The below tips could be the difference between making a profit and going in the red

The middle of October is already here, which means the start of the NBA season is right around the corner. I wanted to provide some basic building blocks for users as they prepare for a new season. Keep in mind that is a high-level overview, but it should establish a foundation for you to build research tactics and habits.

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Follow the News

I cannot stress this enough, but if you don’t stay in tune with news as it unfolds right up until lineup lock, you’re doing yourself a disservice. Critical news tends to develop in the final minutes before games start, and this information can make or break your night.

Be sure to utilize Twitter to follow all of the beat writers, as most are available to be followed through that medium. Keep track of the questionable players and have a backup plan ready, as you can gain an edge if you react properly.

Minutes Equal Opportunity

While following player news is crucial, it’s equally as important to monitor minutes. This is important because, in the NBA, minutes equal opportunity, as you can’t produce from the bench. This is what makes fantasy basketball one of the most predictable sports, as you can base your projections around playing time.

What makes this very important is tying in the first reminder of following the news, as a seldom used bench player could absorb a ton of minutes if a starter is scratched, thus opening up a boatload of value.

Utilize Vegas Odds

Incorporating Vegas lines into your daily research is an easy way to identify which games will be friendly to target from a fantasy standpoint. As a game with a high total should feature lots of production, and thus you should be targeting this game. A game with a low total figure tens to be more of a slower paced game, with defense reigning supreme.

It’s also important to note the spreads, as a team that is a double-digit favorite or higher could end up resting regulars late in the game. The ideal situations to find are games with high totals and close spreads.

Embrace Advanced Statistics

There is a statistic for everything these days, but don’t be overwhelmed by the plethora of data available. While you don’t want to inundate yourself, there are some metrics worth learning about. Things like usage rate, pace, offensive and defensive efficiency, turnover ratio, etc. are statistics that are readily available and they can aid you in identifying plus matchups.

Know the Site You Are Playing On

This seems elementary in nature, but a lot of users overlook this important rule. All of the DFS sites have their own scoring system, and knowing these differences is very important in roster construction.

Things like bonuses for hitting certain production thresholds can be very important in your lineup’s overall success, but not all sites use that feature. Before assuming a player is an industry-wide value, be sure it makes sense within the parameters of the site you are playing.

Adam Sutton is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Adam, follow him @DraftStars_Adam. You can find more of Adam’s work at DraftStars.net.