The BLOG IS BACK!
I'm a bit unsure who else will be contributing write-ups during these playoffs, so please email me if you're familiar with the "Pick One Daily" format & interested in writing some blog entries: jerryricochet@gmail.com
In addition to analyzing the strategies involved with this specialized post-season fantasy game, one of the main purposes of this blog is to spark conversations within the comments so please participate in that regard! Feel free to ask questions & describe your own personal strategies within the comment sections of the posts throughout the playoff. I'll be responding as often as I can & will be encouraging others to do the same.
For those completely new to the format, the basic premise is that you pick one NBA player each calendar day that there's at least one playoff game from the beginning of the playoffs through the end of the Finals. You can't ever pick that player again after you pick them and you receive points for their stats for that single performance so there's a lot of strategy that goes into predicting which teams will advance and saving the players on those teams for later.
QUICK LINKS
$25 Buy-In League also through FPS: Email ValuePicker11@hotmail.com and Ken will get you the official invitation! League link is: FPS Private Money LeagueFree Public League w/ Prizes: Free Public League
Free Spreadsheet Google Drive League that includes the play-in beginning Tuesday (4/14)
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FULL DESCRIPTION OF WAYS TO PLAY
Most of us are also in a private league (w/DK scoring & round multipliers) 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 Ken an email (ValuePicker11@hotmail.com). This league DOES NOT include the play-in so your first day of picking will be Saturday, April 18.There's also a public league that Fantasy Postseason provides for free where you can play against all players worldwide & win prizes, etc. I always just mirror my private league picks to most simply compete in both.
*Free Public League w/ Prizes: Free FPS Public League
Lastly, our DTTF google spreadsheet league has simple PRA (points, rebounds, assists) scoring & DOES INCLUDE the PLAY-IN tournament picks that start on Tuesday night (4/14): Google Drive League Link
*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.
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STEPS TO NAVIGATE THE FIRST ROUND
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 fitting example probably being the Heat against the Hornets. Although this isn't a sure win for the Hornets, they've been one of the best teams in the league during the second half of the season. Knueppel has had an elite rookie year and they seem to be clicking at the right time. Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo should produce high end stats in a fast paced game & of course whoever wins this still has to play a second play-in game against the loser of Portland/Phoenix. I simply don't see the Heat winning both and getting into Round 1, so for the spreadsheet league, I believe picking a player such as Bam or Herro is what a lot of us will do.
Looking past the Play-In, picking someone from whatever teams end up facing the Thunder, Spurs, Piston, Celtics seems wise as it seems quite unlikely that any of those Top 4. The Lakers vs. Rockets is an easy series to look at with the intent of picking Lebron early as he'll be forced to put up huge numbers in what everyone believes will be a losing effort since the team are without their top 2 offensive weapons in Doncic & Reaves.
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!
Hi Jerry! And everyone else! Glad to see read you again and having some fun here. It's become a nice tradition for all of us. And I'm looking forward to commenting on the NBA Playoffs here with all of you almost as much as I am about the Playoffs themselves :)
ReplyDeleteI guess everyone knows the matchups, but just in case be careful about the bracket pasted, as it is not updated, the Hawks are facing the Knicks and The Raptors will play against the Cavs. Also the 76rs are in 7th place and the Magic in 8th, though they do play against each other.
In GD I will start picking Bam and Steph Curry. Not expecting 83 from Bam or Steph turning back the clock, but they should be solid picks
Oh geez I guess I should have more carefully looked at the bracket. I’ll update it now with an accurate one. Thanks for pointing that out!
DeleteWelcome back guys!
ReplyDeleteMavs are nowhere to be seen, but I'll be here finishing the game 👍
Poor Mavs :(
DeleteTrue
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