fBasketballBlog

Yep, this will be fun. (Noah Graham/NBAE/Getty Images)

The 2011-12 NBA season is finally within reach, ready to be ripped open by the childishly eager fingers of ravenous fans. For fantasy basketball owners, the joy comes with a bit of business. Once they cut through the excitement of seeing the first tip-off of the season, they’ll immediately wonder how their draft picks will pay off, what clues they can pick up in the early going and which players sitting in the free-agent pool might be worth a pickup.

While making heavy-handed conclusions after just the first day of games isn’t recommended, it doesn’t hurt to have a list of things to watch and hope for during the first official day of this unique NBA season. Below is a Christmas Day wish list for fantasy basketball owners who have players participating in the first day’s games. (continue reading…)

Gasol is ready for...something... (Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

Depth chart:
PG: Derek Fisher, Steve Blake, Andrew Goudelock
SG: Kobe Bryant, Shannon Brown*, Darius Morris, Trey Johnson
SF: Metta World Peace, Matt Barnes, Luke Walton, Devin Ebanks
PF: Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, Derrick Caracter, Joe Smith*, Ater Majok
C: Andrew Bynum, Theo Ratliff*

* unrestricted free agent (continue reading…)

Gasol has turned in one helluva season. (Harry How/Getty Images)

Beast of the Night: Pau Gasol put up 17 points, 17 rebounds, five assists and a block last night. He shot 58 percent (7-12) from the field, 75 percent (3-4) from the free-throw line and had no turnovers. Gasol averaged top-five numbers throughout the season, despite many of his statistics dropping a bit from their marks in 2009-10. He should have a few more years of elite fantasy basketball in him.

Lines for Discussion:
Luol Deng: 9-16 FG (56%), 3-4 FT (75%), 2 threes, 23 Pts, 10 Reb, 4 Ast, 2 TO

Lamar Odom: 9-18 FG (50%), 4-5 FT (80%), 1 three, 23 Pts, 7 Reb, 4 Ast, 1 TO (continue reading…)

No Bynum = Go Odom (NBA.com)

Beast of the Night: Lamar Odom finished a long night with 29 points, 16 rebounds, five assists, a block and a three-pointer. He shot 59 percent (13-22) from the field, 100 percent (2-2) from the free-throw line and had no turnovers. Odom took full advantage of Andrew Bynum’s suspension in this contest, and the three overtimes helped too. He’s had another strong season, averaging top-50 numbers and improving his scoring and shooting from the field from last season’s marks.

Lines for Discussion:
Derrick Rose: 11-20 FG (55%), 2-3 FT (67%), 6 threes, 30 Pts, 4 Reb, 10 Ast, 1 TO

Nicolas Batum: 9-15 FG (60%), 2-2 FT (100%), 2 threes, 22 Pts, 12 Reb, 3 Ast, 3 Stl, 1 Blk, 4 TO (continue reading…)

K-Mart held his own against Kobe and the Lakers, but to no avail. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

[Read the full post at DimeMag.com]

Beast of the Night: Kevin Martin put up 30 points, four rebounds, four assists, one steal, one block and four three-pointers in a loss to the Lakers.  He shot 53 percent (8-15) from the field, 91 percent (10-11) from the free-throw line and had three turnovers. Martin has been inconsistent lately but remains great for points, threes and free-throw percentage. Despite playing fewer minutes this season, he’s averaging more points, threes made and rebounds than he did last season.

Lines for Discussion:
Nick Young: 9-18 FG (50%), 9-12 FT (75%), 3 threes, 30 Pts, 4 Reb, 2 Ast, 1 Stl, 1 TO

LaMarcus Aldridge: 16-23 FG (70%), 8-9 FT (89%), 40 Pts, 11 Reb, 2 Ast, 3 Stl, 1 Blk, 2 TO (continue reading…)