Tom Hersz

When you’re introduced to the NBA as a 6 year old in 1984, staying up late to watch Bird, Magic and Dr. J, it’s pretty hard not to fall in love with the game. I became consumed with the Association, and as my own game was developing, I tried to emulate as much as I could at an early age and learn how to play “the right way”. I have memories as a teenager of being glued to Saturday Basketball on TV and spending every spare cent I had on basketball cards and replica jerseys and so began my obsession with NBA knowledge and stats. I played my first season of Fantasy Hoops in 2002, as my serious playing days were slowing down. I now play in 5 or 6 leagues every year. To say I’m obsessed with Fantasy Hoops would be an understatement. To say I love nothing more than sharing my opinion on a player’s value would be entirely accurate, and I guess, the reason why I’m here.

Follow me on twitter: @tomhersz @downtownball

Fantasy Basketball: Music of the Traffic – Week 5

Fantasy Basketball: Music of the Traffic – Week 5

We all love an underdog, a story of triumph against the odds, and perhaps there’s no greater basketball underdog story than that of the Hickory High School basketball team, immortalised in the movie Hoosiers. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the film, which was loosely based on the success of the Milan High School team in 1954. It told… Read more →

Fantasy Basketball: Music of the Traffic – Week 4

Fantasy Basketball: Music of the Traffic – Week 4

For all the talk that last year couldn’t be replicated, that the team was different now and his role had to change, that we wouldn’t see anything like the craziness we witnessed in that record-setting season— well, I guess there was one guy not listening. A heat check is one thing, but when you start throwing flames through the hoop… Read more →

Fantasy Basketball: Music of the Traffic – Week 3

Fantasy Basketball: Music of the Traffic – Week 3

Change is inevitable, but some handle it better than others. Take Kevin Durant’s move to Golden State for example. It would seem he’s handling it just fine and you could say that Russell Westbrook is also dealing with it as best as he can. The same cannot be said for Enes Kanter. When the Thunder rolled into Oakland on Thursday… Read more →

Fantasy Basketball: Music of the Traffic – Week 2

Fantasy Basketball: Music of the Traffic – Week 2

There was a clear top five in most fantasy formats this season, but one player didn’t care much for others’ opinions. He was a former number one lock in fantasy leagues until repeated injury-shortened seasons caused fantasy managers from Perth to Boston to push him down their draft boards. They said Karl-Anthony Towns was a newer, better and healthier version…. Read more →

2016-17 NBA Fantasy Preview – Part 2

2016-17 NBA Fantasy Preview – Part 2

When Jerry Maguire put himself out there 20 years ago with his “mission statement,” it was because he believed in something, as you will need to on draft day. In Part 1, we looked at breakout candidates, those players who are overhyped, ones not to forget about on draft day, those you can let go of and the guys who… Read more →

2016-17 NBA Fantasy Preview – Part 1

2016-17 NBA Fantasy Preview – Part 1

It can be uncomfortable to put yourself out there. Going out on a limb, making bold statements and saying something that no one else is saying can make you feel like you’re on an island. Tom Cruise’s character, Jerry Maguire, did just that in the 1996 movie of the same name, with his “mission statement” about the sports agency business…. Read more →

Five Points to Be Proven This NBL Season

Five Points to Be Proven This NBL Season

Five Points to Be Proven This NBL Season The most anticipated NBL season in recent memory tips off on Thursday when the returning Brisbane Bullets host the reigning champion Perth Wildcats. Both teams will be out to prove right away why they should be taken seriously, but for different reasons. The defending champs will want to reassert their authority and… Read more →

First-Ever Medal at Stake for Boomers Against Spain

First-Ever Medal at Stake for Boomers Against Spain

A nation awoke as one on Saturday morning hoping to witness the Boomers make history. Within minutes, it became evident that instead we were witnessing a team being taken totally out of its game by an opponent that had clearly done its homework and scouted us, an opponent that would this time match our physicality and defensive intensity, an opponent… Read more →

Serbia and Shot at History Await Boomers in Semis

Serbia and Shot at History Await Boomers in Semis

Let’s start by thanking Matthew Dellavedova for reducing the collective blood pressure of Australian basketball fans inside the first 68 seconds of the quarter-final by connecting on his first two shots, both triples. The Boomers extracted revenge on Lithuania for the bronze medal game defeats we suffered in 1996 and 2000; and they did so in spectacular fashion with an… Read more →