Category: NBA

Last Call On JJ Hickson

JJ Hickson is four games into the 2012-13 NBA season and he already has four double digit rebound games under his belt.

Analysis: Hickson has always been a bit of a tweener in the NBA but he has always showed us flashes of brillance throughout his young career. If you recall, Hickson was a must add late last year in the fantasy world due to an April which saw him post 15 PPG, 9 RPG and 1 BPG. This year in four games he’s averaging 11.25 RPG and 10.75 PPG. As a center he’s not going to provide you with tons of blocks but he sure does shine as a fantasy power forward. Hickson is 49% from the field for his career, so if he’s given plenty of minutes we may see him back to scoring fifteen points per game again.

Hickson’s free throw shooting is worth mentioning, he’s 67% from the stripe for his career. While 67% isn’t good, he isn’t going to hurt you at the line like a JaVale McGee will. JJ is available in seventy percent of leagues but he won’t last long on the wire.

Buying Low- Jarrett Jack

Jarrett Jack is averaging 6.7 assists per game through three games this year.

Analysis: Jarrett Jack has always been a fringe fantasy performer but he is getting nearly thirty minutes per game this year. Jack’s line of 6.7 APG, 4.3 RPG and 10.3 PPG is very solid especially for a point guard that is only owned in less than ten percent of fantasy leagues. Jack is a career 85% free throw shooter so he can contribute in other areas as well.

Jarrett Jack may be coming off of the bench but he is the best pure point guard on the Golden State Warriors. Stephen Curry may be starting at the point but he is a combo guard who does not facilitate the offense nearly as well as Jarrett Jack. If Jack’s minutes remain near the thirty minute mark he will have a spot on fantasy rosters nationwide regardless of format. Keep in mind that Jack shoots well from the field for a small guard and he will average nearly one steal and one three per game. He is a reliable lower tier point guard and he makes a perfect buy low candidate at the moment.

Aminu Impressive In Opener

The New Orleans Hornets have very few things to look forward to this year but the emergence of Al-Farouq Aminu is one of them.

Analysis: Al-Farouq Aminu put up 17 points, 7 rebounds, 3 blocks and 2 steals Wednesday night against the Spurs. He did all of this in 37 minutes and since the Hornets don’t have much at small forward you can expect to see a lot of Aminu on the floor this year for the Hornets. The uncertainty of Eric Gordon’s return is also an added plus for Aminu’s fantasy value, he will be one of the primary offensive options for New Orleans.

There are a couple of negatives when projecting Aminu this year. He’s a small forward that will give you next to nothing in the three department and his field goal percentage has been suspect since he entered the league. He will give you some blocks as a small forward which is always a big help and since he’s available in just about every league it is hard to make a case against him. If his minutes remain solid so will his fantasy contributions.

Glen Davis Is Surging

With just a little over two weeks left in the season it’s time to make your final tweaks to your fantasy roster.

Analysis: Glen Davis is on fire and the fantasy world is taking notice. Davis has averaged 19.4 PPG, 11.0 RPG and 1.6 SPG in his last five games for the Orlando Magic. In four of those five games he has played at least thirty-five minutes. Davis is available in over seventy percent of leagues but he is going fast. A power forward who is averaging a double-double recently and is getting thirty plus minutes per game is a rare commodity on the wire, so take advantage.

If Glen Davis is not available in your league other solid rebounding bigs may be. Brandon Bass and Marcus Camby are still available in a few leagues but they do not possess the offensive potential we have seen from Davis over the past few weeks. Ed Davis is another power forward who has been rebounding quite well lately but his minutes remain in the 18-24 range.

Glen Davis may not be a shot blocker but he does shoot around 70% from the stripe. There is not a better power forward so widely available on the wire.

Last Call On JJ Hickson

Since his move to Portland, JJ Hickson has turned his disappointing season around.

Analysis: JJ Hickson is one of the NBA’s hottest power forward/centers and fantasy owners have been taking notice since late March. Hickson’s line in his last five games looks like this- 15.6 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 1.0 BPG with a 59% field goal percentage. You really cannot ask for more from a guy who is still available in about half of all fantasy leagues. His minutes have been hovering in the thirty minute range over the past week as he continues to put up solid numbers.

Outside of Marcus Camby for blocks there really isn’t too much left on the wire in terms of big men. Hickson’s point production might take a hit a bit but he will rebound very well with the minutes he’s been getting. There isn’t much time left in the fantasy basketball season and taking a chance on Hickson just may pay off. Keep in mind that Amare is still out, DeJuan Blair is struggling and Derrick Favors isn’t blocking shots anymore. With the numbers he keeps putting up, it’s last call on JJ Hickson.