Fantasy NBA Basketball: Ranking The Surprises, Dissappoinments, and Breakout Stars

It seems like you always get a two-week grace period when it comes to constructing your team.

Sure, there is the draft, which is obviously the most important part, but then there’s that 14-day period where you carefully monitor the free agent wire and see if you can grab anyone who slipped past everyone at first, including you (for Fantasy Football, Peyton Hillis was someone I was lucky to snag as a FA this past year).

Now, it is time to look at the players that have gotten off to a fast start, as well as those that have failed to impress their owners thus far.

Surprises:

Rajon Rondo (Point Guard – Boston Celtics)

I know, I know, Rondo is already considered one of the best point guards in the league, but did anyone see him notching 82 assists five games through? What he has done so far is truly remarkable.

Sure, he is not the best scorer, but when he is dishing out as many dimes as he has been, who cares? His rebounding has also been outstanding, and his maturation to help guide the new wave of Celtics after the Big Three retire has got to at least make some Celtics fans out there optimistic about the future as well.

Elton Brand (Power Forward – Philadelphia 76ers)

Shockingly, Brand appears to have regained his form thus far. His mid-range shot is back in full effect, and he is rebounding at a respectable rate (9.0 per game). He has been one of the bright spots so far for the struggling Philadelphia 76ers.

He is still undersized at the four spot but that has never scared him in the past. If the Sixers could get more consistent play from Andre Iguodala and Evan Turner during this next season, they could absolutely recover in time to be a playoff threat, that being if Brand keeps up the good work

Carlos Defino (Small Forward – Milwaukee Bucks)

For a guy once struggling to find his way back into the league, Defino has proven to be a capable threat from outside so far this year, nailing five three-pointers in two games already.

Everyone knew he had talent when he came into this league, but it appears he is finally starting to come into his own. One has to figure that the Bucks are extremely close to getting to that next level, and if Defino keeps this up, they should get there sooner rather than later

Honorable Mentions:

Dorrell Wright (Small Forward – Golden State Warriors)

I do not believe that this guy could be considered a “breakout star” yet, but he is fitting into the Golden State offensive juggernaut beautifully.

Beno Udrih (Point Guard – Sacramento Kings)

Everybody assumed that Tyreke Evans would assume point guard duties, but instead Udrih has gotten off a hot start.

Richard Jefferson (Small Forward – San Antonio Spurs)

After an incredibly inconsistent year last year, most Spurs fans like me thought RJ would be okay coming into this year to start. Coming off a 28-point performance over the rival Suns and scoring in double-figures so far through this year, trust me, it is very surprising.

Disappointments

Andray Blatche (Power Forward – Washington Wizards)

This might be a little rough, seeing Blatche is putting up 16/6, but his field goal percentage continues to be horrid (35.6%) and you would think having John Wall by your side would make you a better player.

With the opportunities to succeed in Washington, seeing their shortage of quality big men, Blatche has looked very average thus far. They need him to be both a scoring threat and rebounding force if the Wiz hope to shock a few people out of the East this year.

David Lee (Power Forward – Golden State Warriors)

Now, this might be because Lee is in an offensive system that relies on outside shooting and fast guard play. One has to think Lee could be doing better than putting up just 11.8 ppg and 11.5 rpg.

He showed last year with the Knicks that he can be a competent low-post threat when he wants to, and shooting a notch under 40% so far this year just is not cutting it. He has the ability to be a 20/10 guy, he did it last year, and he can definitely do it this year if he wants to with the potent offensive system Golden State possesses.

Vince Carter (Shooting Guard – Orlando Magic)

Carter continues to be horribly average. Unlike Richard Jefferson, who looks like he is playing with some fire coming off a disappointing last season with a new team like Carter did with the Magic, Vince just is not cutting it so far.

If the Magic hope to compete with the Heat and Celtics out East, they need Vince to bring his A-game and not advance the belief that he is an unmotivated even more than it has been. We all know this guy is an incredible talent when he wants to be, but right now, he looks like an average shooting guard at best.

Honorable Mentions:

Chris Bosh (Miami Heat – Power Forward)

He is off to a slow start, for sure, but I am not as worried about him as I am the other three. You have got to think he will explode for a couple games soon enough. He plays with LeBron and Wade!

Hedo Turkoglu (Phoenix Suns – Power Forward)

Sort of like Bosh, I’ll give Hedo a pass for now. Steve Nash can make anybody look good, and Hedo will find that out once he gets more accustomed to a new offense. He might not be 2008-2009 good, but I think he will turn out fine, despite his disappointing start thus far.

Jameer Nelson (Orlando Magic – Point Guard)

The Magic’s backcourt is a mystery right now. Like Vince, Jameer is better than his 10.0 ppg suggests so far.

Breakout Stars

Mike Conley (Memphis Grizzlies – Point Guard)

Now this is tough. Nothing in Conley’s history proves that he will be able to keep this pace up. He’s putting up 15.8 ppg, 9.2 apg, and 5.8 rpg thus far, and is on record saying the surprising extension that the Grizzlies gave him is one he is driven to validate.

Given that he’s been with the team for a few years and the team has to have some sort of chemistry now, it makes sense why Conley would finally break out and become a very respectable point guard in the league. Right now, he’s off to a fast start and he looks like a star. Will he keep it up for a whole season?

Rudy Gay (Memphis Grizzlies – Small Forward)

Gay has always been considered a very good small forward, but now he appears to have taken that next step. Averaging 26.4 ppg and 7.0 rpg, as well as 2.2 spg to back his defense up is what is making him the most efficient player per ESPN’s “Player Rater.”

Now, the Grizzlies got off to a hot-start last year as well, so Gay could just be used to this sort of thing. Right now though, he’s playing star-player caliber ball, and seeing as he is the No. 1 option in Memphis, I see no reason why he slows down now that he has jelled more with his squad.

Roy Hibbert (Indiana Pacers – Center)

Rumor has it that Hibbert put in a ton of work this past offseason, really focusing on his low-post scoring and defense. Right now he looks outstanding, averaging a near double-double (16.5 ppg, 9.5 rpg, as well as 2.8 bpg), and proving to be a force inside due to his size and skills in the post.

Indiana needs another “blue chip” player to build around in addition to Danny Granger, and it looks like they might have found it. Seeing as the Pacers do not have a lot of scoring options and they are playing Josh McRoberts next to Hibbert in the post, my guess is he will get a lot of inside touches as well as a number of shot-blocking opportunities. Watch out for this guy.

Honorable Mentions:

Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder – Point Guard)

He is averaging 6 ppg more than what he was last year and is proving to be the ideal No. 2 man for Kevin Durant. He looks to be a possible top five point guard in the league soon.

Eric Gordon (Los Angeles Clippers – Shooting Guard)

While he could probably be shooting a little better from three-point range, Gordon, in addition to already throwing down a few memorable monster dunks, is averaging 20.0 ppg so far on a Clippers team that is tough to figure out. They have a bright future if Gordon keeps up this sort of playing.

Andrea Bargnani (Toronto Raptors – Power Forward)

I thought coming into this season that Bargnani was due for a breakout year. With no Chris Bosh, he is putting up 24.0 ppg and showing he could be a lesser-form of Dirk Nowitzki if he wants to thanks to his outside touch (averaging 1.8 three’s per game). Sure, his defense and rebounding could probably be better, but he’s still a young player, and so far he looks great this year.