Wednesday, December 5, 2007

The Kind Of Dudley Who Makes "Dud" Jokes Too Easy (Or: Even My Sure Things Fall Through).

Tossing out fantasy basketball prognostications is a little like Chris Dudley hoisting a free-throw: unlikely, hopeful, and even when successful, you still look like a fool. Thus, after typing up a storm on the potential prospects of another man named Dudley, I am now looking a lot like a massively-uncoordinated Yale graduate grooming a forested thatch on my chest. Jared Dudley —the kids can call him "J-Dud"— dialled up a honker in his second successive game as full-time starter t'night. In his duel against Luol Deng, the 10,000 BC Eagle went Upper Paleolithic, casting stones basketward to the tune of 0/5 FG, 0/2 3PFG (he's now a smooth 0/9 for the year from range), with 2 REB, 2 TO, and 0 points in 20 power-packed minutes. Deng performed mildly better, going for 30 and 5 on 10/17 shooting, thereby winning this battle of the kind-of-awkward ACC small forwards. As for the Dudmeister, as far as making the case for more minutes goes, well, all he did was prove that he has a long way to go to measuring up to his namesake. J-Dud, you my have fly-if-it-were-still-01 cornrows, but you ain't know Christen Guilford Dudley.

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

The Kind Of Dudley Who Won't Get Molested By Gordon Jump's "Friendly" Bicycle Shop Owner In A Very Special Episode.

As somone who drafted Gerald Wallace in two separate leagues this year (ahhh, regrets), I've been following Bobcats boxscores eagerly this season. And, as someone who waxed enthusiastic over Walter Herrmann's fantasy potential b'fore the campaign tipped, I've been following Bobcats boxscores eagerly this season. But, mostly I've been wondering why Sam Vincent —who, as bad keeping-it-in-the-brotherhood Michael Jordan appointee flailing his way through a one-and-done season, is looking suspiciously like Leonard Hamilton reincarnate— has been giving so minutes to Primoz Brezec and Jeff McInnis, two guys it's hard to believe're still in the league.

Now, going into the year, Vincent was promising that his Big Orange Bobbies were to play some kind of uptempo ball. Given they're averaging a 25th-"best" 92.4 PPG (at 43.3% from the floor!), this is clearly not happening; and Vincent's decision to keep starting Brezec and keep publicly complaining about his lack of big bodies shows we're clearly not dealing with the second coming of Nellie, here.

Today's news that Charlotte has extended an offer-sheet to Anderson Varejão will, ultimately, have little impact on the Bobcats' season. Because anyone who knows hoops knows there's no way that Danny Ferry and the Cavaliers won't match the offer. Which means that the search for a productive fifth Bobcat is still on.

For whatever reason, Vincent has decided that Walter Herrmann isn't that guy. But, yesterday against Toronto, he may've finally settled on the fifth wheel: Jared Dudley. Given Dudley's productiveness (15.2 PPG and 11.4 RPG per 40), his tenacity, his court-awareness, and his incredible penchant for corralling offensive rebounds (he grabs one every 6.5 minutes, and is 39th in the league in ORPG (ahead of Udonis Haslem!) despite playing only 14 minutes a night), he's seemed like a likely candidate from day one. But it's somehow taken until Day 35 for Vincent to realise that Dudley probably needs more burn.

In his first start, Dudley responded with 16 points, 10 rebounds (5 offensive), and 3 steals in 37 minutes; his 14 FGA second-most on the squad. All of which are mighty impressive numbers. However, given that the 'Cats got hosed by a Toronto team missing half their guys —Dudley's +/- a less than sexy -15 (which wasn't quite Gerald Wallace's -27, but...)— many a fantasy owner may be wary that this newfound lineup change will be permanent. Especially given Vincent's hardly shown himself to be the sharpest tool in the coaching shed. But, given the scant depth at his disposal, and given that Anderson Varejão isn't walking through that door, and Sean May isn't walking through that door, there's actually a definite, definite chance that this Dudley move could stick. There're minutes to be had in the Queen City, and it's be no surprise if Dudley done doo right and scored them. Given he's likely available in nearly every fantasy league, Dudley's a minimum-risk guy who could possibly reap maximum rewards later in the season. Well, just as long as Vincent doesn't bring back Ye Olde Brezec Beanpole to the starting lineup.