Week 12: Guess Who's Back
Alright, so the whole tri-weekly thing didn't work out as planned. There's weekly, bi-weekly, tri-weekly... what do you call every 8 weeks? A terrible job. That said, I'm back, and this won't be my last post of the year.
This Review is broken up into sections, because frankly, that's kind of how the league looks right now: CONTENDERS, PRETENDERS, NEAR THE ENDERS
CONTENDERS
1. War Monkeys - Michael can complain all he wants that he's in "1st," but Paul has the best team in the league. Add a healthy Granger to the mix, and that team becomes scarier. Noah, Nene, and Deng have all vastly over-achieved, while Bosh, Nash, and Smith have been studs all year. Paul even used his 12th round pick (Stuckey) in a deal to get a first-rounder (Granger). Last week's 9-0 loss was quite painful, but vacation and Yahoo's glitch that if you pick up a player it resets your lineup can be excused. If it happens again, watch out for #2.
2. The MonStars - Every year he does it, and this year's no exception. Michael picks guys who get lots of different categories and generally avoids the "sexiest" picks out there. Guys like Brook Lopez, Jason Kidd, Al Horford, and Wilson Chandler rack up various categories, but don't get the recognition of the Dwight Howards, Steve Nashes, etc. I hate it when I have to say it, but his team is scary.
3. Bangladesh Thunder - A solid 9-2 run through the league's first half, the Thunder did most of this without his 2nd round selection Kevin Martin. He snagged some key free agents early (Tyreke Evans and Marc Gasol) and was blessed by a Stephen Jackson trade to the Bobcats. If Calderon wasn't the bust PG of the year, he'd be fighting for first place right now.
PRETENDERS
4. Zen-Masturbaters - The best of the rest, so to speak, Trent's team has been a pleasant surprise this year. I'm not convinced by a 9-0 victory over a team that fails to set its lineup, but, whatever works at this point to vault you up the standings. Camby's played out of his mind, though Jennings has cooled quite a bit. LeBron's LeBron and JJ's been on fire. This has pretty much added up to some success. Though Michael, with his 7-2 win over you in Week 10, showed you're just a pretender.
5. Free Ballers - Tweetle Dee and Tweetle Dum follow each other in the rankings, and its quite shocking to see these two in the top 5. However, hard to argue with two straight 6-3 wins since trading his injured star for two quality guys (Pierce and Stuckey). With a little commissioner help, he grabbed some decent free agents, and things finally seem to be going right. Is this the year Matt gets his first playoff spot?
6. StraightouttaMenifee - Has been up and down throughout the year, but has lost 3 of his last 4. Snagged a great deal to pick up Bynum and Billups for Carmelo and we'll see how that works out for the squad. Was quick to grab Randy Foye when Arenas went out, and with Lou Williams back, things are looking up. The problem? The MonStars and War Monkeys in two consecutive weeks. This could make or break the season right here.
7. Loud Lezbos - Three straight losses to mediocre teams, but a 6-3 win over a bad Lightning Jeffs squad. Congratulations on the victory, Jay. Hard to reward you with those numbers. I hope this Melo trade works out for you, but as long as the Laker injury woes continue, Bynum stays pretty valuable. In any event, Antawn Jamison's going to play like a top 15 player with Arenas out, which basically means you'll have three top 15-ers our there (Roy, Melo, and Jamison). We'll see if it works out.
8. Rattlesnakes - A little bit of a tough stretch for the Snakes, including losing two straight and 5 of the last 7. Dirk's been Dirk, but Devin Harris hasn't quite been right, Caron's been down, and J-Rich and Shawn Marion have seen better days. Cody always makes a run, but it hasn't been anything special so far. Fortunately, he's hung around ok despite the losses.
NEAR THE END-ERS
9. Double D's - Yeah, Trent's actually been pretty hot over the last few weeks, but he can't quite get out of this bottom tier just yet. He just lost Redd for the year, Troy Murphy's been up and down, and Rose has been fairly confusing all year. On the "hot" side is Durant, Duncan, and surprisingly Zach Randolph, who's been the most consistent 20-10 guy in the last month while shockingly picking up some other stats. Trent's the top of this tier and is the easiest candidate to shake out of it with maybe a move or two, or just some better FA pickup action.
10. Globetrotters - Just when we think Rojas is going to have a good year, he has his troubles. Pau hasn't played much for him (though when he did, he's been on fire), Williams was out earlier in the year, and now Kaman's got what is hopefully a minor back injury. With a blockbuster deal brewing, will we see a change? It may take more than just that.
11. Kevdog's Ballers - Sad as it is, my team is just bad. Actually, it's quite good in 3 categories (Rebounds, Assists, and FG%). In fact, I typically win a 4th category each week. But, it's the other 5 that's generally the problem. I've lost 5 straight weeks and my team's in major need of change, which we'll likely see shortly. Rondo's been a fantasy beast, as has David Lee. Jefferon's picking it up, and Lee has been a poor man's Dwight Howard this season, but better at times. If I don't turn it around quickly, chance of playoffs are out.
12. Lightning Jeffs - Every time I hear Jeff utter the question "who is the only team in the league that has made the championship round every year it has been in the league?", I smile when I think about ranking him 12th in the next Review. Fortunately, Jeff's earned this one. Jeff's had his point guard successes, but is the polar opposite of my team, winning the little guy categories but can't compete in the big guy categories. Then he tells me I'm asking too much when I make him trade offers that will clearly help us both. To be sure, guys like Ellis, Curry, and Williams are the league's elite PG's, but his team, like mine, is simply too lopsided, especially with the Garnett injury. Come April, I don't think we'll have to hear Jeff ask that question again.
This Review is broken up into sections, because frankly, that's kind of how the league looks right now: CONTENDERS, PRETENDERS, NEAR THE ENDERS
CONTENDERS
1. War Monkeys - Michael can complain all he wants that he's in "1st," but Paul has the best team in the league. Add a healthy Granger to the mix, and that team becomes scarier. Noah, Nene, and Deng have all vastly over-achieved, while Bosh, Nash, and Smith have been studs all year. Paul even used his 12th round pick (Stuckey) in a deal to get a first-rounder (Granger). Last week's 9-0 loss was quite painful, but vacation and Yahoo's glitch that if you pick up a player it resets your lineup can be excused. If it happens again, watch out for #2.
2. The MonStars - Every year he does it, and this year's no exception. Michael picks guys who get lots of different categories and generally avoids the "sexiest" picks out there. Guys like Brook Lopez, Jason Kidd, Al Horford, and Wilson Chandler rack up various categories, but don't get the recognition of the Dwight Howards, Steve Nashes, etc. I hate it when I have to say it, but his team is scary.
3. Bangladesh Thunder - A solid 9-2 run through the league's first half, the Thunder did most of this without his 2nd round selection Kevin Martin. He snagged some key free agents early (Tyreke Evans and Marc Gasol) and was blessed by a Stephen Jackson trade to the Bobcats. If Calderon wasn't the bust PG of the year, he'd be fighting for first place right now.
PRETENDERS
4. Zen-Masturbaters - The best of the rest, so to speak, Trent's team has been a pleasant surprise this year. I'm not convinced by a 9-0 victory over a team that fails to set its lineup, but, whatever works at this point to vault you up the standings. Camby's played out of his mind, though Jennings has cooled quite a bit. LeBron's LeBron and JJ's been on fire. This has pretty much added up to some success. Though Michael, with his 7-2 win over you in Week 10, showed you're just a pretender.
5. Free Ballers - Tweetle Dee and Tweetle Dum follow each other in the rankings, and its quite shocking to see these two in the top 5. However, hard to argue with two straight 6-3 wins since trading his injured star for two quality guys (Pierce and Stuckey). With a little commissioner help, he grabbed some decent free agents, and things finally seem to be going right. Is this the year Matt gets his first playoff spot?
6. StraightouttaMenifee - Has been up and down throughout the year, but has lost 3 of his last 4. Snagged a great deal to pick up Bynum and Billups for Carmelo and we'll see how that works out for the squad. Was quick to grab Randy Foye when Arenas went out, and with Lou Williams back, things are looking up. The problem? The MonStars and War Monkeys in two consecutive weeks. This could make or break the season right here.
7. Loud Lezbos - Three straight losses to mediocre teams, but a 6-3 win over a bad Lightning Jeffs squad. Congratulations on the victory, Jay. Hard to reward you with those numbers. I hope this Melo trade works out for you, but as long as the Laker injury woes continue, Bynum stays pretty valuable. In any event, Antawn Jamison's going to play like a top 15 player with Arenas out, which basically means you'll have three top 15-ers our there (Roy, Melo, and Jamison). We'll see if it works out.
8. Rattlesnakes - A little bit of a tough stretch for the Snakes, including losing two straight and 5 of the last 7. Dirk's been Dirk, but Devin Harris hasn't quite been right, Caron's been down, and J-Rich and Shawn Marion have seen better days. Cody always makes a run, but it hasn't been anything special so far. Fortunately, he's hung around ok despite the losses.
NEAR THE END-ERS
9. Double D's - Yeah, Trent's actually been pretty hot over the last few weeks, but he can't quite get out of this bottom tier just yet. He just lost Redd for the year, Troy Murphy's been up and down, and Rose has been fairly confusing all year. On the "hot" side is Durant, Duncan, and surprisingly Zach Randolph, who's been the most consistent 20-10 guy in the last month while shockingly picking up some other stats. Trent's the top of this tier and is the easiest candidate to shake out of it with maybe a move or two, or just some better FA pickup action.
10. Globetrotters - Just when we think Rojas is going to have a good year, he has his troubles. Pau hasn't played much for him (though when he did, he's been on fire), Williams was out earlier in the year, and now Kaman's got what is hopefully a minor back injury. With a blockbuster deal brewing, will we see a change? It may take more than just that.
11. Kevdog's Ballers - Sad as it is, my team is just bad. Actually, it's quite good in 3 categories (Rebounds, Assists, and FG%). In fact, I typically win a 4th category each week. But, it's the other 5 that's generally the problem. I've lost 5 straight weeks and my team's in major need of change, which we'll likely see shortly. Rondo's been a fantasy beast, as has David Lee. Jefferon's picking it up, and Lee has been a poor man's Dwight Howard this season, but better at times. If I don't turn it around quickly, chance of playoffs are out.
12. Lightning Jeffs - Every time I hear Jeff utter the question "who is the only team in the league that has made the championship round every year it has been in the league?", I smile when I think about ranking him 12th in the next Review. Fortunately, Jeff's earned this one. Jeff's had his point guard successes, but is the polar opposite of my team, winning the little guy categories but can't compete in the big guy categories. Then he tells me I'm asking too much when I make him trade offers that will clearly help us both. To be sure, guys like Ellis, Curry, and Williams are the league's elite PG's, but his team, like mine, is simply too lopsided, especially with the Garnett injury. Come April, I don't think we'll have to hear Jeff ask that question again.
posted by K.C.R. at
9:59 PM
0 Comments
