End of lockout brings fantasy players back to life

I am a very huge fan of fantasy basketball. Ever since I tried out PBFantasy, an online fantasy experience all about Philippine basketball, I have been salivating for every PBA conference to commence.

In a way, it gave me an opportunity to re-invigorate my interest towards Philippine basketball.

Nowadays though, my attention has shifted to the NBA.

Whether it is ESPN or Yahoo, rotisserie or a more complicated scoring system, my tolerance for this game is at an all-time high. I would cringe whenever my player gets injured or submits to an off night and boast the hell off my buddies whenever my player gets a humongous contribution.

With the NBA lockout over, the fantasy leagues can finally flourish. Jocks and geeks will play and bet for bragging rights to see if what they picked are the right combos.

At first, one must think that NBA fantasy basketball is mind-numbing. It actually is.

You have to know how the NBA works. You don't need to check the history but its present landscape. Those who think that Grant Hill is still the best player in the league must be forewarned. The better you know about the league, the better your chances are.

The start of every fantasy league is the draft. Here you scout the players who'll provide you the maximum of all the statistical categories. The Internet is flooded with news and updates. All you need to do is Google "NBA Fantasy Basketball" and everything else follows. From there you need to build your squad. Deep inside you know the player you'll get is also the player your enemy wants to get. If the draft order prohibits you to pick first, you need to have a Plan B.

In rotisserie leagues, I think it's best to choose your squad. Are you contended with a big man lineup or do you want to play a scoring squad?

Last season I had two fantasy squads. My Yahoo squad won my league but my ESPN squad placed seventh of eleven. The reason for my ESPN squad's falter is due to the injuries to Rajon Rondo, Kevin Garnett and Darko Milicic, and the incompetence of rookies Evan Turner, DeMarcus Cousins, and Wes

Johnson. Meanwhile, because my Yahoo league consists of only six players, I won the tourney by pumping on the rebounds and the assists. I also spent my games wisely, which is something teams should know.

Anyway, the five best players for me are Kevin Durant, Lebron James, Dwyane Wade, Kevin Love, and Chris Paul. Extending the best players include reigning league MVP Derrick Rose, Deron Williams, Russell Westbrook, Dirk Nowitzki, Al Jefferson and LaMarcus Aldridge. Durant and LBJ are the two best all-around players in the league today. While LBJ is a triple-double magnet, Durant is foremost scoring option of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

There was an instance where people discredit LBJ's stat-making abilities because he is sharing superstar duties with Wade and Chris Bosh for the Miami Heat.

The Big Three is merely a dynamic duo with the way James and Wade are "eating" Bosh's production.

As for Lakers fans, do not fret. Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol are still popular amongst fantasy followers... but not as much compared to their younger and hungrier buddies. However, I must say that I am bracing myself for Bryant's explosion as if to show Mike Brown that he is still the man in the City of Showtime. Kevin Love is out to tell people that his ranking is no fluke but at the same time, he is praying that Spanish spitfire Ricky Rubio will bring in the damage. As for Chris Paul, the proceedings of the lockout brought a sad end to his going to New York rumors. Not unless the Knicks dismantle two-fifths of their starting unit and forty percent of their bench, the plan to reel Paul in is just too expensive for the Empire State. Derrick Rose is a player that will raise his game to a whole new level and fantasy goers are preparing for his outbursts.

As for the champions, Dirk Nowitzki is the most anticipated man in Fantasyland but aside from Jason Kidd and in a way, Jason Terry, none of the Mavs are looming to be favorites.

Come December 25, the world will experience the NBA's triumphant return to our viewing pleasure. Some will enjoy the action...

...While others check out for daily updates.

Definitely, this is one of many reasons why we love this game.

Game over. – SS