Bobman's NBA Compendium: Playoff Strategy

It's playoff time, baby!

Sort of.

Different formats have different timelines, but it's time to play high stakes Fantasy B-ball.

It's win or go home.

So let's talk strategy...

STRATEGY #1: SURPRISE THEM.

If you're a stick & hold guy/girl, maybe consider adding/dropping 4 players during your week.

If everybody knows you chase rebounds, punt the cat during the playoffs.

If you're constantly punting 2 cats to win every week, go for a more balanced strategy during the playoffs.

The idea is: TO BE UNPREDICTABLE.

Your enemy cannot plan against you if they have no idea what you're going to do.

This will also help your love life.

STRATEGY #2: WAIT UNTIL THE LAST DAY OF THE FIRST PLAYOFF WEEK TO MAKE ADDS/DROPS

Some managers are more observant than others, so you just might catch somebody asleep at the wheel. If you're in a close battle, save your weekly moves for when they REALLY count: the last day of competition.

I have won many tight playoff series by delaying the impulse to modify.

It builds on strategy 1 (unpredictability), but is for a specific purpose.

Keep a close eye on your opponent's adds/drops during playoff weeks. In a perfect world, you want them to make the first move - unless they beat you to a recently injured stud PG's backup.

Be bold, but also play defensively...

STRATEGY #3: DROP INJURED PLAYERS IMMEDIATELY

You need stats during the playoffs.

While a minor injury is harder to evaluate, any games missed could be the difference between winning and losing your week.

Personally, unless it's a keeper/dynasty league, i have a pretty hard line approach: If player A isn't giving you stats due to injury, cut player A immediately.

I adopt SHORT-TERM STRATEGIES in the playoffs - because it's win or go home.

I'm not gonna lie: There is risk here.

That player could miss only one game, and then you lose him to one of the other playoff teams.

But more than likely, even if you drop player A, that player will take a couple days to pass through waivers (depending on your league's settings).

If your team is SIGNIFICANTLY better than your opponent, you can absorb missing player games. But generally speaking, you don't want to take that risk when it matters the most...

STRATEGY #4: FOCUS SOLELY ON THE MOST RECENT STATS

It doesn't matter if a hot FA has been terrible all season. If said player is on fire for the week, PICK HIM UP.

This is not a time to be picky.

You need stats, and need them IMMEDIATELY.

You definitely cannot afford to play the waiting game - so grab the hottest FAs (even if you've never heard of them).

The name doesn't matter: only the numbers do...

So that's 4 strategies to help prepare you for your latest electronic trophy.

You have SO many of them now...

Gawd.

Bobman