Upsyde Blog

UPSYDE SPORTS PRESENTS: DEEP NBA SLEEPERS: This is my annual deep sleepers article. In this, I find guys that have <5% ESPN ownership and predict if they have top-150 upside to make them startable. We are about to see a major youth wave, especially with the league about to expand to 18+ rules, but these are mostly young guys that I think will serve a major role by the end of the season. UDOKA AZUBUIKE - 0.0% - Nobody has him on their roster and it's not super surprising. Walker Kessler is a highly touted prospect, they traded for Kelly Olynyk, but Azubuike is probably the initial starter. He has yet to make his season debut, but he has a good chance of getting somewhere in the 20-25 minute range and should have above replacement value. Centers are difficult to find in this league and with Utah rebuilding, I don't see why they would keep Olynyk very long. He will be in constant minutes battle with Kessler once Olynyk inevitably gets traded, but Azubuike probably offers more o...

UPSYDE SPORTS PRESENTS: WESTER CONFERENCE PREVIEW: 2022-23 SEASON 15. SAN ANTONIO SPURS - I don't really see a scenario where they aren't a bottom-3 team in the West. They traded away their only reliable, competent player, and their second best player is a 6' 6" power forward. They will likely slide him over to the 3 to start Sochan, but as talented as Pop is as a coach, they just don't have the talent. There will be glimmers of hope from their fans throughout the year if guys like Primo, Tre Jones, and Vassell can take some jumps in their production, but on a competing team, most of these guys would be back end rotation players if they even play. 14. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER - Without Chet, they have no reason to win. Giddey and SGA will be a solid backcourt, but they don't have any talent anywhere else on the floor. Lu Dort is a fan favorite and a good role player, but Poku, Bazley, and the rest of their roster just won't be able to get it done. By the end o...

UPSYDE SPORTS PRESENTS: EASTERN CONFERENCE PREVIEW: 2022-23 SEASON 15. ORLANDO MAGIC - Between their constant injuries, the lack of talent outside of guys like Wagner and Banchero, I don't see them taking any major leaps this year. They will likely look to clear up the logjam they have in the front court at some point this season and don't be surprised if you see guys like Jonathan Isaac, Mo Bamba, and possibly even Wendell Carter on other teams by the end of the year. I would not be mad at all if in the even things go bad for Phoenix, that they make a play at Ayton. I don't really see a scenario where they're not in the bottom-3 this season. 14. INDIANA PACERS - They might actually surprise us, but Haliburton can't do things a lone. Their rookie Mathurin went off at the end of the NCAA tournament and has looked solid in preseason. He could be a dark horse ROTY candidate, but the things people really want to see from this team is Haliburton taking another leap, Duar...

UPSYDE SPORTS PRESENTS: COMPREHENSIVE DRAFT GRADES AND POWER RANKINGS: In this draft, we had a Snake draft with the order going as follows: 1. J-Mart 2. Greek Super Jew 3. Dallas Basketball Team 4. Maassacre 5. Frank the Tank 6. The Rookie 7. Black and Nhan 8. Dark Brandon 9. Pippen on 40 10. Triple D Outlaws 11. Italian Mob 12. Dem Injury Boyz During this evaluation I am giving letter grades with GPA-style valuation. The purpose of this is to go through the entire draft evaluating each pick, and then sorting them out to figure out whose team is the best. A+ = 5 A = 4.66 A- = 4.33 B+ = 4.00 B = 3.66 B- = 3.33 C+ = 3.00 C = 2.66 C- = 2.33 D+ = 2.00 D = 1.66 D- = 1.33 F = 1.00 Here are the Week 1 Power Rankings based off of this method. The full breakdown and comprehensive analysis of the draft will be directly after the power rankings. This method may not be the best, but I will have a Week 2 follow up to rankings to see if this is a viable method going forward: 12. TRIPLE D OUTLAWS: 3....