2024 Intro Blog / First Round Preparation Guide

The BLOG IS BACK AGAIN & while I'm traversing the globe over the next 2 weeks, Tangent will likely be handling the bulk of the posts. This should be a very fun and challenging post-season so if you haven't tried the "Pick One Daily" format now's the time to get into it!

As always, I'll be doing my best to help answer any questions, provide picking advice & ultimately get a consistent posting schedule planned out once I'm hope from my honeymoon on April 23rd.

Free Public League w/ Prizes: Free FPS Public League

$25 Buy-In League also through FPS: Email ValuePicker11@hotmail.com and we'll get you the link! League link is: FPS Private Money League

Free Spreadsheet Google Drive League that includes the play-in beginning Tuesday (4/16)

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WAYS TO PLAY

Firstly, our DTTF google spreadsheet league is now up & running and we're INCLUDING the PLAY-IN tournament pics that start on Tuesday night (4/16): Google Drive League

*Simply add your name yourself to the very left column of the Playoff Central tab if it's not currently listed & begin to enter your picks next to your name for the appropriate days. If you're unable to add or access your name on that sheet, please let us know in the comments below what your pic is for the first day (in advance of that game's lock time) as well as your email address & we'll get you sorted.

Also, several of us are also in a private league via the Fantasy Postseason website with a $25 buy-in. Top 5+ finishers get payouts (depending on how many total players we have) & there are likely 45+ of us. If you're interested in joining, please shoot me an email (ValuePicker11@hotmail.com) or otherwise provide me with your email addy by end of day Friday, April 19th at the latest. This league DOES NOT include the play-in so your first day of picking will be Saturday, April 20.

There's also a public league that Fantasy Postseason provides for free where you can play against all players worldwide & win prizes, etc. 

*Free Public League w/ Prizes: Free FPS Public League

*General Note: DTTF spreadsheet league is PRA (points-rebounds-assists) while Fantasy Postseason counts other stats PRABS as well as some other bonuses & such. Our private FPS league adheres to Draftkings scoring + multiplier bonuses for each round of the playoffs.

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STEPS TO NAVIGATE THE FIRST ROUND

Step 1: Identify teams you expect to lose

These strategies all become a bit clearer & more relevant once the Play-In Tournament has completed, but for the sake of those playing in our spreadsheet league that start picking Tuesday with the Play-In, I'll start with an example that applies to that. The most obvious being the Kings against the Warriors. The Kings have 2 major PRA guys in Sabonis & Fox and nobody expects them to beat a Warriors team that's been on a roll lately. Even if they do and also somehow manage to beat the loser of Pelicans/Lakers (also unlikely) & make it into the 8th seed against the Thunder they're super unlikely to win that series. So for the spreadsheet league, picking one of these players will be what a lot of us do.

Looking past the Play-In, picking someone on whoever ends up 8th in the East facing the Celtics seems like a wise pick as that team will almost certainly lose that series. Honestly, with my Lakers and Suns as low seeds and maybe even the Warriors sneaking in, the West seems pretty wide open to upsets. Hell, even the East is hard to read with the Sixers likely getting in at a high seed with a lot of potential & never count out the Miami Heat no matter where they are if they get in.

For time-sake, I'll skip discussing the other series, but definitely look into them in detail via the bracket I've pasted below in this post! 

Step 2: Identify the top players from teams you expect to lose

Obviously identify your "favorite to lose" in all the other series as well & make a mental or even physical list of the key players you'll need to choose from those losing teams. Narrow down your MUST PICKS & tweak them accordingly if any series start going the opposite of what you'd planned.

Step 3: Watch for days with less games than others in the first round

Look ahead on the playoff schedule & find days with only 2 games, then be sure to plan your pics wisely with those "limited" days in mind.

Step 4: Consider saving a few studs for their home or elimination games

Some players perform better at home or with their backs against the wall. You can almost surely count on the main stars to play high minutes & perform somewhat strongly when facing elimination. I find that many streaky shooters or guys who get most of their PRA from points often perform better at home. If you want to research home vs away stats for certain players historically you can find all that info, but I typically just go with my gut, which bring us to the final point!

Step 5: Above everything else, trust your gut
If you're like me & believe in "bounce-back" games for talented players that simply didn't produce as well as normal in their previous outing, then that & other player/team specific matchup feelings, etc can make for valuable gut-shot calls that will allow you to differ from the popular pick & separate your picking plan a bit from others you're competing with. TRUST YOUR GUT! 

**What teams do you believe will survive the Play-In Tournament & will you be participating in the DTTF Google Drive League, Fantasy Postseason League or both?**