NBA Season-in-Review

NBA LEAGUE of LEAGUES FINAL STANDINGS

22 POINTS - Sporty Strauss (7 NBA)
18 POINTS - Win’s Up Doc (15 NBA)
18 POINTS - Las Cabras (6 NBA)
16 POINTS - DTC Porkchop Express (9 NBA)

14 POINTS - MN Moose Knuckles (12 NBA)
13 POINTS - Wait ‘Til Next Year (8 NBA)
13 POINTS - The BamO’s (3 NBA)
13 POINTS - Shepherd Goods Choppers (4 NBA)
13 POINTS - Ornery Otters (5 NBA)

10 POINTS - The Pullies (10 NBA)
8 POINTS - Cooper Troopers (2 NBA)
4 POINTS - $traight Cash Homie (0 NBA)

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME RECAP

Win’s Up Doc: 1531
MN Moose Knuckles: 1267

Legends are made in the heat of battle, and Win’s Up Doc walks away with a legend after his dominant NBA performance in the first year of the League of Leagues. Doc #FriedTheGuy this week, his 3rd straight PLAYOFF week with about 1500 points during the week.

Some have his players have become personal legends too. Porzingis, Valanciunas, Jordan Poole, Desmond Bane, Dejounte Murray and Mo Bamba were all perhaps the biggest contributors this week – none of whom were big names before opening tip off this season. That’s the story of Win’s Up Doc’s season: dominant performances from players who weren’t highly touted at the draft, most were selecte in the snake, and all just put up massive numbers for his squad all season long.

Win’s Up Doc had his ups and his downs this season, but he ends up as a heroic figure in the Leagued of Leagues. He beat the bully, Sporty Strauss, in that first round of the playoffs and carried home a most impressive victory.

The MN Moose Knuckles didn’t have much of a shot in the Championship Round, scoring only about 1270 points this week, which wouldn’t have beaten many other playoff teams. There were some injury issues for Hall, but nothing that would have swing that game back in his favor.

It’s a tough loss for Hall. He only scored 2 points in football by finishing in 11th place, so he really needed all the extra points he could get. Normally, a League of Leagues team walking away with 2nd place would feel pretty good, but this loss is a little more muted for the MN Moose Knuckles who now have their work cut out for them in MLB to make up the gap. With 14 season-long points, the MN Moose Knuckles are in okay shape to place top-4, though there are 4 teams with 13 points right behind Hall to compete for those

On the flip side, Win’s Up Doc has 18 points, putting him FIRMLY in contention this season. He’s 4 points back from Sporty Strauss with the top-ranked MLB squad coming into the season. It’s go time for the Fryers.

POST-SEASON AWARDS

Championship MVP

• Kristaps Porzingis

• Win’s Up Doc (Oat)

• 182 points

Notes: Porzingis off of injury was a godsend for Win’s Up Doc. In a matter of days, Jarrett Allen got hurt, but Kristaps Porzingis debuted for the Washington Wizards. After getting his feet under him in a couple games during the first week of the playoffs, Kristaps Porzingis was the best player on the court for Oat. Now, there are real signs of improvement going forward for Porzingis, and his dynasty stock soars.

But even if Porzingis flames out with injury in the next couple of years, Win’s Up Doc will always have memories of his sweet, Latvian unicorn trouncing down the court.

Finals LVP

• Terry Rozier

• MN Moose Knuckles (Chris Hall)

• 100 points

Notes: Finals LVP is an interesting award in basketball. With such deep rosters, showing who the worst regular-minutes player on a Championship barometer is an interesting exercise. For the MN Moose Knuckles, they got decent production from the worst players an the roster, but they did get an underwhelming week from Terry Rozier. Scary Terry only scored 25 points per game, when his usual average was 32 or 33. He played mondo minutes as well, finishing at less that .7 points per minute. It’s an unfortunate finish for one of the best values in the entire NBA draft.

Playoffs MVP

• Joel Embiid

• MN Moose Knuckles (Hall)

• 539 points

Notes: The MN Moose Knuckles made the big trade to lock Joel Embiid into his postseason lineup. While it was never the difference between winning and losing in the playoffs, Embiid was still the highest-scoring player in the 3 playoff weeks. He also scared too many teams on the other side of the bracket away from making trades at the deadline. It’s both a great example of why teams should look at the trade market to bolster squads, but it also serves a warning… if Joel Embiid can’t swing any playoff games for you, what superstar can?

Playoffs LVP

• Derrick White

• Sporty Strauss (Strauss)

• 39 points (over 2 or 3 games)

Notes: Sporty Strauss has quite a few contenders for LVP, though this is the only egregious one. Franz Wagner underperformed. Ben Simmons never set foot on the court during the League of Leagues season. Chris Duarte barely played and got hurt. But Derrick White becoming an unplayable player overnight crushed Sporty Strauss the most.

Derrick White rode pine for Strauss most of the playoffs when he’d been a regular contributor all season. It forced worse players into Strauss’ lineup. There’s no more of an LVP than that!

It’s all made worse by the fact that Derrick White went one pick before DeMar DeRozan, a player Sporty Strauss still had to trade extra assets for at the end of the season.

REGULAR SEASON SUPERLATIVES

Regular Season MVP

• Dejounte Murray

• Win’s Up Doc (Oat)

• 46.1 ppg

Notes: Dejounte Murray could have easily been the Playoffs MVP, but he gets a regular season MVP award instead… even better! Murray is able to capitalize on something that is crazy valuable, especially in the League of Leagues scoring system – STEALS!!! With 2.1 steals per game, that’s 6.3 points every single start for Murray, an astronomical amount as the season goes along. Combine that with near triple-double numbers and 20ppg, and Murray is an unbelievable fantasy player. He’s likely a top-10 guy going forward.

The uncertain thing about Dejounte is the looming question of what happens when the Spurs get better. Murray is a great player on a bad team, but what happens when things improve around him?

Regular Season LVP

• Zion Williamson

• $traight Cash Homie (Jack)

• 0 points – $30

Notes: This one is obvious and might be better left unsaid. However, the nature of the Zion story changes the equation here. Usually, nominating injury-riddled seasons is low-hanging fruit, but for Zion, it feels like this is a player who COULD have contributed this season. We don’t know the full situation yet, but Zion’s absence from the team is one of the strangest stories in basketball. Everyone is waiting for more information, but here’s all the information the League of Leagues needs: Zion Williamson tanked $traight Cash Homie’s season.

Best Auction Draft Pick

• Scottie Barnes

• Win’s Up Doc (Oat)

• $6 – 30.7 ppg

Notes: There was no ABSOLUTE hammer-time pick in the auction. There were a lot of great ones, all listed below, but Scottie Barnes for $6 takes the cake. Not only did he help Oat be tied for the best record in the league, he contributed to the title. AND he’s a bonafide #Hunk, but extreme draft capital wasn’t spent on him. Scottie Barnes having this type of season helped Win’s Up Doc overcome the injure issues Michael Porter Jr., his presumptive SF/PF swing starter. He was a home run draft pick that will pay dividends for Win’s Up Doc throughout his League of Leagues NBA career.

Top-10 Auction Picks

1. Scottie Barnes (SF, Raptors; 30.7ppg) – Win’s Up Doc – $6

2. Ja Morant (PG, Grizzlies; 40.5ppg) – The Pullies – $21

3. Evan Mobley (PF, Cavaliers; 31.3ppg) – Cooper Troopers – $16

4. Terry Rozier (PG, Hornets; 31.9ppg) – MN Moose Knuckles – $2

5. Joel Embiid** (C, 76ers; 50.2 ppg) – $traight Cash Homie – $32

6. Tyrese Haliburton (PG, Kings/Pacers; 33.4ppg) – SG Choppers – $13

7. Christian Wood (PF, Rockets; 33.9 ppg) – Cooper Troopers – $7

8. Mikal Bridges (SF, Suns; 25.3 ppg) – Ornery Otters – $3

9. LaMelo Ball (PG, Hornets; 38.5 ppg) – Ornery Otters – $25

10. Chris Paul (PG, Suns; 38.3 ppg) – DTC Porkchop Express – $7

Worst Auction Pick

• Russell Westbrook

• Ornery Otters (Korey)

• $12 – 33.4 ppg

Notes: If Zion is excluded for injury here, Russell Westbrook is really the only performance-based horrible auction pick. Even then, 33.4 PPG isn’t awful. But there were stretches that Russ killed the Ornery Otters lineup, and Russell Westbrook clearly isn’t a star in the actual NBA anymore. His play might slip ever season, and he certainly wasn’t worth the $12 price tag the Otters gave him.

Worst-5 Auction Picks

1. Zion Williamson (PF, Pelicans; N/A) – $traight Cash Homies – $30

2. Russell Westbrook (PG, Lakers; 33.4 ppg) – Ornery Otters – $12

3. Jalen Green (SG, Rockets; 21.2 ppg) – SG Choppers – $14

4. Jalen Suggs (SG, Magic; 20.9ppg) – MN Moose Knuckles – $18

5. Kyrie Irving (PG, Nets; 41ppg) – Wait ‘Til Next Year – $16

Notes: Again, there aren’t that many TERRIBLE auction picks. The two Jalen rookies, Green and Suggs, both underperformed significantly. One team was able to overcome that poor production. The other wasn’t. Kyrie is only on the list due to COVID issues, and it’s easy to think he won’t be on a list like this for awhile.

Best Snake Draft Pick

• DeMar DeRozan**

• DTC Porkchop Express (Craig)

• 2.10 pick – 82nd player taken

• 39.3 ppg

  • ** traded to Sporty Strauss at the trade deadline

Notes: When DTC Porkchop Express took an aging wing that was a weird team fit in the second round of the NBA draft, eyes turned (we won’t name who graded this pick poorly). Nobody knew DeRozan had a resurgent season in him. Not like this. Nobody could have predicted he was going to dominate the way he did, leading DTC Porkchop Express to the 1-seed. More than any other team, DTC Porkchop Express relied on aging vets, for better or for worse. DeRozan is firmly in the ‘for better’ camp, and Craig got a nice return for the Bulls star before the trade deadline.

After that, DeRozan disappointed for Sporty Strauss, so maybe there’s just something about the magic that DTC and DeRozan have that creates a perfect marriage.

Top-15 Snake Picks

1. DeMar DeRozan (SF, Bulls; 38.3 ppg) – DTC Porkchop Express (Rd 2)

2. Dejounte Murray (PG, Spurs; 46.1 ppg) – Win’s Up Doc (Rd 1)

3. Miles Bridges (SF, Hornets; 34.8 ppg) – The BamO’s (Rd 3)

4. Franz Wagner (SF, Magic; 25.2 ppg) – Sporty Strauss (Rd 11)

5. Tyrese Maxey (SG, 76ers; 27.7 ppg) – Wait ‘Til Next Year (Rd 10)

6. Josh Giddey (PG, Thunder; 29 ppg) – DTC Porkchop Express (Rd 1)

7. Darius Garland (PG, Cavs; 35 ppg) – The Pullies (Rd 2)

8. Cole Anthony (PG, Magic; 28.9 ppg) – Las Cabras (Rd 9)

9. Jonas Valanciunas (C, Hornets; 35.1 ppg) – Win’s Up Doc (Rd 2)

10. Desmond Bane (SG, Grizzlies; 28.3 ppg) – Win’s Up Doc (Rd 13)

11. Mo Bamba (C, Magic; 25.8 ppg) – Win’s Up Doc (Rd 15)

12. Jarrett Allen (C, Cavaliers; 34.4 ppg) – Win’s Up Doc (Rd 3)

13. Jalen Brunson (PG, Mavericks; 32 ppg) – The BamO’s (Rd 9)

14. Wendell Carter, Jr. (C, Magic; 31.3 ppg) – MN Moose Knuckles (Rd 4)

15. Seth Curry (SG, Nets; 23.6) – Las Cabras (Rd 11 )

Notes: These are sprinkles in the draft. There’s no real trends here. There’s no round of magical snake picks. There’s no rhyme or reason to these breakouts other than these are all excellent NBA players who found a way to contribute this season. Miles Bridges was one of the more surprising players, because most breakouts seem to come from center or PG, not a combo 4. Wagner, Maxey, Anthony and Bane are all super solid #Hunks that were great picks for their teams. Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen, both Cavs teammates, had injuries throughout the season, but returned excellent value compared to where where they were drafted.

When it’s all said and done, this section explains why Win’s Up Doc won the championship. He had 6 of the top 16 players on this list (with Gafford the top honorable mention).

Worst Snake Pick

• Devontae Graham

• Cooper Troopers (Coop)

• 3.05 – 88th player taken

  • 21.2 ppg

Notes: Graham wasn’t hurt. He didn’t lack opportunity. He just didn’t perform. When drafted, he was a keepable player as the lead guard for the Pelicans. But when they traded for CJ McCollum, his value went out the window. He was especially poor down the stretch where season-long points were on the line. And now, the Cooper Troopers have a horrible 6th keeper situation that will need to be addressed.

Worst-10 Snake Picks

1. Devonte Graham (PG, Pelicans; 21.2 ppg) – Cooper Troopers (Rd 3)

2. James Bouknight (SG, Hornets; 7.8 ppg) – Las Cabras (Rd 3)

3. Kemba Walker (PG, Knicks; 19.9 ppg) – Wait ‘Til Next Year (Rd 4)

4. Moses Brown (C, Mavericks; 6 ppg) – SG Choppers (Rd 9)

5. Killian Hayes (PG, Pistons; 17.4 ppg) – $traight Cash Homie (Rd 4)

6. Boner Hyland (PG, Nuggets; 16.2 ppg) – Win’s Up Doc (Rd 5)

7. Tobias Harris (SF, 76ers; 30 ppg) – SG Choppers (Rd 1)

8. Buddy Hield (SG, Kings/Pacers; 23.5 ppg) – MN Moose Knuckles (Rd 3)

9. Marvin Bagley (PF, Kings/Pistons; 20.7 ppg) – SG Choppers (Rd 4)

10. Mentrezl Harrell (C, Wizards/Pelicans; 24.1 ppg) – The Pullies (Rd 3)

Notes: Okay. Here’s some bad ones. Some young players, Bouknight, Moses Brown and Boner Hyland just simply didn’t play enough to contribute to their teams. That firmly places them on this list. Kemba Walker is a big sore spot on Wait ‘Til Next Year’s ledger. He was the first pick of the 4th round of the snake. Some of the other players towards the bottom of the list really hurt their teams at certain points of the season, but they were serviceable at other times.

Altogether, the SG Choppers had 3 out of the top 11 players on this list, the primary reason for a sorry campaign. The Choppers just flat out missed on these players.

Best Waiver Addition

• Herbert Jones

• Win’s Up Doc (Oa)

  • 21.5 ppg

Notes: While this was a close contest between Herbert Jones and Anfernee Simons, Jones just simply played in more games. Plus, he’s a #Hunk with awesome 2-way potential as his career goes on. He was a regular contributor for Win’s Up Doc over the 2nd half of the season, and he was an amazing find on the wire. Congrats again, Win’s Up Doc. He’s absolutely piling on the accolades in this Season-In-Review.

Top-5 Waiver Additions

1. Herbert Jones (SF, Pelicans; 21.5 ppg) – Win’s Up Doc

2. Anfernee Simons (PG, Trailblazers; 23.4 ppg) – The Pullies

3. Malik Monk (SG, Lakers; 21.2 ppg) – Win’s Up Doc

4. Jared Vanderbilt (PF, Timberwolves; 23.1 ppg) – MN Moose Knuckles

5. Marcus Morris, Sr. (PF, Clippers; 22.8 ppg) – Wait ‘Til Next Year

Notes: Another couple of players for Win’s Up Doc to boast about. Not only did he crush the snake draft, but he had two killer pickups in Jones and Monk. Vanderbilt and Marcus Morris both contributed hugely for their teams as well. Vanderbilt is a fringe keeper, and he could find a home on a new League of Leagues team this offseason.

TEAM RECAPS

1st – Win’s Up Doc (6-9)

• Best Draft Pick: Dejounte Murray (Rd 1)

• Worst Draft Pick: Boner Hyland (Rd 5)

2nd – MN Moose Knuckles (4-11)

• Best Draft Pick: Terry Rozier ($2)

• Worst Draft Pick: Jalen Suggs ($18)

3rd – The Pullies (3-12)

• Best Draft Pick: Ja Morant ($21)

• Worst Draft Pick: Montrezl Harrell (3rd Rd)

4th – DTC Porkchop Express (8-7)

• Best Draft Pick: DeMar DeRozan (Rd 2)

• Worst Draft Pick: PJ Washington ($4)

5th – Wait ‘Til Next Year (7-9)

• Best Draft Pick: Tyrese Maxey (10th Round)

• Worst Draft Pick: Kemba Walker (4th Round)

6th – Sporty Strauss (11-6)

• Best Draft Pick: Franz Wagner (11th Rd)

• Worst Draft Pick: Ben Simmons ($8)

7th – Las Cabras (10-5)

• Best Draft Pick: Cole Anthony (9th Rd)

• Worst Draft Pick: Collin Sexton (2nd Rd)

8th – Ornery Otters (9-6)

• Best Draft Pick: LaMelo Ball ($25)

• Worst Draft Pick: Russell Westbrook ($12)

9th – Shepherd Goods Choppers (9-7)

• Best Draft Pick: Tyrese Haliburton ($13)

• Worst Draft Pick: Moses Brown (9th Rd)

10th – The BamO’s (10-5)

• Best Draft Pick: Miles Bridges (3rd Round)

• Worst Draft Pick: Daniel Theis (9th Rd)

11th – Cooper Troopers (8-8)

• Best Draft Pick: Evan Mobley ($16)

• Worst Draft Pick: Devontae Graham (Rd 3)

12th – $traight Cash Homie (8-6)

• Best Draft Pick: Joel Embiid ($32)

• Worst Draft Pick: Zion Williamson ($31)