2021-22 NBA LEAGUE RULES
All questions, disputes and
interpretations of these rules subject to commissioner’s rulings.
All commissioner rulings
will be final.
Commish: JEFF SNYDER 303-868-7039 ualcommish@gmail.com
We were able to "kind of" finish the 2021 NBA Fantasy season, but it certainly was unlike any previous fantasy season. Unfortunately the Covid pandemic is still with us as the 2021 NBA season begins. I'm sure we are all hoping things are not as difficult as last year. Hopefully we'll deal with less week to week Covid issues, while now dealing with vaccinated vs unvaccinated player issues. The league will continue to act in an appropriate manner when it comes to covid-related rulings. Thanks for everyone's patience and understanding again this year as we try to navigate the covid world.
Due to the ongoing Covid pandemic the following rules
will be in place for the 2021-22 season:
1. If the NBA season is cancelled prior
to the completion of week 18 (the end of our regular season), our league will be
cancelled. All entry fees will be refunded or credited towards a future season
or league. No payouts will be issued for any side pots, division winners or
playoff prizes.
2. If the NBA season is cancelled during weeks
19-21 (our playoff weeks) payouts will be awarded as such : A) side pots and
division winners paid based on regular season results. Weekly points pool would
also be final based off regular season results. B) Playoff teams will receive
payouts based upon finish of played playoff round(s) or seeding for unplayed
playoff round(s). For example, first round is played but then season cancelled,
payouts for first round teams eliminated paid as normal, remaining teams would
be paid based upon their seed.
3. Due to the unknown nature of how
Covid protocols (positive test or close contact exposure) will affect the league on a daily/weekly basis, any verifiable
injury or Covid protocol issue for that player can be used to place a player on the IR. It must be
a substantiated injury or Covid protocol issue, not just a player was given a day
off for rest.
4. Lineups are still set on a weekly basis. There will
continue to be no mid-week lineup changes, that would be very difficult to
manage. Due to high likelihood of players to miss games during the
week, all 10 players on your roster will be used in your lineup each week.
Previously lineups consisted of 6 starters, 3 subs and 1 inactive player. We
will create a 4th sub spot to help with the potential missed games. The Sub
Guard, Sub Forward and Sub Center/Optional remain the same and will be used
FIRST for missed games as normal. The new 4th sub will fill in for any starting
player that missed a game(s) and does not have a sub available for any reason.
We want teams to be competitive and hopefully have 18 games played each week
with the extra sub if necessary. You will need to factor in this new sub
position when setting your lineup each week.
5. The "normal subs" (SG, SF,
SO) will be used first as they have in the past. Subs are used for the next
available game, going backwards if necessary. When necessary the 4th Sub will be
used for missed games. The 4th sub will be used for the first available missed
game and any additional necessary missed games. The 4th sub could be used for
missed games prior to when the "normal sub" is used.
For example:
Your
starting G missed games Mon, Wed, Fri, but played Sun
Your SG is only
available on Wed
Your Sub would be used on Mon or Fri, the next available
game if necessary if they did not play those two days.
6.
If a starter was scheduled for less than 3 games in the week, you can only
use subs for the amount of games originally scheduled. For example, starter
was only scheduled for 2 games for the week, you only get subs for 2 games.
That rule has not changed.
7.
If a starter misses the entire week, you get the entire week from the
"normal sub". For example, the starter was scheduled for 3 games, but normal
sub had 4, you get best of 4 from sub. That rule has not changed.
8.
If a starter misses the entire week, but the "normal sub" misses games too,
the amount of games for the "normal sub" and the 4th sub combined can not
exceed to original amount of games for the starter. For example, starter was
scheduled for 4 games, misses entire week. The "normal sub" only plays 2 of
their 4 scheduled games. The 4th sub will be used for 2 games (first
available, then backwards if necessary). You do not get 2 games from "normal
sub" and then entire week from 4th sub as well. Sub scores will be
matched up as closely as possible to the starters missed games.
9. During
week 1 ONLY teams will be allowed the use of a sub to get teams to 3 games
played for every starter with only 2 games scheduled. The game to be used by the
sub will be the first game available (i.e. a game not already used), The first
game available could be the sub's first game of the week.
The Season
Starting in
2021 the league week will be Monday thru Sunday. The season will consist of 18 weeks
of regular season play beginning Monday
October 18th, 2021. There will be
a combined week the week
of the NBA All-Star Game from 2/14-2/27. There will be 3 rounds
of playoffs to determine the league champion. The participants in the playoffs will be the
2
division winners along with 4 wild card teams for a total of 6 teams that will
participate in post season play beginning Monday February 28th,
2022.
A win over an opponent is worth 2 points. The weekly team point totals will be ranked 1-10, with
the top 5 receiving a bonus 1 point. Teams can get up to 3 points per week, 2
for a win and 1 for a top 5 finish. In the event of a tie for the 5th and final spot in the
top 5, both teams will receive the bonus point.
The
Scoring
The scoring system is accessed by
clicking
here or through the main page of this website. This scoring system will be
used to determine the winner in each game played.
A double double or triple double is defined as a player scoring double digits in
points, rebounds, assists, steals or blocks in two (double) or three categories
(triple). In the
event of a discrepancy in the scores, the commissioner will verify the scores
through the official stat service website, NBA.com
and the decision will be final. (If a score discrepancy occurs from the results
posted on the internet, the Commish will review multiple websites to determine
the most consistent and accurate score)
During the regular season, a game that ends in a tie will result
in each team winning 1 point. In the playoffs the higher seeded team will win a
tie
game based on their higher seed.
If any owner notices a discrepancy in something that was updated on the website, they will have one week in which to notify the league of the problem. This applies to scores of games, scores of players, game results or side pot issues. After a period of one week, the updated results becomes OFFICIAL unless an official scoring change was made by the NBA.
The Teams/Rosters
The teams will consist of 10 players, distributed as follows:
(3) Guards (3) Forwards
(1) Center (3)
Optional (G, F or C)
Some players are eligible at both Guard/Forward and Forward/Center. The eligibility for those players is listed on the main page of the website. Players may be switched between positions during the course of the season. Playoff rosters will be frozen for free agent add/drop moves once playoff week 1 begins. IR moves will be permitted during the playoffs under the same regular season rules.
The Draft
The draft will consist of 10 rounds of
10 picks, with teams picking in reverse
order in even numbered rounds. Example: If you have the first pick in the first
round, you will have the 20th overall pick in the 2nd round. Draft position will be
determined and will be posted on the website. You are permitted to make trades
of your draft positions.
Line-ups
Starting line ups will consist of :
(2) G (2) F (1) C (1) Optional (G,
F or C)
Subs must be declared each week as follows: (1) Sub G (1) Sub
F (1) Sub Center/Optional (G, F or C)
One player will not be active in a team's lineup each
week
Only points scored by these players (subs if necessary) will be tabulated into the game results.
Lineup changes are due to the league by 5:00 PM Monday. The "default lineup" for teams each week will be the previous week's lineup. (The only exception to this rule is week #1, when a full lineup is required to be submitted) Changes must be made to that default lineup by the required deadline or the default lineup will be used for the current week if no changes are submitted.
Players will use their 3 high games of the week to determine a players weekly point total. If a player plays more than 3 games in a given week, only the 3 high scores will be used. If a player is only scheduled for 1 or 2 games, they will only receive scores for those 1 or 2 games, and a sub may not be used for the 3rd game. If a player misses a game or games during a given week and does not play 3 games, but was scheduled for 3 games or more, a sub will be used to help meet the 3 game limit. For example, your player was scheduled for 3 games in a week, they miss game #2 due to injury, a sub will be used for game #2 so that a team will still get 3 games from that position. If a player was scheduled for 2 games during a given week, and misses a game, a sub will be used for that missed game to give a team the 2 games the starter was scheduled for, but the sub may not be used for a 3rd game as the starter was only scheduled for 2 games that week. If a starter is scheduled for 4 or 5 games in a week, and they miss a game, a sub may not be used as long as the starter did play 3 games during the week. In the event that 2 guards or 2 forwards both miss a game on the same day, a sub may only be used once on a given day, not twice for each player. If a player misses a game and the sub did not have a scheduled game that night, you must use the next available game for the sub. For example, if a starter misses a game on Thursday, but the sub did not have a scheduled game that night, you will use the next scheduled game for the sub, on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Teams may have to go backwards to find the next available game for a sub to meet the 3 game limit. For example, a starter misses his 3rd scheduled game of the week on Saturday, and the sub is not scheduled to play on Saturday or Sunday, you would then go backwards to find his next available game which may have taken place already on Friday or possibly Thursday. If a starter is scheduled for more than 3 games in a week and misses all the games, and their backup is scheduled for more than 3 games, the backup does get to use their best 3 games out of all their scheduled games for the week. If a starter is scheduled for more than 3 games and only plays one or two games, and the backup is used for the first and/or second scheduled game for the week to complete the 3 game week. For example, a player is scheduled for 4 games and only plays the 1st game of the week, the backup is used for the 2nd and 3rd scheduled game of the week only, and then the next available game rule applies. (Note the next available game could occur on the same night as the 4th scheduled game for the starter)
If a team starts a player that is out with a long term injury, the team will not get a sub for missed games. Long term injuries must be extended time (multi week/month) or out for the season type of injuries. If there is any chance a player may play that week, the team will not be penalized with no sub.
Fees
There
will be an entry fee of $175 due by Monday
October 18th, 2021.
In the
event that the entry fee is not paid your team will be restricted
from making any transactions until the entry fee is paid.
*Entry Fee Breakdown: $1750 Entry Fees Collected
-$175 Commish Fee
-$60 Website Services
-$15 Trophy/Trophy Engraving
-$1175 Playoff Team Breakdown (6 Teams)
-$100 Division Winners (2 Teams)
-$225 Side-Pot Winners
There will not be any charges for transactions during the year. This should help owners in keeping the best team on the field during the entire season, especially when the playoff spots may be in jeopardy.
Prize
Money
The total of all available fees collected will be returned to the league in the form of
prize money. The 6 playoff teams will share in the
playoff prize
money. The league prize fund breakdown is available on the league website. All
side pots will conclude at the end of the regular season.
Weekly Points Pool
The top 3 teams scores each week will receive the
following prize: 1st $12 2nd $8
3rd $4
The bottom 3 teams will have to pay the following amounts:
8th $4 9th
$8 10th
$12
This will be a running total throughout the year and will be available on the
website. Payoffs will be at the following years draft by adjusting each team's
entry fee accordingly. Any winnings or losses
from the prior year, would be the responsibility of the owner that incurred
them. If a team chooses not to come back to the league the following year, they
would receive any winnings they may have won, as well as must pay any losses
they may have had. If a team does not pay off any losses, they would not be
permitted to participate in ANY UAL Fantasy League until their debt is settled.
Post
Season Play
Each Division Winner and 4 wild card teams qualify for the playoffs. The
two division winners will receive a bye in the first round of the playoffs.
In Round One the #3 seed will play the #6,
and the #4 seed will play the #5 seed. In Round Two,
the highest seed
remaining will play the lowest seed remaining, and the two remaining teams will
play each other. In Round Three, the two winners from round two will play for the league
championship. When determining final order of
finish, a wildcard team can never be ranked higher then a divisional winner,
regardless of the teams final record. "Home-court advantage" will
apply in the playoffs ONLY, with
the higher seeded team receiving the advantage in a tie game.
Tie
Breakers
If at any time during the season a tie occurs with respect to records, the
league will use the same formula through out:
1) total team points (wins + top 8 finishes)
2) winning percentage ((wins + 1/2 point for ties)/games played)
3) head to head
4) record within division (*only in the event of a tie between two teams in the
same division)
5) most points scored
6) most points scored against
7) coin flip
Transactions
****All transactions should be e-mailed to the commissioner at
ualcommish@gmail.com.
If necessary, transactions may be called in to the commissioner at
303-868-7039.****
Free Agents
After the draft, teams may place a player on the IR prior to the
start of week 1. There is no free agents moves allowed prior to or during week 1.
The first day to make free agent moves is on Monday after week 1 is complete.
All free agent acquisitions are on a daily basis. The cut off time for free agent moves is
8:00
PM each day, except on Mondays when transactions are due by 5pm along with
lineups. In the event
that more than one team wishes to acquire the same free agent during the same
period, priority will be determined by the lowest team in the standings. If a team wishes to place a bid on more than one free agent or waiver wire
player during any given claim period, the owner
must rank the players in an order of preference. The league will then award the
players in a draft like manner, with the lowest
ranked bidding team getting their first choice of player then the next
lowest
ranked team getting their choice, and so on. Players must be on an active NBA roster
in order to be claimed as a free agent. Players out with a long term injury
(multi week/month) may not be claimed as a free agent.
Waiver Wire
When a player is released by a team he will be considered "on waivers". Players will remain on waivers for 2 days, and then be
available to be claimed. For example, a player dropped on Monday can be claimed
on Wednesday at the 8pm deadline. Players claimed from waivers on
Sunday will be eligible for line-ups that
Monday. The same rule for multiple free agent claims applies for the
waiver wire. If a
player goes unclaimed during the waiver period he will then be classified as a
free agent. When you acquire a player through
free agency or waivers, you MUST retain him on your roster until they are used
in a lineup
(unless of injury, then the player can be replaced or dropped if activating a
player). A player may be claimed and then traded during the same week,
but the traded player must remain on their new teams roster for the remainder of
the week.
Injury List
NBA.com
will be used to determine injury status and can be found here:
https://official.nba.com/nba-injury-report-2020-21-season/ Due to inconsistency
on the official NBA report, other websites may also be used to determine injury status, but any
discrepancies will be resolved by the
Commish based upon available information. Due to the significant variance in
accurate NBA injury reporting, the Commish may have to use his best judgment on
specific unclear situations, often siding on a cautious approach with player
injury status. Players being rested for "load management" are not eligible for
the IR, unless it is multiple games they are expected to miss. There will be an
unlimited injury list. If
you see a player get severely hurt, or it says he is injured in print, you can
also place him on the injury list. If a player is DNP for 3 consecutive games, they are
eligible for the IR. Once a player on IR plays in a game, they must be activated or
will be released at the next Monday 5pm lineup deadline. Consideration will be
given for players that first play on Sunday night. If a player is cut by their NBA team,
they are eligible for the IR. If the player resurfaces on another NBA team, teams will still retain the rights to that
player.
Trades
Trades are permitted at anytime until the trading deadline. Owners must have
a complete and balanced roster at the conclusion of a trade. In the event of a
"2 for 1" trade, owners must release and/or acquire free agents to
fill any roster voids. The trading deadline for our league will be 5pm on
Monday of week #14 (January 17th, 2022).
Fines
Fines will be issued for not reporting scores on time or
for an incomplete lineup. An incomplete lineup occurs when a player on a bye
week is started, or a player listed as out is started. A mulligan will be issued
for the first offense and a $10 fine for all subsequent offenses. There will be a running total of fines listed on the standings page
on the website. These fines will be deducted from any winnings a team may have,
or must be paid prior to the draft if a team has no winnings. These fines will
go to draft food, meeting room cost or will be added to the
prize fund if necessary.
Draft Day
Tidbits
During the course of the draft, if a team attempts to draft a player that has already
been drafted by another team, they will get to choose a different player. The
Commish reserves the right to issue a warning to teams that repeatedly make this
mistake and enforce necessary penalties if it continues.