Congratulations. You’ve made it to the championship round in your fantasy basketball league. It’s been a great season. Now you have to win the next two weeks and seal the deal.
Here are some tips/player advice to help guide you.
1. It’s All About the Games: If you are going to pick up free agents off the waiver wire, make sure you target players that have full schedules in the next two weeks. Target players who teams have seven or more games remaining on the schedule.
2. Plan for Your Stars to Sit: Have a plan in place for when one of your star players gets shut down before the playoffs. I have Lebron James for example. If interim coach Larry Drew decides to sit James down for a couple of games down the stretch, I have added five free agents on my watch list that I want to pick that could give me some production. Replacing Lebron is impossible. If you find a way player who has been playing well the past two weeks and streaking offensively, add them.
3. Drop Injured Stars:I currently have Jimmy Butler sitting on my bench in my standard league. I am going to win my first round match up and advance to the championship round where I will be playing a good team in the final.
If Butler isn’t back by Friday or I don’t see a return date, I am dropping him. Roster spots are precious commodities this time of year. Unless your league has a designated I.R spot, you cannot afford to roster star players who are injured.
4. Manage Your Match Up Acquisitions: Managing your acquisitions is crucial this time of year. Standard leagues typically give you seven acquisitions per week. That means you get 14 acquisitions over a two week period. You are not going to make that many moves. If your league isn’t as generous, it is important that you manage your waiver claims and don’t over think your match up. Especially if you are trailing after week one.
5. Waiver Targets: Here five players available in free agency that you should target.
Terry Rozier, PG, Celtics: Rozier is the Celtics point guard for the rest of the regular season and possible longer. He can score but also set up his teammates. He is a worthwhile add even if you have a back up point guard. Rozier is a quality DFS option.
Buddy Hield, SG, Kings: Hield has been on fire of late. He is averaging 13 points per game and 24 minutes a night. He is a valoume scorer who is capable of going off offensively. If you need scoring, especially in DFS, Hield is a worthy add.
Quinn Cook, SG, Warriors: Thanks to injuries to stars Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant, Cook is getting a chance to play more. He is only averaging 17.3 minutes per game but expect that number to go up in the last two weeks of the season.
JaMychal Green (PF) and Dillon Brooks (SF), Grizzlies: The Grizzles are the worst team in the league but have a handful of players who have fantasy appeal. Green and Brooks are among that group. Both have been getting touches and making them count. Both Green and Brooks are worthy of rostering in standard leagues as well as drafting in DFS.
Josh Jackson, SG, SF, Suns: Jackson was a top five pick in last year’s NBA Draft. After a slow start and battling injuries, Jackson is starting to settle into his role in Phoenix and as a result he is getting more minutes and more touches. If you are in the championship round, Jackson is worth adding to your roster. I would highly recommend playing him in DFS.