Posts Tagged Monta Ellis
Week 17 Recap (Snatch Blatche) and Week 18 Pickups
Posted by fantasy hoopster in Fantasy Basketball, Fantasy Basketball Pickups, Fantasy Basketball Strategy on February 21, 2010
Week 17 was all about the trades. It saw the emergence of a perennial sleeper candidate (or two), the triumphant (at least for now) return of a former first rounder, and the early deaths of some promising fantasy seasons… all the result of big-time trades. The Recap:
Not to rain on T-Mac's parade, but another former Magic/Rocket, Steve Francis, also had a solid Knick debut with 16, 5, and 4. Just saying... (Getty)
Cavs lose! Cavs lose! Cavs lose!
That’s right, the new-look Cavs are 0-3 after acquiring Antawn Jamison. Is it the curse of Big Z? Or is it a hex of fantasy owners of Jamison, Ilgauskas, J.J. Hickson, and Anderson Varejao? Of course, the trade had obvious fantasy ramifications (basically, it sucked for all the guys mentioned above), but why is the losing streak so important? Because it means the Cavs and Lakers are in a near-dead heat for the top record in the NBA… which is great news if you own guys like LeBron or Kobe, who probably can’t afford to rest late into the season as the race for home court advantage comes down to the wire.
(Meanwhile, Jamison put up a dud in his first game but bounced back on Sunday. All those other bigs in CLE? I’m not sure they’ll ever bounce back.)
T-Mac + D’Antoni = WTF
If you look at my rankings of the biggest trade deadline winners (and losers), I had Tracy McGrady ranked near the top of the second tier (although of course qualified that by saying he had the biggest upside of anyone on the list). Well, he made his case for being ranked near the top of the first tier in his first game as a Knick, going off for 26, 4, and 5 with great percentages. Hell, he even shocked himself, as he didn’t expect to play more than 20 min and was admittedly exhausted by the end of the OT game.
I’ve always said the main reason I would own McGrady would be to sell high on him after a hot streak. Well, this might be the right time if you can get a good bounty in return. However, Mike D’Antoni has said the Knicks are going to run the rest of the way (See: Wilson Chandler starting at PF instead of SG, where he has started all year). And with T-Mac playing nice and saying he’s willing to come back to NY at a discount next year, D’Antoni just might keep running him out there for 30+ mpg to build chemistry. Because of his injury risk, I’d be inclined to sell high, but don’t sell yourself short.
Fantasy ROY Race
First it was Tyreke Evans vs. Brandon Jennings. Then it was Evans vs. Stephen Curry. Now is it Curry vs. Darren Collison? Okay, that’s an overstatement. But over the last three weeks, it’s been pretty close:
| FG% | FT% | 3PM | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | |
| Stephen Curry | .434 | .933 | 2.2 | 18.4 | 4.6 | 7.6 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 4.1 |
| Darren Collison | .473 | .829 | 1.1 | 19.7 | 4.7 | 9.8 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 4.9 |
Of course, when Chris Paul returns, this race ends, but it just goes to show how valuable both have been over the last three weeks, and how valuable Curry will be the rest of the year.
WEEK 18 PICKUPS
I’m going to steal from myself and just reiterate some of the biggest trade deadline winners, with some slight adjustments given 3 days-worth of new info.
First of all, trade deadline winners like Andray Blatche (62%) , Tyrus Thomas (63%), T-Mac (74%), and Josh Howard (76%) have already cleared the 50% ownership mark in Yahoo leagues and will thus be excluded. (I like them in that order by the way.) The rest:
Casspi & Butler. Ambiguously gay photo, unambiguously solid fantasy pickups. (Getty)
Omri Casspi (33%)
Casspi posted 15, 5, and 3 with 3 steals in his first game with the new-look Kings. Nothing flashy, but he should get relatively consistent minutes in SAC the rest of the way, as he and Evans are the clear building blocks of that team’s future.
JaVale McGee (17%)
It’s tough to find 11 ppg, 7.3 rpg, and 2.7 bpg off the FA list, but that’s exactly what McGee has delivered in 3 post-trade starts… and all while playing with a sprained wrist.
Rasual Butler (31%)
He can be streaky, but right now he’s streaking the right direction with 17 treys in his last 5 games. It might take some time, but with Al Thornton out of the way and Travis Outlaw’s indefinite return, Butler could slowly make his was off this list by clearing the 50% hurdle.
C.J. Watson (18%)
Watson has reemerged with Monta Ellis starting to burn out. Don Nelson recently stated he would not be running guys out for 40+ mpg sometime soon, which means Watson should/might start getting consistent playing time again. So while I wouldn’t expect the 27, 4, and 4 with great percentages and ~2 treys/stl per game that Watson posted last week, I’d still expect useful fantasy stats.
DeAndre Jordan (5%)
Jordan had a mixed bag of results in the Clips’ first 3 games without Marcus Camby, averaging 8 and 8 with 2.3 bpg. Those numbers might not be worth taking on his atrocious FT%, but if you’ve already punted that category, he’s a nice pickup. If not, approach with caution. (Also keep in mind that Drew Gooden has decided not to take a buy-out and will stay with the Clips. Obviously Gooden cares about winning and not living in sunny southern California…)
Sergio Rodriguez (9%) and Eddie House (13%)
Rodriguez was the hot pickup after whispers that he might start in New York. And even though he had a lackluster debut, he’d still be a big catch running the Knicks’ new old up-tempo offense. Meanwhile, House — who has played and excelled for D’Antoni before — stepped right in and had a huge first game as the Knicks’ super-6th man. Looks like they both have a chance to make a splash in NY, but just remember that Rodriguez has a real chance to average 8+ apg if/when he steps into that starter’s role before you give up on him.
Keep an eye on… everyone from my trade deadline post, with some tweaks:
Taj Gibson (24% — I’m slightly downgrading him from my previous list because Joakim Noah has already returned; check Noah’s status and think about selling high on Gibson if Noah’s foot starts feeling better), Nate Robinson (52% — been dropped so much he might actually be available; keep an eye on his new role in BOS), Al Thornton and Hakim Warrick (45% and 14% — slight upgrades after debuts on new squads), Jonas Jerebko (9%), Shannon Brown (6% — check Kobe’s status), Mario Chalmers (33% — check Rafer Alston’s status), and last but not least, Anthony Tolliver (6%)
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Week 16 Recap (That was short) and Week 17 Pickups
Posted by fantasy hoopster in Fantasy Basketball, Fantasy Basketball Pickups, Fantasy Basketball Strategy, Fantasy Basketball Trades on February 15, 2010
WEEK 16 RECAP
After a shortened week and a lackluster dunk contest, I have to admit the All Star game itself was kind of exciting, at least for an exhibition game. You could tell the 108,000+ spectators helped to motivate the players (or distract, in the case of one Deron Williams).
Hmm, did anything else happen last week? Well, there was that trade. And oh yeah, Stephen Curry put up a ridiculous triple-double (36, 10, and 13 with 7 treys) thanks to a buzzer-beating rebound with the help of one of the most clutch box-outs I’ve ever seen…by Anthony Tolliver (more on him below). Check out the 6:30 mark for the play:
In fact, Curry has been so impressive lately, I’m not even going to mention those two other guys until they show me they’re capable of making this a Fantasy ROY race again.
See, I told you Week 16 was short.
WEEK 17 PICKUPS
As has been the theme around here lately, most of these pickups will actually be speculative long-term adds based on trade rumors. Others will be named Anthony Tolliver. (p.s. Anthony Morrow and Darren Collison have both cleared the 50% ownership mark required for this list, but make sure neither are taken before continuing below.)
Andray Blatche (34%)
See my post from over the weekend. But essentially, with Brendan Haywood out of the picture and Antawn Jamison likely (but not surely) to follow, the door is open for Blatche to get 35+ minutes a night. In 4 games as a starter this year, Blatche is only averaging 11 ppg and 7.5 rpg with 1.8 bpg in 34 mpg, but that was as a starting PF playing alongside Haywood. Last year, he averaged 12 ppg and 6 rpg with ~1 spg/bpg in 28 mpg as a starting C without Haywood. Project that to 35 mpg, and those numbers come out to roughly 14 ppg and 8 rpg with 1+ spg/bpg. Add in the Wizards’ great playoff schedule in H2H leagues, and you want to own this kid.
Drew Gooden (28%)
I also like Gooden’s value to take a step up as he’ll get more consistent minutes in WAS (assuming he isn’t flipped to a contender). In fact, the only downside to owning Blatche will be seeing Gooden gobble up double-digit boards on certain nights, while Blatche only snatches 5 or so. That being said, I’d still prefer Blatche for his steals and blocks, but Gooden will be an excellent source of rebounds.
Anthony Tolliver (7%)
Curry and Tolliver probably won't lead Golden State to many W's this year. Good thing we live in a fantasy world. (Getty)
Gasp! What is this — a player who likely doesn’t stand to benefit from a trade on this list? Well, with the rate that Monta Ellis, Corey Maggette, and the rest of the Warriors get injured, Tolliver is essentially getting theboost in minutes a trade would have. (Not to mention Andris Biedrins actually has been mentioned in some rumors. But then again, who hasn’t this year?) There are so many different ways to hype Tolliver, but I’ll just go with his averages from the last 3 games: 17 ppg and 8 rpg with 1.3/1.0/0.7 3s/stl/blk.
The Warriors recently decided to cut Speedy Claxton’s valuable expiring contract to keep Tolliver (a move that angered many GS fans), so you can expect management will give him plenty of minutes to prove himself the rest of the way. I recently picked up Tolliver, then dropped him for Blatche. If Carlos Boozer doesn’t get traded, I’m dropping Paul Millsap for this kid.
[02/18/10 UPDATE -- Boozer didn't get dealt, but Ronnie Brewer did, freeing up time for both Andrei Kirilenko and Millsap. Add in the fact that Millsap has been on fire lately and looks to get 30+ mpg, and no, I am in fact not dropping him for Tolliver at this point. Just to clarify...]
Robin Lopez (38%)
He sputtered a bit last week, but with Amare Stoudemire trade rumors swirling faster than a Mid-Atlantic snowstorm, Lopez is worth owning (or at least keeping a close eye on) over the next 3 days.
J.J. Hickson (9%)
Speaking of Amare trade rumors, Hickson will be a likely beneficiary of any trade the Cavs make because the Cavs will likely be bringing in a stud PF (Amare, Jamison, or Troy Murphy), leaving a nice, empty starting PF spot on the other team. Of course, Hickson wouldn’t have LeBron James feeding him for easy scores anymore, but considering the opposing team would most likely be rebuilding (except in the case of the Suns), and Hickson should get more run than he did/does in CLE.
Keep an eye on:
Wow, I didn’t realize this list was so F-C heavy. Here are some other guys to keep an eye on (including G’s!), either due to trade speculation or strong play: Brad Miller and Taj Gibson (43% and 10% respectively — Joakim Noah still hurting and Tyrus Thomas on the trade block), Ryan Gomes (32%), Marcus Thornton (38% — coming back from injury and should still benefit from Chris Paul’s absence), DeJuan Blair (25%), George Hill (38% — better with Tony Parker healthy?), Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (8% — 11 rpg over last 3), Jared Jeffries (8%), T.J. Ford (33% — don’t get your hopes up, but back in rotation), Marquis Daniels (2%), Charlie Bell (4% — a trey in 12 straight games)
Week 13 Recap (It’s all about the…) Week 14 Pickups
Posted by fantasy hoopster in Fantasy Basketball, Fantasy Basketball Injuries, Fantasy Basketball Pickups, Fantasy Basketball Strategy on January 24, 2010
Week 13 was really all about the pickups. I haven’t seen this many players resurrect their fantasy basketball seasons/careers in a week that didn’t involve any major trades in a long while. But first, the recap…
Mo Williams
The biggest fantasy news of the week involved Mo Williams’ shoulder sprain, which will sideline him 4-6 weeks. He passed the injury bug to his replacement, Delonte West (fractured finger in shooting hand), and while I still like West over the next several weeks, it might take him a few games to heal and the another few games to regain his shooting touch, so temper your expectations.
I'm sorry, Grant Hill. This is just wrong. (Getty Images)
Corey Maggette
The biggest fantasy news of the month is Corey Frickin Maggette. I’ve hated him for years and vowed never to own him (unless I owned Dwight Howard in a roto league). Now I hate him because I vowed never to own him. He continues to put up top 10 numbers — amazingly, despite averaging less than ONE three/stl/blk per game — which is a tribute to his efficiency. (He’s averaging 29 ppg on ~15 shot attempts per game.) The fact that I want to underline this entire paragraph makes me hate him even more.
Logic says to sell high, although I probably wouldn’t do so unless I was getting a near-sure bet in return. (That GSW squad just can’t seem to stay healthy, so Maggette will likely get his minutes.) But, because of the sub-1 threes/stl/blk, once Maggette’s 55% FG rate dips closer to his career averages, he’ll likely plummet out of top 10 status back into the top 50 range. That’s still nice, but if you can snag someone like, say, Brandon Roy from a panicked owner (in a packaged deal), go for it. Hey, you never know…
ROY Race
Aided by Monta Ellis’ gimpy anke, Stephen Curry continued to take steps forward, and in my mind he took a big step ahead of the pack in the fantasy ROY race, averaging 23, 5, and 5 with a whopping 3.8 threes and 1.5 spg. Tyreke Evans, on the other hand, had a mediocre week (still averaging 20+ ppg with great percentages), although in his defense that entire SAC squad had a pretty terrible week.
And while he’s in danger of becoming an Also Ran, Brandon Jennings showed some signs of life, averaging 18 ppg and 7 apg with 2 threes/spg (albeit still shooting sub-40% from the field). The emergence of Carlos Delfino and return of Jerry Stackhouse — both of which (at least for this week) seem much more like playmakers than Michael Redd ever was this year — seems to be having a positive effect on Young Money. Sure, his big games this week also came against PGs that couldn’t quite abuse him (Aaron Brooks and Jonny Flynn), but at the least Jennings’ trade value has some life again, in case you need to unload that FG% off your squad.
And in other Week 13 news…
Randy Foye continued to hit his shots until a 3-9 dud on Sunday, which made me feel a little better about ’selling high’ on him earlier in the week. What also made me feel better: Dwyane Wade’s awesome 2 games after my deal went through. (In case you have no idea what I’m talking about, I traded Iggy, Foye, and Yi Jianlian for Wade + 2 scrubs who turned into Carlos Delfino and Drew Gooden. Robin Lopez was sadly picked up before my trade cleared waivers.)
Rashard Lewis is still missing a lot of shots, but also seems to be a more active member of the offense. There is hope…
F my life — Joakim Noah has plantar fasciitis. He seemed to be upbeat about the situation, but if he’s just being optimistic, Tyrus Thomas owners have to be thrilled. (Thomas had 6 blk in 20-something minutes against the (undersized) Rockets in Noah’s DNP over the weekend.) And by the way, here’s a message to FourPointPlay — I know you rigged my last poll!! Lol.
Andre Miller continues to excel in Brandon Roy’s absence.
Lastly, Lou Williams’ fantasy season is on life support, but if you can afford to, I’d try to wait until the trade deadline next month before bailing on him. Many think the 76ers will be active in trades, which might even include Lou but will more likely include Elton Brand or maybe even Andre Iguodala, the departure(s) of which would really help Lou’s fantasy life. If you need more immediate assistance, see below.
WEEK 14 PICKUPS
It seems like we’ve reached a point in the fantasy season where a lot of managers (namely, the ones out of contention) have checked out. This actually has a fairly significant impact on fantasy leagues — especially leagues that aren’t as deep — because it means there is a lot of talent in the free agent pool. If you’re in a H2H league where a lot of these guys are available, it might actually pay off to cut those iffy players and start churning players. (Although you probably want to hang onto some of these guys.)
Robin Lopez (42%)
Last week when I mentioned him, Lopez was owned in 7% of Yahoo leagues. That’s up to 42% now, and it should be even more. After Lopez posted two great lines to start the week, Channing Frye bounced back with a nice performance himself against CHI. But it’s telling that Lopez and not Frye got the minutes in PHO’s next game against run-and-gun GSW. Expect defenses to pay closer attention to Lopez in the future, but his starting job seems secure for now.
Since I think this site has more pictures of Robin Lopez than it can handle, I'll give Delfino some well-deserved publicity. (Getty Images)
Carlos Delfino (33%)
I’ll let the numbers speak for themselves: 16.5 ppg, 9.3 rpg, and 3.5 apg with 3.0 threes and 1.5 spg in 4 games last week. Who knows if this can last, but you want to own Delfino while we all find out.
Drew Gooden (21%)
Gooden was projected by many to be the starting C in Dallas when the year began, but due to injury and Erick Dampier’s strong play, he’s mainly played a bench role. Sunday may have just been a spot start (Dampier was a DNP-nagging injury), as Gooden probably matched up better against the more mobile David Lee anyway, but even in a bench role Gooden has quietly put up top 50 numbers (by averages) over the last month, with 10 and 8 to go along with ~1 stl/blk and great percentages before Sunday’s 15 and 16 outburst.
Delonte West (23%) and Daniel Gibson (8%)
West is the guy to own in February, but for this week Gibson will hit some threes and get some assists just being in the same building as LeBron.
Craig Smith (5%)
I mentioned that Rasual Butler (and Al Thornton) was worth long-term consideration after it was learned Blake Griffin would miss the entire season. But it’s Craig Smith who has really thrived while not having to look over his shoulder. He has solidified his place as the third wheel in that Clipper frontcourt, averaging 15 and 5 on 69% shooting over the last week.
George Hill (8%)
Hill has started three games in a row at SG and produced 16 ppg with 2.3 treys. Keep an eye on this situation.
Other guys to pick up/keep an eye on: Mike Miller (44% — slowly coming around), Corey Brewer (42% — #38 in Yahoo rankings by averages last week), DeJuan Blair (29% — see last week), Matt Barnes (40%), Brandon Rush (26% — he’s been hot since Granger returned), Rasual Butler (30%), Chase Budinger (3% — if you need 3’s in deep leagues), Cartier Martin (1%).
Loading ...Player Spotlight: Is the “old” Brandon Jennings back?
Posted by fantasy hoopster in Fantasy Basketball, Fantasy Basketball Strategy on December 10, 2009
See that look in his eyes? It's called infrared court vision. (Getty Images)
Brandon Jennings finally found the bottom of the net again last night, “breaking out” of an ugly shooting slump. (He also hyperextended his knee in the third quarter, although it seems to be no big deal.) Sure, it’s nice that he shot an Andrew Bogut-like FG% vs the Raptors, and I’ve been begging owners to be patient with Young Money and not to sell low on him, but does it really mean he broke out of his slump? Or is something else going on here? The answer might be in the splits…
Jennings at home: 25.5 ppg, 5.9 apg, 3.6 rpg, 3.0 3pg, 47.9% FG, 56.9% 3PT, 80.4% FT
Jennings on the road: 16.4 ppg, 5.5 apg, 4.0 rpg, 1.4 3pg, 34.4% FG, 28.6% 3PT, 78.8% FT
Those are pretty drastic differences, especially in PTS, 3PM, and FG%. (Of course, let’s not forget the double-nickel vs GS at home.) Sure enough, his 10-game shooting slump started with the Bucks’ longest road trip of the year, at Memphis back on Nov. 21, with 7 of those 10 games on the road.
Does that mean Jennings is going to put up top 20 numbers at home and only top 100 numbers on the road? Or did he just happen to hit a rough patch (with defenses finally learning how to slow him down) during a long road stretch? I’m taking the safe answer here and going straight down the middle. (I know. How bold of me!) Both of those factors — opposing teams’ gang-tackle defense and a long road trip — contributed to the rookie’s first slump.
So what? Is the slump over?
If you are a (once-again) proud Jennings owner, hopefully you didn’t bail on him over the last couple weeks. I expect those home and road splits to even out over the course of the year, although I wouldn’t be surprised if the home stats still look considerably better when all’s said and done. But has he broken out of his slump? Yes and no. Yes, I think he has stopped the bleeding. However, I’m not expecting him to start another hot streak right away. Sure, he could torch Steve Blake and Derek Fisher in the next two games at home, but I think we’ll see some middle-of-the-road numbers over the next month or so.
However, it’s looking more and more like Jennings’ FG% will be sub-45% on the year, as he’s had one insanely hot stretch and one insanely cold stretch, and it’s all averaged out to 41.8% so far. It also puts him at #57 in Yahoo rankings (by averages) on the year, although he’s probably ranked higher in ESPN leagues, most of which don’t count TO. I think the PTS, REB, AST, and 3’s are here to stay, so his ultimate ranking depends on that FG%. I’ve been saying for a while that I think he’ll finish in the top 50, although I amended that to “flirting with the top 50″ a couple weeks back if his FG% sunk. (Note: There are also several other factors at play here, including Michael Redd’s return and Luke Ridnour’s emergence at the PG spot, shifting Jennings to SG for long stretches, so nothing is ever certain in fantasy.)
In other words, if people have been lobbing trade offers at you (and I would expect them to pick up again), I’d still target a safe top 50 player at the least, although you could probably get much better if you waited for another Jennings hot streak. If you absolutely can’t stand his streakiness, I’d take my time getting the best offer possible, but just beware of the Bucks’ extended road trip starting January 10 (6 games, although 2 of them are against fantasy-friendly squads in PHO and GSW).
I actually recently traded Jennings for Paul Pierce in one roto league where my FG% is keeping me out of the top spot, as Pierce is enjoying his most efficient year in a while. (No, I don’t think he can sustain 49.6% FG, but he’s taking more efficient shots while providing Jennings-esque across-the-board production. But more on that in a different post.) I’m hanging onto Jennings in my other leagues though, unless an “offer I can’t refuse” comes along.
Loading ...By the way… yes, I’m looking forward to that SAC/MIL matchup next week. Can you say “Rookie Smackdown”?
20-Second Timeout: Anthony Morrow, Elton Brand, and Lou Williams
Posted by fantasy hoopster in 20-Second Timeout, Fantasy Basketball, Fantasy Basketball Pickups, Fantasy Basketball Strategy on November 25, 2009
Who has been the most valuable 76er in fantasy this year? Here's a hint: NOT Elton Brand. (Getty Images)
Anthony Morrow
After last night’s performance, this will probably be your last chance to snatch Morrow off the FA list. Against a solid defensive team in DAL (although granted they were without Josh Howard and Shawn Marion), Morrow poured in 27 pts, 9 reb and 5 ast on 9-16 shooting (6-8 from downtown) while chipping in 3 stl. Sure it took him 48 minutes to do, but when your team only dresses 8 players and only plays 6 of them, you’re going to end up playing 48 minutes some nights. (Or in Morrow’s case, 48 minutes 2 games in a row.) He’s somehow still available in 47% of Yahoo leagues.
By the way, every Warrior who played was worth starting tonight. Monta Ellis went off for 37, Stephen Curry had a nice all-around game, and even Vladimir Radmanovic recorded his first double-double since who knows when (adding 4 stl) as Corey Maggette and Andris Biedrins sat out with injuries. Curry should be owned in most leagues; Radmanovic should be owned in more than the 4% of Yahoo leagues he’s currently owned.
Elton Brand
When Marreese Speights went down with an injury a week and a half ago, some astute fantasy basketballers noted these next couple weeks could really define Brand’s value this season. Well, after last week’s dominant 3-game stretch, Brand fell back to earth with a resounding thud against the Wizards. EB only mustered 4 pts and 7 reb on 1-9 shooting, not to mention only recording one measly block and no steals after having 11/8 blk/stl his previous 3 games.
Initially, I thought it might have something to do with the front line WAS marched out against Brand: Brendan Haywood, Fabricio Oberto (one of those pesky defensive post players), and Antawn Jamison. (If I’m not mistaken, Brand’s only bucket came against Andray Blatche.) If this were the case… no big deal. Even first-rounders will have their off-nights against solid defenses.
However, Brand wound up leaving the game in the 3rd quarter with a sore hamstring, which is much more worrisome because his age/conditioning is the biggest red flag surrounding him this year. Last week he wanted to prove coach Eddie Jordan wrong by playing big minutes (35+ for 3 games); tonight he proved that maybe he actually can’t handle big minutes.
What’s it all mean? Brand probably goes back to having his minutes monitored somewhat (at least for the immediate future), which means we probably won’t see as many nights like last week’s. Then again, he’s also proven that he can still bring it. Unfortunately, I’d expect inconsistency (start him against J.J. Hickson and Ilgauskas; sit him against Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum), but overall I think he can still average 16 and 9 with 1.5-2.0 blk, which is pretty much what he did last year (with one extra made FG per game). In other words, if you can get a top 50 player for him, I’d probably cut my losses and take it. If not, not all is lost as Brand can probably still provide value in the 50-75 range. (This, of course, is a moving target. This next week where we see what Brand can do with 30 mpg without Speights should be telling.)
Lou Williams
Lost in the Elton Brand Stock Panic of 2009 is the rise of Lou Williams in Philly. I doubted Sweet Lou in the preseason (because I’ve never been a fan of shoot-first PG’s), but Lou has been the most consistent 76er so far this year. He probably can’t keep shooting 50%, so I still think he’s a SELL HIGH candidate, but just don’t sell yourself short, as I think he can maintain his sneaky-good 1.7 spg (which is pretty on-target with his career steals per minute averages).
By the way, since Williams’ sleeper days are long gone, there’s a new sleeper in Philadelphia and his name is Jrue Holiday. 11 pts, 6 reb, 3 treys, and 2 stl last night…in 10 minutes as the 76ers almost came back against the Wizards. Keep an eye on him in deeper leagues as he makes his case for more playing time.
Loading ...Fantasy Basketball Strategy: Week 4 Recap and Week 5 Pickups
Posted by fantasy hoopster in Fantasy Basketball, Fantasy Basketball Injuries, Fantasy Basketball Pickups, Fantasy Basketball Strategy on November 22, 2009
Don't call it a comeback, Brand's been here all year long. He's just finally making some noise. (Getty Images)
WEEK 4 RECAP
They’re Ba-aaack
Week 4 featured the return of several fantasy studs: Rashard Lewis, Devin Harris, Troy Murphy, and Pau Gasol. (Thanks for playing, Ryan Andersen and Rafer Alston. Here are some nice parting gifts…)
As for Murphy and Gasol, their fantasy impact is a little more complicated. Murphy will definitely take away some of Roy Hibbert’s stats, but I think the young center will still be valuable contributing a near double-double with 2 bpg. Meanwhile, if you didn’t sell high on Andrew Bynum before Gasol’s return, please don’t panic and let someone buy low on him these next few (or more?) games as he readjusts to Gasol. 19 and 11 might be a little much to expect, but he’ll be much better than 11 and 8 (his first game with Pau back).
On the flip side, Week 4 also saw some key injuries, including Jameer Nelson and Andrew Bogut. If you’re looking for replacements, Jason Williams has had a couple decent games thus far, while Kurt Thomas/Hakim Warrick have each had a nice game (depending on the matchup) in Bogut’s absence. (There are some more exciting pickups further below.)
They’re “Ba-aaack”
Week 4 also featured the “return” of two stud centers: Elton Brand and Al Jefferson. With Marresse Speights out of the way due to injury, Brand absolutely erupted, averaging 20 and 10 with 2.7/3.7 spg/bpg this week, good for the #2 ranking by averages in Yahoo leagues. I’m not sure what to make of this unexpected outburst quite yet, as the 76ers lost two of those games and barely beat a new-look CHA team in the other game, but I’ll have my thoughts on whether Brand is a sell high or buy low guy shortly.
20-Second Timeout: Rudy Fernandez, Allen Iverson, and Anthony Morrow (updated 11/20/09)
Posted by fantasy hoopster in 20-Second Timeout, Fantasy Basketball, Fantasy Basketball Pickups, Fantasy Basketball Strategy on November 18, 2009
UP. (all Getty Images)
ME.
PICK.
Now this is what I call a real 20-second timeout! Very quickly, three guys who should be picked up, or at the very least you should have your eye on:
Rudy Fernandez
With new that Travis Outlaw will be out 3-5 months, Fernandez looks to be the clear winner. He already posted 4 threes/steals in his last game. (He’s currently available in 56% of Yahoo leagues.) Also keep an eye on Martell Webster. By the way, I would’ve posted this sooner if the Stephen Jackson trade hadn’t distracted me. That S-Jax, always with the distractions!
Allen Iverson
The latest rumors out of New York have Allen Iverson heading to the Knicks. If someone in your league recently cut him, he’s worth stashing right now. (He’s currently available in 61% of Yahoo leagues.) Iverson has stated he’ll only return to the NBA as a starter, so if the Knicks sign him, I couldn’t imagine him getting less than 30 min a night.
If you think about it, it’s actually a perfect marriage. On one hand, Iverson just wants to prove to the world he can still carry a team. On the other hand, it’s not even December and the Knicks have already decided to tank the season. With AI starting, not only can they tank, they can also sell tickets! Nothing is guaranteed, but this could be a fantasy goldmine if it plays out. And if it does, Chris Duhon, Larry Hughes, Nate Robinson, and the budding Toney Douglas would all take a hit.
[11/20/09 update] Never mind! Looks like the Knicks are passing on Iverson. As I was writing the original post, I was already pitying Mike D’Antoni for having to take on AI. Turns out he was probably the one to kill the deal. Iverson could still land on another team, but the Knicks would’ve been ideal from a fantasy perspective, and since that’s not happening I would probably cut Iverson unless you can afford the roster spot and want to gamble.
Anthony Morrow
I’ve already mentioned him a few times, but just a friendly reminder: Make sure he’s not available in your league. (He’s currently available in 61% of Yahoo leagues.) In the Warriors’ first game without Stephen Jackson and Kelenna Azubuike, Morrow quickly drained 4 threes while going head-to-head with that LeBron James guy. Monta Ellis is also rumored to be on the way out, so you might want to keep an eye on Stephen Curry as well.
20-Second Timeout: Stephen Jackson, Anthony Randolph, and Earl Smith III
Posted by fantasy hoopster in 20-Second Timeout, Fantasy Basketball, Fantasy Basketball Rankings, Fantasy Basketball Strategy on November 10, 2009
When your teammates would rather have Corey Maggette than you, that's a bad sign. (AP)
For my more regular readers… don’t panic. Stephen Jackson isn’t injured. I’m changing the name of my injury updates/fallouts to what they should have been called in the first place, Injury Timeouts. (Duh.) 20-Second Timeouts will be quick in-depth analyses from interesting news items around the Association.
Stephen Jackson
Even though he won Golden State of Mind’s “Warrior Wonder” award for his 10 point, 15 assist double-double last night (yes, it was against MIN but it still counts!), Yahoo Sports is reporting that the Warriors are anxious to part ways with S-Jax and have as many as ten suitors. Nothing’s certain, but at this point I’d be more surprised if he ends the year as a Warrior than if he doesn’t.
What would it mean for his fantasy value?
If you drafted Jackson, like I did in one league (one of those “he’s too talented to be drafted this late” situations), you had to expect this after Jackson’s off-season griping. His future fantasy value depends on where he’s traded, but his value will likely decline based on assists alone. He wants to be traded to a contender, and there are few contenders I can think of who will let Jackson handle the ball as much as he did in The City. However, I expect his other numbers to stay relatively level, but it all depends. If you’re at all worried about his value nosediving, try to trade him now. I’m listening to offers but not panicking.
What would it mean for the other Warriors’ value?
Again, this depends on where Jackson is headed to, or rather, what pieces are coming back to Golden State. The Warriors are reportedly coveting a big man, so guys like Kelenna Azubuike and Anthony Morrow should be picked up and stashed. They’re already valuable in deeper leagues, and if Jackson gets traded, they’ll be among this year’s waiver wire steals. Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry should also see some bumps in production, particularly assists, as they would need to handle the ball more with Jackson gone.
Draft Strategy: Gilbert vs. The World
Posted by fantasy hoopster in Fantasy Basketball, Fantasy Basketball Draft, Fantasy Basketball Draft Strategy, Fantasy Basketball Rankings on October 10, 2009
"Aflac!" -Gilbert Gottfried, all de time (Scott Gries/Getty Images)
"When I had fun, I got criticized. So we’ll see what happens when I’m serious.” -Gilbert Arenas, Sept 2009 (AP/Haraz Ghanbari)
It just might be the single-most important decision affecting fantasy leagues this season. And the answer’s right here: I’m drafting Gilbert Gottfried in the third round of my Fantasy Jewish Comedians League. Think about it. He’s basically the Jason Kidd of Jewish comedians, consistently delivering across multiple platforms: television, film, even video games.
“Thanks for wasting my time, buddy. But where the hell do I draft Gilbert Arenas?” I’m glad you asked. I’m also glad Erik over at Points in the Paint already answered this question, because it makes my life a whole lot easier.
So what’s the point of this article? First, I’m going to touch on one great point Erik makes that I also alluded to in my Draft Rankings, as well as pose two important questions you should ask yourself on draft day. And I’ll throw in a case study… FOR FREE! (By the way, you’ll see I have Gilbert ranked #39. I’ll explain why I have him down there, but you’ll probably have to draft him much earlier if you want him.) Second, I’m going to touch on “The World” part of Gilbert vs. The World. Namely, how does Agent 0’s return affect two other fantasy studs: Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison?
THE GILBERT PART
Okay. This is it. The third round’s about to begin. Gilbert’s still on the board. What do you do? For me, it comes down to two (okay, three) questions:
a) Who else is on the draft board?
b) Who else is on my team? (And who else do I want on my team later?)
Fantasy Basketball Sleepers 2009-10
Posted by fantasy hoopster in Fantasy Basketball, Fantasy Basketball Draft, Fantasy Basketball Draft Strategy, Fantasy Basketball Rankings on September 30, 2009
Since you all are drafting him, might as well know what Anthony Randolph looks like (Rocky Widner/NBAE/Getty Images)
I’m not a huge fan of the term “sleeper” when it comes to fantasy basketball. How many people does it take to jump on the bandwagon before someone graduates from being a Sleeper to becoming just plain Good? In any case, I’ll try to point out some guys who should provide value where they’re drafted (as long as you don’t reach too far for them).
First of all, a list of guys who have graduated from becoming sleepers: Derrick Rose, Brook Lopez (in fact, they both skipped the whole step of becoming a sleeper), John Salmons, J.R. Smith, Francisco Garcia, Charlie Villanueva, Spencer Hawes, you get the idea. Now then…
VALUE SLEEPERS (GUYS YOU ALREADY KNOW)
Jameer Nelson, ORL, PG
Nelson already came back from injury, and thankfully for his fantasy owners this year, he didn’t look so hot. That last image of a player looking a step too slow can sometimes play tricks on fantasy owners, even if an entire summer has passed. Nelson was a top 30 guy when he was healthy last year, and ORL had enough confidence in his playmaking ability to lose both Rafer Alston and Hedo Turkoglu in the offseason (although of course VC came aboard). Current average draft position (ADP) in Yahoo leagues: 57. I like him in the late fourth round (of a 12-team draft).
Chris Duhon, NY, PG
Going along with the “bad taste in your mouth” idea, Duhon made it look easy after the All Star break last year, as he frankly just burned out. But remember, he’s still the starting PG on a Mike D’Antoni team. Unless the management in New York has no clue how to run a team (quite possible), they’ll likely monitor Duhon’s minutes more closely this year. So while he probably won’t drop 22 AST on anyone this year, he’s certainly capable of averaging 7+ apg over an entire year. He’s not even cracking the top 100 in ADP, but I’d take him in the ninth, maybe eighth round.
Rotoworld- DeSagana Diop a healthy scratch from lineup - DeSagana Diop (F/C) Charlotte Bobcats
- Larry Brown believes Iverson will return - Allen Iverson (G) Philadelphia 76ers
- Scalabrine inactive due to Finley addition - Brian Scalabrine (F/C) Boston Celtics
- Aaron Gray returns from stomach infection - Aaron Gray (C) New Orleans Hornets
- Ellington returns after three game absence - Wayne Ellington (G) Minnesota Timberwolves
- Thompson scores 10 in win - Jason Thompson (F/C) Sacramento Kings
- Tyreke Evans gets first triple-double in win - Tyreke Evans (G) Sacramento Kings
- Beno big again in Kings win - Beno Udrih (G) Sacramento Kings
- Bargnani lone bright spot for Raptors - Andrea Bargnani (F/C) Toronto Raptors
- Walker donezo - Bill Walker (G/F) New York Knicks
- Adrian Wojnarowski
- WojYahooNBA: RT @DanWetzel: I'm giddy over this Tiger-Ari Fleischer deal. A sure-to-be disastrous PR campaign is always good for a columnist
- WojYahooNBA: Column: Donald Sterling has big plans for the Clippers now. Next, he should fire himself. http://tinyurl.com/yhbokyp
- WojYahooNBA: RT @jimrome: You know you're having a bad day if Lester Munson is on tv talking about you.
- WojYahooNBA: Gonzo took Times vaccine at Duane Reade RT @PeteThamelNYT: When asked his reaction toTimes story, Gonzo said, "I’m immune to those things."
- WojYahooNBA: Larry Brown had been pushing for Sixers job too, but hard to believe MJ will let him out of contract to leave for Philly or Clips.
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