"Most NBA teams have played 20-21 games, which means we are basically one-third of the way through the compacted and abbreviated 66-game 2011-12 season. For perspective, during a traditional 82-game NBA campaign, teams would wrap up their 20th game in early December and they would be about a third of the way through the season by mid-late December. So while it may feel like we're just getting the ball rolling this season, the reality is that time is really flying and we don't have time to dilly or dally. This is particularly true if you are struggling with percentages in rotisserie leagues.

It's relatively easy to overcome deficiencies in non-percentage categories, because the stats you have compiled to date are like a hole, not a dead weight that will drag you down. Let's say you are seventh in your league in blocks, and you are 130 blocks behind the team in first place. You could trade for JaVale McGee (3.1 bpg), and if he maintains that pace you will catch the first place team by the end of the season (3.1 blocks x 45 games = 139.5 blocks). It's a hole.

Percentages work differently, though. That's because they can be a dead weight. Let's say you need to get to 47 percent in your league to be in the top three in field-goal percentage so you can win, but you are currently in ninth place with 43 percent shooting. You can't treat it like blocks, where you can just add the requisite number to catch up. In order to get to 47 percent, you will have to overcome the 43 percent you posted to date; and the longer you wait, the heavier the dead weight of 43 percent becomes, because of the volume of shots taken (and missed). In other words, overcoming 21 games of 43 percent shooting is exponentially easier than overcoming 42 games of 43 percent shooting."