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No one got between Bargnani and top-dog honors last night. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Beast of the Night: Andrea Bargnani posted 36 points, six boards, two assists, two steals, a block and four three-pointers in his mighty comeback from a calf injury. He shot 48 percent (10-21) from the floor, 100 percent (12-12) from the free-throw line and had two turnovers. Bargnani is having himself a solid all-around season with no real signs of a letdown in sight.

Lines for Discussion:
Carmelo Anthony: 0-7 FG (0%), 1-1 FT (100%), 1 Pt, 11 Reb, 4 Ast, 1 TO; for a guy who was drafted in the first or second round, his top 35 value so far this season isn’t cutting it

Kemba Walker: 7-17 FG (41%), 6-6 FT (100%), 2 threes, 22 Pts, 5 Reb, 2 Ast, 2 Blk, 4 TO; with D.J. Augustin sidelined for a while, Walker’s stock will rise in the coming days

Chris Bosh: 10-16 FG (63%), 14-14 FT (100%), 1 three, 35 Pts, 7 Reb, 2 Ast, 1 Blk, 2 TO; Bosh is producing top 20 fantasy basketball averages this season (continue reading…)

Mr. Anderson is a top 10 fantasy basketball player so far this season. (Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)

The “buy, sell, hold” ratings should be approximately interpreted as follows:

• Buy: the player is a solid trade target because his value is underappreciated yet reliable, or because he’s in a slump
• Hold: if you own the player, try to hold onto him, either because he’ll maintain solid value or to see how his value stabilizes before dealing him away; if you don’t own the player, wait until his stock drops a bit or until his uncertain value is clearer before trying to get him in a trade
• Sell: don’t believe the player’s recent production and sell high if you own him

With that, here’s the stock watch for Week 2: (continue reading…)

You got a problem with LeBron's zero three-point attempts so far this season? (Flickr/Keith Allison)

Beast of the Night: LeBron James had himself a typically big line to the tune of 35 points, six rebounds, seven assists, three steals and two blocks. He shot 57 percent (13-23) from the field, 100 percent (9-9) from the free-throw line and had two turnovers. Through three games, James is averaging 32.7 points on 59 percent shooting from the field and 87 percent shooting from the charity stripe. The odd thing is that he has yet to attempt a single three-pointer. The fact that he’s been such a stud without a three-pointer says volumes about his fantasy value. It’s early, but James looks primed to make a run at top-dog honors this season.

Lines for Discussion:
Paul George: 5-11 FG (46%), 4-4 FT (100%), 4 threes, 18 Pts, 4 Reb, 2 Ast, 2 TO; no surprise about his solid start

Andrea Bargnani: 9-17 FG (53%), 2-5 FT (40%), 1 three, 21 Pts, 4 Reb, 5 Ast, 1 Stl, 2 Blk, 4 TO; lack of rebounding is wretched, but he has other places of value

Boris Diaw: 7-14 FG (50%), 2 threes, 16 Pts, 16 Reb, 8 Ast, 1 Stl, 1 TO, 6 TO; he’s dialing it up a notch and will reward his owners this season, but this hot start won’t be maintained (continue reading…)

DeRozan has a shot at returning some solid fantasy value next season -- if his three-point shooting has actually improved. (Flickr/GAMEFACE-PHOTOS)

Depth chart:
PG: Jose Calderon, Jerryd Bayless
SG: DeMar DeRozan, Leandro Barbosa, Sonny Weems**
SF: James Johnson, Linas Kleiza, Julian Wright*
PF: Amir Johnson, Ed Davis, Joey Dorsey*, Reggie Evans*
C: Andrea Bargnani, Solomon Alabi, Alexis Ajinca*

* unrestricted free agent
** restricted free agent (continue reading…)

DeMarcus looks ready to head back to school. Are you? (NBA/Getty Images)

We’re on the cusp of Labor Day weekend, which means students who haven’t already started their new school year are now seeing their summer vacation quickly slipping away. If there’s any solace for students wincing at the thought of going back to school, it’s that they can rest assured that the 2011-12 school year is actually happening. While that may not be much of a comforting thought in and of itself, the start of a school year means graduation is closer than it was yesterday. Imagine if an entire school year were put on hold: While visions of an extended “summer break” are certainly enchanting, it would mean that students would commence their education a year older than they should be, and that graduating and heading off to that coveted next stage of life would be put on a maddening hold. (continue reading…)