• In the wake of averaging 562 three-point attempts in a three-season stretch from 2004-07, Gilbert Arenas says he’s “trying to take less than 100″ this coming season, opting instead to attack the basket and shoot “for percentage”. Um, say what? Fantasy owners investing in the second round had better hope for a shooting percentage in the mid-50′s in the (unlikely) scenario where he’s only offering 0.5 threes per game.
• Al Jefferson lost 31 pounds this off-season, going from 293(!) to 262, in the hopes that it will help his knee get to and stay at 100 percent. He figures to be at least somewhat limited in camp as a precaution.
• Things continue to deteriorate in Golden State. An eventful media day included Stephen Jackson reiterating his trade request because he feels the team “keeps taking steps back”.
“Every year I’ve lost somebody that I felt helped me get to that, with Baron (Davis), Jason (Richardson), Al (Harrington),” Jackson said. “It felt like I’m next. You know what I mean? It feels like we’re not getting better.”
Monta Ellis spiced things up when he replied “Can’t. We just can’t” to a question about his sharing the court with Stephen Curry. He compared when he played with Baron Davis to the potential pairing with Curry:
“You’ve got a nine-year veteran who’s been in the game, who understands the game, knows how to play the game, and he’s a big body. You can’t put two small guys out there and try to play the 1 and the 2 when you’ve got big 2 guards in the league. You just can’t do it. OK, yes, we’re going to move up and down fast, but eventually the game is going to slow down. You can’t do it.”
So now we’re left with Don Nelson to smooth things over with his captain, other “star” player, the No.7 overall pick in the draft, and the rest of the packed depth chart. I’m not ready to start docking fantasy values here, given how aloof Nelson tends to be in these types of situations, but Curry could obviously be affected if Nellie decides that Monta knows what he’s talking about.
• A good read on Greg Oden’s summer can be found here. The focus in intensive workouts was lateral quickness, coordination, and reflexes in an attempt to limit his fouls and improve his moves around the basket. Of course, positive reports from a hometown newspaper are one thing and it all translating to the court is entirely another. Keep a close eye on early returns from the practice court either way.
• Feel-good vibes are also permeating from the Heat regarding Jermaine O’Neal, who is highly-motivated and banking on a comeback season in what figures to be his final contract year of note. Nobody should be hoping for a return to his prime numbers, but fantasy owners should think about him as a late-round big with a reasonable chance to outplay his draft position.
• Delonte West was nowhere to be found on the first day of Cavs’ training camp on Tuesday, and it was an unexcused absence. This came a day after a media day appearance that included the following quote:
“I’m back taking my meds and everything. I’m focused on basketball. I’m dealing with some issues. I get highs and get lows. But all the last year I’ve been consistent being in a nice … routine. I was in a routine that I got out of this summer. I got away from it.”
This is a obviously a developing situation, but Anthony Parker as a late-round pick is making all kinds of sense and West’s fantasy impact is now a question mark.
• So much for that Mike Dunleavy optimism. “A little bit of a ways to go” was how Dunleavy himself described his situation after a recent MRI revealed a grade-2 strain in his right knee. Feel free to move Brandon Rush back up your draft sheet a bit, although Dahntay Jones is also in the mix for the starting spot at shooting guard.
• So maybe J.R. Smith isn’t a lock for the starting lineup after all. Check out this quote from George Karl:
“I’ve never said that J.R is gonna start. I said that we would go to that avenue, that’s the next step for J.R. My general thought is I think we’re more into keeping the bench together. And the bench being Chris (Andersen), (Anthony Carter) and J.R., and messing with the starting lineup (rather) than messing with both.”
And with Arron Afflalo already garnering praise from Karl and Chancey Billups, we may be heading towards another timeshare. Smith is still going to play and hit his threes once he’s done with his seven-game suspension, but the full-fledged breakout isn’t going to happen if Karl decides that he’s really into keeping that bench together.
• Another reason to hope to pick somewhere near the beginning of Round 1: Chris Bosh, carrying 15-20 pounds of added weight into his contract year, injured his left hamstring earlier in the summer while golfing and subsequently aggravated it doing sprints in the days before camp. Just sayin’.
• Tracy McGrady will undergo an MRI on November 23 to determine if he can return to practice at that time. Despite this latest update, T-Mac says it’s “night and day” when talking about how he feels right now compared to previous seasons, with much of the thanks going to Tim Grover. Nobody is in a rush to get him back on the court, however. From Daryl Morey:
“He wants to be 100 percent when he gets back. He wants to be able to go on back-to-backs, to be able to fit in with the up-tempo style we’re doing. He wants to be 100 percent. We want him 100 percent.”
And from Rick Adelman:
“If Tracy McGrady gets healthy and can play, he’s going to make my life a lot easier. But if he can’t, I have to deal with what we have and try to bring these other guys along.”
• The starting small forward spot in New Orleans is Julian Wright’s to lose, something you shouldn’t expect to happen. Target him late on draft day for defensive stats but be wary of a poor free-throw percentage; while you are at it, remove Peja Stojakovic from standard-league consideration.
• If the season had started yesterday, Channing Frye would be the Suns’ starting center, according to Alvin Gentry. We’re a month away from the season actually starting, however, and there is a chance the team will want to defend someone at some point, so keep an eye on this position battle between Frye and Robin Lopez.
Don’t forget that Eddy Curry just got injured with a calf injury.
)
http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=NBA&id=767
I’m writing that one on the back of my hand… if i forget that while I’m drafting i wont be able to cope!
i’d almost like to see curry back in action just because the curry line hasn’t seemed the same without him. almost, anyway
Aaaahhhh… Quick Hitters~~
NBA SEASON IS ALMOST HERE BABY!!
(Thanks Matt!!)
Hi Buser,
Very informative updates, thanks. Quick questions for a 14 team deep league h2h 9 cat:
1.) You think Sessions would be a better fantasy pick than maybe Nate Robinson, Raymond Felton or Chris Duhon.
2.) You think Jamal Crawford is a better 7th pick than Trevor Ariza or Marvin Williams? I have been picking Marvin williams for the last 2 years and hes never really broken out. And he may never will, with his recent big contract from Atlanta.
3.) You think Rudy Gay would be back as a fanstasy stud like he was 2 years ago? He may be a steal a 4th rounder.
4.) I noticed there are very few pgs, not enough to go around maybe 14 teams if we allot 2-3 pgs per team. You think Luke Ridnour, Derek Fisher or Rafer Alston are good picks at ROunds 12 or 13?
Hoping for you feedback. Thanks
Regards,
Ripkenpark
I’ll take this one Buser….
1) Sessions will lead the mob in assists but Nate and Felton are playing for new contracts and love the 3 ball. I’m thinking it’s a needs basis as to why take any of those 3. Duhon is the odd man out, the knicks need to bleed the youth so as to show reasons why a FA will come to NYC in the off season. All of the 4 should be a later round pick anyway.
2) Always be careful of guys getting paid after a hot streak in the finals, don’t get confused. That is what Ariza did! Does Marvin Williams need to improve a lot to be a steady 8th round pick? Crawford will get some shots and be hot and cold all season, at 25 minutes a game though you’ll find that Marvin is the safe pick with the upside to boot.
3) Stay away from Memphis. I don’t see how any of it can work?
4) Rounds 12-13 has a heap of kids with upside. Check out the depth charts and take a punt on some 1st and 2nd year PG’s with a chance to play.
I’m not really a stats man, its all about best player available to fill a need.
Hoppy.
Couldn’t have said it better myself
yeah good stuff hoppy. what i’ll add
1) as hoppy said, it’s more about what your team needs when these guys are going. sessions for PTS+AST but no 3PT, nate for PTS+3PT but fewer AST, felton for AST+STL but bad efficiency, duhon for AST+3PT but little PTS. “in general” i have them ranked sessions, nate .. felton, duhon
2) crawford is a reasonable late pick if you are punting FG%, but not as early as the 7th in any case. i’ve love ariza in the 7th and have him a bit ahead of marvin
3) i see quite the opposite. i see gay being marginalized by the offensive alpha dogs they’ve compiled on this team. i’d be surprised if he delivered a 4th round impact, let alone was a steal in the 4th. honestly, nobody knows how it’s going to work out, but my gut tells me gay and mayo are in for a long season
4) hoppy nailed this. grab 3 PG by the 11th and then think young and/or upside for your bench. galliniari, julian wright, anthony parker, hakim warrick, roy hibbert, brandon rush, yi jianlian, etc, not crusty PG
damn matt, you are letting the cat out of the bag too early on anthony parker. i think he could be the starter all season alongside lebron, which can only help. he was a surprisingly good contributor in toronto and if he gets his FG% up a bit, he could be the steal of many drafts. currently the #56 SG eligible per the draft sheet, he was #83 overall last season yahoo final rankings…
It’s not about when you give out the info – it’s all about what managers do with it.
There are those like you who get what it means. But I guarantee you, there are those who just glossed over that little piece of info like
, and didn’t file it away.
But in a competitive league, I agree – it doesn’t makes things any easier!
hey man, it’s my job
AP is a great fit alongside the Cavs’ starters – efficient offense and positive defensive contributions. really liking him as a fantasy “glue guy”
I know you’re doing what your supposed to, and i probably am making it worse by commenting. i should have just let that little golden nugget slip through the cracks instead of drawing attention to it.
but i agree, he is a perfect guy to have on a fantasy team to help fill out a roster, especially w/ SG & SF eligibility.
There is more cancer than healthy tissue in the Golden State locker room.
Hey Matt, just wondering.. is the today’s mock draft a no go?
no go. pushed ahead to tomorrow at 4pm
sign up here if interested:
http://busersports.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=22
Just did a quick mock, 14 team H2H 9 cat. This is my second time doing fantasy, and trying to get better.
If I could get some analysis of how I did, that would be great. Thanks!
R1.4 – Dwyane Wade
R2.11 – Andre Iguodala
R3.4 – Brooke Lopez
R4.11 – Tony Parker
R5.4 – Nene Hilario
R6.11 – Boris Diaw
R7.4 – Ron Artest (Doesnt fit my high fg% team, but hopefully being with the a high caliber offense like the lakers will raise his FG%)
R8.11 – Greg Oden
R9.4 – Ronnie Brewer
R10.11 – Kenyon Martin
R11.4 – Zydrunas Ilguaskas (Probably waste of a pick with Shaq now with cleveland)
R12.11 – Ronny Turiaf
R13.4 – Andres Nocioni
PG – Dwyane Wade
SG – Andre Iguodala
G – Tony Parker
SF – Ron Artest
PF – Boris Diaw
F – Nene Hilario
C – Brooke Lopez
C – Greg Oden
Util – Ronnie Brewer
Util – Kenyon Martin
Bench – Zydrunas Ilgauskas
Bench – Ronny Brewer
Bench – Andres Nocioni
Picking Wade, decided i’d ditch FT% off the bat (which makes picking up lopez 3rd pick probably not the best). Ended up doing really bad with 3pt too. FG Reb, Stl, Blk should be pretty good. Avg in pts and ast are average. And TO is whatever, never really cared for that category. My analysis of my draft correct?
Hi,
I created a mock drat in MDC for a 14 team league. Hope you can join. Would want the most competitive people around so I can practice better.
The site is : http://www.mockdraftcentral.com/draft.jsp?id=121139
Mock Draft: Mock Draft Fantasy Basketball NBA style H2H
Thanks
Ripkenpark
I might try and jump in this one with you – here in central standard, it starts at around 10:30pm.
And I’m a night person anyway, so it works out. But I’ll know here in another hour or so.
Not going to be able to make it after all – we just got finished eating a very late dinner, and my wife wants some “me” time – you know how that goes!