Indiana. Fast forward nearly a year-and-a-half later and all those pieces clicked together beautifully for DEN.
Let’s keep rewinding. In our auction draft, Chuck savvily took Durant for $66, which everyone already knew was a great deal. However, Sabonis for $33, Hayward for $27, and Michael Porter Jr. for $14 proved to be just as instrumental for DEN’s eventual title. (DEN’s two biggest outlays aside from Durant was $35 for Gary Harris and the same amount for Enes Kanter.) With Sabonis blossoming into an All-Star behind 20.3 PTS, 12.0 REB, 6.7 AST, 1.2 STL, and 53.5 FG%, DEN got their second feature star next to Durant. And while Durant and Hayward both missed nearly half the season — along with Derrick White and Gary Harris — there was plenty of role players to step up in their stead.
For example, the underappreciated iron man of the team was actually Kanter, who put in seventy-two games of hefty double-double work, and really helped Sabonis push DEN to a top-two rebounds ranking. Porter Jr. and Tyler Herro -- acquired for $21 during the auction -- were key offensive spark plugs for a team that had many of their big stars shifting in and out of the lineup. Even the young rookie class of RJ Hampton (2020 RD1.18) and Malachi Flynn (RD1.26) got some contributions in.
He then did similar things to start off 2020, sending out two seconds for a first to MIL, and trading one earlier first-rounder for two later ones from LAC. There was even some shenanigans with a double first-round switcheroo with OKC, as DEN slid down five draft slots in the 2020 draft but picked up a 2022 first in exchange for a 2024 one.
All this wheeling and dealing meant that when the time came to strike, DEN had the assets. In January 2020, GM Chuck sent out five first-round picks — three of their own, the one from LAL (so really four seconds), and one of the OKC ones — for game-changer Damian Lillard. With HOU gutting their team, it was the perfect time to strike. Adding Lillard as the offensive ballast while Durant and Hayward was M.I.A. was a masterful stroke by DEN management. And then with one final move in March, Chuck sent out Harry Giles and their third 2020 RD1.29 pick, Zeke Nnaji, for Kyle Kuzma.
Still, even with a Durant, Lillard, Sabonis, and Porter Jr. led lineup -- Hayward would remain out for the duration of the playoffs -- nobody was really talking about DEN as a title threat, perhaps because they were overshadowed by the James Harden and Anthony Davis monster pairing in GSW, or the scary MIL team that looked nigh unbeatable. DEN slipped under the radar as one of the main title contenders, despite the stats telling us that they could be one of the dark horse favorites.
As a whole on the 2020 season, DEN was top ranked in PTS and REB by adjusted ODE, with very strong categories in 3PT, AST, and FT% as well. However they seemed to lack a strong defense, and their field-goal shooting could be hit or miss. Would either weakness be their Achilles' heel, relegating them to a quick postseason exit?
Now facing off versus the postseason’s top-seeded POR team, DEN needed a huge week from Michael Porter Jr. — 103 PTS, 21 3PT, 56.3 FG% — and a barrage of threes to stay competitive against Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, and Brandon Ingram. Even then, DEN lost both percentage categories and rebounds and assists, winning the matchup 5-4 only through the strength of their defense, which eked out a win behind Porter Jr.'s six blocks. In addition, 6’ 4” guard Derrick White also had four blocks himself!
Coming off that huge upset over POR, DEN was amped up and firing on all cylinders as they reached an even higher level. Durant, Lillard, and Porter all popped off versus a feisty BKN team that managed to almost keep up offensively — tying in FG% actually, but with DEN winning the category based on more FGA — but ultimately faded away as DEN took the 6-3 win and a trip to the first RDA Finals.
Finals MVP Lillard led the way with 133 PTS and 21 3PT, cementing his RDA championship legacy. And once again, Michael Porter Jr., was gigantic, playing even better than Durant and dropping in fifteen three-pointers of his own on 57.3 FG%. (DEN lost rebounds by only seven while tying in STL and taking TOS by one.)
Most importantly, in a close 5-3-1 victory, DEN had Lillard contribute six steals, Porter five, and Sabonis recording a whopping nine thefts! What about that defense?! MIL did their best to go from worst-to-first, but the seventh seed eventually had to give way to DEN's crushing onslaught.
So now Chuck, our resident quipster, will have ultimate bragging rights for at least one year. The key phrase there is "at least." With a lineup that is a great mix of in-their-prime superstars, up-and-coming All-Stars, and plenty of depth, we may be in for more puns and more championships from this DEN franchise.
Congrats to Chuck, winner of the 2020 RDA trophy!
