Mark C welcomes on Noah Rubin of Rotoworld to preview the Central Division! They first discuss Noah's team, the Atlanta Hawks, and the usage vacuum that exists when Trae Young is off the court. Then, they shift to the Detroit Pistons and their glut of intriguing dynasty prospects. Mark C and Noah then share some puzzlement on the Chicago Bulls' rebuild plan before touching base on the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Indiana Pacers.
Punt Intended: Northwest Division Dynasty Outlook with Mitchell…
Mark C welcomes on Mitchell of Angle Fantasy Basketball to preview the Northwest Division! They first focus on Mitchell's team, the Golden State Warriors, and how the youth and veterans may compete for playing time. Then, they shift to the Utah Jazz, discussing the youth movement and what we should reasonably expect. Mark C and Mitchell then highlight the Minnesota Timberwolves before ending with some quick notes on the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder.
Punt Intended: Pacific Division Dynasty Outlook with Andrew…
Mark C welcomes on Andrew of Angle Fantasy Basketball to preview the Pacific Division! They first focus on Andrew's team, the Los Angeles Lakers, and how their guards may still have room for dynasty production. Then, they shift to the Sacramento Kings, discussing how usage could be shared amongst the numerous offensive options. Mark C and Andrew give brief highlights on the Los Angeles Clippers and Phoenix Suns before concluding with the Portland Trail Blazers and their host of intriguing prospects.
Punt Intended: Karl-Anthony Towns Traded to the Knicks!
Mark C recaps the Karl-Anthony Towns/Julius Randle trade! He discusses how this drastically changes the Knicks' core identity and how their rotation suddenly gains much clarity. Then, he moves to the Wolves side. How do new arrivals Randle and Donte DiVincenzo fit into the rotation, and how does this impact Naz Reid, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Rob Dillingham?
Punt Intended: Atlantic Division Dynasty Outlook
Mark C previews the Atlantic Division from a dynasty perspective! He goes in-depth on the rebuilding Brooklyn Nets and what players could emerge during the season. Then, Mark C discusses the new core of the Toronto Raptors and exactly what other pieces surround them. Mark C touches upon the crowded New York Knicks before finishing with a recap of the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics.
Punt Intended: Mailbag Episode!
Mark C answers some questions from the SportsEthos discord! He first tackles how we can actually evaluate "upside" in fantasy. Then, he discusses a variety of questions on the recent draft class. He moves to a simple ranking of Amen Thompson, Josh Giddey, and Naz Reid. Finally, Mark C finishes with some strategy talk on how to approach league of varying sizes.
Punt Intended: Ownership Bias and Process-Based Analysis
Mark C continues to examine various biases that affect us dynasty managers. First, he looks at ownership bias and why this could prevent us from making favorable moves for our rosters. Then, Mark C rants on the flaws of results-based analysis and instead argues for dynasty managers to focus on processes instead.
Punt Intended: How Redraft Affects Dynasty; How to…
Mark C welcomes on Steve "Dr. A" Alexander on this episode. They first discuss early season redraft data and how that can inform dynasty managers' decisions. Then they transition to rebuilding teams in the NBA and the unreliable fantasy output of younger players forced into larger roles. Lastly, they finish with a discussion on how to treat offseason reporting and how to use the eye test and stats to fully evaluate players.
Punt Intended: Counteracting Biases in Dynasty
Mark C brings up some common biases in dynasty basketball and how we can deal with them. First, he discusses anchoring bias in regards to prospects and how reviewing newer data can allow us to not be led astray. Then, he delves into recency and confirmation bias and ensures that we look at the larger body of work to evaluate players properly.
Punt Intended: Positional Value and Statistical Scarcity
Mark C touches upon why positions have some importance in the dynasty fantasy basketball landscape. He then delves into why centers tend to be the most troublesome spot for dynasty rosters. Next, Mark C discusses where we can find specific categories throughout the dynasty tiers and why trying to add certain stats may involve larger changes to our squads than intended.
Punt Intended: New Dynasty Rankings!; Identifying Buys and…
Mark C drops his latest dynasty rankings and details what factors impacts the rankings. He then moves to the concept of buys and sells, describing why they are more nuanced than just a simple list. He concludes with ways we can identify "hidden buys and sells" and how this can improve the strength of our dynasty teams.
Punt Intended: How to Win Your Startup Draft
Mark C discusses how to win your startup draft. He first relays the prep work you should do pre-draft. Then, he details how to best approach your draft picks and general strategy to best maximize your team's value. Lastly, Mark C recaps the items you should look at post-draft to set your dynasty squad up for the upcoming season.
Punt Intended: High Impact Players Vs Steady Eddies
Mark C dives into the difference between "High Impact" players and "Steady Eddies". He first defines what these players actually mean in a fantasy context, citing examples that fall into each category. Mark C then argues that "High Impact" players should be emphasized more than "Steady Eddies" and form the crux of our dynasty rosters.
Punt Intended: Summer League and Free Agency Talk…
Mark C welcomes on Andrew and Mitchell of Angle Fantasy Basketball for some dynasty basketball talk. They first discuss Summer League and the importance of the eye test, applying these principles to a number of rookies from Ajay Mitchell to Alex Sarr. Then, they identify what elements of free agency are key and how that in turn can help you become a better dynasty manager.
Punt Intended: Player Evaluation and Identifying Breakouts with…
Guest Aaron "Bru" Bruski joins Mark C to discuss a hodgepodge of ways they evaluate NBA players and identify breakout players. This ranges from "Five Second Snapshots" of in-game tape to pouncing on talent when opportunity presents itself to them. Mark C and Bru present relevant examples to their scouting techniques, which in turn should aid listeners in becoming better dynasty managers.