Gilbert Arenas comeback

After missing 156 of the possible 173 games, Gilbert Arenas is back. This game against the Detroit Pistons marked his first since April 27, 2008. It was filled with mixed emotions as people were excited to see him back but unfortunately, the game resulted in a loss where Arenas’ shot was blocked by Kwame Brown.

Caron Butler was able to grab the ball and take a shot but missed resulting in a 98-96 Detroit win.

“I’m going to think about that the whole way to Indiana,” Arenas said as the team prepared to catch a postgame plane to play the Pacers on Sunday. “I should’ve called a timeout, or I should’ve just drove the lane off the rebound, but that’s what happened. We’ve got to live with it. … Just had a mental block.”

But it wasn’t all that bad as he finished the game with 15 points, 10 assists, 2 threes and only one turnover. The fg percentage was bad but is forgivable as Arenas was rusty from not playing in over a year.

“You’ve ever heard that expression, ‘If you want it to rain, wash your car’? That’s what happened this morning,” Arenas said. “I got here, knee’s been feeling fine this whole time, as soon as I got here it started aching. ‘Oh man, see, I knew this was going to happen.’ So I said I wasn’t going to play. And then once I got home, I felt better. I said, ‘Oh, it’s just nerves kicking in.’ Once I got out there, it was all basketball from there.”

It really looked like he was feeling well in that game and was having fun even after tripping. But unlike the Arenas we saw last year where he would have had a hard time getting up, this time it seemed that it didn’t bother him that much.

Even after losing to the Pistons, Wizards fans have to be happy that their $111 million is back and what a better sight than to see their Big 3 back in action. Caron Butler played for the first time after missing seven straight games with a sore hamstring. As long as Arenas’ knee can hold up, and with a a very high possibility of getting a top 4 pick in next year’s draft, it looks brighter in Washington. I just wish Eddie Jordan would have still been their coach.

Fantasy Basketball Rant on Arenas:

Gilbert Arenas comeback

It’s because the league I’m in is a keeper league.

In 2007-2008, when Arenas went down with the injury, I didn’t trade him or dropped him. He just took a roster space while I wait for him to come back. Well, he did but it didn’t really do anything positive for my team. The only thing it did was it gave me hope that Arenas would be back close to 100% the following season.

So I kept him together with Al Jefferson, since our league keeps only two players. We had our draft in August, which was a little early and so at that time I had already announced that I was keeping Al Jeff and Arenas instead of Gerald Wallace or Lamarcus Aldridge. Also, at that time, Gilbert Arenas looked to be on a comeback after news that his rehab and training was looking good.

Well, you know what’s next. He was out. Again.

So right now, it’s a bittersweet moment that Arenas is back since he came back two weeks too late now that my team in that league has been out again. That really is my worst performing league. It’s a good thing my others are all doing well and are in the playoff race. I understand that you can’t win them all, and I will have to ask myself this question. Would I want to keep Al Jeff, Caron Butler and Gilbert Arenas or should I just replace him with Ron Artest or Randy Foye? It looks like I would want to keep him if our league will still be active.

How about you?

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The Black Eyed Peas Detroit Pistons are trying to protect their 7th seed in the East with teams like the Bulls, Bobcats, and the rest of the East are trying to make the playoffs too. With starters Allen Iverson, Rip Hamilton, and Rasheed Wallace out, someone has to step up and that someone is Will.By.Num.

Will Bynum has been on fire lately averaging 16.7 points, 4 assists, on solid shooting from the field. His defense has also been great because of his athleticism and energy. Though the Pistons have lost six of their last seven games, the undrafted guard out of Georgia Tech has proven that he can step it up when needed.

As many of us were surprised and impressed just now, Joe Dumars and Michael Curry knew all along that this kid can step it up and play. After traveling around the world, from playing in the NBDL then the Golden St. Warriors to playing for Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel, Bynum was called by Dumars to invite him to play for their summer league team. He, of course, was very impressive.

Will Bynum had another very good game as the Pistons starting point guard. His defense, running the offense and ability to drive to the basket and make something happen has to caught the eye of Joe Dumars and coach Curry. Bynum even showed he has leaping ability when he went up for a tomahawk slam that looked like his eyes were even with the rim. Too bad he was fouled on the play that prevented what would have been one of the best dunks of the summer. Bynum finished with 16 points, 3 assists and 2 steals in 28 minutes.

Like in our fantasy teams, Will Bynum was never drafted back in October but he has been impresive in helping our fantasy basketball teams in a lot of ways. I just hope your team is winning and not on a losing streak like the Detroit Pistons right now.

I’m a fan of Will Bynum now. How about you?

Here are some of Will Bynum’s top plays while playing for Maccabi Tel Aviv

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David West

David West of the New Orleans Hornets had an all star year last year after averaging 20.6 points and 8.6 rebounds while also giving good numbers across the board. This year he was voted to play in the All star game again but some, including me, doubted that he deserved to be in that roster with others players still being available. He is still averaging 20 points and 8 rebounds this season but ironically, his stats increased and only became that way after the all star game.

In the games after the all star game, David West has been averaging 24.8 points, 11.4 rebounds, on 48.9% from the field and 84.7% from the line. Add the 3.6 assists and 1.2 to these great stats and now he has been a top 25 performer the last 20 days.

The Hornets have really benefited from this explosion of David West and together with the resurgence of Tyson Chandler they’re on a six game winning streak right now. They look like contenders in the West again just like how they were last year and they could go far as long as their star point guard, Chris Paul, and David West are healthy.

In a fantasy basketball perspective, congratulations if you were able to buy this guy at a cheap price before the all star break. Great patience also if you believed in him and didn’t trade this guy for someone not that worthy. Enjoy this production as he could carry your team a long way too come the fantasy basketball playoffs.

As long as he keeps this going and the Hornets keep on winning, I think this will be enough to convince me that he really deserved to be in that All Star team. Forget it, he really deserves it.

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After struggling his first two seasons after being selected first overall in the 2006 NBA draft, Andrea “ll Divo (The Magician)” Bargnani is finally producing. In his first two year he was filled with inconsistency, criticisms and poor play. But this year he looks to be starting to make his mark in the NBA.

In the last ten games as a starter, Bargnani has averaged 22.1 points a game, 6.1 boards and has made a total of 29 threes. What’s great is that he is shooting 58.9% in those games, which I had to check twice since he is just a low 40% career shooter.

He has been starting and getting minutes because Jermaine O’neal has been out with an injury. There would be a time split again when O’neal comes back but the good thing is that he is willing to come of the bench and let Bargnani continue starting.

Fantasy Analysis

I know that there are a lot of you out there either feeling good or feeling bad because of Bargnani. The reason you may be feeling good is that you were able to pick him up off waivers or you had the patience and not drop him. But I know a lot of people aren’t feeling good because of this guy since they dropped him just before he exploded. Don’t worry, I’m one of those guys who dropped him too. And now it’s coming to haunt us.

Anyway, despite (yup since O’neal will get minutes) the return of J.O. I still think Bargnani will continue his hot streak and will produce close to this the rest of the season. My reason is that he has become more confident with his shot and that can do a lot of positive things for a player. Jose Calderon, when he comes back, will also look for this kid in the offense and if they improve their record that would really boost his confidence.

I’m liking averages of 15 points, 6-7 rebounds, and over 2 threes a game the rest of the season. He should still continue his good fg% and that should be close to 50%. As I said, Calderon will get him the ball now and that would make it much easier for him to produce.

If he continues his play, I’m considering him as a keeper for next year if I have him in my leagues. But this depends on the number of players you will be keeping. With averages worthy of a mid round pick, that’s a great reason to keep him especially if your rule is that you lose the draft round above the player you keep. Another thing, J.O. is said to being shopped around, maybe for Shawn Marion, so this is better news for “The Magician.”

Good job to those who kept him when he was down and sorry to those who dropped him. Maybe we could find another gem in the waiver wires soon. Good luck to everyone!

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Thanks to basketbawful.blogspot.com for this Tyson Chandler pic

The New Orleans haven’t been struggling but they just aren’t as good as last year. They could have been first place in the standings last year but this year they’re in 4th place. Yes, other teams have improved and the Hornets haven’t really gotten anything to bolster their lineup. In how I see it, it’s because Tyson Chandler played really well last year and his presence on the boards this year isn’t the same.

Chandler’s averages last year were 11.8 points and 11.8 rebounds and making 62% of his shots while this year it’s down to 9 points and 8.3 rebounds on 55.6% shooting. His stats haven’t been at par last year that yahoo forgot to include him as their top rebounder.

New Orleans Hornets on yahoo

In a fantasy perspective, Chandler has just been a 4-cat player at most. Just contributing to rebounds, fg%, block and a few points but this was last year when he was still averaging a double double. Right now, you he is still contributing to those stats but you could get players who have those stats drafted way after him.

Despite not having a great season, Chandler looks to be getting better lately as he is putting up three straight games with a double double. If he continues this pace he could somehow reach his averages a year ago and owners wouldn’t have to feel bad about getting him in the 5th-8th round this year. I know of someone in one of my leagues of drafting this guy in the 3rd round of a 14 team league. I can’t blame him for reaching since Chandler really played well last year.

Nothing left here to say about him only that if his play improves I’m sure that the Hornets will find some consistency and not alternate wins and losses and fantasy owners will be very much pleased. This is a great time for him to shine as this is where some fantasy teams pull away. Hope he’s on your team as Tyson Chandler returns to his old self (not the Bulls days).

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Yes, the 2007-2008 rookie class wasn’t that strong if you take a look at it especially with the number one overall pick, Greg Oden, being sidelined for his whole rookie year. And impact rookies drafted in that class like Marc Gasol and Rudy Fernandez have opted to play this year, which makes this their rookie season. Last year we still had Kevin Durant and Jeff Green, who have been great lately and Al Horford who has been showing signs that he will be a very consistent NBA player. Don’t forget Rodney Stuckey who has been a beast since being inserted in the starting lineup. But where are the rest? Maybe they’re really in a slump.

Jamario Moon
Although he has been playing well lately, Moon is still just averaging 6.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and less than a block a game. These numbers are down compared with his rookie year and could have been worse if Sam Mitchell had not been replaced.

Sean Williams
Where is this guy now? He’s in the D-league playing for the Colorado 14ers. This guy had so much promise in in rookie year where he was averaging 1.5 blocks a game with good fg%. He needs to straighten up if he wants to return and make an impact in the NBA.

Mike Conley
Whether it be because of a time split with Kyle Lowry or the drafting of OJ Mayo, Conley is still struggling. The former 4th overall pick has almost all his averages down. The only thing positive is his TOs are down – the result of playing less minutes.

Joakim Noah
This guy has been in and out of the waivers wires too just like his buddy Tyrus Thomas and for good reason. He would show signs of life and when you start him he wouldn’t produce. This guy can be a great rebounder if he’s given the minutes.

Yi Jian Lian
Looks like the trade to the Nets didn’t really help Yi as his numbers are just average. His scoring is up to 9.7 a game but at the expense of his fg%. This guy is still young, no matter what people say his age is, and is still going to improve.

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I must admit that I’ve never been a big fan of having rookies in my fantasy basketball teams but I gambled on some even on Greg Oden. I’ve been happy with everyone I’ve picked except for him. The other rookies have really impressed me and have helped some of my teams so far. These rookies have given great value so let’s take a look at my top 10 rookies for this season:

OJ Mayo, Memphis Grizzlies
Despite scoring seven points twice in the last five games, Mayo is still averaging 19.8 points while contributing 4.1 rebounds and 3 assists a game. He has helped the Grizzlies to a 10-19 record, which isn’t bad for a team who was expected to have a worse record. Oh, and they’re 10th in West. Good job if you gambled a mid round pick on this rookie.

Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
I regret trading Rose in one of my leagues because he gives me 17 points, 6 assists and good fg% for a point guard. The injury of Hinrich has helped his minutes which led to better production. He will be an all star for years to come but right now I hope he doesn’t hit a rookie wall.

Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
He has got to be one of the best pickups in public leagues this year especially with him teasing us with close to triple double numbers every night. His December numbers have been incredible with 15 points, 5.3 assists and 5.2 rebounds. The only downside, just like other rookies, is the turnover category. He now has the starting job and you just have to be excited how another month of playing with Durant and Green will help his fantasy value.

Brook Lopez, New Jersey Nets
Lopez is top 5 in blocks with 2 a game and is shooting percentages from the field (47) and the line(75). He gives you 10 points a game and 7.6 boards too. I must admit that I wasn’t a fan of Lopez when he was drafted by the Nets because of the number of big men they have but he seems to have won the starting job and he should improve throughout the rest of the season.

Rudy Fernandez, Portland Trailblazers
He became a fan favorite because of his fantastic play in the Beijing Olympics and he has proved that he could bring that style of play in the NBA. That led to nice productions for fantasy owners who spent a late a draft pick on him. He will continue his line of 10 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2 assists. He only has 1.3 TOs a game and the best thing is that he gives you 2 threes a game.

Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies
It looks like the trade that involved the Gasol brothers wasn’t too bad for the Grizzlies after all. Marc Gasol has been a big reason for that since he has given Memphis and his owners 10.6 points, 6.7 rebounds and a block a game. What’s nice is he’s doing this on 52% fg shooting. He showed that he could be a factor this season when he scored 27 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in a game against the Warriors.

DJ Augustin, Charlotte Bobcats
There have been rumors that Raymond Felton would be shipped out of Charlotte and this is just good news for him and DJ Augustin, who will get the starting job. In the six games he has started, Augustin has averaged 18.8 points and 7 assists and a nice 2.8 threes. Even if he doesn’t shoot well from the field he makes this up with 92% ft shooting on 3.4 attempts a game.

Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, Milwaukee Bucks
The Prince had his ups and downs this season but it looks like Milwaukee Bucks coach Scott Skiles really likes this guy for his defensive play. He has improved his scoring and is a great source of rebounds and some steals.

Eric Gordon, Los Angeles Clippers
He has been getting more minutes lately and is likely to sustain this the rest of the year. He has averaged 13.6 as a starter and is a good source for threes. If he is still available in your league for some reason, go and pick him up.

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Boris Diaw looked like a rising star in the 2005-2006 season – the season where Amar’e was out because of a knee injury. He had averages of 13.3 points, 6.2 assists, 6.9 rebounds to go along with percentages and a block a game. This led to the Suns extending his contract for 5 years worth $45 million. The summer after that he got fat and Amar’e came back full force and he played a lesser role in the offense. He was also asked to play more of an inside game where he wasn’t comfortable with. After two and a half years since the extension, Diaw, Raja Bell and Sean Singletary were traded to the Charlotte Bobcats for Jason Richardson and Jared Dudley.

The trade is looking really good for both teams as the Suns have gone 3-1 and the Bobcats are 2-3, which isn’t bad for a struggling team. What’s even better is that Diaw is justifying his salary with career highs in points(16.8), rebounds (7.8), steals (1.0), threes (1.4). If he continues this (I hope), he would be one of the best pickups off the waiver wire this year. By now, every fantasy league shouldn’t have Diaw in their waiver wire. If ever you are in any of the leagues that still has Diaw available, you better hurry and enjoy this production for the rest of the year. In 2008-2009, Diaw looks like he will be a star in this league, definitely worth the money.

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