Fantasy Basketball Daily News and Notes (10/8/10)
Oct 8, 2010 Blog
I’ve come to the conclusion that preseason daily cash games are damn near impossible to play well. I’ve had too many players get pulled after logging 15 minutes of action and it’s even more difficult to determine what backups are going to get minutes. Tyreke’s 9 minute performance last night was the final straw for me. Fanduel.com has these games, so if you play them, keep your bets very small and play for entertainment until the real thing gets here in a couple of weeks.
If you guys have any suggestions for sleepers this season, head on over to the Fantasy Basketball Daily Facebook Page and post your picks in the comments section.
Marco Belinelli – The Hornets are threatening to start Belinelli at SG over Marcus Thornton. I’m not sure if this is just a scare tactic to get Thornton to start playing better defense or a real need for Thornton’s offense coming off the bench with the second team. Belinelli becomes a nice sleeper if this holds, but I suspect that Thornton will still get his numbers too.
Mario Chalmers/Carlos Arroyo – Arroyo looks to be in the lead for the starting PG spot in Miami. I don’t think it really matters who is the starter, as this will end up as a timeshare. Chalmers will play when the team wants some perimeter shooting, Arroyo will play when the team just wants someone to take care of the ball.
Dorell Wright – He’s tonight’s player to watch. Wright will be given every chance to win the starting SF spot for Golden State with a good training camp. The guy has some skills, plays great defense and can hit the three.
Gordon Hayward – There is some chance that he finds his way into the starting lineup this season and he’s worth a late round flier. If you are in a keeper league and want him, you should probably try to grab him earlier.
Richard Jefferson – He still looks terrible and I doubt that I’ll be drafting him in any leagues this season. I’d love to see San Antonio go with a Parker/Hill/Ginobili/Duncan/Blair type lineup and bring Splitter and Jefferson off the bench, but I doubt that’s ever going to happen.
Yao Ming – I betting that his next injury is something caused by his overcompensating for that aching foot. He’s going to stress another part of his body at some point. While the upside could be big with Yao, the required draft position is just too big of a gamble for my tastes.
Washington – The Wizards started a three guard lineup again last night, which left Al Thornton on the bench. He’s falling down draft sheets quickly. The setup should help Andray Blatche though, as he looks to be the primary inside offensive presence for the Wizards.
Ramon Sessions – He’s looking like a nice sleeper pick and could see the court paired with Mo Williams. Daniel Gibson will probably be the first guard off the bench for offense, while Anthony Parker gets time at SG due to his excellent defense.
Jeff Teague – He’s a nice target in keeper leagues. Mike Bibby will be the starter until Christmas just out of respect based on his past accomplishments, but I think Teague has the job after that. Grab him late and stash him on the bench if you have a spot.
Greg Monroe – Owners in keeper leagues will definitely want to give Greg Monroe a look this season. Jonas Jerebko is out for most of the year with a torn achilles, so Monroe is going to get minutes.
Joe Johnson – I’m really starting to sour quickly on Johnson this season. Larry Drew is determined to keep the ball moving and out of Johnson’s hands and it showed in last night’s game. Watch Johnson carefuly through camp to see exactly how this change in offensive philosophy is going to alter his value.
Antawn Jamison – He’s another guy that I’m concerned about this season. The Cavs are going to be terrible and they will eventually realize that they need to develop J.J. Hickson at PF, which means sliding Jamison to SF if he wants to get on the court. Jamison has seen better days and he doesn’t have the ability to guard opposing small forwards, which will limit his minutes since guys like Jawad Williams, Leon Powe and Jamario Moon are better defenders. If all that weren’t enough, Cleveland is trying to implement a Princeton type offense, which as many fantasy owners will recall, was a complete disaster for fantasy values in Philly last season. I think his best shot at retaining full value would be a trade.
Mark Cuban – How do you not love this guy? Thursday’s Cuban quote: “Obviously, I’m like everybody else – I hate the day-game starts,” Cuban said Thursday. “It’s hard to get drunk, then watch the Rangers game, then go back to work. Not impossible. And not as hard for me because I have a driver. Or I can get one if I need one. Taxis, people. Taxis.”
Tags: fantasy basketball