Statistics, statistics, statistics. It’s hard to turn anywhere on the internerd’s wires in this new-millennial fantasy-freak’d era and not be overwhelmed by all kinds of wacky statistickry; all manner of eggheads with theorems and calculators quantifying and pace-adjusting in search of some kind of numerical truth. These are sometimes would-be academics, oftentimes just actual academics; so many PHDs being, after all, nothing but statistics, statistics, statistics. But, as fantasy owner, you don’t need no PHD, just a Player Hater Degree. So, hey, let loose, let loose your love/hate. With statistics that —as is the statistical way— say exactly what you want them to say!
Percentage of games in which Dwight Howard had a 30/15:
2006/07: 2.4%
2007/08: 23.5%
Percentage of games in which LeBron James hung 40 or more points:
2006/07: 1.2%
2007/08: 18.7%
Percentage of games in which Michael Redd had both 5+ rebounds and assists:
2006/07: 3.7%
2007/08: 38.4%
Percentage of games Tyson Chandler grabbed 14+ rebounds:
2006/07: 32.8%
2007/08: 13.3%
Percentage of games Ronnie Brewer played 30+ minutes:
2006/07: 1.7%
2007/08: 50.0%
Percentage of games Kirk Hinrich didn’t hit a three-pointer:
2006/07: 16.2%
2007/08: 38.4%
Percentage of games Kirk Hinrich scored 20+ points:
2006/07: 37.5%
2007/08: 0.0%
Percentage of games Ben Gordon scored 30+ points:
2006/07: 18.2%
2007/08: 0.0%
Percentage of games Ben Wallace had 14+ rebounds:
2006/07: 24.6%
2007/08: 0.0%
Percentage of games Zach Randolph had more turnovers than assists:
2006/07: 73.1%
2007/08: 90.0%
Percentage of games Eddy Curry had more turnovers than assists:
2006/07: 92.5%
2007/08: 84.6%
Percentage of games David Lee played over 25 minutes:
2006/07: 72.4%
2007/08: 30.7%
Percentage of games David Lee had 12+ rebounds:
2006/07: 43.1%
2007/08: 15.3%
Percentage of games Pau Gasol dragged down single figure rebounds:
2006/07: 44.0%
2007/08: 80.0%
Percentage of games Richard Jefferson posted 25 points or better:
2006/07: 9.2%
2007/08: 66.6%
Percentage of games Raymond Felton had a 20/10 double-double:
2006/07: 2.5%
2007/08: 23.0%
Percentage of games Andre Miller had 8+ assists:
2006/07: 53.1%
2007/08: 7.1%
Percentage of games Andrei Kirilenko had 8+ assists:
2006/07: 0.0%
2007/08: 31.2%
Percentage of games Lamar Odom had 5+ assists:
2006/07: 48.2%
2007/08: 0.0%
Percentage of games Mehmet Okur posted 17+ points:
2006/07: 57.5%
2007/08: 6.2%
Percentage of games in which Jason Collins totalled at least 5 points and 5 rebounds:
2006/07: 6.2%
2007/08: 0.0%
Percentage of games in which Jason Collins went scoreless whilst playing over 20 minutes:
2006/07: 17.5%
2007/08: 38.4%
Percentage of games in which Jason Collins played more than 20 minutes whilst Sean Williams played less than 20 minutes:
2006/07: N/A
2007/08: 61.5%
Percentage of Nets games in which Sean Williams looked utterly electrifying whilst Jason Collins embarrassed all friends and family watching:
2006/07: N/A
2007/08: 100%
Percentage of NBA players whom I could come up with some sort of sardonic percentage-based statistic on:
2006/07: etc.
2007/08: etc.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
The Vanishing: Detroit's Bench.
When the Detroit Pistons won the NBA title in 2004, they did so, largely, because they had one of the best bench groups in the entire league. With Mehmet Okur, Mike James, Lindsay Hunter, and Corliss Williamson coming off the pine, the Pistons would send in some mighty contributors to sub for the starters: James and Hunter pressuring the ball full-court, Williamson a low-post offensive hub, and Okur a pick-and-roll nightmare. Yet, by the time Detroit showed up for their title defence, Okur, James, and Williamson had all been shown the door. That next year, the coach once known as Pound For Pound —Larry Brown!— decided to do without a bench, pretty much.
In the seasons since, be it under whiny-faced Larry or Flip Saunders, that’s been the way the Stones’ve rolled. But, after successive postseason flameouts to lesser teams, a mass-cultural shift was planned in Detroit. From Joe Dumars on down to buying-it beat-reporters, all we heard out of Auburn Hills was that this year’d be different; that Rodney Stuckey and Amir Johnson and newly-inked Jarvis Hayes were ushering in a new era of bench productivity. It was, really, the only story from Detroit this summer.
This had a trickle-on fantasy effect: guys like Johnson and Jason Maxiell went from being statistical curiosities to cult-like sleepers, and former Wizzle Jarvis Hayes was —despite a career of tantalising preseason productivity— a favoured flyer in deep fantasy leagues. Yet, as the season’s marched on, some promising early season production from Maxiell and Hayes has ended up amounting to not much.
In two of Detroit’s last four games, Flip’s fallen back on old habits. Against Chicago, all five starters played at least 35 minutes, and only one reserve (Hayes) got on the court for more than 11 minutes. The five bench-guys (Hayes, Maxiell, Flip Murray, Arron Afflalo, Nazr Mohammed) combined to play 50 minutes, score 13 points, grab 6 rebounds, and dish out a mighty 1 assist.
In Portland last night, the same five-man-unit came off the bench for 55 minutes, totalling 18, 8, and 4. Meanwhile, 33-year-old Rasheed Wallace posted his second game of 40+ minutes in the space of five days. In early-November. So much for conserving the starters.
At this rate, not only will hustle-stat machines like Maxiell and Johnson never be fantasy contributors, but they won’t even be given the opportunity to effectively spell the aging starters. If so, will Detroit offer the exact same excuse come Spring 2008, when they lose to the Celtics/Nets/Raptors/etc in the playoffs?
In the seasons since, be it under whiny-faced Larry or Flip Saunders, that’s been the way the Stones’ve rolled. But, after successive postseason flameouts to lesser teams, a mass-cultural shift was planned in Detroit. From Joe Dumars on down to buying-it beat-reporters, all we heard out of Auburn Hills was that this year’d be different; that Rodney Stuckey and Amir Johnson and newly-inked Jarvis Hayes were ushering in a new era of bench productivity. It was, really, the only story from Detroit this summer.
This had a trickle-on fantasy effect: guys like Johnson and Jason Maxiell went from being statistical curiosities to cult-like sleepers, and former Wizzle Jarvis Hayes was —despite a career of tantalising preseason productivity— a favoured flyer in deep fantasy leagues. Yet, as the season’s marched on, some promising early season production from Maxiell and Hayes has ended up amounting to not much.
In two of Detroit’s last four games, Flip’s fallen back on old habits. Against Chicago, all five starters played at least 35 minutes, and only one reserve (Hayes) got on the court for more than 11 minutes. The five bench-guys (Hayes, Maxiell, Flip Murray, Arron Afflalo, Nazr Mohammed) combined to play 50 minutes, score 13 points, grab 6 rebounds, and dish out a mighty 1 assist.
In Portland last night, the same five-man-unit came off the bench for 55 minutes, totalling 18, 8, and 4. Meanwhile, 33-year-old Rasheed Wallace posted his second game of 40+ minutes in the space of five days. In early-November. So much for conserving the starters.
At this rate, not only will hustle-stat machines like Maxiell and Johnson never be fantasy contributors, but they won’t even be given the opportunity to effectively spell the aging starters. If so, will Detroit offer the exact same excuse come Spring 2008, when they lose to the Celtics/Nets/Raptors/etc in the playoffs?
Hey, Coach, Why No Burn?
There are guys around the league that drive fans nuts: stone-fisted, brainless bigs like Kwame Brown or Brendan Haywood; poor-shooting, turnover-prone gunners like Stephon Marbury or Flip Murray; and, most of all, complete and utter spastics like No-Neck Johnson or Primoz Brezec, guys who it’s impossible to believe are still in the league, let alone starting for your beloved ballclub (this working under the perhaps-erroneous assumption that the Hawks and Bobcats actually have actual fans).
Then, there’re other ballers out there who drive folks mental. Crazy in that way that hustling, hard-working, heart-and-soul, always-influence-the-game-whenever-they-step-on-the-court guys cause fans to freak out. When people are patently so talented, so productive, and so influential any time they’re on the court, their absence from the hardwood can make loyal followers of their team go goon-crazy.
In terms of fantasy basketball, these fan-favourites often double as deluxe sleepers; the kind of guys who contribute mightily in limited burn, to the point where if you calculate their per-40-minute numbers you nearly faint at the prospect. Mostly, they’re hustlers; guys who you dream of grabbing four offensive boards, ripping three steals, and blocking four shots in a night’s work. Every night. Be it for your fantasy team, or for your non-fantasy —y’know, real life— club. In every case, the same question need be asked: Hey, Coach, Why No Burn?
RENALDO BALKMAN, Knicks.
Anyone starting a defence of Isiah Thomas need only point to Balkman as Exhibit A. In the ought-six draft, Thomas went out on a limb, denying Knicks’ fans lust for UConn point Marcus Williams, selecting, instead, an anonymous Gamecock hustler who’d shown little talent at scoring the ball in college. In one-and-a-bit seasons, Balkman has shown that being a natural scorer is about the only thing he isn’t. Balkman is an amazing on-ball defender, a sneaky-quick help defender, a disruptive influence in the passing lanes, an aggressive rebounder, a gifted ball-handler, and has an amazing knack for dribbling the ball in transition all the way to the hole and finishing with two hands. In the Knicks’ sole memorable night of the season —the rousing Denver win— Renaldo changed the tenor of the entire game; his defensive effort on Carmelo Anthony just the tip of his all-floor influence. Whilst Balkman’s contributions to the game were mostly intangible, he still delivered promising stats: 11 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 3 blocks in 27 minutes. For his career, Balkman’s per-40-minute numbers go: 12.2 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.8 TO, 2.0 SPG, 1.5 BPG, and 50.3 FG%. For role-player comparison’s sake, Jared Jeffries’ career per-40-minute stats: 9.5 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 2.5 APG, 2.1 TO, 1.2 SPG, 0.8 BPG, and 43.6 FG%. Is that even a comparison? So, okay, Renaldo can’t shoot (he’s hit 55% from the line, and for some reason has gone 5/29 from three), but that wouldn’t be what he’s on the floor for. Balkman delivers something the Knicks, outside of David Lee and Nate Robinson, completely lack: energy, enthusiasm, passion, aggression, defense, hustle. Y’know, the kind of things that Zach Randolph and Eddy Curry are renowned for not bringing.
AMIR JOHNSON and JASON MAXIELL, Pistons.
For a guy whose career has totalled, thus far, 185 minutes of court-time, Amir Johnson has received a mighty amount of exposure (see: any Pistons blog) and cash (see: 3 years, $11mil). I guess posting 20 and 12 with 3 steals and 4 blocks in an otherwise-meaningless regular-season finale will do that. Maxiell’s gotten much more ‘real’ playing time, and this season is even averaging 6.3 PPG, 4.6 RPG, and 1.7 BPG, decent numbers for a backup big-man. But, for Pistons fans, those numbers still aren’t enough. Most dream of Johnson and Maxiell splitting time as the fifth starter. If those guys combined to play 48 minutes a night, at the power-forward spot, say, their career output suggests they’d do numbers something like: 18.0 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 1.3 SPG, 3.7 BPG, at 49.7 FG%. As the season progresses, though, it’s looking unlikely they’ll even combine to average 24 minutes a night.
JAMES SINGLETON, Tau Cerámica.
James Singleton’s rookie season —asail ’pon a Clipper ship bound for postseason glory— was a thing of tantalising fantasy beauty. In the 15 games in which the highly-energetic reserve forward played over 20 minutes, his averages, in 28.9 MPG, were most eyepopping averages of: 8.6 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 0.9 TO, 61.9 FG%, 75.0 FT%, and even went 7/12 from three-point range. Not only did Singleton meter out as a perfect, across-the-board fantasy player, but it was even more impressive to see him on the court; playing chest-to-man defence, hedging on screens, hustling his heart out, crashing the glass with gay abandon. Clippers fans, in the midst of the greatest season in the Franchise’s abhorrent history, absolutely loved this guy. So, going into 2006/07, the expectation would only be that the sketchy burn Singleton received in his rookie year was going to give way to a defined second-year role. The result: Mike Dum-Dum-leavy, one of the dimmer coaching bulbs in the NBA box, dished out 29 DNP-CDs, and only played him over 20 minutes 5 times! Before we knew it, a guy who once looked to be both fantasy sleeper deluxe and future member of the Hustle Hall Of Fame was on his way to Spain, possibly never to be seen in the League again. But, hey, at least we got to see plenty of Tim Thomas.
CRAIG SMITH, Timberwolves.
When Randy Wittman ‘ascended’ to the head-coaching position in Minnesota, amidst the appalling scapegoatery that befell Dwayne Casey, and the once-above-.500 Timberwolves quit on the season after management quit on the coach, something should’ve been plainly obvious to anyone coming into the situation: Craig Smith, the Neo Big Nasty, needed to play more. End-of-season breakdowns, by 82games, show that Smith and Garnett ranked as Minnesota’s top two-man combo, not to mention them being at the 4/5 in six of ’Sota’s top seven 5-man units. This season, Smith’s 18 MPG are the same as last year’s 18 MPG, but he’s doing the same things as last time around: 10 PPG, 5 RPG, 55.3 FG%, plenty of offensive rebounds, hard-ass screens, and leave-a-mark fouls. But, given that the T-Pups’re supposed to be on the tank, blooding the kids and hoping a few of them turn out okay, why Smith isn’t being fed more time must remain puzzling to the few remaining fans in the Twin Cities. Like: every minute that Antoine Walker or Theo Ratliff’s Expiring Contract gets on the floor at the expense of Smith seems like a minute too many.
TYRUS THO… uh, I mean, JOAKIM NOAH, Bulls.
Ladies and gentlemen… Joakim Noah! 2008 winner of the Tyrus Thomas Memorial Why No Burn? Award! Just as in last season, when Chicagoans ached for Scott Skiles to just put the damn kid in the game already, once more both Bulls fans and curious onlookers’re perplexed as to why their mighty-uptighty coach isn’t giving Noah more run. In Chicago’s only win of the season thus far(!!!), Noah did everything Ben Wallace was once believed to do: influence the game without taking a single shot. Against the Pistons, in his 12 minutes on the court, Joakim went 0/0 from the floor, but grabbed 5 offensive rebounds, dished out 4 assists, and recorded a +6 plus/minus rating. Given he’s played 50 minutes in his three-game career thus far, working out the rookies per-48-minute averages is self evident: he having 13 rebounds (8 offensive), 3 steals, and 4 blocks thus far. Sure, he’s 0/7 on the year from the field, but 6/8 from the line goes nice. Compare this to the decaying corpse the Bulls’re trotting out at centre for like $20mil a season: 3.5 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 0.7 SPG, 1.2 BPG, 32.1 FG%, 27.3 FT%, in 27 MPG. Now, compare suddenly-Small Ben’s thus-far numbers against last year’s turn by PJ Brown’s Expiring Contract: 6.1 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 0.3 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 40.7 FG%, 78.7 FT%, in 20 minutes a night. The Lesson: all those who spent last season baying for Thomas to play ahead of PJ should be even more indignant this season. Oh, no, wait, I mean: The Lesson, for Ben Wallace Fantasy Owners: You should’ve followed the Statsheet Stuffin’ draft rules advice.
Then, there’re other ballers out there who drive folks mental. Crazy in that way that hustling, hard-working, heart-and-soul, always-influence-the-game-whenever-they-step-on-the-court guys cause fans to freak out. When people are patently so talented, so productive, and so influential any time they’re on the court, their absence from the hardwood can make loyal followers of their team go goon-crazy.
In terms of fantasy basketball, these fan-favourites often double as deluxe sleepers; the kind of guys who contribute mightily in limited burn, to the point where if you calculate their per-40-minute numbers you nearly faint at the prospect. Mostly, they’re hustlers; guys who you dream of grabbing four offensive boards, ripping three steals, and blocking four shots in a night’s work. Every night. Be it for your fantasy team, or for your non-fantasy —y’know, real life— club. In every case, the same question need be asked: Hey, Coach, Why No Burn?
RENALDO BALKMAN, Knicks.
Anyone starting a defence of Isiah Thomas need only point to Balkman as Exhibit A. In the ought-six draft, Thomas went out on a limb, denying Knicks’ fans lust for UConn point Marcus Williams, selecting, instead, an anonymous Gamecock hustler who’d shown little talent at scoring the ball in college. In one-and-a-bit seasons, Balkman has shown that being a natural scorer is about the only thing he isn’t. Balkman is an amazing on-ball defender, a sneaky-quick help defender, a disruptive influence in the passing lanes, an aggressive rebounder, a gifted ball-handler, and has an amazing knack for dribbling the ball in transition all the way to the hole and finishing with two hands. In the Knicks’ sole memorable night of the season —the rousing Denver win— Renaldo changed the tenor of the entire game; his defensive effort on Carmelo Anthony just the tip of his all-floor influence. Whilst Balkman’s contributions to the game were mostly intangible, he still delivered promising stats: 11 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 3 blocks in 27 minutes. For his career, Balkman’s per-40-minute numbers go: 12.2 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.8 TO, 2.0 SPG, 1.5 BPG, and 50.3 FG%. For role-player comparison’s sake, Jared Jeffries’ career per-40-minute stats: 9.5 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 2.5 APG, 2.1 TO, 1.2 SPG, 0.8 BPG, and 43.6 FG%. Is that even a comparison? So, okay, Renaldo can’t shoot (he’s hit 55% from the line, and for some reason has gone 5/29 from three), but that wouldn’t be what he’s on the floor for. Balkman delivers something the Knicks, outside of David Lee and Nate Robinson, completely lack: energy, enthusiasm, passion, aggression, defense, hustle. Y’know, the kind of things that Zach Randolph and Eddy Curry are renowned for not bringing.
AMIR JOHNSON and JASON MAXIELL, Pistons.
For a guy whose career has totalled, thus far, 185 minutes of court-time, Amir Johnson has received a mighty amount of exposure (see: any Pistons blog) and cash (see: 3 years, $11mil). I guess posting 20 and 12 with 3 steals and 4 blocks in an otherwise-meaningless regular-season finale will do that. Maxiell’s gotten much more ‘real’ playing time, and this season is even averaging 6.3 PPG, 4.6 RPG, and 1.7 BPG, decent numbers for a backup big-man. But, for Pistons fans, those numbers still aren’t enough. Most dream of Johnson and Maxiell splitting time as the fifth starter. If those guys combined to play 48 minutes a night, at the power-forward spot, say, their career output suggests they’d do numbers something like: 18.0 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 1.3 SPG, 3.7 BPG, at 49.7 FG%. As the season progresses, though, it’s looking unlikely they’ll even combine to average 24 minutes a night.
JAMES SINGLETON, Tau Cerámica.
James Singleton’s rookie season —asail ’pon a Clipper ship bound for postseason glory— was a thing of tantalising fantasy beauty. In the 15 games in which the highly-energetic reserve forward played over 20 minutes, his averages, in 28.9 MPG, were most eyepopping averages of: 8.6 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 0.9 TO, 61.9 FG%, 75.0 FT%, and even went 7/12 from three-point range. Not only did Singleton meter out as a perfect, across-the-board fantasy player, but it was even more impressive to see him on the court; playing chest-to-man defence, hedging on screens, hustling his heart out, crashing the glass with gay abandon. Clippers fans, in the midst of the greatest season in the Franchise’s abhorrent history, absolutely loved this guy. So, going into 2006/07, the expectation would only be that the sketchy burn Singleton received in his rookie year was going to give way to a defined second-year role. The result: Mike Dum-Dum-leavy, one of the dimmer coaching bulbs in the NBA box, dished out 29 DNP-CDs, and only played him over 20 minutes 5 times! Before we knew it, a guy who once looked to be both fantasy sleeper deluxe and future member of the Hustle Hall Of Fame was on his way to Spain, possibly never to be seen in the League again. But, hey, at least we got to see plenty of Tim Thomas.
CRAIG SMITH, Timberwolves.
When Randy Wittman ‘ascended’ to the head-coaching position in Minnesota, amidst the appalling scapegoatery that befell Dwayne Casey, and the once-above-.500 Timberwolves quit on the season after management quit on the coach, something should’ve been plainly obvious to anyone coming into the situation: Craig Smith, the Neo Big Nasty, needed to play more. End-of-season breakdowns, by 82games, show that Smith and Garnett ranked as Minnesota’s top two-man combo, not to mention them being at the 4/5 in six of ’Sota’s top seven 5-man units. This season, Smith’s 18 MPG are the same as last year’s 18 MPG, but he’s doing the same things as last time around: 10 PPG, 5 RPG, 55.3 FG%, plenty of offensive rebounds, hard-ass screens, and leave-a-mark fouls. But, given that the T-Pups’re supposed to be on the tank, blooding the kids and hoping a few of them turn out okay, why Smith isn’t being fed more time must remain puzzling to the few remaining fans in the Twin Cities. Like: every minute that Antoine Walker or Theo Ratliff’s Expiring Contract gets on the floor at the expense of Smith seems like a minute too many.
TYRUS THO… uh, I mean, JOAKIM NOAH, Bulls.
Ladies and gentlemen… Joakim Noah! 2008 winner of the Tyrus Thomas Memorial Why No Burn? Award! Just as in last season, when Chicagoans ached for Scott Skiles to just put the damn kid in the game already, once more both Bulls fans and curious onlookers’re perplexed as to why their mighty-uptighty coach isn’t giving Noah more run. In Chicago’s only win of the season thus far(!!!), Noah did everything Ben Wallace was once believed to do: influence the game without taking a single shot. Against the Pistons, in his 12 minutes on the court, Joakim went 0/0 from the floor, but grabbed 5 offensive rebounds, dished out 4 assists, and recorded a +6 plus/minus rating. Given he’s played 50 minutes in his three-game career thus far, working out the rookies per-48-minute averages is self evident: he having 13 rebounds (8 offensive), 3 steals, and 4 blocks thus far. Sure, he’s 0/7 on the year from the field, but 6/8 from the line goes nice. Compare this to the decaying corpse the Bulls’re trotting out at centre for like $20mil a season: 3.5 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 0.7 SPG, 1.2 BPG, 32.1 FG%, 27.3 FT%, in 27 MPG. Now, compare suddenly-Small Ben’s thus-far numbers against last year’s turn by PJ Brown’s Expiring Contract: 6.1 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 0.3 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 40.7 FG%, 78.7 FT%, in 20 minutes a night. The Lesson: all those who spent last season baying for Thomas to play ahead of PJ should be even more indignant this season. Oh, no, wait, I mean: The Lesson, for Ben Wallace Fantasy Owners: You should’ve followed the Statsheet Stuffin’ draft rules advice.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Random Fantasy Explosions: Week One.
So, you spend all that time scouring summer-league scores, tightening up your rankings, and prognosticating on forthcoming on-court exploits, and then the season comes, and you throw all that out the window. Mere days into the season, and already some players are playing way above anyone’s anticipated productivity.
MIKE DUNLEAVY JR., Pacers.
Through three undefeated Indiana outings, Lil’ Dunny is leading the League-leading Pacers from the fore, averaging an unbelievable 22.3 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 3.7 APG, and 1.3 3PG, all whilst shooting 49.0% from the floor and 40.0% from behind the arc. If we’re to go strictly by those numbers, I don’t think it’s out-of-line to posit that, at some point over the summer, Dirk Nowitzki took possession of Junior Mikey’s sexy, sexy body.
DANNY GRANGER, Pacers.
Sure, we all love Granger’s game, and many fantasy pundits would’ve posited that the lithe wing could’ve entered the magical one three/steal/block per-game club this campaign. But after his second year wasn’t really much of a marked improvement on his first, many more had reservations about whether Granger’d be much more than an effective blender. Yet, the second-year stud’s performance for Jim O’Brien’s crazy Pacers bonanza might nearly be as surprising as Lil’ Dunny’s. In three Indy wins, Granger’s gone gonzo for: 22.7 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 1.7 SPG, 1.3 BPG, and 3.3 3PG, with percentages of exactly 50/50/80. Chances are, if you own Granger in your fantasy league, you’re doing about as well on the scoreboards as Indiana is.
BRENDAN HAYWOOD, Wizards.
If Haywood is unowned in your fantasy league, he’s the elephant in the room that no one’s talking about. Pick him up, right now. Through three games, the almost-coordinated former Tarheel towel-waver has more than twice as many offensive rebounds (25), than the decaying corpse of Ben Wallace has total rebounds (11). As it stands, Etan ‘Dear Andrew’ Thomas’s sparring partner is going for 10.0 PPG, 13.7 RPG, 3.0 BPG, and an ass-reamingly astonishifying 8.3 ORPG. If Dan Grunfeld’s Dad’d known that the long-term absence of Thomas would compel Haywood into this kind of productivity, Ernie not only wouldnt’ve matched that Bucks offersheet back in the day, but would’ve personally bought Etan a gift of ‘going-away’ bratwurst. That said, maybe he still will; sausage the perfect heart-clogging present for a guy you suddenly may be wishing ain’t coming back any time soon.
JOHN SALMONS, Kings.
Whilst the Bibby injury and Artest suspension obviously stepped Salmons up in terms of his offensive responsibility, I don’t think anyone was quite prepared for the ever-quiet guard to erupt for 21.0 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 6.3 APG, 1.3 SPG, 53.2 FG% and 92.9 FT% through the first three Kings Kontests. With Coach Bill Fuller suddenly realising that most of his roster is for-shit —see Kenny Thomas, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Orion Greene— Salmons’ burn won’t even sink too far once Ron-Ron returns.
HEDO TURKOGLU, Magic.
Having been happy to draft the not-so-fat Turk in a head-to-head league this past week, it’s hard for me to include Hedo herein; doing so immediately implying that I wasn’t expecting this when making the pick. And, well, it’s true: expecting this I was not. Through three games for Stan’s Men of Magic, Turkeyglue is doing: 22.0 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.3 SPG, and 2.7 3PG at 53.3 3PT%. With mondo minutes coming to the Turk all year long, he has the chance to be really, really good well beyond week one.
MIKE DUNLEAVY JR., Pacers.
Through three undefeated Indiana outings, Lil’ Dunny is leading the League-leading Pacers from the fore, averaging an unbelievable 22.3 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 3.7 APG, and 1.3 3PG, all whilst shooting 49.0% from the floor and 40.0% from behind the arc. If we’re to go strictly by those numbers, I don’t think it’s out-of-line to posit that, at some point over the summer, Dirk Nowitzki took possession of Junior Mikey’s sexy, sexy body.
DANNY GRANGER, Pacers.
Sure, we all love Granger’s game, and many fantasy pundits would’ve posited that the lithe wing could’ve entered the magical one three/steal/block per-game club this campaign. But after his second year wasn’t really much of a marked improvement on his first, many more had reservations about whether Granger’d be much more than an effective blender. Yet, the second-year stud’s performance for Jim O’Brien’s crazy Pacers bonanza might nearly be as surprising as Lil’ Dunny’s. In three Indy wins, Granger’s gone gonzo for: 22.7 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 1.7 SPG, 1.3 BPG, and 3.3 3PG, with percentages of exactly 50/50/80. Chances are, if you own Granger in your fantasy league, you’re doing about as well on the scoreboards as Indiana is.
BRENDAN HAYWOOD, Wizards.
If Haywood is unowned in your fantasy league, he’s the elephant in the room that no one’s talking about. Pick him up, right now. Through three games, the almost-coordinated former Tarheel towel-waver has more than twice as many offensive rebounds (25), than the decaying corpse of Ben Wallace has total rebounds (11). As it stands, Etan ‘Dear Andrew’ Thomas’s sparring partner is going for 10.0 PPG, 13.7 RPG, 3.0 BPG, and an ass-reamingly astonishifying 8.3 ORPG. If Dan Grunfeld’s Dad’d known that the long-term absence of Thomas would compel Haywood into this kind of productivity, Ernie not only wouldnt’ve matched that Bucks offersheet back in the day, but would’ve personally bought Etan a gift of ‘going-away’ bratwurst. That said, maybe he still will; sausage the perfect heart-clogging present for a guy you suddenly may be wishing ain’t coming back any time soon.
JOHN SALMONS, Kings.
Whilst the Bibby injury and Artest suspension obviously stepped Salmons up in terms of his offensive responsibility, I don’t think anyone was quite prepared for the ever-quiet guard to erupt for 21.0 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 6.3 APG, 1.3 SPG, 53.2 FG% and 92.9 FT% through the first three Kings Kontests. With Coach Bill Fuller suddenly realising that most of his roster is for-shit —see Kenny Thomas, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Orion Greene— Salmons’ burn won’t even sink too far once Ron-Ron returns.
HEDO TURKOGLU, Magic.
Having been happy to draft the not-so-fat Turk in a head-to-head league this past week, it’s hard for me to include Hedo herein; doing so immediately implying that I wasn’t expecting this when making the pick. And, well, it’s true: expecting this I was not. Through three games for Stan’s Men of Magic, Turkeyglue is doing: 22.0 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.3 SPG, and 2.7 3PG at 53.3 3PT%. With mondo minutes coming to the Turk all year long, he has the chance to be really, really good well beyond week one.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
The Boxscore Watchin'!: The Season Is On.
Two days into the NBA, and a decent number of teams already on the slate, and we've so much to learn about the new NBA season.
MIKE CONLEY JR., NOT QUITE THE SECOND COMING OF KENNY ANDERSON YET.
Not only does Mike Conley Jr remind me ever so much of Kenny A —the tiny frame, the snaking quickness, the leftie dribble, the pure PG's vision, the inability to hit jumpers— but before the year I thought he was in line to replicate Anderson's rookie numbers: 7.0 PPG, 3.2 APG, copious struggles from the floor, much learning to be done. But, now, even those expectations may need to be tempered. Whilst game 1 doesn't always have much bearing on the next 81, it's certainly worth noting that Conley didn't even check into the contest. Damon Stoudamire, who manned the point for much of the run, went for 18/4/4, with 4 threes. Kyle Lowry, as backup, continued to reinforce the idea that he's actually a triple-double threat anytime he gets enough burn. And Conley watched on. Playing for a Grizzlies squad that, at the moment, seems more like a veteran group with playoff aspirations than a rebuilding unit blooding a teenaged quarterback, I can't imagine Conley's minutes will pick up to the point of him being a fantasy contributor until sometime in the new year. And, this is meaningful. Because, it's likely, in your fantasy league, that someone did draft Conley, but no one drafted Stoudamire. Not-Quite-As-Mighty Mouse is, if you're seeking threes, a fine potential fantasy play at this point. Conley, well, not at all.
JASON COLLINS, NOT QUITE BEN WALLACE.
Did anyone else see Jason Collins working the blown-out 'fro for the Nets? Right as he was going head-to-head with a cornrow'd Ben Wallace? Watching the lumbering Collins thud around the court, hair barely moving with the 'momentum', Collins did little to provoke 'fear' in anything but the sinking hearts of Nets fans. Their club drafts Sean Williams, signs Jamal Magloire and Malik Allen, gets Nenad Krstic back from injury, and continues to develop Josh Boone... but look who's still there, his starting assignment seemingly etched in stone. Mr. 4 And 4 himself.
CLEVELAND, WORSE THAN YOU EVER COULD'VE IMAGINED.
Remember when Philly scrapped to the 2001 Finals, then got ousted in the first round the next season? Remember when Miami's title defence ended in a first-round sweep last year? Remember when the Cavaliers followed up their 2007 Finals berth with a season so mediocre you could barely believe it was the same team? That's where we're at. Dark clouds're gathering over Cleveland, and they're not dispersing anytime soon my friend. Troubled times lie ahead. For, this club has some of the worst collective karma you could possibly witness on the floor. I've already written that Bwon Bwon looks completely joyless, but I didn't realise that's extended to the whole team. They remind me of a group of friends who're all connected through one person, and then in that person's absence, they realise that actually have neither anything to say nor anything in common. So, unless life-of-the-party Anderson Varejão returns sometime soon, it's going to be an awkward, socially-maladjusted season for these first-round-ousters.
MAVS/CAVS II, THE RETURN BOUT WORTH SCOURING BOXSCORES FOR.
With the signing of the decaying corpse of Ju-Ju Hound Howard by Cubezzz, I'm eagerly awaiting the unspeakably confusing boxscore for the Cleveland/Dallas return bout. Hopefully it reads:
10:26 CLE - Layup by D. Jones. Assist: D. Jones
10:41 DAL - J. Howard made an 18-foot jumper from the left wing. Assist: J. Howard
LUKE RIDNOUR, WHERE HE BELONGS.
As any prognosticator —be they fantasy weenie or advance scout— could've told you was on the cards, Luke Ridnour ended up riding the pine for PJ's up-and-down Sonics. Lil' Chihuahua-Face himself, Dr. Earl Watson!, got the gig at the one, and, whilst he didn't exactly rekindly memories of his last game (6/15 threes!) against the Nuggets last season —with a sweet, sweet, 1/8 night from the floor— he does seem to be set as the starting guy. Fantasy cult hero Delonte West did little to dissuade his fervent following, with an impressive 19 point, 5 rebound night. Going into the season, the Sonics had many questions at many positions, and PG was a prime one. But, for the moment, we can know this: Ridnour will be riding the pine.
BOBBY SWIFT, DNP (BAD INK).
Ramblin' Bobby Swift, everyone's favourite seven-foot firecrotch, also copped all of 0 minutes for the Sonics against Denver; making good on my preseason dismissal of him. If you can't beat out Johan Petro for burn, I'm not sure you should qualify for any kind of 'fantasy sleeper' status.
J.J. WATCH: MAYBE NO LONGER NECESSARY.
8 MINS, 0/1 FG, 1 PF. So long, Dead Poet. Fantasy relevance never knew ye.
MIKE CONLEY JR., NOT QUITE THE SECOND COMING OF KENNY ANDERSON YET.
Not only does Mike Conley Jr remind me ever so much of Kenny A —the tiny frame, the snaking quickness, the leftie dribble, the pure PG's vision, the inability to hit jumpers— but before the year I thought he was in line to replicate Anderson's rookie numbers: 7.0 PPG, 3.2 APG, copious struggles from the floor, much learning to be done. But, now, even those expectations may need to be tempered. Whilst game 1 doesn't always have much bearing on the next 81, it's certainly worth noting that Conley didn't even check into the contest. Damon Stoudamire, who manned the point for much of the run, went for 18/4/4, with 4 threes. Kyle Lowry, as backup, continued to reinforce the idea that he's actually a triple-double threat anytime he gets enough burn. And Conley watched on. Playing for a Grizzlies squad that, at the moment, seems more like a veteran group with playoff aspirations than a rebuilding unit blooding a teenaged quarterback, I can't imagine Conley's minutes will pick up to the point of him being a fantasy contributor until sometime in the new year. And, this is meaningful. Because, it's likely, in your fantasy league, that someone did draft Conley, but no one drafted Stoudamire. Not-Quite-As-Mighty Mouse is, if you're seeking threes, a fine potential fantasy play at this point. Conley, well, not at all.
JASON COLLINS, NOT QUITE BEN WALLACE.
Did anyone else see Jason Collins working the blown-out 'fro for the Nets? Right as he was going head-to-head with a cornrow'd Ben Wallace? Watching the lumbering Collins thud around the court, hair barely moving with the 'momentum', Collins did little to provoke 'fear' in anything but the sinking hearts of Nets fans. Their club drafts Sean Williams, signs Jamal Magloire and Malik Allen, gets Nenad Krstic back from injury, and continues to develop Josh Boone... but look who's still there, his starting assignment seemingly etched in stone. Mr. 4 And 4 himself.
CLEVELAND, WORSE THAN YOU EVER COULD'VE IMAGINED.
Remember when Philly scrapped to the 2001 Finals, then got ousted in the first round the next season? Remember when Miami's title defence ended in a first-round sweep last year? Remember when the Cavaliers followed up their 2007 Finals berth with a season so mediocre you could barely believe it was the same team? That's where we're at. Dark clouds're gathering over Cleveland, and they're not dispersing anytime soon my friend. Troubled times lie ahead. For, this club has some of the worst collective karma you could possibly witness on the floor. I've already written that Bwon Bwon looks completely joyless, but I didn't realise that's extended to the whole team. They remind me of a group of friends who're all connected through one person, and then in that person's absence, they realise that actually have neither anything to say nor anything in common. So, unless life-of-the-party Anderson Varejão returns sometime soon, it's going to be an awkward, socially-maladjusted season for these first-round-ousters.
MAVS/CAVS II, THE RETURN BOUT WORTH SCOURING BOXSCORES FOR.
With the signing of the decaying corpse of Ju-Ju Hound Howard by Cubezzz, I'm eagerly awaiting the unspeakably confusing boxscore for the Cleveland/Dallas return bout. Hopefully it reads:
10:26 CLE - Layup by D. Jones. Assist: D. Jones
10:41 DAL - J. Howard made an 18-foot jumper from the left wing. Assist: J. Howard
LUKE RIDNOUR, WHERE HE BELONGS.
As any prognosticator —be they fantasy weenie or advance scout— could've told you was on the cards, Luke Ridnour ended up riding the pine for PJ's up-and-down Sonics. Lil' Chihuahua-Face himself, Dr. Earl Watson!, got the gig at the one, and, whilst he didn't exactly rekindly memories of his last game (6/15 threes!) against the Nuggets last season —with a sweet, sweet, 1/8 night from the floor— he does seem to be set as the starting guy. Fantasy cult hero Delonte West did little to dissuade his fervent following, with an impressive 19 point, 5 rebound night. Going into the season, the Sonics had many questions at many positions, and PG was a prime one. But, for the moment, we can know this: Ridnour will be riding the pine.
BOBBY SWIFT, DNP (BAD INK).
Ramblin' Bobby Swift, everyone's favourite seven-foot firecrotch, also copped all of 0 minutes for the Sonics against Denver; making good on my preseason dismissal of him. If you can't beat out Johan Petro for burn, I'm not sure you should qualify for any kind of 'fantasy sleeper' status.
J.J. WATCH: MAYBE NO LONGER NECESSARY.
8 MINS, 0/1 FG, 1 PF. So long, Dead Poet. Fantasy relevance never knew ye.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Coming On Late.
You would’ve copped long odds, back in the long hot summer, that any of these krazy kidzzz would’ve ended up on active NBA rosters, let alone be big enough contributors that they could clock up enough statistical relevance to be considered worthy of fantasy basketball ownership. Yet, with the preseason hosed and the real games set to start, here are five guys who came on late, and played well enough that they’ve become at least blips on the fantasy radar.
BRANDON BASS, Mavericks.
In his two seasons playing for his (kinda) homestate Hornets, the Bayou Bengal clocked up a mighty 50 appearances, almost all of which were meaningless. Whilst it’s fun to work out that Bass averaged 10.2 points and 10.3 rebounds per 40 minutes in his scant Oklahoma City career, it was hard to see how that would apply when Bass latched onto the Mavericks over summer, seemingly as the roster’s 17th man. But after an impressive preseason —11.8 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 1.0 BPG, 54.4 FG%, in 25.0 MPG— the 6’8 forward looks set to open the season in the Mavs’ rotation. With Erick Dampier out for the foreseeable future, Didier Ilunga-Mbenga hurting/hurting-for-coordination, and Nick Fazekas the least athletic NBA player since Todd MacCulloch, Bass actually shapes as the only possible frontcourt reserve in Avery Johnson’s arsenal. Whilst the 12 MPG backing up the Diggler ain’t much to crow about, keep in mind that DeSagana Diop played only 18 MPG last season, and is so foul prone that it’d be nearly impossible for him to play any more than about 24 a night. Whilst Johnson’ll surely play some smallball with either Josh Howard or Devean George at the four and Dirk at the five, I’m finding it hard to find a scenario where Bass doesn’t average at least the 25 minutes an outing he did in the exhibition.
AARON GRAY, Bulls.
Early in the exhibition season, as the big white Gray showed NBA-level skill to go with his monster frame, rumours began to float that the ramblin’ Panther was already shaping up as a starter in Scott Skiles’ mind, despite having never played an NBA game. With 6’7 Ben Wallace already locked into the first five, favouring Gray over second-year future-stud Tyrus Thomas, the rationale went, would save Chicago from a starting unit whose tallest player was 6’8, and whose average height is a tiny 6’5. Recent ankle-related developments in Chicago may’ve cemented this Gray-the-starter notion in stone. Last week, Ben Wallace, Joakim Noah, and Tyrus Thomas all were hurt in the Bulls’ final preseason barney. Whilst Thomas was called, thereafter ‘day-to-day’ with a foot strain, both Wallace and Noah were outed by Chicago as being out ‘indefinitely’ with sprained ankles. Given this was only three days ago, it might be a safe bet that neither will play when the Bulls open their season Wednesday in the cultural global epicentre that is East Rutherford. And, thus, Gray looks likely to be in the opening lineup. Whilst it’s possible he’ll be little more than the big white space-eater inside, after a preseason in which he posted 9.0 PPG, 5.4 RPG (incl. 1.8 offensive), 53.6 FG% in only 16.7 MPG, Gray should definitely be on the radar of size-seeking fantasy GMs.
JASON SMITH, Sixers.
In the leadup to the draft, piles of professional opinionaters were proffering Jason Smith as their ‘most likely to be a bust’ type choice, going simply by his size (seven feet), his skin colour (as the cold driven snow), and the fact that he suited up for Mountain West powerhouse Colorado State. How many of these “draft experts” had bothered to actually watch Smith play is another matter; for anyone who watched the generically-named big-man blossom from skinny small-forward freshman to dominating five-spot junior surely would’ve been impressed by Smith’s most un-white combination of quickness and skill. Whilst his exhibition stats aren’t exactly stuffed —8.2 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 1.1 BPG, a dreadful 38.6% from the floor, in 26.2 MPG— Smith has never seemed overmatched, and has looked roughly ten trillion times better than project lottery-pick Thaddeus Young, and is playing in a Philly frontcourt aching for real, live, healthy big-man bodies. I can’t imagine he’ll do much of anything in the season’s beginnings, but Smith’s shown some intriguing signs for a guy who no one expected absolutely anything of. At all.
VON WAFER, Nuggets.
With the groin-poppin’ injury to ever-chuckin’ Chucky Atkins, the eye-poppin’ bricklayin’ of Yakhouba Diawara, and the continued miseducation of Earl Smith III, the spot on the floor between the Answer and the Backpedaller is far from settled. The smokie to end all smokies in this scenario is Von Wafer, a 6’5, fleet-footed, unrepentant gunner who, as luck has it, hasn’t been arrested a single time this year. Fresh off of averaging 21 points an outing in the D-League last season, and 24.2 PPG in summer league, Wafer’s shown some serious jacking-it-up abilities in the preseason. Without a hole in Furious George’s rotation, Wafer’s chances to make a splash this season appeared minimal. But with Atkins on the sideline and Smith perhaps headed to the doghouse, Wafer could come on strong.
SHAWNE WILLIAMS, Pacers.
Given that he’s out for the first three games of the season for brainless goondom, you can’t exactly watch Williams on the opening night, then pounce upon him if he gets the right amount of court-time. For, there’s no doubt that the young, ridiculously-talented, rangy wing could produce if, say, poured upon the court for as much time as his fellow sophomore Rudy Gay will hit the floor this year. In his fleeting glimpses last year, Williams showed his tantalising, lottery-level package of skills —namely: athleticism, shooting, and defence— when he was trotted out onto the court. If we’re to go by his summer-league, Williams could actually produce in actual meaningful minutes this season, if Coach Jim O’Brien —and his famously-retooled offence— find him a place. Given Danny Granger’s Indiana’s only locked-in piece at the moment, that may not be so easy; but, in the four exhibition tilts in which he hit the court for more than 20 minutes, Williams went off. In 28 MPG, he hung up 17.0 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.7 BPG, and 8/23 threes (including a 5/10 versus Chicago). At the moment, Williams looks caught in a numbers crunch; but if O’Brien’s Pacers could actually push the pace and do 110+ type games in the regular season, Williams could be intriguing. And if Granger were to go down, he’d be the prized waiver-wire pounce.
BRANDON BASS, Mavericks.
In his two seasons playing for his (kinda) homestate Hornets, the Bayou Bengal clocked up a mighty 50 appearances, almost all of which were meaningless. Whilst it’s fun to work out that Bass averaged 10.2 points and 10.3 rebounds per 40 minutes in his scant Oklahoma City career, it was hard to see how that would apply when Bass latched onto the Mavericks over summer, seemingly as the roster’s 17th man. But after an impressive preseason —11.8 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 1.0 BPG, 54.4 FG%, in 25.0 MPG— the 6’8 forward looks set to open the season in the Mavs’ rotation. With Erick Dampier out for the foreseeable future, Didier Ilunga-Mbenga hurting/hurting-for-coordination, and Nick Fazekas the least athletic NBA player since Todd MacCulloch, Bass actually shapes as the only possible frontcourt reserve in Avery Johnson’s arsenal. Whilst the 12 MPG backing up the Diggler ain’t much to crow about, keep in mind that DeSagana Diop played only 18 MPG last season, and is so foul prone that it’d be nearly impossible for him to play any more than about 24 a night. Whilst Johnson’ll surely play some smallball with either Josh Howard or Devean George at the four and Dirk at the five, I’m finding it hard to find a scenario where Bass doesn’t average at least the 25 minutes an outing he did in the exhibition.
AARON GRAY, Bulls.
Early in the exhibition season, as the big white Gray showed NBA-level skill to go with his monster frame, rumours began to float that the ramblin’ Panther was already shaping up as a starter in Scott Skiles’ mind, despite having never played an NBA game. With 6’7 Ben Wallace already locked into the first five, favouring Gray over second-year future-stud Tyrus Thomas, the rationale went, would save Chicago from a starting unit whose tallest player was 6’8, and whose average height is a tiny 6’5. Recent ankle-related developments in Chicago may’ve cemented this Gray-the-starter notion in stone. Last week, Ben Wallace, Joakim Noah, and Tyrus Thomas all were hurt in the Bulls’ final preseason barney. Whilst Thomas was called, thereafter ‘day-to-day’ with a foot strain, both Wallace and Noah were outed by Chicago as being out ‘indefinitely’ with sprained ankles. Given this was only three days ago, it might be a safe bet that neither will play when the Bulls open their season Wednesday in the cultural global epicentre that is East Rutherford. And, thus, Gray looks likely to be in the opening lineup. Whilst it’s possible he’ll be little more than the big white space-eater inside, after a preseason in which he posted 9.0 PPG, 5.4 RPG (incl. 1.8 offensive), 53.6 FG% in only 16.7 MPG, Gray should definitely be on the radar of size-seeking fantasy GMs.
JASON SMITH, Sixers.
In the leadup to the draft, piles of professional opinionaters were proffering Jason Smith as their ‘most likely to be a bust’ type choice, going simply by his size (seven feet), his skin colour (as the cold driven snow), and the fact that he suited up for Mountain West powerhouse Colorado State. How many of these “draft experts” had bothered to actually watch Smith play is another matter; for anyone who watched the generically-named big-man blossom from skinny small-forward freshman to dominating five-spot junior surely would’ve been impressed by Smith’s most un-white combination of quickness and skill. Whilst his exhibition stats aren’t exactly stuffed —8.2 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 1.1 BPG, a dreadful 38.6% from the floor, in 26.2 MPG— Smith has never seemed overmatched, and has looked roughly ten trillion times better than project lottery-pick Thaddeus Young, and is playing in a Philly frontcourt aching for real, live, healthy big-man bodies. I can’t imagine he’ll do much of anything in the season’s beginnings, but Smith’s shown some intriguing signs for a guy who no one expected absolutely anything of. At all.
VON WAFER, Nuggets.
With the groin-poppin’ injury to ever-chuckin’ Chucky Atkins, the eye-poppin’ bricklayin’ of Yakhouba Diawara, and the continued miseducation of Earl Smith III, the spot on the floor between the Answer and the Backpedaller is far from settled. The smokie to end all smokies in this scenario is Von Wafer, a 6’5, fleet-footed, unrepentant gunner who, as luck has it, hasn’t been arrested a single time this year. Fresh off of averaging 21 points an outing in the D-League last season, and 24.2 PPG in summer league, Wafer’s shown some serious jacking-it-up abilities in the preseason. Without a hole in Furious George’s rotation, Wafer’s chances to make a splash this season appeared minimal. But with Atkins on the sideline and Smith perhaps headed to the doghouse, Wafer could come on strong.
SHAWNE WILLIAMS, Pacers.
Given that he’s out for the first three games of the season for brainless goondom, you can’t exactly watch Williams on the opening night, then pounce upon him if he gets the right amount of court-time. For, there’s no doubt that the young, ridiculously-talented, rangy wing could produce if, say, poured upon the court for as much time as his fellow sophomore Rudy Gay will hit the floor this year. In his fleeting glimpses last year, Williams showed his tantalising, lottery-level package of skills —namely: athleticism, shooting, and defence— when he was trotted out onto the court. If we’re to go by his summer-league, Williams could actually produce in actual meaningful minutes this season, if Coach Jim O’Brien —and his famously-retooled offence— find him a place. Given Danny Granger’s Indiana’s only locked-in piece at the moment, that may not be so easy; but, in the four exhibition tilts in which he hit the court for more than 20 minutes, Williams went off. In 28 MPG, he hung up 17.0 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.7 BPG, and 8/23 threes (including a 5/10 versus Chicago). At the moment, Williams looks caught in a numbers crunch; but if O’Brien’s Pacers could actually push the pace and do 110+ type games in the regular season, Williams could be intriguing. And if Granger were to go down, he’d be the prized waiver-wire pounce.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Chucky Atkins, Groin Popper, Will Miss 6-8 Weeks.
30-something chucker Chucky Atkins felt his groin "pop" when trying to guard Marcus Banks in the Denver Nuggets' second-to-last exhibition run Thursday, surely feeling more pain than any man need ever know. Whilst Atkins —who is no relation to Dr. Robert Atkins, creator of the high-protein, low-carbohydrate Atkins Diet— had shaped up as a genuine fantasy contributor when signed by the McNuggets in the summer, he was struggling in preseason even prior to the groin-popping. And, now, with a lengthy stint on the sidelines, the veteran guard has come close to losing all of his fantasy value.
Of course, his absence will open up minutes for others, and with 74-year-old bricklayer Anthony 'Remember When My Agent Forgot To Exercise My $4.1mil Option?' Carter thankfully injured, it won't mean him. Really, there're two guys who would shape up as likely contributors in the absence of Atkins. And neither of them are the likely fifth-starter for Denver, Yakhouba Diawara. Nor are they, at this stage, Von Wafer, who I'm quietly eyeing off as late-rising sleeper.
Firstly, there's our old friend JR Smith. When not hitting the town, spitting on girls, or killing friends in unintentional vehicular homicide, the most notorious JR since Rider is known as an unrepentant jacker from deep. Last year, in his first 41 appearances, JR threw up 292 threes —7.1 per night!— thereby gaining a well-deserved reputation as the most conscience-free of 'volume shooters'. Of course, late in the year, Coach Karl tired of the hired goon, riddling his final months with DNP-CDs and garbage-time appearances; and, this season, the Nuggets've been reportedly seeing if there're any trade takers out there for young, hyper-talented, possibly-crazy wings. Yet, Smith has one characteristic that sets him apart from every other player on the Nuggets roster: he's a shooter. If we're to go by the preseason, Smith isn't a particularly good shooter, his six exhibition appearances finding the 6'6 gunner gunning it for 4/26 from range. Yikes. Of course, lacking any other guys with ridiculous range, and playing at the crazy pace that he favours, Furious George may be forced to function with a short memory. And, if he doles out even a decent amount of court-time for JR, Mr.Smith is immediately back into fantasy play as a deep-ball shooter.
A more intriguing possibility is the Vanilla Gorilla, Linas Kleiza. Though the hulking Lithuanian would probably best be suited to a Nocioni-esque role as undersized, hustling, ornery four, Karl has, at times, dared to play the 6'8 beast at shooting guard. Whilst it mightn't seem to make immediate sense, remember that Karl played Boobs Patterson at the two down the stretch in '06; in a lineup —Andre Miller, Melo, K-Mart, Camby— that actually featured no shooters. Kleiza, at least, has a deep-ball stroke, even if it's not the sweetest. And whereas Smith struggled in the exhibitions, Kleiza's preseason was impressive: 15.8 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 5/15 threes, 52.1 FG% in 27.5 MPG. Whilst he's unlikely to be hanging up anywhere near that once Melo, K-Mart, Camby, Nenê and the gang are all on the court every night, Kleiza holds definite intrigue as a wait-and-see possibility heading into the year.
Of course, his absence will open up minutes for others, and with 74-year-old bricklayer Anthony 'Remember When My Agent Forgot To Exercise My $4.1mil Option?' Carter thankfully injured, it won't mean him. Really, there're two guys who would shape up as likely contributors in the absence of Atkins. And neither of them are the likely fifth-starter for Denver, Yakhouba Diawara. Nor are they, at this stage, Von Wafer, who I'm quietly eyeing off as late-rising sleeper.
Firstly, there's our old friend JR Smith. When not hitting the town, spitting on girls, or killing friends in unintentional vehicular homicide, the most notorious JR since Rider is known as an unrepentant jacker from deep. Last year, in his first 41 appearances, JR threw up 292 threes —7.1 per night!— thereby gaining a well-deserved reputation as the most conscience-free of 'volume shooters'. Of course, late in the year, Coach Karl tired of the hired goon, riddling his final months with DNP-CDs and garbage-time appearances; and, this season, the Nuggets've been reportedly seeing if there're any trade takers out there for young, hyper-talented, possibly-crazy wings. Yet, Smith has one characteristic that sets him apart from every other player on the Nuggets roster: he's a shooter. If we're to go by the preseason, Smith isn't a particularly good shooter, his six exhibition appearances finding the 6'6 gunner gunning it for 4/26 from range. Yikes. Of course, lacking any other guys with ridiculous range, and playing at the crazy pace that he favours, Furious George may be forced to function with a short memory. And, if he doles out even a decent amount of court-time for JR, Mr.Smith is immediately back into fantasy play as a deep-ball shooter.
A more intriguing possibility is the Vanilla Gorilla, Linas Kleiza. Though the hulking Lithuanian would probably best be suited to a Nocioni-esque role as undersized, hustling, ornery four, Karl has, at times, dared to play the 6'8 beast at shooting guard. Whilst it mightn't seem to make immediate sense, remember that Karl played Boobs Patterson at the two down the stretch in '06; in a lineup —Andre Miller, Melo, K-Mart, Camby— that actually featured no shooters. Kleiza, at least, has a deep-ball stroke, even if it's not the sweetest. And whereas Smith struggled in the exhibitions, Kleiza's preseason was impressive: 15.8 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 5/15 threes, 52.1 FG% in 27.5 MPG. Whilst he's unlikely to be hanging up anywhere near that once Melo, K-Mart, Camby, Nenê and the gang are all on the court every night, Kleiza holds definite intrigue as a wait-and-see possibility heading into the year.
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