How the FVCK did that happen?!?!?!?!?!!! !%$&!#%$&!%^$!$#^& !#%$^&!&!^$# !!!!!!!!!!!!

Actually, I remember now it was on purpose: I wanted to keep Miller at the cheaper salary. (Yeah, right) :rolleyes:

DB, DB, DB. My most worthy adversary. You didn't want to listen. I told you it was way too early to go "unpredictable"

But I wouldn't say the door is "slammed" shut yet.
3/4 closed maybe, but still room for you to wigle through if you get a few major breaks.

And as for you, JG: You always seem to make a rookie mistake at the end when the chips are down. Pressure gets to you, huh? :p

I stand by my reasoning... I think it was just the right time to go unpredictable. Before this weekend, I was on the pace I predicted. It just didn't work out for me this weekend, especially last night. :rolleyes:

Yea, 3/4 closed sounds about right...

On JG's mistake... Wow... Weird... Sorry Pork... If all else fails, blame Steve Bartman!

Who's he?

As far as strategy goes, DB, at the risk of revealing mine should I find myself in your position at a comparable point in the second half:

The frontcourt players are by far the most consistent, and, for the most part, the guys we get most of our points from. I would have tried to have the strongest front three I possibly could, and gone for the unpredictable backcourts.

Steve Bartman!



The small bit of strategy that you revealed makes a lot of sense, plaw. In fact, that's the key strategy for the entire game I think - not just to play catch up or hold a lead. But say I went with it... obviously, I pick a from the following group: KG, Duncan, Brand, Randolph, Miller... But I know that you'll be picking those guys as well. Sure, I pretty much know what I'm getting from those guys but I won't make up any ground. Right now, I'm just banking on picking one of the less consistent guys to pop off 50 points- get them on a good night. If I wasn't playing catch up, my strategy would be completely different.

That's my point (I think ).

You didn't have that much ground to make up that you had to sacrifice the "sure" points from the group above. If you were 200-250 points behind, of course, it would be a different story because then you would have had to play every possible shot you could.

What I've been saying since this discussion began (I think it's what I've been saying) when I said it was too early for you to get unpredictable is that you weren't that far behind that you couldn't make up the points in the backcourt alone.

I'd bet that if you look at any of the days where you or I had a big point swing, it was almost always because one of our guards had a 3 point night or something.

Tuesday

PL 11276 104.6 110 (+05.4) 11386 117.0
DB 11160 100.0 113 (+13.0) 11273 111.5
CC 10739 103.6 117 (+13.4) 10856 109.2
JG 10742 107.0 078 (-29.0) 10820 120.5
SP 10537 104.6 110 (+05.4) 10647 115.8
PP 05307..........000............05307 116.0
LE 04869 104.7 115 (+05.3) 04984 119.1

Note: LE got 15 additional points on Sunday for POTW Kenyon Martin

As we're winding down the days from the first half, and with first place all but won, it's time to give out First Half-end awards and predictions...

Player of the Half: Plaw... Put a stranglehold on first place and never relinquished it. (I'm hoping this becomes "Dewey Defeats Truman" type post! )

Player to Watch for the 2nd Half: LE... Although he doesn't appreciate the beauty of statistical discussions, he's put in a good showing since joining us. I neither have the time nor the inclination to check for myself, but I bet he's among the top 4 since he's joined.

Player Most Likely to Pick Wang ZhiZhi because she likes his name: Crabby!

Player Most Likely to Pick Brad Miller because... just because!: Pork

Player Most Likely to Pick Up an Endorsement Contract: Plaw. He'll sign with the U.S. Postal Office because neither rain, sleet, snow nor hail will keep him from picking his fantasy team. You can add sex, drugs, rock and roll, religion, girlfriend, and family to that list too - NONE of them will keep him from picking his team. (Crabby will be endorsed by Nick's Fish Market!)

Player Most Likely to Quit: FS... See you in baseball, dude - but you're always welcome for the 2nd half of basketball.

Player Most Likely to be Termed "Quiet but Dangerous": SP

Player Most Likely to Quote Tupac to Describe His First Half Performance: Philly "We ain't got no orange" Pat

I'll be back for every day in the 2nd half. Anyone see that Ayers got fired today? -Pat

Nice new signature there, Patrick :rolleyes:

You forgot an award for yourself, DB. Permit me:

"Player most likely to give PL the best run for his money, only to finish second again" :p

BTW, here are my predictions for the second half:

1) PL. Until someone shows they can consistently do better, he's gotta be the top choice
2) DB. See above. Same logic picking him for second place.
3) SP. Missed two full days during the first half and got no points. Add in another 200 or so, and he'd be battling for third right now.
4) LE. Might have picked him higher since he has done well since joining, but his sample size isn't large enough.
5) JG. Was the original player who tried to make this a mathematical exercise by going for the highest V.Avg. he could every day. But the superior basketball knowledge of those being picked to finish ahead of him show that this strategy won't work.
6) CC. Gotta wonder about some of her picks and how she stayed up there so long. Has done the most with the least, however. Seems to have a relatively low V.Avg. every day, but still manages to get her points. Has been very quiet lately, and may not play the second half.
7) PP. Has shown nothing so far, besides the potential to do a lot of cursing if his heart is in it in the second half and he does poorly. Does have the best signature of anyone in the league, however.

Yeah, Pat -- that was way too much (language). Please use something else.

That's pretty dumb. But whatever.

Test.

I would have given myself that award, but I don't think I finished second to you yet. Wait, does fantasy baseball overall count?? Did I finish second? I think I placed in 3rd or 4th in the overall.

I could say I finished 4th to you - in the first half of baseball. I don't know what happened there. Even BDD almost beat me and as you know, he started 10 days late!

All other leagues, I think I beat you! :p

Come on, why you hating man?

Just trying to get the trash talking going, man.

This is the "First Half Basketball" award. Nothing to do with the other sports.

But I am looking forward to another epic struggle against you in the coming baseball season.

We will go down in history as an all-time great rivalry.

Wednesday

PL 11386 117.0 112 (-05.0) 11498 116.5
DB 11273 111.5 117 (+05.5) 11390 109.6
CC 10856 109.2 098 (-11.2) 10954 109.4
JG 10820 120.5 125 (+04.5) 10945 121.0
SP 10647 115.8 089 (-26.8) 10736 122.4
PP 05307 116.0 105 (-11.0) 05412 no new team today
LE 04984 119.1 133 (+13.9) 05117 120.0

Website hasn't updated everyone's total score since Sunday, so officially these scores are "un-official", but barring any mistakes in my math they should be correct
--------------------
2 days to go.

Looks like the battle for third is going down to the last day! As for me, I'm just trying to get Plaw's lead down to less than 100 points. That 40 point loss a couple of days ago really hurt.

Door is 9/10 closed now.

By the way, I didn't comment on your projected standings plaw... I pretty much agree with the standings. You have to keep yourself in first - you're the king until someone knocks you off. I have proven myself to be a 2nd Half player though!

Yea, I wonder where Crabby has been. Getting ready for the baseball season perhaps, planning her travel arrangements around where Vinny will be! :p

I believe the competition will be more heated next half.

Fewer. :p I'll give you the rule if you want.

Let me see... i before e except after... Oops, wrong rule.

Much = less, many = fewer.

How many points? Fewer points
How much money? Less money

From one of my favorite reference books, The Careful Writer: A Modern Guide to English Usage (Bernstein, 1965):

*Yeah, it's an old book - I think they make closer to $10,000 now

Hmmm....some interesting exceptions there, JG.

What a race for third place, huh? You managed to overcome your Brad Miller gaffe rather nicely. As DB said, it's gonna o down to the last day.

I'm rooting for Crabby :p

So then you must be rooting for her SG Anthony Peeler tonight, too.

(Well, I sure jinxed myself now - watch, Joe Johnson is gonna get -1 tonight and Peeler will get 25 )

After looking at tomorrow's choices, I think I can start doing my victory dance anytime now.





Just waiting for DB's concession speech.... :p

Where has Beth been?