What the hell is going on here? Are the Washington Wizards thinking of changing their name back to the Washington Bullets?  Everybody knows what has happened (or what has been speculated).  Did Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton pull guns out on each other during a locker room argument or were they really just arguing over who has the “bigger gun”?


There are a few things about this idiotic situation that really stand out to me:


First of all, how dumb is Arenas to actually pull a gun out on a teammate, let alone while he is being investigated for having those guns in his locker in the first place?


Secondly, how stupid are the Wizards for allowing  Arenas to keep the guns in his locker after the NBA and authorities decided to investigate him?


Third, How dumb is Crittenton for his role in this whole mess (brandishing a firearm, brandishing a firearm against a teammate, brandishing a firearm against a teammate when it is painfully obvious that he is not allowed to have guns in his locker)?


And lastly, how will the real Wizard, David Stern make this problem disappear?


There are a lot of problems with what is going on here but what I want to know is what level of punishment will these to clowns face?  The NBA has been known to suspend players for fighting, for coming off of the bench to aid in a fight and in some cases coming off of the bench onto the court without even coming near the two fighters. And don’t forget about that special night with Ron Artest when he jumped into the stands to fight that fan that threw a beverage at him. Under normal circumstances this would be an in house fix like any other time two players get in a fight during or after practice.  But this is the first time I can think of where weapons are involved.


Personally, I think that both men deserve jail time and indefinite suspensions from the League. This is absolutely ridiculous and these two need to be made an example of.

It’s the first monthly installment of NUT20.  Remember, these rankings are based on a roto league without turnovers.  Let’s get right to it:

1. Kevin Garnett, BOS – He is loving Boston, and his owners are loving him.  How about that 56% from the field?  The steals will probably dip a bit, but KG has been everything that you could hope for.

2. Kobe Bryant, LAL – He’s reined in the 3pt shooting but has been blocking shots and rebounding at career-high levels.  You can question his personality all you want, but the consistent trade rumors haven’t bothered him like they’ve supposedly bothered the Bulls.

3. LeBron James, CLE – This is probably higher than he belongs, because the block numbers will come down, but he’s doing better than last November so we’ll give him a little bump.

4. Steve Nash, PHO – You think he’s feeling his shot right now?  He’s shooting an absolutely absurd 53% from the arc, and has hit every one of his 27 free throws so far this year.

5. Shawn Marion, PHO – He’ll come around from the line eventually, and that’s the only thing holding him back from being probably top-3 on the APR.  The rebounding numbers are nice to see, as well, and I can’t imagine he gets traded mid-season.

6. Yao Ming, HOU – He’s been in a slump since McGrady went down, which is definitely a concern, but it’s not like this is the first time he’s played without T-Mac.  As long as he stays healthy, he’s top-10.

7. Dwyane Wade, MIA – He’s back on the court and it’s not even Thanksgiving, so his owners have to be happy about that.  Once he gets into playing shape he’ll be Top-5.

8. Josh Smith, ATL – OK, I give.  I still don’t think he’s this good, and I think he’s an absolute sell-high right now, and I think he’ll be around 2.5 bpg at the end of the year, but right now (last night excepted) he’s on the top of his game.  And he’s not injured, which is more than I can say for some other guys on this list.

9.  Manu Ginobili, SAS – He can’t keep it up, right?  Be the floor isn’t that low either – the only things really out of sync with his typical stats are the steals and the threes, and that’s not too far out of the ordinary.  Congratulations if you drafted him in the 4th or 5th, looks like he’ll be a top-20 value this year.

10. Dirk Nowitzki, DAL – He’s just not shooting the ball well.  He’s a nice buy-low candidate, I think.  I can’t figure out whose FT% is more befuddling – his or Marion’s.  BUt both of them should be back to normal in a few weeks.

11. Amare Stoudemire, PHO – As a Stoudemire owner myself, I’m not writing anything here so I don’t jinx anything.

12. Gilbert Arenas, WAS – I know, everyone’s been frustrated by him, but the reason he’s this high on the list is because he’s only behind Kobe and Dwyane Wade when it comes to blowup potential.  It wouldn’t surprise me at all to see him be the best player in the league in the second half.

13. Chris Paul, NO – His stats say he should be top ten, but his injury says he should be barely on this list.  Let’s put him here and hope for the best.

14. Allen Iverson, DEN – As long as he’s healthy, there’s not much to worry about with AI.  Right now he’s healthy, and that’s all I need to know to put him here.

15. Kevin Martin, SAC – Just keeps getting better.  He’s this decade’s Mitch Richmond, toiling away on a crappy Sacramento team.  I can’t wait until the Wizards trade an All-Star PF for him once he’s way past his prime.  But really, he seems like he’ll be a 2nd round pick for the next few years, no?

16. Rashard Lewis, ORL – He’s on fire from the field, and he’s having trouble getting his cheap boards with Dwight Howard eating up everything in sight, but it looks like he’ll provide solid 2nd-round value for his owners.

17. Jason Terry, DAL – He’s challenging Nash for the most ridiculous 3pt numbers at 51%.  All of his percentages sohuld come back to reality evenutally, but he’ll still be top-30 when it’s all said and done.

18. Marcus Camby, DEN – Is it possible he’s gotten better with age?  Maybe he’s just feeling healthier now than ever before.

19. Michael Redd, MIL – Doesn’t look like he’s doing anything out of the ordinary at first glance, but then you notice the career highs in boards and assists.  Is it possible he’s becoming less one dimensional?

20.  Andray Blatche, WAS – Just kidding.  Sort of.  Really, we’ll leave this to the commenters – who goes at 20?

This is probably the last NUT!20 of the year, and right now we’re going to see some major shakeups due to the possibility of studs sitting late in the year, as well as some guys who we’re looking at to be key in the clutch:

1. Kobe Bryant, SG, LAL
Surprise!  Bryant’s 65 the other night was huge, but keep in mind, he’s been on fire since the All-Star Break.  33.6/6.5/6.2 with 2.1 threes, 847% from the line on 11.3 attempts per game, and 1.7 steals, Bryant could very well average over 35 ppg over the next few weeks as he gets into playoff mode, and for that reason he’ll get the number one spot.  (It’s worth noting that I put him here before his 50-point outburst last night.  It’s also worth nothing what I said in December’s NUT!20: “If there’s one guy who’s going to go bonkers for a 15-game stretch in February and March, that guy is right here.”)

2. Gilbert Arenas, PG, WAS
Double surprise!  The Hibachi is getting fired back up.  After a completely disastrous February, Gilbert got his clavicle or whatever popped back into place and now he’s back to his old self.  He’s knocking down threes, collecting steals, and best of all he’s playing 18 more games this year, each of which will be meaningful as they jockey for playoff position.

3. LeBron James, SF, CLE
Heeeere we go.  Finally.  32.4/8.1/6.9 with 2 threes, 1.8 steals and a block in March.  LeBron said duriing the All-Star Break that he knew it was time to turn it on – and it looks like he is.

4. Dirk Nowitzki, PF, DAL
Ho-hum, just another fantastic season for the Diggler.  He’s been in a bit of a shooting slump lately, but he’s at #5 of the TPR and he’s a top-5 pick again next year.

5. Kevin Garnett, F, MIN
As if we’re going to forget how you sat out the last six games last year, Kevin.  With the Wolves struggling to stay in the playoff race, we’re going to keep a close eye on Garnett this year, and that’s why he sits this low.

6. Shawn Marion, F, PHO
Marion is very clearly still hurting.  The bruised hand that forced him out of action for 2 games a few weeks ago is apparently still bothering his shot, leading to a very-low 11.7 ppg in March.  As the gap between the Suns and Dallas widens, Marion may sit it down for a few games at the end of the year.  Even if he doesn’t, the hand is still a major concern.

7. Allen Iverson, G, DEN
The Nuggets are clearly starting to get things figured out, and Iverson’s running the show, averaging 11.3 assists drung their recent 4-game streak.  He’s also playing 18 more games this year and is locked in a playoff position race, giving him a nice bump in value.

8. Steve Nash, PG, PHO
The Suns may be struggling after their classic against the Mavs last week, but Nash seems to be just fine.  The threes aren’t there as much as they were early in the year, but eveything else looks a-ok.

9. Yao Ming, C, HOU
He’s still a little rusty, but he’s going to be working his way back into playing shape for the playoffs which means plenty of minutes for Yao over the final month.

10. Ray Allen, SG, SEA
Allen’s return to action has been one of the most unlikely things we’ve seen in the past month.  He’s not a free agent, his team isn’t very good, could it be that Jesus Shuttlesworth is in it for the love of the game?

11. Jason Kidd, PG, NJN
Solid.  The Nets are fighting for playoff position as well (as in, not being in position to play Detroit in the first round), so he’ll be going full steam.

12. Elton Brand, PF, LAC
Brand hasn’t ever shut it down early before, so there’s no reason to think he’ll do so now, despite the disappointing season for the Clips.

13. Rashard Lewis, F, SEA
He’s got one month left to convince suitors he’s worth a max deal in the offseason.  As a Rashard owner myself, I’m rooting for him.  Prediction – he’s a Bobcat next season.

14. Amare Stoudamire, C, PHO
Is he a first-rounder next year?  Guys are supposed to be even better the second year after surgery, so it’s possible he’ll be even better next time around, and this season hasn’t been shabby at all (20 on the APR).

15. Carmelo Anthony, F, DEN
The positives are the same as his teammates – he’s got a bunch of games left, they’re in a playoff push and the team is finally clicking.  He’s also 19 on the APR this year.  The scoring is down with AI around but everything else is fine.

16. Marcus Camby, C, DEN
The numbers don’t lie – he’s been a top 10 player over the past month, AND he’s got 18 games left, so even if he misses a few here or there, he’s still playing around the league average for the rest of the year.

17. Andre Iguodala, GF, PHI
Iggy’s been a Top-15 player ever since the Iverson deal, and he’s going to be one of the toughest players to peg in next year’s draft.

18. Josh Smith, F, ATL
Down goes Joe Johnson, up goes Smith: 20.7/9.3 with 3.3 bpg in March.  He’s like Andrei Kirilenko except he plays well.

19. Pau Gasol, F/C
Good: He’s a center and a top-20 guy.  Bad: His team is in the race for Oden/Durant and they only have 14 games remaining.

20.  As I do pretty often, I’ll leave #20 to you guys.  Who belongs on this list that isn’t here?

The cavalry is coming.  Carmelo’s back, Chauncey Billups is back, Rashard Lewis is back, Paul Pierce is back, Michael Redd is on his way.  But wait!  Steve Nash is hurting, as is Allen Iverson, as is Elton Brand, as is Jason Kidd.  So we may have a lot of shakeup here.  Let’s take a look.

1. Kevin Garnett, F (2)
And, he’s back.  Rising to the top of the list for the first time since January of 2006, KG has earned it with that steady consistency that has made him a top pick for the last decade.  The FG% is down, but the FT% is up to a career-high level.  Meanwhile, his blocks are up to their highest in 4 years.  Let’s be honest here – KG’s game never really dropped, it was more our infatuation with LBJ and Shawn Marion and our worries that KG would totally flip out.  KG and Marion may flip-flop 1 and 2 for awhile, but that’s more a testament to the Matrix than a knock on KG.

2. Shawn Marion, F (1)
Most guys, you only have to worry about one person getting injured, but with Marion you have two worry about two – both him and Steve Nash.  In the three games since Nash has been hurt, Marion has struggled offensively, averaging only 11.7 points and shooting 42%.  Now, he’s picked up his game in other areas, grabbing 13 steals in those three games, and picking up 18 boards against Chicago, but the lack of scoring is a minor concern and we’ll have to keep an eye on how he continues to perform sans Nash.

3. Dwyane Wade, G (6)
Despite missing time, Wade has played so well he’s still at number two on the APR and is having a career year.  Actually, it’s more like he’s having a career 2007.  Since the new year he’s averaged 30 ppg, he’s shooting over 50%, and is averaging 2.5 blocks.  He stays at number three because a) there’s no reason to think he’ll keep up this incredible pace and b) he’s still an injury risk, despite his toughness.

4. Dirk Nowitzki, PF (4)
The stats say that he should maybe be a spot or two down on this list, but two things keep him here – position scarcity and career consistency.  It would make me feel a little better, though, if he started hitting more threes again.

5. Kobe Bryant, SG (5)
Kobe is better than Gilbert.  Let’s just put that one to rest.  The thing with Kobe is that it wouldn’t surprise me to see him score 35 ppg in March, but it also wouldn’t surprise me to see him get hurt and miss the whole month.

6. Gilbert Arenas, PG (3)
I discussed Gilbert yesterday, so there’s not much to add here, except did you hear that he moronically predicted he was gonna score 50 in his NEXT game against Portland?  DAMMIT GILBERT.

7. LeBron James, SF (7)
LeBron doesn’t deserve to be this high right now.  He’s at 15/20 on the total/average player rater and his best quality is only that he’s stayed healthy.  Still, I can’t put him lower than this.  I just can’t.  Let’s see what happens over the rest of the season, because I can’t imagine he’ll stay this bad.  Then again, I can’t believe it’s as bad as it is already.

8. Ray Allen, SG (9)
Allen has been playing some of the best offensive ball of his career since returning from his injury.  He put up 30 ppg on 49% shooting in January and while his FG% has dropped in February, the points are still at 29.  The return of Rashard Lewis, though, may mean Allen will return to career levels – not that there’s anything wrong with that.

9. Elton Brand, PF (11)
He’s back in the top 10 on the TPR but you only have to look at Tracy McGrady to know what back problems can do to a fantasy stud.  Let’s hope this is a short-term problem.

10.  Steve Nash, PG (8)
I blame myself totally for the shoulder injury.  I wanted to keep him at 10 all year long, but then last month I upgraded him to 8.  Now he’s hurt.  Sorry about that, Steve!

11.  Jason Kidd, PG (10)
He’s back in the top 10 on the TPR but you only have to look at Tracy McGrady to know what back problems can do to a fantasy stud.  Let’s hope this is a short-term problem.  Boy, that sounds familiar.  There’s also the speculation that he may be sitting out so that he doesn’t get hurt while the Nets try to trade him … we’ll see.

12.  Pau Gasol, FC (N/A)
Gasol makes his first-ever appearance thanks to his strong recent play (11 boards and 2.7 bpg in 2007).  He probably doesn’t belong this high, but injuries are really hurting the second half of this NUT20.

13.  Ron Artest, SF (N/A)
You know, Artest reminds me of that old website realultimatepower.net, about the ninjas.  Remember that?  I think I first saw it in college, it’s pretty funny.  You can also substitute Ron Artest for “ninjas” and it’s pretty accurate.  For example: “Ron Artest is the ultimate paradox. On the one hand he doesn’t give a crap, but on the other hand, Ron Artest is very careful and precise.”

14.  Andre Iguodala, SG (16)
The question with AI2 is can he co-exist with another scorer and still put up these kind of numbers?  It’s going to be an interesting offseason in Philly, and Iggy will be an interesting draft pick next year.

15.  Tracy McGrady, GF (N/A)
He’s back in the top 10 on the APR over the last month, but you only have to read the about Elton Brand and Jason Kidd above to know what we think about T-Mac.  Nonetheless his owners have to be thrilled with his recent production, and I’m feeling a little nostalgic between being able to put in T-Mac and the next guy onto this list…

16.  Tim Duncan, FC (N/A)
Don’t look now, but Duncan is quietly having a nice little bounce-back year.  He’s at number 13 on the TPR and is on pace to play in 80 games for the second year in a row.  His FG% is at it’s highest since his rookie year, and while he’ll never be a Top 5 pick again, he may be a first-rounder next year due to his center eligibility.

17.  Rashard Lewis, F (N/A)
Welcome back Rashard, and none too soon!  The shooting may be an issue and I’m not sure how I feel about him not playing with the protective glove, but he seems to be ready to roll.

18.  Caron Butler, SF (13)
I discussed Butler yesterday as well.  Let’s hope he has a nice game heading into his first All-Star appearance.

19.  Allen Iverson, G (12)
Get well soon AI.  Hopefully the All-Star break will be enough.

20. Paul Pierce, GF (N/A)
We’re glad to see Pierce back of course, but if Boston is really going to tank the season, how long will he really be playing?  He’s a big-time candidate to shut it down early.

Another month, another NUT20.  Since we last checked in, four of our top-twenty guys have suffered injuries (Yao Ming, Rashard Lewis, Michael Redd, Chauncey Billups), one’s been suspended (Carmelo Anthony), one was traded (Allen Iverson), and two have had, um, “woman troubles” (Vince Carter and Jason Kidd).  Fantasy basketball: always interesting.  Anyhow, as always, last month’s rankings are in parentheses…

1. Shawn Marion, SF (1) – He’s down a little bit across the board this year and is STILL the third-highest guy on the player rater.  This is why he’s my number-one pick next year.

2. Kevin Garnett, SF (2) – His steals and assists are a little bit below his career averages, and he’s STILL the fourth-highest guy on the player rater.  You know what?  I hope he stays in Minnesota.  Unlike AI, who will dominate the ball and get his shots no matter where he goes, Garnett is much more passive offensively and may not demand the ball as much on a new team.

3. Gilbert Arenas, G (5) – Here’s something to consider – while Gilbert has supposedly been on the streak of a lifetime, his FG% is actually DOWN from last year, and he’s only averaging 0.4 more ppg than last year.  He was number 5 on the player rater last year and is at the top spot this year so far.  Playing great makes you a first round pick, but playing great CONSISTENTLY puts you in the top three.

4. Dirk Nowitzki, F (4) – You’d like to see those defensive numbers up a bit, especially with the fewer threes being attempted.  Nonetheless, Dirk and the Mavs are on a mission this year and he should be huge down the stretch.  The only concern is if they pull away and he gets to rest for the last few games of the season.

5. Kobe Bryant, SG (8) – He’s taking almost EIGHT fewer shots per game than last year, but his FG% and assists haven’t gone up as much as you’d think.  Maybe if he took more quality shots?

6. Dwyane Wade, G (7) – He’s actually #2 on the APR, but the injuries have held him back overall.  My favorite thing about Wade this year is that even with all the problems with him teammates he’s still turned himself into a top assists guy – his 8 per game are a career-high and eighth in the league.

7. LeBron James, SF (3) – So what’s up with LeBron?  Is he, a) tired because he’s played more games over the past three years than anyone his age due to the NBA schedule, Olympics, playoffs, etc … b) losing interest with a crappy team around him and all the attention going to Wade and now Arenas … c) trying to get his teammates more involved, or d) just playing 2 less mpg?  Who knows, but LeBron is looking more and more like a normal first round pick, and less like the second coming.

8. Steve Nash, PG (10) – I tried to keep Nash at 10 overall all year long, but he’s been playing too well for me to do that, and when you combine that with all the injuries this year, we’ll put him here.  He stillg dosn’t deserve another MVP trophy, though, I’ll tell you that much.

9. Ray Allen, SG (N/A) – After a minor false start, Allen’s been on fire since his return from injury, and with Rashard Lewis out another month at least, he may maintain the 30-point average he’s thrown up so far in January.

10. Jason Kidd, PG (17) – Is it possible for a thirty-three year old, 6′4″ point guard with creaky knees to average a career-high in rebounds?  I keep on wanting to count Kidd out, but he just keeps on ticking.  As long as you don’t expect much in points or FG% he’s as good a PG as there is.

11. Elton Brand, PF (12) – He’s not performing as well as last year, but that was to be expected.  Still, he seems to have recovered from his rough start and should perform like a first-rounder from here on out.

12. Allen Iverson, G (9) – If there’s one thing that I’m not a fan of, it’s uncertainty.  In all likelyhood, he’ll be top-10 even after Carmelo returns, but until we know that he’ll have to settle for a few spots outside of there.

13. Caron Butler, SF (N/A) – I’m hesitating here because Butler is a member of my hometown team AND my fantasy team, but he deserves this spot right now.  The points and boards are sweet – but the percentages are even sweeter.

14. Carlos Boozer, F/C (N/A) – He’s officially back, and better than ever.  Don’t let the lack of blocks turn you away – he more than makes up for it in other areas and is outperforming higher-ranked guys like Tim Duncan, Chris Bosh and Dwight Howard.

15. Chauncey Billups, PG (19) – He’ll be back in a few games, and it’s none too soon for the Pistons, who have gone 3-5 without him.  He may take a slight hit in production with Webber entering the fold but it shouldn’t be too noticable.

16. Andre Iguodala, SG (N/A) – The unquestioned winner of the AI trade, he’s put up 18.7/4.9/5.4 with 2.2 steals, .5 3’s and decent percentages over the last month.

17. Carmelo Anthony, SF (14) – 3 games left.  Same concerns as Iverson, but he should be fine and may even see a spike in FG%.

18. Jermaine O’Neal, F/C (N/A) – He’s been dinged up like he is every year and owners have to hold their breath every day when they check the injured list, but he’s only missed 5 games this year and is performing as well as you’d hope for.

19. Mike Miller, G/F (N/A) – He’s 5th overall over the last month, and while he’s already cooled down you gotta put a guy who puts in 23 3’s in three games in the Top 20.

20. As usual, we’ll leave this to you.  Who’s at 20?

It’s about the middle of the month again and while we’re waiting for AI to get dealt, let’s check in again on the best of the best.  Last month’s rankings are in parentheses…

1.  Shawn Marion, SF (1) – DM and I had an interesting discussion on this:  Let’s say that Shawn Marion is the number one overall fantasy player again this year – it’s not out of the question, as he’s #2 right now, just below KG.  And let’s say that LeBron finishes outside of the top three – again, not out of the question as right now he’s at 7 overall.  Do you take Marion with the number one pick next year?  Has Lebron maxed out as a just-below-Marion type fantasy player?  I say I’d take Marion #1 next year … DM said no way.  Thoughts?

2. Kevin Garnett, PF (3) – It’s par for the course for KG so far.  The most remarkable thing about KG so far is how little attention he’s been getting.  The youth movement (LeBron, Carmelo, Wade, Chris Paul, etc.) has been soaking up all of the Sportscenter attention, and rightly so, but KG is performing better than all of them so far.  Is it possible he’s under-rated right now?  The assists are still down but he’s also still posting the highest FT% of his career.  Looks like rumors of his demise were unsubtantiated.

3. LeBron James (2) – I don’t think there’s been enough discussion about LeBron this year, either.  His FT% has dropped to “awful” status because of the high amount of times he gets to the line.  He’s 7th on the APR and hasn’t shown any statistical improvement for three straight years.  So much of the reason that he was a consensus number one pick this year was because he’s so young, he can still improve, right?  Well, apparently not.  The LeBron of age 22 is pretty much exactly the same as LeBron of age 20.  This just adds to my theory that LeBron is actually 27 years old.

4. Dirk Nowitzki, PF (5) – What separates Dirk from the rest of these guys is how consistent he’s been.  Even though he’s been shooting less (both overall and especially from the outside), he’s still at seven on the APR.  He’s an absolute lock for a Top-10 finish in the ratings, and that’s more than you can say for most of these other guys.

5. Yao Ming, C (6) – Raise your hand if you thought that with T-Mac back in the lineup and a newly healthy group around him, Yao would see his usage rate go UP by over 10 percent.  That’s a trick question, both because I can’t see you and because if you put your hand up you’re a total liar.  Yao is absolutely dominant right now, and there’s no reason to think this will stop anytime soon.

6. Gilbert Arenas, PG (4) – Gilbert falls two spots not because of anything he did, but more because he’s such a polarizing presence on a fantasy team.  Look at the player rater (which, by the way, is getting WAY too much attention in this column).  Almost every player there as at least a couple of categories where they’re just average.  Maybe a little in the plus, maybe a little in the minus, but for the most part within 1 point of the mean.  For Gilbert, he’s only got one of these, his FT%.  Everything else he’s either a monster or a disaster.  Imagine what affect someone like that has on a team, especially if you trade for him and your team isn’t set for someone like that!  Yikes.

7. Dwyane Wade, G (9) – I’m still nervous about the fatigue and the wear and tear, but you can’t argue with the numbers.  He’s stopped worrying about the threes and now he’s getting back to his typically high FG% self.  The steals are coming back as well, and he’s the Heat’s only chance of winning so he’s going to continue to be the man down there and for your team.

8. Kobe Bryant, SG (8) – Mamba is just waiting.  He showed flashes with that 52-point effort two weeks ago and he’s starting to find his range again, taking more threes as he works his way back into the flow.  If there’s a guy who’s going to go bonkers for a 15-game stretch in February and March, that guy is right here.  If you can buy low on him because of injury concerns, I’d do it.

9. Allen Iverson, G (14) – If you think that I spent way too much of the past few days figuring out crazy Iverson trades, you’re absolutely correct.  AI can probably be had for as low a price as you’ll ever be able to get him for right now, but odds are he’ll be the same player no matter where he lands.

10. Steve Nash, PG (10) – I said last month that Nash would be at 10 all year long, and while theoretically I could/should place him one or two spots higher, I’m going to keep him at 10 until something drastic happens.

11. Vince Carter, GF (7) – Is it too early to nominate Carter as the biggest bust of 2007-2008?  His FG% will eventually come back down to earth but Air Jersey will continue his career year for the forseeable future.

12. Elton Brand, PF (12) – This is getting frustrating – his 10/3 game against the Spurs will keep us Brand owners on our toes for another few weeks, just when we thought he was finally back to his old self.

13. Joe Johnson, G (15) – Johnson hadn’t missed a game in like 5 years until this calf thing started up, and let’s hope he starts another 5-year streak this week.  Everything else has been dandy for Johnson owners like myself.

14. Carmelo Anthony, F (N/A) – For a long time, DM had likened Carmelo Anthony to Glenn Robinson, but I think we can finally start giving Melo his due.  The biggest surprise? His 4.1 apg, part of the reason he’s no longer considered a one-trick pony.

15. Michael Redd, GF (14) – I know this is my question every time with Redd, but do you think he can be drafted in the second round next year?  I still think his FG% and points will eventually fade back to his typical numbers, but he’ll still be right around 20 overall by the end of the year.

16. Rashard Lewis, F (N/A) – I’m a Lewis owner but I”m hesitant to put him any higher than this despite his hot start.  The longer Ray Allen is out, though, the better Lewis’s season looks.

17. Jason Kidd, PG (18) – Remeber when it was thought that Marcus Williams would cut into Kidd’s PT?  So much for that idea – Kidd is seeing about half a minute MORE this year than last.  But can his knees handle this sort of run?

18. Baron Davis, PG (N/A) – sell high sell high sell high sell high sell high sell high sell high sell high …

19. Chauncey Billups, PG (N/A) – I’m a little skeptical that Billups will keep up his FG% up, or his steals.  Still, that should be offset by a slight rebound in FT% and threes.  This looks about right for Billups and he’ll be bouncing on and off of this list depending more on other player’s performance than his own, really.

20.  Ray Allen?  nope.  Chris Paul?  maybe.  Tim Duncan?  He’s been solid lately … Jermaine O’Neal?  nope.  I’m going to leave this one open to you guys.  Who belongs at 20?

Continuing a tradition from last year, we’re gonna take a look at the best of the best on a monthly basis.  Just like our season previews, this is based on a 8-category league (i.e. no turnovers).  I’m also going to list where they were on our rankings going into the year.  Ready?  OK:

1. Shawn Marion, F (Preseason: 2) – It is absolute shenanigans that The Matrix fell to DM at the 4th pick in our draft and I will curse the guys that took Kobe and KG before him until the end of the year.  Over 1.5 steals, blocks, and threes, over 50/80% shooting, this guy is the best in the league.  Period.  I know that KG is outperforming Marion so far, but Marion is 2 years younger, shooting more from the arc than ever before (and they’ll start falling eventually), and possibly UNDERperforming in boards and steals.  Yikes.

2. LeBron James, SF (1) – Free throws, LeBron, free throws!  He’s the only guy right now with a legitimate shot at displacing Marion from the top spot but it all depends on what he does at the line.  Also, is it safe to assume that we can forget about the triple-double average?  On the plus side, those blocks are nice to see. 

3. Kevin Garnett, F (3) – What happened to the passing numbers? Those will improve, but his FT% will drop eventually as well.  I like KG as a sell-high candidate right now, actually.  I just have a bad feeling about him even though he’s playing as well as ever right now.

4. Gilbert Arenas, PG (6) – I don’t think that his FT% is a fluke.  He dedicated himself to his free throws after the playoffs disaster and should end the season over 90%.  The assists, on the other hand, may or may not be for real.

5. Dirk Nowitzki, F (4) – The defensive numbers are a concern but I think they should correct themselves over time.  Dirk is just going to be a steady force, and that’s why you take him in the first half of the first round.

6. Yao Ming, C (9) – We’ve seen him go on runs like this before.  The feet are still a concern, but right now just enjoy the ride.  If you can swing him in a one-for-one with any of the above players, though, you should do it.

7. Vince Carter, G/F (19) – Of course we all saw this coming, but he’s still such an injury risk.  Carter and Yao could be the best 2 fantasy players in the league this year, but you won’t see them getting much higher on this list because of that risk.

8. Kobe Bryant, SG (5) – Give him time, he’ll be fine.  The emergence of some of his supporting cast won’t really hurt his stats – remember, he was pretty sweet even when the diesel was taking up a ton of the offense.

9. Dwyane Wade, G (8) – The three’s are coming, slowly, but at the expense of his FG%.  He’s also dropped considerably in boards, but they should come around.  Wade may be a decent buy-low right now (18 on ESPN PR), but I’m still concerned about fatigue.

10. Steve Nash, PG (10) – This is right where he’ll be all year.

11. Lamar Odom, F (25) – Odom has buy-fake-high written all over him.  DM wrote a good piece on that theory a while back but I can’t find it.  Basically, his owners will be looking to sell high on him, but the truth is he’s perfectly capable of putting up numbers like this all year long.  If you can get him for a mid-second rounder like Jermaine O’Neal or Jason Kidd, it’s worth considering.

12. Elton Brand, C (6) – Did all the other Elton owners let out a big exhale after his game Sunday night? I know I sure did.  He’s still not shooting very much and his FT% has me worried, but last night went a long way in convincing me that he’ll right the ship.

13. Ray Allen, SG (12) – Can 3 3’s a game be a disappointment?  Of course not.  Let’s hope the rebounds are an anomaly and not a trend, though.

14. Michael Redd, GF (24) – Even before his 57-point outburst, Redd was off to a tremendous start.  What happened to his suggestion that he was going to score less this year?

15. Joe Johnson, G (23) – Over 25 points in every game so far and a monster in threes.  Is he a sell-high candidate?

16.  Paul Pierce, GF (10) – He belongs higher than this, but this is his punishment for shooting 67% from the stripe so far.  The rebounds are nothing short of astounding, though.  Everything should even out in the end for Pierce.

17.  Allen Iverson, G (14) – I know we’re not counting turnovers here, but 5.2 per game?  Zoinks.  The steals will come around eventually for AI and everything else seems par for the course.

18.  Jason Kidd, PG (22) – A bigger triple-double threat than Lebron, it seems like he’s refusing to age more than we thought he would.

19. Chris Paul, PG (13) – His eye-catching stats are nice (19/9, 51% FG) but what’s going on with the FT%, 3’s, and steals?  Paul could be in for another brilliant real-life season but may disappoint fantasy owners.

20.  Zack Randolph, PF (71) – Fine.  There.  Are you happy?

After having my top 20 column yanked from under me in a hostile takeover by DM last month, I’m taking back the reins this time around.

1. Shawn Marion – He finally won me over with his 90% from the stripe over the last month. The real question is, how will Amare’s return (either this year or next) affect his value? My guess: not much.

2. LeBron James – His FG%, 3’s, and steals have all been in steady decline since December and January, and I’m getting a little worried he might hit the wall. On a side note, how horrendously disappointing has Donyell Marshall been as a Cavalier?

3. Dirk Nowitzki – DM had his at number 6 last time, which is, frankly, ridiculous. My favorite Dirk stat is his FT%, which is right around 90% for the year. Other guys might rank higher on the player rater, but the fact that Dirk does it from the PF spot makes him the most valuable FT guy in the league.

4. Kevin Garnett – Poor KG. He’s really angry, but it hasn’t affected his play yet. His March numbers have been spectacular, though we’ll see if that keeps up.

5. Kobe Bryant – Kobe could be number two on this list, but I worry that his FG% could plummet. 42% over the past month isn’t encouraging. But still, his owners have to be thrilled with the Lakers’ position in the standings. They’re in the playoffs, but it’s not a sure thing, and if they continue to play well they could avoid facing SA or Dallas in round 1.

6. Gilbert Arenas – Here’s something you might not know about us here at FBB: we love Gilbert Arenas. The East Coast Assassin has been on a tear after the All-Star break – 32.8 ppg, 49.8% from the field, 3.0 3’s and 2.7 steals. So, we’ll put him here at six and hope that he keeps it up.

7. Paul Pierce – He’s on fire. I might not love him as much as the Sports Guy, but I’ll admit to being impressed. In next year’s draft, how big will the gap be between Pierce, T-Mac, Kobe and Ray Allen? The general thought this year was that Kobe and T-Mac were on a higher plane, but maybe not anymore.

8. Elton Brand – I might be the only one pushing Brand for MVP, but I’m still convinced. As for fantasy, he’s been better at being Tim Duncan than Tim Duncan has this year, without the FT% woes. He’s a nice mid-first round pick next year.

9. Ray Allen – He’s just solid. At this point, what I’d like to see more than anything from Ray over the rest of the year is to not miss time with injury. I still worry about Ray’s durability, and seeing him top 75 games for a second consecutive year would be nice.

10. Dwyane Wade – I’ve got this idea. If you’re in a head-to-head league next year, I think you could draft Wade, and proceed to punt threes and win your league in a landslide with some smart drafting. With him and Brevin Knight at the point? I dunno, just a thought.

11. Rasheed Wallace – Along with Chauncey Billups, he’s been the best mid-round pick this year. Flip’s presence has really allowed him to flourish, and he’s a potential second round pick next year.

12. Allen Iverson – His ankle is a shame, because I thought he’d use the Team USA debacle as some serious inspiration, and it seemed like he was. Still, I’m hoping that AI’s short absence will allow guys like Stephen Hunter and Andre Iguodala to have a bigger role in the Sixers’ offense.

13. Chauncey Billups – Here’s something that’s got me worried, as a Billups owner – Tony Delk. In the 2 games since Delk decided to be a scorer on his new squad, Billups has taken only 8 shots in each game. Let’s hope this doesn’t become a trend. Still, Chauncey’s 8.8 apg has been one of the nicest surprises in fantasy this year.

14. Joe Johnson – He’s been fifth in the league in assists over the past month with 9.3 per game. What’s more, the Hawks have really been getting better over the past month or two. He might end up being the long term answer at the point for Atlanta.

15. Yao Ming – Hey, do you guys remember when I traded Samuel Dalembert and Jason Terry to DM for Yao Ming and Brevin Knight? Yeah, that was sweet. Yao has been on an absolute tear lately, and so he gets a nice spot in the Top 20.

16. Jason Kidd – He’s been flat-out spectacular since the All-Star break. It’s been like Kidd circa 1999. I wouldn’t count on him keeping it up, but it’s been nice to see.

17. Andrei Kirilenko – I’ll admit it – I’m a huge AK fan, but I am very worried about this year’s output. The FT% is way down, the threes have been next to nil over the last month … I’m just not happy about it.

18. Chris Paul – Here’s a question – what do you expect Paul to do next year? Where do you draft him? How much improvement will there be from year one to year two?

19. Jason Richardson – If he could learn to shoot free-throws … he’d be a second round pick next year. It’s one of the most confounding stats in basketball. Let’s hope he spends a LOT of time working from the stripe this summer.

20. Chris Webber – Admittedly, his stats aren’t as good as some other candidates for this spot, but you’ve got to give props to Webber for staying healthy for so long and turning in a nice season when no one thought he would. So, he gets the 20 spot this time around.

I’m stealing BV’s thunder because I’ve always wanted to do one of these. As a special bonus, I’m leaving spot #20 open so you can decide who gets the call there.

1. Shawn Marion – Time to face the truth and accept the fact that The Matrix is the biggest fantasy stud there is. He simply has no weaknesses, never misses any action and puts up huge numbers on the league’s highest scoring team.

2. LeBron James – Expecting a huge second half from LBJ as he looks to singlehandedly get his team into the playoffs – and secure homecourt advantage in the first round.

3. Kevin Garnett – His days as the game’s clearcut #1 – or even #1 at all – are over. But you’d still be hard pressed to find someone (besides the two above) with better well-rounded games.

4. Kobe Bryant – I for one fully expect the tear to continue throughout the season as Kobe tries to will the Lakers into the playoffs and top MJ’s highest single season scoring average (37.1).

5. Elton Brand – His total dominance in FG%, blocks and rebounds puts him a cut above the players just below; proving that injuries from 02-03 and 03-04 were indeed flukes.

6. Dirk Nowitzki – With Dallas basically at full strength, he’s finding that there aren’t as many numbers to go around; solid play of both Diop and Dampier is killing his boards.

7. Steve Nash – Never misses a beat and is just so utterly dominant in assists that owners can be creative in filling out the rest of their roster.

8. Dwyane Wade – Tendency to get just a bit banged up is the only thing keeping him out of the top five; who cares about the lack of 3s as long as he shoots 49% on 19 shots per game as a guard (not to mention 2 steals per contest).

9. Gilbert Arenas – He gets the nod over AI solely because of his durability; completely lost his three-point stroke in January, but get ready for a barrage this month.

10. Allen Iverson – His owners knew an injury was coming and can’t be surprised if he sits out a few more contests as the season wears on.

11. Tracy McGrady – Shooting has been downright putrid lately, but he’s one of the few players capable of carrying a team when he’s at his best.

12. Andrei Kirilenko – Seeing absolutely huge minutes, which is always a worry on Utah; steals/blocks dominance is truly unique.

13. Ray Allen – Was overrated last year, but is underrated this year; hitting 3s at a ridiculous rate and averaging a career high in steals, which is quite rare for a player in his 10th year.

14. Paul Pierce – Early returns from Davis/Szczerbiak trade aren’t too hot; he’s looking to score a whole lot more and his numbers – not just FG% — are suffering.

15. Jason Kidd – Getting better as the season progresses, which is a great sign from an aging player.

16. Chris Bosh – Center eligibility combined with incredibly consistent day-to-day production and the clear #1 role on his team make him a true stud.

17. Tim Duncan – The numbers can’t support putting him any higher, and honestly, even this might be high.

18. Marcus Camby – Yes, he’s already been injured since his latest return, but his 21/11/3 with a steal and 4 blocks is a line he’s capable of putting up every night; for teams desperate to move up, he’s worth taking a chance on.

19. Chris Paul – Going with the youth over the vet; every time you expect him to slow down (rookie wall, thumb injury) he bounces back stronger than ever.

20. ???????

I’m in a last-minute pinch-hitting role today, but it’s always fun to talk about the best players in the game. Keep in mind, this is my idea of a players value over the rest of the season. So, guys who might be better when they’re healthy – say, Yao Ming or Amare Stoudamire – aren’t going to be on the list. Last month’s rankings are in parentheses. Moving ahead:

1. Kevin Garnett, F (1) – He’s shooting 54.7% from the field, and until someone is indisputably better than him, he’ll stay in first place.

2. LeBron James, SF (2) – So he won’t be Oscar Robertson, but that’s okay. The next step for LeBron will be improving his FT%.

3. Shawn Marion, F (4) – Beats out Dirk because of the blocks, but it’s really neck and neck. His FT% has fallen but you’ve gotta think he’ll pick it up eventually.

4. Dirk Nowitzki, PF (3) – A slight drop from last year in boards and steals. I’d still like to see him pick up his assists numbers, as well. He handles the ball so much around the perimeter, you’d figure he’d average more than 2.7 per game.

These first four guys are the unquestioned four best fantasy players in the game right now. The drop is pretty severe after this, and while these next guys are all great fantasy players, they are not members of the elite.

5. Elton Brand, PF (5) – His points, boards, blocks, and FG% are all up – and the Clippers are 20-14. If they end the season over .500, he’ll be a serious MVP candidate.

6. Andrei Kirilenko, F (NR) – Look at his FG%: 36% in November, 40% in December, and now 53% in January. He’s seen a similar ascent in FT%. AK is longtime FBB favorite and I’m hoping he can stay healthy, even though he’s not on my team. And we talked about double-dipping defense how about 2.8 steals and 3.3 block in January? Incredible.

7. Kobe Bryant, SG (9) – After 6 forwards, Kobe will take the highest spot from a G or C because, well, points are points. And he is a man on a mission this year. He will be huge down the stretch for the Lakers if they’re still in it.

8. Ray Allen, SG (16) – 3.2 triples per game? 90% from the stripe? Awesome. He’s about 1 board and 1 block per game from being #5 on this list.

9. Gilbert Arenas, PG (12) – FBB’s hometown hero belongs in the All-Star game. From a fantasy perspective, his uptick in assists has been a nice surprise.

10. Allen Iverson, PG (8) – He’s putting up his highest FG% since his 2nd year in the league, and he’s committing less turnovers as a PG than he did as a SG. He’s really matured on the court over the past couple of years, but how can his team be so mundane?

11. Dwyane Wade, G (6) – His three-point shooting (or lack thereof) is the only thing keeping him from being much higher on this list.

12. Tim Duncan, F/C – Yep, it took us 12 spots until I could put a center here. I’m a Duncan owner and man, I’m just terrified he’s going to sit for a few weeks due to his foot problems. So because of my paranoia, he’s this low – but really, he’s more like 8th or so.

13. Rasheed Wallace, F/C (17) – How long can he keep this up? 2 threes, 1.3 steals, 1.5 blocks, that right there is enough to get you in the Top 20. Being C-eligible with those numbers puts you in the Top 15.

14. Chauncey Billups, PG (13) – He’s putting up 19 and 9 in January, and he’s everything you want in a PG (except for the steals, which is surprising).

15. Paul Pierce, G/F (10) – As predicted in this spot last month, Pierce’s rebounding is down in January, but his assists are up and his FG% is still astounding for a volume shooter like he is.

16. Tracy McGrady, G/F (11) – Oh man, this doesn’t look good at all. He’s talking about being back later this week but who knows when the back will flare up again. The Rockets are so far out of it right now, that if his back doesn’t improve he might shut it down later in the year.

17. Jason Kidd, PG (14) – Very quietly, he’s still very good. He’s posting his best FG% in years, which used to be a big sore point for Kidd.

18. Steve Nash, PG (18) – Keeps going, and going, and going … nothing new here.

19. Rashard Lewis, F (19) – He hasn’t done anything to lose his spot in the Top 20, so I’ll let him stay, but really there are a couple of other people knocking on the door here.

20. Samuel Dalembert, C (NR) – If I didn’t own him, I wouldn’t put him here, but man oh man have I been happy with this guy. His January numbers (13.3/11.3, 3.9 blocks, 66.7% from the field) have been unbelievable.