fBasketballBlog

What does Yaouch Ming have to do with Dolph Lundgren? Probably nothing, but whatever. (Keith Allison/Flickr)

With every new season there’s a fresh list of fantasy basketball players that are on the verge of being given up on. Some of these players are walking DNPs that have one more shot to prove that they can play a full season, or something close to it; others are players who have coyly toed the line between fantasy goodness and fantasy greatness for a few seasons and are testing our collective patience; others have failed to fulfill past “sleeper” labels; still others are former studs who have regressed into duds in recent seasons and have one last shot at a redemptive comeback season before they’re permanently locked in the cellar.

Here’s a list of nine such players teetering on the edge of utter hopelessness this season (from a nine-category perspective), along with a rating of how close they are to being lost causes. We’ll use an uber-macho scale of Dolph Lundgrens (1 = not that close from final doom, 5 = direly close). Why nine, and why Dolphs? Look no further than here for a visual explanation.

It’s go time. (continue reading…)

A.I. returns Monday. You know you're intrigued. (AP Photo/Michael Perez)

Game watch:
4 games: CHI, CLE, DEN, GS, MIN, NJ, POR, SA, TOR, UTA
3 games: ATL, BOS, CHA, DAL, DET, HOU, IND, LAL, MEM, MIL, NO, OKC, ORL, PHI, PHO, SAC
2 games: LAC, MIA, NY, WAS

Waiver wire watch:

• Joel Przybilla: Oden’s absence means significant minutes for The Vanilla Gorilla
• C.J. Watson: despite crowded, talented backcourt, he’s earning his minutes and contributing
• Ryan Gomes: on a roll, despite Kevin Love’s return
• Luke Ridnour: inconsistent, but good lines outweigh the bad ones lately (continue reading…)

What can be said? Get better soon, Greg. (NBAE via Getty Images/Cameron Browne)

Greg Oden is down with a knee injury, again. This time it’s a fractured left knee cap that’s expected to end his season.

This is a sad day for Oden, the Blazers and NBA fans with a heart for the big kid. He was having a great season and though it’s hard to say this was surprising, this was certainly the worst possible way for his streak of strong play to end.

It’s almost silly to talk about fantasy implications, but we’ll leave it right here for now: Where, if at all, would you draft Greg Oden in your fantasy drafts next year? (Assumption is in a standard 12-team league.) Let us know your thoughts by voting in the poll after the jump and leaving your comments.

Here’s to hoping Oden can pull through with another solid comeback, for good. (continue reading…)

Deng's been nice so far, but he's going to have trouble holding onto this streak much longer. (Getty Images/Jonathan Daniel)

[Read the full, original post at Dimemag.com]

Buy Low:
Steve Nash

Roy Hibbert

Brandon Jennings

Derrick Rose

Manu Ginobili (continue reading…)

If this worries you, you understand Camby's fantasy value. (Getty Images/Stephen Dunn)

[Read the full, original post at Dimemag.com]

Beast of the Night: Marcus Camby scored 12 points, grabbed 18 boards and dished out 4 assists while racking up 3 steals and 1 block. He shot 67 percent (6-9) from the field and turned the ball over twice. He’s having somewhat of a disappointing season so far, but his owners have to be pleased that he put up this big line. Camby’s injury history and the nearing return of Blake Griffin mean that his owners shouldn’t expect this type of production on a nightly basis. It also might be a good time to sell high on him.

Notable lines:
Tyreke Evans – 10-18 FG (56%), 7-7 FT (100%), 1 3ptm, 28 Pts, 4 Reb, 4 Ast, 1 Stl, 5 TO

Marc Gasol – 8-10 FG (80%), 2-3 FT (67%), 18 Pts, 6 Reb, 3 Ast, 2 Stl, 4 Blk, 2 TO

Rudy Gay – 10-17 FG (59%), 3-5 FT (60%), 1 3ptm, 24 Pts, 8 Reb, 3 Ast, 3 Stl, 1 Blk, 4 TO

Michael Redd – 1-3 FG (33%), 1-6 FT (17%), 1 3ptm, 4 Pts, 2 Ast, 1 TO (continue reading…)