The new NBA season is well underway and, if your fantasy basketball team has yet to be submitted, there are still some opportunities to get involved. The early action on court has been fast and frenetic as the 30 franchises look to make a statement at the start of the campaign, like with the best online bet prediction app.

During the first month of the new season, a number of key players have already carried over their form from last year. If you haven’t already got them in your own team, they need to be considered but what are the golden rules for succeeding in fantasy basketball?

Building the Squad

The rules of the game mean that you can score points for your team in a number of different ways. Naturally, those that have an eye for the basket are the first to be picked but there are others to consider, beyond the Stephen Curry’s of this sport.

Your team totals can build in each of the following ways:

• Points
• Assists
• Rebounds
• Blocks
• Steals
• Ejections
• Turnovers
• Technicals

Depending on which league you join, certain categories will be weighted more heavily than others. Blocks could, for example, be worth more under a certain administration while other leagues may favor Assists more highly.

The advice here is to build from the back: A good offense is reliant on a solid defense so don’t be tempted to pack your side with as many big name shooters as your budget allows.

Watch the Injury Updates

Over a long and grueling NBA season, injuries can play a huge part in the final outcome. Teams have deep rosters in order to cope with absences from the court and fantasy sports players should also be ready to react.

A real-life basketball franchise would not take to the court with an injured player as the outcome would almost certainly go against them. At the same time, a fantasy team with an injured player has less chance to make an impact. There are some variables here but one known fact is that an injured squad member will score zero points for his fantasy team.

That’s why it’s imperative that you follow news updates if you are going to take fantasy sports seriously. The regular media outlets, including the NBA official website, will have news relating to injuries and any other scheduled absences from the rosters.

Stay with the Pace

The NBA is a gruelling campaign for the players and, while you’re unlikely to pick up injuries while following on the couch, watching the sport can be a feat of endurance. There’s a game on every night and a packed schedule lasts right across the regular season and into the playoffs.

Those that take daily fantasy basketball seriously will need to keep in touch with all the latest developments. We’ve mentioned that those injury updates are essential for those looking to maintain their rosters but it’s also vital to follow those players who remain on the court.

Who are the men in form in the days leading up to the latest match? Who is struggling to the extent that they may be left out of the starting lineup?

The only way to make informed decisions on these questions is to follow the new NBA season as closely as possible. Whenever you’re at home, tune in to the live broadcasts wherever possible.

When missing the live action is unavoidable, be sure to catch the results plus the match reports that are published after the game. A number of media outlets will also give players ranking points between 1 and 10. Study these across a range of websites and publications to see if the reviewers are consistent.

Constant research such as this will help you as you look to maintain your fantasy basketball team.

Stick or Twist?

One key element to fantasy basketball needs more consideration than anything else. Substitutions can be made across the campaign in order to keep the roster fresh and to deal with those two main enemies – loss of form and injury.

Knowing when to make those changes can make the difference between winning and losing but how can you use your subs effectively? In these situations, the question of ‘when’ is just as important as ‘who’.

Many daily fantasy sports players believe that more patience should be shown on these occasions. If we look at the real-life rosters on the court, we often see that coaches are prepared to give more chances to their established players.

New faces can be cut with greater regularity as they look to break into the starting list. In the main, patience is shown and perhaps fantasy players should be prepared to wait a little longer for their picks to come good.

Stay with it

Week by week fantasy match ups are settled on the day but, for season-long teams, we’re all in for the long haul. With 30 franchises playing out an extensive regular season, it’s tempting to lose faith in our own teams long before the playoffs kick in.

The advice is to stay with it and keep addressing those fantasy rosters. It’s easy to fall a few points behind the leaders and to simply stop paying attention to NBA results but that’s not the approach of winners.

Success in fantasy basketball requires dedication and the advice on keeping the teams up to date can still pay dividends for those who keep up with the action.