Dear Santa,
I’m an NBA fan, but more importantly, a fantasy basketball owner. Monday is Christmas Eve, which is also the beginning of Week 11 of the fantasy season. I know you’re getting billions of letters from little boys and girls all over the world. Some of them are asking for toys, clothes, and gadgets, but your travel plans are extensive, and reindeer fuel prices are up this winter, so I’m not asking for any of that.
Forget the car adorned with a red ribbon sitting in my driveway or the brand new outdoor grill; all I want for Christmas is a better FANTASY BASKETBALL team! I’ve written some specific requests below. I don’t expect you to get me all the gifts I ask for, but a few would help!
I’ve been a very good boy this year, I promise.
Merry Christmas,
Seth
Not using Fantrax to host your fantasy basketball league? Check out our fantasy basketball commissioner and see why you should!
1) All I really want for Christmas is…. good health for everyone:
I can’t remember a season with so many players having this many bumps and bruises; it’s becoming a full-time chore to check the injury reports before games. And with daily fantasy, you really have to be monitoring the feeds at all times. Legit injuries I understand, but maybe, just maybe, these NBA players making millions of dollars could gut through the dreaded back-to-back set, or as every other human calls it: “working two days in a row”. Most of us work FIVE days in a row, and some of us have more than one job. Can you believe that?!
2) All I really want for Christmas is…. world peace:
Well, at least a more cordial NBA environment. Jabari Parker and the Bulls should take a meditation class together. Joel Embiid and Andre Drummond would be perfect in the remake of Step Brothers (let’s make this happen!). I’m booking a gondola ride for Dave Joerger and Brandon Williams as we speak. It’s almost 2019, can we all just get along?
3) All I really want for Christmas is…. for Russell Westbrook to improve his shooting:
Westbrook is a stud. He’s averaging a triple-double for the third straight season and racking up 2.5 steals per game. But why can’t he shoot??? His 60.2 percent from the charity stripe is an embarrassment. That’s a lower percentage than Derrick Favors and Pascal Siakam are shooting from the field. Russell Westbrook has seen his free-throw shooting go down each of the past two seasons, but he was an 82.3 percent shooter his first nine years in the league, so what gives? His three-point shot hasn’t fared any better, as his 24.5 percent from distance is his worst mark since his second year in the league. Russ — start staying late after practice. Do whatever it takes; your fantasy owners are counting on you!
4) All I really want for Christmas is…. for the Die Hard debate to stop:
It’s a Christmas movie. This has become one of the biggest controversies on social media this time of year and it needs to end once and for all *insert michaeljordanstopitgetsomehelp.gif*. There’s no question Die Hard is a Christmas movie. It takes place the night of a Christmas party. Bruce Willis’ character John McClane writes “Now I have a machine gun. Ho-ho-ho” on a dead bad guy’s sweatshirt. Unless he’s referring to the delicious Hostess snacks, that’s a Santa Claus reference. Even the soundtrack gets into the holiday spirit, as “Let it Snow” is played while the end credits roll. Just because it may not embody the spirit of Christmas, with the machine guns and murders and a German terrorist falling 35 floors to his death and all, it doesn’t mean it’s not a Christmas movie; we can into the spirit however we’d like 😉
5) All I really want for Christmas is…. for my players to find better homes:
Nothing stings more than having a pretty good player on your team who you know is being held back by the team he plays for. Trevor Ariza owners just got their wish, as he seems to already be flourishing in D.C. But what about Otto Porter, Hassan Whiteside, or Darren Collison? These men need new homes, and as a Bam Adebayo owner in multiple leagues, I couldn’t stress this anymore!
6) All I really want for Christmas is…. for coaches to stop being so stingy with playing time:
You could ask any fantasy basketball owner what their biggest pet peeve is, and each and everyone would name at least one player on their team and complain about his lack of minutes. With most gripes, I could play devil’s advocate, but there are some clear playing time situations in the NBA that need remedying. Larry Nance Jr. owners have finally gotten their wish, but what about Mo Bamba, Maxi Kleber, the Bridges “brothers”, Adebayo, Nerlens Noel? Somebody get the petition started.
Thanks again, Santa, I got a little carried away, but you get it — you’re obviously a Warriors fan.
Ready to take your team to the next level? Check out all of our Fantasy Basketball content.
Fantrax is one of the fastest growing fantasy sites of 2018. With multi-team trades, designated commissioner/league managers, and drag/drop easy click methods, Fantrax is sure to excite the serious fantasy sports fan – sign up now for a free year at Fantrax.com.