Fantasy Basketball Playoffs

The Fantasy Basketball Playoffs started last week and the reason why I'm just now getting to it is because all my teams had byes last week. One of my three teams didn't even make it to the playoffs. I was off two games from sixth place. I guess I'll play in the consolation bracket, but my other two teams are on fire. Even though these should be easy victories, anything can happen on that PhantasySteez.

The two teams I have that made the playoffs both came from leagues that I was invited to by friends. In my boy Big Mike's league, I finished the season in first and had a bye last week and in Stephanie's league I finished second with a bye last week. In Mike's league, a couple of months ago I traded him Kyrie Irvin and Kenneth Faried for James Harden and Jonas Valanciunas. Since the trade I moved up from fourth to first. I won Mike's fantasy football league, and I'm looking to win his basketball league after coming in second last year. Weird part about this league though, Mike has two teams, and they're both in the playoffs.

 In Steph's league, I've been stuck in 2nd since December and whoever it is that is in first has held on to the top spot since the season started. I find this interesting because of two things. First, there are only six teams in the league. When Steph created the league, she invited enough people to have ten teams, but not everyone accepted the invitation, probably because most people are only used to playing fantasy football. Secondly, of the six teams, I think only three players are actually participating. I know this because the transaction list is hella low, there's been no trades, and free agency is crazily stocked with key players who can get picked up at will. Regardless though, I can't catch this dude who is first place. Looks like I'm going to have to take him out eventually, if I can get past whoever I have to play this coming week. I don't have any master plan or anything, I'm just not going to get cute with it.

I wrote a post during the fantasy football playoffs about not getting cute with your lineups during the playoffs, and the same principle applies here. Trade deadlines should all be passed and by now all the sleepers have awaken and most likely are owned by other players in your league. I honestly feel like unless someone is coming back from injury, there really isn't much need to be looking for somebody to pick up from free agency (unless you're in a league like Stephanie's where there are key players available because the league is only six teams deep). The reason I think like this is because I've spent most of the season adjusting my team just as I'm sure most of you have also. At this point of the season I've been fortunate enough to have team that can produce in just about every stat category. Messing with that would be foolish. Even if someone gets injured, I have key players that can come off my bench. If you're in the playoffs, you should too.