Wednesday, October 19, 2022
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Draft recap of Any1seenMyDime? Fantasy basketball league 2015-2016
This is the 7th year of our fantasy basketball
league and I try to do a draft recap as before the season starts. It lets me
put my full bias into my thoughts without any regular season stats tallied
yet. You’ll see the usual for each
round: what I like, what I don’t like, and what I was thinking. You can follow along with the draft
order here: http://games.espn.go.com/fba/tools/draftrecap?leagueId=33535
Round 1: Can you go
wrong with any of these guys?
What I liked: Obviously the Brow and Steph going 1 and 2. I
like seeing LeBrick out of the conversation for #1 and seeing him fall to 6 is
pretty good. I probably would even take the likes of Damian Lillard above
LeBron in most fantasy formats. (Lillard could be MVP this year.)
What I didn’t like: Nothing. Statistically speaking, all 10
of these guys should stuff the stat sheet this year.
What I was thinking: Rodriguez had the first pick… but was
also on his Honeymoon. Obviously, he had his priorities straight. Or did he? I
had a hard time with the 2nd pick. I wanted Steph. I wanted KD. And
to be honest, I almost pulled the trigger on Lillard. He’s probably the only
one who will play all 82 games this year, and with Aldridge in San Antonio and
the ball in his hands, he’s going to have HUGE games this year. I ultimately
chose Steph because of his defensive abilities. And I love him, and his game.
Round 2: Possible 1st
rounders
What I liked: You could make the case that some of these
guys drafted in Round 2 could be drafted in Round 1. LaMarcus Aldridge, Paul
George, and Melo are your typical borderline 1st rounders. Klay
Thompson is only getting better, and Jimmy Butler was awesome last year.
What I didn’t like: Two words. Rudy. Gobert. Really, Willie?
I know you love the Jazz. But round 2 is not a round for risk. Gobert has
upside… but not #11 upside. Also, Luther passing on Paul George. Unexplainable
for a guy who swears by his Indiana teams.
What I was thinking: I wanted either Melo or LA. Carmelo
should lead the league in scoring (or close to it.) And he does enough in the
other categories that I was happy with him at 19. Plus he’s a SF/PF combo.
Round 3: Where the
draft is won.
What I liked: A lot of big guys flying off the board.
What I didn’t like: Draymond Green was my waiver wire
pick-up last year. He was great. But without improving his 3PM, I don’t see him
as a 3rd round pick. DeAndre Jordan. Gross. In a league that counts
FT% and FT missed, Jordan is a plague.
What I was thinking: I wanted Vucevic all of last year. He
is skilled offensively for a center, has great range and touch, and the Magic
will run their offense through him. Marc Gasol probably has better defensive
stats. But Vucevic will be an All-Star.
Round 4: Also where
the draft is won
What I liked: A lot of great talent still available in this
round. Rudy Gay has always been a favorite of mine, as he does a little bit of
everything. Al Horford is apparently shooting 3’s this year.
What I didn’t like: This is OBVIOUS. I had my fingers
crossed that KLove would drop to 39. I knew the chances were slim with Jared in
front of me. But Mikey had no business grabbing Love. Completely uncalled for.
I still don’t see KLove as a legit superstar, like he was in the past. But I
still KLove him. (See what I did there?)
What I was thinking: I would have been ecstatic to get Love
at 39. But I already knew chances were slim. I was happy with Lowry in round 4.
I feel he’s extremely undervalued and is easily a 2nd round pick. He
was my targeted PG in this years draft.
Round 5: Last chance
to win your draft
What I liked: This is the round where we see the last of the
really great fantasy players go off the board. Batum should be beastly in
Charlotte this year. The Greek Freak is just fun to own.
What I didn’t like: Kyrie is coming off a major injury and
probably won’t be the player he’s been in the past. Isaiah Thomas is coming off
the bench in Boston.
What I was thinking: I love PGs. I already drafted Steph and
Lowry. I felt Ty Lawson is going to have a huge year in Houston along side the
Beard. Ty and James Harden have a similar style of play: fast. They both
penetrate, attack the basket, and drive and dish. There’s plenty of that to go
back-and-forth so I expect Ty’s assists and 3s to be high this year.
Round 6: A few
question marks
What I liked: Karl-Anthony Towns could be the rookie of the
year. Mike Conley is a great pickup at this point in the draft (there’s that PG
love again).
What I didn’t like: A lot of question marks. Can Wiggins repeat
on last years performance? Will Monta Ellis and PG13 coexist in Indiana? Is
Reggie Jackson a legit starting PG? Does Dirk have anything left? Is Danny
Green effected by Pops regimented
playing time?
What I was thinking: The only sure-fire picks in this round
were Mike Conley and Tobias Harris. I already picked point guards and I needed
a PF. I had Tobias Harris on my team last year and he can do everything. He’s
going to play a ton of minutes for Orlando and pairing him with Vucevic made
sense. Plus he has SF eligibility.
Round 7: Former 1st
rounders
What I liked: There were several former 1st round
picks in this round. Tyreke Evans, DRose, Dwight Howard, Tim Duncan, Dwyane
Wade. That made for some interesting justifications. When seeing these names,
you can’t help but be tempted to pick them as you consider their past fantasy
season greatness. C.J. McCollum.
He could be in for a huge year starting along side Damian Lillard.
What I didn’t like: Tim Duncan. He’s old and slow and in
Pops system. He’s not going to play every night.
What I was thinking: I was looking hard at Greg Monroe. He’s
always been a solid fantasy player, capable of a double double every night. I
saw DRose. (Curse my love for PGs!) It took me down to the last second to pick
Derrick Rose. I know he hasn’t been healthy, and he got hurt in practice
already. But it looks like he’s going to start the season opener. And sometimes
you gotta take risks… on guys like Derrick Rose… for the 3rd season
in a row…
Rounds 8-9: Potential
Rock Stars
What I liked: Brandon taking ZBo again. DeMar DeRozan is
probably the best SG value out of this group. Ryan Anderson is STILL the
darling of our league. Thaddeus Young is a great pick here.
What I didn’t like: All the SGs. Probably the least valuable
position in fantasy basketball, as players in other positions are starting to
shoot further away from the hoop. I’m just not a fan of SGs in fantasy,
especially when I can get a PG that qualifies as SG as well. (I still get 3s
from PGs plus better assists and and defensive stats.) I still hate Kobe. And seeing Rajon Rondo anywhere near a
basketball team is ridiculous. He’s going to destroy the Kings organization
from the inside out.
What I was thinking: PGs. Like I said. I can get a lot of
value from a PG. Especially someone like Michael Carter-Williams who is a
triple-double threat. I think Emmanuel Mudiay could contend for Rookie of the
Year honors as the starting PG for the Denver Nuggets.
Round 10-11: Draft
strategy goes out the window
What I liked: It’s generally at this point I draft ‘flyers’.
Guys I think should be really good, even though they might not. Trevor Ariza
should be good again this year. Gortat is better than people think. Marcus
Smart is starting for Boston.
What I didn’t like: Everything about round 10 (except for
Ilyasova). JR Smith is terrible. Joakim Noah probably wont start this year.
Terrance Jones, Robin Lopez, and Enes Kanter are all question marks.
What I was thinking: I panicked. I had one sleeper pick this
year. Meyers Leanard. I could have drafted Gortat. But no… I freaked out and
picked Leonard fearing someone else might snag him. (A young freak athlete that
is a starting big man filling the hole left by LA and can shoot 3s.) We’ll see
how long he stays on my roster.
Jrue Holiday is supposed to be on a minutes restriction with his
stress-fractured broken leg. But with Tyreke Evans out, I don’t see how the
Pelicans can be competitive without Holiday. They need him to get back to the
playoffs. He may get a full compliment of minutes sooner than January.
Round 12-13: The end
of it all
What I liked: A lot of old, interesting players. Kevin
Martin, Tony Parker, Joe Johnson, Deron Williams, Jeff Green, Luol Deng, Josh
Smith. These guys used to be fantasy gold. Now? Who knows?
What I didn’t like: Patrick Beverly. Yuck. Josh Smith. Yuck.
What I was thinking: Once again. I freaked out. I was
looking for Marcus Smart. I didn’t realize he’d been taken so I half-hazzardly
grabbed Julius Randle and Alec Burks. Randle has a lot of upside as the
starting PF for the Lakers. And Burks was the surprise of fantasy last year
until he was injured, he’s just not a good 3pt shooter for a SG (which drives
me crazy).
All in all, I hope everyone had fun. Should be a great year
for basketball. I’ll see ya’ll in the playoffs. (Except for 2 of you). Overall I think I fared okay in my
draft. 7 PGs is a bit much… but then again… maybe not. You never know.
Labels:
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kyrie irving,
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lebron james,
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Sunday, September 22, 2013
Friday, January 11, 2013
The Adventures of Bart and Dan: Episode 17
17- Dan and
Thalia get Engaged
(The setting: the old house on 1st East)
Dan and Thalia
enter the doorway, Dan holding her hand up to show everyone the rock.
Together: “We’re
engaged!”
Bart: Oh really?
Engaged in what? Arm wrestling? A tussle? A deep and articulate conversation?
D & T just
look at Bart. Bart just looks back, still earnestly seeking an answer.
D: To be married…
B: Well, duh!
Everyone knows that! The producer of the show put the title of the show up
before you guys even got here… even our TV viewers watching from home already
knew you two were getting married. See… it’s still there. (Pointing down so if you're watching TV it looks like he's pointing at the
bottom of the screen… Title changes from ‘Dan and Thalia get engaged’ to Dan and
thalia ARE engaged’)
D: So you’re
saying you already knew?
B: Yeah, why else
would I suggest you were arm wrestling? I thought you were going to tell us
that you were engaged in something we didn’t already know about. I mean, who
goes around telling people all the things they already know. “Hello, fireman.
You fight fires.” “Hello, Oprah. You’re a rich black woman.” “Oh hello man with
a monkey on your face. You have a monkey on your face.”
Andre is sitting
on the couch filing his nails: This is all just...well, you know...engaging…
B: Wait a sec...
Dan you're getting married? I didn't even know you had a GF.
Dan steps
slightly to the side of Thalia and shows her like Vannah White.
Bart just stares,
Dan reemphasizes with a head nod…. Bart leaves
Girl1: Congrats! But you can’t add more little Criddles to the world!?
Andre still
filing: With a last name like 'Criddle' he sure can!
Thalia: More Criddles!? Who said anything about
more Criddles?
Andre still
hasn’t moved: It’ll go down
in history.
Bart runs back
into the room and hugs Dan around the stomach, because that's normal: FIVE IRON FRENZY????!!!!!! DAN I
LOVE YOU! Have MY babies???!!!
Dan: Um, you'll have to ask Thal about that
one. I'm thinking she wouldn't be such a big fan.
B: Hey Thalia…
would you be a big fan if Dan had my babies?
She stares with
one eyebrow up.
B: Hmmm… how
about just a fan… a regular old normal fan?
She walks off.
Bart to Dan: That just made my day... even though
she semi-rejected the notion of you having my babies, you just gave a shout out
to FIF! I'll take a Five Iron shout out over her acceptance anyday... over breathing
even.
D: Well good thing
you can have both.
B: So... you're saying you'll have
my babies? ...
D: What?? No, that would be three things; (Steps
up to the whiteboard with a ruler)
Five iron shout out + Breathing + Having babies = 1 too many things.
B: So... you're saying I can choose 3
things minus 1 too many things?... ?
Dan: No, you have to set one side
equal to zero. Subtract one too many things and you are left with the two
things that are not too much.
B: Oh, ok. Why
didn’t you just say that? Well obviously I choose Five Iron... thats a no
brainer... and I also choose.... hmmm...
jalapeno custard?
Dan: Sure, but I'll probably have to get that from Japan, which really counts as two things, so I'll have to take back the Five Iron Frenzy shout-out when I hand you the custard, or you could keep
the shout-out and just watch the jalapeno custard dissimilate in my hands; which is
kind of like eating it with your eyes....
B: (in a daze) mmm... I like
eye eating
D: ... as opposed to eating eyes which is just
reprehensible.
B: Oh gross! Who would do such a thing, besides
Vietnamese and Arctic Nomads?
D: Irish.
B: Yeah, I have a problem with my Irish
too. Do you think i should go to the optometrist?
D: fish-eesh-ish.
B: Yeah, you're
right. The pediatric surgeon would be a much better choice.
_____________________________
Everyone’s
sitting on the couch with a bowl of popcorn… Bart leans over to Thalia…
Bart to Thalia:
How about a fair weather fan? You can be a fan on nice spring, summer, or fall
days… and maybe even a few days in winter… just not during a blizzard or on
days I go to the dentist…. ?
B to T: How about
just a casual observer type of fan? One who doesn’t really care but checks the
scores in the Daily Herald every now and again just to be up with the times?
Thalia just eats
her popcorn.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Any1SeenMyDime? The 4th Quarter: Fantasy draft
The start of the NBA season brings
new beginnings for NBA Fantasy managers all over the world. For those of us in
the Any1SeenMyDime? fantasy basketball league hosted by ESPN, we couldn't be
more excited.
So to celebrate the start of the
season, I've decided to do what they've done on ESPN: analyze my picks and my
opponents' picks, and give insights to how the draft shook-out. In other words,
I'm going to give you expert analysis by a non-expert: me.
To my opponents, I say: You may or
may not agree with how I analyze you...I really don't care. Just know that you
are going to lose, and at the end of this season, you will be a part of the
mediocre rubble on which I stand.
I was the first one in the draft room
this year. I was certain I was due for an improvement when it came to the
randomized draft order… but sometimes certainty can fail a guy. I was 5th…
again. Now, while I was slightly upset that I wasn’t one of the top two (I
think we can all agree that there is a HUGE drop-off in Fantasy brilliance
after KD and LeBron), I realized it could have been worse. I could have been 10th.
(Yes, that’s a dig at Rodriguez. Ha).
Here's the link to our Draft Recap,
you can follow along, if you'd like. http://games.espn.go.com/fba/tools/draftrecap?leagueId=33535
Round 1: Who do you like?
What I liked: Every team actually
picked players I would consider top 12 fantasy players. Seriously. It was good
to finally see Josh Smith get the attention he deserved in the first round
after being relegated to the sloppy-second rounds for years.
What I didn’t like: Didn’t Mike
Holmes and Will Harnish have the 1st and 2nd picks last
year? Super lame-gay. (And yes, I AM using gay to mean stupid, because that’s
what my generation does and it’s OK.) I was surprised that Rodriguez took Kobe.
A die-hard Spurs fan picks Kobe Bryant? My fingers feel dirty just from typing
that sentence.
What I was thinking: I was
actually right where I wanted to be IF I wasn’t going to be 1st or 2nd.
I was going to be perfectly content with whoever fell to me at 5. (That’s a
lie.) In reality, I wanted Kevin Love. He was projected 3rd pick overall
BEFORE his injury, and the guy stuffs the stat sheet with excellent
percentages. Willie made a comment that Curtis would take Love while on auto
draft, and I freaked out a little bit. I was MORE than relieved to see Love
wasn’t taken before I had the chance. Although I did hesitate and consider
taking DWill. Even if it was only for a second. But I knew I wanted Kevin Love,
and if I waited until the 2nd round there’s NO WAY I’d get him.
You’ll be seeing and hearing a lot more about KLove as the season progresses.
Round two is interesting because it gives some managers the
chance to get players that could easily be first rounders. Normally, Al Jefferson, Dirk Nowitzki, and
Pau Gasol could easily be included in this category. But there were a LOT of new
faces in round 2, and I didn’t like it one bit!
What I
liked: Team Little pairing Melo with
Rondo. I really don’t like Rondo, but I can’t deny the production. The only
other think I liked: Al Jefferson and Pau Gasol. These two guys are always
borderline 1st rounders, always consistent and predictable. That’s
what Fantasy is all about.
What I
didn’t like: All the
new faces in round 2. Maybe I’m just getting old, but this seems crazy that
almost all of these guys were late rounders last year and are 2nd rounders
this year: Ty Lawson, Kyrie Irving, Serge Ibaka (really, Mike?), James Harden
(obviously theres upside with Harden now that he’s a Rocket, but that’s still a
giant mystery… he’s a bench player. Doesn’t any of this remind you of 2009,
when Houston took Trevor Ariza from the Lakers? Yeah, that didn’t turn out
well.) I also hate the fact that Willie drafted Goran Dragic BEFORE Steve Nash.
Are you kidding me? You have some serious explaining to do, because that’s
ridiculous. A lot of unproven players were drafted this round. It will be
interesting to see who pans out. And of course, Mike Holmes drafting Steve
Nash. I don’t get what it is that people don’t understand when I say “If you
draft Steve Nash, you will get punched in the balls.” Mike, I was nice to you
by letting your brother join this year. I thought we were on good terms.
Apparently not.
What I was
thinking: Nash was ranked in the 30’s
and I had the 29th pick in the 3rd round. That’s when I
would take him. So I had to settle on a big man. Al Jeff and Pau were sitting
right there… but I’ve never really like Big Al… and I was sick of having Pau on
my team (two years in a row). I needed something different. DeMarcus Cousins?
Really? Ugh… I guess.
The third
round is still a great time to get
great players. David Lee and Dirk Nowitzki were once first-round picks. If you
can grab one of them here, you'll do well for yourself.
What I
liked: Honestly, I think a lot of
these guys will end up being 2nd rounders. N’Dongers paired the
Gasol brothers together via autopick, and Brandon picked up Al Horford (who I
covet). The fact that Mike Conley and Monta Ellis are grabbed this round is
tasty.
What I
didn’t like: That Kobe didn’t drop to the 3rd
round like last year. I like what Mike Harnish said in the draft room: “I blame
Steve Nash.” Another thing I didn’t like: Anthony Davis. Really Willie? You’re
killing me. I honestly don’t see what the hype is about. Yay, he has a unibrow…
big deal.
What I was
thinking: I was still a little
flustered that Nash was gone. I was fully expecting to get him in the 3rd
round, where he belongs. Now I had to adjust, and rethink my entire draft
strategy. It really came down to Rudy Gay or Al Horford. With OJ Mayo
completely out of the picture in Memphis, Rudy will be back to his dominating
ways. Plus, I like a SF that can rebound, defend, and shoot threes.
Round 4:
Effeciency
What I
liked: There were a lot of players
picked this round that used to be borderline 1st rounders: Steph
Curry, Chris Bosh, Joe Johnson, Brook Lopez, Danny Granger. If you were able to
snag any of these guys, I salute you. I love that Gortat is up here.
What I
didn’t like: Ryan
Anderson. Not that he doesn’t belong, just that he can’t be my LAST pick of the
draft like he was last year. Nice
grab, Josh. I feel like Willie really stretched to grab Kenneth Faried (he
claims it is of necessity because of his draft position, I’m just not sure he’s
worth it)
What I was
thinking: What can I do to piss off
Mike Holmes? Haha Just kidding. I knew I wanted another big, and Brook Lopez
seemed like my best bet. I have made this same bet several times before and
lost. Why is he such a terrible rebounder??
Round 5:
Fantasy Gold
What I
liked: This is the round that really resonated with me. A lot of
really solid fantasy players were drafted, guys with high upside and loads of
talent. Batum, Tyreke, Holiday, Gallinari, Afflalo, Bargnani. These are names I
like!
What I
didn’t like: STAT. It’s just sad.
The guys got $60 million for the next 3 years and yet he doesn’t seem worth it.
Guys get paid and then lay eggs. It’s the sad truth.
What I was
thinking: Luol Deng
has to be one of the most underrated players in fantasy basketball. He can do
everything on the court and with Derrick Rose possibly out for the season, he’ll
be the man in Chicago. I expect a career year, Deng it!
Round 6: ?
marks
What I
liked: Kyle Lowry is in Canada,
even though Jose Calderon is still in town. ZBo to team Little, who at this
point is having a quietly stellar draft. Gerald Wallace feels like a steal
here.
What I
didn’t like: Curtis drafting
Ginobli. With the new anti flopping rules, Manu is going to run out of money.
Mike Harnish being “a sucker for Boozer,” as his brother Willie put it. And
Tyson Chandler picked by newcomer Daniel Holmes. Chandler is soooo 2011.
What I was
thinking: It was
the 6th round, and I still hadn’t drafted a PG. Unheard of. So then
I looked at the list… and John Wall was just sitting there. He should be back
by Thanksgiving, and he’s better than Goran Dragic. (Oh… burn, Willie.) I would
know, I WAS a Suns fan.
Rounds
7-8: Shooting Guards Galore
What I
liked: Team Little grabbing Scola
and Mayo (so predictable!), while Shai pairs Jason Terry and Chauncey. Willie
finally made two picks that make sense: Glen Davis and Nikola Pekovic. And Josh
grabs MKG. Deliciousness!
What I
didn’t like: Michael Beasley in
round 8. Mike Holmes dropped way down to grab one of the most overrated,
inconsistent, and underachieving fantasy players ever. (Mostly, I was looking
at grabbing him in round 9.)
What I was
thinking: I was
looking for a shooting guard… but didn’t see any that I liked. Then emerged Lou
Williams. A PG/SG combo guard that can score in bunches and might actually get
to start this year. He’s another guy I expect huge things from. I still needed
another PG and there really was only one other on my list: Ricky Rubio. He’s
hurt but will be back at some point this season. Hopefully its sooner rather
than later. In hind sight, I should have drafted Beasley and then grabbed Rubio
in the 9th. But whatever.
Rounds
9-13 Garbage Time
I picked Jonas Valanciunas
(coolest name of the draft), DJ Augustin, Jeff Green, Brandon Roy, and Kirk
Hinrich, respectively. I was happy to grab BRoy, a former borderline 1st
rounder in round 12. Definitely a high-risk, high-reward move. And Hinrich
should be in for a solid year since Derrick Rose may not even play this year.
The best pick of the draft
was the last one, when Team Little won the Kwame Brown Lottery and was burdened
with human garbage/ an idiot face. A tip of the hat to Team Little, for making
our draft complete.
As to analyzing who had the
best draft… this is a little tough. I don’t think Mike Harnish helped his
chances of making his team name a reality. And I’m still baffled by Willie’s
early round choices (although it doesn’t really matter because he has KD, and
the Durantula will make him relevant by himself). Sean and Curtis were waylaid
by the auto draft, and while the Holmes brothers started out strong, they seemed
to fade in the late rounds. Josh took a lot of chances by drafting 3 rookies.
Ryan, Shai, and Brandon’s teams all look solid… and my team won’t be
competitive until Kevin Love gets back from injury. That leaves Team Little as
my pick as having the best draft this year, with the 12th pick in
the draft! Every person on his team will start and log big minutes. Proof that
you don’t have to be one of the top two to assemble a quality team through the
draft.
Friday, April 13, 2012
La cueva del dragón
Saqué
la vieja espada
que
colgaba en mi cinturón
y al
pasar por la entrada
de la
cueva del dragón
sentí algo en el pecho
que me paró el corazón.
Sentimiento de la muerte
muchas veces me venía,
pero nunca era tan fuerte
como el momento en que sabía
que apenas de mis esfuerzos
para salvar el amor mío
cambiar el hecho no podría
de que ella moriría.
De rodillas me quedaba
-¡Señor! ¡Soy yo! Y te ruego
que me ayudes en la lucha
contra este monstruo del fuego.
Quiero cumplir tu voluntad
y te alabaré luego.
Me puse de pie y al
sentir los escalofríos,
a las sombras fui corriendo
con la fuerza de Dios.
Gritos. Sangre. Muerte. Eran
compañeros de la oscuridad.
Y del silencio que siguió,
salió la voz de gravedad.
-¿Por
qué luchas conmigo?
A ti no
te he hecho nada.
No soy
yo el ladrón de
tu
corazón quebrantada.
-Estoy
buscando a mi mujer,
preciosa
como un hada.
Ella es
más hermosa
que
cualquier cosa creada.
El
dragón me habló de nuevo,
-Fíjate
en tu espada,
verás
que no es mi sangre
por la
cual está empapada.
Jamás
podré olvidar
como la
sangre brillaba
por el
sol al salir
corriendo
de su espalda.
Pero, lo
peor siempre será
lo
glacial de su mirada
y el
susurro del dragón
en una
voz muy bajada:
-La has
matado a ella,
tu
mujer embarazada.
Friday, March 9, 2012
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