Archive for the ‘Fantasy’ Category

The NBA regular season is over, and with it, the fantasy basketball season. For those that did well, congratulations! For those that didn’t, you were probably hit with the injury bug to a significant player on your roster, saying nothing about your true skill in playing pretend NBA. At least that’s what I’m telling myself. Sigh.

That said, let’s take a look at those players that exceeded expectations, as well as those that fell flat on their faces.

NOTE: All players needed to have appeared in 50 games in order to qualify below (so, no Jeremy Lin) and Yahoo! O-Rank represents the ranking of past and projected performance while Yahoo! Rank represents the ranking for this season.

All-Good Value

Ryan Anderson, PF/C, Orlando Magic
Yahoo! O-Rank: 103; Yahoo! Rank: 8
61 G; 16.1 PPG; 43.9 FG%; 87.7 FT%; 2.7 3PTM; 7.7 RPG; 0.9 APG; 0.8 SPG; 0.4 BPG

Anderson didn’t exactly come out of nowhere, as he averaged double-digits in points (10.6) the previous season, as well as 5.6 rebounds and 2.1 three-pointers, all in about 10 less minutes per compared to this season. It seems all that he needed was some significant burn to produce, but who knew that he would beat out Glen Davis for the starting four spot from the get-go? Anderson is an excellent shooter but many say that his stats are only the result of playing with Dwight Howard. Well, in 10 April games without D12, Anderson averaged 16.3 points, 43.2 FG%, 96.0 FT%, 1.9 3PTM and 9.0 rebounds in 37.2 minutes. Not bad for someone who probably went undrafted in most leagues.

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This week, I’m going to throw out a dozen names to help you win your fantasy basketball championship. Also, if your league allows streaming — the practice of picking up multiple players off the waiver wire willy-nilly to accumulate stats — then this week’s TFJO should help you out. Good luck!

Waiver Wire Considerations

Kenneth Faried, PF, Denver Nuggets (43% owned in Yahoo! leagues)
In the past week (four games), Faried produced a double-double in three of four games and did nicely on the defensive stats. He averaged 15.0 points, 59.5 FG%, 80.0 FT% (5.0 FTA), 11.8 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.3 blocks in only 27 minutes of play. In those three games, the Nuggets won. In fact, when Faried achieves a double-double and starts (eight games), the Nuggets are 8-0. In the one game that Faried double-doubled, but didn’t start, the Nuggets lost 103-102 to the Memphis Grizzlies. It’s run for the playoffs time and the Nuggets would do well to give Faried the minutes, which would benefit his owners as well.

Matt Barnes, SG/SF, Los Angeles Lakers (16%)
Since Kobe Bryant has been out, Andrew Bynum hasn’t been the only Laker stepping up his game. In the past week (four games), Barnes averaged 14.3 points, 67.7 FG%, 71.4 FT% (1.8 FTA), 8.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.0 blocks in 27.5 minutes of play. Who knows when Kobe comes back and if the Lakers keep playing well without him (4-1, including four in a row), the team may choose to rest Bean for the playoffs to the benefit of players such as Barnes and….

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The fantasy hoops playoffs continue and if you’ve gotten this far, congrats on that, but there’s still a couple of weeks to go before you can breath that sigh of relief and exaltation as champion! Below are eight players to consider as you make your run for a title. Good luck!

Waiver Wire Considerations

Randy Foye, PG/SG, Los Angeles Clippers (36% owned in Yahoo! leagues)
Foye has played a significant roll in the Clippers winning seven of their last eight games and in the past week (five games), during which he’s averaged 19.2 points, 44.2 FG%, 100.0 FT% (2.0 FTA), 3.6 three-pointers, 3.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists. Foye has obviously been contributing all over the place offensively, particularly in treys. However, defensively, he’s giving you nothing, which is probably why he gets less burn on the court (32.5 minutes per game last week) than he could, considering the offensive output. Regardless, there’s a good chance he’s available in your league, so if you need some offensive punch during your playoff run, Foye is an excellent option.

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It’s fantasy basketball playoffs time in most leagues and every decision has tremendous implications in whether or not you advance towards a championship. Below are eight players that could help any fantasy hoops team. Ironic since three of them play for a franchise that they can’t help towards anything but a high lottery pick. Good luck to all!

Waiver Wire Considerations

Mike Dunleavy, SG/SF, Milwaukee Bucks (49% owned in Yahoo! leagues)
Dunleavy is doing damage as he comes off the pine for the Bucks and he’s doing it big in the month of March as he seems to be finding his stride. In 14 March games, Dunleavy averaged 15.6 points, 56.9 FG%, 88.0 FT% (1.8 FTA), 2.3 treys, 3.9 boards and 3.1 assists in almost 29 minutes per contest. Other than the defensive categories, he’s been contributing for his fantasy owners. In the past week (four games), Dunleavy averaged 15.5 points, 64.9 FG%, 50.0 FT% (1.0 FTA), 3.0 threes, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 dimes, which is basically in line with what’s he’s been doing for the month. If he’s available in your league, grab him with the quickness.

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It’s getting to be crunch time for most fantasy basketball leagues with just one week left in the regular season. Below are six suggestions to help you get over the top and into the 74th annual Hunger Games! Err, I mean fantasy basketball postseason. Good luck, everyone. Paz!

Waiver Wire Considerations

Jason Thompson, PF/C, Sacramento Kings (43% owned in Yahoo! leagues)
Thompson has always had the tools to succeed and is one of those players that only need some consistency to really take it to that next level in his development. If there’s any time to start doing it, it’s now during his fourth season. Things are looking good if his recent play is any indication. In the past week (four games), Thompson, in 33.5 minutes per game, averaged 16.8 points, 60.9 FG%, 78.6 FT% (3.5 FTA), 13.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.3 steals and a less-than-stellar 0.5 blocks despite his height and length. But, it’s hard to complain about the other stats considering he’s had five double-doubles in his last five games. If you need contributions in points, boards and field goal percentage, Thompson is a great choice. Since the All-Star break (14 games), he’s shooting 54.6% from the field and averaging 10.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in about 27 minutes per contest.

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This week, we’ll go against the normal format and look at the fantasy impact of last week’s significant NBA trades that went down and suggest possible waiver wire acquisitions as a result of said trades. I’ll solely be focusing on those players owned in 60 percent or less of Yahoo! leagues because you all know what you’re getting with a Monta Ellis (chucks galore) or JaVale McGee (on-court comedy) type of player.

Milwaukee Bucks acquire Monta Ellis (100%), Ekpe Udoh (13%) and Kwame Brown (1%) and the Golden State Warriors acquire Andrew Bogut (32%) and Stephen Jackson (54%)

In his last game with the Warriors, Udoh scored 14 points on 7-for-10 shooting, grabbed six rebounds and blocked two shots. I suggested Udoh last time, but will give him a slight downgrade (for now) after this trade because of the stacked rotation at the four and five spots for the Bucks — Ersan Ilyasova, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, Drew Gooden and Jon Leuer. However, let’s see what Scott Skiles does because Udoh might be the only legit center they have and he had been playing well before the trade. Both Bogut (injury; likely out for the season) and Brown (being Kwame Brown) are inconsequential at this point. See below for more on Captain Jack.

On the Warriors, expect Klay Thompson (39%) to get more burn. He’s another player I suggested last time because of his instant offense off the bench and ability to hit treys. It’s doubtful Brandon Rush will be able to hold the rookie back. Also, if rumors of Stephen Curry being shut down for the season are true, Nate Robinson (36%) would be a great grab off the wire. In fact, consider doing that now out of pure speculation if you have an open spot or an underperforming player on your squad.

Indiana Pacers acquire Leandro Barbosa (18%) and the Toronto Raptors acquire a second-round pick and cash considerations

Don’t expect too much from Barbosa in a crowded Pacers backcourt, even though Darren Collison has been bad. George Hill will likely take over the starting point guard spot soon, but with A.J. Price (0%) and Dahntay Jones (0%) also looking for minutes, Barbosa won’t get as much burn as he did with the Raptors. However, he’ll likely be the first or second guard off the pine.

The player that benefits most is the Raptors’ Jerryd Bayless (37%), who has been great in the past week (four games, all starts) — 23.3 points, 54.4 FG%, 86.4 FT%, 3.0 3PTM, 8.0 assists and 4.0 boards. Jose Calderon has been out with a sprained ankle and should come back soon to start at some point, but there’s no hurry considering Bayless’ production. However, without Barbosa around to take minutes, Bayless is looking good in continuing to produce.

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Everyone should become fans of Goran Dragic, the Euro version of Steve Nash, this week because if history proves anything, he’ll be doing some big things. This week, I also did something I never thought I would do, but had to remember separation of reality and fantasy. Sort of like accepting I have zero chance of getting Kate Upton to teach me how to Dougie.

Waiver Wire Considerations

Goran Dragic, PG/SG, Houston Rockets (33% owned in Yahoo! leagues)
Kyle Lowry will be out 2-4 weeks with a bacterial infection, which opens the door for Dragic to get some major burn unless a trade for a point guard goes down. In the past two Rockets games, which Dragic started, he averaged 21.5 points on 60.0 percent shooting from the floor and 100 percent on the charity stripe (2.5 FTA), 8.0 assists, 4.0 3PTM and 1.0 steals. For the season in four starts, he averaged 18.3 points, 57.8 FG%, 90.9 FT%, 8.8 dimess, 2.8 triples and 1.3 rock rips. Yes, the boy does work when given an opportunity. If you need point guard help or have Lowry on your squad, stop reading and grab Dragic.

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