FFDL [old thread]

[writersblock]

Ok, thanks TheMan and Ham for catching my roster error. I have dropped Ramon Sessions to make room for Drew Gooden.

Thanks again guys.

[writersblock]

Ok guys, I've had some fun here and put together my rankings for the league. For the record, I think the rich got richer this year, but a lot of people put themselves in line for major improvements. Apart from the bottom 3 or 4, I think any of the remaining 10 teams could make the top 6. So, without further ado, my write up, starting from the bottom up:

14. TK
Key Additions: REddick, Splitter
He’s team is still suffering from the debacle that landed Stanford/Floppy with his explosive nucleus of Wade and GAsol. The pieces just aren’t there, and unless Splitter can be the second coming of Tim Duncan NOW, I don’t see him getting out of the bottom side of this league. It would probably be wise for him to start rebuilding, trade guys like JJ and Biedrins for picks and start planning for the future. I will say, though, I do like his additions, Reddick may finally be figuring this whole playing in the NBA thing out, and Splitter is supposed to be solid.

13. Sly
Key Additions: Wesley Johnson, Epke Udoh
I love Sly’s team. Not because it will do anything of note this season, but because it’s built to really tear up the league in 2-3 years. Add in his draft picks and he should be deadly when the rest of the contenders lose steam from an older nucleus. I still think he could replace some of his iffy talent, guys like Maxiell, Jordan, and Dudley could be traded for another young stud.

12. Insfo
Key Additions: Turner, Favors, Thabeet
Not a lot of tinkering here, but a lot of young talent. I don’t think he’ll see the dividends for a few seasons, but I would put him in the same spot as Sly, ready to clean up the league in 3 seasons (especially when Rubio is making a mess of the NBA). He could probably use a complete focus on his youth movement and dump guys like Terry, Villanueva, Brand, and Kirilenko for picks and young guys, but they should do him well in the short term as well.

11. Skai
Key Additions: RIP Hamilton, Noah, Cole Aldrich, Paul George, Lamar Odom
It looks like Skai’s team is steadily taking shape. He’s got some good young players that should only get better this year: Holiday, Harden, Hibbert, Hickson. Hey, he’s the 4 H club! But I think they’re still one season. I like the Aldrich pick, but I think he’ll play second fiddle to Ibaka. Paul George will be a stud, but not until next year. Strengths appear to be in points, with some potential in boards.

10. Kohanz:
Key Additions: Jarrett Jack, Al Thornton, Vince Carter
I’m still kicking myself for not noticing that Jarrett Jack was on the FA list. I like Kohanz’s team, and usually it’s solid, but this year, he’s added Vince Carter, and ask Sly or even yours truly, that guy can really doom your team. Not because he sucks, but because he’s bad luck. Also, looking at his roster, I find it ironic that he did so well last year, while owning some of the most hated fantasy players in basketball: Rashard Lewis, Jermaine O’Neal, and Baron Davis. All he needs is RIP Hamilton, Andris Beidrins, and Shane Battier and he’s good.

9. Ham:
Key Additions: Thornton, Lawson, Oden, Dorell Wright
I like what Ham has done with his team—he’s gotten younger. Sure, he may have taken a step back in the short term, but long term, he could be a top competitor without ever seeing the bottom of the league. Contrary to popular belief, Marcus Thornton has a real future in this league, and he gives Ham a solid base in points and 3s, adding guys like Dorell Wright only fortify that front. Add in a healthy Oden (along with Ibaka, Blatche, and Love), and he’s built a well-rounded boarding/block side to his team that should compete well. I still think that with that set of players though, he might be a year away from really breaking that top 6.


8/7. YS
Key Additions: Greg Monroe
Well, in spite of YS taking the guy I wanted only a few picks ahead of me, I’m not going to hold a grudge (curse you Jordan). He really hasn’t done much to this team, and it was already a bubble competitor. I think Scola could drop off some next year, as could Randolph, CAsspi, and Delonte West, but he’s got Blake Griffin back (at least until Thanksgiving, when he injures himself eating turkey). I will say that I think last year was a sign of things to come, but the top teams have only gotten better. He’s probably got the best young nucleus of the competitors. All he needs to do now is lose Calderon and fill him in with a solid shot blocking big man or a future draft pick (seriously YS, how many seasons do I need to ask for this guy before you trade him to me?)

7/8. WB:
Key Additions: Kobe, Andre Miller, Morrow, Childress, Wilson Chandler, Gooden, Rush, Barbosa, Amir Johnson, Stephenson, Davis
Surprise, Surprise, my team has been completely retooled for the umpteenth consecutive offseason. I have to say I like the improvement in Kobe, but I think my team still suffers from an identity crisis. It’s built on a bunch of good players who do some great things, but the numbers don’t match up as well as they could. Points, steals, 3s with some moderate benefits in %s should be there. If Amir Johnson and Drew Gooden fulfill their sleeper potential, I see myself making a run for the top 6.

6. East:
Key Additions: Bledsoe and Cousins, Kevin Martin, ZBo
East’s team has been competitive for years, but he hasn’t ever been able to get over the hump. With his additions this year, I see him finally making it over the hump. I'm a little worried about the one-man media show now in Miami. I’m also weary of his point guards, Rose and Harris. They’re not traditional PGs and they don’t compliment Deron’s strengths—so he either needs to trade Deron to build up another weak stat, or use Rose and Harris to do the same. What I do like, though, is his addition of Martin and Webster. They should build up his scoring, which is probably his biggest strength now. Besides those points, however, I think he's built a more efficient team, and his numbers match up much better than before.

5. The Invincibles
Key Additions: Taj Gibson
Look, I can be unbiased here…sure, he’s been my biggest “supporter” for years, but I can still see his team for what it is…a long-term competitor. I have to say, I don’t like the prospect of Darren Collison getting the reigns in NO with Paul asking out, and DJ Agustin’s newfound role in Charlotte. It only makes his team more potent. I do think he should have done more than add Taj Gibson (who won’t be half as good as last year with Boozer in town), but the rest of his guys haven’t really lost a step, and a healthy Bogut and Granger will make the difference between top 3 or top 5. I ‘m erring on the side of health issues on this one, but if he’s healthy, he should be a top 3 competitor.

4. TheTEam
Key Additions: John Wall, Xavier Henry, Yao Ming
John Wall, if he lives up to expectations, will single-handedly put TheTeam over the top and push him into contention. And, if not, his bazillion 1st round draft picks over the next 2 years will. He doesn’t have a whole lot of holes on his team, and as long as his core stays healthy, which hasn’t come easily over the last few seasons, he could very well end up as the league champion (For the record, I am dubious of such health prospects).

3. Floppy
Key Addition: Larry Sanders
First, I have to say welcome to the league. Next I have to say, enjoy your super-studly team. I don’t think there’s much to guess on here, this team has competed for the championship for the last few seasons, and all he’s done is traded SJax for a young Buck. Can’t say that’s going to throw him off the rocking horse. His real only problem is that his top guys probably won’t play much down the stretch: Gasol and Wade (and at this point, maybe even Paul), will be sitting out as their teams wrap up their divisions.

1. Alcig:
Key Additions: Monta Ellis, Farouq-AMinu, Livingston
The defending champion has retooled and only made himself even better. Sure, Aminu will be injured before the season starts, but Monta Ellis is an upgrade over Noah, and Livingston will have a break out year, says I. Felton in New York will be better this year, Hawes should get good burn in Philly, Beasley has new life in Minne, and I don’t see many of his players seeing major down-ticks. This team should compete for a championship again.

1. BWW:
Key additions: SJax, Frye, Harrington, Louis Williams.
Another easy one to call. BWW has been a competitor in this league since day one, and he rarely disrupts the flow of his team. This time around, he added 4 guys who could only make him better (at worst). Sure, his core is getting older, but I think this really is BWW’s year (again). It could have been his year last year too…but he should be there at the end, and only an injury to his aging core will derail that.

[floppymoose]

ok, I've decided to hold onto Darko and I drop my pick on the floor. Next!

[Young_Star11]

To be honest I don't think my team should be ranked 7th, as I believe Kohanz and east have better teams than me (and perhaps hamncheese) as well.

[hamncheese]

I'm going to take the runt of the FFDL, Luke Ridnour. Journeyman Ridnour has made an appearance on a lot of teams here, and now takes a stint on the Haminators. Possible starting gig with the TWolves could produce 11 ppg, 5.5 apg, 1 3pg, 1 spg, and decent %s. Nothing to write home about. Dropping Carlos Delfino who was a really solid pickup for the second half of last season.

[hamncheese]

Looking at wb's rankings, I would have floppy number 1. That team only had 1 regular season loss last year and I don't think that'll change. Sure, anything can happen in the playoffs and he has more than a few players who can be resting then, but that's just a talent-loaded team. Also agree with Jordan that east should be ranked higher. Lot's of talent on that team and he'll get some immediate contributions from Cousins who could grow to be a beast in a few years.

[writersblock]

I'm going to take the runt of the FFDL, Luke Ridnour. Journeyman Ridnour has made an appearance on a lot of teams here, and now takes a stint on the Haminators. Possible starting gig with the TWolves could produce 11 ppg, 5.5 apg, 1 3pg, 1 spg, and decent %s. Nothing to write home about. Dropping Carlos Delfino who was a really solid pickup for the second half of last season.

solid pick Ham, I nearly took him myself.

[writersblock]

Looking at wb's rankings, I would have floppy number 1. That team only had 1 regular season loss last year and I don't think that'll change. Sure, anything can happen in the playoffs and he has more than a few players who can be resting then, but that's just a talent-loaded team. Also agree with Jordan that east should be ranked higher. Lot's of talent on that team and he'll get some immediate contributions from Cousins who could grow to be a beast in a few years.

I agree with you completely, and anyone in the top 3 could foreseeably win it all, but Alci won last year and he's only gotten better. Floppy's team hasn't changed much. I had a hard time ranking East, because part of me thought he'd be top 6, but I'm leary of how his numbers will match up. Like I said, this year I think is the year that is wide open with so many teams getting better. I'll put out some pre-season predictions later, but East's team could most likely see the biggest improvement from last year, though I'm guessing that will be TheMan's award to lose.

[east]

I like the Ridnour pick. I think he's a better fit than Sessions and Flynn and can outproduce either if given the time.

[east]

10. East:
Key Additions: Bledsoe and Cousins, Kevin Martin
East’s team has been competitive for years, but he hasn’t ever been able to get over the hump. I can’t see that changing much now, especially with the one-man media show now in Miami. I’m also weary of his point guards, Rose and Harris. They’re not traditional PGs and they don’t compliment Deron’s strengths—so he either needs to trade Deron to build up another weak stat, or use Rose and Harris to do the same. What I do like, though, is his addition of Martin and Webster. They should build up his scoring, which is probably his biggest strength now. Problem is, he could use someone to fortify his boards and blocks or build around assists and steals. Guys like Ty Thomas, Harris, and Diaw do a lot of good things, but aren’t dominant enough in one to make a difference.

Thanks for the writeup WB! I love reading everyone's evaluations and insights.

You didn't mention that I got Zach Randolph in my deal with AlciG. I gave up Noah but Randolph has basically been a 20-10 guy for the least few years. Between, D12, Zbo, Horford, Tyrus, Diaw and Cousins, I should be pretty good in rebounds and to a lesser extent blocks no?

I agree with my lack of assist producing guards outside of Deron. However Harris and Rose should be good for 6-7 assists each a night. LBJ's stats will take a hit but I think he should still get 6 assists a night, he averaged 8.6 assts last year.

[writersblock]

10. East:
Key Additions: Bledsoe and Cousins, Kevin Martin
East’s team has been competitive for years, but he hasn’t ever been able to get over the hump. I can’t see that changing much now, especially with the one-man media show now in Miami. I’m also weary of his point guards, Rose and Harris. They’re not traditional PGs and they don’t compliment Deron’s strengths—so he either needs to trade Deron to build up another weak stat, or use Rose and Harris to do the same. What I do like, though, is his addition of Martin and Webster. They should build up his scoring, which is probably his biggest strength now. Problem is, he could use someone to fortify his boards and blocks or build around assists and steals. Guys like Ty Thomas, Harris, and Diaw do a lot of good things, but aren’t dominant enough in one to make a difference.

Thanks for the writeup WB! I love reading everyone's evaluations and insights.

You didn't mention that I got Zach Randolph in my deal with AlciG. I gave up Noah but Randolph has basically been a 20-10 guy for the least few years. Between, D12, Zbo, Horford, Tyrus, Diaw and Cousins, I should be pretty good in rebounds and to a lesser extent blocks no?

I agree with my lack of assist producing guards outside of Deron. However Harris and Rose should be good for 6-7 assists each a night. LBJ's stats will take a hit but I think he should still get 6 assists a night, he averaged 8.6 assts last year.

oh, you ADDEd Randolph to the mix you had last year? Ok, well my bad. I thought you had him last year. That team then I think beats Mine and Ys's out for 6th place.

[Skai]

10. East:
Key Additions: Bledsoe and Cousins, Kevin Martin
East’s team has been competitive for years, but he hasn’t ever been able to get over the hump. I can’t see that changing much now, especially with the one-man media show now in Miami. I’m also weary of his point guards, Rose and Harris. They’re not traditional PGs and they don’t compliment Deron’s strengths—so he either needs to trade Deron to build up another weak stat, or use Rose and Harris to do the same. What I do like, though, is his addition of Martin and Webster. They should build up his scoring, which is probably his biggest strength now. Problem is, he could use someone to fortify his boards and blocks or build around assists and steals. Guys like Ty Thomas, Harris, and Diaw do a lot of good things, but aren’t dominant enough in one to make a difference.

Thanks for the writeup WB! I love reading everyone's evaluations and insights.

You didn't mention that I got Zach Randolph in my deal with AlciG. I gave up Noah but Randolph has basically been a 20-10 guy for the least few years. Between, D12, Zbo, Horford, Tyrus, Diaw and Cousins, I should be pretty good in rebounds and to a lesser extent blocks no?

I agree with my lack of assist producing guards outside of Deron. However Harris and Rose should be good for 6-7 assists each a night. LBJ's stats will take a hit but I think he should still get 6 assists a night, he averaged 8.6 assts last year.

I disagree, I believe LBJ's assists will go up, but his points will take a hit. He'll be the set-up man.

[CFan21]

Just gonna forfeit my pick.

[floppymoose]

I had a hard time ranking East, because part of me thought he'd be top 6, but I'm leary of how his numbers will match up.

I'm curious exactly what you mean by that. Do you mean that his strengths are concentrated in too few of the nine cats?

[Young_Star11]

I had a hard time ranking East, because part of me thought he'd be top 6, but I'm leary of how his numbers will match up.

I'm curious exactly what you mean by that. Do you mean that his strengths are concentrated in too few of the nine cats?

I think this is exactly what Brian means.

Look at east's team - it's a sexy-looking team - and you'd have to question why Chris has never taken this squad to the playoffs.

We all know building around LeBron and Dwight anchors TO and FT% (admittedly LeBron has made improvements), and even 3PTM. east has struggled in these three categories for a long time, and I guess still does. But for this season IMO there is a clear-cut top-6 and east figures to be a part of it. That said, it was only last season where the top-6 kicked clear and stayed that way for the last 14 or so weeks of the regular season.

[writersblock]

I had a hard time ranking East, because part of me thought he'd be top 6, but I'm leary of how his numbers will match up.

I'm curious exactly what you mean by that. Do you mean that his strengths are concentrated in too few of the nine cats?

I think Jordan said it well...I had a hard time ranking his team because it has looked so incredibly good for years now, but hasn't ever cracked that top tier. However, I will admit that I think I may have mis-ranked him. I did not realize that he had gained a few players that he did, and with that in consideration, I've changed my mind. I think he'll finish 6, me 7, YS 8.

[hamncheese]

east has two weaknesses ft% and tos. I think he'll lose those most (if not all) weeks, but otherwise, he's going to be really strong in pts, rebs, asts, stls, blks, and fg%. He'll be average to below average in 3's.

[Young_Star11]

My revised rankings:

14. tkunit - he doomed himself by trading away Wade and Gasol for cheap. What he has left from the trade is Johnson, Mayo and Biedrins. He's in a world of hurt and appears to be doomed for the forseeable future.

13. insfo - his time will come. He added Turner and Favors and I like those picks...He ridded himself of the uncertainty of Yao in the process. There's plenty of ex-lottery picks in his team and insfo should hope they develop this season.

12. Skai - the team Skai has put together is the team he will be stuck with for a while, as he gutted his draft picks to come up with this concoction. There is plenty of promise in his line-up, and I love Noah and Holiday as fantasy players who will jump in leaps and bounds this season.

11. sly - I only have him here because I don't think he will want to compete (though I'm not suggesting in any way he will tank). He's patiently building around Curry, Marc Gasol and Jennings...though I would have to question him picking Wesley Johnson over someone like Cousins. Johnson could yet pan out and would be a great for Craig's 9-cat ways...but Cousins could be a key piece in the years to come.

10. writersblock - I am sorry, but I just don't see it. Sure you added Kobe, but Morrow I have ranked is your second best player. Too many mid-round talents without much upside...Okafor, Artest, Andre Miller, Barbosa, Childress (at least this season), Landry have all seen better days. Another man who doesn't like to rebuild, it will be interesting to see how Brian gets his way out of this.

9. YS - I don't know what to make of last season's 5th place Once I got into the top-6, I never fell out, mainly because the chasers didn't really fire a shot (until the last few weeks of the season), and so you could call it an aberration. But I look at my team, and it had Blake Griffin and Anthony Randolph sitting on my IL for a large chunk of the season (or all of it in Griffin's case). Factor in improvements, the return of Griffin and Randolph and you think last season was only an indication of things to come? I don't think I got a lot better in dumping Rudy for Monroe.

8. hamncheese - Despite trading away his only fantasy star (in Kobe Bryant), George has cobbled together a squad that should do alright this season. There's a lot of relatively young guys, who with a bit of luck (Blatche, Love Oden, MThornton) will get it together and make this a stronger team. Even guys like Ridnour and Garcia could figure more, and Lawson could become the heir apparent to Billups in Denver. George's teams are always there or thereabouts. I don't think he has ever finished below 7th or 8th in his four seasons in FFDL, and I don't see it changing.

7. Kohanz - There may be players (AlJeff, Okur, Shard, Butler) who may bounce back from last season. I just don't think this team has what it takes to go all the way this season. This is like a better version of Brian's team, but with Nash due to fade shortly, I don't really see Kohanz being a contender, at least not right now.

6. east - I'm putting him here because of the red-flags over the formation of his team. His team looks very strong, and only got stronger in adding ZBo, Kevin Martin, Cousins and Bledsoe. LeBron will see a drop in numbers, but his efficiency should improve, and this can only mean good for Chris. This is a year where I expect Chris to break his playoff hoodoo.

5. theman - It was only a matter of time before theman made himself FFDL-relevant again. After four 100-win seasons, he completely faded into oblivion last season, but for this season, he's formed a strong lineup that will include Wall, Yao and Henry (should the lattermost actually signs his first NBA contract). theman will now hope that it's a team that is shaped to not just make the third-placed playoff for the fifth time in six seasons.

4. AlciG - Sure he won the title last season, but I just think other teams have got a lot better. I'm still not convinced that Beasley will be the player some people hyped him to be when he entered the NBA. It's scary to think what AlciG could do if Beasley becomes a dominant player like Durant. It's a team that will be there or thereabouts again this season, and I hope I get a chance to beat him (after two 4-5 losses last year), though I doubt it.

3. bww78 - every year, I get the feeling Blake's fine FFDL run - a run that has yielded him a title and many other finals runs - will slowly come to an end. But Blake just made his team stronger, so much so, that I think he'll be in prime position to nab another one. There are question marks over Kidd, Billups, Allen, and Camby - though they have proven many fantasy hoopers wrong of late. Adding Frye, SJax and Harrington for just Wilson Chandler and the 13th pick was genius.

2. Setterlund - Carl must hate this league. He's been as consistent as theman over the history of the FFDL and had some really dominant teams. You could almost call this the Dallas Mavericks of the FFDL. Two seasons where he finished as the #1 seed, only to be surprised by sly, and then scorched by a red-hot hamncheese side. Last season was more of the same - AlciG rids him of his biggest rival, but he can't complete the job. I don't think Carl has got much better over the off-season, but if Collison gets a chance to start, this immediately renders my statement useless.

1. floppymoose. No pressure to the newbie here, but this team is #1 on the power rankings for a while to come. He can try and break the team up, but would have to do the work of the devil to muck this up. Trading a proven performer in Stephen Jackson away for so little doesn't change this a lot. I also am rather enamored at what Sanders can do in this league in time as perhaps a Camby-type player. The folly of fantasy playoffs is that no matter how dominant a team is during 21 weeks of the regular season, it could all go to waste over a week. This is really the biggest hump facing our newest manager.

[CFan21]

Finally, a competent evaluator and just ranking.

[hamncheese]

Good analysis Jordan. I'm agreeing with what you have, but I can see your team over my team. I've got a lot riding on Oden being healthy.