00-01 PRESEASON NOTES THE THIRD WEEK 10/17/00 - 10/23/00 These are emailers that were sent out during the preseason. To receive similar emails during the regular season subscribe to the HoopsKlyce Fast Break regular season emailer. Date: Mon, 23 Oct 2000 08:48:55 -0700 Subject: Oct 23 Player Notes Speedy Claxton is out for the season after tearing his ACL in his left knee during yesterday's game. His absence will throw a couple extra minutes per game to Allen Iverson. Indiana is now a place to look for up and coming players. Yesterday Jermaine O'Neal continued on his route to being a good fantasy player with 18 points and 14 reb. O'Neal is leading the Pacers in the preseason in scoring at 12.3 ppg and rebounding at 11 rpg. Jonathon Bender scored 17 pts yesterday and is averaging 10.7 ppg in the preseason but has not done much in the other stat categories. I had expected Austin Croshere to break out this season but his preseason stats have not been too spectacular. I have not given up on him though. In seven games in the preseason Darius Miles is averaging 13 ppg on 52% shooting and has been creeping up on the depth charts. He has also been blocking shots but his rebounding has been weak. Chucky Atkins appears to be winning the point guard battle over Mateen Cleeves in Detroit. Atkins scored 20 pts in yesterdays game. Shawn Marion is leading the Suns in scoring in the preseason and has contributed in other stats categories as well. As long as Gugliotta remains out Marion should post healthy numbers. Danny Fortson had 17 pts, 11 reb, and 3 st in yesterdays preseason game. He should average a double double this season. Fortson is also capable of getting to the line often and shooting a high percentage. Subj: HoopsKlyce's Draft and Shaq Strategy Date: 10/22/00 7:05:44 AM Pacific Daylight Time I had my draft last night in a ten team league with 12 players per team (10 start) with categories PARSB, 3, FT%, and FG%. I would consider this a league of experts and have posted the results below for your reference. The league requires that at least one center starts. My team is "Hot Potato and went 10th overall. My last pick was somehow selected for me by the computer for some reason and I may exchange him (Brad Miller) for a free agent before the season begins. Shaq was taken number despite FT% being a category. I was debating before the draft whether I would take Shaq no.1 if I had the pick or not. The alternative in my mind would have been Kevin Garnett. Shaq is a valid number one selection in leagues with FT% I believe but dealing with that category and Shaq gives a manager some extra work. I read a fantasy writer who said those who take Shaq should draft good free throwers in order to compensate for his poor free throwing. I would like to point out a potential drawback to this strategy. Considering the number of free throws Shaq will take (and he is hitting only 32.6% in the preseason) you need a lot of players shooting well from the free throw line. If you are successful in raising your team to the middle of the roto pack in the FT% category the bad side effect might be that you are now crushing the league in the Points category since you need several players scoring a lot from the free throw line at a high percentage to make up for Shaq. I think having an enormous lead in a particular category is almost worse than being low in another category since you are wasting your "roto equity" there. I had first hand experience with this happening in a league I was in last year. I finished second and a drag on my team was not being able to distribute my strength in the point category to help out my roto score in other areas. I had Shaq on this team. So I suggest a strategy with those with Shaq and FT% might be to consider 'throwing' the FT% category and concentrating your strength in the remaining categories. I think you can still win with this approach. I think the decision to throw that category is not a necessary strategy, just something to consider depending on the make up of your team and how you fall in your leagues roto category. I would also not go out of my way to draft sub par free throwers but wait to see what you end with after selecting the best players. If anything, those who take Shaq with their first pick should make sure they don't take too many scorers with the remaining picks to avoid the possibility of running away with the points category. I think drafting good free throwers to compensate for Shaq could end up backfiring.   HoopsKlyce's draft (Team Hot Potato) 1 Kung Fu Drafted Shaquille ONeal to C 2 Rabid Wolverines Drafted Tim Duncan to C 3 reams Drafted Kevin Garnett to SF 4 2229901 Drafted Chris Webber to PF 5 Bishop3 Drafted Gary Payton to PG 6 Takes the Charge Drafted Vince Carter to SF 7 King Gambit Drafted Kobe Bryant to SG 8 Addiktion Drafted Karl Malone to PF 9 Mountain Majesty Drafted Jason Kidd to PG 10 Hot Potato Drafted Ray Allen to SG 11 Hot Potato Drafted Steve Francis to PG/SG 12 Mountain Majesty Drafted Michael Finley to SG 13 Addiktion Drafted Dikembe Mutombo to C 14 King Gambit Drafted Eddie Jones to PG/SG 15 Takes the Charge Drafted David Robinson to C 16 Bishop3 Drafted Grant Hill to SF 17 2229901 Drafted Stephon Marbury to PG 18 reams Drafted Shareef Abdur-Rahim to SG/SF 19 Rabid Wolverines Drafted Elton Brand to PF 20 Kung Fu Drafted Tracy McGrady to SF 21 Kung Fu Drafted Paul Pierce to SG/SF 22 Rabid Wolverines Drafted Allen Iverson to PG 23 reams Drafted Antonio McDyess to PF 24 2229901 Drafted Dirk Nowitzki to SF 25 Bishop3 Drafted Lamar Odom to SG/SF 26 Takes the Charge Drafted Darrell Armstrong to PG 27 King Gambit Drafted Sam Cassell to PG 28 Addiktion Drafted Terrell Brandon to PG 29 Mountain Majesty Drafted Jerry Stackhouse to PG/SG 30 Hot Potato Drafted Mike Bibby to PG 31 Hot Potato Drafted Antoine Walker to SF 32 Mountain Majesty Drafted Anfernee Hardaway to SG/SF 33 Addiktion Drafted Jalen Rose to SG 34 King Gambit Drafted Andre Miller to UTIL 35 Takes the Charge Drafted Theo Ratliff to PF 36 Bishop3 Drafted Rasheed Wallace to PF 37 2229901 Drafted Kenyon Martin to SF/PF 38 reams Drafted Raef LaFrentz to C 39 Rabid Wolverines Drafted Latrell Sprewell to SG 40 Kung Fu Drafted John Stockton to PG 41 Kung Fu Drafted Larry Hughes to SG 42 Rabid Wolverines Drafted Allan Houston to PG/SG 43 reams Drafted Reggie Miller to SG 44 2229901 Drafted Tim Hardaway to PG/SG 45 Bishop3 Drafted Glenn Robinson to SF/PF 46 Takes the Charge Drafted Vlade Divac to PF/C 47 King Gambit Drafted Clifford Robinson to SF 48 Addiktion Drafted Jamal Mashburn to SF 49 Mountain Majesty Drafted Zydrunas Ilgauskas to C 50 Hot Potato Drafted Derrick Coleman to PF 51 Hot Potato Drafted Austin Croshere to SG/SF 52 Mountain Majesty Drafted Patrick Ewing to PF/C 53 Addiktion Drafted Nick Van Exel to PG/SG 54 King Gambit Drafted Jermaine ONeal to PF 55 Takes the Charge Drafted Marcus Camby to SF/PF 56 Bishop3 Drafted Doug Christie to SG 57 2229901 Drafted Antawn Jamison to SG/SF 58 reams Drafted Keith Van Horn to SF/PF 59 Rabid Wolverines Drafted Rod Strickland to UTIL 60 Kung Fu Drafted Michael Dickerson to PG/SG 61 Kung Fu Drafted Brian Grant to PF 62 Rabid Wolverines Drafted Jason Terry to Bench 63 reams Drafted Scottie Pippen to UTIL 64 2229901 Drafted Shawn Bradley to C 65 Bishop3 Drafted Anthony Mason to PF/C 66 Takes the Charge Drafted Mookie Blaylock to PG/SG 67 King Gambit Drafted Shawn Kemp to SF/PF 68 Addiktion Drafted Vin Baker to SF/PF 69 Mountain Majesty Drafted David Wesley to UTIL 70 Hot Potato Drafted Lamond Murray to SF/PF 71 Hot Potato Drafted Rashard Lewis to UTIL 72 Mountain Majesty Drafted Elden Campbell to Bench 73 Addiktion Drafted Mitch Richmond to SG/SF 74 King Gambit Drafted Cuttino Mobley to SG/SF 75 Takes the Charge Drafted Jim Jackson to SG 76 Bishop3 Drafted Ron Mercer to PG/SG 77 2229901 Drafted Derek Anderson to SG 78 reams Drafted Jason Williams to PG 79 Rabid Wolverines Drafted Stromile Swift to SF/PF 80 Kung Fu Drafted Juwan Howard to SF/PF 81 Kung Fu Drafted Chucky Atkins to UTIL 82 Rabid Wolverines Drafted Tim Thomas to SF 83 reams Drafted Rodney Rogers to PF/C 84 2229901 Drafted Antonio Davis to PF/C 85 Bishop3 Drafted Steve Smith to UTIL 86 Takes the Charge Drafted Kenny Anderson to UTIL 87 King Gambit Drafted Glen Rice to Bench 88 Addiktion Drafted Baron Davis to UTIL 89 Mountain Majesty Drafted Maurice Taylor to PF 90 Hot Potato Drafted Shandon Anderson to Bench 91 Hot Potato Drafted Shawn Marion to Bench 92 Mountain Majesty Drafted Cedric Ceballos to SF 93 Addiktion Drafted Marcus Fizer to PF/C 94 King Gambit Drafted Chris Gatling to C 95 Takes the Charge Drafted Travis Best to Bench 96 Bishop3 Drafted Danny Fortson to Bench 97 2229901 Drafted Toni Kukoc to UTIL 98 reams Drafted Chauncey Billups to PG/SG 99 Rabid Wolverines Drafted P.J. Brown to PF/C 100 Kung Fu Drafted Predrag Stojakovic to Bench 101 Kung Fu Drafted Darius Miles to Bench 102 Rabid Wolverines Drafted Courtney Alexander to SG/SF 103 reams Drafted James Posey to Bench 104 2229901 Drafted Hakeem Olajuwon to Bench 105 Bishop3 Drafted Tom Gugliotta to Bench 106 Takes the Charge Drafted Walt Williams to SG/SF 107 King Gambit Drafted Christian Laettner to PF/C 108 Addiktion Drafted Desmond Mason to Bench 109 Mountain Majesty Drafted Corliss Williamson to SF/PF 110 Hot Potato Drafted Michael Olowokandi to C 111 Hot Potato Drafted Brad Miller to PF/C 112 Mountain Majesty Drafted Tyrone Hill to Bench 113 Addiktion Drafted Mark Jackson to Bench 114 King Gambit Drafted Kelvin Cato to Bench 115 Takes the Charge Drafted Bo Outlaw to Bench 116 Bishop3 Drafted Arvydas Sabonis to C 117 2229901 Drafted Bryon Russell to Bench 118 reams Drafted Keyon Dooling to Bench 119 Rabid Wolverines Drafted Jamal Crawford to Bench 120 Kung Fu Drafted Radoslav Nesterovic to PF/C Subj: Subscriber Feedback - Auction Strategy Date: 10/21/00 2:19:05 PM Pacific Daylight Time The following was sent to me by 'Josh' who subscribes to the preseason emailer. Josh is giving some tips on strategies in an auction draft. Nominating - I've been in auctions where the other owners do not put much thought in to who they nominate. Early in the draft, they actually nominate the players they want or the next highest player on their rankings. Mistake. Early on I always nominate players I think other owners willovervalue. Going in to this draft (Pts, Reb, Ast, Stl, Blk, 3, FT%, FG%, To), I plan on nominating Jason Kidd, Allen Iverson, Reggie Miller, Keith Van Horn, and Anfernee Hardaway. The hope is that other owners will overspend for these "name" players. Although, if you are only using an auction for part of your roster (say the first 5 players), you don't want to nominate anyone you're not willing to take for a dollar. Short on cash - Most owners rank players, but don't have a well thought out system of assigning a dollar value. They know Shaq is the best player, but can't believe I am willing to spend half of my bankroll on him. This usually leads me to spending my money early. Once you are short on cash, start nominating the high ranked players that you have no shot at getting.You want these players being bid on to bring the rest of the owners down to your cash level. Superstar sticker shock - In my experience, the first superstar (one of the top 3 ranked players) auctioned off is usually a good value. It's almost as if once the other owners realize how much the top players will go for, they open up their purse strings a little. We used to have draft where Olajuwon, Robinson, and Jordan were all ranked about the same, but the first player to be auctioned off would go for less. Distributing your money - Don't be afraid to spend most of your money on the top half of your roster, as long as you are getting good values. The players filling up the bottom of your roster are much closer together in the rankings than the top 75 players. Plus, since you have prepared well, you will be able to get sleeper picks to fill out the bottom of your roster. It is nice to save your last $20 until near the end of the draft so that you are in control (as long as there are still players available that you want). Free agent slot - Another reason not to spread your money across all the slots, flexibility in free agent pickups. Let's say you spread your money and end up with 15 solid players. You actually like all 15. This might cause you to hesitate when it comes to picking up free agents. There are always players that go undrafted, then after the season starts they blossom. When HoopsKlyce recommends a hot player, you need to be able to act fast. Subj: Quick Injury Notes Date: 10/21/00 4:48:52 AM Pacific Daylight Time Allen Iverson, left yesterday's game early in the fourth quarter with a sprained left ankle. Iverson suffered the injury while battling for a rebound. He was carried to the locker room and did not return. Precautionary X-rays showed no fracture, but Iverson will be examined again in Philadelphia on Saturday by team physician Dr. Jack McPhilemy. Will let you know more as news comes out. If your draft is before the news you may want to drop Iverson a little on your depth chart. Paul Pierce showed no signs of his stabbing injuries in his first preseason game in which he scored 14 pts. Hakeem Olajuwon will miss the rest of the preseason schedule with a sprained tendon in his foot, but will be ready for the regular season. Penny has not played yet because of recovering from off season knee surgery. Watch out for him milking this one. Subj: Preseason Notes Date: 10/20/00 9:10:53 AM Pacific Daylight Time So far in the preseason Jerry Stackhouse is averaging 21 pts in 24 mpg. Yesterday in the game against Utah he was 13 for 15 from the line. In leagues with FT% Stackhouse becomes more valuable. Rashard Lewis sprained his knee yesterday. No word on how serious it is. Assume it can't be too bad since I have not heard much from it. Rookie Desmond Mason went off for 20 pts and is now averaging 8.5 ppg in the preseason through four games. Lorenzen Wright of the Hawks had a 20 pt, 10 reb game. He is now averaging 12.5 pts, and 8 reb in six games in the preseason. Considering alternates for the Hawks at forward are Chris Crawford, Roshown Mcleod, and Alan Henderson I would think Wright stands a chance to get some playing time this season particularly since he has a $42 million dollar contract. See http://www.dfw.net/~patricia/contracts for other player contract info. Don't expect too much from Hakeem anymore. It's a good night for him if he is able to breath without difficulty when a game is over. Tim Hardaway has looked OK in the preseason. I have decided to increase his projections somewhat but feel he remains an injury risk. Zendon Hamilton had 21 pts and 9 reb in a preseason game for the Clippers. Not too familiar with this player yet. Corey Magette is having a decent preseason for the Clipper averaging 14 pts in 26 min and Darius Miles has been respectable although I am not sure how he will do in the regular season. I had thought initially Miles would have little fantasy value this year. Ilgauskas had a nice preseason game against the Lakers with 18 pts and 11 reb. As mentioned in a prior emailer, I have left it up to you as to when you would want to take the chance on him in a draft. I would wait for later rounds based on his injury history. Subj: Spewing Forth Preseason Stats Date: 10/19/00 9:46:50 AM Pacific Daylight Time I think enough preseason games have been played so that a few relevant stats can be recited. Predrag Stojokovic is leading the Kings in scoring in the preseason at 13.7 ppg and that includes hitting 4 treys in three games. He is expected to start and could be a decent late round pick for points and treys. Don't expect much beyond that though. Marcus Camby of the 4-0 preseason Knicks is averaging 12.5 pts, 8 reb, and 1.8 bl. He could prosper with Ewing, Mourning, and even Smits out of the Conference. Beware of the injury bug though. Through five games Antonio Davis is averaging 15 pts, 8 reb, and 1.8 blocks. Of note he is leading the Raptors in getting to the line in the preseason and is hitting 86% of his foul shots. With Oakley and Willis getting old and T-Mac gone, Davis should play a bigger role and have a fine season. If Ewing gets hurt Jelani McCoy could become a viable interim player. He is showing some skills by averaging 9 pts, 6.7 reb, and 1.3 bl in only 20 minutes. Daniel Santiago is a real dark horse candidate at the center position. He only needs to beat out Chris Dudley and Jake Tsakalidis in Phoenix. In the preseason he is averaging 10 pts, 2 st, and 1.2 bl in 24 mpg. The Mavericks have the best preseason record in the Western Conference so far. Dirk Nowitzki is filling out the stat sheet for them including hitting 10 of 16 treys and averaging 18 ppg. I think Nowitzki is the type you can get at a very nice spot in your draft and be happy with. The Pacers plan on starting Sam Perkins at center? Ouch! Jermaine O'Neal should get plenty of playing time and so far has averaged 12.5 pts, 9.5 reb, and 2 blocks in the preseason. If he qualifies as a center in your league he could be a nice pick up. Perhaps Juwan Howard will hit the boards this year. So far averaging 9 rpg in only 26 minutes. Vince Carter I am sure was high on your depth chart but his preseason stats seem to be backing up his projections: 28 ppg, 6 rpg, 3 apg, 1.4 spg, 1.8 treys, and shooting 57% from the field. Needs to work on the free throwing though as he is at 64% in the preseason. Rashard Lewis is averaging 15 pts, 6 reb, 2 bl, and 1.6 treys in three preseason games. Need to work on getting to the line more though with only five total visits in three games. The Cavaliers seem to like Matt Harpring who is scoring 10 ppg in 25 mpg in three games. I think he will not have too much fantasy value at this point but perhaps he is in an environment where he can develop. Who do you think is leading the Nets in scoring in the preseason? The answer is Stephen Jackson. He is getting 16 pts, 1.2 bl, and 1.2 steals in 27 mpg. Could be a real sleeper with the injury to Keith Van Horn. Tracy McGrady appears to be continuing on his course to being a fantasy stud: Through five games, he is averaging 22 pts, 6.6 reb, 2.2 bl, 1.6 st, and 3 ast. Falling short in FT% though at 59% and has made 10 trips to the line per game. That can hurt. He is 71% career from the line so that should turn around. Potential sleeper Andre Miller is leading the Cavaliers in scoring in the preseason at 15.7 ppg and that includes shooting 16 for 19 from the line. Also chipping in 4 apg, a number that should go up in the regular season. Allen Iverson has hurt his fantasy teams in the past with his shooting accuracy. So far in the preseason though he is averaging 48% FG and 79% FT on his way to 21.2 ppg. He has been restrained from beyond the arc taking only 6 attempts in four games. He clearly did not hit the weights in the offseason and so remains a risk to getting banged up during the regular season. John Amaechi, the Orlando center, has received some favorable reviews for his scoring potential but I recommend avoiding him due to very light rebounding. So far in the preseason getting only 3 rpg in 22 mpg. He did not show many shot blocking skills last season and so I suspect the 1.6 bpg average he has now in the preseason will not follow through into the regular season. Horace Grant has been touted as the best power forward the Lakers have had in decades but that will not add value to your fantasy team. So far he is getting only 1.7 ppg, 3 rpg, and 0.3 bpg in 20 minutes per game. It is my guess the Lakers will be missing Glen Rice real soon. Subj: Auction Values Date: 10/18/00 8:47:27 AM Pacific Daylight Time I wanted to expand a little bit on how auction values are calculated. The auction values are based on a procedure which was published in a book by Tom Griffith (1995/96 Fantasy Basketball Guide). Of importance in determining auction values is the lowest rated player who has a dollar value. If there are 100 total players being auctioned Griffith suggests the lowest rated player with value is the 85th player not the 100th player. As written in the book the reason for using the 85th percentile player is as follows: "Fantasy managers vary greatly in their assessment of players after the first 40 or 50, so a player who is ranked number 75 by one manager might be ranked number 105 by another. The result: if you have the last choice in a 100-player draft, you are almost certain to get a player that you ranked better than 90th and perhaps you'll acquire someone you ranked among the top 70. It is assumed that a fantasy owner with only $1 left at the end of the auction will be able to obtain the player he ranks about 85th is a 100-player draft." I have followed a similar approach in the auction values in your report which is why there are several players listed with no value who will actually be bid on. In the book Griffith says that most writers use the last player as the dollar player but claims that it is wrong. Personally I can see either way as being OK Subj: Van Horn Breaks a Leg Date: 10/18/00 4:29:39 AM Pacific Daylight Time Keith Van Horn broke his leg during last night's exhibition game with the Orlando Magic and is expected to miss four to six weeks. If he misses six weeks that translates into around 14 regular season games. Those who draft today or tomorrow who have already received their updated rankings should duly demote Van Horn on their depth chart. Van Horn will now have missed a substantial portion of three of his four NBA seasons giving him the injury prone label. Subj: The Charlotte Hornets Date: 10/17/00 1:18:08 PM Pacific Daylight Time The Charlotte Hornets have played three preseason games without Derrick Coleman who has been adjusting to a new heart medicine. Baron Davis has been put in the starting lineup during the preseason games with David Wesley in the backcourt and Jamal Mashburn, PJ Brown, and Elden Campbell in the frontcourt. The Hornets have been pleased with their preseason starting lineup, raising the possibility of Coleman returning as a sixth man. Baron Davis would stand to benefit from this potentially new starting lineup. With Coleman in the lineup, Mashburn is pushed to shooting guard which really isn't his natural spot. This would be another argument for bringing Coleman off the bench. In three preseason games, Davis has been averaging 12 pts, 5 ast, 5 reb, and 2.3 steals. He is shooting 44% from the field despite missing all eight of his three point shot attempts. I think Davis should have a decent increase in fantasy value this season. Should Coleman need to get his playing time it may come at the expense of Elden Campbell (not Baron Davis). So far this preseason Campbell is getting only 6 pts and 4 reb in 25 minutes per game. Davis seems to be the best fit in the backcourt and Wesley seems to play better with him there. Wesley has been averaging 17 ppg in the preseason although I think that should not be given too much importance since any player can get hot over a short number of games (Wesley has been hitting 63% of his shots in the preseason).   Previous Article Next Article Copyright © Hoops Klyce 2000 - All Rights Reserved Website Designed by Lelnet Failed to execute script '../cgi-local/ax.cgi': Win32 Error Code = 2