fBasketballBlog

The Manimal will be the Nugget to watch this season. (Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

Depth chart:

Relevant fantasy players and their projected draft round (PDR) and per-game stats:

Lawson was a stud in the last weekend of the 2011-12 NBA regular season. (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Weekend Wonder: Ty Lawson averaged 21.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 10.0 assists, 0.5 steals and 3.0 threes in two games over the weekend. He shot 58 percent from the floor and 100 percent from the free-throw line in this stretch, while averaging 0.5 turnovers per game. For the season, Lawson has been a top 25 stud, which is on the high end of expectations heading into this season’s drafts. He’ll be a stud again next season.

Lines for Discussion:
Serge Ibaka (4/20): 6-11 FG (55%), 12 Pts, 6 Reb, 1 Ast, 8 Blk, 1 TO; he’s going to be a killer keeper

Kenneth Faried (4/21): 9-13 FG (69%), 18 Pts, 14 Reb, 2 Ast, 1 Stl, 3 Blk; Faried is averaging 11.3 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.4 blocks this month

LeBron James (4/22): 11-21 FG (52%), 9-10 FT (90%), 1 three, 32 Pts, 8 Reb, 5 Ast, 1 Stl, 2 Blk, 5 TO; barring a huge finish to the season from Kevin Durant, James will finish the season as the No. 1 fantasy basketball player of the 2011-12 NBA season  (continue reading…)

Lawson is a fantasy beast, through and through. (Flickr/Keith Allison)

Beast of the Night: Ty Lawson finished with 25 points, four rebounds, three assists, eight steals and two three-pointers last night in a loss to the Trail Blazers. He shot 63 percent (10-16) from the field, 75 percent (3-4) from the free-throw line and had two turnovers. Lawson is off to a very solid start in his first three games of the season. Though he’s not dishing out many assists (3.0 per game), he’s shooting like a center (62 percent from the field), hitting threes (1.7 per game) and thieving like Winona Ryder (4.0 per game). There’s little standing in his way to giving his owners top 30 value this season.

Lines for Discussion:
Deron Williams: 2-12 FG (17%), 6-8 FT (75%), 10 Pts, 4 Reb, 7 Ast, 2 Stl, 1 Blk, 6 TO; flawed lines could be the norm for D-Will this season

Dwight Howard: 7-9 FG (78%), 2-9 FT (22%), 16 Pts, 24 Reb, 3 Ast, 3 Stl, 3 Blk, 3 TO; I don’t think he wants to play in Jersey anymore

DeJuan Blair: 8-17 FG (47%), 6-8 FT (75%), 22 Pts, 12 Reb, 1 Ast; some steals and blocks (zero total so far this season) would be nice (continue reading…)

Curry was a beast -- a beast who reinjured a bothersome ankle. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Beast of the Night: Stephen Curry followed up his forgettable opening night with 21 points, seven rebounds, 10 assists, six steals and a three-pointer. He shot 58 percent (7-12) from the field, 86 percent (6-7) from the free-throw line and had four turnovers. Sadly, Curry’s big night ended on a sour note when the guard landed on Kyle Korver’s foot and reinjured that balky right ankle. Keep an eye on his status.

Lines for Discussion:
Jose Calderon: 5-9 FG (56%), 2-2 FT (100%), 3 threes, 15 Pts, 6 Reb, 11 Ast, 1 TO; vintage Calderon, probably not a trend

Roy Hibbert: 6-11 FG (55%), 4-5 FT (80%), 16 Pts, 14 Reb, 2 Ast, 3 Blk, 1 TO; great start, but is another burnout season in the cards?

Tyler Hansbrough: 6-14 FG (43%), 3-4 FT (75%), 15 Pts, 13 Reb, 1 Stl; probably not the norm for him this season (continue reading…)

Thompson could see heavy minutes early in his rookie season, thanks to Curry's tender ankle. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Suspensions and injuries will play the roles of spoilers for some fantasy owners at the outset of the 2011-12 NBA season. To that end, below is a quick list of players who will start the season serving suspensions or injured, and the players who stand to benefit because of those unfortunate circumstances.

You can read the full post on DimeMag.com.

Andrew Bynum (suspended for the first five games of the season for his cheap shot on J.J. Barea): Josh McRoberts, Troy Murphy

Charlie Villanueva (suspended for the first five games of the season for a scuffle with Ryan Hollins): Jonas Jerebko, Austin Daye, Tayshaun Prince

Jarrett Jack (suspended for the first game of the season for a reckless-driving violation): n/a

Jeff Green (heart surgery, out for the season): Marquis Daniels, Sasha Pavlovic (continue reading…)