Fantasy Basketball Advice

With the lockout likely to linger well into October and perhaps into November, trying to preview the season of 30 teams that might not actually have one seems about as worthwhile as raking leaves on a windy day. But I love raking and the wind only makes it last longer. We here at Razzball have you covered, even if you didn’t want to be covered. That’s love. You’ll appreciate it when you’re older. Look at it this way, the only way any of this stuff can be disproven is if the season starts. So go ahead, NBA, make me a fibber! I dare you. Until then, consider this fantasy basketball gospel. Don’t even bother reading anything else – dem’s all lies. From now until the start of the season, we’re bringing you the 2011 Fantasy Team Previews, which will focus on each team in order to paint a clearer fantasy picture. Who’s starting? Who might surprise you? And who might make you want to hurl yourself off a bridge in a few months. Enjoy! Next up – The Detroit Pistons (where the weak are killed and eaten).

Gained – Brandon Knight, Kyle Singler, Lawrence Frank (probably the biggest acquisition the Pistons make this season – not physically, of course)

Lost – Richard Hamilton / Tracy McGrady / Tayshaun Prince (they’ll probably lose one, if not all).

PG – Rodney Stuckey, Brandon Knight, Will Bynum
SG – Richard Hamilton, Ben Gordon, Tracy McGrady, Terrico White
SF – Tayshaun Prince, Austin Daye, Kyle Singler
PF – Charlie Villanueva, Chris Wilcox, Jonas Jerebko, Jason Maxiell, DaJuan Summers
C –   Greg Monroe, Ben Wallace

Surprising Team Fact From Last Season – The Pistons were the worst rebounding team (3,167 or 38.6 trpg) and the worst blocking team (328 or 4.0 bpg) in the league. 2003 Ben Wallace just punched a hole through the space-time continuum and slapped 2010 Ben Wallace.

Number of Top 20 Fantasy Players   (par 0-1) – 0
Number of Top 50 Fantasy Players   (par 1-2) – 0
Number of Top 75 Fantasy Players    (par 2-3) – 1, Monroe
Number of Top 100 Fantasy Players (par 3-4) – 0
Number of Top 200 Fantasy Players (par 6-7) – 9, Stuckey, Daye, Gordon, Jerebko, Villanueva, Prince, Knight, McGrady

3 Concerns Heading Into the Season

1. Is this a playoff caliber team? Because honestly, it surprises me to say the Pistons look like they could be.
A lower seed, sure. And had they had a coach last year, they likely would have made the playoffs ahead of the Pacers. In the Eastern Conference, I’m pretty sure three monkeys with a fanny pack full of throwing stars could have made the seventh seed if it was coached properly. The Pistons’ largest hurdle is that they have a lot of talent, but no leadership. Maybe that’s Larry Frank’s job, maybe Monroe will grow into that role. For now, though, the Pistons need to prove that they have cohesion before I’ll totally buy into them, fantasy-wise or otherwise.

2. Will Austin Daye’s minute played exceed his weight in pounds this season?
Daye said before Jon Kuester was fired that a new coach “might be beneficial for me.” And by “me,” I can only assume he owned himself in fantasy basketball and was speaking for all of us, because no one got jerked around and devalued last season more than Daye. With Prince and McGrady likely gone and Kyle Singler still a white guy from Duke, the starting SF spot is Daye’s to lose and I’m not even sure there’ll be anyone there to back him up if he does lose it.

3. Explain Detroit’s rookies.
That’s not a question and I refuse to kowtow to your demands.

3a. Will you elaborate on the potential of Detroit’s rookies, please?
Why, yes I will. Thank you for asking. Let’s start with Singler, about whom I’ve heard good things. The problem is, the things I’m hearing are not things I’ve seen. He averaged almost 18 points a game as a streaky spot-up forward, but didn’t have great percentages, nor any athletic moves to the basket. And that would be totally acceptable had he been drafted 33^rd overall by the Bobcats; he might be good enough to start for those poor bastards. Analysis! With respect to No. 8 overall pick Brandon Knight, he’s a SG who will play PG. Considering how well Detroit has done with Stuckey leading the charge (another player put out of position because the team had no better place t put him, much like McGrady at times last season), Motor City can’t be ecstatic about Knight. Detroit’s entire backcourt is filled with guys who enjoy shooting an little else. (I’ve heard Ben Gordon just got a Tumblr account and has enjoyed exploring its possibilities, but other than that …) Knight is quick, plays solid defense and is widely considered a poised player. You know it’s bad when dudes name intangibles as a player’s third strength. It usually means they only really have two strengths. Knight’s weaknesses, on the other hand are his age (he’ll improve, but 2011 might be rough), his ball handling (he’s turnover prone) and his passing (it’s labored, which is not what one wants from one’s future starting PG).

Fantasy Disappointment in ’11 –  Richard Hamilton. R.I.P. One way or the other.

Biggest Fantasy Contributor in ’11 – Greg Monroe. G-Monee ranked third in the league in ORbd% last season, which is pretty good for a rookie and even better for a rookie on a team that didn’t have anyone else rebounding. There are two schools of thought (or skools of thawt if you dabble in ‘80s breakdance) about rebounding: 1) the more rebounders on the floor, the harder it is to grab one. This thought is absolutely true. 2) When a team has only one rebounding threat, it’s easy to know who to put a body on and hard for that dude to grab a rebound. This thought is truer than the first thought. No one was boxing out Charlie V, Wilcox or even Wallace (6.5 rpg in 54 games). Griffin and Wall are the exciting names coming out of last year’s rookie class, but Monroe’s gonna hammer smash a dent all up in this league if not this year, then certainly in the next one.

Deep Sleeper – Jonas Jerebko. A year ago, I said this about JoKo: “9/6 per game. He doesn’t look like he knew how to play basketball 18 months ago and that’s what makes him poetic. Because every offensive stat he’s ever produced has surprised those surrounding him.” I’m pretty sure I haven’t thought about Jerebko since then. So, yeah. That’ll have to do.

With the lockout likely to linger well into October and perhaps into November, trying to preview the season of 30 teams that might not actually have one seems about as worthwhile as raking leaves on a windy day. But I love raking and the wind only makes it last longer. We here at Razzball have you covered, even if you didn’t want to be covered. That’s love. You’ll appreciate it when you’re older. Look at it this way, the only way any of this stuff can be disproven is if the season starts. So go ahead, NBA, make me a fibber! I dare you. Until then, consider this fantasy basketball gospel. Don’t even bother reading anything else – dem’s all lies. From now until the start of the season, we’re bringing you the 2011 Fantasy Team Previews, which will focus on each team in order to paint a clearer fantasy picture. Who’s starting? Who might surprise you? And who might make you want to hurl yourself off a bridge in a few months. Enjoy! Next up – The Charlotte Bobcats (or the Robertcats if they’re trying to sound fancy).

Gained – Corey Maggette, Kemba Walker, Bismack Biyombo (probably)

Lost – Stephen Jackson, all hope at ever scoring over 70 points a game, the possibility of drawing more than 8,000 fans

Probable position depth -
PG – D.J. Augustin, Kemba Walker, Sherron Collins
SG – Gerald Henderson, Matt Carroll, Garrett Temple
SF – Corey Maggette, Dante Cunningham, Dominic Maguire
PF – Boris Diaw, Tyrus Thomas, Bismack Biyombo, D.J. White, Eduardo Najera
C –    Kwame Brown, Joel Przybilla, DaSagana Diop

Surprising Team Fact From Last Season – The Bobcats didn’t average the fewest points per game NBA teams. That distinction goes to the Milwaukee Bucks, out of whom I’m convinced Jordan scared the bejesus when he realized his team might average a lowly 93.3 points per game (the franchise’s worst in its seven seasons).

Number of Top 20 Fantasy Players   (par 0-1) – 0
Number of Top 50 Fantasy Players   (par 1-2) – 0
Number of Top 75 Fantasy Players    (par 2-3) – 1, Augustin
Number of Top 100 Fantasy Players (par 3-4) – 0
Number of Top 200 Fantasy Players (par 6-7) – 7, Henderson, Maggette, Thomas, Diaw, Walker, Biyombo

3 Concerns Heading Into the Season

1. Is it cool if I just completely ignore this team come draft day? ‘Cause I really wanna just ignore this team on draft day.
As long as every NBA team still employs NBA players, it’s not advisable to ignore any roster outright. That said, if you’re considering a Bobcat anywhere before the first 70 picks, throw your notebook out and think of clever fantasy team names because that’s about the only way your team’s getting noticed otherwise. This team is full of guys that could kinda, sorta make a difference to your fantasy team is you squint a little and do a couple shots of Wild Turkey first. Boris Diaw could be the multi-tooled backup big that he showed in flashes last year (and throughout his career). Kemba Walker is agile and could be the steal of this year’s rookie class if given room to maneuver. Maggette has the ability to take over games, get to the line, shoot at an efficient clip. Tyrus, Kwame, Bismack; they all could produce if the stars align just right and no one sneezes, or talks while they’re dribbling, or watches them at all, really (this might actually happen). Come draft day, you don’t want to squint at the guy you’re about to pick up. You want to send him over a drink and stare at him until he’s uncomfortable and leaves. Or whatever.

2. Do Geralds thrive on Charlotte rosters? Should we investigate this?
Gerald Wallace is gone, leaving room for Gerald Henderson’s 10/3/2 (16/5/4 in his final eight games, which should leave you with only two questions: 1) How would Gerald Greene do on this squad? (answer: Gerald Greene-y), 2) Who’s naming their kid Gerald still? (answer: Parents who love their kids less than the ones naming their offspring “Dirk.”) Bonus question: Who is most likely to be the most ownable fantasy option on the Cats other than Augustin? (answer: if you don’t know or somehow answered Gerald Greene, go back and read this entire paragraph again.)

3. For reals, when will it ever be T-Time?
We’ve been practicing this for a few years now, so you should all be quite accustomed to the chorus. Line up, shoulder to shoulder, stand up straight, and please say it with me: “If Thomas will ever be impactful, it will be this year.” Good. A little pitchy, dawg, but still pretty solid. I had completely given up on Thomas last season. I put him on my draft board, but I was never actually going to draft him. I got burned drafting him in 2009 and vowed never to do it again. But here’s the thing, he’s still on the Bobcats and the Bobcats’ best player is D.J. Augustin. These are not high times in Charlotte – well, I mean, they are high times, but not the kind that has to do with basketball players … at least not the kind that has to do with basketball players on the court. Thomas was married a couple months ago, which will either straighten his head out or mess it up even more. Either way, it’s never good when the most important aspect of a player rests on the guy’s spouse. Still, I’d be willing to consider Thomas inside the top 120 simply because he’s the third or fourth best player on this team regardless of whether he starts.

Fantasy Disappointment in ’11 –  Tyrus Thomas. I started typing Corey Maggette, and the computer Auto Corrected it to read Thomas. Who am I to argue with technology?

Biggest Fantasy Contributor in ’11 – D.J. Augustin. He was Charlotte’s biggest fantasy contributor last season and now he’s playing on a team without Jax and Crash. Silas has already determined that Augustin and first-round draft pick Kemba Walker will be playing together a lot of the time, and Augustin’s 16 PER came at 23-years-old. His efficiency might go down in 2011, but I’d be surprised if anything else did. Honestly, I’ll take it as a personal slight if Augustin isn’t the first Bobcat picked off your board.

Deep Sleeper – Bismack Biyombo. I mostly just wanted to write his name again. Get used to it.

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Yeah, the lockout news hasn’t gotten any better – just more plentiful.

Happy Friday.

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Firstly, Raise a glass (or a highball if you’re reading this in the offices of Sterling, Cooper, Draper, Price) in honor of Razzball Basketball, which turns a year old today. It’s been a long ride. It’s been approximately 365 days – which I think everyone can agree is a long time to be a-ridin’.

Secondly, I’m still looking for input on the contingency plan for this site if a lockout happens. Oh, there will still be fantasy basketball, I’m just not sure from which decade it will come. Help me decide. Right now, I’m leaning toward the 1989-90 season. Anything between the late ’70s and last season is welcome. Although, if you request a recap of last season, I’ll probably just tell you to click the links to your left and taunt you silently. It’s not rude if it’s silent. And your preference won’t be heard if your silent either.

For more about the lockout contingency, click this.

I don’t care much for travel writing and care much less for travel writing brought about because of economic negotiations. But with the summer dragging on and basketball (fantasy or otherwise) nowhere near starting, I might as well write about it as simply as I can … with colors and shapes!

Side note: I think I’ve uncovered the reason the respective economies of Spain, Italy and Greece are on their way to the pooper: they’re all jockeying for the rights to Donte Greene and Corey Maggette. It’s gonna take at least a Stephen Jackson, guys. At least!