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Today’s Spin features a tale of two triumphs, which may just get y’all to start taking more of my advice. Two days into the new week, the profit is at $35.
I won $50 for finishing 8th in an $11 entry fee tournament for Monday and Tuesday’s games, along with $10 for finishing 38th with the same lineup in a $2 entry fee contest. The guy who came through big-time for me was Ray Allen, who was addressed at Jesaus (the Spanish pronunciation) last night during Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
And I’ll repeat LeBron’s line, with my own kicker: “Hey Zeus. Thanks for the big game.”
Allen had 19 points, four rebounds and three assists against the Nets to produce a DraftStreet score of 24.5 points — just five points shy of the total produced by James, who cost nearly fives time as much. Allen, who went for a mere $4,934, represents the best bargain basement buy I have made since taking over this fantasy writer gig 2 1/2 weeks ago.
And if Boris Diaw had done a little something in the fourth quarter, I would be writing about a $500 win instead of a $50 win. Here is my eighth-place team, alongside the winning team (which had Evan Turner!):
So, what does this tale of success mean for you, the reader?
As I wrote above, it means follow my advice. With a little more luck, I’d be paying my mortgage with my DraftStreet winnings.
But before I get to today’s studs and duds list, let’s recite the rules for those who may be new to two-night fantasy leagues.
You pick three guards, three forwards, one center and one utility player using a salary cap of $100,000, and then you root for them to fill up the box score. You can sign up here.
Steals and blocks are worth 2 points. Rebounds are worth 1.25 points. Assists are worth 1.5 points. You lose 1 point for every turnover, and you lose 0.5 points for every missed field goal attempt or missed free throw attempt.
Today’s prices:
| DraftStreet | Price |
| Stars | $$$ |
| LeBron James | $22,655 |
| Kevin Durant | $21,013 |
| LaMarcus Aldridge | $19,888 |
| Russell Westbrook | $19,618 |
| Blake Griffin | $19,516 |
| Value Plays? | Under $9,000 |
| Kevin Garnett | $8,874 |
| Roy Hibbert | $7,736 |
| Chris Andersen | $7,540 |
| Alan Anderson | $5,740 |
| Ray Allen | $4,725 |
I have left Danny Green and Boris Diaw off the value picks list, but I’ve included Roy Hibbert because he is due for a big game after having a meeting of the minds with his angry teammates after Game 1. I am drafting five teams in the $2 entry-fee league, and one will include the fallen All-Star. (I know, we’ve lamented picking Hibbert before, but I can’t help myself.)
The Birdman also offers some intriguing value, because Miami needs to play big against the Nets. Also, Kevin Garnett took a goose egg in the points column last night, and he is due for a bounce back game.
So my strategy will include placing one value pick on each of my five teams, plus going with guys I know will be playing major minutes. At this stage of the postseason, Washington and Portland are the teams that have shortened their rotations the most.
If one of those five teams has a cheap player who performs like Mr. Shuttlesworth, there will be another happy recap coming your way in two days.
Good luck!