Fantasy Basketball Podcast at Razzball

Ossie returns from the IL to join Joel and the duo kick off the show discussing the surprisingly bright future in Portland and the predictably grim state of affairs for the Bucks. After considering the prospect of trading away Giannis Antetokounmpo (don’t do it…yet. Please, blog, may I have some more?

With Ossie away, Joel is joined by Razzwriter Maks to discuss life abroad, finding a fantasy community as an American ex-pat, and early impressions of the still-young NBA season. The pair put Nikola Jokic’s historic start in context, examine how Karl-Anthony Towns jumped Jalen Brunson in New York’s fantasy pecking order, assess Tyrese Haliburton’s bounce-back potential, and gawk at Dyson Daniels’ ball-hawking ways. Please, blog, may I have some more?

The NBA season keeps rolling along and injuries are piling up, so Joel and Ossie discuss who stands to gain in the wake of the big blow to Paolo Banchero (spoiler: Jalen Suggs!), who’s making the most of the opportunities in Memphis and New Orleans, and why the full strength Warriors are a fantasy minefield. Please, blog, may I have some more?

Draft season is over and the NBA marathon is underway! As expected, CJ McCollum is returning first-round value, Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic look sharp while Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Haliburton scuffle, and Andrew Wiggins is outproducing Devin Booker. Pretty standard stuff, yeah? Please, blog, may I have some more?

NBA basketball is nigh! In the last hours of the preseason, Joel and Ossie review their rosters and rattle off the players they’ve hitched their wagons to and feel good about as well as those that came with buyer’s remorse. Then, the duo gaze longingly at the players they wish they had more of and throw dirt on those that they avoided all draft season. Please, blog, may I have some more?

After a weekend touching grass, Joel and Ossie return to survey the fantasy landscape now that NBA preseason is up and running. While both are wary of making dramatic conclusions based on the first games of the preseason, the duo nevertheless take a stab at sorting out Golden State’s rotation, check in on the shooting growth (or lack thereof) on presumed starters Dyson Daniels and Jeremy Sochan, and chart where the shots are going in Sacramento. Please, blog, may I have some more?

Timers are ticking down, projection sheets are spread wide, and queues (for goodness sake!) are being set. We’re in the beating heart of draft season, so Joel and Ossie break down how to approach a format that has gotten its hooks into them: the deep draft and hold roto contest. Please, blog, may I have some more?

A departure from discussing draft strategy and speculation, Ossie and Joel break down the Wolves-Knicks blockbuster trade of Karl-Anthony Towns for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. Should we be taking KAT and Brunson at the 1/2 turn now? How much of a hit can we anticipate for Donte and Rob Dillingham? Please, blog, may I have some more?

After kicking around some dynasty buys last week, Joel and Ossie look at the other side of the coin and consider sell-high options and outright drops. Is there any reason to believe in a breakthrough from Cole Anthony or Jaden McDaniels? Please, blog, may I have some more?

Taking a break from early drafting, Ossie and Joel pivot to a dynasty discussion. The duo recap the conclusion of last season’s Razzball Salary Cap League, hash out how league sizes influence builds, weigh the impact of timing in dynasty leagues, pick some favorites from the ’24 rookie class, and consider the buy-low potential of Wendell Carter Jr., Please, blog, may I have some more?

After two free-wheelin’ gut drafts, Ossie and Joel tap the breaks and ask the question: But what if we’re wrong? Will fading Nikola Vucevic and Zach LaVine backfire? Are we passing on Ja Morant at our own peril? Which rookie center — in any — will pay off? Please, blog, may I have some more?

While you were taking your much-deserved day off, Ossie and Joel put in a little work on Labor Day by spotting trends in the still-very-early draft season. Using two draft boards and NFC ADP data, they discuss the squishy turn at the end of the first round, guard options in round two, and identify good buys (LaMelo Ball, Jalen Williams, Kyrie Irving) and players who are too rich (Scottie Barnes, Ja Morant, Jalen Johnson). Please, blog, may I have some more?

Picking up where the last podcast left off, Joel and Ossie speculate on their five favorite players who were outside of last year’s top 150 but are poised to break into standard-league relevancy this time around. Amidst technical difficulties (flagging mic batteries, power surges, and swarming flies), Ossie loves up some young Blazers, Joel doubles down on RJ Barrett, and a dispute breaks out over Jeremy Sochan. Please, blog, may I have some more?

Does this mean that summer is so over? Not quite, but we are talking fantasy hoops again. On the first episode of the ’24-25 season, Joel and Ossie recap an NFBKC draft that went down in early August. Twenty-five picks and $150 later, did either one do well enough to take down some of the sharpest and winningest fantasy players in the game? Please, blog, may I have some more?

Spring is in the air as we come down the home stretch of the fantasy season. With birds chirping and flowers budding, Son and Joel look ahead to drafting next year. Is Nikola Jokic still the easy pick at the top of the draft? Please, blog, may I have some more?

On the last day of games before the All-Star break, Joel and Stan take a tour through the NBA’s basement to get a sense of the potential risers and fallers in the NBA’s upcoming silly season. Who stands to gain if (when) the Wizards shut down Kyle Kuzma? Please, blog, may I have some more?

On the heels of a thoroughly meh trade deadline, Joel and Son break down all the big moves, including Dejounte Murray, D’Angelo Russell, and Bruce Brown! [inter whispers in ear] Or not! Instead, the duo discuss Dallas’ new frontcourt of PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford, Buddy Hield’s fit in Philly, and consider the redemptive possibilities of Richaun Holmes in Washington. Please, blog, may I have some more?

On a peculiar February 1, Joel and Son look back at January’s risers and fallers across the fantasy basketball landscape. The pair discuss OG Anunoby’s opportunity in New York, Pascal Siakam’s ceiling in Indiana, and draw parallels between Brandon Ingram and Julius Randle. Please, blog, may I have some more?

Taking a break from the January grind, Joel is joined by Ossie from Razzball to discuss differing strategies for managing inherited dynasty teams. Ossie walks us through how he approached his first offseason and rookie draft in the 30-team salary cap league and explains why he tends to be more aggressive when revamping a roster. Please, blog, may I have some more?

We’re back from break and podding in the new year! After spending a week in a basketball deprivation tank, Joel and Son kick off 2024 by surveying their fantasy teams and discussing what’s gone right (Alperen Sengun for Son, Grayson Allen for Joel) and what’s gone wrong (Cade Cunningham and Devin Booker for both.) Please, blog, may I have some more?

After spending a few days in the woods, the Razzpod returns with Joel and Ossie breaking down the rest of their rosters for Racco’s Mid-Season draft. Together they tease out how to navigate a slow draft after previously healthy players go down while you’re still drafting (looking at you Evan Mobley and Darius Garland), how to target late assists and points after paying early-round prices for defense and big man stats, and figure out just how long you can wait to draft a big in a two-center format. Please, blog, may I have some more?

While Racco’s Mid-Season draft hums along in the background, Son and Joel pivot their attention to their 30-Team Dynasty squads. After claiming victories last year (Son snagged the roto title, Joel the H2H chip), they reflect on their build strategies and consider what they’d do differently if they were drafting all over again. Please, blog, may I have some more?

Another draft? In this economy? Fiends that they are, Son and Joel find themselves in a draft room once again, this time for Racco’s Midseason Roto draft. The duo discuss how the fantasy landscape has shifted since opening night, consider what they’ve learned during the still-young season, and try to avoid making last year’s mistakes this time around. Please, blog, may I have some more?

Following night one of the Knockout Round of the In-Season Tournament, Son and Joel discuss the success of the IST and bat about other potential improvements to the NBA. Then, the pair redraft the 2021 NBA rookie class from a fantasy perspective. Please, blog, may I have some more?

Back from Turkey Day, Joel and Son wonder when it’s too early to start worrying about roto percentages and then take a deep dive into Boston’s starting five. Should managers feel burned about spending a first-round pick on Tatum? Will Porizingis’ efficiency gains hold? Please, blog, may I have some more?

Back from his bye week, Son returns and chats with Joel about approaching the Head-to-Head format. More of a strategy chat than a breakdown of this week’s action, questions like How many roster spots should be dedicated to streaming? With limited benches, how tightly do we hold onto upside? Please, blog, may I have some more?

With Son on a Bye, Joel flies solo and digs into some offensive numbers from the first fortnight of NBA basketball. After a league-wide overview, the sputtering Kings, the relentless Thunder, and the breakneck Pacers all go under the microscope. Plus, a verdict in the case for Aaron Nesmith and redemption for Jalen Smith? Please, blog, may I have some more?

Son hands over the podcasting reigns to Joel and together they discuss the fantasy fallout from another James Harden trade. From there, they discuss the point guard play in San Antonio, evaluate the strong starts from Cam Thomas and Jalen Johnson, and consider the future of Utah's guard rotation.

Racco is one of the best fantasy basketball players in all the land. Here are thoughts on this past season and his process in general.

We are blessed to chat with Michael Kimball, who dominated and was crowned the 2022-23 RazzJam Champion. Kimball provides excellent insight into his process and how he plays...uh, sorry...dominates fantasy leagues.