Category: NBA

Last Call On Spencer Hawes

Spencer Hawes now has three solid games under his belt since returning from an Achilles injury.

Analysis: Spencer Hawes has averaged 8.0 rebounds per game with 1.33 blocks per game in his last three games going back to last Saturday. Before the Achilles injury Hawes was averaging eights boards, nearly eleven points per game with a field goal percentage over fifty-five percent. Throw in a block and a half per game and you had/have yourself a fine fantasy center. Hawes is available in over fifty percent of fantasy leagues and he is a must own. He may not be the most reliable center going forward when considering his injury and some limited minutes, but he still produces very well.

There really isn’t anything that you want from a fantasy center that Hawes cannot do. His free throw shooting isn’t great but on the positive side… he does average 2.7 assists per game this year. His minutes may not reach back into the upper twenties any time soon but if he keeps getting twenty minutes per night he will not stay on the waiver wire much longer. Pick him up now and worry about his health later.

Deep League Assists- Beno Udrih

Beno Udrih isn’t really on anyone’s radar at the moment but he should be.

Analysis: Beno Udrih has at least five assists in five of his last six games. He’s averaging 6.6 assists per game and 1.16 steals per game in that six game span. For a point guard/shooting guard that is available in ninety-nine percent of fantasy leagues… those are some solid numbers. Udrih is only averaging 18.7 minutes per game this year but over the past two weeks he has been getting about twenty-four minutes per night. Udrih is also a career 83% free throw shooter but he doesn’t get to the stripe often enough to really be a huge value there.

On the negative side, Udrih doesn’t rebound the ball well for a guard nor does he take a lot of threes. Obviously with a guy available in just about every league you really cannot be too picky about what he can’t do. What he has been doing well can be found in the assists department. It’s hard to ignore 6.6 assists per game over his last six contests. His minutes are up and he just may be worth a look in deep leagues.

Ramon Sessions Is Going Fast

Ramon Sessions is now a Los Angeles Laker and his stock is rising.

Analysis: Just one day after his trade from the Cleveland Cavs, Ramon Sessions is only available in about half of fantasy leagues. Sessions has always been a high assist point guard and the trade only adds to that value. Sessions is averaging 5.2 assists per game this year in twenty-four minutes of floor time. Over his last three games Sessions is averaging 6.3 assists per game, 4.0 rebounds per game and over one steal per game. An added benefit to Sessions’ fantasy game this year is his three ball. He’s making more threes(0.6 3PM) per game than he has attempted for his career(0.4 3PA) on a per game basis.

With more minutes hopefully Sessions can become more than a one steal per game point guard. His high assists along with his steals and threes certainly make him a must add on a loaded Lakers team. The most pressing question is whether his points (10.5 PPG) production will go up? Regardless, he’s still shooting 83% from the stripe on the year and can contribute in five to six fantasy categories per night.

Keep An Eye On Wesley Johnson

Wesley Johnson may only be an option to add in deeper leagues but he is producing very well in a few fantasy categories.

Analysis: Wesley Johnson has eight steals and seven three pointers made in his last four games. He does possess the talent to keep racking up the steals and hitting plenty of threes. His minutes are finally up in the mid twenties as of late and his playing time certainly factors into the bump in his numbers. He may not be a reliable rebounder for a 6’7″ guy, but his assist totals have been on the rise.

Johnson has plenty of flaws in his fantasy game. He doesn’t shoot very well from the field, his rebound production is lacking but when he is given more minutes he tends to raise his level of play. His steals and threes will always be there especially with the increase in playing time but the points and even blocks(4 in last 3 games) can make him special. If he can find a third category to excel in, he will make a fine deep league add. As it stands now, Johnson is owned in just two percent of fantasy leagues.

Last Call On Evan Turner

Evan Turner has posted two twenty-four plus point games in his last three contests. Turner is the hot commodity on the waiver wire at the moment.

Analysis: Evan Turner’s three game hot streak is rather impressive. His stat line looks like- 22.0 points per game, 12.0 rebounds per game with 3.3 assists per game. Turner’s free throw shooting has been over eighty percent over the past week which is a huge turn around considering he is shooting 66% from the stripe this year. Turner has gotten at least thirty-two minutes in his last four games and he has responded well. He is shooting well from the field but he will never be a three point shooter. Turner is only averaging 0.2 3PM this year and you really would like your shooting guards and small forwards to be solid in the three ball department. Regardless, Turner is a solid rebounder at 5.9 RPG this year.

Evan Turner is available in a little over fifty percent of fantasy leagues and he is going fast. His points potential with his rebounding is rare to find on the wire at this point in the NBA season. He may not hit threes or get tons of steals but he makes a great add or a solid sell high option.