fBasketballBlog

It's Monday morning and I can't think of anything clever enough to put here. Any ideas? (AP Photo/Jim Prisching)

Weekend Wonder: Kobe Bryant averaged 31.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists, a steal, 1 block and 3.0 threes in two games over the weekend. He’s shooting less lately, but that’s done nothing to diminish his strong fantasy appeal. It’s not a guarantee that Kobe will keep his top 10 value for the rest of the season, but he’s been one of the surprises of the fantasy season so far.

Lines for Discussion:
Marcus Camby (1/27): 0-4 FG (0%), 20 Reb, 3 Ast, 2 Stl, 2 Blk, 1 TO; sell high

Dorell Wright (1/27): 8-14 FG (57%), 1-2 FT (50%), 6 threes, 23 Pts, 9 Reb, 5 Ast, 2 Stl, 1 Blk; he still has a lot to do if he wants to win back the hearts of fantasy owners who drafted him

Andre Iguodala (1/28): 4-7 FG (57%), 1-2 FT (50%), 1 three, 10 Pts, 10 Reb, 10 Ast, 1 Stl, 1 TO; he continues to average top 25 numbers (continue reading…)

Don't worry: KD is in full control of his fantasy value. (Flickr/Keith Allison)

Beast of the Night: Kevin Durant finished his big night with 29 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, one steal, four blocks and three three-pointers. He shot 65 percent (11-17) from the field, 67 percent (4-6) from the free-throw line and had three turnovers. This was his third consecutive double-double. After a “slow” start, Durant is back on track, notching more rebounds, assist and blocks than he did last season, while shooting an improved 49 percent (up from 46 percent last season) from the floor.

Lines for Discussion:
Danny Granger: 9-16 FG (56%), 3-3 FT (100%), 3 threes, 24 Pts, 5 Reb, 2 Ast, 2 TO; his points, rebounds, assists, three-pointers made, field-goal percentage and free-throw percentage are all down from their marks last season

DeMarcus Cousins: 6-11 FG (55%), 9-11 FT (82%), 21 Pts, 19 Reb, 1 Stl, 1 Blk, 5 TO; his assists-to-turnovers ratio (0.6:3.3) is laughable, but he’s averaging 15.5 points, 11.0 boards, 1.2 steals and 1.7 blocks, good for top 60 value

Tyreke Evans: 7-22 FG (32%), 14-14 FT (100%), 1 three, 29 Pts, 7 Reb, 3 Ast, 2 Stl, 1 TO; weak FG%, 3PTM and fewer assists per game than last season hamper his fantasy appeal (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…)

You're not one of those people who still drafts Kobe in the first round, are you? (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)

It’s time to get grinchy, which is a good thing.

We need some salt to cut through all the sweetness of discussions about sleepers, up-and-comers and late-round steals. So, to that end, below is a quick list of the five NBA players most likely to fall short of meeting their expected values heading into this season, the inherent value of their name or whatever residual impressions of value they’ve carried over from last season in some owners’ minds.

You can read the full article about the top five underperformers over at DimeMag.com. Below is just a list of the names with brief explanations — along with five bonus names, just for this blog’s readers.

See, even the Grinch values its audience. (continue reading…)

Evans certainly has the tools and health to post some big numbers next season, but will he have the ball as often as he'd like? (Jed Jacobsohn/NBAE via Getty Images)

Depth chart:
PG: Tyreke Evans, Jimmer Fredette, Isaiah Thomas, Pooh Jeter*^
SG: Marcus Thornton**, Francisco Garcia, Marquis Daniels*
SF: John Salmons, Donte Greene, Tyler Honeycutt
PF: J.J. Hickson, Darnell Jackson*
C: DeMarcus Cousins, Samuel Dalembert*, Jason Thompson, Hassan Whiteside

* unrestricted free agent
** restricted free agent
^ locked into overseas contract with no opt-out clause (continue reading…)