fBasketballBlog

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…)

High-fives all around for Jennings and his hot (but maybe unsustainable) start. (Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

Beast of the Night: Brandon Jennings put up 30 points, three boards, six assists, three steals and a block, and hit three treys along the way to a big line last night. He shot 59 percent (13-22) from the field, 50 percent (1-2) from the free-throw line and had three turnovers. This was a nice bounce-back game from his 7/3/2 clunker the night before. Jennings is having a much-improved season so far, and he’s putting up top 30 averages to date. Nevertheless, it’s tough to fully trust his ability to maintain this kind of pace, and his owners should at least explore his trade value.

Lines for Discussion:
Dorell Wright: 4-11 FG (36%), 2-2 FT (100%), 10 Pts, 2 Reb, 3 Ast, 1 Stl; patience

Gerald Henderson: 7-10 FG (70%), 8-10 FT (80%), 22 Pts, 4 Reb, 3 Ast, 1 TO; his lack of threes limits his fantasy appeal

Richard Jefferson: 0-3 FG (0%), 2 Reb, 5 Ast, 1 Stl, 1 TO; don’t say I didn’t warn you (continue reading…)

It was no double-nickel, but Jennings had himself a game last night. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

Beast of the Night: Brandon Jennings posted 31 points, three rebounds, seven assists, five steals and six three-pointers last night in a loss to the Kings. He shot 52 percent (12-23) from the floor, 25 percent (1-4) from the free-throw line and had three turnovers. Jennings’ poor free-throw percentage remains his major weakness, but through the first six games of the season, he’s putting up top 70 numbers.

Lines for Discussion:
Chris Bosh: 14-27 FG (52%), 4-4 FT (100%), 1 three, 33 Pts, 14 Reb, 5 Ast, 2 Stl, 2 Blk, 7 TO; he remains an underrated fantasy asset

Richard Jefferson: 5-12 FG (42%), 3-3 FT (100%), 3 threes, 16 Pts, 7 Reb, 3 Ast, 1 Stl, 1 TO; RJ started strong last season, too — and we all remember how that turned out

J.J. Hickson: 2-5 FG (40%), 3-4 FT (75%), 7 Pts, 11 Reb, 1 Ast, 1 Stl, 1 Blk, 1 TO; his value might be boosted for the next few games, thanks to an injury to the Kings’ starting frontcourt (continue reading…)

The quickly approaching Dec. 25 start to the somewhat unexpected 2011-12 NBA season means fantasy owners are like students cramming for a big exam. Here are a few tidbits to help you ace your drafts:

• 

  Love will have to lift less weight off the ground when grabbing 'bounds this season. (Flickr/Keith Allison)

  Kevin Love is reportedly “25 pounds lighter than when he left following last season.” This bodes well for his ability to maintain, if not exceed, his stellar fantasy value from last season. I can’t see any reason why Love would fall out of the top five spots in any fantasy basketball draft this season.

• Vince Carter is expected to be waived by the Phoenix Suns, which opens up the door (as expected) for Jared Dudley to step in and start. In 15 starts last season, Dudley averaged 51.8% FG, 77% FT, 1.7 3PTM, 16.3 Pts, 5.9 Reb, 2.2 Ast, 2.1 Stl, 0.5 Blk, 1.2 TO. In the 65 games he played (15 of which he started, 50 of which he came off the bench) from Dec. 2, 2010, through the end of last season, Dudley put up top 80 value. Call him a sleeper if you want, but Dudley should’ve already been on your radars. He’ll be a bargain if he falls into the last quarter of your draft. Carter, meanwhile, could land on a team in need of a SG, but don’t be fooled — his days of being a reliably productive fantasy asset are over. (continue reading…)

Yep, he hears everything you haters have been saying (or so his future fantasy owners should hope). (Flickr/Keith Allison)

Depth chart:
PG: Mario Chalmers**, Mike Bibby*, Norris Cole
SG: Dwyane Wade, Mike Miller, Eddie House
SF: LeBron James, James Jones*
PF: Chris Bosh, Udonis Haslem, Juwan Howard*
C: Joel Anthony, Erick Dampier*, Jamaal Magloire*, Dexter Pittman

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