In the world of fantasy basketball, success often hinges on the decisions made during the drafting process. While choosing the right players with strong season-long performances is critical, many fantasy managers may overlook a key factor that can make or break their championship aspirations: the NBA playoff schedule. In this article, we delve into the significance of considering playoff schedules when drafting and the various strategies employed by fantasy basketball enthusiasts.
Using Playoff Schedules as a Tiebreaker: Many managers keep playoff schedules in mind during their drafts, using them as a tiebreaker when choosing between similar players. This approach allows them to prioritize the overall performance of the player during the regular season while giving due consideration to playoff scheduling.
Balancing Best Player Available (BPA) with Schedules: The consensus among experienced fantasy managers is that, while playoff schedules matter, it’s crucial not to compromise too much on overall player talent. They advocate for selecting the best player available, especially early in the draft, and making adjustments as necessary closer to the trade deadline.
Strategic Importance in H2H Leagues: Playoff schedules carry particular weight in head-to-head (H2H) leagues with weekly matchups, where each player’s game count can significantly impact your chances of winning. In such leagues, securing players with favorable playoff schedules can be a game-changer.
Adapting to Load Management: Load management, a modern NBA phenomenon, adds complexity to assessing playoff schedules. Managers need to consider not only the number of games but also the likelihood of key players sitting out due to rest. This trend can devalue a player’s impact during fantasy basketball playoffs.
Avoiding Players from the Same Team: Some managers steer clear of drafting two players from the same NBA team, as this can lead to scheduling conflicts during the playoffs. While it might seem tempting to grab two stars, like Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving, in an auction league, it can backfire if their playoff schedules overlap.
In the world of fantasy basketball, drafting is an art that blends statistics, analysis, and strategy. While considering playoff schedules is essential, it should not come at the expense of selecting the best players available. Instead, savvy managers strike a balance between talent and scheduling, using playoff schedules as a tiebreaker and adapting their strategies closer to the trade deadline.
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