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Basketball is the hardest fantasy game to dominate, too many games by too many players, in too many
categories each week to completely predict a path to victory.
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Draft Rankings
Ranking players is easier in basketball than it is in other sports. Typically leagues use 8 or 9 categories (FG%, FT%, 3's, Points, Rebounds, Assists, Steals, Blocks and Turnovers). It is pretty easy to draw a line in each category that separates good players from poor players for that category. 48% FG, 80% FT, 1 3pergame, 18 PPG etc. Once you draw the line, you can count the number of categories that each player excels at and subtract the categories that the player will hurt you and come up with a number of categories each player will help you in. For example, Shawn Marion is a second tier star in the NBA, but he is typically at or very near the top in fantasy points because he contributes in every single category other than assists. Having an 8 category contributor is a solid start to a roster. Once you have figured this out, it becomes easier to rank the players if you are willing to spend the time to count the categories for each player. Blocks and 3's are the only two categories where specialists can help. |
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In-Season Moves
I don't believe in daily transaction leagues. It favors quantity over quality and doesn't force owners to assess the value of each player. I prefer weekly lineup leagues which force owners to assess the value of each player each week. Matchups, number of player games, quality of the player at that time, all should play into lineup selections. Once your league has settled on a transaction policy, then you can address how to handle free agency. |
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Trades
Attack basketball trades different than you would trades in the other sports. It only takes a 5-4 score each week to win, so I suggest that each owner identify the 5 categories that you have the best opportunity to win and try to bolster those 5 as much as possible. For example, I feel like I can win FG%, FT%, Assists, Steals and Blocks. In this case, I would try to trade my 3 point shooters and high scorers who don't have above average stats in these other categories. I would look for players that help in these 5 categories and forget the rest. Trading Mike Miller who is a solid 3 point shooter and scorer for Al Horford who is a great shooter and plays solid defense. |
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