As the NBA season unfolds, fantasy basketball enthusiasts eagerly await the return of the Emirates NBA Cup, a highly anticipated in-season tournament that promises to captivate both fans and fantasy managers alike. With the group play kicking off tonight, it's time to dive into the highs, lows, and head-scratchers that this unique event has to offer.

Unlock the Potential of the Emirates NBA Cup for Fantasy Dominance

The Emirates NBA Cup: A Competitive and Exciting On-Court Showcase

The Emirates NBA Cup, formerly known as the in-season tournament, is set to deliver a thrilling and competitive on-court product. With group play running every Tuesday and Friday through December 3, the league has strategically scheduled the event to avoid major NFL nights, ensuring maximum viewership and engagement.The redesigned courts and the emergence of new rivalries across the groups are expected to add an extra layer of excitement to the proceedings. Last year's experience was a resounding success, with closer scores than the average NBA game, 18% higher TV ratings compared to regular-season games, and record-breaking attendance. The social media engagement was also "off the charts," according to Evan Wasch, the NBA's executive vice president of basketball strategy and analytics.

Fantasy Implications: The Stars Shine Brighter in the Emirates NBA Cup

For fantasy basketball enthusiasts, the Emirates NBA Cup presents a unique opportunity to capitalize on the increased productivity of top-tier players. Last season, the stars showed up and delivered exceptional performances during the group play, outshining their regular-season numbers.In the 2023-24 NBA regular season, only 4 players averaged at least 30 points per game, 18 players averaged at least 25 points per game, 7 players averaged at least 50 fantasy points per game, 32 players averaged at least 40 fantasy points per game, and 88 players averaged at least 30 fantasy points per game. However, during the 2023-24 NBA In-season tournament, these numbers increased significantly, with 9 players averaging at least 30 points per game (+5), 22 players averaging at least 25 points per game (+4), 12 players averaging at least 50 fantasy points per game (+5), 33 players averaging at least 40 fantasy points per game (+1), and 89 players averaging at least 30 fantasy points per game (+1).This trend suggests that the monetary incentive and the desire to capture the inaugural In-Season Tournament MVP award have motivated the league's top talents to compete at an even higher level. Fantasy managers can expect the bar to remain elevated during the second iteration of the Emirates NBA Cup, providing them with the opportunity to reap the benefits of the increased production from their star players.

Mikal Bridges: Addressing the Free Throw Conundrum

One player who has caught the attention of fantasy managers is Mikal Bridges. With a few shares of Bridges in their rosters, they have noticed a concerning trend: his free throw attempts are pacing to a career-low at 0.9 per game.While it may be too early to make definitive conclusions, the lack of volume from the free throw line is a significant concern. Bridges has historically been able to draw shooting fouls at a rate between 8.5-13%, but that number has dipped to just 3% in the first nine games of the season. His free throw attempts per shot attempt have also plummeted to 0.066, a far cry from his previous career-low of 0.183.Fantasy managers in 9-cat leagues were likely banking on Bridges' career 84% free throw shooting as a floor-raiser for that category. However, the lack of volume has neutralized any perceived gain. Consequently, his scoring has dipped to 15 points per game, despite his underlying shooting numbers not being too far off from his 2022-23 campaign with the Phoenix Suns.If Bridges can increase his free throw attempts to around three per contest and maintain his career average of 84% from the line, he has the potential to climb back towards a top-40 player in 9-cat leagues, where he currently sits at 91st. Additionally, a slight uptick in his 3-point percentage would further bolster his fantasy value.

Jalen Williams: The Potential Four-Position Cheat Code

The emergence of Jalen Williams as a potential four-position player in fantasy basketball has sparked intrigue among the community. Thanks to the prompt from @Jalves_82 on X, this topic deserves a closer examination.In the wake of Chet Holmgren's injury, Jalen Williams started at center for the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday, logging 87 possessions at the center position and accounting for 12% of his total minutes. This development raises the possibility of Williams obtaining eligibility at four different positions: shooting guard, small forward, power forward, and center.It's important to note that Yahoo's position eligibility rules are quite unique. Once a player is granted a new position, it is not removed, even if their usage at that position diminishes. This means that if Williams continues to log significant minutes at the center position, he could potentially become a fantasy cheat code, capable of starting in four of the five positions in a typical fantasy basketball lineup.The criteria for granting a new position in fantasy basketball can be a bit of a mystery, akin to the "Coca-Cola recipe," as Dr. A jokingly referred to it. The Yahoo product and customer care teams utilize various software tools and data sources to verify and assign players new positions.In Williams' case, if Isaiah Hartenstein is not ready to return next month and the Thunder continue to start Williams at center, the case for him obtaining center eligibility could be compelling. Reaching the 10-game threshold at the center position would solidify his four-position eligibility, making him a highly valuable and versatile asset for fantasy managers.The potential for Jalen Williams to become a four-position player is an intriguing development that fantasy enthusiasts will be closely monitoring. If he can maintain a significant role at the center position, he could emerge as a true cheat code, providing managers with the flexibility to optimize their lineups and gain a competitive edge in their leagues.