Joe Bernard

Author: Joe Bernard

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Joe Bernard

Underperformer of the Week

April 14, 2021 | 2020 Fantasy Basketball | Leave a comment

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Razzball Nation! Welcome back to our in-depth look at a player who has been nothing short of underwhelming for at least the past week.

“There are times

When you’ll need someone

I will be by your side

There is a light that shines

Special for you and me”

I am not exactly sure to whom Common was referring to in that J Dilla banger but what I do know is that I have been by your side all season long compadres. So much so that I hope you took your boy’s advice last week and made a stealth move for Zach LaVine before he exploded for that 50-burger and then put up another 30 two nights later. In fact, over the course of three games last week Mr. Lavine scored 101 points, drained 13 threes, 20 assists, and 19 rebounds. WOW! It is that type of late-season surge that could have made all the difference in your league and catapult your team to the top of the standings. Sadly, we are not here to gush about young Zachary and his awesomeness. Instead, we remain in the Windy City to focus on another Chi-Town player who has had a rough go over the past week and beyond.

With the regular season winding down, it is likely that trade deadlines in most formats have come and gone. Therefore, I will not be suggesting trade options moving forward but instead, I will be nudging you towards dropping or benching these players for a hotter pickup.

It is time to move on from…

Please, blog, may I have some more?
Joe Bernard

Underperformer of the Week

April 7, 2021 | 2020 Fantasy Basketball | Leave a comment

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Where my dogs at?

(We right here, dog) Where my dogs at?

(I am right here dog)

What must I go through to show you (bleep) is real?

What’s good Razzballers? Welcome to this week’s installment of Underperformer of the Week. The legendary DMX said it best and I am echoing his sentiment when I say to you it is really real out there in your basketball landscape at this point of the season. Depending on your format, there is everything from joy to tears as some GMs are basking in the glory of entering the playoffs. While others have become spectators, watching from the sidelines. Depending on your league settings, there is still a chance your trade deadline has not passed and thus, an opportunity for a move or two still exists. We are in the dog days of the season where it becomes a true grind and the pickings are slim. However, I am here to serve as your curator of sorts and bring the goods directly to your doorstep.

Let us get right to it so,

Stop, drop, shut em down, open up shop.

Please, blog, may I have some more?
Joe Bernard

Underperformer of the Week

March 31, 2021 | Fantasy Basketball Daily Notes |

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Welcome Razzball family to our deep dive into a player who can potentially help get you over the hump or support you in maintaining the lead in your respective leagues. As we are on the doorstep of the calendar flip to April, it is likely that some of you have crossed your league’s trade deadline and if not, it is likely fast approaching. For this reason, it becomes increasingly paramount to make a move for this week’s underperformer of the week. Could this be the week you go from zero to hero? Likely not. I mean, there just are not enough weeks left for you to go from the basement to the top floor in a competitive league. However, if you are within striking distance or you are in the top half of your league then this could very well be a move that proves to bolster your chances moving forward. At the very least, you will have the GMs who are currently ahead of you concerned enough to look for a last-minute deal of their own to keep you from gaining on them.

Come take a gander at everyone’s favorite break-out player heading into this season, I give to you…

Please, blog, may I have some more?
Joe Bernard

Underperformer of the Week

March 24, 2021 | 2020 Fantasy Basketball |

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It is about that time fantasy hoops nation, all Razzball real ones and the funky feel ones.

If you have been down with me off the rip then you know the deal and what it is that we are all about over here. If this is, your first time here let me say, welcome.

Identify and multiply, that is the motto.

“How you feel, how you feel, how you feel? 25 sittin’ on 25 mill”.

Ok, ok I got a little sidetracked there with some drizzy lyrics but if I can get you feeling like you sitting on 25 mill in your league then I have done my job.

“Back to the lecture at hand, perfection is perfected so I’ma let em understand”.

“Ain’t nothing but a ……..”

Whoa, let me slow down today and remain focused. We need to get you out of here and on your way but not before I drop a gem on em’.

“Come with me, Hail Mary, Run quick see, what do we have here”.

Please, blog, may I have some more?
Joe Bernard

Underperformer of the Week

March 17, 2021 | 2020 Fantasy Basketball |

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Welcome back Razzballers. After a brief hiatus due to the All-Star break, we are “back in effect, snapping’ necks and cashing large cheques”.

I hope you were able to remain active in your league and possibly catch a GM or two sleeping while you executed a trade to improve your situation as we move forward and onward (or is it upward and onward?) into the second half of the season.

This is a critical stage where time is of the essence. We are coming to a place whereby the games remaining plays a significant factor and therefore you want to ensure you are getting the most bang for your buck in any transaction, as you do not have the luxury of time on your side. We want players who can start producing immediately and I think this week we have identified not only one, but two true ballers that fit the bill.

Let us begin with….

Please, blog, may I have some more?
Joe Bernard

Underperformer of the Week

March 3, 2021 | 2020 Fantasy Basketball |

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As we approach the All-Star break it is likely increasingly difficult to find value either in a trade or off the wire. No matter what format you play in, be it weekly, head to head, or rotisserie, one of my favourite strategies is unearthing a player who is playing below their potential and executing a deal to obtain said player.

At this point in the season, rosters become hard-wired and GMs may exercise patience with their underperforming player as they have a large sample size of production to reference. However, if you are persistent and do your due diligence you will discover value in your league. This column’s intent is to be a curator of sorts, doing some of that research for you to deliver a player that I believe can be a positive contributor to your team and help increase your position as you move towards your championship aspirations.

My hope for you is that this player is one you are able to obtain before the break and have with you for the second half of the season.

Please, blog, may I have some more?
Joe Bernard

Underperformer of the Week

February 24, 2021 | 2020 Fantasy Basketball |

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Razzball Nation, once again it’s on! We are well into our fantasy season and if you are in a rotisserie format, you may find yourself on the outside looking in on a run to championship glory. Perhaps you are among the league leaders and looking for opportunities to improve your roster without going through a complete overhaul.

No matter where you stand, in this column you will find opportunity and, if you’ve been following my suggestions up to this point, in all likelihood you have experienced an element of success.

As always, the players highlighted here are not going to save your team from purgatory if you did not draft particularly well or have been bit hard by the injury and/or Covid-related absences. Instead, I promote under-the-radar moves for the shrewd GM who can take advantage of frustrated owners who may be prepared to move on from a player with potential at a discount.

Please, blog, may I have some more?
Joe Bernard

Underperformer of the Week

February 17, 2021 | 2020 Fantasy Basketball | 2 Comments

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It is not often that, with nearly two months into the season, we find ourselves with the opportunity to acquire a player with top 30 potential but here we are, as the 2020/21 season has been full of surprises.

I am hoping you took the advice from last week’s column and invested in some Ricky Rubio stock. With the news of D’ Angelo Russell being shelved for the next 4 to 6 weeks to get rid of some loose bodies (sounds like a nightclub) in his knee, Rubio becomes the starting point guard moving forward and was already beginning to show signs of life.

Classic Rubio. Waiting for the second half of the season yet again to show he knows how to play basketball.

Enough about the woeful Wolves, let us move on towards our next gemstone with hopes that a trade in your league can be completed as quickly and easily as simply snapping of the fingers.

Please, blog, may I have some more?
Joe Bernard

Under Performer of the Week

February 10, 2021 | 2020 Fantasy Basketball | 2 Comments

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We had some options this week my Razzball revelers as there was no shortage of players who fit the profile of the name bestowed upon this column. Unfortunately, for some managers in your league or perhaps even you, there are underperformers taking up real estate on squads with the hope they are able to return to form or at least come close to expectations. The question for those with ownership of an underperformer becomes, “how long do I wait?”

“What if this is the new normal and he never sniffs his ADP?”

“Should I drop him for a hot hand off the wire?”

“Trade him to whoever gives me an offer?”

There we have it, the thought process of a frustrated GM as they approach the crescendo of reasoning within themselves. This is the sweet spot where a savvy fantasy basketball Don such as yourself looks to get in on the ground floor of a stock with the potential to exceed the cost.

We are off to the Eastern Conference for a closer look at a player that has been doing not much for just long enough to allow a window of opportunity.

Please, blog, may I have some more?
Joe Bernard

Under Performer of the Week: Ricky Rubio

February 3, 2021 | 2020 Fantasy Basketball |

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When this life makes you mad enough to kill

That’s rock bottom.

When you want something bad enough to steal

That’s rock bottom.

When you feel you have had it up to here

Cause you mad enough to scream but you sad enough to tear.

That’s rock bottom.

Slim Shady has come a long way from his first album when he was using his pen to escape the feelings associated with hitting rock bottom. It has been nothing but platinum status since 1999 for the Detroit wordsmith and miles away from where we find our feature player’s performance to date.

I am not sure what the complete opposite of a diamond plaque would be, maybe gravel? Pebble? Pellet? Who knows, but what is certain is that this player finds himself in the running for that unappealing designation.

We can talk about the Flintstones in length to offer up variant rock formations that best describe granule offerings this player has provided in fantasy. This player has cobbled together a disappointing season so far for his owners and it has been nothing but debris in his wake.

Presenting: RICKY RUBIO

Please, blog, may I have some more?