Category: NBA

Brook Lopez’s Return Is Near

Brook Lopez participated in a practice with contact with the New Jersey Nets today for the first time since breaking his foot in the preseason.

Analysis: With Brook Lopez being available in thirty to forty percent of fantasy leagues, his return is a big deal to all fantasy owners. Lopez averaged over twenty points per game last year, that’s impressive from a fantasy center. His career averages of 7.6 RPG and 1.7 BPG will be a welcome addition to any and all fantasy squads.

Brook Lopez finished eighth among fantasy centers last year and with his return in sight, it’s time to pick him up before it’s too late. There really isn’t much he can’t do as a fantasy center…he’s a career 80% free throw shooter. He may not be an elite rebounder, but he’ll get his share of double-doubles. It isn’t often that a top ten center is available at any point in a fantasy season but his preseason injury has made all of this possible. There is a mad scramble going on in nearly all leagues for Lopez and it doesn’t make any sense to wait.

Three Ball Help- Michael Redd

Michael Redd’s minutes have been on the rise recently and so has his three ball production.

Analysis: Michael Redd has averaged twenty minutes per game over his last five contests. In those five games, Redd has hit eight three pointers or 1.6 3PM per game. Redd has been taking over five three point shots in that stretch which is great news for deep league fantasy owners looking for some three ball help.

Michael Redd isn’t going to do much in the steal or assist department as an aging shooting guard but he has some value. Redd is a career 84% free throw shooter and he has averaged over twelve points per game over the last week. If his minutes continue to stay in the twenty minute range he will be a fantasy asset in the three ball category. Redd is only owned in two percent of fantasy leagues so there is plenty of time to monitor his minutes and production. The Bucks’ Carlos Delfino is another shooter to keep an eye on. Delfino has hit eleven threes in his last three games. Delfino’s minutes in those three games have been north of thirty per.

Last Call On Chris Kaman

Chris Kaman is two games back into action for the New Orleans Hornets after trade talk speculation shelved the big man for nearly two weeks.

Analysis: Whether Chris Kaman is traded sooner or later makes little difference in his fantasy value. Kaman is a must own yet he is available in over forty percent of fantasy leagues. The power forward/center really does offer the rebounding and shot blocking you need from a fantasy big man. Kaman is averaging a solid  7.1 rebounds per game to go along with 1.4  blocks per game in just twenty-three minutes of floor time per night.

What makes Chris Kaman an unusual fantasy big man is the free throw shooting. Kaman is shooting 82% from the stripe this year and 74% for his career. He may not be a lock for fifteen points every night but the increase in minutes will help his value out a ton but it all really depends on what team he lands on. In Kaman’s two games back he’s put up 13.5 PPG, 10.5 RPG and 2.5 BPG. It really is the last call on Kaman as I do not see him being available in any leagues this time next week.

Deep League Help- Jason Thompson/Ed Davis

Jason Thompson has been a rebounding machine since his return to the Sacramento starting lineup while Ed Davis’ minutes are on the rise.

Analysis: Jason Thompson has averaged 13.0 rebounds per game over his last three contests. His rebounding prowess shouldn’t come as a surprise, Thompson averaged 8.5 rebounds per game in the 2009-10 season. Like with all players, when Thompson’s minutes are up- so is his fantasy value. Thompson is available in well over eighty percent of fantasy leagues.

Jason Thompson has never been much of a shot blocker which does hurt his value a bit as a power forward. However, his points production(recently) along with a 54% field goal percentage this year does boost his value. Along with Toronto’s Ed Davis, Thompson is one of the few power forwards widely available on the wire that can have value in any league format as long as the minutes are up. Ed Davis is a freak but has only averaged twenty-two minutes per game this year. Despite the lack of minutes he’s still rebounding 6.4 per game with 1.0 blocks per game. Davis does have eight blocks and two double-doubles over his last six games. Ed also has center position eligibility which is always a bonus.

Time To Bail On Ridnour?

Luke Ridnour has not been playing well lately despite being on the end of some heavy duty minutes.

Analysis: Luke Ridnour is shooting just 38% from the field with only two three pointers made in his last five games. Ridnour is only averaging 9.0 points per game in that five game span despite playing over thirty minutes per game. Ridnour’s fantasy strength will always be as a point guard but his assist totals have been on the decline. Ridnour recorded five six or more assist games in his first seventeen contests but has zero in his last six games. His minutes remain high but he isn’t seeing much time at the point and even when he does, he’s just not producing.

Ricky Rubio is negating Luke Ridnour’s fantasy point guard numbers as well as the recent return of Jose Juan Barea. Between Rubio and Barea you cannot expect many assists going forward from Ridnour. He’s essentially a shooting guard now who isn’t a lock for ten points on a given night. He’s still owned in more than half of fantasy leagues but it’s just about time to bail on Ridnour.