A Beginner's Guide to Building a Successful NBA Fantasy Team

Today, is exactly 58 days before Christmas. I'm pretty sure the kids are very excited with the gifts they'll receive (looking forward to the Aguinaldo) while some others are awaiting the return of loved ones and relatives abroad who'll spend Christmas here in the Philippines. (There's no place like Christmas in the Philippines) Hoop fans meanwhile are anticipating the return of the NBA and a new season unveils on October 28th where 29 teams will try and unseat the Golden State Warriors and write a new chapter in the NBA record books. Can reigning league MVP Stephen Curry prove that winning a championship was not a fluke? Will 4-time MVP LeBron James finally bring a title to a championship starving city of Cleveland? Can LaMarcus Aldridge help the San Antonio Spurs and its aging core cement its legacy as the winningest franchise in Texas?

With all the action heating up on the court, other hoops junkies are also busy in building their Fantasy Basketball Teams in Yahoo and ESPN via online drafting or Autopick.

For those who don't know how this games goes, A Fantasy Team is built thru the draft where a team comprises of 1 Point Guard, 1 Shooting Guard, 1 Guard, 1 Small Forward, 1 Power Forward, 1 Forward, 2 Centers and 3 Utility Players (of any position). The accumulated stats of the player for each game day will be computed by computer and added up for the team. Points, Rebounds, Assists, Steals, Blocks, Turnovers, Field Goal Percentage, Free Throw Percentage, and 3 Pointers Made are the categories where Fantasy managers monitor the box scores of each game to determine if your player is contributing to the team's cause. NBA Fantasy runs thru the first game of the regular season and it ends during the last day of the regular season. The NBA Playoffs do not count during fantasy.

There are two kinds of fantasy leagues you'd choose to play. Head to Head where your team is up against another team where you'll be matched-up for the whole week based on the league schedule. The winner for the week is determined on who has a higher accumulated stats for the 8 or 9 categories stated on Fantasy. Whoever has the winningest record among the teams in your league earns a trophy and it is added to your Yahoo or ESPN Fantasy profile.

Rotisserie leagues meanwhile is based on the accumulated stats for the whole season. Your team score is added up based on the rank of your accumulated stats. Take note there are only 82 games played per position and if you do not arrange your daily line-ups it will take it's toll on you come playoff time.

The draft is an important date for managers because it is where you get to pick the players that will compose your team. An autopick draft meanwhile is a draft where the computer drafts for you depending on the player availability on the pre-draft rankings each manager does before the draft.

For the past few years, LeBron James has been the top ranked player in the league but also in fantasy basketball as well with his ability to produce consistent numbers in a nightly basis. This year, New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis is ranked number 1 based on his ability to provide points and defensive stats like rebounds, steals and blocks as well plus with a new coach in Alvin Gentry and his system of a run and gun fast paced offense, the potential of Davis is limitless and his talent will be unlocked.

LeBron James hopes to end Cleveland's title drought 
(Image by: Getty Images) 

In order for you to have success in Fantasy, here are my valuable tips:

1. First advise is to draft players who are able to play multiple positions. Anthony Davis who is eligible for Power Forward and Center, Kyrie Iriving who is eligible for Point Guard and Shooting Guard, James Harden who is eligible for Shooting Guard and Small Forward and Paul George who eligible for Shooting Guard, Small Forward and Power Forward. Players like these can give you the luxury of mixing and matching with the different positions and be able to maximize every player during game day.

Anthony Davis adds a new dimension to his growing basketball arsenal
(Image by: Derick E. Hingle-USA Today Sports)

2. Draft players with strengths that can compensate the weaknesses of others. For example, I've picked Zach Randolph during the 6th round of my draft. Randolph, a former All Star who compiles double double in points and rebounds is a 3 category asset but lacks stats in the blocks and steals department. A guy like Nicholas Batum of the Charlotte Hornets will compensate in those stats. Batum is also known to be a facilitator in offense and a knock down 3 point shooter can bring other intangibles to your fantasy team.

Zach Randolph continues to lead the Grizzlies in double doubles
(Image by: Andy Lyons Getty Images North America)

Nicolas Batum moves on from Portland to Charlotte
(Image by: Joshua S. Kelly- USA Today Sports) 

3. Young guns over seasoned vets. Dirk Nowitzki, Kobe Bryant, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. They maybe All Stars and future Hall of Fame inductees but fantasy does not translate to reality. With injuries piling up, these names are the ones you must avoid during draft day. It's like a waste to your roster spot plus they'll be invaluable come the fantasy playoffs. Come playoff time, you'll need all the help you can get and players who have the ability to play thru injury and stay healthy will come in handy. It also helps if their team is eliminated for the regular season because it gives players more playing time and a chance to prove themselves that they are better than their record. Minnesotta Timberwolves swingman Andrew Wiggins comes to mind and Philadelphia 76ers defensive dynamo Nerleans Noel.

Kobe Bryant in what could be his final season in the NBA
(Image by: AFP/Getty Images) 

Andrew Wiggins rides the momentum of his Rookie of the Year performance
(Image by: Stephen Dunn-Getty Images North America) 

4. The golden age of Point Guards. With the continuous influx of talent in the league, it's safe to say that the Point Guard position is definitely the deepest source of talent led by Los Angeles Clippers star, Chris Paul down to the Denver Nuggets prized gem in Emmanuel Mudiay. Stacking your team with Point Guards with the ability to shoot the 3-ball, set the offense and provide lock down defense can be your basis in drafting your Point Guard, It also helps if he has dual position eligible like Stephen Curry, Jordan Clarkson and Eric Bledsoe.

Chris Paul looks to build on last year's Western Conference finals stint

(Image by: EPA)

Eric Bledsoe and the Run and Gun Phoenix Suns aim for the playoffs this year
(Image by: Rob Schumacher- AZ Central Sports) 

5. The Waiver Wire. It is the one and only source of additional help for your roster. Always be in a look out for the diamond in the rough and it can pay dividends for your team. Injuries definitely play a huge factor on how your team performs and with the loss of one player is a sure gain for another player. Last year, we saw the breakout season of Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside and All-Rookie Team member Jordan Clarkson of the Los Angeles Lakers. Who will be this year's pick-up of the year? We'll never know.  

Hassan Whiteside brings his defensive presence once again to the Miami Heat
(Image by: Associated Press)

Jordan Clarkson will continue to provide instant offense for the new look Los Angeles Lakers
(Image by: Stephen Dunn Getty Images) 

This is one of my 5 Fantasy Teams for the Yahoo NBA Fantasy game. I hope I'd be able to bounce back from a dismal 7th place finish from last year. You be the judge, This may or this maybe not a winning Fantasy Team but with the injuries and the continuous grind of the NBA Regular Season schedule who knows what's in store for us.

That wraps up my first blog entry. I hope I shared a few information regarding the NBA Fantasy game. I aim to make at least 1 blog entry per week so as to continue to improve as a blogger and at the same time update you guys with what's happening in the World of Pinoy Basketball.

I'll leave you a quote from Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant: "Hard Work beats Talent when Talent does not work hard."