Center of Concern
One of the most unique things about Yahoo Fantasy NBA games is that it requires you to play two Centers. Other Internet rotisserie leagues only require one Center. The problem you face with your Fantasy team is the same real NBA general managers face: Good big men are in very short supply…
As of today, there are only 107 players in Yahoo Fantasy NBA that are Center eligible. Well over half of those will not see even 15 minutes of playing time per game. The remaining serviceable Centers have very one dimensional games and you have to focus on what they are supposed to do well, rather than say three point shooting skills. Getting three pointers, assists and steals out of a Center is a luxury that you shouldn’t focus on when drafting a center.
If you want to win your league you must focus on the following when drafting your Centers:
1. Blocked Shots count just as much in Rotisserie scoring as points do, and they are much harder to come by. Getting a Center that is a top shot blocker is essential for winning a championship and you can’t ignore it. Player’s like Theo Ratliff may not produce in other categories like scoring and sometimes even rebounding, but he is worth his weight in gold just for his blocked shots alone. He’s worth having even if you already have two Centers on your roster, just to play every once in a while as a Utility player.
2. Field Goal Percentage. A good shooting Center with a high field goal percentage can offset for a high scoring/low field goal percentage or three point shooter who’s happy to make one of every three he launches (See Jamal Crawford http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3407 ). Centers like Amare Stoudemire – FG% 0.559, Yao Ming – FG% 0.552 and Brad Miller – FG% 0.524 shoot a lot of shots and make a high percentage of them.
3. Rebounding: Centers need to have decent rebounding numbers. While they don’t necessarily need to lead your team in rebounding, they do need to contribute to the effort. There are plenty of great rebounding power forwards that can lead your team in rebounding, but guys like Marcus Camby will give you great rebounding game after game at Center.
The deal breakers in this unfortunately, do all of the above things incredibly well. Shaq is near the top of the league in all those stats, but unfortunately he will absolutely kill your team with his free throw percentage. He’s the most fouled player in the league and misses more free throws than any player in the league. He’s a career 51.3 % Free Throw shooter and shot only 46.1% last season. Ben Wallace is also in the same boat, he’s a career 41.9% free throw shooter. Championship teams do not draft these Centers.
Don’t wait past the third round to draft at least one Center.
As of today, there are only 107 players in Yahoo Fantasy NBA that are Center eligible. Well over half of those will not see even 15 minutes of playing time per game. The remaining serviceable Centers have very one dimensional games and you have to focus on what they are supposed to do well, rather than say three point shooting skills. Getting three pointers, assists and steals out of a Center is a luxury that you shouldn’t focus on when drafting a center.
If you want to win your league you must focus on the following when drafting your Centers:
1. Blocked Shots count just as much in Rotisserie scoring as points do, and they are much harder to come by. Getting a Center that is a top shot blocker is essential for winning a championship and you can’t ignore it. Player’s like Theo Ratliff may not produce in other categories like scoring and sometimes even rebounding, but he is worth his weight in gold just for his blocked shots alone. He’s worth having even if you already have two Centers on your roster, just to play every once in a while as a Utility player.
2. Field Goal Percentage. A good shooting Center with a high field goal percentage can offset for a high scoring/low field goal percentage or three point shooter who’s happy to make one of every three he launches (See Jamal Crawford http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3407 ). Centers like Amare Stoudemire – FG% 0.559, Yao Ming – FG% 0.552 and Brad Miller – FG% 0.524 shoot a lot of shots and make a high percentage of them.
3. Rebounding: Centers need to have decent rebounding numbers. While they don’t necessarily need to lead your team in rebounding, they do need to contribute to the effort. There are plenty of great rebounding power forwards that can lead your team in rebounding, but guys like Marcus Camby will give you great rebounding game after game at Center.
The deal breakers in this unfortunately, do all of the above things incredibly well. Shaq is near the top of the league in all those stats, but unfortunately he will absolutely kill your team with his free throw percentage. He’s the most fouled player in the league and misses more free throws than any player in the league. He’s a career 51.3 % Free Throw shooter and shot only 46.1% last season. Ben Wallace is also in the same boat, he’s a career 41.9% free throw shooter. Championship teams do not draft these Centers.
Don’t wait past the third round to draft at least one Center.
posted by Coach T at
11:24 AM
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