Two-Thirds Season: Bottom Four

Continuing our two-thirds of the season series, here are the bottom four teams at WK10 of the season. [ Two-Thirds Season: Top Four ]

KSKT Krispy Kreme (3-7)

Technically, KSKT is only bottom four due to a tie-break — with FUNK — but it’s been a rough rookie year for KSKT either way. They are not mathematically out of playoff contention, but with only six weeks left to go, KSKT will have to make up a lot of ground to sneak into the playoffs. For a future focused team, a nice showing in the Toilet Bowl would definitely seem to be more important.

KSKT sputtered out of the gate with five straight losses — including matchups with FJUB and SWMP, but have found their footing in recent weeks, with a 3-2 record and a highlight win versus CHMK in WK7. Looking further ahead, KSKT likely has their sights set on a WK13 matchup versus SQSQ, which should start a long tradition of compelling father-son face-offs.

GM Matt has been quick to action, having already participated in four trades and brought in the likes of Mason Plumlee, Jonas Valanciunas (both since traded away), Elfrid Payton, Clint Capela, Keldon Johnson, and Gary Trent Jr. The cost has been Donte DiVincenzo and Malcolm Brogdon and most importantly, a 2022 RD1 and RD2 that are owed CHMK. With the likelihood that KSKT is headed to the Toilet Bowl, it could be a prime pick for someone else that KSKT will be playing for.

But we must trust the process, as KSKT has earned themselves huge credit already as the top ranked Games Played owner in Slam so far, with an impressive string of maxed out weeks. Coach Matt is getting the most value out of their roster and that’s going to lead to long term success! In the short term, KSKT has a ODE splits of 9/3/5 over the past month — good for third best in the league over that span — exhibiting strengths in PTS, FG%, REB, BLK, and TO. While they are lacking in the passing and long-range shooting departments, KSKT is still putting in the foundation for a playoff contender.

And the future is bright with Zion Williamson, Michael Porter Jr., 2021 RD1.4 Tyrese Haliburton, Capela, and continued flashes from Coby White, Saddiq Bey, and Keldon Johnson. Even with Caris LeVert yet to make his Pacers debut, at least Kristaps Porzingis is back and doing his unicorn things. If KSKT can get two more wins, that equal what the downtrodden CMTO franchise had accomplished in the past three years. Go get’em tiger! I mean, lion?

FOBS Fob Stars (2-8)

Something terrible has happened: after five straight post-season appearances, FOBS have collapsed and are likely headed toward their worst season since 2015. What happened?! It’s still Dame Time around here, as Damian Lillard continues to push his game up to legendary levels. Last year's playoff hero Jamal Murray has recently reclaimed his groove as well, and the newly freed Jarrett Allen is proving to be a monster in Cleveland.

Old hands Bojan Bogdanovic and Goran Dragic have been fine too, while pre-draft trade acquisition Montrezl Harrell and 2021 RD4.5 Dillon Brooks have been very solid rotation pieces. Oh yeah, and John Collins is still out here, a little less spicy than last year’s version, but still excellent overall. So what gives?

Sure, Rui Hachimura has been just okay, and 2021 RD1.12 rookie Obi Toppin has already been cut by GM Jimmy, but those are the only two semi-disappointments we can see here. Heck, sophomore De’Andre Hunter was scooped up in 2020 at RD1.5, but FOBS got him this season at the low low price of a 2021 RD5.12, and Hunter was well on his way to a breakout campaign before hitting the IR.

We could blame a thirteenth ranked Games Played score, but there’s been a solid GP most weeks for FOBS, and only one violation. Hum, could an uptick be coming? At least over the past month, FOBS have ODE splits of 9/11/4, which is a huge improvement from their overall season. Aside from a real lack of 3PT, AST, and STL — all of which could be remedied by adding some guard types — FOBS is not terrible. We’re seeing some dark horse Toilet Bowl contention vibes here, and that could give FOBS the chance to bounce back to their winning ways next season.

TRUO Truo Thien (2-8)

We said pre-season that TRUO had hit rock bottom, but we were wrong: this season is TRUO’s rock bottom, and with only two wins against fellow bottom feeders KSKT and FUNK, things clearly haven’t been great. But there could be some sunshine ahead.

Jimmy Butler is still a top-twenty player, Julius Randle has emerged as an All-Star and a legitimate franchise piece, Jordan Clarkson is the leading Sixth Man of the Year, Kemba Walker has returned from injury — with Lauri Markkanen on the way — and the youngish wing mishmash of Andrew Wiggins, pre-draft trade acquisition Kelly Oubre Jr., Aaron Gordon, and Tim Hardaway Jr., are all useful pieces. That’s a solid nine-man rotation there right? Who cares if 2021 RD1.5 Deni Avdija has been slow to cook? Avdija looks talented and is going to get better.

Our advanced analytics say TRUO could be the eighth-best team the rest of the way — their third-worst combined ODE says otherwise — so there’s the possibility of a Toilet Bowl run here. Bringing in some top talent through a loaded draft next season could be just the ticket for TRUO to return to the playoffs. GM Thien has been uncharacteristically only league average in Games Played — while being very characteristically leading the way for Moves — but we have no doubt they’ll be grinding hard to unearth some gems.

We’ll be curious if Butler and Walker are dangled for trade talks, as they are the two age outliers here on a team that is continually getting younger. We’re cheering for TRUO to get a top two pick next season, and to do that they’ll need to make a run in the Toilet Bowl!

SPDE Spade (1-9)

Speaking of rock bottoms, here’s Spade! The lone Chamberlain team in the cellar, SPDE isn’t just the worst team in the conference, they’re the worst team in the league. Actually, SPDE has been here before, as three seasons ago they recorded just two wins in twenty-one weeks. However, this year’s 0-9 start was pretty sad, with only one close loss to speak of. However, a WK10 win versus FUNK got SPDE out of the winless column so there’s that at least. For a franchise that is used to regular season success, and went 26-11-2 in the last two years, this is all bad news.

Injuries have hit SPDE hard this season, as per semi-usual. Kevin Love, Hassan Whiteside, Danilo Gallinari, JJ Redick, and others have missed plenty of games this year, with the first two barely seeing the court if at all. There’s no doubt the Kawhi Leonard and Devin Booker duo are still tops — and sophomore Tyler Herro has about as advertised — but the big plus this season has been the return of Victor Oladipo, who SPDE gambled on with a 2021 RD1.9 and won out. Still, for a team touted as a title contender heading into the season, SPDE has so far been anything but.

The thing is, there’s an easy culprit here: SPDE is third-to-last in Games Played, with two violations in ten weeks, and the first six weeks of the season were just a mess for them. Did this time period coincide with Randall doing doctor things and saving lives? Sure! But hey, we are a fantasy basketball league, and we show no mercy for bad fake coaching. I mean, our other doctor, ILCN Frank, is top three in Games Played, and he’s the (fake?) busiest person I know!

We expect SPDE to make a big play for a Toilet Bowl victory, which could net them some much needed youth to build out alongside Booker and Herro. Sure, we’d be curious to see a full scale rebuild here, but SPDE has stuck with his core for long time, and we don't think the trade fireworks are coming anytime soon. Or are they?!