We're still alive here, I swear. I can't believe the fantasy sports world survived without regular updates on Roto Advice for the past month plus. It's actually made me quite sad, but I'll get over it; I thought this site was THE KEY for some of your success this season.
I want to give some exciting reason why we've been away, such as:
1) We've been scouting basketball players in Eastern Nova Scotia 2) We've joined a Nascar team & we've been prepping for the season 3) An evil ferret attacked me when I was jogging one day, and I lost use of my fingers for a few months so I couldn't type (I took a picture of the crazy guy) 4) I've had terrible diarrhea for six weeks, and haven't spent enough time out of the bathroom to write a complete post
OK, it's none of the above, but that's all in the past now...
The good news is the fantasy basketball season isn't done quite yet, although there have been some huge developments in recent weeks. Such as:
-Dwayne Wade (aka Mr. Glass) - Shut down for the year. This is especially funny (in a vindictive way) since a competitor in a league of mine just traded Baron Davis for him a few days ago (March 6th). On the bright side, after the injury, this manager was able to drop Wade and pick up Paul Millsap. I was going to make a joke out of that, but Millsap is actually a solid pickup; not Dwayne Wade-esk, but certainly better than picking up Chris Dudley or Jon Koncak.
-Dwight Howard still can't shoot free throws, although he's better than Shaq (who, by the way, is "playing" in Phoenix now). On the bright side, this guy can really dunk!
-Pao Gasol has fit right in with the Kobe & friends in LA
In addition, fantasy baseball season is just around the corner! If I keep up my current track record of posting frequency, I'll be posting about 6 / week for about 2 months, then I'll vanish for awhile. What makes it so exciting is you'll never know I'm disappearing until it happens...J/K.
In all seriousness, in the upcoming weeks I'll be highlighting some keys to success as the NBA season winds down, in addition to reviewing some baseball drafts I've taken part in, including one with Kelly over at Fantasy Gameday.
Check back soon for some real updates, and thanks for not giving up on us. Thanks especially to Give Me The Rock for linking to me in a post about fantasy basketball bloggers that stop blogging!
So the mid-season point is almost upon us in the NBA. Every season, there are players that come out of nowhere to surpass expectations, and this season is no different. These might be young players who are getting more playing time than originally expected (Moon, Beno Udrih), veterans who came back from injuries or mediocre prior seasons (Grant Hill, Brad Miller), or just guys who just arrived (Calderon, Kaman, Gay). This is part one of a two part series, the second of which will focus on the mid-season disappointments.
Guards: -Baron Davis (PG), GS - Season stats: 22.3 PPG, 4.9 Reb, 8.3 Ast, 2.5 Stl, 0.5 Blk, 2.8 TO, 2.3 3PTM, 43% FG%, 75% FT%
-Avg Draft Position (28) / Current Player Rater (Avg) (8) / Upside Surprise +20
I wouldn't call this one a huge surprise, but the man who is currently ranked #8 based on averages & #3 based on totals wasn't even one of the top 5 PG's selected; he was 8th in Yahoo's average draft position, or 28th overall. As compared to last season, his scoring has increased by around 2 PPG, his steals have increased by about 0.5 per game, he's hitting about 1 more 3PTM, his rebounds are up by about 0.5 per game, while his turnovers are slightly down & his percentages have remained about the same.
Baron is always an injury risk, as is evident by the fact that he hasn't played an injury free season since playing all 82 games in 2001-02 while in Charlotte. His aggressive game brings more injuries than the average point guard, but if he can keep himself healthy, he'll continue to put up great numbers the rest of the year, especially considering the high powered nature of the Warriors offense.
-Avg Draft Position (143) / Current Player Rater (21) / Upside Surprise +122
Calderon's play this year has surprised some out there, but his production is actually very similar to what he did last season in his 11 starts...so it doesn't come as a complete surprise. His numbers have been stealer across the board, although what is amazing is his incredibly low turnover rate. Combined with his high %'s, he is the 6th highest rated PG in Yahoo based on averages, placing between Steve Nash (at 5) and Deron Williams (at 7). Expect him to continue to put up similar numbers if he continues to start in place of TJ Ford. They'll share time when Ford returns, which will make Calderon still worth owning, although it will diminish his top PG value.
Some sports writers & analysts north of the border up in Canada chime in on the Raptors point guard debate in this Calderon or Ford TSN.ca roundtable; good read by experts who follow the Raptors. Hear from Jose himself on his website & blog.
-Avg Draft Position (150) / Current Player Rater (62) / Upside Surprise +88
Salmons has excelled when given consistent playing time this season. When in the starting lineup, he has averaged 18 PPG, 5 board, 4 assists, 2 steals, with excellent shooting %'s. Unfortunately for Salmons owners out there, both Ron Artest & Kevin Martin are both back to the lineup...meaning less PT for John. He's still a solid bench player for your roster in deep leagues out there, and he's a must add if Artest or Martin miss any more time. In shallow leagues, he's not worth holding right now but hopefully you've benefited from his strong run in the starting lineup.
-Avg Draft Position (253) / Current Player Rater (102) / Upside Surprise +151
Beno has been a very pleasant surprise this season, as he filled in nicely at the PG position when Mike Bibby was out with an early season injury. Unfortunately for Beno owners out there, his playing time has come down substantially since Bibby's return, and he probably won't have too much value the remainder of the season unless another injury occurs. The good news is the 4th year point guard has proven that he can be a solid starter in the league.
As a side note, do they still sell Beano, the anti-gas product? Just curious...
-Avg Draft Position (92) / Current Player Rater (19) / Upside Surprise +73
Gay has been a stud this season. The only category he's not helping teams in is assists; otherwise, he's providing value across the board. It's interesting that he was traded for Shane Battier two years ago, since both players are part of the select group of players who average around 1+ steals, blocks & 3's per game; only Gay is providing much more offensive spark. If you were lucky (or smart) enough to pick him this season, enjoy his continued excellent season...and maybe more sick dunks, like this one over Yi:
-Avg Draft Position (127) / Current Player Rater (35) / Upside Surprise +92
Grant has had an excellent renaissance this season in Phoenix. His numbers haven't been too flashy, but he's quietly had a wonderful first half this season. He's another one of the guys that simply helps across the board, and he serves as a great glue guy for your roster. He's nearly back at full strength after his appendectomy, so he should have a strong second half.
By the way, his website is very well done, if you want to check it out.
-Avg Draft Position (Undrafted) / Current Player Rater (81) / Upside Surprise +Really good value
Full moon rising in Toronto...Jamario has been an incredible find this year, as he's proven to be a spark for the young Raptors lineup. He's had his ups & downs like many rookies (although he is 27 & much more experienced than most rookies), but he's added surprising value on the defensive end (specifically, blocks & steals). Owners have likely been frustrated by his recent inconsistent playing time, but keep an eye on him in the second half. I'm not sure I'd recommend all managers out there pick him up, but he'll provide help in rebounds & blocks...just don't expect much scoring or assists.
-Avg Draft Position (94) / Current Player Rater (44) / Upside Surprise +50
Wow, that was unexpected...welcome back the old Brad Miller. After a down 2006-07 that really caught fantasy owners by surprise, he's back & better than ever. He is playing 8 more minutes per game this season, but he just seems comfortable again in the Kings offensive flow. If you were wise enough to draft him this year, enjoy his consistent play, since it will likely continue.
-Avg Draft Position (90) / Current Player Rater (26) / Upside Surprise +64
So all it took was a new haircut to re-energize Chris' game? Why didn't he make the change sooner? Kaman has surpassed all expectations this season, even from the most optimistic of experts. Brand's absence has given Kaman more opportunities both at the offensive end & on the rebounding front, and he's stepped up. He's also been a monster blocking shots this year, currently placing 3rd in the NBA, only behind monsters Marcus Camby & Josh Smith; very nice. Throw in his 3rd in the league rebound per game average, and you have quite an impressive season thus far.
And now for my mid-season surprise awards:
Midseason rookie surprise - Jamario Moon, Tor: Came out of nowhere & has played very well in a starting role in Toronto.
Midseason veteran "return to form" surprise - Brad Miller, Sac: This was a close vote between him & Grant Hill, but Miller gets the award. Many thought his best years were over after last season's declines, but he has proven those pessimists wrong. Seeing how he was the 25th center drafted on average, he's been an amazing find.
Midseason surprise of the year - Chris Kaman, LAC: He has put up solid, if unspectacular, numbers in prior seasons; but did anyone expect this type of breakout this year? I know I didn't (although I was wise enough to draft him in one league). His scoring has been a pleasant enough surprise, although the rebounds & blocks are what really put him in a league of his own. If you polled fantasy owners before the season if Chandler or Kaman would average more rebounds per game, 99% would have picked Chandler. In your face, experts!
That's all of now; I'll be discussing this season's mid-season disappointments in my next post.
What do you think? Who are your first half surprises? Who is missing from this list? Leave a comment or email us at rotoadvice@yahoo.com with your thoughts.
Best Performances of the Night: Kirk Hinrich (SG, PG), Chi - Captain Kirk put up 38 points, 7 rebounds, 10 assists, 2 steals, and 4 3's, all while shooting at a high %. This was his second monster game of the year (the other being his triple double on 12/14 against the Knicks). What's interesting about this is the fact that Duhon was not his starting backcourt mate in either game; I've read about how Hinrich plays better when Duhon isn't starting next to him, but this game makes it hard to ignore. He's been slowly coming along as the season has progressed, so it may be getting late to trade for him while his value is low, especially after a game like yesterday. (Photo Credit Brian Kersey / AP)
Danny Granger (SF, PF), Ind - 33 points, 7 boards, 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 4 3's...nice. He's really been coming on strong in January (averaging more than 21 PPG), and in his last 5, he's putting up more than 25 points, 6 boards, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, and 3 3's. He seems to have found his grove, so keep him in your lineup & enjoy the 1+ steal, block & 3 per game.
Josh Smith (SG, SF, PF), Atl - Not a great shooting night from JSmoove, but he got his first career triple double, putting up 22 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists, 3 steals & 5 blocks; although he did also commit 7 turnovers. He's a fantasy stud, no doubt about it, and if he improves his shot selection & gets a consistent 3 point shot, he'll be a super-stud. Enjoy his production...
-Jose Calderon (PG), Tor - Clutch with the game on the line, and scored 24 points, hit 3 3's, dished out 13 assists, grabbed 3 steals, and shot 8-10 from the field & 5-5 from the line. Anyone missing TJ Ford?
-Zydrunas Ilgauskas (C), Cle - Scored 24 on 10-10 shooting from the field...I think he put up some other stats as well, but I can't get past the 100% FG%. Impressive day from Big Z.
Performances that we could have done without:
Martell Webster (SG, SF), Por - 3 points on 0-4 shooting from the field; he's only posted double figures in points once in his last 5
Jamaal Tinsley (PG), Ind (again) - I'm noticing a trend with Tinsley falling into this category...meaning, it might not be very weird anymore. He put up 2 points on 1-4 shooting from the field, and dished out 6 assists. In his last 4 games, he's averaging 4 points, shooting 6-21 from the field; although he's also averaged 4 boards & 11 assists. I think it's fair to say his shot is a little off right now, but at least he's continuing to distribute the ball effectively.
Surprise Lines of the Night:
Al Thorton (SF, PF), LAC - Nice game for the rook from FSU, as he had 23 points, 9 boards, 4 assists, 2 steals & 2 blocks. In his last 3, he's put up 22, 14, & 23; he's starting to produce when getting consistent playing time. Coming into the season, I thought he was one of the most NBA ready players from the draft (along with Big Al Hortford in Atlanta), but Thorton's just now starting to show some consistency. Hopefully he'll continue to get minutes, meaning he'll be a good fantasy pickup if you need points & some 3's.
Andrea Bargnani (SF, PF, C), Tor - Andrea had his game of the year! Although that's not saying much. He scored 20 points & had 7 boards, 7 assists & 3 3's in 40 minutes of play. I'm not going to take this as THE sign that he's breaking out of his funk, but keep a close eye on his play. I still haven't dropped him in a few leagues, holding out hope that he'll start to fulfil his promise at some point this season...fingers crossed.
Marko Jaric (SG, SF), Min - Super Marko had another great game! 15 points, 8 boards & 10 assists isn't a bad line at all; this follows up his 16 point, 8 board & 10 assist game on Monday...is he here to stay? Only time will tell, but I think in this case, past performances do not guarantee future results...especially with Foye's impending return. But if you've got Jaric, play him while he's hot (like his girlfriend).
The weekend is almost here! Thanks for reading, and feel free to send any fantasy questions to rotoadvice@yahoo.com; I'll likely devote an occasional post to answering these, and I'll work to reply to all of your emails.
I re-discovered a great basketball stats site via a recent ESPN's True Hoop entry, 82games.com. This site is a dream for basketball stat loving geeks like me (or just anyone who wants to dive into statistical analysis of their favorite players or teams).
As I was digging through some of the stats, I decided to take a look at two teams that are complete polar opposites right now, the Boston Celtics & the Minnesota Timberwolves. What makes this even more interesting is that these two teams completed one of the biggest trades in recent NBA history this past offseason, involving Kevin Garnett & Al Jefferson (amongst others).
I'm going to focus on two stats in particular that stood out to me when looking at last year's numbers vs. this season's totals thus far - Shooting details, which looks at the type of shot taken or allowed (jump shot, close up, dunk, or tip) & shot clock usage, which looks at when shots are taken or allowed (0-10 sec used, 11-15, 16-20, and 21+). I'm going to contrast these specific items for the past two seasons, and hopefully help show some keys to success via the current Celtics makeup. This review will focus on defensive FG%.
2006-2007 Season Boston finished 24-58 Shooting details - Defense Type - Att - Def FG%: Jump - 62% of shots - .439 FG% Close - 32% of shots - .555 FG% Dunk - 5% of shots - .932 FG% Tip - 2% of shots - .560 FG%
Shot Clock Usage - Defense Sec - Att - Def FG% 0-10 Sec - 37% of shots - .562 FG% 11-15 Sec - 25% of shots - .490 FG% 16-20 Sec - 24% of shots - .464 FG% 21+ Sec - 15% of shots - .422 FG%
2007-2008 Season Boston sits at 33-6 Shooting details - Defense Type - Att - Def FG%: Jump - 73% of shots - .385 FG% Close - 21% of shots - .555 FG% Dunk - 4% of shots - .947 FG% Tip - 2% of shots - .553 FG%
Shot Clock Usage - Defense Sec - Att - Def FG% 0-10 Sec - 35% of shots - .489 FG% 11-15 Sec - 28% of shots - .480 FG% 16-20 Sec - 22% of shots - .413 FG% 21+ Sec - 15% of shots - .367 FG%
Year over Year Variances (Blue is an improvement, red is a decline): Shooting details - Defense Type - Att - Def FG%: Jump - 11% variance- (.054 FG%) Close - (11% variance) - .000 FG% Dunk - (1% variance) - .015 FG% Tip - 0% variance - (.007 FG%)
2006-2007 Season Minnesota finished 32-50 Shooting details - Defense Type - Att - Def FG%: Jump - 65% of shots - .439 FG% Close - 28% of shots - .565 FG% Dunk - 5% of shots - .922 FG% Tip - 2% of shots - .500 FG%
Shot Clock Usage - Defense Sec - Att - Def FG% 0-10 Sec - 37% of shots - .550 FG% 11-15 Sec - 25% of shots - .492 FG% 16-20 Sec - 24% of shots - .476 FG% 21+ Sec - 14% of shots - .414 FG%
2007-2008 Season Minnesota sits at 6-34 Shooting details - Defense Type - Att - Def FG%: Jump - 66% of shots - .449 FG% Close - 26% of shots - .574 FG% Dunk - 5% of shots - .947 FG% Tip - 2% of shots - .525 FG%
Shot Clock Usage - Defense Sec - Att - Def FG% 0-10 Sec - 40% of shots - .559 FG% 11-15 Sec - 25% of shots - .511 FG% 16-20 Sec - 23% of shots - .476 FG% 21+ Sec - 12% of shots - .421 FG%
Year over Year Variances (Blue is an improvement, red is a decline): Shooting details - Defense Type - Att - Def FG%: Jump - 1% variance - .010 FG% Close - (2% variance) - .009 FG% Dunk - 0% variance - .025 FG% Tip - 0% variance - .025 FG%
So you're probably asking what all this means & how it can help your fantasy team. Let me answer those, one at a time.
-Simply put, defense wins games. The Celtics basically lowered their FG% against across the board this season, and are forcing an average of 11% more jumpshots than last season's team. Garnett's impact has been more than just his incredible energy & wonderfully diverse offensive game; he has impacted the game on the defensive end as well...and you throw in Rajon Rondo, with his aggressive PG defense, and Kendrick Perkins, who is doing an adequate job holding down the middle, and you have a winning combination. The variances between this season's Celtics vs. this season's Timberwolves team is also very telling; the Celtics defense has a 0.070% lower FG% against during the first ten seconds of an opposition's possession...that adds up over time, both in points, and ultimately, wins.
-This doesn't really mean too much for fantasy owners out there, but if you're playing in a head to deep head league with multiple bench spots (meaning you have multiple lineup options on any given night), you might want to consider sitting that fringe starting player when he plays the Celtics. On the flip side, if you have players going against the Timberwolves, get them in your lineup immediately.
I know this is a little different than my previous entries, but I'll periodically be mixing this type of statistical analysis in with the regular fantasy sport entries. Thanks to 82games.com for their deep pool of player stats.
The NBA had a full schedule of games on Monday, January 22nd. With 26 teams playing last night, there was bound to be some great lines, some not so great lines, some strange lines, and some unexpected lines. Today, I'm going to look at all four of these.
Best Performances of the Night: Dwyane Wade (PG, SG), Mia - 42 Pts, 6 Reb, 7 Ast, 3 Stl, 1 Blk,1 3Ptm, 17-29 FG, 7-8 FT, 4 TO Wade had an excellent game even though his Heat lost to LeBron & the Cavs on Monday. What was especially nice about this showing was his low turnover number (for Wade). He touched the ball a lot, and it seems like he didn't really force things (I didn't get a chance to watch the game, so please comment if you saw otherwise).
Ryan Gomes (SF, PF), Min - 35 Pts, 11 Reb, 3 Ast, 2 3Ptm, 11-15 FG, 11-12 FT, 3 TO I really wanted to put this in the "Surprise lines of the night" group, but he was just too good not to show up here. It's not that Ryan hasn't been playing well this month; he has, scoring 20+ in 4 out of 10 games thus far. He was just incredibly efficient, and the consistent 3 point shooting is a new weapon this season. To be honest, his 3Pt FG% is actually down from 38% last year to 32% this year, but now that he's shooting more, it's another dimension of his game to help fantasy teams out there.
Performances that we could have done without: Fred Jones (SG, SF), NY - 2 Pts, 1 Reb, 4 Ast, 2 TO, 0-4 FG With Marbury going down, Jones' minutes have gone up. Unfortunately, this wasn't one of his best performances.
LaMarcus Aldridge (PF, C), Por - 8 Pts, 5 Reb, 3-12 FG, and that's it. There were worse overall performances, but since many teams out there count on this guy to consistently produce, I figured I'd single him out. He did foul out, although it didn't happen until there was 19 seconds left to play in overtime. His scoring average & shooting percentage has come down each successive month this year, so hopefully he'll have something left in the tank for the second half of the season. If you're a Blazers fan, no worries since they continue to win...but for Aldridge owners, many of whom drafted him between the 4th & 7th rounds of their fantasy drafts, we keep our fingers crossed.
Strange Line of the night: Jamaal Tinsley (PG), Ind - 2 Pts, 0 Reb, 12 Ast, 1 Stl, 3 TO, 0-3 FG That was weird, although he has only scored in double digits twice in six January contests. The assists are helpful, but where did the rest of his game go? At least he's produced double digit assists in four of his past five games. If you've got him, keep him in your lineup & enjoy the dimes.
Surprise Lines of the night: Marko Jaric (SG, SF), Min - 16 Pts, 8 Reb, 10 Ast, 3 Stl, 3 3Ptm, 5 TO Marko has put up some great games this year, but he's been very quiet of late. This is going to wake up some fantasy owners out there. Although this was a very nice day at the office for Jaric, I'd be careful before running out there to the waiver wire to pick him up. 1) I don't expect him to put up these kind of numbers daily, even thought he's dating the very attractive Adriana Lima & 2) Randy Foye is going to be back soon (yeah, you've head that one before), and Foye will certainly eat into Jaric's minutes. If you're in a very deep league, you might want to keep an eye on him; all others should keep an eye on his girlfriend.
Kendrick Perkins (C), Bos - 24 Pts, 8 Reb, 1 Ast, 2 Stl, 1 Blk, 2 TO, 9-12 FG, 6-6 FT Wow, that was unexpected. He put up his first double digit point game of the month (and set his career high in points), although it was against Eddie Curry & the Knicks (Curry isn't exactly known for his defense). Since Perkins is probably owned in deeper leagues out there, some owners will be smiling about this performance...at least until he comes back to earth in his next game.
Matt Barnes (SF), GS - 20 Pts, 7 Reb, 4 Ast, 2 Stl, 1 Blk, 1 TO, 8-12 FG, 4-4 FT Barnes has had games like this before, but with Don Nelson's player rotations, it's tough to judge when someone is going to go off from this lineup. Barnes is the kind of player who will help you in most categories, but I'm still nervous putting almost anyone from Golden State in my fantasy lineup (with the exception of Baron Davis, Stephen Jackson, & Monta Ellis).
Kareem Rush (SG), Ind - 25 Pts, 5 Reb, 1 Ast, 1 Stl 1 TO, 5 3Ptm This offensive explosion doesn't come as a complete surprise, as Rush was recently inserted into the Pacers starting lineup & is averaging 13 PPG thus far in January. If you're in need of 3's & points, pick him up while he's hot & playing. If you think of him as a Rashard McCants-style guy, you'll be happy with his production...just don't expect much help in other categories.
Looking ahead, there are only 2 games on the docket on Tuesday, although for those of you who don't have NBA League Pass, the Kings play at 10 PM EST on NBA TV.
No matter how strong your fantasy basketball roster is, there is always room for improvement. If you have a well rounded team, the easiest area you can provide specific categorical help is in steals & blocks. Today, I'm going to take a look at a few the players who might be available in your league that will provide some help in these categories.
Each of these players reside in the top 20 in these respective categories in the past 30 days, with their rank in parenthesis (using ESPN's player rater).
Steals: (11) Brevin Knight (PG), LAC - Brevin has contributed 1.67 steals over the past 30 days. He has also chipped in an average of 4 + assists in more than 20 minutes per game. If you're looking for steals, you could certainly do worse than Knight...and the 4 assists don't hurt. I would keep an eye on his minutes per game, as he's played a low of 15 and a high of 28 minutes in January.
(12) Larry Hughes (PG, SG), Cle - Larry has averaged 2.1 steals per game thus far in January. Unfortunately, the rest of his game hasn't been quite as strong. Averages of less than 9 points, 4 boards, 2 assists, on 36% shooting from the field don't necessarily justify his $12M + salary in 2008.
(13) Marquis Daniels (SG, SF), Ind - Marquis has been averaging more than 2 steals per game this month in just over 22 minutes per game. He also always has the ability to just go off & have a great all around game, as evident by his 26 point, 3 rebound, 3 assist, 3 3's, 1 steal, 1 block game on December 19th against Phoenix.
(15) Shane Battier (SF), Hou - Shane is the only player who shows up on both of these top 20 lists (he's also 12th in blocks). He has averaged almost 1.5 steals & 2 blocks per game so far this month. He's a guy who always gets drafted in the middle rounds, plays his normal game, and gets dropped at some point throughout the season...only to finish the year respectable on the player rater. He won't hurt you anywhere, although it would be nice is he had more games with double digit points.
Blocks: (8) Darko Milicic (PF, C), Mem - Darko has averaged 2.7 blocks per game thus far in January. I'm still a little concerned about his health this year, but even on quiet games, he can still help in blocks. Last night's game against the Sonics is a perfect example, as in less than 19 minutes, he 6 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 5 blocks...nice help for those looking for swats.
On a side note, check out Free Darko for...um, interesting commentary, or as they put it, providing the best in Slovenian farm league analysis and reporting since 1968.
(9) Eric Dampier (C), Dal - Dampier has been putting up solid numbers of late. This month, he's averaging 9 points, 8 boards, and more than 2 blocks per game. Is that production worth $11 million per year? Probably not...but he's playing solidly now, so if he's around & you need center help, you could do worse.
Fantasy Strategy: One of my favorite draft strategies each year is to focus on at least one player who will help you in both steals & blocks. I'll talk more about these contributors in a future post, but some of these include:
Using one or more of these players as building blocks of your roster allows you to focus on building a balanced team that has the ability to be competitive across the board (depending upon how well you draft the rest of the way). I think of it as getting 20-20 or 30-30 guys in baseball - having a few David Wright & Alfonso Soriano types makes it much easier building a strong team.
That's all for now, but I'll be back soon. Thanks for reading!
I'm not going to look at all of the top performances from Wednesday night's games, but I do want to take a quick look at two players who have been hot of late:
Gerald Wallace (SF, PF), Cha - In last night's game, he put up 36 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, dished out 5 assists, grabbed 3 steals, and had 1 block...all with ZERO turnovers. He also shot 79% from the line (11-14). The only less than optimal stat line was his shooting from the field, where he only hit 40% of his shots (12-30, including 1-8 on 3's).
Wallace has simply been on fire recently. In his past 5 games, he's averaging the following:
After another slow start this season, especially in the rebounding department, I almost regretted holding on to him in one of my keeper leagues; but he's putting up monster numbers now, and based on his prior season's trends, I'd expect it to continue the rest of the season (barring injury).
Chris Bosh (PF, C), Tor - In last night's game, Chris scored 31 points, grabbed 9 rebounds, got 2 assists & 3 steals. More impressively, he shot 11-12 from the field & 9-10 from the line!
Bosh has been on a very impressive streak of late as well. In his last 5, he's put up:
If you back out his 1 rebound game on 1/9 against the 76ers, he's averaging over 11 boards in his last 4. After a slow start to the season, he's increased his scoring from a low of 16.0 PPG in the month of November, to his current January average of 27.4; all while shooting high %'s both from the field & the line. He's been very consistent in his short career, so expect him to continue performing at a high level & helping your team.
Fantasy Impact: Even though both of these guys are playing a very high level right now, these hot streaks always present chances to "sell high" on a player. In Wallace's case, it's probably riskier to keep him than trade him, given the frequency of his injury problems in the past. This is in no way a knock on Gerald...but given his high flying, aggressive, 'take it to the hoop' game, he does take more hits & spills than your average player meaning a greater likelihood of getting injured.
Personally, I'm going to hold Wallace in the two leagues I own him, but I'm by no means what you would consdier risk adverse. If you can get a first round talent that fills a need on your roster, I'd suggest pulling the trigger now. I'm counting on him keeping it up & staying healthy, but if someone offered me Steve Nash for him straight up & I needed assists, it would be really hard to say no.
I have a little bit different take on Bosh. Given his consistency and his solid game across all areas, I'd suggest holding on to him right now. In all honesty, he's not playing too much above many people's expectations of him coming into the season; he was a first round pick in many drafts. If someone offered Lebron, I might think about it...but otherwise, keep Bosh in your lineup & enjoy the good times.
I just wanted to take a minute to provide a few of my favorite fantasy basketball sites. Each of these provide useful tools to help you win your league:
Fantasy Basketball Resources: Hoops World - I especially enjoy the daily box score blitz, which provides a single page to view all of the previous day's stats, with brief analysis for each game, including their take on each team's fantasy star RotoWorld - Provides excellent fantasy analysis for all sports, and is regularly updated with fresh info HoopsHype - Deep site with lots of good reading Big Board - Basketball - Brandon Funston's top 50 fantasy basketball players...he's one of Yahoo's fantasy experts, meaning there is a good chance that he gets paid to do what many of us do for free, talk about fantasy sports...
Fantasy Basketball Blogs: Give me the Rock - Excellent fantasy basketball blog with frequent updates & great analysis Fantasy Basketblog - Great blog with excellent advice Empty the Bench - Great read Hoops Addict - Fun reading with frequent updates Dropping Dimes - Just a good site TrueHoop - ESPN fantasy basketball blog RotoRob - Fantasy sports analysis with an edge NBA Roto League - Interesting site that applies roto scoring to NBA teams
Basketbawful - Not necessarily a fantasy site, but just good times...
There are literally hundreds of other sites out there, but these are a few that I enjoy regularly.
If any readers out there want to suggest a site, please post a link in the comments; I'll update this post (and give the reader credit) if I receive any good suggestions...I look forward to your contributions. I'll also be updating my links on the home page to reflect these fantasy resources.
I'll have some more analysis coming later this week, so stay tuned...and thanks again for reading!
There were 8 games on the NBA schedule last night; I'm going to take a look at some of the top performances from those games:
Fantasy stars: LeBron - Surprise! He scored 51 points on 18-28 shooting from the field (6-12 from 3 point range), grabbed 8 rebounds, dished out 9 assists, and got 3 steals & 1 block for good measure. He did only shoot 9-16 from the charity stripe (56%), but one blemish is acceptable. And even though he played great, more importantly for Cavs fans is the fact that the Cavs pulled out a victory in overtime! (Photo Credit - AP Photo/Nikki Boertman)
Rip Hamilton - Efficiency...that's what I call 39 points on 16-22 shooting, 5-6 from 3 point range, 2-3 from the line, while grabbing 4 boards & getting 6 assists. That's it though; no steals, no blocks, and no turnovers. Efficient, and in only 35 minutes of play.
Sam Cassell - I was watching some of this game on NBA League Pass last night, and Sammy was on fire; I bet he could have taken a shot standing on his head at halfcourt wearing a blindfold with his hands tied behind his back with the dance team surrounding him & he would have found a way to get the ball through the hoop. He ended up with a line of 32 points on 15-21 shooting, chipping in 6 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1 steal for good measure. What makes this especially surprising is he had put up a total of 21 points in his previous four games...combined. He's fun to watch when he gets on fire, like in last night's game, but don't expect it to occur every night.
Surprise Fantasy Performances: Antoine Walker - I guess he's not a total surprise, since he's been a good player in this league...but after two scoreless games in his last 4, he threw up (not literally) 26 last night (in only 26 minutes). This included 4 3 pointers, and he got 10 rebounds as well. Even after last night's game, he's still not someone I'd recommend picking up off the waiver wire, unless you're in a deep league & desperate for 3's. While we're on the topic of guys that can help you out if you need 3's...
MMM...Roto Advice Juan Carlos had a great game yesterday against the Cavs, playing 47 minutes & scoring 26 points (on 9-16 shooting, including 6-10 on 3's), getting 2 boards, 4 assists, and 2 steals. His playing time has increased again of late, and he's he's played 30 or more minutes in 3 of his last 4 games. Seeing how he has 14 3's in the last 4 games, I'd definitely take a chance on him if you're looking for help in that category. Monitor his playing time frequently, as he's fallen in and out of the regular rotation throughout his rookie season, but I'd use him while he's on a hot streak.
Antonio McDyess - In 34 minutes, he had 9 points on 4-7 shooting...
AND 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 7 steals, 2 blocks, and 0 turnovers; nice. The 7 steals ties the NBA single game high this season. Fantasy stinker of the day: DeShawn Stevenson - In 40 minutes of play, he scored 4 points on 1-6 shooting from the field (1-4 on 3's) & 1-2 from the line. At least he chipped in with 3 boards & 4 assists, but it's not the type of performance you hoped for when you put him in your lineup (especially after putting up games of 12, 19, 19, & 16 in his past four). Hopefully he'll bounce back Friday against the Knicks.
And now I bring you the top 5 fantasy basketball contributors in the past month:
5 - Shawn Marion (SF, PF), Pho - Key stats over the last 30 days - .539 FG%, .600 FT%, 1.6 3PTM, 14.9 PPG, 8.7 Reb, 2.8 Ast, 1.2 Stl, 1.6 Blk, 0.8 TO What the heck is up with that FT%??? Thankfully, he only shoots a few per game, so at least it's not hurting teams much. His scoring is lower than I expected, but he gives you help across the board, so no worries.
4 - Caron Butler (SF), Was - Key stats over the last 30 days - .939 FT%, 1.2 3PTM, 20.0 PPG, 6.9 Reb, 5.6 Ast, 2.6 Stl Butler has been a stat sheet stuffer this year, and I expect him to continue his dominance, especially with Agent Zero being out for potentially the rest of the year (or March 15th, which is what he's thinking now).
3 - Allen Iverson (PG, SG), Den - Key stats over the last 30 days - .464 FG%, .844 FT%, 1.5 3PTM, 29.8 PPG, 5.9 Ast, 1.8 Stl, 2.5 TO Iverson is having what is arguably the best fantasy season of his career. He seems comfortable in his role with the Nuggets, and he should continue to be a great asset to your roster.
2 - Marcus Camby (C), Den - Key stats over the last 30 days - 9.0 PPG, 12.3 Reb, 2.8 Ast, 4.8 Blk! Camby provides the best combination of rebounds & blocks in the league right now. His rebound per game average is actually a little bit down from the start of the year, but his blocks stay strong. Expect him to continue being a beast, as long as the injury bug doesn't strike.
And #1 Chris doing his best Fonzie impression 1 - Chris Paul (PG), NO - Key stats over the last 30 days - .481 FG%, .831 FT%, 1.2 3PTM, 22.1 PPG, 3.5 Reb, 10.9 Ast, 2.9 Stl, 1.9 TO Not only is Paul #1 for the last 30 days, he's the top fantasy player on the season. There really isn't anything he's not doing this year. He's the leader of his Hornets team, both emotionally & statistically. Expect him to continue his monster season. Enjoy the ride... That's it for now...
On the horizon - In the upcoming week, I'll have some analysis on current fantasy basketball waiver wire activity, along with some of the major surprises as we quickly approach the midway point in the season. I'll also take a look at some top individual player performances.
Bad news for all Andrew Bynum owners - he suffered an injured left knee in last night's game against the Grizzlies. He suffered a subluxation of his left kneecap and a bone bruise...for those of you who don't know,
"A subluxation occurs when the kneecap is pulled toward the outside of the knee".
Ouch! The good news is he won't need surgery; the bad news is he's expected to be out about 8 weeks, which places his return in the middle of March - with only about a month left in the season.
Fantasy impact - Well, it obviously hurts all Bynum owners out there. He began the season as an unproven, talented enigma...and he's emerged as one of the best up-and-coming centers in the league this season, and a very pleasant surprise. In January he was averaging over 17 PPG, more than 12 Reb, 2.7 Ast, 2.3 Blk, and shooting an insane 70% from the field & 74% from the line...good stuff.
In the short term, the Lakers will now likely start Kwame Brown again at center, not someone I'd recommend you go out and grab off the waiver wire. Chris Mihm would be a good option if he were healthy, but as it stands, he'll probably be out for at least another few weeks (and will be rusty when he returns).
If the Lakers want to go smaller & more athletic, they also have the option of putting Ronny Turiaf at center, a high energy guy who I like. In 10 starts this season, Turiaf has averaged 9.6 PPG, 4.8 Reb, 1.8 Ast, 1.5 Blk, while shooting 56% from the field & 77% from the line (in only 25 minutes / game). Solid numbers given the minutes played. If he finds his way into the starting lineup, he'd be someone I'd certainly consider in deeper leagues. Monitor his playing time, because he might even get a majority share of the time at center, even if he's not in the starting lineup.
Looking outside the Lakers lineup for center help, Darko Milicic might be available in some leagues. He's had a disappointing season so far, but he'll certainly provide some blocks, while having the potential to put up solid point & rebound numbers. I see his worst case scenario @ 5 PPG, 5 Reb, 1.3 Blk; while his best case scenario is somewhere around 13 PPG, 9 Reb, 2.5 Blk. Don't forget, in 7 November games this season, he put up averages of 11 PPG, 8 Reb, and 2 Blk...so the potential is there.
UPDATE (1/15) - In the first game PB (Post-Bynum), the players discussed above put up the following lines:
This doesn't change anything mentioned above, but I'd like to see what Turiaf can do if he stays out of foul trouble & plays 30 or so minutes per game. Energy & upside, a good combination...
Just wanted to supply a link to a good place to check out daily NBA top performers. ESPN has daily stat leaders for all major sports, but you can check out the NBA daily leader page here. If someone played even one minute of a game, they'll be listed here & ranked by efficiency (although you can sort by any category you'd like).
It's updated during the night while games are in progress, so if you get bored while watching American Idol or Extreme Makeover, check it out.
On a side note, I'm getting really pissed off with this Writer's Guild of America strike. I mean, it's one thing to not get new episodes of Two and a Half Men, but I can't stand the fact that the new season of 24 has been put on hold indefinitely...The season premiere of season 7 was originally supposed to happen last night (January 13th), but with this strike still ongoing, who knows when it will start.
On the bright side, I still have a few older seasons to watch on DVD to keep me occupied until the new season starts.
Here is the continuation of the top 25 fantasy basketball contributors in the past 30 days. I now bring you number 15 through number 6:
15 - Kevin Garnett (SF, PF), Bos - Key stats over the last 30 days - .555 FG%, .758 FT%, 19.4 PPG, 9.0 Reb, 3.5 Ast, 1.3 Stl, 1.3 Blk Garnett's production has been down some in recent months, as he's playing lower minutes / game than earlier in his career, but he's still a beast.
14 - Baron Davis (PG), GS - Key stats over the last 30 days - 2.4 3PTM, 20.5 PPG, 3.8 Reb, 8.1 Ast, 2.0 Stl He's been good this year, although his shooting % has come down a bit recently...but he continues to shoot away.
13 - Yao Ming (C), Hou - Key stats over the last 30 days - .489 FG%, .861 FT%, 22.4 PPG, 10.7 Reb, 2.9 Ast, 2.4 Blk, 3.6 TO Mr. Consistency...or 先生一致性
12 - LeBron James (SF), Cle - Key stats over the last 30 days - .705%, 1.1 3PTM, 28.3 PPG, 8.2 Reb, 6.9 Ast, 2.1 Stl, 0.7 Blk, 3.4 TO LeBron is always going to be one of the top players in the fantasy game - his blocks are down a bit in the last month from his earlier season production, and if only he could get that FT% up...
11 - Gerald Wallace (SF, PF), Cha - Key stats over the last 30 days - .766 FT%, 1.4 3PTM, 23.4 PPG, 7.2 Reb, 4.8 Ast, 2.3 Stl, 1.0 Blk, 3.7 TO A traditionally slow starter to the season, Wallace has been awesome in the last month. He provides help across the board, with TO's being his one weak point. I'd still like to see him bump his block total a bit, but he's a huge asset to any fantasy team, just keep your fingers crossed that he stays healthy the rest of the year.
10 - Andrew Bynum (C), LAL - Key stats over the last 30 days - .703 FG%!, .705 FT%, 16.9 PPG, 10.9 Reb, 2.1 Ast, 2.4 Blk, 1.6 TO The biggest surprise on this list...the young stud has arrived! That FG% alone is a huge help to any team, but when you include the points, rebounds, and blocks, coupled with low turnover totals, you have a blossoming star. Kobe's got to be loving it...speaking of Kobe...
9 - Kobe Bryant (SG), LAL - Key stats over the last 30 days - .421 FG%, .869 FT%, 1.9 3PTM, 25.9 PPG, 5.8 Reb, 5.2 Ast, 2.1 Stl, 3.4 TO Kobe's scoring is down some this season, but he's still one of the top scorers in the league, and he'll help you across all other categories. His shooting hasn't been great recently, but he'll come around.
8 - Jason Richardson (SG, SF), Cha - Key stats over the last 30 days - .478 FG%, .753 FT%, 3.1 3PTM, 24.4 PPG, 5.2 Reb, 3.6 Ast, 1.3 Stl, 0.8 Blk, 2.1 TO Richardson is finally starting to look comfortable in his new environment. His shooting, both from the field & the line, is up in the last month. He's hitting a ton of 3's (tops in the league per game in the last 30 days), and his contributions in other areas are pleasant as well. It looks like he's found a home, and I expect a continued strong season from Richardson, although I'd expect his %'s to come down a little bit from where they've been recently (but not so much to harm most fantasy teams).
7 - Dirk Nowitzki (PF), Dal - Key stats over the last 30 days - .485 FG%, .899 FT%, 1.1 3PTM, 23.4 PPG, 8.8 Reb, 3.5 Ast, 0.9 Stl, 1.0 Blk Dirk is just being Dirk...and that is good.
6 - Amare Stoudemire (C), Pho - Key stats over the last 30 days - .596 FG%, .724 FT%, 24.4 PPG, 10.2 Reb, 2.6 Blk Amare continues to be a top tier center; expect this type of production to continue.
Today, I'm going to take a look at some of the top fantasy basketball contributors in the past month (using averages, not totals). This is using a standard 9 category structure, meaning turnovers are included.
I'm going to break it up in three posts, just for your convenience.
And without further adieu, in inverse order (25 - 16):
25 - Pau Gasol (PF, C), Mem - Key stats over the last 30 days - .500 FG%, .795% FT%, 21.9 PPG, 9.5 Reb, 1.4 Blk 24 - Chris Kaman (C), LAC - Key stats over the last 30 days - .451 FG%, .691 FT%, 16.9 PPG, 13.8 Reb, 3.3 Blk Kaman has continued to be very production in his surprising breakout fantasy season. Teams are starting to recognize that the Clippers lack a supporting cast down low, and have been doubling up Kaman more as the season has progressed. This has led to a slightly lower FG% and some poor shooting games as he presses some, but he's still been very productive. I'm a little disappointed in his recent FT%, but he's been a solid free throw shooter during the past few seasons, so I really wouldn't worry.
Of note is his increased block per game totals during the year, as his monthly average was 2.5 in Nov, 3.3 in Dec, and 3.8 thus far in Jan. Over the past month, he's second in blocks / game, only trailing Marcus Camby...this is especially impressive considering his previous season high average was 1.6 (last season). He has increased his blocks per game average every season since he's entered the league, so I don't see his performance as a fluke, although I'm not sure I'd expect him to finish the season averaging over 3 per game; 2.5 seems like a solid expectation.
I expect him to remain production as the year goes on, but it's unknown how much Elton Brand's return will affect Kaman later this year or next season (if you're looking at him as a potential keeper).
23 - Hedo Turkoglu (SG, SF), Orl - Key stats over the last 30 days - .908 FT%, 2.1 3PTM, 20.0 PPG, 5.9 Reb, 4.3 Ast, 1.3 Stl Hedo has been helping teams nearly across the board this season. He's only been weak in blocks & turnovers (which have increased a bit throughout the season). If you've got him on your roster, keep playing him & enjoy the excellent production from a player who was taken 115th on average in Yahoo drafts.
22 - Rasheed Wallace (PF, C), Det - Key stats over the last 30 days - 1.4 3PTM, 11.6 PPG, 7.7 Reb, 1.5 Stl, 1.9 Blk One of only 14 players averaging more than 1 steal & 1 block per game this season.
21 - Josh Smith (SG, SF, PF), Atl - Key stats over the last 30 days - .497 FG%, 19.7 PPG, 8.1 Reb, 3.0 Ast, 1.7 Stl, 2.5 Blk, 2.9 TO Josh Smith has been an up-and-coming fantasy star for the last few seasons, dating back to the second half of 2005. He has been giving owners the type of contributions that Andrei Kirlienkoprovided a few years ago. He's been improving in recent months shooting the ball (or more specifically, he's been taking better shots), and his scoring has increased as well. Even though Joe Johnson is still the number one option on the Hawks, he's been struggling with his shot much of this season, and Smith has stepped up to be a solid #2 option.
But even though Smith's offensive game has continued to improve, it's on the defensive end where his value really shines. He's averaging about 5 total blocks + steals / game, which is incredible production. He uses his athleticism & incredible leaping ability to provide great block totals, and he's shown improved anticipation (while using his long arms) to up his steal totals. And the fact that he grabs 8 + rebounds & gets a few assists / game is only frosting on the cake.
In summary, he's taken the next step this season towards fantasy superstardom...He's still young, so I see no reason he shouldn't continue to get better, especially if he puts in the necessary work on his jump shot. If you have him, congrats on grabbing a top 20 talent & enjoy his contributions as the year progresses.
20 - Jose Calderon (PG), Tor - Key stats over the last 30 days - .507 FG%, .897 FT%, 1.1 3PTM, 14.3 PPG, 4.2 Reb, 9.5 Ast, 1.0 Stl, 1.5 TO Calderon has been incredibly consistent & solid again this season. He has always produced in his career when placed in a starting role, and this year has been no different. With TJ Ford's injuries, Calderon has stepped up & been a top 10 PG this year.
Keys that make Calderon a great member of your fantasy team - He has excellent %'s across the board, he hands out plenty of assists, and his incredible assist / turnover ratio, which stands at 6.33 for the past month. He's first in this ratio in the NBA this season, averaging almost two more assists per turnover than the next best (Brevin Knight & Chris Paul). Even if / when Ford returns, Calderon is a must keep, and he'll likely be a full time starter next season, either in Toronto or another team (I like the thought of him in the Cavs backcourt next season).
19 - Dwane Wade (PG, SG), Mia - Key stats over the last 30 days - 26.8 PPG, 4.3 Reb, 7.5 Ast, 2.1 Stl, 0.9 Blk, 4.4 TO (ouch!) Following last season's shoulder injury, Wade has come back strong, although his high turnover totals really hurt his ranking.
18 - Mo Williams (PG), Mil - Key stats over the last 30 days - .478 FG%, .889 FT%, 1.5 3PTM, 19.9 PPG, 3.5 Reb, 6.3 Ast, 1.4 Stl, 2.0 TO Williams has continued to improve as the season has progressed. His scoring average has increased from 15.0 PPG in November, to 20.9 PPG so far this month. Barring injury, I expect him to continue his strong season.
17 - Grant Hill (SG, SF), Pho - Key stats over the last 30 days - .545 FG%, .887 FT%, 16.6 PPG, 4.8 Reb, 3.4 Ast, 0.8 Stl, 1.5 Blk Hill's currently recovering after an appendectomy, but he's fit right into the Phoenix offense. He doesn't hurt you anywhere, and he's even hit a few more 3's this season than in season's past. I would plug him right back into my lineup after he returns (expected around the end of the month).
16 - Chauncey Billups (PG), Det - Key stats over the last 30 days - .895 FT%, 1.9 3PTM, 17.2 PPG, 2.7 Reb, 6.3 Ast, 1.4 Stl, 2.0 TO A consistent, steady producer. Up next, 15 - 6...stay tuned.
So it's now official - Kevin Garnett is a Boston Celtic. This gives the Celtics what is potentially the best 'top 3' of any team in the NBA. Below are some of the top trios in the NBA today:
In my opinion, the Celtics lucky trio is the top combination right now, but they're not spring chickens, so they'll need to win NOW.
Let's take a look at the potential fantasy impact to the players involved in this multi-player deal.
To Boston: Kevin Garnett - He'll continue to be Kevin Garnett, no matter where he's playing. This means he'll still justify a top 10 draft pick, and this move may even give his career an uptick, especially if the Celtics are winning.
I expect Garnett's PPG to stay constant or even come down a bit. He'll no longer need to be the #1 option on offense, which will allow him to see statistical improvements in other areas of his game, specifically in assists. He also has a great shooter in Allen & a great all around scorer in Pierce to help open up the floor. He'll continue to be one of the top rebounders in the NBA, and he'll still produce in steals & blocks as well.
To Minnesota: Al Jefferson - He was the key player in this deal for Minnesota. He had a breakout season in 2006, averaging 16 PPG, 11 RPG, & 1.5 BPG. What's really scary is he'll only be 22 when the season starts...He'll continue his improvement this season with Minnesota, as he'll be counted on to score more this season than he did in Boston. He'll potentially be a 20-10 guy, but I expect minimum production of 18 PPG, 10 RPG, & 1.5 BPG. He, along with Randy Foye, are the building blocks of the new Timberwolves. He'll be a beast, and he's getting better.
Gerald Green - He's a bit of a wild card in this deal. Some people think he's the next coming of Tracy McGrady; while others think he'll be a solid shooter but nothing more (OK, he's a great dunker too). He improved last season, as he had an opportunity to play when Pierce was injured; although he still only helped fantasy teams in points & 3s. His rebound, assist, steal & block totals were...um...rather unimpressive. He'll also have to compete for playing time in Minnesota, as they drafted Corey Brewer in the first round this year, and they also have Ricky Davis, Rashard McCants, Ryan Gomes, Craig Smith, and Trenton Hassell all looking for time at SG, SF, & PF. He is still very young (21), and he has impressive upside, but I don't think this will be his breakout season. He should get steady playing time & his value goes up due to the trade, but he'll be mainly be helpful for 3's this year.
Ryan Gomes - I've always liked Gomes, as he's one of those steady but unspectacular guys. He's really a PF with the height of a SF, but he seems to know the game very well & he puts himself in the right place at the right time to make plays. I don't think he'll ever be a superstar as a pro, but he'll make his way into Minnesota's rotation & get regular playing time this year. I think his value goes up in Minnesota, and he's a great guy to have on your bench or at the back of your lineup in deeper leagues.
Sebastian Telfair - Well, I guess he didn't have his breakout season in Boston. Although he's still young, he's had opportunities on two different teams but has yet to prove he has what it takes to be a consistent starter in the NBA. He'll likely back up Foye in Minnesota, and I don't see him having much fantasy value this season.
Theo Ratliff - He's been around a long time...and he has a big salary that's coming off the books at the end of next season; he was also the only player older than 24 that was sent to Minnesota as a part of this deal. He's now 34, but due to injuries, he isn't a fantasy contributor anymore.
Other players impacted by this trade: Rajon Rondo - He's going to enter 2007 the same way he finished 2006, as the Celtics starting PG. He's a great defensive player, who will likely be in the top 10 in the NBA in steals this year. He'll also earn plenty of assists dishing to the trio, and he's also a solid rebounder for his size. Don't expect him to put up too many points, but he might average low double figures.
Kendrick Perkins - As of today, he's the man in the middle in Boston. He'll get boards & block some shots, but that's about all (and that's all he's going to be asked to do).
Tony Allen - He'll be a backup to both Paul Pierce & Ray Allen, but as long as he recovers fully from last season's injury, he should put up decent numbers. He was actually on fire last season when he got injured - to the tune of 20.8 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 3.4 APG, 4.0 SPG, 0.8 3PG, 58.5% from the field & 80% from the line over a 5 game stretch in January before his injury. He's proven that, when he's healthy, he can put up very impressive numbers; so if Allen or Pierce go down with an injury, he should be able to fill in nicely.
Ricky Davis - His value will still be stellar, but it's probably going to be a little lower post-trade, since Minnesota now has something like 37 swingmen that will all want playing time (I think they're mirroring the Atlanta Hawks model). He'll again put up solid numbers, and should be a steady mid-round pick in fantasy drafts.
I'll be back with some more baseball news over the next few days.
1) We've been scouting basketball players in Eastern Nova Scotia
