A View of the Hardwood 02-10-08 02.12.2008 - Updated on 02.12.2008
 | | | | | | | | | | BLAZERS 93, PACERS 101
Jarrett Jack is a great buy low option right now. In a win over the Bulls Nate McMillan pushed Brandon Roy to small forward, allowing playmakers Steve Blake and Jack an opportunity to share the backcourt. Perhaps Jack forced the change in a two-point loss to the Nuggets on February 4 when he scored 17 points, and came an assist and a rebound shy of a triple double. In three starts since that contest Jack has averaged 14 points and 7 assists. A sensational free throw shooter with decent three-point range, Jack is a fine option at point guard as long as he sticks in the starting lineup. Also noteworthy for the Blazers is the fact that LaMarcus Aldridge scored at least 20 points for the second game a row, after failing to reach that mark in the preceding 11 contests.
Travis Diener continues to attract some fantasy attention, filling in as point guard for the hobbled Jamaal Tinsley. He finished with 15 points, and 9 assists thanks to three three-pointers on Saturday. His fantasy value is contingent on the health status of Tinsley. Danny Granger is clearly the star for the Pacers. He scored 29 points with 4 three-pointers to raise his scoring average to 18 points per game on the season. He fills out the stat sheet in a way comparable to Rudy Gay, leading to top 25 fantasy value.
CLIPPERS 80, 76ERS 101
Despite a performance to forget for the rest of the team, the Clippers forwards gave their fantasy owners solid production. Corey Maggette maintained his hot streak with 26 points and 2 steals. Rookie Al Thornton demonstrated his promise, with 18 points and 10 rebounds. He should only improve throughout the season.
The 76ers seem to be a team full of role players. Louis Williams had the hot hand on Saturday, leading the way with 18 points, while rookie starter Thaddeus Young scored 9 points with 5 rebounds.
GRIZZLIES 99, HORNETS 112
Juan Carlos Navarro seems to be wasting an opportunity to become a starter thanks to his recent streak of poor outside shooting. Mike Conley offered 16 points and 4 assists in his second game back from injury. Another fine game for Darko Milicic as he blocked 3 shots and scored 14 points to go with 7 rebounds. Expect Rudy Gay to evolve into a mid-20s points per game scorer thanks to Pau Gasol’s trade to the Lakers.
David West continued his banner year with 33 points and 10 rebounds. Chris Paul scored just 2 points, but kept up the pace with 16 assists for the Hornets. Second year center Hilton Armstrong started in place of Tyson Chandlerand scored 11 points with 2 blocks and 3 rebounds. Chandler has the flu and should play on Tuesday against Chicago.
KNICKS 99, BUCKS 98
The Knicks finally won a game, thanks to another huge performance by Jamal Crawford. The long range shooter is averaging over 20 points per game, thanks to a 30-point, 5 assist performance against the Bucks. Fred Jones seems to have found his shooting touch, he followed up a 19-point performance with 18 points last night. I would still avoid him, as his playing time will be cut when Nate Robinson returns from an upper respiratory infection. Another interesting tidbit from the Knicks win concerns David Lee. The sensational rebounder scored 17 points with 9 rebounds in 32 minutes, while Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph each played fewer than 25 minutes and combined for 28 points and 11 rebounds.
The Bucks have swapped Charlie Villanueva into the starting lineup, with Yi Jianlian now coming off the bench, a move that has provided plenty of fantasy value for the former UCONN underclassman. In 36 minutes, Villanueva was spectacular on Saturday scoring 21 points with 13 rebounds and 2 blocks. In his first three starts of the season (all coming in February), Villanueva has averaged 18 points, 12 rebounds, and 1 block. A fine shooter, who seldom turns the ball over, Villanueva is a must-get in fantasy leagues as long as he continues to start. The Bucks will have to find a way to keep Bogut, Villanueva, and Jianlian in the starting lineup with Michael Redd and Mo Williams handling the backcourt. However, Villanueva has yet to prove capable of guarding small forwards.
HAWKS 89, ROCKETS 108
The Hawks clearly ran out of gas after succumbing to the Cavs at home on Friday, then getting walloped by the Rockets in Houston on Saturday. Josh Childress still rewarded his fantasy managers with 18 points.
While Yao Ming dominated inside for the Rockets with 28 points and 9 rebounds, Luis Scola has been a pleasant surprise as a starter for the Rockets. When in the starting five, he averages 12 points, and 5 rebounds, though it comes with just 42% shooting from the free throw line.
BULLS 87, JAZZ 97
Limited by injuries, the Chicago Bulls have relied on the production of two unlikely players in recent weeks. Former Duke Blue Devils point guard Chris Duhon has enjoyed three standout performances. In three consecutive starts, Duhon has averaged 18 points, 3 steals, 9 assists, and 2.3 three-pointers per game. These numbers will likely take a dive once Kirk Hinrich returns, which only accentuates the point that the Bulls have the ability to make a trade thanks to their depth at the guard position. Thabo Sefolosha is another guard getting some run with the Bulls. On January 15, the Switzerland native was inserted in the starting lineup. The thirteenth overall pick in the 2006 draft, Sefolosha has offered solid scoring and rebounding. In 15 starts, Sefolosha is averaging 12 points, 1.5 steals, .7 blocks, 2.5 assists, and 6 rebounds in 33 minutes of play. If the Bulls decide that Luol Deng is expendable, Sefolosha can play either shooting guard or small forward. Of course, there is no telling how these players will fit into the Bulls rotation until Hinrich, Deng, and Ben Gordon return to health.
While the Jazz might be enjoying a breakthrough season in reality, in fantasy the team concept is biting into individual performances. In a 10-point win on Saturday, Carlos Boozer did his damage scoring 22 points with 12 rebounds, while Deron Williams scored 15 with 11 assists. Mehmet Okur saw his recent hot streak end with an uneven 7 point, 8 rebound performance with 4 turnovers. His 17 points per game averaged has dwindled to 13 points per game this season. Andrei Kirilenko’s hot start has turned sour, as injuries, and a limited role on the team’s offense has brought his numbers down to 12 points per game and 5.5 rebounds, though his assists are up to 4.6 per game.
KINGS 102, WARRIORS 105
The Kings are a mix of veterans and young talent begging for a major trade that would send Ron Artest and Mike Bibby out of town. Bibby is a high risk, high reward player who can hurt you in percentages and turnovers, but also help with three pointers, and assists. Ron Artest can be fantasy gold at times, but motivation remains an obstacle for consistency.
We knew that Chris Webber wouldn’t return to form overnight, but now the question has to be asked if he will ever become a fantasy star again. I predicted 14 points and 6 rebounds per night with a couple of assists, but based on his first two games, it’s unknown whether he will fit in with the up-tempo game of Golden State. In those two games, Webber combined for 6 points, 4 fouls, 2 steals, and 6 rebounds in 27 minutes. I would imagine that Webber’s minutes will go up, as well as his production, which is a slap in the face to the fantasy value of rebounding specialist Andris Biedrins.
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