The NBA playoff is just a few weeks away and we still don’t know who is assured of the last two or even the last four playoff spots in the East. Right now the fourth-8th seed are the Miami Heat(38-32), Philadelphia 76ers(36-33), Detroit Pistons (34-36) and the Chicago Bulls (34-38). These teams aren’t safe yet since there are a some teams just a few games behind them. If you’re a fantasy basketball fan, you are probably loving the East right now. Why? (more…)
I haven’t been able to update this section lately but all is not too late since there are still a lot of players you can pick up to help your team reach first place or just enough to make to the playoffs. We are down to our last month so it’s important that you play close attention to the waiver wires and fix your roster everyday. So here are some of the fantasy basketball pick ups you may still find.
Chris Andersen, PF-C, Denver Nuggets (22% owned)
With Nene out, Andersen will get the bulk of minutes at the center position and he is a very good source for blocks and rebounds. When Nene comes back, as long as you’re in a deep league you can still hold on to him.
Marreese Speights, C, Philadelphia 76ers (10% owned)
He has been up and down mainly because he is a rookie but if you’re in a deep league you have to have this guy on your roster. Good source of rebounds, blocks and fg%.
Fred Jones, SG, LA Clippers (4% owned)
The Clippers are clearly struggling and they’ve had a hard time having able bodies to play on a nightly basis that’s why journeyman Fred Jones has been given a chance. He has scored double figures in four out of the last five games and is a decent source of threes and steals. Surprisingly, he has been giving a block in three straight.
Kyle Weaver, SG, Oklahoma City Thunder (1% owned)
This guy has been under the radar of most people but he has been producing lately. 45% FG shooting for a guard with a three in the last five out of six games. An all around guy who will give you three rebounds and three assists, a steal and very good ft shooting. Surprisingly, his scoring has been up after the trade for Thabo Sefalosha to the Thunder.
Kurt Thomas, C, San Antonio Spurs (3% owned)
The veteran can still play that’s for sure as he has been playing well of late grabbing rebounds and with that occasional putbacks. The Spurs will try to be cautious with Duncan’s knee as we near the playoffs, Thomas is the only reliable big man off the bench for them. Grab him if you really need help in the boards.
Nicola Batum, SG-SF, Portland Trailblazers (2% owned)
He has been scoring double figures in three out of the last four games and has been hot shooting the three. An all around guy also who will give you steals and an occasional block. But this guy should only be grabbed if you’re in a deep league.
Michael Finley, SG-SF, San Antonio Spurs (14% owned)
He has been hot with the threes lately due to an increase in minutes when Manu Ginobili went down with an injury. He won’t be on fire every night but as long as he is getting minutes the points, threes and occasional steals will keep on flowing. Grab him now!
Brandon Rush, G-F, Indiana Pacers (3% owned)
You knew how he was capable of scoring 20 in a games in December when Dunleavy was out. Now that he is given minutes, it’s also a given that he will score in double figures in most games in the last month of the regular season. Just be sure you can take his 37% fg shooting.
Other players you may pick up:
Goran Dragic, PG, Phoenix Suns – A short term pick up if Nash will be out a little longer.
Antoine Wright, SG, Dallas Mavericks – Grab him if he is still in the waiver wires.
Francisco Elson, C, Milwaukee Bucks – The Bucks are thin at the center position and he’s starting.
Travis Diener, PG, Indiana Pacers – No Granger. No Dunleavy. Ford is in and out of the lineup.
Keyon Dooling, PG, New Jersey Nets – Good source of points and threes.
Mike Dunleavy is back
Mike Dunleavy should see a similar year this year compared with last year’s fantastic season where he averaged 19 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2 threes. He may not top all of these stats but he should improve on his assists. Why? Because Mr. Danny Granger is playing like an all star and has been such a reliable scorer. Mike Dunleavy should be handling the ball more in their half court sets especially with TJ Ford always injured.
I just don’t think he could still get 5.2 rebounds this year since having a knee injury doesn’t just affect you physically but also psychologically or mentally. Getting rebounds means that you have to position yourself and go up as fast and as high as you can. Can Dunleavy do that? That is something we have to see but I sure hope he could. The same goes with gambling on the defensive end. If he can’t have to strength or the speed to cope up with the other players because of the injury then his steals might dip below one per game.
When it comes to scoring, Mike Dunleavy will have no problems in this area. Last year he took 13.5 shots a game in 36 minutes. This year, in the four games since he’s come back, he has also took the same amount of shots but in only 22 minutes of play. He should see an increase in shots taken but his fg% might dip a bit.
