I’ve never been in a sports fantasy league and I’m not very up to date on what’s happening in the NBA, but I got roped into a b-ball fantasy league and I need advice stat. Who’s up and coming? Who’s star has faded? How do fantasy drafts and trades work? How do you win? Any tips would be appreciated. Thanks.
Hmm, so you basically are asking how the seasons of the top 100-150 players in the NBA will turn out?
Hmm, not sure I can squeeze that into one evening.
Just a few hot tips for a fantasy basketball rookie would suffice.
A lot of it depends on your league. Is it a rotisserie league: each category (pts. assists, rebs, steals) awards points by where you rank against the other teams in your league? Or is it “all points” where each element counts for anywhere from .5 (FT, points scored) to 1.5 (steals & blocks) and then top total points is the leader? Or perhaps it’s a weekly head-to-head? Leagues compete differently.
That said, I always think the keys are who you get in the middle & late rounds, where you’ve done your homework, that will make the difference. If it is an “all points” league (as explained above) consider that free throws are over-valued, is basically worth twice as much as a non FT point scored and that escapes most GM’s consideration. Ergo, guys like Gilbert Arenas & Carmelo Anthony are monsters in the league. Arenas is anyway because he’s a scoring point guard, but he’s in Eddie Jordan’s doghouse this season, so beware.
The best commonly used barometer for sniffing out the sleepers is: if they shot up at the end of last year (David West, LaMarcus Aldridge). Personally, I keep an eye on preseason and if somebody is shocking the sh** out of people, especially rookies, maybe put him on your wish list (hel-lo, Martell Webster). Chris Paul was my ticket two seasons ago.
Remember, there’s only one ball to share and only five guys allowed on the court at the same time (per team, smart alecs). If a guy’s is going to split time with his backup (Luke Ridnour/Earl Watson for Seattle), stay away. Conversely, if a guy doesn’t have a backup worth a darn, it’s gonna mean more minutes and more opportunities.
Watch out for Rudy Gay. Memphis is gonna run and he has multi skills.
Older players who played during the off-season (i.e. Team U.S.A.) tend to slump a little during the season (maybe Jason Kidd… eek, scares me to write that). Younger players, however, maybe learned a little something from Coach K, so watch out: Tyson Chandler, Dwight Howard.
Oh, and DURING the season, when a guy goes down with injury, see where the vacuum is created. Who is his backup? Is he gonna get significant opportunities? Who else on the team might benefit? Do this quick though: other savvy players will jump on the backups.
Buy a fantasy basketball magazine or two. 2007-2008 Pro Basketball Preview helped me hugely.
Power forwards that score a lot and also qualify as small forwards (Lamar Odom) are huge because they get mass rebounds. (Odom has been injured a lot so he might not be the best example).
LeBron is the best player in the league, has a lousy supporting cast, gets assists, and shoots a lot of free throws (but just a so-so percentage). But he doesn’t seem to “bring it” all the time.
Kobe always brings it, lives at the free throw line, but this could be a very tumultuous season after the off-season drama. (But the Lakers will surprise people, mark my word.)
Dwayne Wade, when healthy, is probably the best fantasy player. But he’s hurt to start the season and plays too reckless a style to stay healthy all season long.
Kevin Garnett will be rejuvenated from his trade to Boston. He is most people’s #1. He might also qualify at center by mid-season.
With Elton Brand gone due to injury and Sam Cassell old, there will be a vacuum for scoring for the Clippers. Corey Magette, anyone?
Follow my advice and… you’ll finish right about where I will. (But I’ve won my league the last two seasons.)
I have no cites for any of this!
Oh, oh! One more!
Guys in their “contract year” (they’re contract’s up and they want to test the free-agent market) often bust out. (One oft-injured point guard sure came into camp in great shape.) Conversely, guys who had career years the year before, when it was their contract year, sometimes slip (like that former Raptor…).
Also know that the NBA is an odd creature. The 12th man on virtually any (read: not Atlanta) bench is amongst the best players in the world. If you give a bench scrub starter’s minutes, he’ll probably put up close to starters’ numbers. As the seasons wear on and injuries become a concern, know the backups.