The Final Push: Clawing Your Way to the Top

Written by Erik

Monday, 02 February 2009 21:35

We have several weeks; less than half the number of weeks left to move our fantasy teams to get into that coveted "Playoff zone."

climbing-the-ladder

So you've drafted your fantasy team based on a particular or specific strategy (well ideally you did), but due to miscalculations of players' productions, injuries and various other circumstances that you can find to point your finger at to blame, you find your fantasy team near or at the bottom of your head to head league's standings.

Don't cry. Well if you own Carlos Boozer, Chris Kaman, Tracy McGrady, Andrei Kirilenko, Delonte West, Shawn Marion, and Andrew Bynum and your league is set to daily roster changes; fine I suppose you're entitled to shed a tear or two or three or more. Well if you own more than one of these guys, dump one or all of them; because otherwise your fantasy season's toast.

Seriously, the game isn't over until the fat lady sings or Chris Andersen decides to dance the "Robot" for this All-star weekend's entertainment. There's still time to make that final push, to claw your way to the top. Bottomline is, however, things will have to change. Something(s) about your fantasy team obviously isn't working and that's why it is where it is right now in the standings.

So what can you do?

Don't Consolidate, Diversify!

Making your way from the bottom to the top is no easy task. The key will be to win as many categories as you can. Yes, going 6-3 / 7-2 / 8-1 in your nine-cat league is the only real way to make some ground. You can't afford to settle for 5-4 wins or occasional 4-5 losses. That simply won't do.

The key will be to take advantage of the strategies employed by the opponents you will be facing within the next several weeks. If their teams are focused on winning certain categories and they have punted 1-3 cats, you should capitalize on it and make the proper moves (trades or pick ups - more of pick ups, really). If your team was drafted around a particular strategy like small or big ball, then your team should be primed and geared up to win certain cats. Now is not the time to lock those down. Now IS the time to win the other cats you may not have prioritize, but you have a chance of winning against certain opposing teams. You maybe a small ball oriented team, but if your opponent next week is also weak in the blocks category then it would probably serve you well to drop your "weakest" performer and grab say, a Ronnie Turiaf, to give you a fighting chance at blocks. Your team may actually be "overkilling" your next opponent in treys, for example. Feel free to drop your Andres Nocioni and/or Daequan Cook, who may miss some games this week by the way, in favor of Ronnie and/or Birdman.

Controlled diffusion is the key. Keep your best 4-5 core players intact and build a balanced plan of attack around them. If you own Chris Paul and Steve Nash (yep, I know some guy who does), don't expect to beat the guy who owns Tim Duncan and Dwight Howard in boards and swats. You can, however, sit Steve out a game or two and let CP3 run the dimes and pickpocketing game for your team. This opens up the avenue for you to win the TOs cat. See what I mean?

Worry about streamlining your cat-focus, when you make the playoffs! You do not have the luxury to sit on whatever laurels your team has right now. It's not exactly about going for broke in the extreme sense, but you will have to be prepared to lose in order to have a chance to win. Besides, if you are a/the cellar dweller at the moment, then what are you really risking?