Who to draft: Jason Kidd vs. Devin Harris
The case for Kidd: In his first full year with the Mavericks, Kidd averaged 9 points, 8.7 assists (5th in the NBA), 6.2 rebounds 2 steals (3rd in the NBA) and 1.6 threes per game. On any given night Kidd has a solid chance of recording a triple-double. Dallas signed F Shawn Marion who was Kidd’s former teammate with the Phoenix Suns. Baring injury Kidd is a safe third round pick because of his contributions in assists, rebounds, and threes. The formet Net also turned the ball over just 2.28 times per game which was his lowest total since 96-97. He shot 46% from the field and averaged 11.4 points per game in 10 playoff games last season.
The case against Kidd: Since being traded to Dallas during the 07-08 season he has averaged 9.5 points during that span. He also has not shot over 44% from the field since the 98-99 season. Kidd is now 36 years old and the upside is very limited. He also rarely goes to the foul line attempting just 1.3 …
It’s so funny to me how reluctant the average fantasy basketball player is to accept change in fantasy standings, but also how quickly someone’s opinion will change based on something they hear or perceive. For example, let’s take the case of Kevin Durant. Long slated to be a mega-stud in the NBA, KD broke out on a torrent last year. Let’s take a look at his beastly totals from last year:
.476/.863 FG/FT% 452FTM, 97 Tre’s, 1871 Pts, 482 REB, 205AST, 96st, 53blocks
Averaging 25.3 ppg, Durant was a gem. He’s young, incredibly athletic, and the precision outside shooting from a 6′9 G/F makes him almost unstoppable when he’s hot.
All of a sudden, people are saying that Durant is better than Lebron James. Folks, these types of statements are absurd. Let’s break this down for a second. Lebron plays on a team with Mo Williams, Delonte West, Zydryunas IlGauskas……..all guys who can put the ball in the basket. Durant played with Russell Westbrook ( shot …
Gerald Wallace vs. Andre Iguodala
The case for Wallace: Wallace averaged a career high 7.8 rebounds to go along with 1.7 steals, .9 blocks, shot 48% from the field and 80% from the foul line. However, his fantasy potential should be based on the 14 games he in March where he averaged 19.5 points, 9 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 1.4 blocks and .9 threes per game. He also shot 58% from the field which is outstanding for a small forward. He cut down his turnovers from the previous season from 2.9 to 2.1.
The case against Wallace: His scoring dipped last year (down to 16.7 from 19.4) and has missed 43 regular season games the past three seasons due to injury. Head Coach Larry Brown might consider playing Wallace at the 4 which would hurt his fantasy value. He needs to raise his assists (2.7) if he wants to go ahead of Igudola.
The case for Igudola: Iggy has missed just six games in five seasons and has played in all 82 in four of them. Last season he …
DJ Mbenga- F/C Los Angeles Lakers
Mbenga is one-half Belgian, one-half Congolese, and one-half useless. Perennially signed to intimidate opponents in the paint, the only person Mbenga intimidates is the closest reporter to the end of the bench, because that is where he sits for about 42 minutes every game. Unless you are in a 40 team league, stay away from the Belgian Bruiser.
Jerome James- C Chicago Bulls
According to Chicago news wires, “Big Snacks” has cut back on the cheesesteaks and turned up his training regimen, and he’s hoping to make a dramatic comeback in 2009 and possibly scam one last team in free agency. Either way, the best logic is to stay away…..far, far away. The Knicks didn’t get that memo, but I hope you do.
Hamed Haddadi- C Memphis Grizzlies
Hamed Haddadi might be the Prince of Persia, but in America his throne is a metal chair on the end on the bench. In fact, when the Lakers play the Grizzlies, not only do you get Gasol …
Fantasy Faceoff: Chauncey Billups or Jose Calderon
Both point guards are drafted in the second round and each bring different strengths to the table.
Case for Billups: Biliups continued his efficient play with the Nuggets last season averaging 17.7 points, 6.4 assists, 3 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game in 77 regular season games. He made 2.1 three per game which was his most since the 05-06 season. While his fg % is one of his drawbacks he shot 45% in 16 postseason games. Billups is almost automatic from the line shooting 91% and 92% the past two seasons.
Case against: He shot 42% from the field during the regular season and has turned the ball over at least two times per game the past three seasons. Billups turned 34 years old last month but he has not shown any sings of age yet.
Case for Calderon: Last season he averaged 12.8 points, 8.9 assists, 1.2 threes, 1.1 steals and shot 50% from the field and 98% from the foul line. The 29 year old is in his prime and recovered from …
Who to draft first Kobe Bryant or Deron Williams?
Kobe is the safer and more well rounded fantasy player but choosing Deron is also a solid way to go. There fantasy ADP (average draft position) are both around picks 5-8.
Case for Kobe: Kobe played in all 82 regular season games averaging 26.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.9 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.4 threes per game. However, he elevated his game in the playoffs averaging 34 points in the conference finals and 32.4 points with 7.4 assists in the NBA Finals. Kobe contributes in almost every category and is a safe top 5 pick. Even though he is getting older his skills are not diminishing and his fantasy numbers remain great as he is evolving into better teammate.
Case for Deron: Williams is the second point guard taken after Chris Paul. Williams played in 68 games last season due to a sprained ankle he suffered early in the year. He averaged 19.4 points, 10.7 assists (second in the NBA), 1.3 steals and 1 three per game. In his last eight games …
C- Emeka Okafor
If you’re looking for a real, dominant center to hold down those REB and BLK numbers, look no further than Emeka Okafor. Long stamped with the “underachiever tag”, a trade to new Orleans could be exactly what Okafor needs to break through. Chris Paul helped transform Tyson Chandler, an athletic big man with relatively few offensive skills, into a double-double machine. Emeka was a double-double machine without the star pg(no disrespect to Ray Felton, he’s my boy). In the last 3 seasons, Okafor has eclipsed the 750 reb and 135 blk thresholds, including seasons of 875 rebounds and over 170 blocks. He also puts up a more than respectable 56% from the field. Last year, Chris Bosh shot 48% from the field and blocked 77 shots, just to put things in perspective. Don’t overpay for points at the C position.
PF- Luis Scola
With Yao slated be out most of if not the whole season, Luis Scola is an absolute no-brainer. Last year, Scola had the 11th most rebounds in the league. Safe to …
The San Antonio Spurs released former University standout Jack McClinton on the eve of training camp. McClinton is the all time 3-point percentage leader in ACC history and was selected by the Spurs in the second round of the 2009 NBA Draft (51st overall). He struggled in the Vegas Summer League but has the potential to light it up as he had consecutive 30-point games against Wake Forest, Duke and North Carolina. He averaged 19.3 points during his junior year while shooting 45% from downtown. The Spurs added NBA veterans Keith Bogans and Dwayne Jones which was a reason he asked for his release.
Before the NBA Draft, there were rumors that Knicks Head Coach Mike D’Antoni praised the 24-year old shooting ability. Donnie Walsh should bring in him in and compete for a spot as the Knicks released sharp shooter Morris Almond.
Recently, I watched some punk from Boston named Rice get inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame. It took him every single one of his 15 eligible years to finally get voted in. This makes me upset. Here’s why…………
Let’s compare these two statistics. The first set is Jim Rice. The second set is a player who retired in 2000 who has not even come up in the discussion. He too was one of the most feared hitters in his decade. And like Rice, he had a tumultuous relationship with the media. Let’s compare.
Rice: 16 Seasons 2089 Games 1249 Runs 382 HR 1451 RBI .298 AVG 670BB .502 SLG .854 OPS
Player B: 12 Seasons 1539 Games 974 Runs 381 HR 1239 RBI .295 AVG 683 BB .564 SLG .933 OPS
Jim Rice was an 8 time all star and has an MVP award. Albert Belle only went to 5 all-star games, but he was as good a hitter as any during the 90’s. His career OPS is almost 80 points higher than Rice’s, and he drew …
Donnie Walsh has had discussions with Von Wafer, according to the guard’s agent. Wafer averaged a career high 9.7 points for the Rockets last season. The five-year pro was on the Knicks summer league roster last season but found his niche with Houston. The former second round pick shot 45% from three last season and would provide the Knicks with another shooter off the bench. New York could offer Wafer a one-year deal worth the biannual exception (about $2.9 million).
Fast forward to about 65 minutes and listen to me (7/23/09 http://www.blogtalkradio.com/realsportstalk/2009/07/24/Real-Sports-Talk
Here are some feasible and some ridiculous ideas for the Knicks to consider. It’s already known that Eddy Curry and Jared Jeffries have player options for the 2010/11 seasons, and most likely, since no other teams will pay them what our amazing Knicks pay them, they will take these options and literally screw the Knicks into possible century-long shittyness. Here’s some moves the ‘Bockers can attempt.
1. Eddy Curry and Larry Hughes(NY) <——> Tracy McGrady(HOU)
The salaries match up perfectly. Hughes can score and can play some decent defense, and the Rockets seem to have differences with Mr. Mac. With Yao out for an extended period of time, the new, slim Eddy(He lost 50 pounds) could actually be useful somewhere other than closing time at China Buffet.
2. Jared Jeffries(NY) <—–> Mike James(WASH)
James is the odd, old man out now that Washington has healthy Gilbert and Randy Foye. They can use some depth in the 3/4 spot, and the Knicks happen to have a clusterf*ck since we drafted Hill and Galinari in back to back drafts.
3. Eddy Curry …
Here’s 10 facts about our old. buddy Jerome James who we miss greatly.
10. Jerome James won the Heisman without ever going to college.
9. When Jerome goes to Hooter’s, he order’s the whole Buffalo.
8. Jerome James leaps tall infants in a single bound.
7. Jerome is never late…..everyone else is just early.
6. You know the answer to Final Jeopardy last night? Jerome James
5. Jerome once blocked 200 shots in the first half of a high school basketball game.
4. Jerome James was Gatorade High School player of the year….in kindergarten.
3. What do you get when you cross Michael Jordan and Bill Russell? Jerome James
2. Jerome James clotheslined his Grandma when she was going for a layup.
1. Jerome James’ 100m Dash times:
With the wind: 10.4 sec
Against the wind: 11.8 seconds
After a cheesesteak: 2.4 nanoseconds.
