 |
| RealGM Hoop Net |
|
| Search |
|
|
|
|
| Trade Checker ID |
| Draft Sim ID |
| Newsletter |
|
|
|
|
Authored by Drew Decker - 25th November, 2008 - 8:06 pm
Welcome to the first edition of Fantasy Focus. Every few weeks or so this season, I’ll be briefly examining NBA teams from a fantasy perspective and shining the spotlight on a couple players in an effort to help you win your league. This column will cover the first ten teams in alphabetical order followed by two lists with a twist that you also won’t want to miss. Away we go…
Atlanta Hawks - After a blazing hot start, the Hawks have won only two of their last seven games and are currently 8-5. Although a bit banged up right now, Joe Johnson continues to earn every penny of his considerable contract. Averaging just over 24 points and 5 assists, JJ is a top ten fantasy player and one of the best shooting guards in the league. Other than one breakout game, Al Horford (9.3 ppg 7.8 rbg) has been relatively quiet this season. I don’t expect this to last and would recommend trying to trade for him if your team needs a boost in rebounds and field goal percentage.
Boston Celtics - The reigning champs have picked up where they left off last season despite the loss of valuable reserve James Posey. Rajon Rondo (9.3 ppg 6.5 apg and 2.2 spg) has been a bit inconsistent to date and needs to step it up if the Celtics have any hope of repeating. Although Kevin Garnett was taken at the tail end of the first round of most drafts, he’s not a top-twelve fantasy player anymore. Sure, owners will take 16.1 ppg, 8.7 rpg and 1.2 spg, but those are really more like late-second/early-third round numbers.
Charlotte Bobcats - Although he’s the greatest basketball player off all-time, Michael Jordan’s career as an executive has been a disaster. After watching Jordan at the helm of both the Washington Wizards and Bobcats, I don’t know if I’d trust him to run a bath let alone an NBA franchise. San Vincent lasted one year as head coach, and now Larry Brown is attempting the impossible task of leading this young team to the playoffs. Top scorer Jason Richardson remains out of the lineup with a knee injury, and Gerald Wallace is the de facto go to guy for the Bobcats (15.4 ppg, 8.0 rpg and 2.1 spg). Remarkably, Crash has remained in one piece all season, and his owners breathe a sigh of relief as each day passes.
Chicago Bulls - Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good. Thanks to a miracle ping pong ball, Derrick Rose ended up becoming a Bull and is now on the verge of super stardom. Exceeding all but the highest of expectations, Rose has averaged 19 points and almost 6 assists through the first fifteen games of his professional career. Although Chris Paul comparisons are a bit premature, it’s no stretch to say that Rose is nearly on par with Deron Williams as both a fantasy and NBA performer. Ben Gordon has also put up solid numbers (20.2 ppg, 3.7 apg and 2.0 3’s) for the Bulls. Injuries to Larry Hughes and Kirk Hinrich have enabled BG to be in the starting lineup for most of the season.
Cleveland Cavaliers – Only CP3 and Dwyane Wade are better than LeBron James from a fantasy standpoint at this stage of the year. James has been spectacular, picking up right where he left off last season (29.1 ppg, 7.8 rpg and 7.0 apg). Although still becoming accustomed to playing with King James, newly acquired point guard Mo Williams is doing a very respectable job (17.2 ppg and 4.6 apg) as Robin to LeBron’s Batman.
Dallas Mavericks – Although he’s getting up there in age, Jason Kidd has been very solid fantasy-wise for the Mavericks. Averaging 10 points, 7.5 rebounds, 8 assists and 2.5 steals, Kidd has definitely satisfied all of his fantasy owners. This is especially true considering the fact that Kidd is providing late first round value despite being taken in the third round of most drafts. When healthy, Josh Howard has put up his usual and customary numbers (20.3 ppg and 8.2 rpg). The problem is that nagging ankle and wrist injuries have kept the fragile Howard off the court for several games.
Denver Nuggets - The arrival of Chauncey Billups will likely enable the Nuggets to make it into the playoffs as an 8th seed for the second consecutive year. Thanks in part to the high octane Denver offense, Billups is currently one of the top twenty ranked players in fantasy hoops and has rewarded owners with great production (17.6 ppg, 6.6 apg and 1.8 3’s). Kenyon Martin has remained relatively healthy so far this season and has been another bright spot for Denver by providing 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals per game.
Detroit Pistons - After six average years in the league, Tayshaun Prince is a fantasy standout this season. Although The Answer has negatively impacted Prince’s numbers during the past couple of weeks, Prince is still averaging over 15 points and 7 rebounds a game along with 1.2 3-pointers. Another top performer so far has been Rasheed Wallace. Because of his shooting acumen from behind the arc, Sheed has always been a fantasy stud. However, owners have enjoyed 2nd round caliber play this season as Wallace has been superb (13.5 ppg, 9.5 rpg,1.8 bpg and 1.9 3’s).
Golden State Warriors - Andris Biedrins has been the main man for the Warriors this year. Finally able to get consistent minutes from Nellie, Biedrins has responded by becoming the west coast version of Dwight Howard with averages of 16.8 ppg, 13.5 rpg, and 1.5 bpg. Anthony Morrow is the other big story in the Bay Area although he’s been mostly a non-factor this past week. Morrow will take a hit as a result of the Jamal Crawford acquisition, but he’s in the rotation and should still be owned in most league formats.
Houston Rockets - Rafer Alston stumbled a bit out of the gate (10.2 ppg and 4.5 apg) but seems to be coming on as of late. He’ll have to continue to produce or one my favorite young players, Aaron Brooks, is going to steal his job. Brooks is small in stature, but his game has been very impressive in limited minutes (11.6 ppg and 1.4 3’s). Reminiscent of a young Tony Parker, Brooks drives to the hole with no fear at all. Possessing a better long range jumper than TP, Brooks has a chance to really develop into an elite point guard within the next few years.
The Land Mine Nine – Risky Top Tier Fantasy Performers/NBA Coaches Who Need A Permanent Vacation
9. Baron Davis/Mike Dunleavy – Baron’s kamikaze style has caused him to miss hundreds of games in his NBA career. BD played all 82 last year, but that likely won’t occur this season. Dunleavy will likely have until the end of the year to right the ship but not much longer.
8. Dwyane Wade/Reggie Theus – DWade has had a splendid start, but he’s a ticking time bomb down in Miami. Theus is the best dressed coach in all of sports, but unfortunately his sartorial splendor doesn’t impact the win column.
7 Marcus Camby/Larry Brown – The Cambyman’s heel injury seems to be resolved. Can he stay healthy the rest of the way? It has only been 13 games, but the Brown’s Way or The Highway style is beginning to rear its ugly head. It’s going to end badly down in Charlotte, just like it did everywhere else Brown has coached.
6. Andrei Kirilenko/Scott Skiles – Ric Ocasek thinks Kirilenko is too skinny, and nagging injuries always seem to be keeping AK-47 out of the lineup. Although still in the honeymoon phase in Milwaukee, it’s only a matter of time before the dictatorial Skiles clashes with Charlie Vanillanohuevos, Michael Not Reddy For Prime Time and other Bucks players.
5. Greg Oden/Mike Woodson – The big man is clearly a presence on the defensive end of the court, but injuries will likely keep the Sam Bowie comparisons alive for his entire career. The Hawks fast start out of the blocks has given Woodson a reprieve. However, anything short of the playoffs and Woody is as good as gone.
4. T. J. Ford/Marc Iavaroni – It’s a game of Russian roulette every time T.J. drives to the hoop. Iavaroni has been a nightmare in Memphis since day one and the bane of existence to fantasy owners for his fickle substitution patterns.
3. Yao Ming/Randy Wittman – The next Bill Walton? Will foot injuries cut short Ming’s career just like the Big Redhead? Although he possesses a lot of young talent in Minnesota, Whittman hasn’t been able to keep the losses from piling up.
2. Jermaine O’Neal/Sam Mitchell – O’Neal’s knee didn’t even hold up for fifteen games, and the Raptors’ season is beginning to unravel. Mitchell is the Andy Reid of the NBA and needs to be shown the door before the turkeys hit the table on Thursday.
1. Tracy McGrady/Maurice Cheeks- Drafting TMac is only asking for trouble; the only question is when he’s going to miss time, not if. No more excuses in Philly for Cheeks. The talent is in place, and Mo needs to go if he can’t get it done.
Hidden Fantasy Gems/Best Mainstream Movie Sex Scenes
5. Wilson Chandler/”Basic Instinct” – Blessed with untapped raw skill and great instincts for the game, Chandler is on the verge of greatness in the Big Apple not unlike a young Sharon Stone before skyrocketing to stardom shortly after this movie was released.
4. Nene Hilario/”Wild Things” – Nene has displayed great athleticism and skill in the pivot for the Denver Nuggets this year (15.4 ppg, 7.3 rbg 1.6 spg and 1.8 bpg). Currently a top fifteen fantasy performer, Hilario plays with great intensity on both ends of the court bringing to mind the reckless abandon exhibited by Denise Richards and Neve Campbell.
3. Spencer Hawes/”Because The Devil Knows Your Dead” - Although pale and gawky, Hawes has displayed a solid all-around game this season (12.3 ppg 7.1 rpg and 1.8 bpg) and delivered with Brad Miller and Mikki Moore out of the lineup. Similarly, pasty Phillip Seymour Hoffman delivered the goods to Marisa Tomei in this film’s memorable opening scene.
2. Roger Mason/”Killing Me Softly” - Mason has become the second option down in San Antonio, taking advantage of early season injuries to Manu Ginobli and Tony Parker. Quiet and unassuming, Mason displays great versatility/flexibility as did Heather Graham in multiple scenes with Joseph Fiennes.
1. Nate Robinson/ “Monster’s Ball”- Halle Berry wanted Billy Bob Thornton to make her feel good, and this high flying bundle of energy has been making owners feel good by stuffing the stat sheet in virtually every game. The Leandro Barbosa of head coaches, Mike D’Antoni’s offense is the leading contender for 6th Man of the Year honors and among the top twenty-five fantasy ballers.
Happy Thanksgiving and I’ll be back to discuss the next ten teams in early December.
Drew writes a blog called Shawn Kemp’s Kids at sandiegosportsguy.com and can be reached at drew@sandiegosportsguy.com. |
