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.

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 

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.

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.

Fantasy Basketball – Early Pick-ups and Who to Watch

This NBA season has been full of injuries.  Stars are returning while other ones are leaving.  I think the entire basketball world would agree that above all of those is the injury to Derrick Rose.  Losing an entire season to an ACL tear, just to return, play 10 games and suffer a torn meniscus in his other knee.  Fantasy owners most likely drafted him either with their first round pick or early second round pick, and rightfully so.  Heck, I considered drawing up a trade sending LeBron in return for Rose.  Thankfully, I wasn’t too rash that early in the season.  But aside from the loss of the injured MVP, the NBA has seen Andre Iguodala, Jimmy Butler, Tyson Chandler, Dwyane Wade, and Deron Williams go down and take time off.  We’ve blinked an eye at Kobe, and we’ve yet to see Rajon Rondo.  And that is exactly where I begin.  

Rajon Rondo is only owned in 92% of ESPN leagues.  That’s just ridiculous.  Rondo should be owned in any format, on any team, even in a four-team league.  He’s the kind of guy that produces in almost every category, and well.  If he’s available, grab him now.  Take a break from reading this and check now.  

Players to Sell High:

1. Andrea Bargnani – Bargnani is doing well for himself this season in Tyson Chandler’s absence.  In Tyson Chandler’s absence.  Chandler should be returning in a few weeks here if not sooner, and when he does, Bargnani will lose all fantasy relevance.  He will return to his sub-par averages when that happens, so get rid of him before that happens.

2. Lance Stephenson – If somebody will buy high for this guy, take the offer, assuming it’s reasonable.  Stephenson has posted two triple-doubles this season already.  Coach Frank Vogel trusts him more, and rightfully so.  However, it’s unrealistic to think Stephenson can keep up that elite level of play the entire season, especially with Paul George and George Hill dominating possessions.  When Danny Granger returns, it will be even harder for Stephenson to get touches.  The Pacers may choose to start George at the shooting guard and Granger at the small forward when this happens, making Stephenson your best bench player.  While it is something to keep an eye on, there are better options out there than Stephenson coming off the bench.

Players to Pick Up:

1. Jimmy Butler – Undoubtedly, grab this kid.  I guarantee he’s a better option than at least a few guys on any team.  Butler will produce in every category.  Butler went down while Rose was still playing, and now that he’s gone, Luol Deng is the heart and soul of the Bulls, and rightfully so… but he can’t do it on his own.  Deng is the only source of offense for a defensive Bulls team, and Jimmy Butler can provide that spark they so desperately need.  Boozer is on the decline, and Taj Gibson is on the rise.  Either way, both power forwards are inconsistent, but Jimmy Butler isn’t.  Even though he may be a smaller option at the 2- or 3-guard, he will be grabbing boards that these big men should be getting because of his hustle.  Bottom line, pick him up.

2. Jeremy Evans – Many people don’t know much about the Utah small forward, but when you look at the statistics, it’s almost a gimme.  Gordon Hayward is the first, second, and third option on a 4-19 Jazz team, and Evans is coming up.  Tyrone Corbin has been putting more faith in Evans over the past few games/weeks, and there’s no reason not to.  If you’re not buying it yet, keep an eye on him, but if someone picks him up while you’re watching, just know I told you so.

3. Omer Asik – The big guy is owned in only 38% of ESPN leagues, and understandable.  He’s getting stuck behind a center like Dwight Howard and benched to Kentucky Wildcat Terrence Jones (pick him up if he’s available) and averaging a mere 18 MPG.  Last season, he averaged about 10 PPG, 12 RPG, and a block in 30 MPG.  Anywhere he gets traded, he will be worthy of 28-36 MPG, and giving you fantasy value in the meantime.

Other names to look for, although you might not find them, are absolute pick-ups in any 8-team or larger rotation: Kyle Korver, Terrence Jones, Amir Johnson (Rudy Gay is gone ladies and gents), Tyreke Evans, Shawn Marion, and Channing Frye.

Do what it takes to trade for Kobe if you can, still being sensible.  He’s going to a monster on a team where there is little else.  James Harden is a great trade option right now, but your window is closing.  He didn’t start the season too strongly, but he’s found his game.  Buy low for him today, and see if you can snag him.  Same with Westbrook.  People might be more inclined to keep him, but he’s been iffy, to say the least.  Trade for him if you can.  

I wish you all the best of luck in Week 8 in the world of fantasy basketball.

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