by: PB
Welcome to your midweek guidance for Week One! Every Thursday, I will be running down my favorite streaming candidates for those of you in head-to-head leagues. While these recommendations are primarily geared toward category scoring formats, points and roto league managers should find some gouge in here as well.
Please, blog, may I have some more? by: PB
The Suns’ off-season produced enough fireworks to sustain Kenny Powers on the Fourth of July. Unfortunately, if you’re a Suns fan, the drama was less of the blockbuster trade or free agent acquisition variety, and more front-page-of-the-tabloid variety. For starters, majority owner Robert Sarver is putting the team up for sale after being suspended for the entire season. The news unleashed a circus of speculation surrounding the identity of the next owner, with Bob Iger, Shaq, and Floyd Mayweather Jr. being mentioned as candidates with varying levels of seriousness. The Suns are also trying to deal a frustrated Jae Crowder, who capped off his summer of discontent by sitting out training camp and pre-season while the franchise works out a trade. Speaking of pre-season, the Suns got off to an inauspicious start when the Adelaide 36ers came from Down Under and handed Phoenix a loss on their home court. We all know not to read into pre-season too much, but between distractions at the top, the cloud hanging over Crowder’s exit, and simmering tensions between coach Monty Williams and Deandre Ayton, one gets the feeling that the turmoil from their disastrous second round ouster may extend into this season.
Whatever happens, there is still fantasy goodness to be mined from this fast-paced squad. Here are my assessments as we near the start of the action:
Please, blog, may I have some more? by: PB
A massive leap forward in regular and post season performance has the Dallas faithful hoping for another deep playoff run. Whether or not they can pull it off depends largely upon their ability to address the backcourt gap left in the wake of Jalen Brunson’s offseason departure. If Spencer Dinwiddie and the rest of the starters can’t backfill the offensive responsibilities shouldered by Brunson, we could see even more usage for Luka Doncic, who sits at the helm of perhaps the most top-heavy offensive lineup in the NBA (1- Luka………………………. 2- Spencer Dinwiddie/Christian Wood?). Needless to say, standby for another plodding campaign from last year’s slowest team.
Please, blog, may I have some more? by: PB
Long-suffering Kings fans are back on the hopium, and since 2006 was the last time we witnessed playoff basketball in Sacramento, who can blame them? But after February’s blockbuster trade, an outstanding Summer League performance from their first round pick, and a pair of free agent guard acquisitions, there is a sense that the optimism is warranted. On paper, the Kings have a more focused roster built around the playmaking abilities of De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis. They get a fresh start to a season after shedding players who didn’t want to be there – Buddy Hield and Marvin Bagley III. They have arguably more depth with Richaun Holmes shifting to the bench, Malik Monk playing significant minutes off the pine, and Davion Mitchell continuing to develop. They have a new head coach in Mike Brown who will seek pull them out of the bottom half of the defensive rankings. This time may be different…
Please, blog, may I have some more? by: PB
After their loss in game seven of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Miami Heat went star chasing. Ultimately, they went 0 for the field, as they were unable to make deals for Kevin Durant or Donovan Mitchell. Their efforts to sign T.J. Warren to blunt the impact of P.J. Tucker’s absence also came up empty. As a result, this year’s Heat will look very similar to last season’s. Preview over. Just kidding. There are still questions hanging over the existing roster, including what the Heat will do at the four, and whether or not Tyler Herro suits up as a starter. On a more intriguing front, there’s the ever-present possibility of a trade occurring at some point to shore up their frontcourt weakness. If we don’t see Herro sign a contract extension in the next few weeks, there’s potential for him to be used in a deal before the deadline.
Please, blog, may I have some more? by: PB
At 61.1 percent, the San Antonio Spurs currently own the best running regular season win percentage of any franchise. Prior to their three most recent campaigns, they had posted only one losing season since 1988-89. The five titles they earned in that era serve as proof that their regular season excellence translated into post-season brilliance. They were so good that their success became blasé over a decade ago. The last time they were in a rebuild (no, I’m not counting 1997-98), very few of us were even walking the earth!
Please, blog, may I have some more? by: PB
Despite being one of the youngest teams in the league, the Grizzlies put it all together last season, posting their best regular season record since 2012-13. Thanks to Ja Morant’s bounceback season, Jaren Jackson Jr.’s good health (wait for the turn…), and a standout rookie performance from Desmond Bane, we saw the leading edge of what could be a long run of success for Memphis. Yes, the young stars in Grind City go together like… peanut butter and bananas?
Please, blog, may I have some more?Welcome to your midweek guidance for Week 24! In this post, I will present you with player recommendations to help you win your final head-to-head matchup. For the brave souls still grindin’, there is no shortage of variables threatening to derail a championship bid. And, while your post-draft image of your team probably looked something like this:
Please, blog, may I have some more?Welcome to your midweek guidance for Week 23! My goal is to help you win your league championship by finding widely available streaming candidates for your specific categorical needs. As the title suggests, we are firmly in fantasy no man’s land as it relates to erratic player availability, as teams in both conferences pack it in to avoid injuries and bolster their chances of receiving a top draft pick. While it pales in comparison to the 250 players who faced quarantine between December and January, one can be forgiven for saying that the luck side of the luck:skill ratio increases as the season winds down.
Please, blog, may I have some more? by: PB
Welcome to your midweek guidance for Week 22! In this post, I identify under-rostered players who can help your team as streamers or long-term adds. The ravages of tanking, phantom injuries, and real injuries are undoubtedly taking their toll on your squad. I commend anyone with the intestinal fortitude to play fantasy hoops into late-March or April. That being said, there are a lot of opportunities out there as we head down the stretch.
In the “late news breaking” category, Ja Morant was just listed as out for tonight’s game against Indiana. This SHOULD boost the value of De’Anthony Melton and Tyus Jones, so look to them for those elusive assists.
Please, blog, may I have some more?Welcome to your midweek guidance for Week 21! The playoffs are in full swing across the fantasy hoops landscape, meaning it’s time to cut injured players who are acting as proverbial millstones around your team’s neck and go streaming! This post will help you do just that, with recommendations for widely available players who can backfill those injured drops and contribute to your victory. If you’re in the enviable position of having a fully-healthy team, two things: 1) I hate you 2) You can still benefit from these suggestions, because you should be using at least one roster spot to cycle through players and maximize your games played for the week.
Please, blog, may I have some more? by: PB
Welcome to your midweek guidance for Week 20! In this post, I identify widely available players who can help you win your head-to-head matchup. Ideally, you’re either in the midst of a playoff matchup, or resting easy in a bye week. Regardless of your status, there are always moves to make to outmaneuver your current or future opponent(s). As the season stretches into its fifth month, you might find yourself unable to devote the same amount of attention to fantasy hoops as you did in the early going. Never fear, because I never stop watching! There is still plenty of player value to mine in these proverbial waiver wire hills.
Please, blog, may I have some more?