Greetings FantasyBasketblog readers.  It’s great to be back for my second season as a contributing editor at FBB.  I’m so excited, I can practically smell that new technologically advanced Spalding moisture-managing microfiber official NBA game ball.  I can’t wait to see how much the new rock improves my game!
As some of you may recall, I capped off last season with an alternative draft strategy for those of you who compete in head-to-head fantasy hoops leagues.  Emphasis is placed on pursuing players who will help your team win specific categories each and every week, no matter who your opponent, while having a legitimate shot at winning the remaining categories.
Here’s the gist of it: Avoid swingmen at all costs. SGs and SFs simply do not do enough to help your team in weekly H2H matchups. Most G/Fs do not make above average contributions in categories other than points and maybe threes. Resist the temptation to draft the Carmelos, Al Harringtons, and Rip Hamiltons of the league. Instead, aim to dominate four or five out of the eight categories by targeting Point Guards (assists, threes, steals, FT%) and F/Cs (rebounds, blocks, FG%). If you end up with 3 or 4 top PGs and 3 or 4 top F/Cs then you will be primed to dominate assists, threes, steals, and blocks every week while remaining competitive in percentages and rebounds (with the conversely strong/weak contributions from your PGs and big men). The only disadvantage you’d probably be facing each week would be in the points department. Barring any serious injuries to your team or terrible luck, you will win your H2H matchup nearly every week by a score of 5-3, 6-2, or 7-1.
Your first six draft picks should look something like this: PG, PF, PG, C, PG, PF. Swingmen are a dime a dozen with plenty of sleepers available late in drafts anyway. Unlike fantasy baseball where you want to make sure you draft quality players at scarce positions; in fantasy hoops you can still find guys at the end of your draft or off the waiver wire who can be everyday starters at the G/F positions.

The only SG/SFs I wouldn’t discourage you from selecting on draft day would be the obvious super-studs like LeBron, Kobe, Pierce, Ray Allen, and the Matrix.  An argument can also be made for multi-cat contributors like AK-47, Gerald Wallace, Andre Iguodala, and Josh Smith.  If you can get any of them at a good spot in your draft, you should go ahead and fill that required SG/SF slot early on.

The following are the recently updated lists for top point guards and big men according to this “H2H Calibrated” drafting strategy:

Top Point Guards
1. Gilbert Arenas – 24 years old, and the Wizards’ Cap’n keeps getting better.
2. Dwayne Wade – He doesn’t shoot threes, but he’s working on it.  Plus he makes up for it elsewhere.
3. Chris Paul – Will probably be the #1 PG in 2007, especially if he starts dialing from long distance regularly.
4. Jason Kidd – His superior contributions in rebounds and steals bumps him up.
5. Steve Nash – He may dish out a dozen assists a night, but he’s weak in the theft department.  Then again, he did invent the best dance move of the last decade: “The Nash”.  It’s your call.
6. Allen Iverson – Hey, maybe you’ll compete in points after all.  Injury risk makes him a second rounder in my book.
7. Chauncey Billups – Chauncey will be hard-pressed to repeat on a career season.
8. Mike Bibby – Like Billups last year, I expect Sac-town’s veteran PG to max out with career highs this season.  Injury to his shooting hand is a minor concern.
9. Raymond Felton – His post all-star break numbers (17/4/8) were comparable to Paul’s.  His FG% was ugly (39%), but according to BV’s upside-barometer Felton will be “well worth your while” at this point.
10. Kirk Hinrich – Solid all-around game, Hinrich has improved his shooting percentage each season in the league.
11. Jameer Nelson – Why Nelson came off the bench for most of last season, I can’t tell you.  He is a prime sleeper candidate this year leading that young Orlando squad.
12. Jason Terry – Will usually play as the off-guard, limiting his assist numbers.  JT is now comfortable in Avery Johnson’s offense and will give you an advantage in percentages and threes.
13. Speedy Claxton – Do nicknames like “Speedy” stick with players throughout their careers or do they grow out of them? You think that as he gets older we’ll go back to calling him Craig?  Or perhaps “Not quite so Speedy” Claxton?  It’s kinda like Gary Payton… I no longer refer to him as “the Glove,” he’s now  “the Oven Mitt.”  Anyways, Claxton finds himself in an ideal situation with guaranteed minutes in ‘06-07. The veteran ball handler should post career highs with plenty of young talent around him in the ATL.
14. Stephon Marbury – Starbury was a consensus top-5 point guard for years before the disaster in New York last season.  Many are predicting a return to form this year, but I’m not so sure.  He averaged only 0.6 threes per game last season, and there’s still a logjam in the backcourt with Francis, Crawford, Rose, and Robinson, all vying for minutes.  Do you really believe Coach Isaiah Thomas is gonna fix the mess he created as GM?  Me neither, I’ll pass.
15. Baron Davis (he’s lucky to crack the top 15) – Do yourself a favor and let another fantasy owner deal with the headache that is Baron Davis. Yes, he could “make or break” your season, but he’ll more than likely shatter it into a million pieces.  We all know about the health risks, and his percentages are putrid (39FG%, 68FT% last year). No thank you.
16. Deron Williams – Has the skill set to be a top fantasy PG, but the acquisition of Derek Fisher just means more platooning.
17. Luke Ridnour – Won’t score much, but should dish out 8 dimes a night running that Seattle offense.
18. Rafer Alston – He believes he’s one of the best point guards in the league.  I think he’s 18th best.
19. Sam Cassell – My guess is he’ll physically break down before the new year, and the Shaun Livingston era will begin in 2007.  I’d rather draft the youngin’ a few rounds later.
20. T.J. Ford – He’s the best point guard north of the border this season.

Others: Mike James, Mo Williams, Jarrett Jack, Sebastian Telfair, Delonte West

Top BIG Men
1. Kevin Garnett – He’s still KG.
2. Elton Brand – Not only did he win the NBA Sportsmanship Award (for “exemplifying the ideals of sportsmanship on the court: ethical behavior, fair play and integrity”), but the Clips’ PF elevated his game to a whole new level last season.  Great percentages and improvements in points & blocks make Brand a “big man on campus” among big men this year.
3. Dirk Nowitzki – He may have choked hard in last year’s finals, but Dirk proved to be a warrior last season.  He’s still a finesse player, but just don’t call him soft.
4. Yao Ming – With his improvement on offense and fantastic percentages, Yao is the best center-eligible player in the league.  I’m no podiatrist but I am concerned about his chronic foot injuries.  Being a giant doesn’t come without its problems.
5. Tim Duncan – Plagued by nagging injuries last year, T-Dunk should have a rebound of sorts this season.
6. Chris Bosh – Blocks and steals were down a bit last year while he improved everywhere else.  Look for Bosh to put it all together in 2006-07.
7. Jermaine O’Neal – Lackluster FG% for a top PF, plus his health is a concern.  Don’t overbid.
8. Ben Wallace – Will Big Ben’s rebounding and dominant defense transfer to the Windy City? Yes.
9. Brad Miller – Unconventional 7-footer.  Great percentages, but rebounds and defensive cats are down.  Remember when he was a Charlotte Hornet?
10. Amare Stoudemire (higher if healthy) – Why do I get a feeling that his injury is of the Bo Jackson variety?
11. Dwight Howard – Led the league in rebounding last year and is still just 20 years old!  He’s a stud who should push 20 ppg this season, but beware of that terrible FT%.
12. Zydrunas Ilgauskus – No longer injury prone, big Z is a major piece of the Cav’s puzzle.
13. Mehmet Okur – He could continue to improve on his rebounding totals if he cuts back on the hair gel.
14. Chris Kaman – Really figured things out last year.  Can he keep improving? I think so.
15. Rasheed Wallace – ‘sheed and the rest of the Pistons busted out with career bests last season.  I doubt he’ll repeat, and he likely won’t be eligible at center again this year.
16. Marcus Camby – Makes up half of the most fragile frontcourt in the NBA, but is a fantasy warrior when healthy.
17. Carlos Boozer – Big plus in FG%, but Luke Ridnour averaged more blocks per game than Boozer (0.3 to 0.2) last year.
18. Antawn Jamison - Hits the glass like a PF, and the development of his 3-point stroke will make up for the lack of blocks.
19. David West – Career season last year may have been a fluke.  His upside is limited anyway.
20. Pau Gasol – You know what the Spaniard can do when healthy.  He’s due back in January and could pay huge dividends in your fantasy playoffs.
21. Kendrick Perkins – Boards and blocks galore.
22. Andrew Bogut – Should average a double-double and 1.5 blocks.
23. Darko Milicic – Could lead the league in blocks with starter’s minutes.
24. Tyson Chandler – Could average 10 and 12 with 2 blocks on his new squad.
25. Chris Wilcox - Maryland Alum is poised to disappoint.  Note his center-eligibility however.

Others: Charlie Villanueva, Drew Gooden, Nenad Krstic

If you land 7 or 8 of these 45 players (while waiting until the later rounds to grab a SG and SF) you should cruise to the top of the standings and an FBA championship. All that said, there are a handful of PGs and big men that don’t contribute enough in the necessary categories and should be left for other GMs to worry about:

Point Guards to avoid:
Tony Parker – I’ve had enough of his “tear drop” shot.  Plus, he can’t shoot from long range (0.1 threes per game) or from the line (career 69.9%FT).
Steve Francis – Stevie Franchise has always been a little overrated.  He’s a great rebounder, but doesn’t shoot a lot of threes.  Plus, the main drawback is uncertainty about playing time in NY.
Brevin Knight – Allergic to threes and his job security will be in jeopardy this season.
Andre Miller – Can’t shoot from long range, and just plain boring.

Power Forwards to avoid:
Boris Diaw – He may be eligible at every position, but he’ll be overvalued on draft day.  The return of Stoudemire clouds things a bit, and Diaw just doesn’t post typical big man numbers.
Emeka Okafor – Poor percentages and has trouble staying healthy.
Chris Webber – Always an injury risk, plus his FG% and blocks have declined over the years.
Troy Murphy – Often considered a value pick, T-Murph is weak on defense and his FG% is a major liability. His three-point range is NOT enough to compensate.
Zach Randolph - Poor FG%, poor defense, poor attitude, just downright impoverished.

Centers to avoid:
Shaq – Diesel’s FT% (and FT attempts) is so much of a liability that you will never win the category.
Jam Magloire – Poor percentages, mediocre blocked shots, uncertain situation in Portland.
Zaza Pachulia – Poor FG%, weak defensive cats.  Rookie Shelden Williams will also cut into his minutes.
Primoz Brezec –Do you love to pick daisies and daffodils?  Then picking Primoz may be to your liking as well.

As the season comes to a close this week some of you may be looking ahead to next season’s draft. For those in Head-to-Head leagues I have prepared a H2H draft strategy that differs from other standard strategies. Emphasis is placed on pursuing players who will help your team win specific categories each and every week, no matter who your opponent, while having a legitimate shot at winning the remaining categories. I wouldn’t recommend punting or forfeiting any category except for maybe points when using this “Head-to-Head Calibrated” Draft Strategy.

Here’s the gist of it: Avoid swingmen at all costs. SGs and SFs simply do not do enough to help your team in weekly H2H matchups. Most G/Fs do not make above average contributions in categories other than points and maybe threes. Resist the temptation to draft the Carmelos, Caron Butlers, and Rip Hamiltons of the league. Instead, aim to dominate four or five out of the eight categories by targeting Point Guards (assists, threes, steals, FT%) and BIG men (rebounds, blocks, FG%). If you end up with 3 or 4 top PGs and 3 or 4 top F/Cs then you will be primed to dominate assists, threes, steals, and blocks every week while remaining competitive in percentages and rebounds (with the conversely strong/weak contributions from your PGs and big men). The only disadvantage you’d probably be facing each week would be in the points department. Barring any serious injuries to your team or terrible luck, you will win your H2H matchup nearly every week by a score of 5-3, 6-2, or 7-1.

Do NOT draft any shooting guards or small forwards until the later rounds. Your first six draft picks should look something like this: PG, PG, PF, C, PG, PF. Swingmen are a dime a dozen with plenty of sleepers available late in drafts anyway. Unlike fantasy baseball where you want to make sure you draft quality players at scarce positions like second base and shortstop; in fantasy hoops you can still find guys at the end of your draft or off the waiver wire who can be everyday starters at the G/F positions.

The only SG/SFs I wouldn’t discourage you from selecting on draft day would be super-studs like LeBron, Kobe, Pierce, Ray Allen, and the Matrix. An argument can also be made for multi-cat contributors like AK-47, Gerald Wallace, Andre Iguodala, and Josh Smith. The following are tentative top 20 lists for point guards and big men according to this “H2H Calibrated” drafting strategy:

Top Point Guards
1. Gilbert Arenas
2. Jason Kidd
3. Steve Nash
4. Chauncey Billups
5. Allen Iverson
6. Dwayne Wade (doesn’t shoot threes, but makes up for it elsewhere)
7. Chris Paul (see above)
8. Raymond Felton
9. Kirk Hinrich
10. Mike James
11. Delonte West
12. Jameer Nelson
13. Jason Terry
14. Tony Parker
15. Baron Davis (he’s lucky to crack the top 15)
16. Sam Cassell
17. Luke Ridnour
18. Rafer Alston
19. Deron Williams
20. Carlos Arroyo

Top BIG Men
1. Elton Brand
2. Dirk Nowitzki (threes are very nice bonus)
3. Yao Ming (fantastic percentages)
4. Pau Gasol
5. Chris Bosh
6. Tim Duncan
7. Jermaine O’Neal
8. Ben Wallace
9. Amare Stoudemire (higher if healthy)
10. Dwight Howard
11. Rasheed Wallace
12. Zydrunas Ilgauskus
13. Marcus Camby
14. Mehmet Okur
15. Brad Miller
16. Chris Kaman
17. Andrew Bogut
18. Chris Wilcox
19. David West
20. Antawn Jamison (hits the glass like a PF, and his recently developed 3-point stroke will make up for lack of blocks)

If you land 7 or 8 of these forty players (while waiting until the late rounds to grab a SG and SF) you should cruise to the top of the standings and an FBA championship. All that said, there are a handful of PGs and big men that don’t contribute enough in the necessary categories and should probably be left for other GMs to fight over. Take a look:

Point Guards to avoid:
Steve Francis / Stephon Marbury – Aside from the disaster that is the NY Knicks, which may get cleared up next year, neither player hits enough treys for a PG.
Brevin Knight – Allergic to threes and his job security will be in jeopardy next season.
Andre Miller – Can’t shoot from long range.

Power Forwards to avoid:
Emeka Okafor – Poor percentages and unable to stay healthy.
Chris Webber – Always an injury risk, plus his FG% and blocks have declined over the years.
Troy Murphy – Often considered a value pick, T-Murph is weak on defense and his FG% is a major liability. His three-point range is NOT enough to compensate.
Zach Randolph - Poor FG%, poor defense, poor attitude, poor knee, just downright impoverished.

Centers to avoid:
Shaq – Diesel’s FT% (and FT attempts) is so much of a liability that you will never win the category.
Jam Magloire – Poor percentages, mediocre blocked shots.
Zaza Pachulia – Poor FG%, weak defensive cats.

I’ll be sure to flesh out this H2H draft strategy quite a bit more during the run-up to next season’s draft. Best of luck to those of you still fighting for championships this season!

It’s Spring Break… Time to go WILD! No, no, no, put your shirt back on. This is the last full week of the NBA regular season, and you may want to use some unconventional tactics in your head-to-head matchup this week. Sure, you got your super-studs and regular starters, but there’s always a question as to those last couple guys you decide to plug in your lineup. Be sure to analyze your opponents’ strengths and weaknesses and prepare to take advantage. Blocks and threes are probably the best categories to target for the players at the end of your SLU to make a significant difference. Percentages and steals are unpredictable and fluctuate too much to bank on. Let’s take a look at 4/10-4/16.

Four Games: Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Golden State, Indiana, LAC, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Seattle, Utah, Washington.
Three Games: Boston, Charlotte, Denver, Detroit, Houston, LAL, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, Sacramento, San Antonio, Toronto.

Plug ‘em in, Plug ‘em in:
Jamal Crawford, SG – “He’s the most improved player I’ve ever coached. He’s as good a kid as I’ve ever been around. He does things for the team to a fault.” Larry Brown told the New York Post after Crawford’s 37-point effort in a win over the Cavs on Wednesday. Excuse me coach… um did I hear you correctly? You are praising a six-year vet as the best ‘kid’ and most improved player you’ve EVER coached? A team player? Crawford is posting his worst averages in three years and is known for chucking rainmakers at will. Granted, Crawford is starting to shine with Marbury sidelined, but he has still been a big disappointment in Larry Brown’s circus this season. It isn’t so much an improvement but rather a classic case of opportunity… whenever a proven scorer like Crawford is given big minutes he will be very productive. In April he’s posted 25/4/3, 2 threes, 2.7 steals, 50%FG/92%FT in three starts. Those are the gaudy numbers I was hoping for when I selected Crawford in the fifth round this year. It may be too little too late for me (let’s not talk about my other ill-advised draft picks: Kurt Thomas, Al Jefferson, Eddie Griffin), but if you’ve got him now’s the time to use Jamal.

Hedo Turkoglu, G/F – Wow. 2005-‘06 has been a breakout year of sorts for Hedo even if it took injuries to a number of teammates to get Turk a regular starting gig. We now know that all he needs to be an everyday fantasy baller is consistent minutes. He’s averaging 18/4/3, 2 treys, 1.3 thefts, 53%FG/84%FT since March 15th. Numbers like that could make Turkoglu a 4th or 5th round pick next year. With Grant Hill likely out of the picture, next season may actually be Hedo’s true coming out party. Who else is excited about the 2006-‘07 Orlando Magic? (Arroyo/Nelson/Turkoglu/Howard/Milicic)?

Samuel Dalembert, C – Another volatile season for the injury-prone center, Slammin’ Sam is back in Mo Cheeks’ starting lineup, but still falling short of expectations (9/7/1, 1.3 blocks in four starts). Owners have been frustrated all season with Dalembert, as he can’t seem to stay healthy and remain productive for more than a few weeks at a time. Despite his ups and downs, Dalembert should be a solid contributor with four matchups next week. He’s a better play at center than Jamaal Magloire who hasn’t scored or grabbed double digit rebounds in eight games.

Darko Milicic, F/C – Most of his value comes in the form of blocked shots but Darko has shown some consistency on offense as well lately, scoring double digits in 6 of his last 7 games. 10-12 blocks from Darko in four games this week could be just what you need to edge out your opponent in a close H2H matchup.

Other 3-point shooters: Charlie Bell, Chucky Atkins, Vlad Radmanovic.
Other shot blockers: Joel Pryzbilla/Theo Ratliff, Erick Dampier.
Inexpensive Hybrids: Raef Lafrentz, Matt Bonner.

George Mason is in the Final Four and its no April Fool’s joke. Here’s a short and sweet look at the NBA this week guys. Preview for 4/3-4/9.

Four Games: Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Golden State, Houston, Indiana, LAC, Miami, Milwaukee, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Sacramento, San Antonio, Toronto, Washington.
Three Games: Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, LAL, Memphis, Orlando, Phoenix, Portland, Seattle, Utah.

Plug ‘em in, Plug ‘em in:
Derek Fisher, PG – New rule: Never draft Baron Davis. Just take his veteran backup in the later rounds… he’ll be more productive. The pride of Little Rock, Ark., Derek Fisher has just been great as a starter this season: 15/3/7 with 2 thefts and 1.3 treys.

Nenad Kristic, F/C – Playing the best ball of his career right now, making major contributions during the Nets’ current 11-game win streak. The 22-year-old Yugo is averaging 16/9/2 over his last dozen games. He’s got nice matchups against four weak defenses this week (ATL, CHA, CLE, @MIL).

Luther Head, G – Some player raters have the rookie ranked ahead of Jason Terry, Jason Richardson, and Tim Duncan for their performance over the last two weeks. It’s a short period, but Luther has posted 14/5/4 with 1.4 threes, 1.7 steals, and great percentages (48%FG, 83%FT) over that span.

Delonte West, PG – Right back on track after struggling earlier this month with a groin strain. 14/4/5, 1.2 steals and 1.2 treys since returning to Boston’s starting lineup. What a delight to have in your lineup!

Chris Duhon, PG – Four consectutive starts and six straight games scoring in double figures. The former Blue Devil started off hot this season and may be looking to finish the year on a high note as well.

Bonzi Wells, G/F – Kevin Martin has sat out the last 5 games for some reason (he’s not listed on the Kings’ injury report), and Bonzi Wells, though still hobbled a bit by his groin injury, is back in the starting lineup and getting consistent minutes. Bonzi led Sacramento with 22 points and 9 boards in last night’s win over Golden State.

Charlie Villanueva, PF and Morris Peterson, G/F – Warning: Contents may be extremely hot. As if you needed me to tell you. Career highs of 48 and 38 points, respectively, this past week. Plug ‘em in fools.

Etan Thomas, F/C and Toni Kukoc, F – If you’re in a VERY deep league… and really desperate. Well, probably not.

Oh My God, Becky… Did you see those second round games last night?!? Love the Tourney. Anyways, NBA Week 3/27-4/2 features several players “Returning with a Vengeance.” Here’s a look.

Five Games: Phoenix.
Four Games: Atlanta, Dallas, Detroit, Golden State, Indiana, Memphis, Miami, New Jersey, New Orleans, Sacramento, Seattle, Utah, Washington.
Three Games: Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Houston, LAC, LAL, Milwaukee, Minnesota, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Portland, San Antonio, Toronto.
Two Games: Boston.

Plug ‘em in, Plug ‘em in:
The Phoenix Suns, G/F/C – As if this squad wasn’t loaded with enough fantasy ballers already, now they have Amare STUDemire back in uniform and they play five games next week. Amare made his season debut last night and led the team with 20 points and 9 boards in only 19 minutes of action! All five starters are no-brainer plug-ins next week, plus Barbosa and Tim Thomas are worthy of consideration.

Jermaine O’Neal, F/C – O’Neal was supposed to be out until the playoffs with a torn groin muscle, then all of sudden he practices a couple times this week and was back in action on Wednesday night, posting 16 and 6 in 25 minutes. Many dropped the injured big man, but some shrewd owners with room on their bench stashed him just in case he recovered quickly (Jackpot!). If he can avoid any setbacks O’Neal will help you make that final push into your fantasy hoops playoffs. With four matchups on tap, you should get him in your lineups right away.

Josh Childress, G/F – J-Chill returned last Friday after missing five games with an ankle sprain. He was back to his old efficient self on Wednesday with a super game, delivering 17/12/5 with 3 steals and a three on 7 for 9 shooting. Four games from Childress should be more productive than say Paul Pierce’s two contests next week. You gotta love his across-the-board contributions in your H2H league.

Mike Dunleavy, SF – I generally share BV’s contempt for Mike Dunleavy and his overrated “skill set,” but that’s not to say I wouldn’t consider plugging in the former Blue Devil (eat it Duke!) for four games this coming week. Mickael Pietrus may have been the one who was hot in February, but after hitting a wall toward the end of the month (8 for 37 shooting), he was yanked from the starting rotation in favor of Dunleavy. Dunleavy has been shooting well since returning to the SLU a couple weeks ago and is averaging 21/8/4 and 2 treys over his last four games. Ride the wave and start Junior for four contests this week.

Sebastian Telfair, PG – Raise your hand if you’ve seen “Through the Fire: Sebastian Telfair’s Defining Year,” or better yet just post a comment. The documentary that chronicles Bassy’s jump from Lincoln High School to the NBA just came out on DVD a couple weeks ago and it’s next on my Netflix queue. Telfair was a preseason breakout candidate but has struggled with injuries, gun charges, and former Terrapins outplaying him on the court for most of ’05-’06. Well, he’s now back in the starting lineup ready to build some momentum going into next season. Sebastian has put up nice numbers (17/3/4 with 1.8 threes) in four games this week. As long as he’s in Portland’s starting lineup he belongs in yours.

Mike Miller, G/F – Time for some nickname tryouts: ‘MiMi’? ‘Eminem’? ‘Mike Miller Genuine Draft’? ‘Goofy White Chocolate’? Miller dropped 41 points against the Nuggets on March 17th and still finds himself coming off the Grizzlies’ bench. What’s a brotha gotta do to secure a starting gig in this league? (Keep in mind some dude named Royal Ivey has started 50 consecutive games now for the Hawks) M&M is hitting a career high 1.9 from long range this season and had another great game last night contributing 21/14/4 and 3 treys in a win over the Clips. Sure Coach Mike Fratello may love his energy off the bench, but all we want is assurance that Miller will get the playing time (30+ min) he deserves. Memphis tips off four times this week, so don’t hesitate, it’s Miller Time!

Darko?… Orlando only plays thrice next week, but if he remains in the starting lineup he may well be worth it.

Kwame?… ehhh No, not quite yet.

Sorry about the delay today, but the IT guy at work is cracking down on internet use, plus you know that tournament thing. Are your brackets already busted? Really? You must be pretty bad. Anyways here are some tips for NBA March Gladness: looking ahead to week 3/20-3/26.

Five Games: LAC
Four Games: Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Detroit, Houston, Indiana, LAL, Memphis, Milwaukee, Minnesota, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Portland, Sacramento, San Antonio, Seattle, Toronto.
Three Games: Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Golden State, Miami, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Utah, Washington.

Plug ‘em in, Plug ‘em in:
Vladimir Radmanovic, PF – The Clippers are the only team in the league to hit the hardwood five times next week and RadMan can do some damage from long range with plenty of playing time off the bench. Vlad has grabbed a respectable 7 boards and drained over 3 rainmakers a game since Presidents’ Day. Los Angeles is 7-3 over that span and it appears Vlad Rad has the green light to shoot as much as he likes from downtown. You know he runs hot and cold, so now is as good a time as any to plug in the Bosnian sharpshooter. Take advantage.

Jumaine Jones, SF – Much like the Wizards’ Antawn Jamison, Jumaine Jones appears to have suddenly discovered his long range stroke this season… especially over the last few weeks. Jones was a great pickup while starter Gerald Wallace missed significant time, and he was playing so well that Coach Bernie Bickerstaff decided to keep JJ in the starting lineup even after Wallace returned. Now, wispy Wallace is out again and Jones is scorching hot (23/7/1, 49%FG, 88%FT with 4.2 treys and 1.4 thefts over last 5 games). At this pace, March ‘06 will go down as the best month of Jumaine’s not-so-illustrious NBA career.

Chucky Atkins, PG – Chucky may be Memphis’s starting point guard but the offense does not exactly run through him. Sure he may bring the ball up the court but he doesn’t orchestrate plays a la Steve Nash, thus keeping his assist numbers pretty low (compare Pau Gasol’s 43 dishes to Atkins’ 17 in March). Spark plug guard Bobby Jackson was really beginning to cut into Chucky’s minutes recently until he was forced out of action with a strained rib muscle. Now Atkins is assured the bulk of the minutes at point guard. However, even with the increased workload there’s still a ceiling on his fantasy production, so don’t expect any miracles. He’s averaging 14.1ppg and 2.3 treys this month, so he makes a decent play if you’re looking for three-pointers this week.

Luther Head, G – The rookie out of Illinois probably shouldn’t be starting for an NBA team with playoff aspirations, but he is. Yao Ming has played like an MVP since returning from his foot injury, but now brokeback T-Mac is probably out for the season. Somebody has to make up some of McGrady’s 25 ppg even if Yao is scoring 35 a night. Who are the other candidates to pick up the slack? Juwan Howard and Keith Bogans? Remember, Luther had that nice little run in November filling in for Alston, averaging 15/6/4 and 3.4 threes over a 5-game stretch. If you’re feeling lucky go get some Head and put him in your lineup.

Jake Tsakalidis, C – The 7’2 giant from Georgia (no, not the dirty South) hasn’t amounted to much of anything six years in the NBA. Tsakalidis was actually averaging career lows before being inserted into Memphis’ starting lineup three weeks ago. His three double-doubles over his last four games won’t be a regular thing, but I don’t think you can call it a fluke either. If the big man can continue getting 25-30 minutes a night he can obviously be a decent fantasy contributor. With four matchups next week, why not give him try?

Beware the Ides of March approacheth. Do not let NCAA Selection Sunday distract you from your fantasy hoops obligations for week 3/13-3/19.

Four Games: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Indiana, LAL, Miami, Milwaukee, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Portland, Utah, Washington.
Three Games: Charlotte, Cleveland, Detroit, Houston, LAC, Memphis, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Antonio, Toronto.
Two Games: Golden State, New Orleans, Seattle.

Plug ‘em in, Plug ‘em in:
Luol Deng, F – Before a stinker at Detroit on Wednesday, the Man from Sudan was on a tear: 19/11/2 with a steal and a block in a robust 41.6 minutes over five games. If the 6’9 swingman could develop his three-point shot his value would skyrocket. Get him in your lineups Deng it!

Jason Williams, PG – White Chocolate is red hot and he’s been a big contributor during Miami’s current 10-game win streak. He’s dealt with some nagging injuries this season but he appears healthy and geared up for the playoffs. Averages of 18/2/7 and 3.3 treys per game in March are reason to believe he’ll be a great start with a full schedule next week.

Ryan Gomes, F – The second round draft pick out of Providence has been unbelievable since being thrust into Boston’s starting lineup due to injuries in their frontcourt. Averaging 16/9/2 with 62%FG, 76%FT, and 1 steal over his last 11 games, he’s also second on the team (after Pierce) with 39 minutes a night over that span. Gomes’ success is remarkable considering the inconsequential 8 mpg he averaged over the season’s first three months. So why has top prospect Al Jefferson struggled so much this season while Gomes now makes it look easy as pie? Well first, Gomes played all four years in college and developed his game and maturity level before going pro. He’s a dedicated player, and the rookie also has the benefit of playing big minutes without the lofty expectations imposed on the 21-year-old Jefferson. Ryan has actually stepped it up since Big Al returned from injury by turning in back-to-back career highs of 27 and 29 points. I can’t imagine anyone taking his starting spot the way he’s playing right now. The C’s are 8-4 since Gomes was inserted into the SLU, so go ahead and jump on the bandwagon baby!

Carlos Boozer, PF – The former Blue Devil has probably been the biggest fantasy disappointment this year as he sat out most of the season with a nagging hamstring injury. The overpaid Dukie finally returned to the hardwood last month and is averaging 11/9/2 over his last 9 games coming off the bench. As he regains strength and builds his confidence, Boozer should work his way back into Utah’s starting lineup soon, at which point he could easily put up 18/10/2. The Jazz have four games next week and the Alaskan big man makes a decent start.

Kyle Korver, F – Another disappointment this season, Korver’s value is exclusively tied to his ability to dial long distance. I’m not sure if the MCI/Verizon or AT&T/SBC mergers had anything to do with his struggles, but who knows. Kyle led the league with 226 treys last season, but has taken a step back and been used off the Sixers’ bench for the last couple months. He was actually in the starting lineup last night, filling in for the injured Kevin Ollie, but shot a miserable 1 for 12 (yes, that’s a dozen attempts) from behind the arc. Before last night’s dud, Korver was on a little hot streak averaging 16 points and nearly 3 rainmakers over seven games. Hopefully KK can bounce back and be a difference maker with some nice matchups next week (TOR, @SEA, @LAC, @GS).

Sit ‘em down:
Kevin Martin – Bonzi’s return is finally starting to cut into his production. See if you have a better option.
Vladimir Radmanovic – RadMan has value but he’s too inconsistent to play for only two contests this week.
Baron Davis – Still coming off the bench and shooting like Helen Keller.
Steve Nash – He missed last night’s game against the Spurs and is listed as “day-to-day.” He could play this weekend but is more likely to miss a handful of games. I know it hurts benching the reigning MVP but you should only use him if you have no other choice.

We’ve got about seven weeks left in the NBA season, but if you’re getting antsy for March Madness or Baseball or just want to read about former NFL running back Lawrence Phillips’ latest escapades, please stop by Sports Troopers when you have a moment to join the fun.

As for the NBA, I think I got some good plug-ins for you next week 3/6-3/12. Let me know what you think.

Five Games: San Antonio.
Four Games: Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Golden State, Indiana, LAL, Memphis, Miami, Minnesota, New Orleans, Phoenix, Sacramento, Toronto.
Three Games: Detroit, Houston, LAC, Milwaukee, New Jersey, Orlando, Philadelphia, Portland, Seattle, Utah, Washington.
Two Games: Atlanta, New York.

Plug ‘em in, Plug ‘em in:
Nazr Mohammed, C – After his inspired performance in last year’s playoffs many expected a bigger role for Mohammed this season. It took some time, but Nazr has finally supplanted EuroCenter Rasho Nesterovic in San Antonio’s starting lineup. Can you believe that 7-ft Rasho had only one game with 10 rebounds all season before losing his starting job? Meanwhile, Mohammed is averaging 11pts and 9 rebounds over his last six games including two double-doubles and a 20-rebound performance on Feb 15. He should have no trouble hanging on to the starting gig for the rest of the season. Nazr and the Spurs give new meaning to the phrase “busy schedule” this week with a whopping five games on tap (@LAL, @LAC, @PHO, LAL, HOU). Note: Michael Finley (who’s been outplaying Ginobili recently) is also worth a look next week.

Jeff Foster, C – The Pacers’ center may resemble a 7-foot vampire, but don’t be scared to take advantage of his rebounding and FG%. I like to call him a “poor man’s Tyson Chandler with no upside” which may not be all that flattering, but if you need a center who can clean the glass, Foster is your man. He’s averaging 8/14/1 over his last three contests and is shooting 55% from the floor this season. Get Dracula in your lineup for four battles next week.

Al Jefferson, PF – How many more times will I get my hopes up for Big Al before he really starts producing consistently? I was one of those fantasy owners who drafted him relatively early expecting double-doubles regularly from the big kid all year long. So he’s disappointed this year… get over it, and look ahead. The current situation in Boston seems to be a perfect opportunity for Al-Jeff to finally get it together. His frontcourt mate Kendrick Perkins will be out a couple more weeks with a dislocated shoulder and Jefferson should be given big minutes right away and could even get some starts at the five making him eligible at center. We’ve seen what rookie PF Ryan Gomes has been able to do while filling in upfront, so hopefully Jefferson can step up for four tilts next week. If he has any more setbacks I promise not to speak of him again until next season.

Antoine Walker, F – Every week it seems there’s one player I reluctantly recommend plugging in. Employee #8 has long been a favorite punching bag of mine as an exemplary NBA slacker, but he still has the ability to contribute some decent fantasy numbers when he plays. ‘Toine has been getting just over 30 minutes a game lately, which is right around his threshold for fantasy relevance. Walker ’06 may be a far cry from Walker circa 2000, but he’s averaging a worthwhile 14/6/2 with 2.2 treys and 1 steal over his last half dozen games. He’s a decent play at your utility spot right now while he’s outplaying fellow underachiever James Posey.

Deron Williams, PG – The first point guard selected in last year’s draft, Williams has mostly been a disappointment in Salt Lake City this season. The former Illini ball handler started the year pretty strong and even worked his way into the starting lineup for about a month, but coach Jerry Sloan got fed up with the rookie and decided to go with veterans Keith McCleod and Milt Palacio for quite some time. Deron is now back in Sloan’s SLU and has scored double figures in four straight games, averaging 15/3/5 with 2.5 triples and 1.3 thefts over that span. He is a nice addition to your squad and if (that’s a BIG if) he can keep it up, he should be a solid #2 PG the rest of the way.

Marcus Banks, PG – This guy has been a very nice surprise since coming to the land of 10,000 lakes in the Szczerbiak/Davis deal a month ago. Marko Jaric already played himself out of a starting job and Banks also pushed veteran PG Anthony Carter out of the way with ease. Marcus has now started three consecutive games for the Wolves and is averaging 14/4/6 on 55% shooting and 1.5 steals over his last four. Minnesota is falling out of playoff contention fast and they may be well on their way to rebuilding mode. Banks will have his ups and downs but he makes a nice start with four games including a couple of sweet matchups @SEA and @PHO to finish the week.

Sorry about the delay folks, but my Comcast internet service has been anything but Comcastic.

So much for that “exciting week full of blockbuster trades.” It’s sad when the biggest name we can talk about at the trade deadline is a reserve point guard averaging 7 points a game. Earl Watson should complement Seattle’s Luke Ridnour well, but he is still a backup and has no fantasy value. In New York, Isiah Thomas reassured Knicks fans by saying the Marbury-Francis backcourt combo is “crazy enough that it just might work.” Way to showcase your meticulous scouting and decision-making process Zeke. Jamal Crawford’s numbers will take a serious hit, and I don’t think Marbury or Francis will fare any better in the second half of the season either. Well, time to get back to business and look ahead to week 2/27-3/5.

Four Games: Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Golden State, Houston, LAC, LAL, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, Toronto, Utah, Washington.
Three Games: Boston, Charlotte, Indiana, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, Minnesota, New Jersey, San Antonio, Seattle.
Two Games: New Orleans.

Plug ‘em in, Plug ‘em in:
Derek Fisher, PG - The latest report on Baron Davis’s sprained ankle has him sidelined indefinitely. This leaves the Warriors with veteran Derek Fisher running the point. The 31-year-old is actually averaging a career high 12 points per game, and has been outstanding in eight starts this season: 16/3/6 and 2.8 steals. If available in your league Fisher makes a great short-term pickup and an excellent start with a full schedule next week.

Earl Boykins, PG - Do you think Earl could have won the Slam Dunk Contest if Spud Webb got down on his hands and knees and was used as a launching pad to propel Boykins above the rim? I think he could have done it in less than 13 attempts and it would have been spectacular. Or maybe Shaq could have participated and asked Bill Russell to defend the basket during his dunk attempts. With Earl Watson getting traded back to Seattle, Boykins should benefit by being Andre Miller’s primary backup and also getting plenty of minutes at the two for the Nuggets. Boykins is averaging career highs in threes (1.0) and points (12.9), and makes a decent start with four contests coming up.

Keyon Dooling/Carlos Arroyo, PG - I’m gonna leave this one up to you. Dooling was handed a starting gig as soon as Stevie Francis was sent packin’ and he responded with an impressive 23/1/6 on Wednesday. On the other hand, recently acquired PG Carlos Arroyo was no throw-in in the Darko deal. The Magic actually expressed an intention to make Arroyo their new starting point guard shortly after the trade. The Puerto Rican native has seen a steady increase in playing time since moving to Orlando and outplayed Dooling last night putting up 18/4/4 on 7-for-11 shooting. In six years in the NBA Keyon Dooling has never really looked like an everyday player, so don’t be surprised if Arroyo takes his spot in the starting lineup sometime next week. Take your pick and plug him in.

Marvin Williams, F – Last week I recommended Atlanta’s Josh & Josh tandem, and now last year’s #2 overall pick has finally appeared on our fantasy radars. Over the last couple weeks the former Tar Heel is scoring 12.2 ppg in about 31 minutes a night. Marvin is also getting to the line more often (29 free throw attempts in last five games), which is an encouraging sign. The Hawks are still crowded at forward, but the team hits the hardwood another four times next week, so Williams may be a better option than guys like David West (only 2 games) and Udonis Haslem (3).

Darko Milicic, F/C – First of all, I apologize for jumping the gun on Darko last week. I saw that Orlando had four games on tap and I assumed he would get playing time right away. Shame on me. But 4 minutes in his first two games?? That’s less than his worst days in Detroit. Come on coach, your “system” cannot be that complicated… now it’s time to let the kid play! Milicic finally managed to log 22 minutes last night, scored 8, grabbed 5 boards, and swatted a couple shots en route to a 102-89 victory over Seattle. It will probably be another week or two before he gets steady minutes, so if you have a more reliable option use it. Otherwise if you’re in need of some help at center feel free to take a chance on Darko. He’s got four games again this week and could be a better start than PJ Brown (2) and Melvin Ely (3).

Also: Was that a Grant Hill sighting last night or just my imagination? Did Joe Smith really just drop 32 points on the Sixers? (outscoring Iverson)
How about these lines worth noting… Martell Webster getting the start and putting up 24 and 8 with four treys. Plus, I really like Travis Outlaw’s prospects for a solid second-half. Celtics rookie Ryan Gomes posting 13/17/4 for his second straight double-double. Kyle Korver scored a career high 31 points on 10-for-17 FGs and 7/7 FTs.

Well I’m glad the NBA (David Stern) came to its senses and invited Gilbert Arenas to play in Houston this weekend after all. Too bad Gil had to go and finish the first half of the season with a 4-for-22 effort and 6 turnovers at Dallas. Ouch.
So we have All-Star festivities to get through this weekend and then we’re back to the real games and hopefully an exciting week full of blockbuster trades. Here’s looking at you, week 2/20-2/26.

Four Games: Atlanta, Boston, Cleveland, Detroit, Indiana, LAL, Memphis, Milwaukee, New Jersey, New Orleans, Orlando, Portland, Seattle.
Three Games: Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Golden State, Houston, LAC, Minnesota, New York, Philadelphia, San Antonio, Utah, Washington.
Two Games: Denver, Miami, Phoenix, Sacramento, Toronto.

Season-long trade rumors are finally coming to fruition this week. Darko is moving to Disney World, former Terrapin Chris Wilcox swapped area codes with Vlad Rad, and Stevie Franchise just may get another ‘change of scenery’ if Isaiah Thomas continues his quest to bury the Knicks six-feet-under. Keep a close eye on pending trades as several players are sure to find themselves in new situations that could really boost their second half value.

Plug ‘em in, Plug ‘em in:
Josh Smith/Childress, G/F – The reigning Slam-Dunk champ just put up career-highs of 21 points and 15 boards, while fellow swingman Josh Childress also scored a season-high 21 in a win over the Lakers Wednesday. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that Al Harrington will be asked to pack his bags before the Feb. 23rd deadline. Josh & Josh would immediately reap the benefits should Harrington (and his 37 mpg) depart. Smith averages an incredible 2.3 blks in only 27.5 mpg, and Childress contributes across the board but especially in steals with 1.2 spg in 28.4 minutes. Hopefully both will see 30-35 minutes a night the rest of the way and improve on their already respectable numbers. The youngsters have four games next week so get them in your lineups.

Delonte West, PG – LeBron (43/12/11) and Paul Pierce (50/7/8) may have stolen the show in an overtime thriller the other night, but Delonte also filled his stat line with 15/10/8 and 3 blocks. One of the best waiver wire pickups of the year, the versatile guard just keeps on truckin’. Jefferson, Perkins, and Wally are banged up, so West should have plenty of scoring chances in four contests next week.

Anthony Johnson, PG – Jamaal Tinsley is starting to make Marcus Camby and Fred Taylor look like iron men. He’s only appeared in 23 games this season and hasn’t been healthy for a full year since his rookie campaign. Veteran point guard Anthony Johnson has been handed the reins and asked to do what he can to help salvage Indiana’s season. A.J. has been a member of the Pacers’ starting five since the end of December and averages nearly 30 mpg as a starter. Usually just a borderline fantasy starter in deep leagues, Johnson’s hot hand (19/4/5 with 2 threes and 1.3spg in last 3 outings) makes a decent plug-and-play for four games next week.

Darko Milicic, F/C – If there ever was an ideal situation for the young 7-footer, Orlando is it. Darko’s playing time was so limited in Detroit that analyzing his stats does not really give you an indication of his potential. He’s shooting an impressive 51.5% from the floor, yet a miserable 37.5% from the charity stripe this season. But of course, his 17-of-33 FGs and 3-of-8 from the line are such small samples that they are essentially rendered meaningless. If one were to ascertain anything from his stats it would have to be his impressive 15 blocks in only 140 minutes of play this season. He’s sure to see plenty of playing time on his new team, and starting alongside league-leading rebounder Dwight Howard (12.6 rpg) seems to be a perfect fit for the Serbian big man. If you’re feelin’ Darko, get him in your lineups right away. Let’s just hope for the best.

Chris Wilcox, F/C – Assuming Evans/Fortson get shipped out of town sometime before next Thursday, Wilcox will have a great opportunity to excel as the new starting PF in Seattle. Now that he lives in Starbucks capital, USA, maybe some grande caramel macchiatos can help Chris wake up and get his head in the game. The former Terp has immense talent and this appears to be a good situation for him. The Sonics frontcourt has lacked athleticism and been clogged up with the likes of Evans/Swift/Collison/Petro/Fortson for too long. Wilcox brings much needed explosiveness up front and could average 15 and 10 if he’s focused and motivated. Think of him as a younger/healthier Kenyon Martin, with center eligibility to boot.

Stash ‘em or at least keep on your radar:
Antoine Walker – He was back in the SLU for a couple games before the break (scored 26 pts and hit six treys on Feb. 15). Employee #8 needs a starting gig to be a consistent fantasy contributor, and he may just land one if traded to the right team.
Shaun Livingston – Prep-to-pro point guard struggling in his second season, “the next Magic Johnson” has started three of the Clips last five games, averaging 6.7 assists in those contests. The potential is there for a monster second half if 36-year-old Cassell were to go down with an injury.
Earl Watson – Incessant trade rumors surrounding Denver’s reserve PG are making me nauseous. He could have some value if given a starting job somewhere (New York?)
Nazr Mohammed – The big man averaged 11 pts and 8 rebounds for the Knicks last season. He has been stuck on the Spurs’ bench all year, but exploded for 18 pts and 20 boards Wednesday night at Philly. He could make some noise if he were to take the starting spot from Rasho, or perhaps filling in for an injured Duncan.

Forget about ‘em and move on:
Larry Hughes – just went under the knife again and will be lucky to return for the playoffs.
Emeka Okafor – they’ve been saying he’ll be back in 3-5 weeks for over a month now. Word out of Charlotte is that he’ll likely sit for the rest of the season.
Jameer Nelson – Specialists can’t figure out what is wrong with his foot, and he is out for at least another three weeks. Even if he returns, he’ll have to fight for playing time with a crowded Orlando backcourt.
Sebastian Telfair – Stephon Marbury’s little cousin was benched in favor of the Blake/Dixon combo. Bassy needs to learn the pro game and improve on his “Dick Cheney-esque” shooting (36.6%FG) before he can be a reliable fantasy force. Maybe next year.
Marko Jaric – Yes, he may be traded, but he is just stinkin’ it up this season.
Deron Williams – Did they really draft him ahead of Chris Paul? Williams is simply not a good fit for the Jazz and Jerry Sloan is not a good fit for fantasy owners.

Also… the Knicks/Magic exchanging Jamal Crawford and Steve Francis would help all parties involved (especially their fantasy owners).
Enjoy the All-Star festivities and be ready to pounce once those trades are announced.