fBasketballBlog

You didn't forget about Kidd, did you? (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Beast of the Night: Jason Kidd looked like his old self last night, posting nine points, 10 rebounds, 12 assists, three steals, two blocks and three three-pointers. He shot 50 percent (3-6) from the floor and had two turnovers. Kidd’s fantasy value has definitely taken a tumble this season, but he’s still putting up solid all-around numbers, thanks mostly to his threes and steals.

Lines for Discussion:
Klay Thompson: 8-17 FG (47%), 5-5 FT (100%), 3 threes, 24 Pts, 7 Reb, 8 Ast, 2 Stl, 1 Blk, 2 TO; Thompson’s looked shaky lately, but he’s still a wicked source of threes

Manu Ginobili: 4-9 FG (44%), 11-11 FT (100%), 1 three, 20 Pts, 6 Reb, 4 Ast, 1 Blk; Ginobili’s monstrous start to the season was derailed by his health, but he’s still a top 50 player so far this season

Chris Bosh: 8-16 FG (50%), 4-6 FT (67%), 20 Pts, 8 Reb, 2 Ast, 4 Blk; he’s had his ups and downs, but Bosh has remained a top 50 fantasy basketball asset this season (continue reading…)

Ellis was one smooth operater last night. (Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)

Beast of the Night: Monta Ellis finished his big night with 35 points, six rebounds, 10 assists, four steals and three three-pointers. He shot 56 percent (14-25) from the floor and 80 percent (4-5) from the free-throw line, and had five turnovers. This was a nice bounce-back game from his 9/1/7 clunker on Monday. Ellis’ fantasy value has dropped since he arrived in Milwaukee, but he’s still a solid source of points, assists and steals.

Lines for Discussion:
David West: 6-9 FG (67%), 7-8 FT (88%), 19 Pts, 5 Reb, 2 Ast, 2 Stl, 2 Blk, 3 TO; he’s been a top 100 player this season, which is fine except for the fact that he was drafted in the fifth round of most drafts

Gordon Hayward: 9-14 FG (64%), 7-7 FT (100%), 4 threes, 29 Pts, 2 Reb, 6 Ast, 2 Stl, 2 TO; since re-entering the starting lineup for the Jazz, Hayward has put up top 30 numbers

Andrew Bynum: 7-20 FG (35%), 2-4 FT (50%), 16 Pts, 30 Reb, 2 Ast, 2 Blk; Bynum continues to steamroll the competition and is making us all wonder how high his ceiling would be without Kobe Bryant around (continue reading…)

Dragic is the Rocket of the hour. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

Beast of the Night: Goran Dragic finished with 22 points, two rebounds, seven assists, three steals and four three-pointers. He shot 57 percent (8-14) from the floor and 67 percent (2-3) from the free-throw line, and had two turnovers. Since becoming a starter exactly a month ago, Dragic has averaged 18.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 8.6 assists, 2.0 steals and 2.1 threes per game, while shooting 52 percent from the field and 82 percent from the free-throw line. Those are top five numbers. Kyle Lowry‘s return shouldn’t damage Dragic’s fantasy value too much the rest of the way.

Lines for Discussion:
Kemba Walker: 5-14 FG (36%), 4-4 FT (100%), 2 threes, 16 Pts, 7 Reb, 7 Ast, 1 Stl, 3 TO; his field-goal percentage is a downer, but he’s averaging 15.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.5 threes per game as a starter this season

Zach Randolph: 4-11 FG (36%), 2-4 FT (50%), 10 Pts, 12 Reb, 1 Ast, 4 TO; he’s hit double-double territory in three consecutive games

Danilo Gallinari: 4-11 FG (36%), 5-6 FT (83%), 2 threes, 15 Pts, 5 Reb, 6 Ast, 1 Blk, 2 TO; Gallo has averaged top 30 numbers this season, but has only played in 54 percent of the Nuggets’ games (continue reading…)

Yep, KD is No. 1. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Weekend Wonder: Kevin Durant averaged 33.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steal, 2.0 blocks and 3.5 threes in two games over the weekend. He shot 58 percent from the field and 89 percent from the free-throw line, and averaged 2.5 turnovers per game in that stretch. He continues to hold onto that crown as the most valuable fantasy basketball player of the 2011-12 NBA season.

Lines for Discussion:
Raymond Felton (4/6): 12-18 FG (67%), 1-1 FT (100%), 5 threes, 30 Pts, 7 Reb, 6 Ast, 2 Stl, 2 TO: through the first five games of April, Felton is averaging 13.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 8.8 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.8 threes

Goran Dragic (4/6): 8-19 FG (42%), 7-8 FT (88%), 3 threes, 28 Pts, 4 Reb, 11 Ast, 3 Stl, 3 TO; in 17 games as a starter for the Rockets this season, Dragic is averaging 18.1 points, 3.5 boards, 8.8 assist, 1.9 steals and 1.9 threes, while shooting 52 percent from the field and 82 percent from the free-throw line

Eric Gordon (4/7): 3-12 FG (25%), 3-5 FT (60%), 1 three, 10 Pts, 3 Reb, 1 Ast, 1 Stl, 2 TO; Gordon’s fantasy value next season is a bit of a question mark, but it’d be a surprise to see him drop below the third round (continue reading…)

Here's one player-coach pairing that doesn't have drama. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Beast of the Night: Luol Deng finished his big night with 26 points, six rebounds, three assists, four steals and one block. He shot 43 percent (9-21) from the floor and 100 percent (8-8) from the free-throw line, and had one turnover. For the season, Deng has admirably produced top 50 averages for his fantasy basketball owners. His production shouldn’t be too damaged once Derrick Rose returns this weekend.

Lines for Discussion:
Dwight Howard: 4-8 FG (50%), 8 Pts, 8 Reb, 1 Ast, 1 Stl, 3 Blk, 5 TO; Howard, who missed his two games before this one, is crumbling at the worst possible time for his owners

John Wall: 8-18 FG (44%), 12-15 FT (80%), 28 Pts, 4 Reb, 10 Ast, 2 Stl, 3 TO; in non-keeper, nine-category leagues, owners would be bold to take Wall anywhere north of the fifth round in 2012-13

DeAndre Jordan: 2-3 FG (67%), 4 Pts, 4 Reb, 1 Ast, 1 Stl, 1 Blk, 1 TO; His 11 points, 13 rebounds, one steal and four blocks the night before was obviously not the start of a hot streak for Jordan (continue reading…)