by: Jay
Aye, it’s the most obvious title AND the easiest. When the stars align! Unless you’re a Rockets fan, then you won’t respect the space metaphor, moreso, you’ll be anguishing on what this all means. Granted, this is not breaking news I am reporting on, no, the day I have to instantly write about a Fred […]
Please, blog, may I have some more?In what happened to turn into a historic trade in NBA history, a smorgasbord (my nickname for yo momma) of players were exchanged in the first ever seven-team transaction that lead to one of the bigger names available being moved, and that is none other than THE Slim Reaper, Kevin Durant. Sure, nowadays he’s better […]
Please, blog, may I have some more?As the NBA season winds down and the silly season picks up steam, Ossie and Joel review some of their misses from draft season in an attempt to solidify some lessons learned. The duo look at players who let them down — LaMelo Ball, Paul George, and Terry Rozier — and those who broke out […]
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by: Mr. Hooper
After sorting through the latest injury updates — so long, Jalen Johnson; we’ll remember you fondly next draft season — Joel and Ossie break out the crystal ball and try to gaze beyond the trade deadline in search of future value. Are there tank commanders in Brooklyn or Charlotte that are worth stashing? What would […]
Please, blog, may I have some more?Fresh off a victory against the Celtics (105-92) after holding them to a historic franchise low 12-points in the fourth quarter, the Thunder and Cavs are now on a collision course this week. Crazily enough, we’re talking about two elite and young teams that have not lost against the opposite conference, both sharing 15-game winning […]
Please, blog, may I have some more? by: Mr. Hooper
After a long holiday hiatus, Ossie and Joel return to discuss how the fantasy hoops landscape has shifted during the calendar year and review some of the big movers in Ossie’s midseason roto draft. How far did Tyrese Haliburton fall? Did anyone take the bait on Joel Embiid? And are the breakouts of Jalen Williams […]
Please, blog, may I have some more? by: Mr. Hooper
Does this mean that summer is so over? Not quite, but we are talking fantasy hoops again. On the first episode of the ’24-25 season, Joel and Ossie recap an NFBKC draft that went down in early August. Twenty-five picks and $150 later, did either one do well enough to take down some of the […]
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by: The Educator
Working in a school, I’ve noticed that the younger you are, the more value a band-aid has. I have no idea why. A Band-Aid is good for just a little cut. (I also don’t know if you are supposed to capitalize band-Aid so I will continue to be inconsistent with that) But give a small […]
Please, blog, may I have some more? by: Mr. Hooper
On the last day of games before the All-Star break, Joel and Stan take a tour through the NBA’s basement to get a sense of the potential risers and fallers in the NBA’s upcoming silly season. Who stands to gain if (when) the Wizards shut down Kyle Kuzma? Does Miles Bridges’ status as an unrestricted […]
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by: Kostas
It is difficult to feature anything else in the introduction this week but the amazing performance of Victor Wembanyama in the blowout win against the Raptors. He ended the night with just 29 minutes but with 27 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and 10 blocks. Yes, you read this correctly, that’s a triple […]
Please, blog, may I have some more?Last night we saw the transition from Shaedon Sharpe the cool shiny gadget that’s just for show, to the I Gotta Have This In My Daily Life type of tool.
With Anfernee Simons out 6 weeks [sad face] and Scoot Henderson injured mid-game, Sharpe took over with 25 points in the second half, scoring on all three levels and finishing with a 27-7-5-1-2 stat line (9-16 FG, 3-6 3PT, 8-10 FT).
Sharpe has been hitting the glass early on this season, averaging nearly 6 per game (including several smooth offensive putbacks) and has 9 stocks in five games. I still need to see him continue to be aggressive, as the youngster tends to stand around and wait for his turn. If he can, this could be one of the better breakouts of the first couple months of the fantasy season.
Here’s what else was noteworthy to me on another packed Wednesday slate, with some boring blowouts and a couple nail biters.
Please, blog, may I have some more?Drafting rookies in fantasy basketball can be a lot like the fishing game at carnivals. The unknown of what’s going to happen is kinda fun and whimsical, you know you’re going to walk away with some sort of “prize,” but whatever rinky-dink toy or stuffed animal you get probably will depreciate in your mind faster than a new car off the lot.
Long before I was the expert Razzball analyst you’re reading now [“psshh above-average amateur at best”; “Shut up voice in my head, too early for you!”] I never trusted rookies much. The more I read, it was nice to learn this was the correct take to have in this realm.
Rookies traditionally underwhelm because they’re, well, rookies [DUH!]. They struggle with efficiency, which doubles in leagues counting turnovers, and lack the experience and game knowledge at the NBA pace that leads to an extra rebound here or assist there, or what have you that creates a reliable fantasy asset.
Last season was a classic example. There was a Rookie of the Year in Paolo Banchero putting up headline-earning stats, yet finished ranked 211 per game in 9-cat. There were studs who started hot and heavy like Benedict Mathurin but never improved on average-to-weak counting stats. Per usual, the big guys fared the best, with a fun breakout campaign by Walker Kessler (57) and some usable players at the end of the season in guys like Mark Williams (128), Jalen Duren (135) and Jabari Smith Jr. (144) – sniffing a double-double with a block can go a long way for guys on rebuilding teams. And then we had the surprise breakout of an older, more seasoned rookie in Jalen Williams, who finished ranked 73 in 9-cat, and was a top 20 player in the last two months of the season.
As the headline attempts to wittingly suggest, no matter how good the rookie, the general rule is to expect inconsistent fantasy production day-in and day-out. There will be some exciting bit lines and inevitable mistake-laden stinkers.
So let’s take a look at some of the class of 2023-24, as I’ve compiled a list of sure-fire analysis of steady that I’m 100% certain of….
Please, blog, may I have some more?
