Return of the King

For the past 2 weeks, all anyone can talk about is LeBron James making his return to Cleveland for the first time since he decided to take his talents to South Beach to play for the Miami Heat on July 8th.  Every time "The King" touches the ball he'll receive treatment that is not fit for royalty.  Ever since becoming a member of the Miami Heat, statistics prove that he is now the most hated athlete in the world.  So far the Heat have been anything but perfect, but heading into a showdown in Cleveland, the team from South Beach is really starting to "heat" up.  We know how poorly LeBron is going to be treated on Thursday night, but the real question is how is his majesty going to respond to the boos he's receiving from the fans who once loved him. 

Transitioning from a present star to a future star, how about the absurd numbers that Blake Griffin is posting.  As a rookie, the former Oklahoma star is currently averaging a double-double with 20.7 points and 11.6 rebounds a night.  The guy is an absolute monster.  If Griffin continues his early dominance throughout the year and he can manage to stay healthy, the sky is truly the limit for this young stud.

Now, moving on to my top picks for the week:

This week I like: 

Wesley Matthews-Wesley Matthews scored 23 points to lead Portland in scoring for the third straight games.  He's only averaging 13.8 points a game so far, but he's really been picking it up of late.  He most likely will not continue his scoring assault on defenses all year, so pick him up now while he's playing starter's minutes.

Josh McRoberts- The former Duke Blue devil is really starting to make his impact as a member of the Indiana Pacers.  Although his number aren't jaw-dropping, the guy is starting to post consistent numbers as he's averaging 5.8 points and 6.1 rebounds a night.  If you're looking for consistency, McRoberts is definitely a good player to pick up.

Lastly, what is going on with the World Champions.  The Lakers have dropped four straight games which hasn't happened in years for this dominant force.  Kobe is still putting up great numbers and basically being numbers, but it shows that when big man Pau Gasol doesn't have it going inside, the Lakers have no choice but to strictly shoot threes.  When Gasol isn't playing well and the Lakers shots aren't falling, the World Champions become an average team.  Although Gasol is battling an injury, the Lakers are along way away from having to worry because as long as they have some guy named Kobe wearing a Laker uniform, they should be just fine.

The Disappointing Trio

If the Miami Heat continue playing like this I am going to have to start talking about other teams, but for now lets just hope this is them getting used to each other.  Dwayne Wade has no idea where the basketball hoop is.  Last night's game he was 1-13 from the field and 1-5 from behind the arc.  That is just unacceptable from Wade. 

Moving on Kevin Durant returned from a brief injury and continued his production, scoring 28 points with 3 blocks.  Jeff Green also contributed to the teams success by adding 24 points and 6 rebounds.  With those two in the lineup the team just looks 5 times better. 

With John Wall still nursing his left foot, Gilbert Arenas continues to put up nice numbers.  Last game coming off the bench Arenas put up 19 points and 16 assists.  That's right Gilbert isn't as selfish as everyone makes him out to be. 

Now with my pick-ups of the Week.

This week I like:
Darko Milicic over the last seven days is averaging 18.3 ppg, 7.7 rbs, and an absurd 4.0 bpg.  I know he won't keep up these numbers, but if he can average a double-double the rest of the way adding 2.0 blocks I would be happy with that. 

Javale McGee- Despite only being owned in 78% of Yahoo Leagues, McGee is averagin 11.5 ppg, 11.8 rbg, and 2.8 bpg of his last 3 games.  Those numbers should only get better as he continues to mature as a NBA player.  He is only 22 years old.

Matt Barnes- Even though his numbers don't jump out at you he contributes in almost every category, a Trevor Ariza type player.  This year he is averaging 9.4 ppg, 5.6 rbg, 2.4 apg, and 0.9 spg.  He should be pretty consistent with those numbers especially in a Lakers uniform. 

Interesting Week for Fantasy Basketball

The Week of Injuries
This past week several players landed on the bench wearing street clothes.  Andre Iguodala has been out since the second game of the season, Brandon Roy's knees are acting up for a change, John Wall foot has been giving him some trouble, and Darren Collison ankle has been bothering him. (Maybe that's why he is playing so poorly) David Lee has an infection in his right elbow and may require another surgery and Yao Ming is scheduled to miss another 2 weeks. And Greg Oden is going to require micro-fracture surgery for the second time in his short career, which means he is out for the year again.

Despite these injuries, players that have been forced into a bigger role and performing out of their mind is Luis Scola, Jru Holiday, Wesley Matthews.  Luis Scola is now averaging 22.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, 1.0 steals, and 0.9 steals a game. Holiday is averaging 14.2 points and 7.4 assists, and in Matthews two starts this week he is averaging 25.0 points a game.

Pick-ups of the Week

Other guys I like this week are Serge Ibaka who isn't going to blow you out of the water, but since Jeff Green has gone down with an injury Ibaka has been a nice source of rebounds. 

Over the past week Michael Beasley is averaging a ridiculous 30.3 points a game and 5.5 rebounds a game.  He is a great source for points and with Johnny Flynn due back in the next few weeks things might even open up for him more. 

Drew Gooden is playing remarkably well.  Over the past week he is averaging 19.0 ppg and 11.5 rbg and with a possible injury with Bogut after his collision with Maggette this past week, those numbers can go up.

How can I make a post without talking about the Heat.  It only took about 11 games for Bosh to play the way he is capable of.  Despite the fact it was against the Suns who have a small, let alone depleted front court, he put up monster numbers.  He is a great buy-low candidate if the team in your league is trying to trade him.   

Weekly Fantasy Basketball Update

After a long week, lets look back at the week that was.

For the second time this season the big 3 of Miami Heat lost to the big 4 of the Boston Celtics.  When Lebron, Wade, and Bosh were all on the court at the same time, the Celtics outscored the Heat by 10 points.  Rondo continued his incredible start by dishing out 16 assists raising his average of 14.8 assists/game.  What killed the Heat even more was the Ray Allen was almost unstoppable, hitting his first 7 three pointers. 

I don't understand how no one sees that the Heat are better when Lebron is playing like Lebron, not dishing out assists.  When Lebron is scoring, the Heat are nasty, when he's trying to dish out assists and his teammates are simple not shooting well the Heat lose.  In the first two match ups with the Celtics, Dwayne Wade is a dismal 6-28 from the field. 

Moving on from the Heat, what is the deal with the New Orleans Hornets.  After the Lakers losing last night, the Hornets are the only team left in the NBA that is undefeated.  After a long off season about how he wanted to be trade, Chris Paul has finally shut his mouth and is off to a good start, averaging 17.9 points a game and 9.9 assists a game.  I mean I think he will eventually play his way out of New Orleans, but at this rate why would he. 

My Pick Ups of the Week

• Francisco Garcia- Garcia has started this season hot, averaging 13.7 ppg, 1.3 spg, 1.3 bpg, and 1.9 threes a game.  He has moved ahead of Omri Casspi due to his slow start, and Garcia should be an option at small forward.
• Eric Bledsoe- With Baron Davis battling a different injury every day, Bledsoe has started the Clippers last 5 games and over the last seven games he has averaged 10.2 ppg and 8.2 apg. 
• Paul Mislap-  Another play I loved going into the season and still do now, is Mislap.  After the departure of Boozer, the Jazz opened up the starting PF position for him.  This past week he exploded for 46 points to beat the Heat.  Over the past 2 weeks he is averaging 21.2 ppg and 12.0 rbg

Sell

• Al Jefferson- I simply love this guy, especially now that he is in Utah, but is he really going to stay healthy for an entire season.  If you can package someone with Jefferson I would go after an Amare Stoudemire or Chris Bosh. 
• Rudy Gay- Another guy I like, but right now his value is so high.  I can see him putting up decent numbers like 20 and 6, but I can't see him staying consistent averaging 25 ppg and 7.2 rbg.  
• Luis Scola-  He is off to a ridiculous start averaging 22.7 ppg and 11.4 rbg a game and with a depleted front court I can see him putting up big numbers.  However I can't see the Rockets actually limiting Yao's minutes all season long if he is playing like he is healthy.  I have also heard some rumors that they might be interested in Kevin Love (since apparently he has been clashing with his head coach)

Friday Night Update

After the very impressive shooting night for the New York Knicks last night, the Knicks plan to take on John Wall and the Washington Wizards tonight.  Not only is Wall coming to MSG, Gilbert Arenas is making his awaited season debut after being suspended for 51 games last season.  So I want to know what everyone out there thinks.  Is Gilbert going to regain his dominance where he averaged 22 points a game last season when he played or is he going to play his way out of Washington?

Going along with the same idea what is Rodney Stuckey doing?  He has the talent to be a great starting point guard, but when a coach tells you to go into the game, you simple go.  You don't sit at the end of the bench pretending you don't hear him.  So what does this mean for Stuckey?  Well he is not starting tonight, therefore I think he will be seeing a lot of the bench for the next few games.

What is the deal with Antwan Jaminson?  After being traded to the Cavs last season, everyone expected them to make it to the Championship and win, however he has been a huge disappointment.  To make it even better, he was demoted to the bench to start the season for J.J Hickson, his numbers coming off the bench have been terrible, and he is not going to play tonight because of a bum knee.  At this point I would see if you could trade him for anything and if not just to keep him on your bench until further notice.

And what about the Rooster?  After a miserable first 3 games in New York where he scored a total of 18 points, Danilo Gallinari went off last night, going 7-11 from the field and 4-4 from behind the arc on his way to 24 points.  If he starts getting hot, watch out NBA the Knicks are back.

Week 1 Update

With Week 1 underway lets take a look at some hot topics.

After a miserable first game against the Celtics, the Miami Heat are starting to gel, winning their next 4 games by an average of 22.7 points.  Even though none of the Heat are going to be a top 5 fantasy player, they will all contribute.  D. Wade is going to score, while Bosh averages 18 and 10, and King James is going to be the facilitator probably averaging about 9 assists a game.

Now for the rest of the NBA:

Rajon Rondo is off to an amazing start averaging an absurd 16.4 assists a game.  Even though that is only through 5 games don't expect those numbers to dip that much since the Celtics are a top 3 team in the Eastern conference.  Go out and get Rondo if you can.  BUY

After an abismal shooting night in his first NBA game John Wall has scored over 20 points and 10 assists in his next two games.  He is the leader of this team even though he embarrassed himself doing the Dougie.  BUY

The player that is going to give Wall a run for his money for Rookie of the Year is Blake Griffin.  Last night going up against the Thunder, Griffin had 3 emphatic dunks and is averaging 17 and 10.  The only concern here is if he can stay healthy for the whole year. BUY

The one player that I am not so sure about is Stephen Curry.  He was getting drafted in the top 10 in most of my leagues and I don't see why.  I know he got hot late in the year last season but there is just so many options in Golden State.  Plus the fact that he is battling ankle injuries I just can't see him being a top 15 fantasy player.  SELL

Welcome!

Welcome to Basketball Fanatics Fantasy Dream blog! I plan to give everyone expert advice and updates about what is going on in the NBA and how it will affect the fantasy world.  Stay tuned, every Sunday I will release my pick ups for the week as well as rankings, sleepers, and much more.


Scott Einhorn is a MBA Student who has been participating in fantasy sports for 8 years and has a wide range of knowledge about the NBA.