I enter my fantasy basketball playoffs as the underdog this year, but like the hustlin' Billy Hoyle from "White Men Can't Jump"—I'm feeling so lucky.
Just like Billy tried so hard to dunk, my team gritted out 21 weeks of grueling play to find itself in the second seed of the 16 team Fantasy Lounge Basketball Keeper League. With most of the guys knowing each other from the forum, the league stays pretty active and competitive. I inherited my team at the beginning of the season, renamed them, drafted a solid supporting cast, and it has become my baby.
In this week's semifinals it's my Lethal Warriors vs. Radar's Pointweilers
Being the second seed, I had a first round bye in the six team playoff bracket. I don't have the most talented team by any means. And it's not as firmly rooted in the pretty stat of FG% as I'd let on before (bottom third of the league...shame on me for embellishing).
I have come to realize Radar's team would have whooped me if we were in a roto league, being better in almost every statistical category. Normally in this case, I'd punt turnovers and stream to go after a cheep win, but I'm trying not to be known as "that guy." Instead I've added four players with four game schedules this week. Since Radar has so steadily outdone my team this year, it's hard to focus on one category, so I've picked up guys I predict will have the best overall value.
Lethal Warriors - after the moves (in blue)
Javaris Crittenton (4 games)
Daequan Cook (4 games)
Travis Diener (4 games)
Paul Pierce (3 games)
Josh Powell (4 games)
Tim Duncan (3 games)
Rasheed Wallace (3 games)
Samuel Dalembert (3 games)
Leandro Barbosa (4 games)
Jared Dudley (4 games)
Steve Blake (3 games)
Jamal Crawford (3 games)
Louis Williams (3 games)
Thaddeus Young (3 games)
Pointweilers (red for injured)
Devin Harris (3 games)
Vince Carter (3 games)
Cuttino Mobley (4 games)
Anthony Parker (4 games)
Nick Collison (3 games)
Jamario Moon (4 games)
Brendan Haywood (4 games)
Emeka Okafor (4 games)
Baron Davis (4 games)
Brandon Bass (4 games)
Beno Udrih (4 games)
Dikembe Mutombo (4 games)
Joel Przybilla (3 games)
Richard Hamilton (3 games)
Off the bat I'm a little behind because his team plays 51 games and mine plays only 48. In addition, most of my four game players are my weakest. Four of my five keepers play three games, while two of his top three players (Baron and Okafor) play four games.
As you can see, my team is full of waiver wire talent, players whom most wouldn't touch in a 12 team league. The adds I've made are for no-name young guys who have shown progression in the late parts of the season, ranging from the last week to the last six weeks.
Unquestionably my love for this team, having put in the work all season, gives me a slight advantage. And when TNT Thursday hits, having a better idea of how things are going to shake out, I'll adjust my roster accordingly. Only seven guys on my team are safe this week. Everyone else is disposable, and I'm o' so hungry to reach the finals and claim bragging rights in my league.
To Be Continued...
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