Bleacher Report - Articles by Farid Foroughi

Playoff Prediction: Lakers to Win NBA Finals

Farid Foroughi — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 20:55:00 -0400

I think we are in store for one of the best NBA Playoffs ever. The stories, the rivalries and the level of competition are all as strong as ever. The Western Conference will be hotly contested and the Eastern Conference will provide some great games as well. So in honor of what will be a fun next couple of months, here are my playoff predictions, round by round. For an empty NBA Playoffs bracket, click here.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

First Round: Eastern Conference
(1) Boston defeats (8) Atlanta: 4-0
Boston's defense suffocates the Hawks on offense.
(5) Washington defeats (4) Cleveland: 4-3
With an injured back, Lebron won't have enough in the tank. Should be the best series in the East.
(3) Orlando defeats (6) Toronto: 4-2
Bosh will have a spectacular series, but the Raptors will be just short.
(2) Detroit defeats (7) Philadelphia: 4-1
The Pistons will nonchalantly roll into the 2nd round with only one bump along the way

Quarter Finals: Eastern Conference
(1) Boston defeats (4) Washington: 4-1
The Wizards will put up a valiant effort, but they will be exhausted from a tough first round series. Defense again will win this series for the C's.
(2) Detroit defeats (2) Orlando: 4-2
I just can't see the Magic matching Detroit's experience in this series. Look for Chauncey to take over (20 and 10 a game).

Semifinals: Eastern Conference
(1) Boston defeats (2) Detroit: 4-2
I think both teams will surprise each other on the road, but in the end the Celtics will pull this one out. Both teams have strong benches, veteran leadership and lockdown defense, but I give the edge to KG and company for being more rested in the first two rounds.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

First Round: Western Conference
(1) Los Angeles defeats (8) Denver: 4-2
I actually A.I. and Melo' will single handily win a couple games for the Nuggets at home, but win it's all said and done, Kobe and Pau will take care of business at home.
(4) Utah defeats (5) Houston: 4-2
Should be a low scoring series. I don't think McGrady alone can will the Rockets to a victory. Expect the tandem of Williams and Boozer to once again emerge as superstars in the playoffs.
(6) Phoenix defeats (3) San Antonio: 4-3
This will be the best series of the first round. Defending champs against Shaq, Amare and Nash. What more could you ask for? (Yeah I guess I want Robert Horry to be healthy enough to play in this series, too) I give the edge to the Suns because the Spurs have been banged up all year and Amare and Shaq look hungrier than ever.
(2) New Orleans defeats (7) Dallas: 4-3
Dallas has shown they can beat New Orleans, so I think this series will be a lot closer than most think. I give it to CP3 though, with homecourt and 'something to prove'. Expect JKidd to play strongly in this series, and for Mark Cuban to threaten Avery Johnson with his job if he doesn't make it out of the first round.

Quarter Finals: Western Conference
(1) Los Angeles defeats (4) Utah: 4-2
Remember when Kobe went absolutely off on the Jazz after the Utah fans booed Derek Fisher for no apparent reason? Well I think the anger in Kobe and his teammates will carry on to this series as the Lakers narrowly defeat the Jazz.
(6) Phoenix defeats (2) New Orleans: 4-2
This will be a phenomenal series. Expect New Orleans to come out strong out of the gate, but for the veteran Suns to take care of business by the end. Shaq will play a huge role in this series.

Semifinals: Western Conference
(1) Los Angeles defeats (6) Phoenix: 4-3
Where amazing happens. The NBA will be thoroughly excited if this matchup occurs, as it would pit the four-time champion Shaquille O'Neal against his soon-to-be-named-MVP ex-teammate Kobe Bryant. I have no doubt in my mind that a series like this should go seven games and I only give the Lakers the margin because of their stronger team defense and bench. Lakers won't be able to contain Amare, but nor will the Suns Kobe.

NBA FINALS

(1) Los Angeles defeats (1) Boston: 4-3
Game 1 (in Boston): Lakers win 88-81
Game 2 (in Boston): Celtics win 95-74
Game 3 (in LA): Lakers win 96-94
Game 4 (in LA): Lakers win 94-87
Game 5 (in LA): Celtics win 91-77
Game 6 (in Boston): Celtics win 103-94
Game 7 (in Boston): Lakers win 94-93
Kobe Bryant drills a dead on three with 2 seconds remaining to give the Lakers the lead. KG takes a turn around 18 footer at the buzzer that just rims out. Lakers are the 2007-2008 NBA Champs.

So there you have it, I have the Lakers over the Celtics in a return to one of the most storied rivalries in all of sports. I give a push to the matchup between Kobe/Pau/Odom vs. KG/Pierce/Allen and predict that it will be the lesser known players that will determine this series. I think both teams have excellent second units, but that the Lakers will be able to put it together a little bit more. Expect Farmar, Sasha and Radmanovic to have a strong series. Powe, Allen and House will struggle.

Keep in touch with FBP during the offseason as we begin our preparation for the 2008-2009 fantasy basketball season by signing up for our free RSS feed.

To hoops,
Farid

Top 10 Fantasy Basketball Players, 2008-2009

Farid Foroughi — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 23:49:00 -0400

Now that this fantasy season is finished, it is never too early to look ahead to next year. If you were in a championship matchup this week in a H-2-H league, hope you won!

Lebron James – He may not have finished even close to #1 in Yahoo Rankings, but I still think he is the most complete player. He put up 30/8/7 with almost 2 steals and a block per game with absolutely nothing around him. Everyone knows Cleveland needs to get him help this summer or else King James might leave.
Chris Paul – I think he should win the MVP. Shoots a great percentage and will lead the league in assists and steals. That’s a damn good year. And he should only continue to get better when that Hornets core plays more together.
Kobe Bryant – Is there any doubt that Kobe is the best all-around player in the game right now? His fantasy numbers went down some this year so that the Lakers’ win percentage could go up. With a healthy Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol for an entire year, Kobe should only continue to produce great stats.
Amare Stoudamire – He looked amazing once Shaq came in, and now he will get an entire season with the Big Diesel next year. He is a truly great fantasy player, who will get you a ton of stats (but not too much actual +/- value). He and Nash have perfected the pick-and-roll just like Malone and Stockton.
Kevin Garnett – He has so much value beyond the box score and thus falls this far down the list. His numbers were down this year, but he is now the main reason for the greatest turnaround in the history of the NBA. That being said, he should still be good for about 20/10 and some great percentages and defense next year.
Dirk Nowitzki – Had a bit of a down year but has bounced back with a vengeance since his injury. He should improve on his scoring and rebounding from this year and continue to shoot pretty well. As much as I hated taking him over Lebron this year, I have to say he should be a darkhorse pick in the first round next year.
Shawn Marion – This will be the true darkhorse in the first round next year. With his injury, Marion fell off the map, but he should still be one of the top producers next year. He gives you every category and is a poor man’s version of Lebron.
Marcus Camby – I think I may have this defensive master a bit too high, but with the advantage he gives on blocks and rebounds, he should be a first round pick next year. He finally proved he could stay healthy for a full year.
Allen Iverson – He really jumped back into the superstar picture. Without Chris Paul, we would be talking about this guy as the best point guard. His assists are up, and he is a steals machine. And playing in that Nuggets tempo only helps his value.
Steve Nash – He really disappointed some this year, but he should still be good for percentages, threes, and assists. Has not played too well in terms of fantasy stats recently, but is still a top point guard.

Enjoy the playoffs everyone! We will be posting anything interesting during that run even though there may not be too much fantasy-related.

Keep in touch with FBP during the offseason as we begin our preparation for the 2008-2009 fantasy basketball season by signing up for our free RSS feed.

Mike
Senior Writer

NBA Fantasy Basketball: Three More Days, Three More Tips

Farid Foroughi — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:32:00 -0400

There are 3 more days of NBA regular season basketball to be played. This means leagues are coming to an end. If you are close in a H2H league playoff game or in a roto league, employ these tips!

Grab a Memphis Grizzlies player TODAY. The Griz play games the last 2 days of the regular season (Tue, Wed) against Portland and Denver on the road. I don't have to tell you how many points the Nuggets give up a game, do I?
Consider these guys: Andre Brown (13 pts, 18 boards in his last game), Mike Conley, Kyle Lowry, Navarro (if available)
OR, Grab a Portland Trailblazer player TODAY. Like the Griz, the Blazers play on the last 2 days of the regular season, squaring off against Memphis and Phoenix. Both teams will give up a LOT of points. No brainer.
Consider these guys: Channing Frye, Steve Blake, Jarret Jack
Drop your Sac-town players TOMORROW. Sacramento plays its final game on Tuesday, so if you're in need of statistics on Wednesday and you're lineup isn't already filled, be sure to drop a Kings player tomorrow.

Congrats to all for making it this far. I am in a H2H league finals match right now and it'll probably come down to the wire--wish me luck!

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To hOOps,
Farid

Fantasy Basketball: Don't Pick Up Luke Walton!

Farid Foroughi — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:01:00 -0400

Please don't tell me you picked up Luke Walton last night after he had a pretty good game against the Clippers. Luke went for 18-5-4 (pt, reb, ast) with a steal and a block, which is a damn good line, but consider the following three points:

The Clippers are terrible. He won't replicate this performance against New Orleans, San Antonio or Sacramento (the Lakers' final 3 opponents).
Luke Walton has been injured recently (he just missed two games because of a strained right hamstring).
There are much better free agents out there. Think about players on these teams.

So don't pick up Luke. But do watch this amazing Nike commercial: Did Kobe Bryant really jump over a car (Aston Martin)?

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To hoops,
Farid

Yahoo H2H Championships: Week 24 Powerful Pickups

Farid Foroughi — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 13:35:00 -0400

So instead of just giving you 1-2 players to consider from last night, I've got 5 for you today. So for you fantasy owners that are contending for a Championship in your H2H or Roto leagues, consider these guys that can help you in certain categories.

Ben Wallace: 8.5 rebounds, 3.5 blocks last two games since returning from injury
Louis Williams: 15 points, 4 assists, 2 steals last six games
Leon Powe: 18 points, 9 rebounds last 2 games; with the Celtics in good position in the East, expect KG to play fewer minutes the rest of the way
Darius Songaila: 13 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 1.5 steals last two games
Francisco Garcia: can get you just about everything and really should've been locked up ages ago in your league, but you never know

Good luck this week everyone. It's almost time to start gearing up for the real NBA playoffs. For daily pickups and other fantasy basketball advice, sign up for our free RSS feed.

To hoops,
Farid

NBA Pickup of the Night: April 1

Farid Foroughi — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:39:00 -0400

ANTHONY CARTER

Do you pick up Carter in your league, or do you not?

The Nuggets are a dynamic team, but Carter is behind AI, Melo, Camby, and Kenyon Martin in taking shots and getting stats.

Well, Carter proved tonight he doesn’t need the ball to produce and should be on your fantasy team. Sure, Carter only had eight points on 3-5 from the field and 2-3 from the line. But he not only helped out with 10 dimes and two rebounds, but he also got an amazing six steals and one block, all while turning the ball over only once.

Not bad at all for the guy whose name you can’t remember on the Nuggets.

Second Best: RODNEY STUCKEY

The rookie got the start tonight over Rip Hamilton and showed what he is made of.

He got to the line 13 times and made 12 free throws.

13 TIMES!!! And he’s a rookie!

He also shot 50 percent from the field and added two rebounds, three assists, a steal, and a block. Not bad at all. Also, playing 33 minutes always helps the stat line. He definitely looked better than fellow youngster Aaron Afflalo tonight.

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Mike
Senior Writer

Fantasy Basketball Pickup of the Night: March 31

Farid Foroughi — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 02:52:00 -0400

Looks like Brook and Robin Lopez of Stanford are declaring for the NBA Draft. I personally love these guys and I thought they alone would propel Stanford to the Final Four. But even better is the news that Robin Lopez is dating Michelle Wie. Someone should've told the Stanford student/professional golfer that she's dating the less-talented Lopez brother--I mean Brook might be able to land a huge contract, but how's Robin gonna compete with the $19 million Wie made in 2007. Here's to hoping Robin gets drafted with the 25th pick by San Antonio and Wie sits next to Eva Longoria at games. But I digress, onto the pickup of the night:

DEVEAN GEORGE

This guy has been straight ballin' as of late. I don't even know what was most impressive about his line last night. The 2 points? The 1-5 shooting? Nah, it's definitely the three personal fouls. George is owned in 0% of ESPN leagues, but with a season average of three and a half points per game, I think you should pick him up before your opponent does. APRIL FOOLS. Devean George's game last night was the worst rated line of the night last night as rated by Basketball Monster. I personally don't like him and I would never consider picking him up. Check him out looking like a fool in this interview, by the way.

The Real Pickup of The Night: C.J. MILES

This is the guy who's been starting for the injured Andrei Kirilenko. He's a Guard-Forward that can hit the long ball. Last night he had a spectacular game, scoring 29 points, with 4 boards and 5 dimes. He had 17 looks at the basket and hit 12 of those shots. He's started in each of the last 3 games for Utah, so look at him for a potential pickup this week while the Jazz are banged up. Oh and am I the only one that thinks he looks like a young Ray Allen in this pic?

Second Best: JOEL ANTHONY

A big man out in Miami, Anthony is a defensive beast. Last night he blocked 6 shots and forced 3 steals. He's not much of a scorer (only 5 points), but he was also able to bring down 9 boards for the Heat. Most importantly to me, though, Anthony played 31 minutes last night, so it looks as if Riley (or whoever the heck is there coaching games if he's gone) is looking to play him more off the bench. I don't think he's a pickup this week, but watch his play and consider him for next if you need defensive peripheral stats.

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To hoops,
Farid

Pickup of the Night: March 28

Farid Foroughi — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 02:20:00 -0400

Not very exciting NCAA tourney games tonight. That Curry kid is amazing. Maybe one day he’ll win pickup of the night, but not tonight. That honor goes to:

JOSH BOONE

That’s twice this week, but he has earned it. In 35 minutes, he recorded 15 points and 16 boards. But the amazing thing is the 6-8 from the field and equally good 3-4 from the line. Not too bad for a guy that usually kills you from the free throw stripe. Oh, and by the way, my mancrush Devin Harris had a huge night: 27 points, 4 threes, 4 rebounds, and 9 assists. He looks much better in a Nets uniform than he ever did in Big D.

Second Best: PAUL MILSAP

I gotta love this guy’s line last night. Only 13 points on 4-7 from the field and 5-7 from the line. Only 5 rebounds and 3 assists. But the 3 steals and 2 blocks really help, especially in H-2-H leagues. Utah is basically a team that is two-deep in fantasy talent right now, as AK47 has sucked recently. Milsap might be a guy that comes in with a lot of minutes, provides good shooting, rebounds, and plays defense. It’s worth a look if he’s available.

Oh and on your way out don't forget to sign up for our free RSS feed.

Mike
Senior Writer

NBA Pickup of the Night: March 27

Farid Foroughi — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 02:01:00 -0400

Only three NBA games tonight (2 if you don't count that fact that the Heat played in one of them), so not much to choose from. My Bruins upended Western Kentucky so I'm pretty happy about that right now. But the Lakers suck (having lost to Charlotte), so I'm pretty bummed about them. But enough about me and my West Coast bias and on to the player of the night.

ARRON AFFLALO

This guy was a stud at UCLA but hasn't really got any minutes in this his rookie season with the Central Champion Pistons. Fortunately for him, Richard Hamilton has been banged up recently and the Pistons are in need of a substitute. And that's exactly what Afflalo has been. He has started the last three games and last night against the Heat (I know it's the Heat), he went for 15 and 7 with 2 steals and a block--not bad for the former Bruin. Pick this guy up if nobody is left in your league. But generally, keep an eye on him for the future. He may be a legitimate pickup in future seasons.

Second Best: CHRIS QUINN

It's hard to recommend this guy because he is playing on the worst NBA team on this Earth, but the guy has been putting up above-average numbers. In his last five games he is averaging 13 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists and THREE steals a game. In ESPN leagues he is being snatched up like crazy, so don't be the only guy on the block without him. The Heat may be in the shitters, but this guy can straight ball. Pick him up if you need some point guard help.

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To hoops,
Farid

Fantasy Basketball Pickup of the Night: March 26

Farid Foroughi — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 03:21:00 -0400

This one was tough. There were three guys vying for the two spots on this post. But I excluded Ricky Davis even after a 28 point, 7 three, 9 rebound, and 6 assist game for two reasons. Davis is a turnover machine (kinda like Al Thornton) and the Miami Heat are the worst team in my recent memory. So the pickup of the night is:

JOSH BOONE

26 points on 9-12 from the field. 6 rebounds and 2 blocks. I only wish he didn’t shoot 50% from the line in 16 shots. 16 SHOTS!!! I’m glad I picked him up recently since he has been playing a lot more in the power forward role. He definitely validated the 32 minutes he got tonight. I’m just hoping he does not cost me free throws at the end of the week.

Second Best: THABO SEFOLOSHA

It’s true I’m a Bulls guy and so I favor them a bit, but I’ve touted this guy before and I think he’s for real. The Bulls got destroyed as always, and I’ve given up on the season. But I want to see the young guys, especially Thabo, play. He got 28 minutes and shot 8-11 from the field and 4-5 from three point range. Now remember, this is a guy who is supposed to be unable to shoot and should make a living on slashing and defense. Well, his shot looks alright to me. Add 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and only 1 turnover, and you’ve got a great fantasy option.

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Mike
Senior Writer

Fantasy Basketball Pickup of the Night: March 25

Farid Foroughi — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 01:36:00 -0400

For tonight's pickup of the night, I put together a quick podcas t with five potential pickups and two suggested drops for your fantasy team as we reach the midway point of Week 22.

Some of the players that I discuss in the podcast are:

Jerry Stackhouse
Erick Dampier
Cuttino Mobley
Joakim Noah
Kirk Hinrich
Jared Dudley
Matt Caroll

It's playoff time in Yahoo H2H leagues so let's help each other out, if you have a good pickup, let us know in the comments above. Also, I'd be interested to know what you think of the podcasts.

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To hoops,
Farid

Fantasy Basketball Pickup of the Night: March 24

Farid Foroughi — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 03:09:00 -0400

It’s funny that the Heat won a game starting Ricky Davis, Chris Quinn, Daequan Cook, Earl Barron, and Mark Blount. Looks like they, along with the Knicks, are really trying to win the draft lottery.

So tonight, the pickup of the night is:

HAKIM WARRICK

10-13 from the field. 7-8 from the line. 2 threes. 29 points. 7 rebounds. 3 steals. Wow. With lines that like from players every night, you could easily win 6 categories in a H2H league. The Grizzlies have given up on this year but are still playing hard (because they’re young and don’t know any better). Warrick is a prime example of this. Gobble him up if you get the chance.

Second Best: NENAD KRSTIC

Finally, he has a solid performance. It’s about three months too late for me. I dropped him a long time ago. But he does not look bad to pick up for your stretch run right now. 22 points on 9-15 from the field and 4-5 from the line ain’t too shabby, especially when you pair them with six rebounds. If he can take centers outside and make that shot, then he is dangerous.

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Mike
Senior Writer

Yahoo H2H Pickup of the Night: March 23

Farid Foroughi — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 02:25:00 -0400

It's Week 22 and you know what that means: let the Yahoo H2H playoffs begin!

To get you started during this tough stretch, consider some of these -lesser known- fantasy players that, for the most part, should be available in your league.

These guys certainly aren't the best of the best, but they've been on hot streaks, lately.

Good luck, and be sure to share your Week 22 fantasy sleepers with us as well. The stats listed below are the player's averages for the previous week:

Kirk Snyder (Min, G) - 13 pts, 6 reb
Wilson Chandler (NYK, F) - 15 pts, 6 reb, 1 stl
Smush Parker (LAC, G) - 6 pts, 5 asst, 1 stl
Mardy Collins (NYK, G) - 11 pts, 4 reb, 6 asst
Donyell Marshall (Sea, F) - 8 pts, 3 reb

I recently came across a great fantasy basketball article over at Fantasy Sports Experience. Check it out, it's called: Fantasy Basketball Playoffs Cram Session. Great injury updates for Pau Gasol, Daniel Gibson, Jermaine O'Neal (screw you Jermaine, you cost me a top two finish), Chris Kaman, Gilbert Arenas, Andrew Bynum and more.

For daily fantasy basketball advice, news, and analysis subscribe to FBP's RSS feed.

To hoops,
Farid

Pickup of the Night: March 22

Farid Foroughi — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 04:53:00 -0400

Wow! The NCAA Tourney games were amazing today. There were two great endings with Stanford and UCLA winning. Looks like there’s something special going on with the Pac-10. Here is our NBA man for the night:

I’ve actually been waiting for this rookie to get some more minutes and onto this list. Well, tonight is the night.

Jeff Green had 23 points on 7-13 from the field and 7-8 from the line with two threes, seven rebounds, three assists and even chipped in a block. Best part of all, he had only one turnover.

With Chris Wilcox injured, he will get some starts, so look for the rookie tandem of Durant and Green to take over.

Second Best: Nazr Mohammed and Darko Milicic (tie)

I could not decide which guy to put on this list, so I put them both on. Mohammed shot an amazing 8-9 from the field and claimed 14 rebounds and two blocks to go along with his 16 points.

Not to be outdone, Milicic had 19 points and 10 boards with a steal and three blocks to go with 6-11 from the field and an uncharacteristically good 7-8 from the line. Most importantly to them (and not at all important to us since both teams suck), the Bobcats and Grizzlies both won.

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Fantasy Basketball: Pickup of the Night—March 21

Farid Foroughi — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 05:44:00 -0400

LINAS KLEIZA (Den, SF)
He's been having an up-and-down season to this point, but recently he has begun to pick it up again. And what's not to like about a team that has scored over 100 points a game in every game since February 25th and over 115 points a game the past 5 games? But seriously, pick this guy up if your desperate for 3 balls, points and percentages. Last night he put up a pretty good line of 23 points on 9-11 shooting with 4 rebounds in only 23 minutes.

Second Best: EARL BARRON (Mia, C)
Ok so Miami stinks--we know that. But because of all the injuries and troubles, minutes are up for grabs if you can show you deserve them, and that's what Barron's been doing recently (and it's probably because he doesn't want to be sent back to the D-league). In his last four games he's logged an average of 28 minutes a game and has scored 12.5 points and pulled down 6 boards a game during the stretch as well. This is probably a stretch pickup, though, so don't go dropping Camby or Chandler just yet. I'll monitor Barron for you.

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To hoops,
Farid

NBA Pickup of the Night: March 20

Farid Foroughi — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 01:19:00 -0400

Only three games played tonight, so there wasn't much to choose from. Bulls get trounced by the Spurs and the Celtics pulled off the Texas three-step by beating the Spurs, Rockets, and Mavs in Texas. I have been down on the Celtics all year, saying that the Pistons are better and that the champion will be from the West, but I’m starting to become a believer in that team.

VLADIMIR RADMANOVIC

He has pulled off some solid games recently while getting the start with Pau Gasol injured. He had 21 points (8-13 from the field, four threes, 1-2 from the line), 10 rebounds, two assists, and two steals against the Mavs on Tuesday. He backed that up with 13 points (5-6 from the field, three, three-pointers), three rebounds, and one assist while playing in only 22 minutes against the Jazz.

Second Best: JERRY STACKHOUSE

I am still unsure about the Stack Attack, but if he is available in your league, continue to watch him. In 36 minutes of play, he had 17 points and three threes to go along with four rebounds and one assist last night against a great defensive team in the Celtics. At least put him on your watch list. He's been cooking up some good games recently (see pic below).

Fantasy Basketball Pros is your home for fantasy basketball breaking news and analysis. If you like what you're reading, please subscribe to our RSS feed.

Mike
Senior Writer

Fantasy Basketball Pickup of the Night: March 19

Farid Foroughi — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 05:24:00 -0400

Man, a lot of things are going really well for the NBA right now. At least 6 players are in contention for the MVP (Kobe, LeBron, CP3, TMac, KG, Dwight Howard), Golden State (8th seed) is only 4 games from 1st place New Orleans in the West, team's are putting up insane offensive numbers (12 teams are averaging 100+ points per game), Rafer Alston is talking smack and Chris Paul is talking MUCH MORE back (seriously read this, it's hilarious), rivalries are stronger than ever, ratings are through the roof, Pat Riley takes days off to ~~do research for his bracket~~ scout top prospects, etc. Point is most people either love this game or are very intrigued by the story lines.

Should be a great end to the season and I'm really looking forward to the playoffs. Stay tuned to Fantasy Basketball Pros for end-of-the-year pickups and advice. Fantasy Basketball Pros: where amazing fantasy basketball analysis happens. Now on to the pickups of the night:

BONZI WELLS (NOH, SF)
The saavy 31 year-old is showing he still has some game left in him. In his last two outings he has seen increased minutes and productivity. Last night against Houston his 25 points were 28% of his team's total point output, and he also came away with 2 steals and 3 blocks in the win. As I always say, if the coach (Byron Scott in this instance) gives him more minutes, Bonzi's fantasy value will go up tremendously. If you're playoff positioning in your H2H is nearly set and you want to take a shot on Bonzi, I don't blame you. I just might.

Second Best: RONALD MURRAY (Ind, SG)
Ronald "Flip" Murray has been on fire of late. Last night in particular he torched the struggling Bobcats for 22 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 3 steals and a block. The 3 games before last night he averaged nearly 16 points as well. Who knows what the Pacers are doing with their point guard situation, but the one thing we have observed is that Flip is now in the starting lineup and his minutes have increased. Real estate agents will constantly tell you it's all about location, location, location, well in fantasy basketball it's minutes, minutes, minutes. And Ronald Murray is looking good with the additional playing time. I just picked him up in a league Mike and I are in. Sorry Mike.

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To hoops,
Farid

Fantasy Basketball Pickups of the Night: March 18

Farid Foroughi — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 02:42:00 -0400

Looks like Dirk won the battle against Kobe last night, but the Lakers beat the Mavs 102-100. Dirk’s line, 35 points on 11-23 from the field, 10-12 from the line, 3 threes, 11 rebounds, and an astounding 5 blocks. Now for the Pickup of the Night:

JASON MAXIELL
Maxiell has seen some pretty sporadic playing time of late. He logged only 5 minutes against the Spurs and 9 against Philly. However, in the rare Detroit Pistons shootout last night in which they beat the Nuggets 136-120, Maxiell logged 18 points on 8-11 from the field and 2-3 from the line, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block in 32 minutes. He did manage 3 turnovers. If Maxiell gets more minutes down the stretch, he will be an asset on a fantasy team like he was earlier on in the year.

Second Best: MIKKI MOORE
Farid has been touting this guy for awhile also. Moore has been a beast from the field and the line (8-10 and 3-3, respectively) while logging 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks. This guy is a hustle player who is getting a ton of playing time (32 minutes last night) and making the most of it. The Kings are a decent team, but Moore seems to be the only muscle in the middle (Brad Miller is brittle), so he could be a good pickup. By the way, Beno Udrih sat out last night and his sub, Anthony Johnson (part of the Mike Bibby trade), had a spectacular line: 13 points, 2 threes, 6 rebounds, and 13 assists.

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Pickup of the Night: March 17

Farid Foroughi — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 03:47:00 -0400

Farid's Fantastic Predictions
I like the Rockets over the Celtics today with McGrady going for 24/8/6. I also like the Lakers over the Mavs with Kobe (38/9/3) dominating Dirk (19/11/5) in his own building. Let's see how I do. But anyway, on to the pickups of the night:

KYLE KORVER (Uta, SF)
Coach Sloan has been talking about integrating Korver as more of an option within the Jazz option and that's exactly what has occurred. Korver put a ridiculous line of 17 pts [6-7 FG, 1-1 3PT, 4-4 FT], 4 reb, 4 asst, 2 stl in only 21 minutes of play last night. Although I'd like him to get more minutes, I still think he's a viable option for a fantasy manager looking for points, threes and above average percentages.

Second Best: SAM CASSELL (Bos, PG)
I bet you didn't think you'd hear Alien's name come up this early in his tenure with the Celtics, but with Allen banged up and the Celtics looking for veteran leadership, Cassell has fit right in with Boston the last couple of games. Last night against the Spurs he went for 17 points and 5 rebounds on 7-13 shooting from the field. If I was a betting man (ok, I actually am), I'd put money on Cassell finishing off the season with decent fantasy numbers.

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To hoops,
Farid

Fantasy Basketball Pickup of the Night: March 16

Farid Foroughi — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 23:38:00 -0400

For those of you who want some NBA with the NCAA brackets just out (watch out for Pitt in the Final Four, you heard it here first), here is our latest pickup of the night.

JOSH CHILDRESS
I know that we have been down on this guy in the past. But there is no way the Hawks can go through a playoff push with only a five-man rotation, and Childress should be the first guy off the bench. Against the defensively-challenged New York Knickerbockers, Childress recorded 22 points on 6-8 from the field (including 1 three) and 9-10 from the line. It also helped that he contributed with 9 rebounds and 3 steals (and only 1 turnover). That is a pretty great line. Childress may not be available in your league, but with some lackluster play recently, he may have been dropped by a frustrated owner.

Second Best: RONNY TURIAF
Farid really loves RT21. I think that he is overrated. Still, with Pau Gasol not playing, RT21 scored 13 points on 3-4 from the field and 7-9 from the line with 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 blocks. Hell, if RT21 goes for 3 blocks a game, he could do very little in other categories and be worth owning. It wouldn't be bad to use a pickup on him if he isn’t gone already. And you gotta love this picture of him below.

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Pickup of the Night: March 15

Farid Foroughi — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 05:00:00 -0400

DARIUS SONGAILA (Was, PF)
Songaila moved into the starting lineup yesterday after Brendan Haywood did not play because of a left patella tendon strain. In his last 5 games Songaila has seen extra minutes and it has helped him average around 12 points, 5 boards, 3 assists and 1.5 steals on above-average percentages. Depending how long Haywood is out, Darius might get some quality minutes. Pick this guy up if Haywood's out for an extended period of time. Seems like Washington will use Songaila more over Blatche.

Second best: JOSH BOONE (NJN, PF)
Stagnant at the beginning of March, Boone seems to have got his groove back. In his last two games he has averaged 17 points, 10 boards and 1.5 blocks on 13-16 shooting from the field. New Jersey also beat both Cleveland and Utah in those two games. If Boone is in the starting lineup and he continues logging 30+ minutes a night, I think he's a good pickup.

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To hoops,
Farid

Fantasy Basketball Pickup of the Night: March 14

Farid Foroughi — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 01:11:00 -0400

JASON WILLIAMS
Yes, he shoots a terrible percentage. Sure, he plays on the worst team in the NBA. But with Dwyane Wade shut down for the season last week, Williams has begun to log more minutes and more shots. He took 26 shots and made 14 of them against the Orlando Magic. Williams also recorded 34 points, 5 threes, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists while only turning the ball over twice (and the word "only" should be included here, as Williams has been less than careful with the ball in his career). So if he is available in your league, consider picking him up. He seems to be one of the only players trying on a pathetic team.

Second Best: THABO SEFOLOSHA
For those of you who have been paying attention to the Fantasy Basketball Pros, you should know who Sefolosha is. Although the Bulls backcourt is full of average players (Hinrich, Gordon, Hughes, bums like this), Sefolosha has the length that they all lack and should see more playing time. His line against the 76ers (who staged a huge comeback): 20 points, 8-13 from the field, 2-3 from the line, 2 threes, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 2 turnovers in only 23 minutes. Now if you extrapolate that to about 45 minutes, he’s Kobe Bryant. Not bad. By the way, as a Bulls fan, I’ve decided to start rooting against the team in hopes of getting a lottery pick instead of losing in 4 games to the Celtics in the first round of the playoffs. As part of that, though, I want to see the youngsters play.

Mike
Senior Writer

Fantasy Basketball Pickup of the Night: March 13

Farid Foroughi — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 16:11:00 -0400

Introducing the newest Fantasy Basketball Pros daily installment, Pickup of the Night, which will sort through the countless stats of the previous night and will find the pickup(s) that will help bring your team to the top. This is not just the best statline of the night by a player who is not generally owned, but it is the best pickup from the previous night’s performances.

SASHA PAVLOVIC (Cle, G-F)
Pavlovic scored 24 points on 9-15 shooting with 5 three-pointers in the Cavs 101-99 loss to the Washington Wizards. Although his peripherals were lousy (1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal, 0 blocks), he did not turn the ball over at all. It seems like the addition that Danny Ferry needed before the deadline was actually for Pavlovic to return from injury, as Wally’s World has underperformed with Lebron. Pavlovic has sharpshooting abilities and will help a team in need of points and threes.

Second Best: MICKAEL PIETRUS (GS, G-F)
Pietrus scored 16 points on a less than spectacular 6-13 shooting from the field (and 3-4 from the line), but contributed with 8 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block, and no turnovers. Pietrus may be available in some leagues, and with the style that the Warriors play, would be an excellent pickup.

Important Fantasy Basketball Lines: March 12

Farid Foroughi — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 15:44:00 -0400

If each night one had the time, energy and will to look through every NBA stat line, one might be very successful at fantasy basketball. One would be able to pick up emerging studs, drop eventual duds and monitor those ify suds. Unfortunately, a manager rarely has the time to do this, but here at Fantasy Basketball Pros we care about you, so we look through all the lines and tell you in summary form what you really need to know. Here are the most telling fantasy lines from Wednesday. Let us know what you agree with or think is absolutely wrong in the comments above.

Dikembe Mutombo (Hou, C) | 2 pts, 6 reb, 0 blk, 15 min
I'm sure you have Mutombo on your watch list. Get him off it now. He will have no fantasy impact ever again.
Chuck Hayes (Hou, PF) | 8 pts, 12 reb, 1 stl, 33 min
Averaging 9 boards, a stl and a blk a game the last 5 games. His minutes are also steadily rising. Monitor this guy.
Josh Childress (Atl, SF) | 0 pts, 1 reb, 2 TO, 8 min
Drop this guy. The Hawks don't trust their bench. Childress won't get you anything the rest of the year. Don't even come close to looking at Zaza either.
Tim Thomas (LAC, PF) | 14 pts [5-14 FG, 2-8 3PT], 5 reb, 23 min
The Clips are having some team troubles and it really doesn't look like the organization wants to put Brand back on the floor this year at all, even though he's begging to play, so keep Thomas on your watch list. I should note I personally don't like him as a fantasy option.
Cuttino Mobley (LAC, SG) | 17 pts [7-12 FT, 1-2 3PT], 7 reb, 2 stl, 43 min
This guy's been on fire the last 5 games. As stated above the Clips are having some team problems, so it's probably a good bet to pick up the veteran guard. If you need help from the guard position, Mobley's a great option.
Brevin Knight/Dan Dickau (LAC, PG)| 12 pts, 7 asst collectively
Don't go near the Clippers point guards, they've been splitting minutes and not producing anything fantasy-wise.
Maurice Evans (Orl, SG) | 13 pts, 4 reb, 1 stl
He can put together a decent game every once in a while, but not consistently enough. He's one of the few players that has the undesirable designation of being a starter that isn't fantasy-worthy.
Johan Petro (Sea, C) | 12 pts [6-15 FG], 10 reb, 1 blk, 32 min
Starting to look like a very viable backup Center. Put together a very strong game against the Celtics last night, heaving up 15 shots against KG and company. Monitor him and be ready to pounce if you're in need of a big man.
Luke Ridnour (Sea, PG) | 8 pts, 3 reb, 2 asst
Too inconsistent. Not getting the minutes like he used to last year. Don't consider picking him up the rest of this season unless Watson goes down.
Sam Cassell (Bos, PG) | 6 pts [3-8 FG], 2 asst, 1 reb, 1 blk, 14 min
In his second game with Boston, Cassell played 14 min, albeit against the lowly Sonics. Since none of the starters (including Rondo) played more than 26 minutes, it's hard to say how many minutes Sam will get against actual competition. Monitor from a FAR, but my advice is to forget about him.
Thaddeus Young (Phi, SF) | 10 pts [5-8 FG], 1 reb, 1 asst, 26 min
A lot of people like this young guy and I do as well. Sure he didn't have a great night against the Pistons last night, but that was a particularly low-scoring affair. Expect him to put up the above-average numbers (15 pts, 6 reb) we saw him put up last week for the rest of the season. He's a buy in most leagues.
Nate Robinson (NY, PG) | 17 pts [6-15 FG], 4 reb, 1 asst, 40 min
I'll get to the point before I run off some stats: I don't like Nate Robinson. He's too volatile and as I've said before, I fear Knicks players fantasy-wise. And on to the stats: You know it's bad when you follow up a 45 point career night with a 2-14 [5 pts] shooting night 2 days later. But that isn't the most telling statistic for me. From a basketball fan's perspective, I can't believe Robinson as the starting PG for the Knicks has only averaged 3 assists the last 5 games. The Knicks are in trouble and its very clear Isiah knows this.
Daequan Cook (Mia, SG) | 6 pts [2-9 FG], 8 reb, 1 asst, 40 min
Patrick over at Give Me The Rock correctly forecasted Cook's game last night. But despite Daequan's youth and inexperience at the NBA level, it's unquestionable that the Heat have no one else to turn to at this stage of the year. Shaq is long gone. Wade is already undergoing treatment on his left knee. And Coach Riley is scouting talent for next year. I'm not saying Cook is the best option fantasy-wise, but if he continues to play 35+ minutes a game, it may even be hard for me not to be tempted to pick him up.
Anderson Varejao (Cle, C) | 9 pts, 9 reb, 33 min
With Ilgauskas out with a strained back and his timetable for return from injury uncertain, Varegjao seems to be a good pickup on the interior. In his last 5 games he has averaged 10 pts and 10 reb in 34 minutes a game. If he starts and gets 30+ minutes a game, I like Anderson a lot.
Devin Brown (Cle, SF) | 19 pts [6-11 FG, 4-4 3PT], 7 reb, 4 asst, 2 stl
Brown is another one of those guys that is benefiting from the injury bug. The Cavs are really banged up and he's been getting quality minutes the last 3 games [32, 38, 38]. If you're looking for help from beyond the arc, he's been hitting the 3 with high accuracy. He's also added 13 pts, 4 reb and 4 asst his last 5 games. Brown's a more-than-suitable short-term 3pt option.
Nenad Krstic (NJN, PF) | 10 pts [5-7 FG], 1 reb, 4 asst
Out of all the players in this post, this is the one that I have been particularly high on. I was hoping he could back from his long-term injury better than ever, but it just doesn't look like he wants to rebound anymore. For that reason, I have to keep him on hold now. Monitor him.
Bostjan Nachbar (NJN, SF) | 21 pts [7-11 FG], 4 reb, 2 asst, 1 stl, 1 blk, 27 min
Has played well the last 3 games averaging 13 and 6 in only 25 minutes a game. Doesn't look like he'll be creeping into the starting lineup, so I'll probably pass on him this time. Maybe next year, Bostjan?
Kurt Thomas (SAN, C) | 2 pts, 5 reb, 1 blk, 22 min
As Mike said earlier this week, don't pick up Thomas! He hasn't found his way into the paint much while in San Antonio and that has severely hampered his rebounding and scoring numbers. Don't be deceived by what he did in Seattle! Pass on Kurt.
Morris Peterson (NOH, SG) | 5 pts [2-4 FG, 1-3 3PT] 3 reb, 24 min
Sure he can hit the 3 when Paul finds him in the corner, but other than that, Peterson's numbers have dwindled the last 5 outings. If you still have him on your team, consider spring cleaning your roster and ridding yourself of him, there are other options out there. Look at Bell below.
Kyle Korver (Uta, SF) | 3 pts, 1 reb, 15 min
Drop Kyle Korver if you still have him. He hasn't done much in Utah in his 17 minutes a game and like I said there are better 3 point options. Look at Bell below.
Charlie Villanueva (Mil, PF) | 26 pts, 9 reb, 2 blk, 1 stl, 38 min
If you're in one of those leagues where NOBODY plays, Villanueva might be available. Chances are he's definitely not. This guy has been sick (in the good way) the last week and a half, averaging 25 points, 10 boards, a steal and a block each game. And he shoots both the FG and the 3PTR at a very high percentages. I'll be looking at Charlie V in next year's draft, that's for sure.
Charlie Bell (Mil, SG) | 24 pts [8-16 FG, 5-7 3PT], 5 asst
Bell has likewise been very ill the last week. In his last 5 games he is averaging 15 points per game on 13-29 from beyond the arc. Most important his minutes are over 30 now. I think Bell is a buy right now.
Jared Dudley (Cha, SF) | 9 pts, 4 reb, 4 asst, 1 blk, 1 stl, 31 min
Gerald Wallace has returned from injury and because he's a SF like Dudley, there have been reports that Jared's minutes are going to be cut. That didn't start last night, as Dudley played 31 minutes alongside Wallace off the bench. I really like this young Charlotte team, if you couldn't already tell. My guess is Dudley will continue to produce, but in fewer minutes. Oh and Matt Carroll should be unaffected by the return of Wallace, for those that may be worried.
Erick Dampier (Dal, C) | 11 pts, 8 reb, 2 asst, 5 blk
Played 30 minutes against Charlotte last night and put up a pretty good stat line. If you are desperate for rebounds and blocks, Dampier might be the way to go, but I refused to recommend you actually pick him or Bass up.
Linas Kleiza (Den, SF) | 19 pts, 6 reb, 1 asst
Don't be fooled by last night's outbreak--Kleiza is still a sell. The Nuggets blew out the Grizzlies last night and Kleiza got a few extra minutes. I think he's a sell because not only has he been banged up recently, but he's literally the 4th or 5th scoring option on his team. That doesn't sit well with me as a fantasy manager.
Mike Conley (PG), Darko Milicic (C), Juan Carlos Navarro (SG) | Memphis Bums
These guys all have the potential to be great talents. Just not this year. Pass for now.
JR Smith (Den, SG) | 6 pts, 1 reb, 2 asst, 14 min
Sure, the Nuggets blew out the Grizzlies last night and that's why Smith's minutes were low, but if you've been reading FBP's you know I don't like JR. He's been scoring a lot recently by hitting the 3 ball consistently so he's making me look stupid, but I'll never recommend him myself.
Mickael Pietrus (GS, SF) | 14 pts, 8 reb, 2 asst, 1 stl
Has been all over the place the last 5 games. Besides his below-average percentages, there is nothing he cannot do on the basketball court. Consider picking him up if you need a strong SF going into the playoffs.

If a player you were interested in wasn't covered in this analysis, let us know in the comments above. Otherwise, please don't forget to signup for our RSS feed.

To hoops,
Farid

Jewels and Fools: March 11

Farid Foroughi — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 18:52:00 -0400

It's Tuesday of Week 20 and the season is quickly winding down. To help you finish strong in your league, consider picking up one of the following players listed as a "jewel" below and/or dropping one of the players listed as a "fool". Good luck in the final stretch!

Jewels:

Charlie Villanueva, Milwaukee Bucks—Always a raw talent, Villanueva left UConn early and never really put it together. For some reason, I’ve always liked him, but he’s always been a disappointment.

However, I think that Villanueva has begun to put it together. He has outplayed rookie Yi Jianlian and has averaged over 24 points per game the past week with Mo Williams out with an injury. Although Williams will be back soon, Villanueva is still a great pickup for the stretch run.

Craig Smith, Minnesota Timberwolves—I loved this guy in college but did not think his game would translate too well to the NBA. Still, I think Smith is a solid option. He has been averaging almost 14 pts/game with about four rebs/game while shooting over 70 percent from the field and the line over the past week. Keep him on your watch list, and with superstars like Dwyane Wade being shut down, considering scooping Smith up.

Anderson Varejao, Cleveland Cavaliers—The energy guy playing with Lebron James, Varejao has been a rebounding machine recently. Although he has not been shooting particularly well, he has been averaging a double-double with Ilgauskas injured. Quickly scoop him up if he is available in your league.

Fools:

Joe Smith, Cleveland Cavaliers—I really think that Smith has diminished in value since he was traded to the Cavs. Lebron James controls too much of the ball on this team and Smith does not see too many touches. Ilgauskas and Varejao will get more rebounds and Smith has seen a dip in shooting percentages lately. He is still scoring double digits per game, but does not add too much more value beyond scoring and rebounds. Get rid of him as soon as possible.

Julian Wright, New Orleans Hornets—Do not be fooled by Wright’s 14 pts/game and 5.7 rebs/game in the past week. When David West returns from injury (most likely this Wednesday), Wright will be once again relegated to the bench and will see little playing time. If you picked him up based on last week’s stats, drop him for one of the guys above.

Kurt Thomas, San Antonio Spurs—I know that this guy is a grinder and adds a lot of defensive value for the Spurs, but that does not translate into fantasy value. Since being traded to the Spurs, Thomas has seen his touches diminish and he is averaging almost thre fewer points and rebounds per game. Thomas is a solid player, but with Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili, he has very little value.

Happy waiver wire-ing. And as always, be sure to subscribe to our RSS feed.
Mike
Senior Writer

Week 19 NBA Fantasy Pickups

Farid Foroughi — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 08:20:18 -0500

With only three weeks left in standard Yahoo Fantasy Basketball Head-to-Head Leagues, and managers still battling for playoff position, I thought I'd take a shorter-term focus and look closely at five to eight players I think are primed to do particularly well in NBA Week 19.

I used two excellent tools from Fantasy Basketball Monster—Schedule Grid and NBA Ease (Team Difficulty) Rankings—in conducting this analysis.

Matt Carroll (Cha, G-F)

Consider three points that illustrate why many of the Bobcats' young players are strong pickups this week.

Point 1: Jeff McInnis was waived on Friday.

Point 2: Gerald Wallace is out recovering from his fourth concussion with the Bobcats.

Point 3: Coach Sam Vincent has said, "We want to look at our young guys in tough situations, see what we have."

What does all this mean? Players like Matt Carroll are going to get ample playing time to prove what they can do. Even better, the Bobcats are playing four games this week and the competition isn't particularly fierce: @ Min on Tuesday, GS on Wednesday, Atl on Friday, @ Was on Saturday.

Carroll has been particularly strong of late, showing what he can do with more minutes. He started at shooting guard Friday night against Boston and played a season-high 36 minutes, scoring 16 points on 4-6 shooting from beyond the arc, with four boards, a steal, and a block. He scored 19 the game before on 8-11 shooting. This guy can flat out shoot the three and doesn't seem to have much of an Achilles heel.

Owned in 1.8% of leagues.

Nazr Mohammed (Cha, C)

Mohammed began starting in February after significantly improving his game in January and has been an inconsistent player all season. But with the new look Bobcats with fewer and fewer options, Nazr has been getting some quality playing time (7-10 more minutes a game than his season average in the last three games) and has been doing a fine job on the glass and shooting from the field.

Easy competition? Fantasy Basketball Monster rates the four teams the Bobcats will be playing this week as particularly "easy" to score against (fantasy-wise) if you are a center, so pick up Mohammed if you're in need of a big man this week!

Owned in 6.0% of leagues.

Mickael Pietrus (GS, G-F)

Golden State is playing a relatively easy FOUR games this week as well. Their opponents (Miami, Charlotte, Orlando, Atlanta) are relatively "easy" to score against from the forward position (especially Miami), so Mickael Pietrus is an ideal pickup for those looking to improve in points, 3-PTRs and steals.

Amazing game on Friday. Pietrus' last game epitomized efficiency. In only 22 minutes Mickael scored 23 points (yes, more points than minutes played) on 7-7 shooting (3-3 from 3-ptr) along with two assists, two rebounds, one steal, and one block.

Owned in 1.5% of leagues.

Jared Dudley (Cha, F)

As if Carroll and Nazr weren't enough, I'll put my neck on the line even further this week and say Jared Dudley is a third strong pickup from the Bobcats. Dudley isn't a prolific scorer, but can give you production in nearly all categories. His minutes rose substantially in February amid the chaos in Charlotte described above. The minutes are only increasing further in early March.

Most recent game: nine points, seven rebounds, three assists, and three steals in 27 min.

Owned in 0.2% of leagues.

Fabricio Oberto (San, C)/Kurt Thomas (San, F-C)

I packaged these guys together because I can't decide who's the better pickup this week. I will let you decide!

The facts: Oberto has started for the Spurs, but isn't putting up amazing stats. Thomas was brought over from Seattle to do just that, but Gregg Popovich has been extremely hesitant in changing up his rotations (this has affected Damon Stoudamire as well).

I'm optimistic Thomas will get more minutes in Week 19 because the Spurs are playing four games this week against teams that love to run: Indiana, Denver, New Jersey, and Phoenix. I'm also optimistic that either of these two has the potential to do really well because the aforementioned teams DO NOT PLAY DEFENSE. Pop' will have to begin breaking in Thomas this week if San Antonio wants to do well.

K. Thomas this year: seven points, eight rebounds a game. Owned in 15.3% of leagues.

F. Oberto in February: six boards a game, 58 percent shooting from the field. Owned in 0.2% of leagues.

Chris Webber (GS, F-C)

When he returned to the NBA, Webber said to give him five games or so before judging him. Well I've given him eight and it hasn't been pretty C. Webb (you can see my incorrect predictions here).

BUT despite the initial struggles, I am still confident Webber will begin producing the more conditioned he becomes. Week 19 would be the perfect week for him to elevate his game because of the "weaker" Eastern Conference competition (Mia, Char, Orl, Atlanta) and the fact that Miami and Charlotte both poorly defend forwards of the opposing team.

Signs of improvement? In his last game against Philly, C. Webb had eight points (4-6 shooting), seven boards, and three assists in 18 minutes of play.

Owned in 4.0% of leagues.

Zaza Pachulia (Atl, F-C)

I'll admit this one is a stretch—Zaza Pachulia has been an inconsistent player this season coming off the bench. But amid the troubles in Atlanta, he's still the SECOND GUY coming off the bench after Josh Childress.

Not only that, but the Hawks play Golden State, Miami, and Charlotte before a tough game against New Orleans this week. Those three teams defend terribly against opposing centers and give up a lot of points. Zaza's not looking so bad this week after all.

The two sides of Zaza: In his best game recently, Zaza had 12 points and 12 boards against the Clippers. In his worst game (his last), he scored zero points in 12 minutes.

Owned in 0.5% of leagues.

Let Mike and I know in the comments who you think is a good pick up this week and if you agree with those listed above.

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To hoops,
Farid

NBA RookieWatch 07-08: Second Round Gems

Farid Foroughi — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 08:13:41 -0500

For the final installment of RookieWatch '07-08, we will be looking at a number of second round picks in last year’s draft who could make an impact for your team.

Don't forget to check out FBP's detailed coverage of the first round draft class here: #1-5 | #6-10 | #11-15 | #16-20 | #21-25 | #26-30

Carl Landry, Houston Rockets—Selected with the first pick of the second round, Landry was a tough bruiser at Purdue who did not project well into a big man’s role in the NBA. However, by proving himself earlier this season in smaller minutes, Landry earned a bulk more playing time with Yao Ming out for the season. He can solidly contribute right now in points, rebounds, and FG percent.

Recommendation: If you need some big man help and have a bum currently on your roster, make the move right here.

Glen “Big Baby” Davis, Boston Celtics—Davis has almost no fantasy value, but has turned into a solid player for the Celtics (although I think anyone playing alongside KG, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen will succeed simply because no one will be guarding him). Big Baby does not produce a lot of stats but he has a lot of presence. Too bad there isn’t a total weight category in fantasy basketball.

Recommendation: Funny nickname, thick guy, move on.
Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies—I think the only reason he is relevant is that he was part of the trade for his brother. Maybe the Grizzlies got sentimental and decided they needed at least one Gasol on the team. I don’t think the Lakers minded giving him up for the good one. Maybe Marc can develop to be like big bro in the next few years.

Recommendation: If your season is lost, pick him up and pretend he is Pau Gasol.
Aaron Gray, Chicago Bulls—No I did not just put him on the list because he plays for the Bulls. I think he is something that the Bulls need and lack: a low post presence. Sure he is incredibly un-athletic, but earlier this year he was producing about a point/minute and shooting really well from the field. But it is just like the Bulls to give him some playing time, have him succeed, and then let him sit on the bench.

Recommendation: Email Jim Boylan to Free Aaron!
D.J. Strawberry, Phoenix Suns—D.J. is the son (get the pun?) of former baseball knucklehead Darryl Strawberry, and he has somehow broken into the Phoenix rotation by offering hustle, defense, and athleticism. But lately, with the acquisition of Shaq and Phoenix floundering a bit, Strawberry has become reacquainted with his spot on the bench. At least if his NBA career fails, he has a pretty rich daddy.

Recommendation: If you are considering him, your season must be done.

So as we can see, there are not many gems in the second round. You will occasionally find that solid NBA player and very rarely that star who can make an impact on a team. But mostly, the second round is full of NBDL players who you’ve probably heard of in college but will never see in basketball again. Let FBP know in the comments above what you think about these prospects.

And as always, be sure to sign up for our RSS feed to receive in-depth fantasy basketball analysis.

Mike
Senior Writer