Archive for the ‘Fantasy’ Category

Going to change things up a bit this week and also take a look at players owned in more than the 30 percent range, when I usually try to suggest players actually available in a majority of leagues. Why? Because, like a Nicholas Sparks movie, everyone needs love.

Oh, and next week, we’ll have a special All-Star edition round table from various fantasy basketball experts answering a few questions. Enough about the future, let’s get going with this week’s suggestions.

Temper Expectations

Danny Green, SG/SF, (47% owned in Yahoo! leagues and ranked fifth overall in the past week) and Kawhi Leonard, SG/SF, (58% and eighth), San Antonio Spurs
Both Spurs wings benefited in the past week (two games) due to Manu Ginobili being out and Tim Duncan playing relatively few minutes. Green had eight treys in the Spurs’ last game, finishing with 28 points. In the same game, Leonard finished with 19 points and 10 boards. However, while Green is an excellent source of triples and Leonard has great upside to contribute everywhere, both require consistent burn to warrant a pickup in standard leagues. Plus, there’s always the possibility of someone like Gary Neal, Stephen Jackson or Matt Bonner of getting hot. Pick Green and Leonard up for now, but once they slow down, drop and pickup someone else.

I Hope You Heeded My Words

Nick Young, SG/SF, Philadelphia 76ers (36%)
Jason Richardson goes down for the season and Nick Young falls in to some prime playing time, as he’s received 37 minutes per in three games in the past week. In those three games, Young dropped 14.7 points, grabbed 5.7 boards, dished 1.7 assists, stole the ball 1.7 times and rejected a shot per game. His triples output (0.7; 14.3 percent on 4.7 3PA) stunk, but with the amount of opportunities he’ll have moving forward, Young is a good bet to even things out a bit and produce more treys, just like any human with the surname Kerby. Pick him up in all leagues!

Earl Clark, SF/PF, Los Angeles Lakers (43%)
And Pau Gasol goes down too. Like Young, Clark will continue to benefit from injury to a teammate. However, even before the injury to Pau, I suggested to you fine folks a few times to pick up Clark because of Dwight Howard’s nagging and nagging injuries, as well as fitting well in Mike D’Antoni’s system. In the past four games, Clark averaged 12.3 points on 48.8 percent shooting from the floor (10.3 FGA), 9.8 rebounds, 0.5 three-pointers (22.2 percent on 2.3 attempts), 1.0 steals and 1.5 blocks in 38 minutes per contest. THIRTY-EIGHT MINUTES. Since Pau is out for about six weeks and Howard is dealing with injuries that don’t seem like they’ll be going away any time soon, Clark warrants being owned in all leagues.

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It’s several more weeks before fantasy basketball playoffs begin, but now is the time to start making that push for the postseason. Below are some waiver wire suggestions to help you get some leverage.

Nate Robinson, PG/SG, Chicago Bulls (28% owned in Yahoo! leagues)
Robinson had a solid four-game stretch in the last week, averaging 20.0 points on 56.9 percent shooting from the floor (14.5 FGA) and 100.0 percent from the free throw line (1.5 FTA), 2.0 three-pointers, 3.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.8 steals in 25 minutes of play. Until Derrick Rose finally returns to play, Robinson should be good for similar type stretches. However, current streakiness aside, the Bulls guard had a solid month of January going on (16 games) — 12.3 points, 48.1 FG% (10.0 FGA), 85.0 FT% (1.3 FTA), 1.6 treys, 2.6 boards, 3.6 dimes and 1.3 steals in 22 minutes. Feel good picking him up in every type of league.

Kosta Koufos, PF/C, Denver Nuggets (26%)
Koufos would be a solid add in standard leagues if you need some big man stats. He is coming off a solid month of January (15 games), where he basically duplicated what he did in December, showing that he has found a groove. In the past two months, Koufos is averaging 9.3 points on 62.8 percent shooting from the floor, 7.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 25 minutes. While the numbers aren’t mind-blowing, they’re steady. If you need that in your fantasy life, Koufos is a nice option.

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I want to start this week off by saying that Brook Lopez not making the All-Star team is some bullcrap. With that off my chest, below are this week’s suggestions of players to pluck from the waiver wire. Two of them are repeats from last week because y’all just aren’t listening. Help me, help you!

Tiago Splitter, C, San Antonio Spurs (36% owned in Yahoo! leagues)
I’ve always been a big fan of Tiago Splitter, who is on a solid run of eight straight games putting double figures in the scoring column while shooting 70.6 percent from the floor. That shiz cray! In the past week (four games), he averaged 17.0 points and 8.8 boards in 32 minutes. As a starter this season (23 games), which he has been for the past month, Splitter is averaging 11.5 points, 59.5 FG% (7.3 FGA), 76.2 FT% (3.7 FTA), 6.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, a steal and block in a mere 27 minutes. Things are looking up for the Brazilian, so add him if you have a roster spot in all leagues.

Carlos Delfino, SG/SF, Houston Rockets (29%)
Delfino is probably the easiest add amongst this group because he’s been getting consistent minutes (about 25) since the beginning of the season. He’s having a very good January (13 games), averaging 12.8 points on 45.0 percent shooting from the floor and 80.0 percent from the stripe, 2.8 treys, 2.8 rebounds, 2.1 dimes and 1.2 steals in 27 minutes. If he’s available in your league and you like across the board contributions, breathe easy adding Delfino.

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The NBA All-Stars have been voted in and announced! It’s a safe bet none of the below suggested players made it. However, they can help elevate your fantasy basketball team and your vote is the only one matters when it comes to your team. Don’t you feel important?

Randy Foye, PG/SG, Utah Jazz (36% owned in Yahoo! leagues)
Remember when Foye dominated the 2006 NBA Summer League, winning MVP honors and making the Minnesota Timberwolves look like geniuses? Ah, the good old days. In any case, in the past week (three games), Foye averaged 17.0 points and 4.0 treys (hitting on 75.0 percent of those Kerbys!) and 1.7 steals. January has been his best month of the season (eight games) thus far with the most minutes (29), points (11.9), three-pointers (2.4) and best field goal percentage (47.0) on average. Things are trending up and Foye’s performance is harkening back to 2006.

Andre Drummond, PF/C, Detroit Pistons (32%)
If you’re in a dynasty league, you must absolutely grab Drummond if he’s available for some crazy reason. Same goes for deep leagues. In standard leagues, if you want blocks and boards on the cheap, feel free. In the past week (three games), Drummond averaged 9.3 points on 68.4 percent shooting from the field (6.3 FGA), 8.7 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 2.3 blocks in only 20 minutes. And, if you must know, he shot 33.3 percent from the freebie line (2.0 FTA). But did you see the other numbers? Pause reading this post and just free your waiver wire of Drummond’s services.

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Happy New Year! I know it’s already the 11th of January for those of us that follow the Gregorian calendar, but it’s been awhile, kids. In any case, we’re back and a new feature with each TFJO moving forward will be a guest appearance by some of the top fantasy hoops writers on the interwebs. I ask a question, they answer. But first, below are some suggestions off the waiver wire.

Ben Gordon, SG, Charlotte Bobcats (26% owned in Yahoo! leagues)
Gordon has been digging 2013 like a mofo, averaging 21.7 points (54.2 FG%; 16.0 FGA), two three-pointers, 3.7 assists and 1.7 steals per game in only 27 minutes of play in three January contests. For his career, January (108 games) is usually his best month of the season in regards to points (17.3) and dimes (3.0), so if you’re going to get him at point during the season, it may as well be now. Of course, the major issue with Gordon is time on the court. Thus far, January has been his best month of the season with regards to PT.

Derrick Williams, SF/PF, Minnesota Timberwolves (22%)
Since Kevin Love’s re-injury, Williams has produced very good numbers overall. Granted, he’s not starting in place of Love, but there’s more minutes available and Williams is taking advantage. In his last three games, he averaged 16.3 points on 52.6 percent shooting from the floor (12.7 FGA) and 80.0 percent from the line (1.7 FTA), 1.7 threes, 6.0 rebounds and a steal in only 22 minutes of play. The next several weeks can really show Williams’ value for the T-Wolves moving forward, or more possibly in a trade to another team for some assets.

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This week, in the spirit of the holiday, we change things up a little bit. No, I’m not talking about being nice to one another, buying presents or any nonsense like that. I’m talking about the essence of the season — greed! Specifically, things I’d want as a fantasy basketball manager.

The following things would be nice to find left under our tree by Fantasy Basketball Santa, who is probably just Oliver Miller:

- Please come back to us Derrick Rose, Andrew Bynum, Dirk Nowitzki, Danny Granger, Eric Gordon, Amar’e Stoudemire and John Wall. You’ve all been missed, not because you’re great people, but because some of us have holes in production and you take up a roster spot. Where are you? Are you all hiding under Bynum’s helmet hair?

- Deron Williams, all I want for Christmas (and the rest of the season) is a higher field goal percentage. Is there something about wearing a Nets uniform that makes you shoot like crap? Since joining the team, you’re shooting 39.8 percent from the floor compared to 46.3 percent while with the Utah Jazz. Let’s pick it up, buddy. Honorable mention goes to Roy Hibbert, a 7-foot-2 man shooting 39.3 percent from the field. Seriously, WTF?

- Dwight Howard, you’re as good at making freebies as you are at making decisions. I can give a crap about the latter, but as much as you go to the free throw line, you need to get better at the former. Yes, this is the present I expect not to get. Sort of like Sofia Vergara pining for me.

- Kyrie Irving, take your vitamins, say your prayers and eat your vegetables. Sage advice from Hulk Hogan. You’re one of those “When healthy…” players when it comes to who the bests in the game are. Your contributions across the board are awesome, but missing 26 out of 93 games to start your career is not.

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We’re at the quarter-mark of the NBA season and it never hurts to make adjustments to your fantasy basketball squad. Here are some suggestions.

Waiver Wire Considerations

Bradley Beal, SG, Washington Wizards (57% owned in Yahoo! leagues)
Beal has had a relatively rough start, as most rookies do, but he seems to be figuring this NBA thing out lately. In 13 November games, Beal averaged 28 minutes, 11.2 points, 34.1 FG% (10.6 FGA), 85.0 FT% (3.1 FTA), 1.4 three pointers, 1.6 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 0.8 steals. In five December games thus far, he’s averaging 32 minutes, 16.0 points, 41.8 FG% (13.4 FGA), 85.0 FT% (4.0 FTA), 1.4 three pointers, 4.4 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.4 steals. Yes, now is the time to grab him in every fantasy basketball format while you can if you need some very good production over all categories. Well, besides field goal percentage.

Danny Green, SG/SF, San Antonio Spurs (57%)
Kawhi Leonard who? Leonard was the youngster Coach Pop anointed as the future of the Spurs franchise, but Green is proving to be every bit as worthy as Leonard. Remember, Green sat out of a game along with the Spurs’ Big Three of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili earlier this month, which could be symbolic if you’re into reading that deeply. However, it’s been a solid month for Green, who in six December games is averaging 10.0 points, 43.4 FG% (8.8 FGA), 2.3 three pointers, 1.5 assists, 3.3 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.0 block in only 27 minutes of burn. It’s not punch in the gut sort of stats, but the triples and defensive stats are very appealing. Green is more of speculative grab that can pay off down the line, but it will all depend how the rotation plays out when everyone is healthy.

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