Fantasy Basketball Advice: Pro Sports Daily

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November 6

SportsGrumblings.com

columnist Adam Schwitters

"Southwest Division San Antonio Spurs: With the profusion of good new talent on this team, expect the scoring numbers from Tony Parker and Manu Ginobli to drop off from their career averages. DeJuan Blair looks to be one of the top waiver pickups out there with a strong combination of rebounding and 8.3 ppg thus far. Also, his owners can breathe a sigh of relief, for Ginobli is rabies negative after his bizarre encounter with a bat on Halloween. Dallas Mavericks: Fantasy owners rejoice! The Matrix, Shawn Marion, is finally back on a real team. He should begin filling up the stat sheets as he adjusts to his new team. Don't expect him to take too many threes, since this team will rely on ..."

Hello, ROTO: November 6, 2009

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November 6

SportsGrumblings.com

columnist Damian Schaab

"So, have you guys missed me? It's been a few months since we've shot the excrement about rotisserie basketball, but since the season's underway, I thought NOW would be an appropriate time to get one of staple articles of SportsGrumblings.com, Hello, ROTO, tipped-off. Many of you followed our bigger and better pre-season draft package and some have already started emailing our crack(ed) staff with myriad questions about who to draft, who to add, and why so-and-so is sucking like a Hoover. Fortunately, we're here to help, and, for the questions we struggle to answer, you can always turn to the mounds of Halloween candy you've hidden from the kiddies, only to consume it ad nausea all by ..."

Bad News Comes in 3s

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November 6

Rotoworld.com

columnist Steve Alexander

"Dwight Schrute, of Schrute's Beet Farm, recently said that bad news happens in threes, and for the few people out there who own Kevin Martin, Anthony Randolph and Tyrus Thomas, they know it all too well. At least there might actually be some good news coming for Andre Miller now that Nate McMillan is finally listening to the masses. Kevin Martin Has A Decision To Make Update: Shortly after posting the Dose, news broke that Martin is likely either going with surgery or a cast, and is NOT likely to try to play through his injury. I got a late start today, as my body will apparently only let me sleep when the sun is shining. But here's the deal with Kevin Martin, who has a broken left wrist. ..."

Waiver Wire: Never too early to improve your roster

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November 5

CBSSports.com

columnist Sergio Gonzalez

"Top Guard Free Agent options for Week 3 1. Ronnie Brewer, Jazz (@NY, @BOS, @PHI, @CLE): Brewer scored at least 16 points in his first three games of the season before being held to 7 points against Dallas on Nov. 3. He will get 35-plus minutes per game in a four-tilt week that includes a matchup against a Knicks team that gives up a ton of points. He's a nice fill-in. Owned Percentage: 65 percent 2. Ramon Sessions, Timberwolves (@GS, POR, DAL, @MEM): You'll have to trust us on this one. Sessions has gotten off to a very poor start with his new team, but we think Week 3 will be the first week where he starts to live up to the potential he showed each of the last two years in Milwaukee. The ..."

If You're Hardcore: All-center manifesto

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November 5

ESPN.com

columnist John Cregan

"Welcome to an all-new season of "If You're Hardcore!" Since I'm new to this column, my editors over at ESPN requested I take some steps to establish my "hardcore" credentials. After that was done, I decided to form the most hardcore fantasy basketball league imaginable: an auction keeper league, populated by the stars of ESPN's fantasy basketball galaxy. Many of my fellow writers had never played in a basketball auction league before, and it was a lot of fun to see them get excited during the auction itself. If you play in an auction league, you'll know that there's nothing in fantasy that quite matches the rush of a bidding war. I blew almost a third of my budget ($59) on Deron Williams, ..."

Young Nets Douglas-Roberts, Williams rising

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November 5

ESPN.com

"Yes, the New Jersey Nets have had their problems in the early going, especially with the injury to their starting point guard and best player, Devin Harris. That said, no one expected much of the Nets this year anyway, and there certainly have been some bright spots on the wing positions. Chris Douglas-Roberts and rookie swingman Terrence Williams both look like keepers, and both also appear to have some fantasy value this season, too. Douglas-Roberts has had three straight productive games for the Nets and seems to have the starting small-forward spot on lockdown. He's good for points and rebounds, and has been doing his share in steals and blocks of late, too. He's doing a great job of ..."

Rookie Jennings going Buck wild

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November 4

ESPN.com

"Pretty much all of the preseason fantasy hype for rookie point guards went to Tyreke Evans and Jonny Flynn, but people seemed to sleep a bit on Brandon Jennings. The thinking was that while Evans had to beat out the likes of Beno Udrih for minutes with the Sacramento Kings, and Flynn had to hold off Ramon Sessions for minutes with the Minnesota Timberwolves, at least they didn't have to battle a rookie-hating coach like Scotty Skiles. The trouble is that's a bit of an oversimplification of Skiles' thinking. Skiles doesn't hate rookies; he hates players who don't play hard and don't play smart basketball, which typically includes most rookies. Thus far, though, Jennings has proved worthy of ..."

Player Rater: Fast and slow starts

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November 4

ESPN.com

columnist Seth Landman

"We're only one week into a long season, so all Player Rater rankings need to be taken with a shaker of salt. That said, this early in the season, it can be useful to pay attention to which players are putting up better numbers than you would have thought (especially by average stats, which early on will be far less skewed than total numbers). Bearing that in mind, let's take a look at some players who are having promising starts to the season, and some others whose fantasy status may need a little rethinking. Nice Beginnings (ranking based on average stats) Carmelo Anthony, Nuggets (4): Anthony's numbers for his fourth game (25 points in 29 minutes in a win over the Pacers in Indiana) were ..."

Grand Theft Roto: Early trade targets

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November 4

ESPN.com

columnist Adam Madison

"One of the harsh realities about the early part of the season is just how difficult it is to make a trade. Since everyone has very limited information to evaluate from, the margin for error on any kind of trade tends to be fairly high. As a result, most owners are reluctant to make any significant trades during the first month or so. It also tends to be difficult to work out early-season trades because the most concrete valuation tool we have to go on is still the draft position of players. Unfortunately, however, once the season gets going, such a ranking is really just an imaginary construct, and if two owners deviate in their evaluation of a player, it's difficult to close the gap since ..."

Fantasy Basketball Box Score Breakouts – 11/3/09

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November 4

Lester's Legends

"Here's a look at some fantasy basketball players that blew up the box score last night. Shaquille O'Neal, Cleveland Cavaliers 29 minutes, 21 points, 7-9 FG, 7-10 FT, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, 1 turnover It seems funny putting Shaq's name here, but his previous season high was 12. Roy Hibbert, Indiana Pacers 34 minutes, 14 points, 12 rebounds, 6-11 FG, 2-2 FT, 2 assists, 1 steal, 4 blocks, 1 turnover Hibbert finally showed some of the game he displayed in the preseason. Dahntay Jones, Indiana Pacers 29 minutes, 20 points, 8-15 FG, 4-6 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block Jones now has two solid games out of three. He does little more than score though, so not worth adding just yet. ..."

Fantasy Fast Break: Already seeing Redd

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November 3

CBSSports.com

columnist Sergio Gonzalez

"With Michael Redd out, who steps up for the Bucks? The Bucks will once again be without their leading scorer after he injured the same left knee on which he had to undergo reconstructive surgery last year. The initial estimate has him out for two weeks, but it could very easily be more. So the Bucks will have to get scoring production out of somewhere, but there doesn't appear to be a clear-cut candidate. Last season, the player who benefited the most while Redd missed time was Ramon Sessions. But with Sessions now languishing and looking unproductive on Minnesota's bench, the Bucks could look to Charlie Bell for a boost at the two spot, along with Carlos Delfino. Bell's best month last ..."

Fantasy Basketball Box Score Breakouts – 11/2/09

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November 3

Lester's Legends

"Here's a look at some fantasy basketball players that blew up the box score last night. Chris Douglas-Roberts, New Jersey Nets 40 minutes, 20 points, 7-17 FG, 4-5 FT, 2 three-pointers, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 1 block, 4 turnovers CD-R had his second straight 20 point game. The Nets are banged up right now, and he should have plenty of scoring opportunities going forward. D.J. Augustin, Charlotte Bobcats 27 minutes, 21 points, 6-14 FG, 9-10 FT, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 3 steals, 3 turnovers He's coming off the bench and offers little more than scoring and free-throw percentage at this point. Larry Hughes, New York Knicks 40 minutes, 20 points, 8-13 FG, 2-2 FT, 2 three-pointers, 6 ..."

Danilo Gallinari does more than just shoot

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November 3

ESPN.com

"When an NBA player buries 18 3-pointers in a three-game span, everyone notices, not just fantasy owners. Of course Danilo Gallinari couldn't keep up that pace. On Monday against a New Orleans Hornets team that was focused on defending the perimeter, the second-year player from Italy scored just nine points on 2-for-9 shooting. In the past week, Gallinari's ownership in ESPN.com leagues has skyrocketed from 4 percent to more than 45 percent. And despite his showing versus the Hornets, you'll want to keep that number going up. The 21-year-old has the ability, and Mike D'Antoni and the Knicks will continue to give him opportunities. Even in his quiet 37 minutes Monday, Gallinari gave you five ..."

Week 2 Start 'Em and Sit 'Em

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November 2

CBSSports.com

columnist Sergio Gonzalez

"Start of the Week Who would have thought that going into the second week of the Fantasy hoops season, Marc Gasol would be a better option than his big brother, Pau? Well that's exactly the scenario that Fantasy owners are faced with as Pau deals with a lingering hamstring injury that threatens to keep him out for another few games and little brother Marc is in for a week of very favorable matchups. While we are recommending you play it safe with Pau and his hamstring, Marc is our choice for the Start of the Week. Here's why. Gasol will play four games in Week 2 (Nov. 2-8) against the Kings, Warriors, Lakers and Clippers. Already off to a red-hot start, Marc will face three of the weaker ..."

Early impressions from all 30 teams

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November 2

ESPN.com

columnist Brian McKitish

"We're barely even a week into the NBA season, so I suppose that I'm bound by some sort of unwritten contract to warn you about the dangers of panicking this early in the season. There, I fulfilled my obligation; now let's get to the introductions. When my editors told me that I could freelance and write about whatever I wanted in my column as long as it related to fantasy hoops and included my top-130 rankings, I imagine I felt a lot like Steve Nash when he learned that the Suns would be going back to the up-tempo offense. I have a feeling my editors might regret that decision when I turn this in considering that this might be double the word count that they were expecting when it's all ..."

Wired: Over the Hill?

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November 2

Rotoworld.com

columnist Steve Alexander

"Normal Sized Leagues I guess the definition of a normal-sized league, at least in my mind, is one consisting of 10 to 12 teams with rosters somewhere around 12-15 players. That should cover a majority of the fantasy hoops leagues in existence. If your league is any smaller than that, the waiver options are endless and it's just too difficult to try to figure out whether you should pick up Michael Beasley, Richard Hamilton or J.R. Smith. While it's nice to have those kind of options available, it can drive you nuts on a daily basis trying to figure out if you should change your roster, so I'd suggest adding a few teams to your league next year. Rookies For this being such a "bad" draft ..."

Fantasy Basketball Box Score Breakouts – 11/1/09

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November 2

Lester's Legends

"Here's a look at some fantasy basketball players that blew up the box score last night. J.J. Redick, Orlando Magic 45 minutes, 27 points, 8-14 FG, 6-7 FT, 5 three-pointers, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover Strong performance, but it came in Vince Carter's absence. Don't expect many outbursts like this. Peja Stojakovic, New Orleans Hornets 32 minutes, 26 points, 9-15 FG, 2-2 FT, 6 three-pointers, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 turnovers Peja was off to a slow start prior to this outburst. He's still capable of scoring in bunches on any given night, but he's not the same threat anymore. He's a great source for threes, and that's about it. Luol Deng, Chicago Bulls 36 minutes, 26 points, ..."

East Coast Bias

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October 31

SportsGrumblings.com

"Atlanta Hawks: Jamal Crawford, projected as the sixth-man, is a shoot-first combo guard that should add depth to the Hawks back court, mostly at the expense of starting PD Mike Bibby. Fantasy owners are hoping from big rebound seasons from C Al Horford and forward Josh Smith, both of whom largely disappointed in 08-09. Boston Celtics: Kevin Garnett will be back in the line-up, but may struggle, especially early. C Rasheed Wallace was the biggest name added in the off-season, but he may not start and will undoubtedly split time with Kendrick Perkins. Glen Davis begins the season on what would be the IR due to a broken hand. Charlotte Bobcats: Coach Larry Brown comes in to apply his old ..."

Melo Anything But Mellow

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October 31

Rotoworld.com

"Thursday's two-game slate gave us all a chance to catch our breath after a very busy week and Wednesday's 12-game slate. Friday's going to be a fantasy-hoops zoo with 13 games, but we're ready for it. Let's take a look at Thursday's four teams, some injury updates and get ready for the Bucks' season-opener. How good does Carmelo Anthony look thus far? I'm not sure how it happened, but I ended up grabbing him on the turn, or Round 3 in at least three drafts and he's quickly paying big dividends. I went back and researched some of my drafts and saw one where I took Antawn Jamison (pre-injury) just before Melo, which hurts. And it's also interesting that I took AJ when so much of what I ..."

Wired: Over the Hill?

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October 31

Rotoworld.com

"Welcome to the first edition of Waiver Wired for the 2009-10 season. The plan is to break down potential add/drop candidates by three categories; Normal Sized Leagues, Deep Leagues, and Extremely Deep Leagues. I'm hitting a ton of players today, but will narrow it down each week as the season progresses. The NBA Season Pass is up and running. Constantly updated cheat sheets, weekly projections and tiers, subscriber-only chats, exclusive columns and more. Check it out! Normal Sized Leagues I guess the definition of a normal-sized league, at least in my mind, is one consisting of 10 to 12 teams with rosters somewhere around 12-15 players. That should cover a majority of the fantasy hoops ..."

Waiver Wire Tips

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October 31

Yahoo! Sports

"We're three days into the NBA season. Many teams have played just one game. But nevertheless, it's never too early to try to improve your team. That buzzing sound you hear is called "Team Building Exercises" and its back for another season of weekly nagging, er, advice. I can't say it enough: consistent waiver wire work is the key to fantasy basketball dominance. Devastating injuries are always just around the corner, and expectations – we've seen it already – tend to disappear into the ether. Check the news frequently. Log in to your team at every opportunity and scour that waiver wire. And don't forget to make your bed. Check back every week for the best waiver wire options, broken down ..."

Give and Go: Team chemistry

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October 31

Yahoo! Sports

"Great basketball teams have a lot in common with great offensive lines in the NFL. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts because the players develop an innate sense of how to play off each other. Obviously, some players – the super-elite point guards, for example – can help create that team cohesion, but to really establish five-guys-playing-as-one synergy, there's no substitute for time. I think we saw some evidence of that opening night, in the Cavs/Celtics game. The key guys on the Celtics – Kevin Garnett(notes), Paul Pierce(notes), Ray Allen(notes), Rajon Rondo(notes) … have been together for a while. Rasheed Wallace(notes) is new, but he's an exceptional team defender and has ..."

Head to Heads Up: Oct. 29

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October 30

SportsGrumblings.com

"The NBA season tips off this week, or, by the time this, the season's first edition of Head-to-Head's Up, hits the interwebs, it will have tipped off (past tense). Here again this year, we're going to examine players who have added value in Head to Head (H2H) leagues, a concept that not every fantasy owner yet embraces. For the new or inexperienced owner looking to get a leg up, we'll try to focus on the nuances of the H2H game that make it distinct from ROTO. And, for the more seasoned among you, we will try to focus a lot of our attention on the under appreciated and under-owned players that may be lurking on the waiver wire or swimming in the free agent pool, although not ..."

Dapper Dan Man

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October 30

Rotoworld.com

"The NBA season technically began on Tuesday, but from this particular vantage point, the real opening night was Wednesday. Wednesdays are typically as busy as any day on the NBA calendar during the regular season, and with 24 of the league's 30 teams in action last night, this Wednesday was no exception. With more than a little bit of box score to dissect, let us not meander excessively for a single moment and get right down to the order of business at hand: The big takeaways (not to be confused with The Big Takeaway, which would be Shaq's nickname if he ever decided to add "drive thru attendant" to his lengthy list of career aspirations) (And while we're writing parenthetical messages, I ..."

Week 2 Fantasy Basketball Planner

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October 30

CBSSports.com

"Teams playing four games: Atlanta, Boston, Denver, Detroit, L.A. Lakers, Memphis, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Phoenix, Sacramento, Utah, Washington Teams playing three games: Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Golden State, Houston, Indiana, L.A. Clippers, Miami, Milwaukee, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, Portland, Toronto Teams playing two games: San Antonio Atlantic Division Celtics C Rasheed Wallace has been getting around 20 minutes per game in his first week with Boston. He has been getting around 8-9 shots in the offense, most of which have come from beyond the arc. He doesn't look like he'll be getting many rebounds or "big man" stats, but he could still ..."

Free-throws key for Rose

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October 30

ESPN.com

"With only two games played last night, both aired nationally, there's not too much to harp about, so let's knock this out in bullet point form. Even on a (supposedly) hobbled ankle, Derrick Rose looked great in his 33 minutes, piling up seven assists with only one turnover. He also earned himself five free throws, but converted only three. While he will improve on last season's 3.1 free throw attempts per game -- he could even double them, in fact -- it's not going to do much for his owners if he doesn't convert approximately 80 percent of them. Considering it's his primary area for growth this season, it's something to keep an eye on. Outside of Tim Duncan, the Spurs couldn't do much of ..."

Key early-season waiver targets

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October 30

ESPN.com

"You should totally freak out right now. I mean, like, marry a backup dancer, shave your head and drop your third-round pick freak out. Replace the milk in your cereal with five or six of those extreme energy-drink shots, then finally tell your mom how you really feel via Twitter. Highlight your hair, get hoop earrings and form a boy band -- oh wait, that was me in high school in the '90s. I had to share a tidbit of personal information in lieu of a formal introduction, so there you go. Basically, what I'm saying is now is the time to take risks on choices that will shape the rest of your life. Extreme? Yes, but if you replace "rest of your life" with "2009-10 fantasy NBA season" and apply ..."

Lopez highlights big night for big men

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October 29

ESPN.com

"For anyone worried that Brook Lopez would wilt under the pressure coming off his stellar rookie season, it appears that your fears can wait another night, but don't get too excited about his 27 points, 15 boards and five blocks against the Timberwolves, either. Without Kevin Love, the Wolves don't have a lot of size to throw around at the moment, and as good an offensive player as Al Jefferson can be, he's going to get his shot blocked with regularity, too. Lopez, no doubt, is a fantastic fantasy player, but for the time being, a lot of centers are going to have huge nights against the Timberwolves, the way they do against the Knicks (see Jermaine O'Neal's 22 points and 12 rebounds for the ..."

Fantasy Basketball Box Score Breakouts

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October 29

Lester's Legends

"Here's a look at some fantasy basketball players that blew up the box score last night. Dahntay Jones, Indiana Pacers 26 minutes, 17 points, 4-9 FG, 9-9 FT, 5 rebounds, 6 turnovers The high amount of turnovers bother me. Earl Watson, Indian Pacers 25 minutes, 20 points, 7-8 FG, 3-4 FT, 3 three-pointers, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 2 turnovers You know what you're gonna get from Watson, and it's not enough unless T.J. Ford goes down. Marreese Speights, Philadelphia 76ers 26 minutes, 26 points, 10-11 FG, 6-8 FT, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block, 1 turnover Outstanding production, but is not likely to shoot quite that well. Worth considering though. Shelden Williams, Boston Celtics 22 minutes, 12 ..."

Shaq, Cavs need time to create chemistry Wallace, Celtics already have

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October 28

CBSSports.com

"It was early in the third quarter when Kevin Garnett tried to dunk on Shaquille O'Neal, which by Shaq's count would've been only about the third time someone's done that to him in 17 years. O'Neal contested the shot, and Garnett bounced off his body and landed with a thud. Paul Pierce didn't flinch, because what he saw next was exactly what he expected. "I just saw Kevin bounce back up and pound his chest, like typical Kevin," Pierce said. "I've seen him take those type of shots before. We know Kevin is gonna get back up. If he stays down, then I'll worry." Nothing to worry about on this night for the Celtics, who used the occasion of Shaq's anticipated debut as LeBron James' teammate to ..."

Recipe for Mayhem

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October 27

Rotoworld.com

"-1 offseason with enough basketball to remain aware of ongoing situations but enough of a break that you're no longer at risk of randomly muttering the words "Al Horford" in the middle of a deep slumber (which actually happened toward the end of last season); -1 obligatory offseason screening of Hoosiers (for a jolt of basketball inspiration); -1 obligatory screening of basketball scene from American History X (for comic relief); -1 teaspoon of "How is the preseason here already?"; -1 heaping tablespoon of Rotoworld's NBA Draft Guide; -1 30-team draft; -1 13-team roto auction; -1 10-team head-to-head draft; -1 annual rite of autumn: calling cable company to order NBA League Pass on Early ..."

Week 1 Fantasy Basketball Planner

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October 26

CBSSports.com

columnist Sergio Gonzalez

"Week 1 (Oct. 26-Nov. 1) Teams playing four games: Boston, Cleveland, L.A. Clippers, Portland Teams playing three games: Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, L.A. Lakers, Memphis, Miami, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Orleans, New York, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Antonio, Toronto, Washington Teams playing two games: Golden State, Indiana, Milwaukee, Utah Atlantic Division Chris Douglas-Roberts and Courtney Lee had eye-opening preseasons for the Nets. They should be scooped up where available and could be considered decent sleeper starts for Week 1 ... Rasheed Wallace averaged 9.6 points, 5.9 rebounds and 24.6 minutes per game. He ..."

Fantasy Forecaster: Week 1

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October 26

ESPN.com

columnist Neil Tardy

"The NBA season opens Tuesday. Among other things, that means you have at least one more day of unshakable belief that you've drafted -- and/or perhaps acquired through auction -- one or more future fantasy league championship teams. I mean, if you don't like your teams now, before the real games begin, what's the point? Of course, I love the teams I've assembled, but then, I'm a fantasy analyst writing for a sports media empire. I make all the right moves on draft day. Then I just sit back and watch my teams climb the standings. Of course I do. Still, heading into the 2009-10 NBA season, intrigued as I am to see whether the Lakers are still the team to beat and whether the teams chasing ..."

2009-10 Draft Prep: Busts for Draft Day

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October 25

CBSSports.com

columnist Sergio Gonzalez

"If anything can kill your chances of winning a Fantasy title, it is players who don't perform at the level that you were hoping for when you drafted them. Fantasy owners know these guys as busts, though their could also be a few other choice names involved. The term bust is a dirty word in the world of Fantasy sports. It implies that a player "blew up" in your face as many times Fantasy owners can trace failures to specific players they overvalued in their drafts. But the definition of what makes a bust can be a little cloudy. We'll try to clear that up for you. When we label a player as a possible bust, we are not necessarily saying that the player will be complete failure. These players ..."

NBA anybody's guess

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October 25

Chicago Tribune

columnist Mark Heisler

"Not many seasons set up like this one, with almost everything at stake almost everywhere. Of course, the Lakers are trying to defend their title in their inimitable style, with coach Phil Jackson, asked about repeating, noting merrily: "We have a better chance than anybody." This season, that's just where it starts. The Celtics are making a Last Hurrah with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen in contract years. The club's ownership, which made little or no money the last two seasons, however glorious, isn't running around trying to lock everyone up. That suggests it's open to backing up the truck. It's the Cavaliers' Last Stand before LeBron James is free. Only James knows what it will take to keep ..."

Fantasy Basketball: Guys I Dont Trust

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October 24

Lester's Legends

"Kevin Garnett and Al Jefferson - These two will forever be entwined because of their trade so why not lump them together. I like both players and their respective games, but both are coming off injuries. KG is getting older and he has logged a ton of minutes. Big Al is battling a new injury (Achilles). Yahoo!, for example has them ranked 12"

2009 Fantasy Basketball Sleepers

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October 24

Lester's Legends

"Here are some fantasy basketball players who could make a big impact this year. Lou Williams, PG, Philadelphia 76ers - Now that Andre Miller has moved on to Portland, Williams steps in as the starting Point Guard. He has shown an ability to score, and it could take some time for him to feel comfortable at the Point. However, he makes a nice value pick at the end of fantasy drafts. Williams has PG"

2009-10 Draft Prep: Breakouts for Draft Day

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October 20

CBSSports.com

columnist Sergio Gonzalez

"To win a Fantasy title, owners need to get a lot out of their early round picks. But it's the production they get out of mid-to-late rounders who outperform their draft value that really makes the difference between a mediocre team and a contender. So you have LeBron James on your team? Great, good for you. That's amazing. Someone else likely has Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant or Dwyane Wade on their team, however, and it's those picks in the middle and late rounds that will make the difference between which team fights to the end and which team falls short. That's where breakout players come in. What is a breakout player? A breakout player, in Fantasy talk, is a player who has already ..."

Preseason Notes, Part 2

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October 20

Rotoworld.com

columnist Steve Alexander

"Here is Part 2 of Preseason Notes and Draft Position. If you missed Part 1, just click on the link. And if you still haven't checked out the Rotoworld NBA Draft Guide it's not too late. We've been tweaking the rankings and every news blurb we publish immediately becomes part of that player's Outlook, meaning you get the most recent and accurate information anywhere. And if you can handle some Twitter posts that aren't always 100% hoops (gotta mix in some news, music and random stuff) check me out on Twitter. Also be on the lookout for a Live Chat this week. I'll try to give as much notice as I can. After each team I list where these players were taken in my latest drafts. One is a points ..."

Preseason Notes, Part 2

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October 19

Rotoworld.com

columnist Steve Alexander

"Here is Part 2 of Preseason Notes and Draft Position. If you missed Part 1, just click on the link. And if you still haven't checked out the Rotoworld NBA Draft Guide it's not too late. We've been tweaking the rankings and every news blurb we publish immediately becomes part of that player's Outlook, meaning you get the most recent and accurate information anywhere. And if you can handle some Twitter posts that aren't always 100% hoops (gotta mix in some news, music and random stuff) check me out on Twitter. Also be on the lookout for a Live Chat this week. I'll try to give as much notice as I can. After each team I list where these players were taken in my latest drafts. One is a points ..."

2009-10 Draft Prep: Our 30-team mock

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October 16

CBSSports.com

columnist Sergio Gonzalez

"So you think your league is tough? Try this one on for size. Our third annual 30-team "CBSSports.com vs. the World" Fanatsy Basketball league is drafting and by the time we're done, 360 players will have been selected. You know how when you scrounge through the waiver wire sometimes you come up on a guy who is owned in one percent of leagues and it surprises you to know he's owned in any league? Well, this is the type of league that player is owned in. Fantasy owners in standard leagues may think, "How does this help me?" Well, pay close attention to the picks. Who gets picked in front of who? Why is this guy going ahead of that guy? And where did the players you are targeting in your ..."

2009-10 Draft Prep: 12-team Rotisserie mock

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October 16

CBSSports.com

columnist Sergio Gonzalez

"Leading up to Fantasy hoops drafts, owners want to digest as much information as possible. We've got what you need to be prepared to dominate your league this year. Whether it's our very useful mock draft feature-- where you can mock all day and all night -- or our very own mock drafts, you'll want to get your hands on as much information as possible. Take a look at the different possibilities available to you from the different draft slots. If you know what position you will be drafting from, follow this mock from that perspective so you'll have a better idea of what to expect come Draft Day. You will have a better idea where to target certain players and you won't be the player in your ..."

Familiar Faces in New Places

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October 15

SportsGrumblings.com

"Trevor Ariza (LAL to HOU): Premier defender (1.7 SPG) should get a chance to strut his stuff on offense too. How much "stuff" does he have? Can he score 15PPG? Ron Artest (HOU to LAL): Artest brings a glut of talent and even more baggage to the bright lights of LA. This will be good for his basketball career, but bad for his numbers. Vince Carter (NJN to ORL): Will assume Turkoglu's point-forward role in Orlando. Expect a slight dip in numbers across the board, as this is Superman's team and offense. Tyson Chandler (NOR to CHA): Minus Chris Paul and coming off of surgery…that doesn't sound like a winning combination, especially coming off a down year. Jamal Crawford (GSW to ..."

Fantasy Basketball Grumblings: Top 20 Point Guards

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October 13

SportsGrumblings.com

"In fantasy, you generally want to draft point guards to anchor your team's assists category. You also generally want these players to make decent contributions in the categories of steals, three point shots made and FT% as well. Chris Paul, PG New Orleans Hornets 08-09: 78 Games; 22.8 PPG; 5.5 RPG; 11.0 APG; 0.8 3PPG; 50.3 FG%; 86.8 FT%; 2.8 SPG; 0.1 BPG; 3.0 TO There is no one who even comes close to becoming considered the best point guard in fantasy basketball today. Chris Paul led the league last season in both assists and steals. He also scored the seventh most points among all players last season. He piled on those points at a FG% normally expected of a power forward or a center. ..."

2009-10 Draft Prep: Pacific Division Preview

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October 12

CBSSports.com

columnist Sergio Gonzalez

"Heading into the start of the NBA preseason, we offer a team-by-team look, including projected starting lineups and what to watch for in October as each team sets their rotations for the start of the regular season on Oct. 27. Golden State Warriors Possible Starters: PG Monta Ellis, SG Kelenna Azubuike, SF Stephen Jackson, PF Anthony Randolph, C Andris Biedrins Preseason storylines: How big a role will rookie Stephen Curry play? How good can Anthony Randolph be? Fantasy Analysis: Going into the preseason, rookie Stephen Curry was not expected to win a starting job. However, he is expected to get good minutes in the offense and let's face it, nobody knows what Don Nelson will do with his ..."

2009-10 Draft Prep: Northwest Division Preview

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October 12

CBSSports.com

columnist Sergio Gonzalez

"Heading into the start of the NBA preseason, we offer a team-by-team look, including projected starting lineups and what to watch for in October as each team sets their rotations for the start of the regular season on Oct. 27. Denver Nuggets Possible Starters: PG Chauncey Billups, SG Arron Afflalo, SF Carmelo Anthony, PF Kenyon Martin, C Nene Preseason storylines: What will the Nuggets do at shooting guard? Fantasy Analysis: The Nuggets lost defensive specialist Dahntay Jones in the offseason, creating a void at the starting shooting guard slot. The logical choice to replace Jones in the starting lineup would be J.R. Smith, who is coming off a season in which he averaged a career-high 15.2 ..."

2009-10 Draft Prep: Southwest Division Preview

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October 12

CBSSports.com

columnist Sergio Gonzalez

"Dallas Mavericks Possible Starters: PG Jason Kidd, SG Josh Howard, SF Shawn Marion, PF Dirk Nowitzki, C Erick Dampier Preseason storylines: Can Shawn Marion return to prominence? Fantasy Analysis: Shawn Marion was once one of the most sought after players in Fantasy hoops -- especially in Rotisserie leagues. But since leaving the Phoenix Suns behind he has become more of a role player on Fantasy rosters. He will once again be paired up with an elite point guard in Dallas with Jason Kidd being the best point guard he has played with since leaving Steve Nash, so the possibility of an offensive resurgence exists. However, the days of 'The Matrix' are likely a thing of the past and he'll have ..."

Fantasy Hoops U: Auction Drafts

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October 10

SportsGrumblings.com

"In fantasy sports generally, drafts are the rule, and in fantasy basketball that's certainly the case. Still, some highly committed and equally brave souls prefer to go the route of the fantasy auction. Unlike the draft where participants are given a numerical slot in which to draft players, auctions allow all participants full access to all players, providing they have enough money to spend. The basics are thus: A league will consist of a pre-determined number of teams (typically 10-14), and each team therein will consist of a pre-determined number of players, and each auction participant (manager) will have a pre-determined amount of virtual dollars to spend at auction. And, for the ..."

Fantasy Hoops U: Head to Head vs. ROTO

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October 8

SportsGrumblings.com

"In fantasy basketball everyone wants players who can score, rebound, pass, and play a bit of defense (e.g. blocks and steals). These scoring categories are referred to as "counting stats", and as a general rule of thumb, you'll want those stats to count as high as possible. The other frequently used counting stat used in nine-category leagues is turnovers. And in the case of turnovers, more is not better. Rather, you want to accumulate as few turnovers as you can. This is true regardless of whether you're playing rotisserie (ROTO) or head to head (H2H). If turnovers simply do not matter, well, then you're playing 8 category (8-cat)l. To the more seasoned fantasy basketball player, ..."

Getting Started in the World of Fantasy Basketball

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October 8

SportsGrumblings.com

"This is primarily for the uninitiated, but don't let your experience level dictate the terms of your literacy. That is to say, feel free to do a little reading even if you've been down the fantasy basketball road a time or two before. Some of you may have dabbled in some sort of fantasy game before while others are new to the experience altogether. For those of you who characterize yourselves as true fantasy virgins, don't worry, this is a gentle introduction and if need be, we'll have some kind of safe word (e.g. "Snuffleupagus"), that way if things start getting to adventurous, you can back out safely and without too much remorse. However, since you're here, it already indicates that ..."

How to win with Dwight Howard

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October 8

ESPN.com

columnist Brian McKitish

"Not since Shaquille O'Neal's heyday has the fantasy world seen a player as divisive as Dwight Howard. His value is constantly (and viciously) debated in fantasy circles. Some love him, while others will flat-out refuse to draft him due to the fact that he can single-handedly destroy your team's free throw percentage. Shooting just 59.4 percent from the line on a league-high 10.7 attempts per game, Howard was without a doubt fantasy's worst free throw shooter in 2008-09. You'll notice that Howard ranks eighth in our preseason rankings. These rankings are based on our preseason projections that were then fed into the Player Rater. Depending on who you talk to, having Dwight at No. 8 is ..."

2009-10 Draft Prep: All about eligibility

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October 8

CBSSports.com

columnist Sergio Gonzalez

"You know that feeling you get when something of yours is not where you last left it? Fantasy owners may experience something similar after each offseason with players changing position eligibility from year to year. Well, we are here to help. Each year, based upon the positions that players played in the previous season, we determine the positions they will be eligible at going into the current season. In other words, there is a method to this madness. We aren't just making players centers because they are really tall or letting players be eligible everywhere just because we can't peg them down. Just like everything else in life, they have to earn their position. Here is an example. ..."

Turnover leagues: Players to target

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October 6

ESPN.com

"Fantasy junkies relish the idiosyncrasies of each sport. Football, with its limited number of games and time commitment, as well as its pervasiveness into our culture, pleases the masses and provides Monday morning water cooler fodder. Fantasy baseball is on the other end of the spectrum: with 162 games, completely different stats for pitchers and hitters, and the knuckleball of closers thrown in, it's the most complicated fantasy sport with the most statistical analysis and books published about it. Fantasy hoops is a compromise. If you enjoy the "I'll stop dipping fried food in ranch dressing after midnight if I just win this game" internal monologue that fantasy football elicits, join a ..."