Category: NBA

Jones/Lin Still Available

The Houston Rockets are dealing with some key injuries at the moment, so expect Terrence Jones and Jeremy Lin to produce as the season winds down.

Analysis: Terrence Jones is still available in 10-15% of fantasy leagues. He has had a productive March, averaging 13.9 points, 6.8 boards, 1.3 blocks and 0.9 steals while shooting 61% from the field. Jones is the 18th rated fantasy power forward this month. Expect the former Kentucky Wildcat to keep filling the stat sheet especially with Dwight Howard sidelined for the next week or two.

Jeremy Lin is still pedestrian but with the Patrick Beverley injury… he has to produce more, right? Regardless, Lin will see 30 plus minutes of action per night the rest of the way with Beverly likely out the remainder of the regular season. Lin is averaging 11.5 points, 3.6 assists, 0.9 threes and 0.6 steals in the month of March in about 23 minutes of action per night. Jeremy Lin is available in 10-20% of fantasy leagues.

Houston has three games this week(BKN, TOR, OKC), five games next week(DEN, LAL, DEN, MIN, NO) and two games in the final week of the season(SA, NO).

Tucker Still Available

PJ Tucker has been a consistent fantasy performer over the last few weeks as the Suns continue on with their playoff push.

Analysis: PJ Tucker is the 10th rated fantasy small forward and the 10th rated fantasy shooting guard over the last two weeks of the season. He’s not dominating any one particular category but he sure is filling up the stat sheet. In the month of March Tucker is averaging 6.8 rebounds, 2.0 steals, 1.1 threes made, 11.8 points and he’s shooting 58% from the field. He’s even logging 33 minutes per night this month… he’s doing it all.

Many people are forgetting that PJ Tucker has been and is a top 30 fantasy small forward this season. He’s 8th among small forwards in rebounds per game at 6.5 and 8th among small forwards in steals per game at 1.3.

Currently, PJ Tucker is available in 35-70% of fantasy leagues. His minutes remain well above 30 per game so he is becoming difficult to ignore from a fantasy perspective. Tucker has the Wizards and Knicks left this week and the Lakers, Clippers and Blazers next week.

Stock Rising- Jarrett Jack

Kyrie Irving will be out for the remainder of the season with a biceps injury. The Cavs won’t come out and say it but he will not suit up again this season. What does this mean? Well, Jarrett Jack has and will continue to be on the end of some major minutes.

Analysis: Jarrett Jack is averaging 35.6 minutes per game in his last five contests. During that stretch he is dropping 13.2 points per game, 4.0 assists and 1.0 threes. Over the last week of the season Jack is the 16th rated fantasy point guard and the 11th best fantasy shooting guard.

Obviously, Jack isn’t going to blow anyone away in assists, threes or steals but he is more than serviceable. Keep in mind that he is averaging 32 minutes per game in the month of March and because of the Kyrie Irving injury that number will continue to climb.

Currently, Jarrett Jack is available in 45-60% of fantasy leagues. He has OKC Thursday night followed by Houston on Saturday night. Jack also has four games on the schedule next week.

Amar’e Returns Again

Amar’e Stoudemire will return to action Saturday against the Bucks. He sat out just one game which was on Wednesday for rest.

Analysis: At least the brief absence was for rest and not injury related. Regardless, Amar’e is on fire right now. His line in the month of March looks like this- 17.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and he’s shooting 64% from the field. Who knows how long this will last but Amar’e is just one of those guys you have to ride until he breaks down.

Amar’e is averaging 27 minutes per game this month through six games compared to 20 minutes per game this season. If he can stay healthy the minutes and fantasy production will be there for you. Keep in mind that the Knicks are actually the 9th seed in the East at the moment behind a slumping Atlanta squad. I’m not saying they will make the playoffs but the Knicks are riding a five game win streak and will not go quietly.

Currently, Amar’e Stoudemire is available in 40-50% of fantasy leagues. He has the Bucks, Pacers, Sixers, Cavs, Lakers and Kings coming up in the next eleven days.

Stock Rising- Anderson

The Sixers may be on an eighteen game losing streak but James Anderson has been playing very well. Anderson hit 5 of 9 threes and scored 17 points in a loss to the Kings on Wednesday night.

Analysis: Anderson is averaging 17.5 points per game, 4.0 threes made and 3.0 rebounds over his last four games. He’s clocking over 30 minutes per game and shooting more than 11 shots per game in the month of March. His biggest asset is obviously the three ball. He’s averaging 1.3 threes made per game this year and once again a ridiculous 4.0 threes made per game in his last four contests.

The twenty-four year old shooting guard is finally starting to get some love in the fantasy world. Thirty-plus minutes per night and a hot hand can only go unnoticed for so long. Anderson’s numbers will come back down but we don’t know where considering he seems to be Philly’s second best offensive weapon at the moment behind Thaddeus Young.

Currently, James Anderson is available in 70-97% of fantasy leagues. Keep in mind his next four games are against the league’s best defenses- Indiana twice, Chicago and Memphis.