Delicate Add/Drop Dilemma

[BJGOAT3]

Hi everyone,

I'm currently playing in the finals of my league. Playing against a strong volume stats team, and I had a good beginning to the match-up in terms of percentages. Right now my outlook appears to be FG, FT, Steals and TO's, so I need to create the 5th category win.

I am looking to add Seth Curry(finally). Our league locks up eliminated teams, so the two teams are the only ones left with moves. Both teams also used 2 of their 3 add limit per week. I am currently trailing in blocks by 2, 3pointers by 5, and points by 50, however I have an obvious schedule advantage from this point on. My opponent has played +3 games, and I have around +5 more games on from here. As a good 3 pointer team myself, adding Curry can improve my chances to get that 5th category.

I am currently speculating on who to drop.

Myles Turner: Has been disappointing lately, but I am a blocks dominant team, yet my opponent had a great beginning in blocks with extra performances by Melo and recently added WCS. I kind of hoped to use Turner for his games vs. NY and Bkn later. However adding Seth gives me a schedule advantage because he doesn't conflict with my games whereas to play Turner against Toronto and Milwaukee, I will have to sit someone else.

Luke Babbitt: Recently added, concerns me with his average FT shooting. Both my team and the opponent are elite in FT's, so dropping him for Curry could improve my chances by solidifying FT and optimistically adding some 3 pointers. Is the improvement significant enough?

Danny Green: Very frustrating to own, disappears very often, might not even give me a useful game all series. However, his unique combination of 3 pointers + blocks is EXACTLY what I need to win this series. I am very undecided on what to think of him.

Carl Landry: Very hot at the moment, and I'm glad I had him in my line-up last game. However, he has FT woes and his minutes are questionable with Noel returning to full playing status this Friday. Gives 3 pointers too, so dropping him for Seth is essentially a schedule move like it is with Turner.

So what do you guys think? I am sorry for the long post, just laying out my thought process out there

[BJGOAT3]

Another add option I have is Matt Barnes, I recently dropped him, went nuts during his waiver period. Could add blocks occasionally, but could definitely disappoint with 2 games vs. GSW coming up.

[Moooose]

Hi. If you've read my response to the other recent topic here in fantasy basketball board, I was basically in the same position as you are right now and lost to an 8th seed in round 1 of the playoffs. It was the other team having a better schedule than me, and me waiting on Norris Cole to finally play, which never happened. Tried playing the efficiency stats. Won FG%, FT%, TO, REBS. Lost by 2 effing steals. The moral could be that we should shorten our patience a little more in the playoffs and always trust your gut feeling when cutting a player. Sorry, can't get over it. Norris Cole costed me a money league.

Try to break down your schedule and your opponent's, and see if it will be easier indeed to chase the 3PM instead of the blocks. Good thing though, Seth Curry's been decent on the FG% too while nailing that many threes.

Now, on who to cut. If I am in your position, I'd cut Danny Green for Seth Curry. Here's why I won't cut the other guys you've mentioned:

Myles Turner: The Pacers are basically trying to lock up the 7th spot in the east and though they may opt to play the vets more than Turner. But Brooklyn and New York are kind of weak defensively in the PF/C spots. Milwaukee is not as good either. So there's a chance that after maybe winning 2 of their four games left, these vets - Jordan Hill and Lavoy Allen will get rested for the playoffs.

Luke Babbitt: I don't think his FT is a problem if you have volume FT shooters in your team. He just takes like 3-4 attempts a game. And their remaining schedule will be against non-playoff teams so they might as well give Babbitt major minutes in no bearing contests.

Carl Landry: I think with the return of Noel, Brand will lose the most minutes. Brand shouldn't even be playing at all, IMO. And personally, I don't think it would be wise for Philly to play Noel for major minutes in a lost season, not to mention he is coming off an injury. And I personally think Landry would want to redeem himself and make the rest of the season as his audition for the other teams.

Danny Green: I just cannot trust his minutes. And with the Spurs locked in to the 2nd spot in the West, Pop can afford to rest his big guns. On the other hand, Pop could use the remaining games to try to make Green burn a little, but that would be unlikely. And it would probably result to your FG% being dragged down by his attempts.

Matt Barnes: Intriguing speculative add. But that 2 games against GSW looks tough indeed.

Sacramento's remaining games would be against teams that are not that bad defending SG's. But for as long as Curry will have the minutes, he'll still give you threes and good FT%. But maybe expect a little dip in the FG% in the remaining games.

There. Just my opinion, mate. Hope it helps and sorry for the lengthy response. You still have the last say, go with what you feel. Good luck!

[BJGOAT3]

Hi. If you've read my response to the other recent topic here in fantasy basketball board, I was basically in the same position as you are right now and lost to an 8th seed in round 1 of the playoffs. It was the other team having a better schedule than me, and me waiting on Norris Cole to finally play, which never happened. Tried playing the efficiency stats. Won FG%, FT%, TO, REBS. Lost by 2 effing steals. The moral could be that we should shorten our patience a little more in the playoffs and always trust your gut feeling when cutting a player. Sorry, can't get over it. Norris Cole costed me a money league.

Try to break down your schedule and your opponent's, and see if it will be easier indeed to chase the 3PM instead of the blocks. Good thing though, Seth Curry's been decent on the FG% too while nailing that many threes.

Now, on who to cut. If I am in your position, I'd cut Danny Green for Seth Curry. Here's why I won't cut the other guys you've mentioned:

Myles Turner: The Pacers are basically trying to lock up the 7th spot in the east and though they may opt to play the vets more than Turner. But Brooklyn and New York are kind of weak defensively in the PF/C spots. Milwaukee is not as good either. So there's a chance that after maybe winning 2 of their four games left, these vets - Jordan Hill and Lavoy Allen will get rested for the playoffs.

Luke Babbitt: I don't think his FT is a problem if you have volume FT shooters in your team. He just takes like 3-4 attempts a game. And their remaining schedule will be against non-playoff teams so they might as well give Babbitt major minutes in no bearing contests.

Carl Landry: I think with the return of Noel, Brand will lose the most minutes. Brand shouldn't even be playing at all, IMO. And personally, I don't think it would be wise for Philly to play Noel for major minutes in a lost season, not to mention he is coming off an injury. And I personally think Landry would want to redeem himself and make the rest of the season as his audition for the other teams.

Danny Green: I just cannot trust his minutes. And with the Spurs locked in to the 2nd spot in the West, Pop can afford to rest his big guns. On the other hand, Pop could use the remaining games to try to make Green burn a little, but that would be unlikely. And it would probably result to your FG% being dragged down by his attempts.

Matt Barnes: Intriguing speculative add. But that 2 games against GSW looks tough indeed.

Sacramento's remaining games would be against teams that are not that bad defending SG's. But for as long as Curry will have the minutes, he'll still give you threes and good FT%. But maybe expect a little dip in the FG% in the remaining games.

There. Just my opinion, mate. Hope it helps and sorry for the lengthy response. You still have the last say, go with what you feel. Good luck!

Hi Moose, thanks for the elaborate reply. Sorry to hear your situation with Norris Cole, PO's can be a real *****, I know it first hand myself. I wish fantasy PO's could be played at a stage when tanking or resting players isn't a priority to teams, but I guess we are stuck with what we have.

Similar to your breakdown, I brought the decision down to Landry and Danny Green. Unfortunately I sided with dropping Landry and couldn't wait another day to make the move, as Sacramento plays today too. My line of thinking is that Landry provides me great FG and points with considerable rebounds and low TO's, however TO is already in the bag and rebound is already a goner, FG is going good so it is not an urgent priority and best part is my opponent has Melo-Robin Lopez who play only 3 more times, and Lillard-Aminu who play only 2 more times. However, even with all this, I still might lose points because Bulls may get eliminated early and I may be deprived of Jimmy Butler, also Kawhi Leonard may sit a couple of games, which pushes me to the corner to target the safer option, which is 3 pointers with Lillard-Aminu playing little for the remaining of the week. Keeping Danny Green also gives me a chance to hang onto blocks, something Landry rarely provides, which I am optimistic that I can comeback from the current deficit even though all of Aminu-Lillard-Melo-RoLo kind of screwed me yesterday.

For the remainder of the week, with Seth Curry for Landry swap, I can still put a full line-up on Friday, only lose one game from Sunday, but put Seth Curry in my line-up today and Saturday, which gives an additional +1 and total of +6 from this point on if I don't get DNP's. This means if I don't get screwed by PO race ending too quickly, I can still even target points, as Seth is no slouch himself and the +1 game he should provide could compensate the loss of Landry.

[BJGOAT3]

Well my chances are very slim after today. I am screwed with Danny Green-Kawhi Leonard rest on top of Middleton just sitting games for little to no reason. Also Butler shutdown is coming right off the corner, so all I got is wishful thinking that my role players can keep up with 3 pointers Steals and Blocks. Seems like a long long shot. Another year of being 2nd best I suppose

[Moooose]

Well my chances are very slim after today. I am screwed with Danny Green-Kawhi Leonard rest on top of Middleton just sitting games for little to no reason. Also Butler shutdown is coming right off the corner, so all I got is wishful thinking that my role players can keep up with 3 pointers Steals and Blocks. Seems like a long long shot. Another year of being 2nd best I suppose

My advice would be a bigger mistake had you opted to keep Landry. He was shut down for the last 4 games. My bad.

Disappointing that it is almost impossible to plan ahead with all these DNP's. But maybe it could serve as a pointer for next season to consider the playoffs schedule more seriously. But then again, we can only have studied guesses at best. It's just not our year this time. Cheers, mate!