Off the Glass

Four simple rules for drafting a winning fantasy team

Dirk Nowitzki, a quality big man who can stay healthy, is one of the top fantasy targets this season. Glenn James/NBAE/ Getty Images

By Paul Forrester, Special to CNNSI.com

Ah HA! HA! HA! HA! HA!

Ah HA! HA! HA! HA! HA!

Looks like OTG got a little caught up in that new prime-time drama known as the New York Knicks. Remember the episode when they traded the No. 7 pick in the draft to pick up a power forward coming off surgery only to watch him go down with another knee injury?

Or how about the one in which they put the hammer down on their star player after he broke his finger on his boat? HA! HA!

Remember how upset he got when they not only fined him but also told him he couldn't practice with the team? And then he didn't return his coach's phone calls for weeks. Oooh! What a great show. Seriously, OTG couldn't dream up scenarios that comical.

Nor should you.

The Knicks' lack of planning and thought has left their season as done as a T-bone at Tad's Steaks. Keep that in mind when you sit down at the draft table in the next few days.

Not only does OTG believe he and one of the two or three readers of the column (thanks, Mom, Dad and Archie, the family pooch) could put together a better team than New York's Scott Layden over a round or two of suds, but I also believe any fantasy owner can construct a competitive team by following a few simple rules.

1. Get yourself a big man -- early: Much like the last slice of birthday cake, the supply of serviceable centers is limited. Much like you elbow your way past your brother or wife to get at that last piece, you should bring out the fork quickly to nab a quality pivot.

Unless you play in a position-irrelevant league, you'll need to bite the bullet at some point; why not make the process a little less painful and take someone worth taking? This undoubtedly will mean passing up Michael Finley for Antonio Davis or Vlade Divac, but think of the alternatives. Joel Przybilla. Erick Dampier. And the dreaded Shawn Bradley (of course followed by the proclamation, "Hey, he blocks shots").

2. Shoo away the injury bugs: You know who they are. The names rarely change nor does their history. For all the glittering statistics they produce, they produce an almost equal amount of heartbreak with the significant chunks of time they miss every year.

Chris Webber has NEVER played a full 82-game season. Jamal Mashburn has averaged 54 games over the past four seasons. As hard-nosed as Eric Snow is, he has played a full season once out of the past four. Theo Ratliff hasn't played more than 57 games since 1998. This isn't to say these players shouldn't be on your squad, but it should factor into your thinking. Wouldn't you rather have 76 games out of Dirk Nowitzki than 54 out of Chris Webber?

3. Forget personalities: Remember, this is fantasy. So put aside any thoughts of joining Olden Polynice in pulling over Stephon Marbury, and grab his 20 points per game and eight dimes. Allen Iverson and you may not share the same preference for body art, but you'll grow to like 31 points and three steals a night. Numbers count; headlines don't.

(A confession: OTG actually holds a sort of opposite bias against players who have jobbed a team statistically; isn't that right, Mike Bibby? No amount of clutch shots against the Lakers in the playoffs is going to make up for the fact that you absolutely KILLED any number of fantasy drafts last year with a drop in assists, scoring, rebounding, steals and 3-point shooting. Hell, they were going to have to invent categories for you to play down to. To you, I say, "No more.")

4. Be flexible: The best coaches are the ones who can adjust on the fly. The same goes for fantasy owners. Adjust the draft based on what falls in your lap. Should Ben Wallace suit up for you in the second round, there's no need to go after Dikembe Mutombo in Round 3, a lesson OTG learned the hard way last year.

You need balance on your team. Loading up in a specific category in hopes of striking a trade is a risky proposition. You have only one season to make this team work. There is no timetable to allow a young point guard to develop if you already have Gary Payton. Draft for need over potential.

Well, there they are: OTG's exclusive tips on getting your fantasy horse into the lead pack. May every owner find Tim Duncan in his stocking delivered by Tracy McGrady. Good drafting.

 

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