Lesson Learned While Fishing for Bassey

It’s playoff season, and in standard head-to-head leagues like the Razzball Writers’ League, every waiver wire pickup is critical at this point. Facing Beats By Dray in the first round, I head into the weekend hoping I didn’t chum the waters on (as in, threw up all over) my chances to advance.

All week, San Antonio second-year big man, Charles Bassey, has been discussed as a hot wire add for the tanking Spurs. Bassey has been a borderline standard league over the last few weeks, averaging about 8 points, 7 boards, 2 assists a steal and a block a game in 17.5 minutes.

I’ve been trolling around the Bassey interest all season, which he spent much of tearing up the G League. In 14 games in the minors, he was 3rd in fantasy points (yes, G League keeps track of fantasy points per game leaders on its stats page), averaging about 23-10-2-1-2 on 67% shooting. The Spurs saw enough positives in his development to fully guarantee the former Western Kentucky Hilltopper’s contract for its first two years. With that vote of confidence, and the tank rolling, it makes sense to believe Bassey could be a strong asset for fantasy playoffs.

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Pelican Party in N’awlins: Mighty McCollum Calls “Game”

by: John Frascella

If you’ve been reading my NBA Wednesday fantasy recaps throughout the season, then you’ve probably noticed that I like to give a different team the focus each and every week. Gotta keep it fresh for you, right?

Well, this week I’m happy to finally land on the New Orleans Pelicans, one of the most interesting teams in the entire NBA. To me, the Pelicans are the No. 1 what if? team in the league. What if they could ever keep superstar Zion Williamson (hamstring this time) healthy? What if they could ever roll out their optimal starting lineup: C.J. McCollum, Brandon Ingram, Herbert Jones, Zion and Jonas Valanciunas? What if Jones (24 years old), Trey Murphy III (22) and Dyson Daniels (19) all happen to pan out? There are a lot of different ways things could potentially work out for these young Pelicans, but none of those ways have come to fruition just yet.

But Wednesday marked a step in the right direction, as the pesky Pelicans booked a huge 113-106 win over the reeling Dallas Mavericks. With the victory, New Orleans stayed a half-game ahead of the talented young Thunder for the final position in the West’s playoff ladder. Let’s dive in and take a closer look at Wednesday’s performances from a fantasy perspective.

Please, blog, may I have some more?

The Prodigal Sun Debuts: Durant Solid in First Phoenix Outing

March 2, 2023 | 2022-23 Fantasy Basketball, Fantasy Basketball Daily Notes |

by: John Frascella

Fifty percent of Wednesday’s NBA tweets went to Jalen Brunson and his Knicks, but as the old saying goes, “The tie goes to the runner.” Kevin Durant ran away from my Brooklyn Nets as fast as he possibly could, and Wednesday night he finally debuted for the Phoenix Suns in a convincing 105-91 victory over the reeling Charlotte Hornets. Let’s dive in and take a closer look at both Durant and Brunson from a fantasy basketball perspective.

Please, blog, may I have some more?

The Boston Celtics Won the All-Star Game… Wait, What?

February 23, 2023 | 2022-23 Fantasy Basketball |

by: John Frascella

Normally, I come at ya fast and furious with my NBA Wednesday fantasy recap; but well, there are no Wednesday games this week. With that in mind, we turn our attention back to the All-Star Game, one highlighted by two guys on the same team that weren’t on the same team. Yes, I know that looks dumb when you read it, but it’s true.

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Hornets Sting Deer in Real life

February 1, 2023 | 2022-23 Fantasy Basketball, Fantasy Basketball Daily Notes |

by: TheEducator

Five game slate on a rainy Tuesday evening. Well, might not have been raining in your neck of the woods. I hate ice storms more than I hate this year’s Bulls squad and watching LeBron James complain about every game mattering, the refs screwing us, and then resting the next game so he can break a scoring record later on TNT.

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Slo Mo-tion for me, Slo Mo-tion for me

January 28, 2023 | 2022-23 Fantasy Basketball, Fantasy Basketball Daily Notes |

by: PhilOssie

Iiiiitttt waaaas k-k-kiiiinnnd-uhhhv a slooooow F-f-frrrriiiiidayyyy niiiite innn thaaaa Ennn-Beeee-Aaaaa, wiithh-th ooonnnleeeee fiiiiiive gammmmess ooon the d-d-dooockkkkett …

It is difficult to write in slow motion. It’s got to be even harder to play a professional sport in slow motion. But the man they call Slo Mo [still wondering why his nickname isn’t The Sloth, since he even resembles the lovable creature], Kyle Anderson, is the enigma [another nickname possibility!] of the modern day game where stinging athleticism makes headlines.

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Tour de Franz

January 21, 2023 | 2022-23 Fantasy Basketball, Fantasy Basketball Daily Notes |

by: PhilOssie

The Magic have been everyone’s favorite fantasy outlet this season, from Bol Bol Euro-stepping into monster jams to Paolo Banchero compiling historic rookie numbers. The play of Franz Wagner has by no means been lost in all the excitement, but his games of late have been next level good. Over his last six games, he’s averaging 24 points on 55% shooting, 68.3 TS%, pitching in about 4 boards, 3 assists, a steal and 3 threes per game.

Please, blog, may I have some more?

LeMLK Day

January 17, 2023 | 2022-23 Fantasy Basketball, Fantasy Basketball Daily Notes |

by: Jay

With a 48-point performance, why can’t LeBron James share in the festivities with the great Martin Luther King? I mean, there’s actually some real answers here, like, you know, I don’t think MLK would let China get in the way of social equality. And if we’re still being serious, this performance came against the worst team in the league. But therein lies the LeRub, if you will… Monday’s performance is yet another reminder of how bad the Lakers as a whole actually are. Check this fun stat out; over the last 16 games, LeGreat has a +143. In the minutes he’s sat on the bench, the Lakers have accumulated a -106. Yikes. Granted, I get the feeling that Lakers’ ownership would rather miss the play-in than pay the repeaters taxes, but Pelinka and others need to get him some more help. A healthy AD isn’t enough. And as much fun as it is laying into the Lakers, it’d be true shame (even with the bubble Chip) to waste LeAgeless in his year 38 when he can still dominate. Here’s what else I saw during last night’s games…

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Underperformer Of The Week: Evan-Tually He Heats Up.

December 28, 2022 | 2022-23 Fantasy Basketball |

by: Joe Bernard

We have had some sure-fire hits, a couple misses and some that are still straddling the fence. That is part of what makes fantasy basketball so exciting. We can actively manipulate our individual line-ups and impact outcomes from making the right move or two at the correct time. While the same can be said for making the incorrect move for the wrong player affecting your team negatively.

As the saying goes, “You gotta pay to play”.

Please, blog, may I have some more?

RazzJam Redux: The Guilt of Tilt

December 20, 2022 | 2022-23 Fantasy Basketball | 2 Comments

by: Mr. Hooper

In this life, do-overs are rare. The opportunity to go back and change the mistakes of the past is reserved for science fiction plots or melancholy discussions over a pint in dimly-lit watering holes. But over this last week, I was presented with an opportunity to do just that – to go back with the knowledge of hindsight and fix where I failed, to atone, to set things right. I had screwed up once and now I was gifted a second chance. Please, I told myself, don’t blow it again.

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Devin Booker Explodes for 58 Points to Cap Off Suns-Pelicans Season Series

December 18, 2022 | 2022-23 Fantasy Basketball, Fantasy Basketball Daily Notes |

by: JalonsWorld

Devin Booker with the 50-ball! 58 points on 35 shots with 15 free throw attempts and six made threes. In short, Booker was letting that thing fly last night. The next closest player on the team in terms of shot attempts was Mikal Bridges with 13. Speaking of Mikal Bridges, he and Chris Paul combined for 33 points on the night. Notable players that missed this game were Deandre Ayton (left ankle sprain) and Cameron Payne) right foot strain.

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Picking at the Carcass

November 28, 2022 | 2022-23 Fantasy Basketball |

by: Mr. Hooper

You can’t win a championship at the beginning of a season, but you can lose one. Much as it pains me to say, I think I’ve already lost.

After a successful Writer’s League last year that ended against Kostas in the semifinal and a pretty intensive offseason of thinking about hoops, I came into this year’s draft feeling like I was in decent shape to post a good showing again. But this year ain’t last year. Stats and success don’t carry over, and if you’re resting on laurels rather than applying lessons learned, there’s no way to bank Ws on account of “experience.” If you’ve been following Kelder’s weekly recaps, you might have noticed that my team isn’t anywhere in the mix. Indeed, you’ve got to scroll almost the way to the bottom of the table to see my name. A record of 19-34-1 is good enough for 11th and I feel all but certain the hole that I’ve put myself in is going to be too deep to recover from. I’m not quite ready to quit on some other struggling squads, but I think it’s safe to let go of preseason expectations at this point and set a different goal for the remaining three-quarters of the season here in the Writer’s League.

Please, blog, may I have some more?