Tuesday, January 28, 2014
2014 All-Star Top 10: Stephen Curry
If you're not sold yet on Steph Curry, this should convince you. He does it all, end of story.
Time to Trade LeBron James?
I'm going to start out by saying that I'm not a LeBron hater. In fact, I'm actually a fan. Not a die-hard fan, but how can you not be impressed by one of the greatest to ever play the game?
But when it comes to fantasy basketball, it's time to trade LeBron. Not cheap, for sure, but trade him somehow. "Why? He was my #1 pick!" Yeah, mine too, but I just traded him for Steph Curry. Here's the thing about LeBron. First off, he's not playing as hard as he can, he's just playing as hard as he needs to. And there's no fault in that, I mean they're winning games and why burn himself out when they're going to win anyway? Not to take anything away, Bron Bron is playing great basketball as usual, averaging 26 points, 6.9 boards, and 6.5 assists per game this season. The thing about LeBron that you don't get that you can get with other players is the game they just go off. From LeBron, you're going to get a consistent 26-8-6 stat-line every game, with the occasional 30-12-8 or maybe a triple-double (although he hasn't recorded one yet this season). However, guys like Curry are going to explode for 38 points and 15 assists, hitting 7 threes in a night, or guys like DeAndre Jordan or Kevin Love are going to pull down those 20+ rebounds and 6 blocks. You won't get freak games like that from LeBron, because he's too good. He's too much of a team player and wants to make his team better. Great player, not so much fantasy-wise.
But all that aside, here's why you should really trade him.
Last season, LeBron missed six games. Why's this important? These six games all came within the last ten games of the season. No, he wasn't injured. He was resting. Spoelstra likes to rest LeBron a bit toward the end of the season so he can be ready to roll for playoffs. When does the end of the NBA season coincide with? Fantasy playoffs. I won my league last year because the guy I was playing had LeBron, and LeBron didn't play any of the last three games. LeBron is a good player and good fantasy player none-the-less, but come playoff time, there's a pretty good chance he won't be playing.
The Heat and the Pacers are the only competitive teams in the East, and Spoelstra isn't going to burn out LeBron to ensure a #1 seed. That's why I recommend trading for a star from the West, like Curry, Chris Paul, Aldridge, or even Harden. These guys are going to be battling it out for the highest seed they can get, and with the Western Conference as tight as it is (4.5 games separating 1st and 4th), every game will count, meaning these guys are going to be playing hard all season through fantasy playoffs, especially during fantasy playoffs.
Here are a list of players I believe will be in the "LeBron" category, who will likely see resting periods as the season winds down: LeBron James, Miami SF; Joakim Noah, Chicago C; Tim Duncan, San Antonio C; Paul George, Indiana SF (maybe not so much him, but I expect a few games); Roy Hibbert, Indiana C; David West, Indiana PF (Indiana will rotate games of resting players); Dwyane Wade, Miami SG (if you haven't traded Dwyane Wade by now, it might be too late... but try and get at least something for him)
Here are a list of players I believe will be seeing regular minutes even towards the last games of the season that you may be wondering about: Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City SF; Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City PG; LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland PF; Carmelo Anthony, New York SF; Steph Curry, Golden State PG; Dwight Howard, Houston C; James Harden, Houston SG; Kevin Love, Minnesota PF; Anthony Davis, New Orleans C; DeAndre Jordan, Los Angeles C; Chris Paul, Los Angeles PG
Best of luck to all in Week 14 of Fantasy Basketball, and if you've got LeBron James on your roster or any of the others in his category, trade him before it's too late!
My advice - try and get the sharp-shooting Super Splash Bro.
Monday, January 27, 2014
Week 14 Free Agent Finds
Man, has it been a crazy week in the NBA or what? Carmelo Anthony breaks a Madison Square Garden record lighting it up for 62. Chandler Parsons sets a franchise record with 10 made threes and an NBA record with 10 made threes in a half! Only for Terrence Ross to hit 10 threes the following night, posting 51 points, setting a Raptors franchise record. We saw Rudy Gay and DeMarcus Cousins get injured in the same game, and the next game, Marcus Thornton and Isaiah Thomas combine for 80 points on 29-58 shooting. It's been quite a week, to say the very least. So what did we learn?
Carmelo Anthony can score. His 62-point outing was against the Bobcats, but not to take anything away from Melo, it's still 62 points.
Chandler Parsons can shoot. Just about as well as anyone and probably the best shooter on the Houston Rockets.
Terrence Ross had a freak outing with DeMar DeRozan getting hurt with an ankle sprain. Who knows if he can keep up that scoring outburst in consecutive games? I don't think so.
Thornton and Thomas are good... if Rudy Gay and DeMarcus Cousins are out. They managed to get off 58 shots between the two of them.
So at this point in the season, who's available on the waiver wire still? Deeper leagues have real problems with the waiver wire. Mainly, there's nobody worth having on it. However, that doesn't mean you can't snag a solid player if you make good decisions. So take a chance. Here's my list of waiver-wire adds for Week 14:
1. Andray Blatche - Brooklyn Nets, PF - The main thing I like about Blatche is his consistency. The Nets have no Brook Lopez, and Kevin Garnett is far from the KG we all used to know. Blatche can shoot a mid-range jumper, finish in the post, rebound, and play defense. He's a good player, and over the last two weeks, Blatche is averaging 16.4 PPG, 8 RPG, and 1.2 BPG in just 26 minutes per game. Normally, I don't like adding players to my roster who aren't playing 30-40 minutes every night, but Blatche is nice, and he's definitely someone to keep an eye on, especially if KG starts resting or Blatche starts getting more minutes.
2. James Johnson - Memphis Grizzlies, SF - James Johnson is an interesting player. He is literally the definition of a stat-sheet stuffer. He won't contribute in quantity, but he will do a little bit of everything for you. He really is the missing piece of the Grizzlies. Over the past two weeks, Johnson is averaging 8.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.9 steals, and 2.3 blocks per game in less than 23 minutes a game! He does it all, and if you watch them play, you'll see just how important he is to their success, making big plays in late game situations. Pick him up if you need help in every statistical category. He should be owned in all but shallow leagues.
3. Tyson Chandler - New York Knicks, C - Obviously, Chandler should be owned in all formats. However, his production had been slumping, so frustrated owners decided to drop him. He's slowly getting back into the swing of things, but with all of the injuries plaguing the power forwards of New York (Stoudemire, Bargnani, and Martin) there are many rebounds to go around and Tyson can lock down the paint. Pick him up if you're in the 22% of leagues where he's available.
4. Markieff Morris - Phoenix Suns, PF - Markieff is the better of the Morris twins, needless to say. So when you're looking for this guy, be sure not to pick up Marcus. Morris has been on a tear lately, averaging 17.9 points and 6.7 rebounds per game over the past couple of weeks, pretty solid numbers for a waiver-wire power forward pick up. The problem with any Suns player is the fact that, because there are no superstars, the entire team gets involved, so it's hard to predict who that will be on any given night. Obviously, Dragic and Plumlee will produce, but other than that, it's up in the air. However, Morris has started to solidify his mark as a necessary player on this team, posting some stat lines of 24 pts-7rbs, 23 pts-12 rbs, and 27 pts-15 rbs in recent games.
5. Jason Thompson, Sacramento Kings, PF and Derrick Williams, Sacramento Kings, SF - With injuries falling upon Rudy Gay and DeMarcus Cousins, that opens up a lot of opportunities for the rest of the Sacramento players. The first game following the injuries, Thornton went for 42 points, but I don't think this is indicative of the production without the Kings focal points. However, look into Williams and Thompson. Williams will see the highest benefit here, though. Gay is averaging almost 17 shot attempts per game in addition to 6 rebounds, and Cousins is averaging almost 17 shot attempts per game, too, with almost 12 rebounds. We're talking about 34 shots and 18 rebounds that need to be filled up. Who better to do that than Williams and Thompson?
A few other free agents I thought I'd throw out there in case you're daring that might do some work for you: DeMarre Carroll, Atlanta SF; D.J. Augustin, Chicago PG (if available); Miles Plumlee, Phoenix C; Taj Gibson, Chicago PF; Larry Sanders, Milwaukee C; Alec Burks, Utah PG (as long as Gordon Hayward is sidelined and potentially upon his return)
Best of luck to all in Week 14 of Fantasy Basketball!
Carmelo Anthony can score. His 62-point outing was against the Bobcats, but not to take anything away from Melo, it's still 62 points.
Chandler Parsons can shoot. Just about as well as anyone and probably the best shooter on the Houston Rockets.
Terrence Ross had a freak outing with DeMar DeRozan getting hurt with an ankle sprain. Who knows if he can keep up that scoring outburst in consecutive games? I don't think so.
Thornton and Thomas are good... if Rudy Gay and DeMarcus Cousins are out. They managed to get off 58 shots between the two of them.
So at this point in the season, who's available on the waiver wire still? Deeper leagues have real problems with the waiver wire. Mainly, there's nobody worth having on it. However, that doesn't mean you can't snag a solid player if you make good decisions. So take a chance. Here's my list of waiver-wire adds for Week 14:
1. Andray Blatche - Brooklyn Nets, PF - The main thing I like about Blatche is his consistency. The Nets have no Brook Lopez, and Kevin Garnett is far from the KG we all used to know. Blatche can shoot a mid-range jumper, finish in the post, rebound, and play defense. He's a good player, and over the last two weeks, Blatche is averaging 16.4 PPG, 8 RPG, and 1.2 BPG in just 26 minutes per game. Normally, I don't like adding players to my roster who aren't playing 30-40 minutes every night, but Blatche is nice, and he's definitely someone to keep an eye on, especially if KG starts resting or Blatche starts getting more minutes.
2. James Johnson - Memphis Grizzlies, SF - James Johnson is an interesting player. He is literally the definition of a stat-sheet stuffer. He won't contribute in quantity, but he will do a little bit of everything for you. He really is the missing piece of the Grizzlies. Over the past two weeks, Johnson is averaging 8.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.9 steals, and 2.3 blocks per game in less than 23 minutes a game! He does it all, and if you watch them play, you'll see just how important he is to their success, making big plays in late game situations. Pick him up if you need help in every statistical category. He should be owned in all but shallow leagues.
3. Tyson Chandler - New York Knicks, C - Obviously, Chandler should be owned in all formats. However, his production had been slumping, so frustrated owners decided to drop him. He's slowly getting back into the swing of things, but with all of the injuries plaguing the power forwards of New York (Stoudemire, Bargnani, and Martin) there are many rebounds to go around and Tyson can lock down the paint. Pick him up if you're in the 22% of leagues where he's available.
4. Markieff Morris - Phoenix Suns, PF - Markieff is the better of the Morris twins, needless to say. So when you're looking for this guy, be sure not to pick up Marcus. Morris has been on a tear lately, averaging 17.9 points and 6.7 rebounds per game over the past couple of weeks, pretty solid numbers for a waiver-wire power forward pick up. The problem with any Suns player is the fact that, because there are no superstars, the entire team gets involved, so it's hard to predict who that will be on any given night. Obviously, Dragic and Plumlee will produce, but other than that, it's up in the air. However, Morris has started to solidify his mark as a necessary player on this team, posting some stat lines of 24 pts-7rbs, 23 pts-12 rbs, and 27 pts-15 rbs in recent games.
5. Jason Thompson, Sacramento Kings, PF and Derrick Williams, Sacramento Kings, SF - With injuries falling upon Rudy Gay and DeMarcus Cousins, that opens up a lot of opportunities for the rest of the Sacramento players. The first game following the injuries, Thornton went for 42 points, but I don't think this is indicative of the production without the Kings focal points. However, look into Williams and Thompson. Williams will see the highest benefit here, though. Gay is averaging almost 17 shot attempts per game in addition to 6 rebounds, and Cousins is averaging almost 17 shot attempts per game, too, with almost 12 rebounds. We're talking about 34 shots and 18 rebounds that need to be filled up. Who better to do that than Williams and Thompson?
A few other free agents I thought I'd throw out there in case you're daring that might do some work for you: DeMarre Carroll, Atlanta SF; D.J. Augustin, Chicago PG (if available); Miles Plumlee, Phoenix C; Taj Gibson, Chicago PF; Larry Sanders, Milwaukee C; Alec Burks, Utah PG (as long as Gordon Hayward is sidelined and potentially upon his return)
Best of luck to all in Week 14 of Fantasy Basketball!
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Week 13 Free Agent Finds
Topping off the list of this week's free agent finds are a few Chicago Bulls.
1. Taj Gibson - Chicago Bulls, PF -
I've got multiple arguments for him. First off, fantasy-wise, Gibson really isn't that far below Boozer in general. Rather, he's very close. Now also consider that Gibson gets a few less minutes per game, but still gets the crunch time playtime. Now, figure in that Carlos Boozer has been nursing a calf injury; he's not even playing tonight against Cleveland. This will be Boozer's third missed game in his last ten. Gibson will be taking the start, and likely more minutes even when Boozer returns. In the previous two games Boozer missed, Gibson landed 10 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 blocks against Atlanta and 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists against Phoenix. Gibson is in for a big game tonight and strong numbers as long as Boozer's injury lingers around, which could be for who knows how long.
2. D.J. Augustin - Chicago Bulls, PG -
This isn't the same D.J. Augustin that ran Charlotte a few years back or the same one that took a backseat to George Hill in Indiana last season. He's different. He's matured, smarter, a better shooter... all of the things you want in a point guard. Augustin is no Derrick Rose, but he's better than Kirk Hinrich, Marquis Teague, and Mike James, all completely irrelevant in this case. It doesn't come down to Hinrich vs. Augustin; it just comes down to whether or not to pick up Augustin. I'll convince you. Hinrich starts still, and I'm not too sure why. But Thibodeau is a good coach, and I won't question it. Either way, Hinrich is officially ruled out for about a week with a hamstring injury, making Augustin able to run the offense from the get-go. Now Hinrich hasn't missed any action yet, so the following stat line is while Hinrich was getting 30 minutes a game. Over his past six outings, Augustin has averaged 18 points, 7 assists, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.7 threes a game. Now you're not going to see Augustin's minutes skyrocket to 46 (you might, it's Thibodeau), but you will see increased production due to the absence of Kirk Hinrich. Pick him up, and give him a week. If you're not happy, drop him. But you will be.
3. Channing Frye - Phoenix Suns, PF -
1. Taj Gibson - Chicago Bulls, PF -
I've got multiple arguments for him. First off, fantasy-wise, Gibson really isn't that far below Boozer in general. Rather, he's very close. Now also consider that Gibson gets a few less minutes per game, but still gets the crunch time playtime. Now, figure in that Carlos Boozer has been nursing a calf injury; he's not even playing tonight against Cleveland. This will be Boozer's third missed game in his last ten. Gibson will be taking the start, and likely more minutes even when Boozer returns. In the previous two games Boozer missed, Gibson landed 10 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 blocks against Atlanta and 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists against Phoenix. Gibson is in for a big game tonight and strong numbers as long as Boozer's injury lingers around, which could be for who knows how long.
2. D.J. Augustin - Chicago Bulls, PG -
This isn't the same D.J. Augustin that ran Charlotte a few years back or the same one that took a backseat to George Hill in Indiana last season. He's different. He's matured, smarter, a better shooter... all of the things you want in a point guard. Augustin is no Derrick Rose, but he's better than Kirk Hinrich, Marquis Teague, and Mike James, all completely irrelevant in this case. It doesn't come down to Hinrich vs. Augustin; it just comes down to whether or not to pick up Augustin. I'll convince you. Hinrich starts still, and I'm not too sure why. But Thibodeau is a good coach, and I won't question it. Either way, Hinrich is officially ruled out for about a week with a hamstring injury, making Augustin able to run the offense from the get-go. Now Hinrich hasn't missed any action yet, so the following stat line is while Hinrich was getting 30 minutes a game. Over his past six outings, Augustin has averaged 18 points, 7 assists, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.7 threes a game. Now you're not going to see Augustin's minutes skyrocket to 46 (you might, it's Thibodeau), but you will see increased production due to the absence of Kirk Hinrich. Pick him up, and give him a week. If you're not happy, drop him. But you will be.
3. Channing Frye - Phoenix Suns, PF -
In short, Channing Frye is a power forward who is a three-point specialist. Not many power forwards can successfully guard him, and he's too tall in the post to be effectively contained by a small forward. He's hard to match up with, and he's hot right now. The Suns' center, Miles Plumlee, is nursing an injury right now, offering more rebounding opportunities for Frye, who already averages 5.5 boards a game. Through his last 11 games, Frye has hits four threes six times. He's also grabbed almost 6 rebounds a game. Shooting power forwards sometimes have it tough, but the Suns have an excellent point guard in Goran Dragic, who is averaging over 7 assists over his last few games. I mean he learned from Steve Nash, he's got skill. Anyways, pick up Frye for this week and see how he fairs out for you.
4. - Randy Foye - Denver Nuggets, SG -
I'm not going to go into huge detail about Randy Foye right now; I'll keep it short and sweet. In his last six games, Foye is averaging 18.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 4.2 threes a game. He's hot. He sat out his last game because of a stomach bug, not an injury. He's feeling it right now, and he's playing well. Ride him while he's hot and see how it turns out to you if you need a shooter.
If these guys are still available (although unlikely in your league), grab them immediately: Jared Sullinger, Celtics PF; Jimmy Butler, Bulls SG/SF; Eric Bledsoe, Suns PG/SG (if you can afford to hold onto him for 2-4 weeks); Darren Collison, Clippers PG
*If you own Jordan Crawford, please trade him away now or drop him for a better option. You need to realize he may be a great back-up scorer, but he's just that, a back-up. He will be behind Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. Unless either of them get hurt for an extended period of time (which isn't unlikely with Curry), he has very little value.
X-Factor of the Week: Greivis Vasquez, Raptors PG
This guy is lethal. He's deadly. We're talking about 12 assists per game, league-leading. The problem? He's sitting behind Kyle Lowry. Keep an eye on this situation. Over his last two games, Vasquez has really found his game even off the bench, averaging 13 points, 8.5 assists and 6 rebounds. The Raptors claimed they were no longer interested in trading Lowry, given his outstanding play as of late and the team's recent success. HOWEVER, they will have that same success with Vasquez running the show, and I think Toronto knows that. They have a starting point guard sitting on their bench, playing 20 minutes per game. He's finally fully recovered from his ankle surgery in the off season, and the Raptors stated that they are no longer "marketing" Lowry. They aren't out looking to trade him, but he will be a free agent at the end of the year, and if somebody wants to trade for him, the Raptors will consider it. I've almost picked up Vasquez just in case this happens, to hold onto him. What I'm saying is, if you hear so much a rumor that Lowry is getting traded, immediately pick up Vasquez, whatever you do.
Good luck to all in Week 13!
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Pick Up These Point Guards - Win Your Fantasy Basketball League
Injuries in this year's NBA are more present and more excruciating than ever for fantasy owners. Those who reaped the benefits of Chris Paul's and Russell Westbrook's outstanding play are now fiddling their thumbs waiting on news for these guys to return. And to those who snagged Rondo in a late round, congratulations. If you didn't, this is your chance. This is the only chance you will have all season long to acquire a Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, or Rajon Rondo. When people lose players to injury, they get neurotic and sort of freak out a bit. They might do something rash if they are desperate enough. This is your chance to make them do something rash, and to win your fantasy basketball league.
Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook both have about three to four weeks left before they'll return. Playoffs are in March. You can handle a struggle of four weeks (as long as you get into playoffs). Westbrook and Paul are at the top of their games right now, and whatever you need to do to acquire them, do it. Make a multi-player trade, or even make an even trade of some sort. Look for someone who is playing exceptionally well right now, but will lose fantasy value when another player returns from injury. What I'm saying is right now, the owners of Westbrook and Paul will consider any offer made to them, due to the promise of current production as opposed to future production.
You're also probably wondering, "Why would I take the gamble on an injured player if they might not even come back 100%?" Then, you need to realize who we are talking about here. We're talking about Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook, the sort of guys that will put in the work to get back to 100%. These are rare players who will do whatever it takes to return as soon as they can. At the start of this season, Westbrook was supposed to be out until mid-December, but he began playing in early November. And this time, he didn't even injure anything! He posted a triple-double against New York, and then underwent preventative surgery. And for Chris Paul, it's a shoulder injury. Now I'm not saying shoulder injuries are harmless; just look at Tracy McGrady, but like I said, Paul will return and he will return hungry for wins and ready to prove his point and make his mark. If you can persuade owners into letting these guys loose, do it.
Your window of opportunity is closing with Rajon Rondo, though. You had your chance to pick him up before there was a "timetable" to return, and now he's hinting at a return as early as Friday, January 17. Owners may still be optimistic but hesitant at the same time if you offer something good enough. Act now.
The reason you should pick these guys up is an obvious one: they will help your team. If you pick any of them up, whatever the sacrifice (within reason), you are putting yourself in a position to win that $500 pot for the championship, or just the pride of winning your league.
Best of luck to all in your endeavors of acquiring a point-guard.
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Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook both have about three to four weeks left before they'll return. Playoffs are in March. You can handle a struggle of four weeks (as long as you get into playoffs). Westbrook and Paul are at the top of their games right now, and whatever you need to do to acquire them, do it. Make a multi-player trade, or even make an even trade of some sort. Look for someone who is playing exceptionally well right now, but will lose fantasy value when another player returns from injury. What I'm saying is right now, the owners of Westbrook and Paul will consider any offer made to them, due to the promise of current production as opposed to future production.
You're also probably wondering, "Why would I take the gamble on an injured player if they might not even come back 100%?" Then, you need to realize who we are talking about here. We're talking about Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook, the sort of guys that will put in the work to get back to 100%. These are rare players who will do whatever it takes to return as soon as they can. At the start of this season, Westbrook was supposed to be out until mid-December, but he began playing in early November. And this time, he didn't even injure anything! He posted a triple-double against New York, and then underwent preventative surgery. And for Chris Paul, it's a shoulder injury. Now I'm not saying shoulder injuries are harmless; just look at Tracy McGrady, but like I said, Paul will return and he will return hungry for wins and ready to prove his point and make his mark. If you can persuade owners into letting these guys loose, do it.
Your window of opportunity is closing with Rajon Rondo, though. You had your chance to pick him up before there was a "timetable" to return, and now he's hinting at a return as early as Friday, January 17. Owners may still be optimistic but hesitant at the same time if you offer something good enough. Act now.
The reason you should pick these guys up is an obvious one: they will help your team. If you pick any of them up, whatever the sacrifice (within reason), you are putting yourself in a position to win that $500 pot for the championship, or just the pride of winning your league.
Best of luck to all in your endeavors of acquiring a point-guard.
Monday, January 13, 2014
Why Chandler Parsons is the Key to the Houston Rockets
1 - Jeremy Lin
2 - James Harden
3 - Chandler Parsons
4 - Terrence Jones
5 - Dwight Howard
Chandler Parsons is second in minutes at 37.9 per game, .8 MPG less than Harden.
Chandler Parsons is third in scoring at 17.2 per game, just .7 PPG less than Howard.
Chandler Parsons is second in field goal percentage at 51.7%, behind only Howard.
Chandler Parsons is shooting 37.5% from the three, leading all starters.
Chandler Parsons is third in rebounding at 5.4 a game, behind Howard and Jones.
Chandler Parsons is third in assists at 3.6 a game, behind Lin and Harden.
Chandler Parsons is second in steals per game, third in blocks per game, and has the second fewest turnovers per game.
Chandler Parsons has the most efficient assist to turnover ratio on the team.
Now to the point here, Chandler Parsons is top 3 in every statistical category on the team, and that's not even looking at what he does on defense. He is holding his match-up to 16.1 PPG, and that number would be a lot lower if Kevin McHale didn't like using Parsons at the power forward spot for a smaller line up. He guards the opposing team's best player. Parsons is everything you want out of a small forward. In my opinion, he's a top-five player at his position. The only players I can name at his position that are better than he is are Kevin Durant, Lebron James, Paul George, and Luol Deng.
Parsons is that last puzzle piece that a championship team needs. You've got your superstar in James Harden, your defensive anchor in Dwight Howard, your standout power forward in Terrence Jones, your decent-enough point guards in Lin and Beverley, and your all-around, do-it-all small forward in Chandler Parsons.
Now this blog is about fantasy basketball, so here's my other point. Trade for him. Pick him up, whatever you have to do. Owners right now are a little iffy about Parsons because of his lingering injuries. He didn't play a game last week, so right now is the opportune time to acquire him. Do what you have to do. Parsons is averaging an incredible stat line:
17.2 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.2 SPG, and .5 BPG, shooting 37.5% from three and 51.7% from the field in 37.9 MPG, not to mention his 1.6 threes per game average.
He can and will produce in every category on any and every night. He's undoubtedly one of the most consistent shooters in the NBA and one of the best all around players. From a fantasy perspective, here are his stat lines from the nine games prior to his injury. Pick him up now, whatever it takes.
LATEST PLAYER NEWS
Parsons (knee) participated fully in morning shootaround and is in line to return to action Monday in Boston, the Rockets' official site reports.
Spin:
Discomfort in Parsons' left knee moved to surrounding regions late last week, but he's almost certainly taking the court Monday, after an uncapped shootaround. Barring a setback, expect him back in the lineup, where he should take over his starting small forward gig. 
Mon, Jan 13
| ||
2014 SEASON TOTALS
| MIN | 3PM | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37.9 | 1.6 | 5.4 | 3.6 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 17.2 |
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Who's Got the Hot Hand?
I've been disappointed with the NBA over the past few weeks, and especially with the fantasy aspect of it, my team in particular. I currently hold on to Russell Westbrook, out until past the All Star break, Ryan Anderson, out indefinitely with a herniated disc, and Chandler Parsons, Jimmy Butler, and Tyreke Evans, all dealing with day-to-day injuries. Not to mention an under-producing Lebron James. Frustrating barely describes this season. Well enough about me, so let's get right into some players who have been playing exceptionally well and are worth a look at trading for.
1) Goran Dragic
4) Kyle Lowry
I love Kyle Lowry. He's a guy that is a triple-double threat every time he plays a game, but will never quite get there. I've known that, but lately, he's proven it to everyone else. The guy's averaging 16 PPG, 7.5 APG, and 4 RPG while hitting 2 threes a night. He's playing great, and the Raptors are finally playing just as Kyle Lowry wants them to. DeRozan is hitting, Terrence Ross is coming around, Amir Johnson, Patrick Patterson, and Jonas Valanciunas are on their games, and more importantly, Rudy Gay is gone. That's been the case over the last few weeks, and Lowry has averaging over 8.5 assists over that stretch in addition to double-digit scoring in every game since. He's a top-20 player in my mind with no hesitation, and if you can grab him from someone who doesn't quite appreciate his potential, do it.
5) Kendall Marshall
Now let's talk about some disappointments.
1) Andre Iguodala - I've been saying all season long that Andre Iguodala isn't cut out for an elite fantasy position with the Warriors. There's too much going on with the Splash Brothers and with David Lee and Bogut in the post that Andre is very limited in almost every category. Curry, Thompson and Lee combine for 50 shots per game, and Iguodala is 5th on the team in shots attempted. Take that and combine it with the fact that Curry always has the ball and Iguodala is limited by Lee and Bogut on the boards... trade him if you have him, and don't trade for him. We'll leave it at that.
2) David West - David West annoys me terribly. He's a great player and a great power forward who should be averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds every night. But he's not. And it's not because of Roy Hibbert's dominance. And it's so frustrating because he could. Here's what it is. It's the fact that the Indiana Pacers thought it would be a great idea to add Luis Scola to the roster. It's the fact that Lance Stephenson and Paul George like to bang with the big boys and grab rebounds of their own, and West doesn't give that extra effort anymore. There's too much depth on the Pacers for West to be an elite option anymore.
3) Evan Turner - The Philadelphia Sixers are 12-25, the third worst record in the East, and the third worst record in the NBA. Michael Carter-Williams has been named a superstar for some reason. He's good, no doubt, and stuffs the stat sheet, and I applaud his efforts and I think he's a good player, but truth is, Evan Turner is the star of the Sixers. He's the go-to guy, the scorer, the defender, the guy you should run your offense through, the guy who is going to rebound, score, and create plays for teammates. He's a 20-8-6 guy in my mind, and it's frustrating for me to see players play below their potential. Turner, I recommend, is a guy I would look into picking up, because one of these days, he's going to pick up his game and start playing like the multi-dimensional player he is.
4) Jameer Nelson - He's playing 34 minutes a game, and having very little to show for it. His stat line looks pretty good, at 12.7 PPG, 6.3 APG, and 3.8 RPG including 2.4 threes per game. But he's Jameer Nelson, and Victor Oladipo wants to be the Magician. Nelson has potential, but nothing is going to change on the Magic as long as they keep spreading the love like they are, giving 6 players at least 11 shots per game. He's not worth the pick-up, but you might be able to get something out of him because of his name.
Now let's play a game involving frequently asked questions, and let's call it, hmm, FAQs.
Who's going to benefit from Ryan Anderson's injury? Al-Farouq Aminu.
But who's going to benefit from Tyreke Evans's injury? Oh, easy one. Al-Farouq Aminu.
But with Jrue Holiday out, too, who's going to benefit from his absence? Eric Gordon.
Not Austin Rivers? No.
Bottom Line: Pick up Al-Farouq Aminu.
I'm as sad about Luol Deng leaving Chicago as just about anybody. But despite my feelings, let's answer a question.
How is the Luol Deng trade going to affect the Bulls? Easy answer: Pick up D.J. Augustin. Tonight, Augustin led the team in minutes (35), points (20), and assists (12). Problem solved. Also, try to get Joakim Noah if you can.
How about Andrew Bynum? Leave him alone.
And the Cleveland Cavaliers? There are very few players on the Cavaliers worth having. Kyrie Irving, Luol Deng, and Anderson Varejao. Please don't keep Alonzo Gee or Dion Waiters, but fine, keep Tristan Thompson.
Chandler Parsons is suffering from all sorts of injuries this season, what do I do? Hold on to him.
Who will be benefitting from Parsons's injuries? No one. Ronnie Brewer and Omri Casspi will be filling in for Parsons, but neither of them will get enough minutes nor will they do enough in those minutes to warrant a pick up. Pick up Terrence Jones if you can.
A message to all fantasy basketball players looking to make a run for the playoffs.
Download theScore app for your Android phone or iPhone, and subscribe to the NBA basketball news alerts. Not only is it a great way for you to have first-hand knowledge of injuries and updates, but it's just a good app to have to track players and teams and their statistics.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fivemobile.thescore&hl=en
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/thescore-mobile/id285692706?mt=8
Now, when it comes to trades, you want to look for players who a) are getting good minutes, b) have very little competition at that position on their team, c) are effective in multiple categories, and d) are getting ample opportunities and chances to reach their potential. Best of luck to you in Week 12!
P.s. Keep in mind Rajon Rondo is trying to return by the end of the month and while the Celtics have very little to play for, they are only 2 games out of playoffs with their horrendous 13-25 record. Boston isn't an organization that will try to doom themselves for a lottery pick; they'll play to compete. Rondo will be good; I guarantee it. He will be the point guard and he will have options that consist of Jordan Crawford, Jeff Green, Avery Bradley, Jared Sullinger, and Kris Humphries. Maybe not the best players to surround a guard like Rondo with, but still good enough to grant Rondo is assist numbers that he is always so determined to achieve.
1) Goran Dragic
Straight to the point, the guy's an assassin, and a silent one. You didn't realize it, but the Suns are off to a 21-15 start, and they wouldn't be there without Dragic. Phoenix is in the game, and all of the sudden, you realize Dragic has 22 points, 8 assists, and a couple of rebounds and steals. He's playing 35 minutes a game, and that's while Eric Bledsoe is playing. With Bledsoe just undergoing knee surgery, that gives a pretty dominant boost to the already-productive Dragic. I'm not saying that Dragic's minutes will increase significantly, but the offense will run through him more than it already had. He's scored 21 points or more in six of his last ten, and has had 7 or more assists in six of his last ten games. Bottom line, this guy is a top-tier point guard and a threat every night.
2) Terrence Jones
I've been going on and on about Terrence Jones for weeks, and I'm not done giving props to the big guy. He had a few rough games, but I blame it on his ankle injury. Jones has been a monster lately, posting rebounding totals of 14, 11, 13, and 17 in four of his last 9 games, dipping below 8 rebounds just once. Don't forget, he's getting these rebounds in spite of Dwight Howard. Heck, he's taking boards AWAY from Howard. He's had multiple games of 3+ blocks. There's nothing not to like about this guy. He can finish around the rim, he's athletic, can grab boards, can block shots, and he's getting 26 minutes per game. Normally, 26 MPG is a little low, but I give Jones the exception. He's playing exceptionally well and if he's on waivers, pick him up; if not, trade for him.
3) Kris Humphries
Believe me, I'm even upset with myself for putting him in this list. I really am. So much so, I am almost didn't do it. But that doesn't mean I can overlook what he has been doing and the potential he has on the Boston Celtics. He's healthy, he's playing over 30 minutes a game now, he's rebounding well... and he's on the Celtics. His competition on the boards is Jared Sullinger, a 6' 9" forward playing the center position. Not to discount Sullinger's play or rebounding abilities, but Humphries is the obvious rebounder on the team. I don't like the guy or the way he plays, and he played quite awful last season, but a new team with very little depth in rebounding means Humphries has potential to be a double-double guy, including 13 rebounds per game or so and a couple of blocks. Give him a chance if you've got the room for him.
4) Kyle Lowry
I love Kyle Lowry. He's a guy that is a triple-double threat every time he plays a game, but will never quite get there. I've known that, but lately, he's proven it to everyone else. The guy's averaging 16 PPG, 7.5 APG, and 4 RPG while hitting 2 threes a night. He's playing great, and the Raptors are finally playing just as Kyle Lowry wants them to. DeRozan is hitting, Terrence Ross is coming around, Amir Johnson, Patrick Patterson, and Jonas Valanciunas are on their games, and more importantly, Rudy Gay is gone. That's been the case over the last few weeks, and Lowry has averaging over 8.5 assists over that stretch in addition to double-digit scoring in every game since. He's a top-20 player in my mind with no hesitation, and if you can grab him from someone who doesn't quite appreciate his potential, do it.
5) Kendall Marshall
I was going to stop after Lowry, but I couldn't resist not mentioning Kendall Marshall. Let's put it this way: in his first career start with the Lakers, he scored 20 points, dished out 15 dimes, and grabbed 6 boards. In his second start, he scored 9 points, dished out 17 dimes, and grabbed 6 boards. There are no other point guards on the Los Angeles Lakers roster, and Steve Nash, Jordan Farmar, and Steve Blake are all sidelined with injuries, and Kobe Bryant is still out. I'm not convinced that any of those point guards will replace Marshall after the showings he's put up lately, and I think even when Kobe is back, Marshall is looking bright. It's amazing how well he is playing, and even better, he understands his role. I guess I'll mention that despite his efforts, the Lakers are 1-9 in their last 10, and Marshall looks to be the starter from here on out. If you're part of the 87% that picked him up, congratulations.
Now let's talk about some disappointments.
1) Andre Iguodala - I've been saying all season long that Andre Iguodala isn't cut out for an elite fantasy position with the Warriors. There's too much going on with the Splash Brothers and with David Lee and Bogut in the post that Andre is very limited in almost every category. Curry, Thompson and Lee combine for 50 shots per game, and Iguodala is 5th on the team in shots attempted. Take that and combine it with the fact that Curry always has the ball and Iguodala is limited by Lee and Bogut on the boards... trade him if you have him, and don't trade for him. We'll leave it at that.
2) David West - David West annoys me terribly. He's a great player and a great power forward who should be averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds every night. But he's not. And it's not because of Roy Hibbert's dominance. And it's so frustrating because he could. Here's what it is. It's the fact that the Indiana Pacers thought it would be a great idea to add Luis Scola to the roster. It's the fact that Lance Stephenson and Paul George like to bang with the big boys and grab rebounds of their own, and West doesn't give that extra effort anymore. There's too much depth on the Pacers for West to be an elite option anymore.
3) Evan Turner - The Philadelphia Sixers are 12-25, the third worst record in the East, and the third worst record in the NBA. Michael Carter-Williams has been named a superstar for some reason. He's good, no doubt, and stuffs the stat sheet, and I applaud his efforts and I think he's a good player, but truth is, Evan Turner is the star of the Sixers. He's the go-to guy, the scorer, the defender, the guy you should run your offense through, the guy who is going to rebound, score, and create plays for teammates. He's a 20-8-6 guy in my mind, and it's frustrating for me to see players play below their potential. Turner, I recommend, is a guy I would look into picking up, because one of these days, he's going to pick up his game and start playing like the multi-dimensional player he is.
4) Jameer Nelson - He's playing 34 minutes a game, and having very little to show for it. His stat line looks pretty good, at 12.7 PPG, 6.3 APG, and 3.8 RPG including 2.4 threes per game. But he's Jameer Nelson, and Victor Oladipo wants to be the Magician. Nelson has potential, but nothing is going to change on the Magic as long as they keep spreading the love like they are, giving 6 players at least 11 shots per game. He's not worth the pick-up, but you might be able to get something out of him because of his name.
Now let's play a game involving frequently asked questions, and let's call it, hmm, FAQs.
Who's going to benefit from Ryan Anderson's injury? Al-Farouq Aminu.
But who's going to benefit from Tyreke Evans's injury? Oh, easy one. Al-Farouq Aminu.
But with Jrue Holiday out, too, who's going to benefit from his absence? Eric Gordon.
Not Austin Rivers? No.
Bottom Line: Pick up Al-Farouq Aminu.
How is the Luol Deng trade going to affect the Bulls? Easy answer: Pick up D.J. Augustin. Tonight, Augustin led the team in minutes (35), points (20), and assists (12). Problem solved. Also, try to get Joakim Noah if you can.
How about Andrew Bynum? Leave him alone.
And the Cleveland Cavaliers? There are very few players on the Cavaliers worth having. Kyrie Irving, Luol Deng, and Anderson Varejao. Please don't keep Alonzo Gee or Dion Waiters, but fine, keep Tristan Thompson.
Chandler Parsons is suffering from all sorts of injuries this season, what do I do? Hold on to him.
Who will be benefitting from Parsons's injuries? No one. Ronnie Brewer and Omri Casspi will be filling in for Parsons, but neither of them will get enough minutes nor will they do enough in those minutes to warrant a pick up. Pick up Terrence Jones if you can.
A message to all fantasy basketball players looking to make a run for the playoffs.
Download theScore app for your Android phone or iPhone, and subscribe to the NBA basketball news alerts. Not only is it a great way for you to have first-hand knowledge of injuries and updates, but it's just a good app to have to track players and teams and their statistics.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fivemobile.thescore&hl=en
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/thescore-mobile/id285692706?mt=8
Now, when it comes to trades, you want to look for players who a) are getting good minutes, b) have very little competition at that position on their team, c) are effective in multiple categories, and d) are getting ample opportunities and chances to reach their potential. Best of luck to you in Week 12!
P.s. Keep in mind Rajon Rondo is trying to return by the end of the month and while the Celtics have very little to play for, they are only 2 games out of playoffs with their horrendous 13-25 record. Boston isn't an organization that will try to doom themselves for a lottery pick; they'll play to compete. Rondo will be good; I guarantee it. He will be the point guard and he will have options that consist of Jordan Crawford, Jeff Green, Avery Bradley, Jared Sullinger, and Kris Humphries. Maybe not the best players to surround a guard like Rondo with, but still good enough to grant Rondo is assist numbers that he is always so determined to achieve.
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