It’s been a while since we checked in with our Razzball Elite League, but after 10 weeks I’m still not at .500! Fortunately I’m at .494, but it’s certainly been a much better year for first place The Nature Boy, although he couldn’t beat me! 62-25-3 with five of those losses at my hands… Talk about embarrassing! As we head into the second half of the regular season, teams are gearing up for the stretch run to notch a top 6 spot for the playoffs. Recaps from owners are below, and good luck to all of your dynasty and deep-league teams in week 11!
1.The Nature Boy (62-25-3)
FAAB Remaining: $75 FAAB Moves this week: n/a
2. Like A Josh – IFBL (58-31-1)
FAAB Remaining: $62 FAAB Moves this week: n/a
3. Kap’s Team (57-33-0)
FAAB Remaining: $92 FAAB Moves this week: n/a
Despite having a solid record so far, I was a little worried that my team isn’t nearly as good as my record indicates. I have played a lot of the lower ranked teams so far, but won 6-3 the last three weeks, including two wins over top 10 teams. I’ll have a better idea of my team’s strength this week, as I take on the first place team, The Nature Boy. In the midst of an eight game losing streak, Brian Shaw has been tinkering with the Nuggets’ starting lineup. Fortunately for my team, Brian Shaw put Randy Foye back in the starting lineup, where he has produced in four games: 13 ppg, 4.25 rpg, 4.75 apg. The Nuggets have won two of those four games so hopefully Foye remains the starter. Since returning from a setback with his ankle injury, Tyreke Evans has averaged 17.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg, and 6.4 apg in his last 9 games. Eric Gordon sat for a few of those games, but it’s clear that Evans has gotten used to the team and his role. Mavericks’ big man Brandan Wright made his season debut in mid-December and has been averaging 11 ppg, 4.1 rpg, and 1.0 bpg ever since. These guys aren’t studs by any means, but I’ve been happy with their production and haven’t seen anyone worth grabbing on the waiver wire.
4. Barking BassetHounds (55-33-2)
FAAB Remaining: $20 FAAB Moves this week: n/a
In week eight of REL action, 4th place BarkingBassetHounds defeated Breaking Batum 5-4. In week nine, BarkingBassethounds defeated Slim 5-4.
In both matchups we lost FT%, 3s, and TOs. With Breaking Batum we also narrowly lost Blocks, and with Slim we lost FG%. Given the makeup of my team, I expect to lose turnovers most weeks since most of our team plays quite avalue few minutes. I also expect to lose FT% and 3s most many weeks since my team is slightly unbalanced towards the big skill set. When (if) we get Gallinari back later this year, I expect performance in 3s and FT% to improve.
This league has been a learning experience for me. One miscalculation I made was underestimating the impact FA acquisitions can have. Thus I unwisely spent $60 for Xavier Henry figuring he might be my one acquisition for the year. A few weeks later I (with no regrets) dropped him for Mason Plumlee figuring (1) whatever value Xavier was providing to my counting stats was being negated by negative values with ratios and turnovers (2) Mason Plumlee might not provide any more value this year but probably would still provide top 340 value this year and increasing value in subsequent years for an aging Brooklyn team. Meanwhile I have passed on several FA acquisitions that seem to have worked out well (clinging to Gerald Wallace instead) and my meager $20 left. Maybe if what I perceive as a Mason Plumlee 2.0 opportunity presents itself for the bottom of my roster I might bite, but otherwise I will probably stand pat. Next year I will probably return a few players that I think are being overpaid and tweak my FA approach a little.
5. Cigar Smoking Monkey (55-35-0)
FAAB Remaining: $6 FAAB Moves this week: n/a
6. Breaking Batum (52-38-0)
FAAB Remaining: $83 FAAB Moves this week: n/a
7. Pete Nice – Razzball (51-37-2)
FAAB Remaining: $11 FAAB Moves this week: Toure’ Murry ($4)
8. Martyball – IFBL (50-40-0)
FAAB Remaining: $89 FAAB Moves this week: Ryan Kelly ($2)
9. Scurry to the Left (45-44-1)
FAAB Remaining: $76 FAAB Moves this week: n/a
10. Doug – tdbsports.com (45-44-1)
FAAB Remaining: $98 FAAB Moves this week: n/a
11. Slim – Razzball (43-44-3)
FAAB Remaining: $33 FAAB Moves this week: Alexis Ajinca ($7)
So many things to talk about. Let’s start with weaknesses. I have consistently lost points, rebounds, and assists all year. Steals and blocks haven’t been strong and I’m punting FG%. That’s why I was in 12th place but those days are well in the past now. I traded away Otto Porter, $9 keeper price, and Andrew Nicholson, $3 keeper price, for 2 players who aren’t keeper worthy. This is highly unlike me but I’m sick of losing and I received Tim Duncan and Mike Miller back, so I got significantly better right now. Couple that with the return of Larry Sanders and one of my biggest weaknesses, rebounding, has been completely retooled. Over 220 boards this week. Check. 40 blocks. Check. With Westbrook going down Reggie Jackson becomes my 3rd starting PG along with The Omen and JC Superstar, add in DJ Augustin and I’m over 150 assists this week. Check. My trade with JB a few weeks back netted me Corey Brewer in an attempt to add more steals. Brewer led my team this week with 8 steals in only 3 games. With Terrence Ross picking up steals at a healthy pace along with PJ Tucker and Larry Sanders having strong showings I achieved over 45 steals. Check. My points have climbed every week as my youngsters get more playing time. Since I’m completely healthy for the 1st time all year and now with 9 starters plus 12 out of 17 players averaging over 27 minutes last week, points should continue to climb past the 600 I scored. Check, well, I’ll leave that one unchecked for now, it’s still a work in progress. FT% and 3s continue to be my biggest strength with over .780 FTs and over 45 3s. Check and Mate. And that my friends is how you win 7-2 vs a playoff team.
This was my last week versus a playoff team for I believe the next 6 weeks. I do have JB and Pete Nice mixed in there so those aren’t necessarily going to be easy wins. If I continue to have weeks like this one then it’s not going to matter who I face. At the halfway mark of the regular season it’s time to start the countdown… I currently sit 7.5 games out of 6th place, only one game under .500. And with that I’m ready for my next upside play. I dropped my least productive non-keeper in Mike Miller and added Alexis Ajinca. I’m not expecting much but with Jason Smith and Ryan Anderson down minutes should be available. Also Jason Smith and Greg Stiemsma are in the last year of their contracts while Ajinca signed a 2-year contract earlier this year. I doubt this works out but the potential reward far outweighs the minimal risk.
12. JB Gilpin – Razzball (44-45-1)
FAAB Remaining: $4 FAAB Moves this week: Nick Calathes ($1)
Well, well, well. After my terrible start, I’ve now won four straight weeks and five of the past six. Unlike the weather out there, I’m hot! Unfortunately, three of the last four were only 5-4 wins, but hey, a win is a win! In arguably the biggest trade in the REL’s short history, I moved Jeff Green, Wilson Chandler and Andrew Bynum for LaMarcus Aldridge right before Christmas. My team lacked a front-line scorer, and I think it would’ve been tough to turn down any way you shake it. Now luckily for me, Bynum got suspended a week later and is about to get a trade-and-waive, so that piece is worth nothing. I’m horrified of Green. Just isn’t working in Steven’s system and he was an easy headliner to move. However, I will miss Wilson Chandler a ton – I really like his game and his draft day price, which was well worth the investment. But I got a superstar out of it, who at $36 with Kawhi Leonard (who I think is going to be huge in a year or two) at $37, Serge Ibaka at $40, and Brandon Knight at $15 I think I have a really good four-headed monster with Kawhi and Knight 22-years old, Serge 24, and Aldridge only 28, even though he seems like he’s been around longer than Mariah Carey.
Last week’s 5-4 win against the 2nd best team was a grinder, winning by .002 FG% and three threes, but I only lost by 2 blocks so it wasn’t all on my side in the marginally won categories. That’s now 5-4 wins against the #1 and #2 teams this year. Pep in my step! Brandon Knight continues to shine and LA has been a great addition (obviously). Unfortunately my depth has taken a pretty big hit, and I’ve spent nearly all my FAAB to fix some bad draft picks. Nick Calathes I think was as solid a $1 as I could use right now, stepping into full-time Grizzlies backup PG minutes with Jerryd Bayless traded (also on my team, we’ll see how this goes in Boston… ugh). But hey, like Slim I’m only 7.5 games out of a playoff spot and on a roll right now. Slim and I face each other two weeks from now, and with both our teams on big upswings, that will be a critical matchup for us. Here’s to going 4-4-1 that week, Slim-bo!
13. Ben – RotoGold (42-47-1)
FAAB Remaining: $100 FAAB Moves this week: n/a
14. Hoopus Alleyoopus (41-48-1)
FAAB Remaining: $71 FAAB Moves this week: n/a
15. Mr Green – Nowhere (36-53-1)
FAAB Remaining: $35 FAAB Moves this week: Greg Smith ($1), Derek Fisher ($1)
16. ChazTop-KevinBottom (35-54-1)
FAAB Remaining: $75 FAAB Moves this week: n/a
17. Nashed Potatoes (32-57-1)
FAAB Remaining: $91 FAAB Moves this week: n/a
18. I’m a Currian (31-58-1)
FAAB Remaining: $92 FAAB Moves this week: n/a
19. Team Tough Guy Town (28-60-2)
FAAB Remaining: $89 FAAB Moves this week: n/a
20. Kinsey’s Team (26-62-2)
FAAB Remaining: $100 FAAB Moves this week: n/a
Remember REL teams, if you are in the league and want your recap in the post, hit me up any time before Tuesday morning. Good luck in week 11!
