2/22/2005 06:11:00 AM|||Shep|||With trade deadlines approaching in fantasy leagues and the NBA, you might tempted to try to make some last minute deals. Or perhaps, as in my case, everyone else in your league is trying to get you take what's behind door #2...

It's time to stick to your guns. For the H2H folks out there, if you've been winning categories, stick with it. It may be tempting to give up someone who's good in a category you've been consistently winning for help somewhere that you're not so strong. I won't go as far as to tell you break out the spreadsheet, but I will do it myself. I'll also check out basketballmonster.com to make sure I know what I'm giving and/or getting. Make sure that the help you gain is greater than the help you lose.

Another thing I like to do - for you spreadsheet heads - is to figure the league average per week (we're talking H2H here, but it could apply to roto as well) in each category, and then break out my average in each category. This is an easy way to identify your strengths and weaknesses, and to determine whether or not you have any kind of hope in your weak categories. If hope is not on the horizon, then my trading deadline advice is to get rid of players who are contributing a lot to categories you aren't winning, and in return, secure players who can bolster categories in which you may be a little bit middling. (I'm quite positive that's a word)

For the rotoheads (aka propellerheads?) out there, now is a still a good time to assess where you're weak and where you're strong. Figure out if any of the leads you (hopefully) have in a category or two are strong enough that they'll hold even if you trade away a top player in one of them. You can use that spread sheet with the weekly averages to help you with the math.

If you feel your team (in any kind of league) can hold its own for the rest of the season, then there is no reason to force yourself to look for trades, or at trades. The trading deadline is kind of like the beginning of the season where everybody tries to fix problems they think they have by getting you to fix something you don't even know is broken. At this point, though, you probably know what's broken; and if it needs fixing, then by all means, fix it. But if it ain't broke... then please, just don't... Remember, just because a trade is proposed, doesn't mean it has to be accepted. Even if it's your best friend. Especially if it's your best friend. You have a right to say no.

|||110904219357183353|||Sticking to your guns