By Jim McCormick, TalentedMrRoto.com

The Expert Eye will advise your team on its next move.
(Rocky Widner/NBAE/Getty Images)
Fantasy basketball, much like baseball, requires an extra level of intensity and work ethic from its owners. Don't get me wrong, I love football, fantasy football and the whole culture of it. But it simply doesn't take as much micro-managing as basketball. If you draft well and stay relatively healthy in football, you can win without much roster tweaking throughout the season. This is not the case with hoops, my friends. It takes, as Rick Kamla has so eloquently coined, a true fantasy freak to be successful. You have to immerse yourself in the NBA world. When that 7-foot Spanish center gets activated, you should know about it. When Jim McIlvaine comes out of retirement for a 10-day, you should know. I love fantasy basketball for this very reason. The fact that it requires this type of management is what makes it special. To keep it in basketball terms, you need to keep your head on a swivel. Do your own research and read all the fantasy content you can.

What is Expert Eye?

This leads us to the Expert Eye concept. In this column I'm asking you, the NBA fantasy freak, to let me inside your roster and your league. I'll need to know everything about your league - how many teams, the current standings, the scoring format, the waiver system, the makeup of the managers and the whole nine. It's all about what makes your team and your league unique. Let's celebrate our dorkiness here! I even want to know every team name and its origin. Why is this guy's team named "The Steves" when his real name is Josh? You see it's the personalities that make up a fun fantasy league. The goofy names and the quality smack talk keep us going through long winters and tough weeks. In addition to highlighting your league's quirks, we will also help your team in the process.

Once I get a feel for your team and your league, I'll break down and grade your roster while considering the value of each player and where you drafted them or how you acquired them. If you landed Josh Smith in the late sixth round and he keeps up the block parties, then you'll likely get a good mark. If you drafted the oft injured Baron Davis aka B-Diddy over super-soph Chris Paul, then your grade is adversely affected. More importantly, we will identify what your team needs and where its strengths lie. We will then make the necessary changes to your squad -- whether through free agent/waiver additions or blockbuster trades, a change will come. Fantasy basketball, just like the real game, is a star system supported by crucial role players. For every Jason Kidd, you should own a Udonis Haslem type to balance out your field goal percentage. Basically, don't forget about the specialists when you address your team. If you do, maybe I can help you gain some much needed balance.

I think you get the deal. You send me your team and league info and you may just get featured on NBA.com in this column. Next week we'll be talking about a real fantasy team -- maybe even yours. So get at me my fellow hoop heads, and we can get started on your team.


Jim McCormick is a fantasy expert for TalentedMrRoto.com, which features free advice, news, stats and analysis for all fantasy sports. It was nominated for four FSTA awards, including best site. Contact him at jmccormick@TalentedMrRoto.com.

The views expressed by TalentedMrRoto.com represent only the views of the writers; they do not represent the views of the NBA or any NBA team.