2014 Point Guard Outlook - Paul, Curry Headline List

Let's get started on this year early so you can be well prepared for your draft for the 2014-15 season of Fantasy Basketball!  This post is going to pertain strictly to point guard predictions, so let's get to it.

1. Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers

I shouldn't have to explain too much about why I would draft this guy in front of any other point guard in the league for fantasy basketball.  But I will anyway.  First off, the most outstanding statistic is that his assist/turnover ratio last season was a 4.57.  Yes, 4.57 assists per turnover, over 1.5 more than the next closest player (Kyle Lowry).  That number speaks volumes about his passing ability, vision, maturity, and overall IQ of the game.  He's one of the smartest players in the NBA and also one of the craftiest.
     2013-14 Averages: 19.1 PPG, 10.7 APG, 2.5 SPG, 4.3 RPG, A/TO 4.57

2. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

Next on the list, the sharp-shooting Stephen Curry.  In addition to his 3.3 made three pointers a game, Curry managed to drop 8.5 dimes a game to his teammates.  If you watch Curry play, you'll notice that his ball control and passing have drastically improved every year he's been in the league.  The drawback last season was his 3.8 turnovers per game, which tied for most with Russell Westbrook.  How I see it, when you ask your player to command the point guard position all game long with very little to no help, he's going to make mistakes.  I think Curry is learning quickly, and I see his assist numbers hovering around nine and his turnover numbers dropping to below three this season.
     2013-14 Averages: 24.0 PPG, 8.5 APG, 1.6 SPG, 4.3 RPG, A/TO 2.27

3. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder

There's just something about drafting Russell Westbrook that bothers you.  I took that gamble at the beginning of last season while he was injured and saw tremendous success from him during those short 46 games he was able to participate in.  He's hit-or-miss, that's all there really is to it, but when he's hitting, he's the best point guard in the game, fantasy-wise and in reality.  He's the most explosive player in the league, and if you want to debate that, I'll settle for top three.  Consider the fact that Russell Westbrook on any other team would be an MVP candidate.  He's the most all-around point guard in the NBA, but he will have nights where he goes 5-19 with 7 turnovers, and there's nothing more frustrating.  I say forgive him those 15 games, because there are another 67 games where he'll give you outstanding play, most likely grabbing 5 or 6 triple-doubles along the way.

     2013-14 Averages: 21.8 PPG, 6.9 APG, 1.9 SPG, 5.7 RPG, A/TO 1.80

4. Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls

Ooh, there's a curveball.  So you're saying that out of all the point guards in the league, I'm going to sacrifice my second- or even first-round pick on a guy who's barely touched a hardwood floor in two years?  Absolutely.  Call me biased, call me a believer, or call me naive.  This would obviously be your call, and I highly recommend it.  I considered placing Rose higher in this list even, but for apparent reasons couldn't bring myself to do it.  Think back a few years when Derrick Rose won Rookie of the Year in 2009 and then only two years later was awarded the MVP in 2011.  Yeah, yeah, that's his claim to fame and he may never return to that state, but I disagree.  Derrick Rose has been anything but timid with the USA team this summer, and that's what worries most Bulls fans.  They want to see Rose on the court and don't want him throwing his body around with reckless abandon and getting injured again.  But that's not ROY Rose, MVP Rose, or who Rose is.  He's not going to play scared of getting hurt; two years were taken from his game.  He's going to come back a little rusty, but will build his way up to one of the best guards in the league.  There is no doubt in my mind he'll return to his old self.

5. John Wall, Washington Wizards

If you didn't buy into John Wall before, just consider how he tore apart the Chicago Bulls in this year's playoffs.  Getting away from the stats, John Wall is probably the second-most explosive guard in the NBA and can get to the rim at will.  He finally has had a few healthy years and now he has a solid supporting cast and is the unquestioned leader of the Wizards.  The John Wall-Bradley Beal duo is one of the best two-guard sets in the league if not the best two-guard set, and Wall is improving his game and maturing as a player.  Personally, I felt like Wall was still playing in his Kentucky years until recently, but he's made significant improvements in every facet of his game, and I think if you can nab Wall early on, you won't regret it.

     2013-14 Averages: 19.3 PPG, 8.8 APG, 1.8 SPG, 4.1 RPG, A/TO 2.44

6. Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors

     2013-14 Averages: 17.9 PPG, 7.4 APG, 1.5 SPG, 4.7 RPG, A/TO 3.02

7. Goran Dragic, Phoenix Suns

     2013-14 Averages: 20.3 PPG, 5.9 APG, 1.4 SPG, 3.4 RPG, A/TO 2.10

8. Ty Lawson, Denver Nuggets

     2013-14 Averages: 17.6 PPG, 8.8 APG, 1.6 SPG, 3.5 RPG, A/TO 2.72

9. Damian Lillard, Portland Trailblazers

     2013-14 Averages: 20.7 PPG, 5.6 APG, 0.8 SPG, 3.5 RPG, A/TO 2.37

10. Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers

     2013-14 Averages: 20.8 PPG, 6.1 APG, 1.5 SPG, 3.6 RPG, A/TO 2.28

     - This was definitely the hardest player to rank, but with the addition of a playmaker like LeBron James, I         can't imagine Kyrie Irving's role will stay the same nor will he stay has productive as he was last season.

Honorable Mention:

Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics - I think Rondo is going to have a great year, but it's just so hard to rank him because of the uncertainty of not only his health, but his future as well.  If he stays in Boston, he may be pretty good but it also depends on Marcus Smart's new role in Boston.  If he gets traded, it depends where he goes.  Too many factors affect his fantasy value, so it was too hard to tell.

Isaiah Thomas, Phoenix Suns - I think Goran Dragic will be the point guard that stands out of the point guard trio (Dragic, Bledsoe, Thomas).  Thomas proved himself in Sacramento, posting great numbers, but I don't see that same production in Phoenix.

Eric Bledsoe, Phoenix Suns - Very similar to Thomas, I just don't see three starting point guards all being very efficient.

Make sure to check out the rest of positional rankings, coming soon!

  

Injured Players - Keep or Drop?

In this post, I'm going to discuss in-depth which injured players are worth holding onto and which injured players are not worth holding onto.  So here we are in Week 16, which runs two weeks long, and chances are you've got at least one player on your roster who you've considered dropping or trading because they've been out injured for a few weeks already and won't return until "after the All-Star break," as they always say.  So here's my opinion on each of those players, and why.

Players to keep:

1. Russell Westbrook - This guy's a no-brainer.  He is a constant threat to produce in every single category on any night, posting season averages around 21 pts, 6 rbs, 7 ast, 2 stl per game.  He posted a triple-double the game before he had surgery, and he'll come back just as strong.  Hold onto him.
2. Kobe Bryant - Ah, the most debatable player in fantasy basketball this year.  Should you keep him?  Should you drop him?  Trade him?  Anyone will give you a different answer, but I say keep him, and here's why.  Kobe wants to play.  If Kobe wants to play, then if he can, he will.  There's no reason he won't be back before the end of the season, and although the Lakers might not make playoffs, he'll be back for fantasy playoffs.  Now don't you want an elite scorer with passing and rebounding abilities on your roster?  I do.
3. Kawhi Leonard - He may be one of the guys you're more inclined to drop because he's just an average player on the rotational Spurs team.  Leonard is a must keep.  As the season winds down, especially during fantasy playoffs, Popovich begins resting his stars.  He will mainly rest Parker, Ginobli, and Duncan, and Leonard and Splitter will man the workload of the team.  The starting five for games down the stretch will probably look like Patty Mills, Marco Belinelli, Kawhi Leonard, Boris Diaw, and Tiago Splitter.  Leonard is the biggest asset because now, he has an increased role on the team and as a young player, he will probably play around 40 minutes a game toward the end of the season.
4. Ty Lawson - Absolutely.  Lawson is averaging almost 9 assists per game this season to accompany is 18 PPG.  He's a top-30 fantasy player, and despite his cracked rib, there's no other natural point guard on the Nuggets.  Randy Foye has been shouldering the workload, and now Quincy Miller will be doing some of the work.  Either way, the Nuggets are only 5 games out of playoffs and will be playing hard down the stretch to reach that 8-spot.
5. Eric Bledsoe - Bledsoe had been having a great season before his injury, and there's no reason he won't continue his success upon his return.  The All-Star break is already here, and he will probably be returning late February/early March.  If your roster can stand holding onto him, he's a great add if he's not owned in your league.

Players to release:

1. Anderson Verejao - Now this guy's debatable, and if you could make work out a trade with somebody that you get a pretty good deal on, I say take it.  Verejao is a prolific rebounder, but on a declining Cavs team, they won't rush Verejao back into action if he isn't 100%.  Verejao has a history of injuries, so if you can deal him away somehow, do it.
2. Larry Sanders - Sanders has just been diagnosed with a fracture to his orbital bone (eye), putting him out indefinitely.  Sanders has been dealing with all sorts of various injuries this season, and this just adds to the list.  Now you probably can't trade him before a timetable for his return is released, but it's worth a shot.  None of his previous injuries have crept back up, but as an injury risk, I think he provides for risk than he does reward.  Look for Zaza Pachulia or John Henson to command the most minutes in Sanders's absence.
3. Ersan Ilyasova - Ilyasova has been playing decent basketball lately, but even then, he brings below average scoring and below average rebounding from the power forward slot.  He's been shooting the ball better, but he has been having lingering back issues.  It's never good to hold onto players with lingering issues.  You never know when one game he'll suddenly be ruled out because his back issues flair up.  In most leagues, Ilyasova might not even be worth a trade, but definitely keep an eye on him.  Khris Middleton might be a nice pick-up in the meanwhile.
4. Dwyane Wade - Whatever you have to do to trade this guy, do it.  Wade has been having a injury season, to say the least, playing in just about half of the games.  He has potential if healthy, and he's too valuable to drop, but try and work a trade out where you'd be getting something more consistent.
5. Nick Young - He's a scorer at best, and very little besides that.  He will bring very little to your fantasy team and underproduces from the shooting guard position.  He's injured, and his return will most likely coincide with Kobe Bryant's.  Young is worth a drop; it's hard to justify holding onto him.

If you had any more questions about players I didn't mention, feel free to contact me and I'd be glad to give you my advice.

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.