fBasketballBlog

This season is all about Yao for the Rockets. (Keith Allison/Flickr)

Depth chart:
PG: Aaron Brooks, Kyle Lowry, Ishmael Smith
SG: Kevin Martin, Courtney Lee, Jermaine Taylor
SF: Shane Battier, Chase Budinger, Jared Jeffries
PF: Luis Scola, Chuck Hayes, Patrick Patterson, Alexander Johnson, Jordan Hill
C: Yao Ming, Brad Miller

Relevant fantasy players and projected draft positions/per-game stats:
Kevin Martin – SG (Rd. 4-5): 22 Pts, 2 threes, 3 Reb, 2 Ast, 1 Stl
Aaron Brooks – PG (Rd. 4-5): 20 Pts, 2.5 threes, 2 Reb, 6 Ast, 1 Stl
Luis Scola – F/C (Rd. 7-8): 14.5 Pts, 8.5 Reb, 2 Ast
Yao Ming – C (Rd. 8-10): 13.5 Pts, 8 Reb, 2 Ast, 2 Blk
Shane Battier – SF (Rd. 12+): 7 Pts, 1.5 threes, 4 Reb, 2.5 Ast, 1 Stl, 1 Blk
Chase Budinger – G/F (Rd. 13+): 9 Pts, 1 three, 3.5 Reb
Kyle Lowry – PG (Rd. 13+): 7 Pts, 3 Reb, 4 Ast, 1 Stl
Brad Miller – C (Rd. 13+): 6 Pts, 3 Reb
Courtney Lee – G/F (Rd. 13+): 7 Pts, 2.5 Reb

Sleeper:
Budinger

Most likely to surprise:
Yao

Most likely to disappoint:
Yao

Category specialists:

• Threes: Martin, Brooks
• Blocks: Yao

Things to watch:

• Yao‘s health and how hard the ceiling on his minutes is
• who will emerge with value if Yao or Martin get hurt
• how Yao‘s presence will affect the team’s pace, shot selection

Team’s statistical NBA ranks from 2009-10:

• Pts: 8th
• FGM: 16th
• FGA: T3rd
• FG%: 26th
• FT%: 10th
• 3PTM: 5th
• Reb: 13th
• Ast: T11th
• TO: T17th
• Stl: T16th
• Blk: 26th

Fantasy-friendliness for 2010-11: C+