I'm terribly hooked to Yahoo Fantasy NBA. I tune into the Yahoo NBA boxscores every morning to see the stats of my players (and I have four teams to check up on!). But I find it annoying to have to open the boxscore page of every game and collate the stats of my players just to see how my team is doing. Yeah, I could wait until the end of the day, but I'm afraid my level of addiction can't afford me that much patience.
I've had enough of doing this so I came up with a solution: create my own tool to gather the stats of my players in real-time and put them all on one page. So I've been spending my spare time the past two weeks working on my pet project. And here's the finished product: Fantasy Sports Live!
Fantasy Sports Live! (a.k.a. "FSLive") lets you see your fantasy team's stats as the day's games are being played, without having to pay for "premium" services like Yahoo's StatTracker. It's completely free to use and it's pretty fast too! I use it every day, of course. It's only for Yahoo Fantasy NBA players right now. If you're a Yahoo fantasy baller, check it out and let me know what you think.
Before I end this entry, I'd like to thank Borgy for helping me test, promote, and improve FSLive. FSLive is already getting hits from people around the world thanks to Borgy's effort in spreading the word. If you'd like to help promote FSLive, find out how. FSLive for teh win, baby!
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Fantasy NBA busts for 2006-2007
Each year in the fantasy world, there are some players who emerge from fantasy obscurity and shoot into relevance or even stud status. Sadly, there are also those who regress in their contributions and/or don't live up to fantasy managers' expectations. These underachievers are often called "busts", and this year has not disappointed in that aspect. This year is no different and there are quite a lot of these fantasy busts. i will list down the 5 most disappointing players for me and state my reasons for saying so. here's to hoping that they'll get it turned around soon, for our sake.
NOTE: list is in no particular order.
Andrei Kirilenko, Utah Jazz
"AK 47" is a perennial fantasy favorite because of his penchant for filling up the stat sheet. It wasn't that long ago that Kirilenko gave averaged good points, rebounds and assists while providing monster totals in steals and blocks, 2 of the rarest categories. Folks, before Josh Smith there was Andrei Kirilenko. The only catch in owning him was his injury history.
Unfortunately this year, Kirilenko has been healthy, but the numbers are down across the board. Averages of 9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists 1.1 steals and 2.1 blocks on 45% shooting and practically nonexistent three points made are not what people who drafted him in the third-fifth round expected. While the Jazz have been rolling this year Kirilenko has not seen as prominent a role in the offense as before. Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams have improved a lot and taking charge (and shots), leaving Kirilenko with less touches. Unfortunately, AK 47's slump shows no signs of stopping, as long as the Jazz are winning, or one of the Jazz's "big three" (Boozer, Williams or Mehmet Okur) goes down to injury. Simply put, he's no longer that needed in the offense, hence his numbers are down.
Boris Diaw, Phoenix Suns
Last year Diaw was the Free Agent pickup of the year, filling in admirably for the injured Amare Stoudemire. His production was definitely a surprise and he was a triple-double threat every game he played. Also his style of play was suitable to the Suns' fast paced offense. This season however has been a downer, with Amare's return somewhat hurting his value, his reporting to training camp overweight and attempts for the team to find some chemistry with Amare back. His averages are also down across the board, especially the rebounds, steals and blocks, and has been a disappointment given his draft position. While he has shown flashes of the player he was last season he has been maddeningly inconsistent and has only had 2 1 triple double this season. Like Kirilenko, Diaw's is likely to continue to have a long season while Amare Stoudemire, Shawn Marion and Steve Nash continue to dominate the offense.
Troy Murphy, Golden State Warriors
When Don Nelson took over the Warriors, there was much buzzing about Murphy playing center and benefitting from the breakneck offense Nelson is famous for. During the preseason Murphy's value skyrocketed as there was much talk about the probable boost his stats will have come regular season. How dismayed were we when Murphy was inconsistent and thus benched by Nelson in favor of Andris Biedrins, who is one of the best FA pickups of 2006-2007. Add to that a broken nose and sore foot and achilles' tendon, and Murphy has spent more time on the sideline than in the court. The double-double average with 1 trey per game has not materialized.
However, the recent trade sending him to Indiana may benefit him as he becomes once more a viable offensive option in the Pacers alongside Jermaine O'Neal. There is still hope that the double-double he averaged a year ago will be back. This is all contingent to how healthy he is though.
Mike James, Minnesota Timberwolves
After having a breakout year in Toronto averaging 20 points and about 6-7 assists while chucking in 1.5 treys per game, James signed with Minnesota as a free agent and fantasy pundits saw this as generally a good move. While the scoring may be down the assists will be there, with Kevin Garnett and Ricky Davis and other players to pass to. Unfortunately this season has been a disaster for him as the points and assists are just not there and his shooting has gone down horribly. It is baffling as to how his assists are not there and the lack of points and treys is even more depressing. Perhaps he is not suited to the Wolves's offense, or the lack of an inside post presence is making it easier for defenders to cover him. Either way, he has been an unmitigated bust and it's questionable whether he can turn it around.
Chris Kaman, Los Angeles Clippers
The "Kave-Man" has raised his points and rebounds averages ever since he came into the league. Thus 2006-2007 was supposed to be the season where he'll average a double-double. Sadly, we're seeing more single-digit points and rebounds with horrible percentages from the field. Kaman was slowed down by a hamstring injury in training camp, limiting his mobility and increasing his tendency to foul and thus, less playing time. This has resulted in a difficulty to get into a game rhythm and contribute offensively. The Clippers are struggling and underachieving now and Kaman's play may be one of the reasons why. It's really up to him to turn it around and be the breakout player he was last year, as the Clips' guards are either aging (Sam Cassell), inconsistent (Cuttino Mobley), or injury prone (Shaun Livingston) . It will come down to Elton Brand and him carrying the scoring and rebounding load if the Clips are to improve as a team.
NOTE: list is in no particular order.
Andrei Kirilenko, Utah Jazz
"AK 47" is a perennial fantasy favorite because of his penchant for filling up the stat sheet. It wasn't that long ago that Kirilenko gave averaged good points, rebounds and assists while providing monster totals in steals and blocks, 2 of the rarest categories. Folks, before Josh Smith there was Andrei Kirilenko. The only catch in owning him was his injury history.
Unfortunately this year, Kirilenko has been healthy, but the numbers are down across the board. Averages of 9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists 1.1 steals and 2.1 blocks on 45% shooting and practically nonexistent three points made are not what people who drafted him in the third-fifth round expected. While the Jazz have been rolling this year Kirilenko has not seen as prominent a role in the offense as before. Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams have improved a lot and taking charge (and shots), leaving Kirilenko with less touches. Unfortunately, AK 47's slump shows no signs of stopping, as long as the Jazz are winning, or one of the Jazz's "big three" (Boozer, Williams or Mehmet Okur) goes down to injury. Simply put, he's no longer that needed in the offense, hence his numbers are down.
Boris Diaw, Phoenix Suns
Last year Diaw was the Free Agent pickup of the year, filling in admirably for the injured Amare Stoudemire. His production was definitely a surprise and he was a triple-double threat every game he played. Also his style of play was suitable to the Suns' fast paced offense. This season however has been a downer, with Amare's return somewhat hurting his value, his reporting to training camp overweight and attempts for the team to find some chemistry with Amare back. His averages are also down across the board, especially the rebounds, steals and blocks, and has been a disappointment given his draft position. While he has shown flashes of the player he was last season he has been maddeningly inconsistent and has only had 2 1 triple double this season. Like Kirilenko, Diaw's is likely to continue to have a long season while Amare Stoudemire, Shawn Marion and Steve Nash continue to dominate the offense.
Troy Murphy, Golden State Warriors
When Don Nelson took over the Warriors, there was much buzzing about Murphy playing center and benefitting from the breakneck offense Nelson is famous for. During the preseason Murphy's value skyrocketed as there was much talk about the probable boost his stats will have come regular season. How dismayed were we when Murphy was inconsistent and thus benched by Nelson in favor of Andris Biedrins, who is one of the best FA pickups of 2006-2007. Add to that a broken nose and sore foot and achilles' tendon, and Murphy has spent more time on the sideline than in the court. The double-double average with 1 trey per game has not materialized.
However, the recent trade sending him to Indiana may benefit him as he becomes once more a viable offensive option in the Pacers alongside Jermaine O'Neal. There is still hope that the double-double he averaged a year ago will be back. This is all contingent to how healthy he is though.
Mike James, Minnesota Timberwolves
After having a breakout year in Toronto averaging 20 points and about 6-7 assists while chucking in 1.5 treys per game, James signed with Minnesota as a free agent and fantasy pundits saw this as generally a good move. While the scoring may be down the assists will be there, with Kevin Garnett and Ricky Davis and other players to pass to. Unfortunately this season has been a disaster for him as the points and assists are just not there and his shooting has gone down horribly. It is baffling as to how his assists are not there and the lack of points and treys is even more depressing. Perhaps he is not suited to the Wolves's offense, or the lack of an inside post presence is making it easier for defenders to cover him. Either way, he has been an unmitigated bust and it's questionable whether he can turn it around.
Chris Kaman, Los Angeles Clippers
The "Kave-Man" has raised his points and rebounds averages ever since he came into the league. Thus 2006-2007 was supposed to be the season where he'll average a double-double. Sadly, we're seeing more single-digit points and rebounds with horrible percentages from the field. Kaman was slowed down by a hamstring injury in training camp, limiting his mobility and increasing his tendency to foul and thus, less playing time. This has resulted in a difficulty to get into a game rhythm and contribute offensively. The Clippers are struggling and underachieving now and Kaman's play may be one of the reasons why. It's really up to him to turn it around and be the breakout player he was last year, as the Clips' guards are either aging (Sam Cassell), inconsistent (Cuttino Mobley), or injury prone (Shaun Livingston) . It will come down to Elton Brand and him carrying the scoring and rebounding load if the Clips are to improve as a team.
Monday, December 18, 2006
Fantasy fallout: Knicks-Nuggets brawl
If you missed the fight or you just want to see it again, you can relive it courtesy of YouTube:
Okay, on to the analysis. All ten players on the court were immediately thrown out. From the Knicks: Mardy Collins, Channing Frye, Jared Jeffries, David Lee, Nate Robinson. From the Nuggets: Carmelo Anthony, Marcus Camby, Andre Miller, Eduardo Najera, J.R. Smith.
Here are our winners and losers, both in the real world and in the fantasy realm:
Sore losers:
Big winners:
Just right:
(Update: Suspensions: Carmelo Anthony - 15 games, Nate Robinson and J.R. Smith - 10 games, Mardy Collins - 6 games, Jared Jeffries - 4 games, Jerome James and Nene - 1 game. Jerome James?!?)
Okay, on to the analysis. All ten players on the court were immediately thrown out. From the Knicks: Mardy Collins, Channing Frye, Jared Jeffries, David Lee, Nate Robinson. From the Nuggets: Carmelo Anthony, Marcus Camby, Andre Miller, Eduardo Najera, J.R. Smith.
Here are our winners and losers, both in the real world and in the fantasy realm:
Sore losers:
- Mardy Collins - "He started it!" He's sure to get a hefty suspension and some major fines. Fantasy impact: zero. If you had him in your team, you have bigger problems than his upcoming DNPs. Pick him up if you just want to have some fun in your league.
- Nate Robinson - Midget enforcer probably thought he was 7'6" and 310 pounds. His tussle with J.R. Smith was a total freak show. He's got a big heart but let's see if he can face the suspension coming his way. Fantasy impact: minimal. Expect him to be gone 5+ games. Robinson's has little fantasy value even in the deepest of leagues. When he eventually comes back, Isiah Thomas probably won't be playing him a lot to save face. Drop him immediately.
- Carmelo Anthony - After that sucker punch heard halfway around the world, he backpedaled a hundred meters to save his hide. Just when he was getting respectability in the league, he does something completely idiotic. Fantasy impact: catastrophic. He's going to miss at least 10 games; Stern won't go easy on him just because he's a marquee player. If you are a Melo owner, your season is probably ruined. If you're playing in an 82-game roto league, you can afford to hold onto him. Otherwise, try to make a deal with someone who's willing to roll the dice.
- Jared Jeffries - He'll get his fair share of DNPs by not keeping his cool. He's a good guy and will probably get away with a 2-game suspension. Fantasy impact: minor. He was playing really well right after getting back from injuries so treat this like an injury relapse, but less scary.
- J.R. Smith - Poor guy. How would you react if you were clotheslined from behind like that? And by a guy you didn't know existed? Fantasy impact: moderate. If you were relying on J.R. for the bulk of your treys, cross your fingers that he doesn't get more than 5 DNPs. If he's out for the long-term, try to swing a trade with someone willing to wait on him.
- Denver Nuggets - Their entire starting five was thrown out. You lose your top two scorers. It doesn't seem like the rest will be facing suspensions, but it's not impossible.
- Isiah Thomas -He's just a loser. Not only is he in the hotseat for taking on big contracts and getting questionable talent, but now he is on fire for building on guys with questionable character.
- The NBA - David Stern's campaign to clean up the NBA's image has just taken a huge step backwards.
Big winners:
- Stephon Marbury, Eddy Curry, Jamal Crawford - They were fortunate enough not to be on the court when the fight broke out. They will be carrying the bulk of the minutes for the Knicks, so they're fantasy value should improve. But they're Knicks, which might mean they'll suck more.
- Earl Boykins, Nene - With Melo and J.R. out, they'll be counted on to carry more of the scoring load. Nene got his first start of the season in the game and he'll be getting more minutes from here on in.
Just right:
- Channing Frye, David Lee, Marcus Camby, Andre Miller, Eduardo Najera - By managing not to make most of the headlines, they might get away without suspensions. They just happened to be on the court at the wrong time.
- New York Knicks - When you're as bad as the Knicks, how much worse could your season get anyway?
(Update: Suspensions: Carmelo Anthony - 15 games, Nate Robinson and J.R. Smith - 10 games, Mardy Collins - 6 games, Jared Jeffries - 4 games, Jerome James and Nene - 1 game. Jerome James?!?)
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Full Roster Dilemmas
One of my leagues is an 8-team rotisserie format with standard categories + TOs, and with 100 games played/position. This means that we have a little more freedom in substituting bench players into the starting lineup. in other words, we really don't have a bench; we always play players who have games on that day. It often happens that there are more players with games than there are positions available.
So there our dilemma arises: who do we bench, and who do we play?
Personally, I weigh a lot of factors before deciding on my final lineup for the day. Of course, a good manager is always updated with player news, and that includes injury reports. For example, I have Joe Johnson in my team but he's out with a calf injury, so he goes to the bench, and I replaced him with Josh Howard. More often though, you find that your lineup is quite healthy and that it is inevitable that you will bench players who will surely play. As for situations like those, I usually look at the player's opponent for that day and see whether it will be easy for him to contribute in the categories. I usually don't play players going against good defensive teams. Sometimes I also consider the production ceiling, or the realistic projections of stats that a player can produce. These are just some things I consider when making decisions for my lineup. Of course, different managers, different rationales, different considerations.
One final thing I'd like to point out though is that you should be happy with the decisions you make. Fantasy sports is a guessing game to a large extent and as such, very unpredictable. All analyses are only educated guesses and we can only hope for the best. Sometimes we bench players who contribute across the board. Personally, as long as I knew I made reasonable guesses and I'm happy with my decisions, I don't get that much disappointed when I bench a player who plays superbly. What mattered is that I tried to fix my lineup to get the best stats possible, and if the fantasy gods don't shine on me, then so be it.
So there our dilemma arises: who do we bench, and who do we play?
Personally, I weigh a lot of factors before deciding on my final lineup for the day. Of course, a good manager is always updated with player news, and that includes injury reports. For example, I have Joe Johnson in my team but he's out with a calf injury, so he goes to the bench, and I replaced him with Josh Howard. More often though, you find that your lineup is quite healthy and that it is inevitable that you will bench players who will surely play. As for situations like those, I usually look at the player's opponent for that day and see whether it will be easy for him to contribute in the categories. I usually don't play players going against good defensive teams. Sometimes I also consider the production ceiling, or the realistic projections of stats that a player can produce. These are just some things I consider when making decisions for my lineup. Of course, different managers, different rationales, different considerations.
One final thing I'd like to point out though is that you should be happy with the decisions you make. Fantasy sports is a guessing game to a large extent and as such, very unpredictable. All analyses are only educated guesses and we can only hope for the best. Sometimes we bench players who contribute across the board. Personally, as long as I knew I made reasonable guesses and I'm happy with my decisions, I don't get that much disappointed when I bench a player who plays superbly. What mattered is that I tried to fix my lineup to get the best stats possible, and if the fantasy gods don't shine on me, then so be it.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Mr. and Mr. Smith
We have a Nuggets and Hawks game currently in progress. It's still in the middle of the first quarter, but I'd just like to say the play-by-play is downright confusing:
What's worse is that I own both players so I don't know how I'd react to "J. Smith steals the ball from J. Smith". And then there's the matter of another "J. Smith" from the Nuggets...
5:22 ATL - Layup by J. Smith. Assist: Z. Pachulia
5:37 DEN - Alley-oop dunk by J. Smith. Assist: A. Miller
What's worse is that I own both players so I don't know how I'd react to "J. Smith steals the ball from J. Smith". And then there's the matter of another "J. Smith" from the Nuggets...
Monday, December 11, 2006
Fantasy Golf: Am I bored or what?
In order to expand my fantasy sports horizons, I decided to take on a new fantasy sport. However, since football and hockey were already closed on Yahoo Fantasy Sports, and baseball far from opening, I took the sport advertised on the front page: golf.
I'm not a big fan of golf, and I don't know a lot of players, but I can at least manage to stay awake while my dad's watching golf at 2 AM (and somehow managing to outlast him). The nice thing about fantasy golf is that it's not as stressful because there aren't a whole lot of transactions aside from setting your lineup for a tournament, and tournaments don't happen all that often. It's a very relaxed and laid-back game, much like its real-life equivalent.
Here's how the game works. The fantasy golf season begins with the first tournament of the calendar year: the Mercedes-Benz Championships from January 4-7. You select your lineup from among the A-list, B-list, and C-list. There's no drafting so a player can be "owned" by any number of teams. You get to pick 2 from the A-list (e.g., Tiger Woods), 4 from the B-list (e.g., Chris DiMarco), and 2 from the C-list (e.g., Michael Campbell). From among your players, you pick 1 from A, 2 from B, and 1 from C; these are your "starters".
Scoring in the fantasy golf game is done at the conclusion of each round. The player who has the lowest score in the round nets 20 points for his fantasy owners. The other players score 2 fewer points for each stroke they are behind the leader (e.g., 18 if 1 stroke behind, 16 if 2 strokes behind), to a minimum of zero. Of course, only the starters for a team can accumulate points. In between rounds, you can change your starters so you can replace ineffective players or those who don't make the cut after the 2nd round, but you can't change the players on your team mid-tournament. Also, much like in fantasy NBA, a player can only play for your team for a maximum of 10 tournaments, which means that you can't have Tiger Woods playing for you the whole year. You can find out who's playing in a tournament a few days before it starts.
Here's the lineup I've picked for the Mercedes-Benz Championship (opening round starters are in italics):
Sign up now and let's play golf! Give it up for my false enthusiasm!
I'm not a big fan of golf, and I don't know a lot of players, but I can at least manage to stay awake while my dad's watching golf at 2 AM (and somehow managing to outlast him). The nice thing about fantasy golf is that it's not as stressful because there aren't a whole lot of transactions aside from setting your lineup for a tournament, and tournaments don't happen all that often. It's a very relaxed and laid-back game, much like its real-life equivalent.
Here's how the game works. The fantasy golf season begins with the first tournament of the calendar year: the Mercedes-Benz Championships from January 4-7. You select your lineup from among the A-list, B-list, and C-list. There's no drafting so a player can be "owned" by any number of teams. You get to pick 2 from the A-list (e.g., Tiger Woods), 4 from the B-list (e.g., Chris DiMarco), and 2 from the C-list (e.g., Michael Campbell). From among your players, you pick 1 from A, 2 from B, and 1 from C; these are your "starters".
Scoring in the fantasy golf game is done at the conclusion of each round. The player who has the lowest score in the round nets 20 points for his fantasy owners. The other players score 2 fewer points for each stroke they are behind the leader (e.g., 18 if 1 stroke behind, 16 if 2 strokes behind), to a minimum of zero. Of course, only the starters for a team can accumulate points. In between rounds, you can change your starters so you can replace ineffective players or those who don't make the cut after the 2nd round, but you can't change the players on your team mid-tournament. Also, much like in fantasy NBA, a player can only play for your team for a maximum of 10 tournaments, which means that you can't have Tiger Woods playing for you the whole year. You can find out who's playing in a tournament a few days before it starts.
Here's the lineup I've picked for the Mercedes-Benz Championship (opening round starters are in italics):
- A-list: Tiger Woods, Jim Furyk
- B-list: Sergio Garcia, Chris DiMarco, Robert Allenby, Justin Rose
- C-list: Trevor Immelman, Michael Campbell
Sign up now and let's play golf! Give it up for my false enthusiasm!
Saturday, December 9, 2006
Fantasy Jargon
I've created a list of terms used in fantasy basketball circles. Please see the links section for more details.
filling up the sheets.. unexpectedly
Elton Brand at Chris Paul sucked tonight. Jermaine O'neal was a last minute no show. AI, Ray Allen and Wally were expected to be out. With all these injuries and sucky play by the all stars, several "unknowns" came out and put on their shows.
Jamal Tinsley
Indiana Pacers
20 pts (6-13FG 1-3 Threes 7-11 Ft ) 8 rebs 8 assts 4 steals 1 block
His play this season has been up and down. His past few games where simply terrible. This game might be a sign of things to come for him.
Stephen Jackson
Indiana Pacers
25 pts (6-13FG 1-5 Threes 8-8 Ft ) 5 rebs 5 assts 1 steal 2 blocks
Nice stat line for Jackson. However, his inconsistency is still a big issue for fantasy team owners.
Juan Dixon
Portland Trail Blazers
17 pts (6-14FG 2-3 Threes 3-4 Ft ) 4 rebs 3 assts 2 steals
I believe this is the first time this year he posted a good fantasy line. His numbers this year are nothing compared to what he posted last year. If he continues to get minutes... he might be a good pickup in deep leagues.
Boris Diaw
Phoenix Suns
14 pts (7-8FG ) 6 rebs 7 assts 1 steal 2 blocks
Strong play the past 2 games. The awakening of Diaw?
Mike James
Minnesota Timberwolves
28 pts (8-19FG 2-5 Threes 10-10 Ft ) 3 rebs 3 assts 1 steal
Mike James had a strong night again. This is the third game in a row that he put up good numbers. If you need points and threes he might be a good pickup now.
Tony Allen
Boston Celtics
18 pts (7-17FG 1-1 Threes 3-3 Ft ) 7 rebs 3 assts 5 steal
Tony Allen got not only the start tonight, but also tons of minutes. Allen should have value for the coming week with Wally sitting the next 3 games out. However, his value is expected to quickly disappear once Wally shows up.
DeShawn Stevenson
Washington Wizards
17 pts (7-10FG 3-6 Threes ) 1 reb 4 assts 1 steal
Stevenson got the start tonight. If he continues to get the start, he might be a good option for points in deep leagues.
Ruben Patterson
Milwaukee Bucks
30 pts (13-18FG 4-7 Ft ) 7 rebs 5 assts 2 steals
Humongous night for Patterson. His steady play the past few games made me throw out Salmons in my public fantasy league. Even with Charlie V back, it does look like he is going to eat up Patterson's minutes.
Earl Watson
Seattle SuperSonics
17 pts (7-13FG 3-4 Ft ) 3 rebs 7 assts 5 steals
He clearly benefited the most without Allen around. With Ray Allen sitting for the next 2 weeks and maybe more... picking him up is almost a must, especially in deep leagues.
JR Smith
Denver Nuggets
37 pts (12-18FG 7-9 Threes 6-6Ft ) 4 rebs 1 asst
Look at the threes! 'nuf said. Maybe its time for Melo to step down as Denver's leading scorer.
Jamal Tinsley
Indiana Pacers
20 pts (6-13FG 1-3 Threes 7-11 Ft ) 8 rebs 8 assts 4 steals 1 block
His play this season has been up and down. His past few games where simply terrible. This game might be a sign of things to come for him.
Stephen Jackson
Indiana Pacers
25 pts (6-13FG 1-5 Threes 8-8 Ft ) 5 rebs 5 assts 1 steal 2 blocks
Nice stat line for Jackson. However, his inconsistency is still a big issue for fantasy team owners.
Juan Dixon
Portland Trail Blazers
17 pts (6-14FG 2-3 Threes 3-4 Ft ) 4 rebs 3 assts 2 steals
I believe this is the first time this year he posted a good fantasy line. His numbers this year are nothing compared to what he posted last year. If he continues to get minutes... he might be a good pickup in deep leagues.
Boris Diaw
Phoenix Suns
14 pts (7-8FG ) 6 rebs 7 assts 1 steal 2 blocks
Strong play the past 2 games. The awakening of Diaw?
Mike James
Minnesota Timberwolves
28 pts (8-19FG 2-5 Threes 10-10 Ft ) 3 rebs 3 assts 1 steal
Mike James had a strong night again. This is the third game in a row that he put up good numbers. If you need points and threes he might be a good pickup now.
Tony Allen
Boston Celtics
18 pts (7-17FG 1-1 Threes 3-3 Ft ) 7 rebs 3 assts 5 steal
Tony Allen got not only the start tonight, but also tons of minutes. Allen should have value for the coming week with Wally sitting the next 3 games out. However, his value is expected to quickly disappear once Wally shows up.
DeShawn Stevenson
Washington Wizards
17 pts (7-10FG 3-6 Threes ) 1 reb 4 assts 1 steal
Stevenson got the start tonight. If he continues to get the start, he might be a good option for points in deep leagues.
Ruben Patterson
Milwaukee Bucks
30 pts (13-18FG 4-7 Ft ) 7 rebs 5 assts 2 steals
Humongous night for Patterson. His steady play the past few games made me throw out Salmons in my public fantasy league. Even with Charlie V back, it does look like he is going to eat up Patterson's minutes.
Earl Watson
Seattle SuperSonics
17 pts (7-13FG 3-4 Ft ) 3 rebs 7 assts 5 steals
He clearly benefited the most without Allen around. With Ray Allen sitting for the next 2 weeks and maybe more... picking him up is almost a must, especially in deep leagues.
JR Smith
Denver Nuggets
37 pts (12-18FG 7-9 Threes 6-6Ft ) 4 rebs 1 asst
Look at the threes! 'nuf said. Maybe its time for Melo to step down as Denver's leading scorer.
Another AI update
News are coming out that Dallas is interested in acquiring the services of AI too. Dallas has much more quality players to offer for AI than Denver or Minnesota. Any combination of Josh Howard, Devin Harris, Jerry Stackhouse, Erik Dampier plus some other players and picks are possibilities. There is no question that a AI - Dirk combination would make Dallas the top championship contender this year.
Allen Iverson Update
It seems official: The Answer wants out of the City of Brotherly Love. This snippet is taken out of rotoworld:
"Ed Snider, the owner of the Philadelphia 76ers, said Friday night that the team is working to accomodate Allen Iverson on his desire to be traded. The team originally said that Iverson was sent home and would miss Friday and Saturday due to back problems, but Philly's superstar has since repudiated that claim and said that he hopes to be traded to Minnesota."
Obviously if this pushes through there will be huge ramifications both in the fantasy and the real world. AI might be just what the Wolves need to push for a championship run, and the Sixers take a big step forward in rebuilding by unloading someone with a monstrous contract whose body is slowly breaking down.
There are a few problems though. One is matching the salaries of the players. Who does Minnesota give? Ricky Davis is one option, but they have to give more than that. It's obviously foolish to give Mike James and Randy Foye despite them playing the 1 spot. Will KG want to get shipped out to Philly? That possibility I seriously doubt. Also, is AI willing to play under KG's shadow? The Wolves is KG's team and Iverson will play second fiddle to him. How will that affect him?
Still, I would like to see Minnesota get A.I. because it can help them now in a big way while KG is still in his prime. It can be an important move to get a championship, like Rasheed Wallace's entry into Detroit.
This is a drama worth watching for both for fans and fantasy players. Stay tuned!
"Ed Snider, the owner of the Philadelphia 76ers, said Friday night that the team is working to accomodate Allen Iverson on his desire to be traded. The team originally said that Iverson was sent home and would miss Friday and Saturday due to back problems, but Philly's superstar has since repudiated that claim and said that he hopes to be traded to Minnesota."
Obviously if this pushes through there will be huge ramifications both in the fantasy and the real world. AI might be just what the Wolves need to push for a championship run, and the Sixers take a big step forward in rebuilding by unloading someone with a monstrous contract whose body is slowly breaking down.
There are a few problems though. One is matching the salaries of the players. Who does Minnesota give? Ricky Davis is one option, but they have to give more than that. It's obviously foolish to give Mike James and Randy Foye despite them playing the 1 spot. Will KG want to get shipped out to Philly? That possibility I seriously doubt. Also, is AI willing to play under KG's shadow? The Wolves is KG's team and Iverson will play second fiddle to him. How will that affect him?
Still, I would like to see Minnesota get A.I. because it can help them now in a big way while KG is still in his prime. It can be an important move to get a championship, like Rasheed Wallace's entry into Detroit.
This is a drama worth watching for both for fans and fantasy players. Stay tuned!
Iverson is on the trading block ( again )
Iverson trade rumors are up again. AI is rumored to have demanded a trade. Denver is said to be at the fore front of getting Iverson. However, this doesn't make much sense to me for two reasons. First, Denver probably needs to trade half of its lineup to match AI's salary. Melo is impossible. Kenyon and Nene are getting paid a lot but I don't think anyone would want them now. Next, imagine Iverson and Melo playing together... they'd be putting up 90 percent of the teams shots.
Gasol for AI sure sounds better... especially with all the problems in grizzly land.
Side Notes
Get Iverson out of your lineups. He won't be playing tonight in their game against the Wizards. Without Iverson and with Webber being questionable for tonight, I'm expecting Andre Iguodala to put up triple double like stats again.
Wally will be out the next two games. With both Perkins and Wally out, things are looking bright for Al Jeff, Allen, Delonte and the others.
Steve Francis is out with a knee problem. This may be Marbury's chance to break out of his slump.
Allen will be out for the next seven at the least( for now ). The production of Lewis, Wilkins and Watson are expected to sky rocket.
Stackhouse is down with a groin injury. Does anyone still have him in their lineups after Josh Howard came back from his injury? If anyone still has him, now is a good time to ditch him.
Gasol for AI sure sounds better... especially with all the problems in grizzly land.
Side Notes
Get Iverson out of your lineups. He won't be playing tonight in their game against the Wizards. Without Iverson and with Webber being questionable for tonight, I'm expecting Andre Iguodala to put up triple double like stats again.
Wally will be out the next two games. With both Perkins and Wally out, things are looking bright for Al Jeff, Allen, Delonte and the others.
Steve Francis is out with a knee problem. This may be Marbury's chance to break out of his slump.
Allen will be out for the next seven at the least( for now ). The production of Lewis, Wilkins and Watson are expected to sky rocket.
Stackhouse is down with a groin injury. Does anyone still have him in their lineups after Josh Howard came back from his injury? If anyone still has him, now is a good time to ditch him.
Friday, December 8, 2006
Phoenix 161, New Jersey 157, 2OT
With only three games on today's NBA schedule, you'd expect things to be a bit slow in your fantasy NBA leagues, with very little movement in the standings. However, with the Nets and the Suns playing against each other, you can probably make an exception. The Nets have the four-headed monster of Kidd, Carter, Jefferson, and Krstic. At the other end, with Steve Nash leading the way, everyone on the Suns roster is capable of putting up 20+ points on any given night.
Today's Nets-Suns game was an instant classic. And that boxscore is a veritable fantasy goldmine; 318 total points is a lot to go around. I couldn't stop refreshing the box score because I had four players on my fantasy team in that game:
(I had one other player today, Tayshaun Prince, who also had an above-average game with 20 pts on 50% shooting, with 7 rebs, 3 stls, 1 blk, and a trey to boot. It was a very good day for fantasy for me. I jumped up +3 in the standings on a day with only three games. In honor of the best fantasy day ever, I decided to name my team the "New Jersey Suns".)
Today's Nets-Suns game was an instant classic. And that boxscore is a veritable fantasy goldmine; 318 total points is a lot to go around. I couldn't stop refreshing the box score because I had four players on my fantasy team in that game:
- Amare Stoudamire: Another double-double (23-11) for Amare. He's back and he's for real. Unfortunately, he fouled out in the first OT or he could've gone for 30+.
- Shawn Marion: A great all-around game for the Matrix, which is what Marion owners should expect. 33-9-3, 3 stls, 2 blks, 3 treys, 60% shooting, and a perfect 6-6 from the FT line.
- Vince Carter: A pity he fouled out near the end of regulation, thinking he only had four fouls (d'oh!). Otherwise, he could've added more to 31-4-9 on 77% shooting. 77% from VC? Oh my!
- Jason Kidd: Despite NJ's loss, Kidd is still a winner in the fantasy books. 38 pts, 14 rebs, 14 asts, 3 treys, 50% shooting, and 9-9 from the FT line. He had 13-8-7 at halftime and had a triple-double in the middle of the 4th quarter. 14 rebs is ridiculous for a PG. And when was the last time Kidd went for more than 30? He really got it going today.
- Steve Nash: 42-6-13, 6 treys, 64% shooting. A career high in points for Nash. And you gotta love his shooting percentages.
- Raja Bell: This guy has really been on fire lately and shows no signs of cooling down. 24 pts, 6 treys. Forget about his earlier injury troubles.
- Boris Diaw: After taking so much heat from fantasy owners and experts, Diaw had one of his best games of the season. Only 1 reb, but 16 pts, 2 blks, and 14 ast, out-dishing Nash! He might still be available in your league and he's definitely worth a gamble.
- Richard Jefferson: 25 pts, 8 rebs, 58% shooting. Looks like that injury is a thing of the past.
- Marcus Williams: On a night where shots were falling from everywhere, Williams had his own share. His 18 points (on 8-11 shooting) gave the Nets a much-needed boost from the bench. I still wouldn't pick him up though except in very deep leagues.
- Eddie House: The former Sun wasn't able to beat his old team, but he showed signs of last year's brilliance. 12 points with 2 treys. Look for him to provide instant offense off the bench for the Nets from here on in. Probably worth a pickup in deep leagues, especially if you're looking to add a few treys.
- Mikki Moore: Mikki who? Without him, the Nets wouldn't have been able to keep up with the Suns. 14 points, 7 rebs. Still has very limited fantasy value, unless he somehow manages to displace Jason Collins (who only played 16 mins) from the starting lineup.
(I had one other player today, Tayshaun Prince, who also had an above-average game with 20 pts on 50% shooting, with 7 rebs, 3 stls, 1 blk, and a trey to boot. It was a very good day for fantasy for me. I jumped up +3 in the standings on a day with only three games. In honor of the best fantasy day ever, I decided to name my team the "New Jersey Suns".)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
