Freeroll Attracts 1,139 Teams
Congratulations to “joe123,” who defeated 1,138 other teams to win the $100 first prize in last night’s Freeroll. Second place (and $60) went to ‘mvp000311” and “PeistyGangsta” earned 30 bucks for third. Thanks to everyone who entered. Don’t wait for next Friday; there are great leagues every day from $2 entry fees up to $420, and the odds of winning are much, much better than 1,138-1 — entries are capped, payouts larger and more teams earn consolation prizes.
My team came 77tth and would have been in the money if Jeff Teague hadn’t disappointed in Phoenix. It also didn’t help that Derrick Favors fouled out so soon.
There are only four NBA games tonight, which limits player choices somewhat, but you can enter Salary Cap, Pick ‘Em or Snake drafts until the 7:00 deadline, and I’ve had some luck on nights like this. Despite dropping $11 in a failed attempt to qualify for the DraftStreet Basketball Championship, I’m ahead $17 for the week and will take my best shot.
| DraftStreet 15 | Mar. 2 |
| Stars | Over $13,000 |
| Joakim Noah | $19,013 |
| Monta Ellis | $17,627 |
| Jrue Holiday | $15,943 |
| J.J. Hickson | $15,258 |
| LaMarcus Aldridge | $14,729 |
| Scrubs | Under $9,000 |
| J.J. Redick | $8,158 |
| Mike Dunleavy | $7,927 |
| Jimmy Butler | $6,689 |
| Meyers Leonard | $6,686 |
| Alan Anderson | $4,526 |
| Starters | $9,000 to $13,000 |
| Thaddeus Young | $12,397 |
| Evan Turner | $12,319 |
| Ersan Ilyasova | $12,949 |
| Spencer Hawes | $11,548 |
| Kirk Hinrich | $12,126 |
We offer 15 suggestions every day in the chart, five in each price range. Joakim Noah had a 23-21-11 game for 72.75 points in the DS scoring system, which has five ‘positive’ categories and three ‘negative’ — PTS = 1 pt; REB = 1.25 pts; AST = 1.5 pts; STL = 2 pts; BLK = 2 pts ; TO (-1 pt) and -0.5 pts for each missed FT or FG. It would make perfect sense to build your team around him tonight against a tired Brook Lopez. I’m trying something else.
F1 LaMarcus Aldridge (POR-F) $14,729
F2 Thaddeus Young (PHI-F) $12,397
G1 Monta Ellis (MIL-G) $17,627
G2 Evan Turner (PHI-G) $12,319
C1 J.J. Hickson (POR-C) $15,258
C2 Larry Sanders (MIL-C) $14,808
U1 J.J. Redick (MIL-G) $8,158
U2 Alan Anderson (TOR-G) $4,526
That lineup counts on the Blazers big men to feast on the wounded Timberwolves frontcourt. I’m using two 76ers because their opponent is exhausted and like the Bucks quite a bit, especially Monta Ellis, now that he’s the clear leader. If Chicago keeps the score down, I have the best guys I can afford from the other three games. It’s all ‘logical’ but it’s still guesswork. A fascinating challenge every day.
The Fantasy Spin is here every morning, by 10:00 EST. Joel Gibson’s weekly Fantasy Planner appears on Sunday. Follow us on Twitter — @SheridanFantasy — for updates.