Author: TJ Streett

DeAndre Jordan Is Blocking Everything

DeAndre Jordan has five multi shot block games in his last seven contests.

Analysis: Even with Chris Kaman back in the Clippers lineup from an ankle injury, DeAndre Jordan is playing the best defensive basketball of his three year career. DeAndre Jordan has averaged 2.57 blocks per game in his last seven games, yes that’s right 2.57 blocks per game. The guy is absolutely dominating the blocks category and we just cannot ignore it anymore. Kaman may be back but Jordan has averaged 24 minutes in his last five games and totaled 38 minutes Wednesday against the Rockets in a 16 rebound performance. Like it or not DeAndre Jordan is here to stay and is a force in the blocks category. He’s only owned in 10-15 percent of fantasy leagues across the country and if you are in need of blocks then DeAndre Jordan is your man.

Projection: DeAndre Jordan will be hitting at least 22 minutes a game the rest of the season and that is enough to impact some fantasy squads in need of blocks with some rebounds. Expect 1.8-2.3 blocks per game with about 7 boards the rest of the season as DeAndre Jordan continues to improve his fantasy stock for your 2011-12 fantasy draft.

Taylor Hall Out For Season

The first overall pick in the 2010 NHL draft will be sidelined eight weeks with an ankle injury, which is the remainder of the NHL regular season.

Analysis: The 19 year old injured his left ankle while fighting with Blue Jacket Derek Dorsett Thursday night. This is a major blow to fantasy hockey squads across the nation. Hall had scored 5 goals and 3 assists over his last ten games and was really playing the very best hockey of his young career. He also recorded five 4 shots on goal or more games in that same span and had 4 power play points. He really was turning into a point per game player. The high ankle sprain is a setback and he will be 100 percent healthy for next year but where does this leave your fantasy squad at the LW/C position since Hall had dual eligibility? Fellow Oiler MPS or Magnus Paajarvi is a logical pickup at left wing and should see a bump in his ice time. At center you may want to consider LA King Jarret Stoll who has four points in his last five games and is a plus two on the season with over 17 minutes of average time on ice.

Time To Drop Niclas Bergfors

Niclas Bergfors is still owned in about half of all fantasy hockey leagues across the nation and is on a nine game scoreless streak.

Analysis: His trade to the Panthers did just one thing, it bumped his ice time up quite a bit. Bergfors received 17 minutes of ice time in his first game with the Panthers after not getting more than 14 minutes of ice time his previous ten games with Atlanta. He is a very talented right winger but he just hasn’t found a home yet and Florida won’t do much to cultivate his talents. In deeper leagues you can get away with Bergfors because he will get more ice time in Florida, he does shoot a decent amount and he does get power play minutes that eventually will translate into power play points. Yet in non keeper standard leagues there is no reason to hitch your wagon to a guy as cold and unproductive as Bergfors.

Projection: He has the talent and scoring ability to put up some solid points in the remaining games on the Panthers schedule but the risk is not worth the reward. Go ahead and pick up a right winger that’s actually producing and dump the 23 year old Swede. Expect 4 goals and 6 assists with over 16 minutes of ice time per game from here on out.

Flyers Goalies Aren’t Getting It Done

Sergei Bobrovsky and Brian Boucher seem to be doing everything in their power to let Tampa, Boston and Pittsburgh back into the race for the number one seed in the east with their poor play as of late.

Analysis: Brian Boucher has allowed nine goals over his last three games including a four goal meltdown against the eastern conference’s worst Ottawa Senators. Boucher has played like the perennial backup that he is, showing little flashes of brilliance followed by long stretches of pedestrian netminding. Sergei Bobrovsky hasn’t been much better either. Bobrovsky has allowed at least three goals in his last three games with just one win. Bobrovsky does have the potential to be a great goalie but both of these guys are being exposed right now playing on a Flyers team that just hasn’t been as tidy as they have earlier in the year. You should stick with Bobrovsky at least another week and see if he can’t rekindle some of that early season magic.

Projection: This isn ‘t a new situation for the Flyers having two goalies they aren’t in love with going into the playoffs but Bobrovsky is a different breed. He’s going to be special one day and has the ability to take over games unlike Boucher. If Bobrovsky can get the majority of the starts you can expect about nine wins with a 2.6 GAA the rest of the season, solid secondary fantasy goaltender numbers.

Is It Time To Cut Maggette?

Corey Maggette is owned in the majority of fantasy basketball leagues but if you are not in a deep league should you still keep him on your squad?

Analysis: At this point it’s safe to say Corey Maggette is only contributing in the points category and barely anything else. Just about all small forwards contribute in points so it’s nothing special. He has one combined steal and block over his last eight games. In his last four games he isn’t even averaging twenty minutes a game. To further add insult to injury Maggette isn’t even knocking down a half of a three a game nor is he shooting 45% from the field on the year. In short, he’s not giving you much of anything at this point so it’s time to reassess the needs of your fantasy squad to make a decision if keeping him is in your best interest.

Projection: 13 PPG, at most 4 RPG and a solid free throw percentage is all you’re really going to get from Corey Maggette going forward. He’s not hitting threes and he is not racking up the steals. Small forward is a deep position in fantasy basketball so cutting Maggette for category need may be in order.