FANTASY NBA: Scouring the Box Scores

The best way to keep up with the free agency market in your league is to scan box scores as often as you can. With Allen Iverson being traded from Philadelphia to Denver as well as rotation issues on the rosters of inactive trade teams, there are some things to sort out. And when there are things to sort out in terms of who gets minutes, there are opportunities to find value before anyone else.

Beginning with the 76ers, the biggest winners appear to be Andre Iguodala and Willie Green. Both are taking far more shots now that Iverson's 20-plus attempts per night have gone west. Iguodala is not available in your league, but Green might be. His field goal shooting has been far from stellar, but if you can absorb that, you'll get a nice boost in his scoring, rebounding and assist numbers.

In Boston, guard Tony Allen continues to put up big numbers in Wally Szczerbiak's absence. He went for 17 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 blocks against the Warriors last night and has now scored in double figures in four straight games. Teammate Al Jefferson has played big and grabbed at least 10 rebounds in six straight games. If either is available on your waiver wire, go get them now.

Charlie Villanueva is working his way back from an elbow injury and scored an efficient 16 points on 5-of-8 field goals, 2-of-2 3-pointers and 4-of-4 free throws. He recently missed a game against Minnesota with shoulder tendonitis, so monitor his healthy closely before making any roster moves involving him. When he's 100%, he's got the game of a Top 50 fantasy player.

My guy, Memphis PF Alexander Johnson, scored nine points in just 13 minutes, but the problem was, he also picked up six fouls. Portland's Travis Outlaw continued a nice scoring streak, but more importantly, he continued a very nice shot blocking streak. Outlaw blocked four shots against the Rockets last night, giving him 14 over the last six games (2.3/game).

Shaun Livingston is officially a fantasy stud, no matter whether Sam Cassell is playing or not. He is playing big minutes and putting up progressively bigger numbers. His value is going to snowball, so if you have any thoughts of picking him up or trading for him, my suggestion would be to do it ASAP. Same goes for Toronto PF Andrea Bargnani, who is scoring in different ways, blocking shots and putting up better rebounding numbers.

FANTASY NFL: Entering the Playoffs with a Team of Hacks

By Dustin Hockensmith

Owning an undefeated record and pursuing a perfect season isn't what it's cracked up to be. Ask Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts or me and Gandhi's Good Guys what a late first loss can do to team morale. Only in that situation can a 12-1 team feel like it has failed, and only in that situation can a team lose all of its built-up momentum. Playoff failure is such an expected result that it requires a language of its own to describe.

Indianapolize – v. (to indianapolize) – to lose one's swagger and only look like a playoff team in the regular season standings; to follow the lead of a star who says "Aw shucks" under pressure; to fade; to crumble; to collapse; to get torched on defense; to have an inconsistent running game. My fantasy football team has been indianapolized by injuries and poor play.

Gandhi's Good Guys started the regular season 12-0 and finished 13-1, but are in bad shape at the wrong time of the year. The top three running backs on the depth chart – Ronnie Brown, Clinton Portis and Laurence Maroney – have gone down and given way to the Hack Unit of Sammy Morris, Ron Dayne and Cedric Benson. Quarterback Tom Brady is coming off the worst start of his career, and Santana Moss is playing more like his cousin Tito Santana.

This team has been covering up its weaknesses in large part because its manager was the only person in the draft who knew that kick return yards earned points. So, finding gems like Dante Hall, Bobby Wade, Chris Carr and Justin Miller have kept the team afloat. In a complete representation of how flawed the scoring system is, Carr, the second-best defender in our league (to Miller), has a total of 11 tackles this season.

Throw in free agent pickups Dayne, Morris, Vince Young, Vernon Davis and linebacker Bart Scott, and virtually the entire team is comprised of non-union scabs and replacement players. The way I see it, the pressure is now on everyone else to not get completely outmanaged and lose to a second-rate team. We'll see on Sunday when the league's regular season champion enters the fantasy playoffs with something to prove.

FANTASY NBA: Striking Before the Iron Gets Hot

In a competitive Fantasy NBA world, the free agency market can be cruel to slow-to-react shoppers. Recognizing who CAN be good before he actually starts producing is incredibly important, and it's an art of judgment and timing that helps you sift through all the unpredictability. The market is on the verge of getting hot, so it is now time to really do your homework; the breakdown below should help you get started.

Recommendations by Position:

Point Guards
Shaun Livingston, PG LA Clippers: If Livingston's on my team, he never makes it to the waiver wire in the first place. If he's there in your league, pick him up immediately. Sam Cassell is going to fade down the stretch, and Livingston is already putting up solid numbers (7.6 pts, 4.5 assists, 0.9 blocks) in spite of the 14-year veteran. What puts him to the top of the point guard free agent list is his length and ability to block shots; that will keep his value high until the triple-doubles start coming. Pick-up Potential: Daniel Gibson, Cleveland (consistent playing time, consistent production are keys); Sebastian Telfair, Boston (needs to shoot the ball better, more consistently); Chucky Atkins, Memphis (needs to keep up this pace, not die of old age).

Shooting Guards
Luther Head, PG/SG Houston Rockets: Head is shooting the lights out from 3-point range, and he won't be stopping anytime soon. He has a big man in the post in Yao Ming and a star in Tracy McGrady that can penetrate and kick and keep giving him open looks. Sure, his numbers across the board are a little weak, but there are only eight other players in fantasy basketball that average more 3's per game, and none of them are on your waiver wire. Pick-up Potential: Martell Webster, Portland (has upside, exceptional length and freedom to fire away from downtown); Hedo Turkoglu, Orlando (percentages, scoring are down, turnovers are up so far).

Small Forwards
Andrea Bargnani, SF/PF Toronto Raptors: Combines the field goal percentage and blocks of a power forward with the scoring and 3-point shooting of a small forward. Neither numbers by themselves are particularly impressive, but he's averaging 13 points, 1.0 block and 1.3 three-pointers a night in his last six games. To put thsoe numbers into perspective, there are four players in all of basketball that are averaging at least one block and one 3 per game for the year. Pick-up Potential: Chuck Hayes, Houston (not much scoring, but he's hitting the glass HARD); Martell Webster (see above).

Power Forwards
Craig Smith, SF/PF Minnesota: Smith's got to show better rebounding potential to warrant a pick-up, but if Kevin Garnett gets dealt, there are 12 more potential rebounds to go around. He is scoring points in limited minutes, but is very inconsistent in the rebounding and hustle categories. His value is directly tied into his potential on the boards though, so look for consistent 5+ rebound games and strike before anyone else does. Pick-up Potential: Al Jefferson, Boston (a better immediate pick than Smith); Travis Outlaw, Portland (just when he was getting better, he picked up five fouls and scored zero points in 10 minutes Wednesday).

Centers
LaMarcus Aldridge, SF/PF/C Portland: Multi-position eligibility is a nice bonus for a nice fantasy player. His rhythm was disrupted when he took an elbow to the mouth on Nov. 28, but he's averaged 9.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in the four games since. His season percentages aren't bad, either - 53.9% from the floor, 80.8% from the line. Pick-up Potential: Alonzo Mourning, Miami (2.6 blocks per night is a big number); Mark Blount, Minnesota (it's likely no other free agent big man has better scoring prowess).

FANTASY NBA: Stop Doubting Tyronn Lue

He's been unwanted in Fantasy NBA for years now, but Atlanta PG Tyronn Lue has become a pretty good player. The acquisition of Speedy Claxton was thought to have hurt his fantasy value this season, but Lue's stock has only gone up in my eyes. He's not a starting point guard in the NBA, but this season, he's been one of the top reserves and a candidate for 6th man of the year.

Lue has not started a game in 2006-07, but has still found a way to score in double figures in 12 straight games. Throw in 1.7 three's and 4.6 assists per night over that time, and he has made for a pretty useful fantasy point guard. Don't think that Lue has done anything out of the ordinary from his career numbers (he's averaged at least 10 ppg in 4 of the last 5 seasons), he has just carved out a bigger niche in the Atlanta offense. His percentages, which have always been solid, have improved but not spiked, and he is a virtual lock for 45 percent shooting and 85 percent free throw shooting.

Go pick him up now.

Other 3-point help out there comes at a greater sacrifice to your overall team goals, but there are some options. Nearly all of Houston PG/SG Luther Head's 9.5 ppg have come by way of the 3-pointer, as he has knocked down at least two 3's in nine straight games. He's also shooting an insane 48.7 percent from downtown.

Veterans Chucky Atkins, Brent Barry and Hedo Turkoglu offer some help there, but don't add any kind of excitement to your roster. Both Head and Martell Webster offer a little upside to go along with their long-range prowess so watch for their weak scoring averages to improve and strike if or when that happens. Webster already has given some hope with 18 points on Sunday.

FANTASY: Blue Chips vs. Day Trades

Potential Fantasy NBA Blue Chips

While SF/PF Andrea Bargnani, SF/PF/C LaMarcus Aldridge and SF/PF Shelden Williams have yet to justify their NBA draft selections, all three appear poised to do so. As is the case with all rookies, you need to exercise a little patience, both from a consistency and playing time perspective, but these are all guys who can help you in the short to medium term.

Bargnani is scoring points (averaging 12.3 ppg in his last six) and showing some nice potential in the hustle categories, but is rebounding like his effeminate first name suggests he would. Aldridge was just starting to play a more prominent role in Portland, but took an elbow to the chops on November 26 and has played just 12 minutes in the last two games. Williams is beginning to put it together, but remains a little weak in the points and rebounds departments.


Historically Awesome Fantasy NHL Blue Chips

After the NHL lockout, many young stars emerged. The trend in fantasy hockey is to take youth, which means there is tremendous veteran value on the waiver wire.

Pittsburgh's LW Evgeni Malkin and C Sidney Crosby have been the talk of the hockey world, but why not pick up RW Mark Recchi? With 490 career goals, he's the perfect veteran to play on their line. ... C Brad Richards and LW Gary Roberts similarly had great months and may be worth a look.


Day Trading to Fantasy NFL Glory

In my fantasy football league, there is literally nothing available on the waiver wire. You're likely screwed if you need waiver help now. But everyone thinks they can strike it rich in a week. A good place to look for quality depth this point in the season is WR.

Marty Booker was once was nasty and since Joey Harrington took over, Booker is 17 yards behind Wes Welker for the team lead in receiving yards. ... In my league, Kenny Bloggins just picked up Santonio Holmes, a strong short-term buy. Hines Ward could miss two weeks and Holmes is a pedigree wide out with a bright future, one Kenny hopes begins Sunday. ... Tom Brady consistently spread the ball this season. Maybe, just maybe, Reche Caldwell will replicate his 9 reception, 90 yards and 1 TD Week 10 performance? Against a soft Detroit defense this week, I'd say the chances are better than average.

FANTASY NBA: Emerging Forces

SHALLOW LEAGUES

In my league (which is actually ridiculously deep or "subterranean"), someone dropped PG/SG Randy Foye. I'm sure this happened in plenty of leagues where patience is not a requisite for a league championship, so it deserves to be pointed out he should be picked up immediately if he's available.

You cannot teach a player to be clutch. Coaches rely on this intangible and players who have it get the opportunity to shine. Last night, Foye scored 11 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter against the Mavs. En route to victory against the Clippers Saturday he scored 14 of his 15 points in the fourth. He's stepping up in a big way against quality opponents while Kevin Garnett is occupies defenses. The other stats should fill out in time, which is awesome potential for the 13th man.


DEEP LEAGUES

Miami G/F Dorrell Wright is finally cracking the rotation. Drafted in 2004 out of high school, he barely saw the light of day on the Heat bench despite having some freakish athletic gifts. He developed a knowledge of the game, being coached by Pat Riley, playing with some legendary veterans and being part of a championship team. Now, he is budding into a star. With Riley calling out his team, Wright should continue to get minutes as long as keeps earning them.

In three games as a starter, his line: 8.7 PPG on 50%, 100% FTP, 11.3 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.3 SPG and 1.0 TO.


SUBTERRANEAN LEAGUES

I was one of the many Knicks that attended the 2006 draft who booed Isiah Thomas' draft selection of SF Renaldo Balkman (for the record, Kenny Bloggins called Isiah drafting the most unconventional player possible). While PG Marcus Williams appears capable of being Jason Kidd's successor, Balkman is a high energy rebounder and shot blocker, who has the ability to lead the fast break.

Channing Frye will be inactive for five weeks and Quentin Richardson and Jared Jeffries are out for about a week apiece. Balkman will get more minutes too after coming off a truly spectacular game against Chicago.

In 20 minutes, his line: 10 PTS on 50% FGP, 1 3PM, 13 REB, 3 AST, 3 BLK, 1 STL and 1 TO.

FANTASY NBA: Give Kyle Lowry a Look

By Dustin Hockensmith

The best piece of advice I can give you right now is to give Memphis PG Kyle Lowry a look in your leagues. Not only is he going to continue to get playing time in the Memphis backcourt, he looks like a good bet to start really producing. He is lightning quick off the dribble and in the passing lanes and will likely give you boosts in points, assists and steals.

Beyond Lowry, I think Memphis is a nice place to look for your free agency needs because it's a pretty fluid playing time situation and young players have a chance to play early. Lowry and rookie teammate Rudy Gay have responded nicely in their roles, and Hakim Warrick has shown nice potential scoring the basketball. Stromile Swift has been his usual shotblocking self and is one of at least two of these four players to be on your waiver wire right now.

Similarly to our suggestion to pick up Hilton Armstrong last week, and this should go without saying for any rookie free agent, be ready to ride out some inconsistent playing time. Both situations are ripe for these guys to contribute heavily; we'll just have to wait for Tyson Chandler in New Orleans and Damon Stoudamire to start losing minutes to them.

SPORTS: Recapping the Weekend in Sports

By Dustin Hockensmith

College Football
Ohio State vs. Michigan – Both teams proved how good they really were, but Troy Smith and the top-ranked Buckeyes won 42-39 and secured a spot in the national championship game. The teams went nose-to-nose like a couple of heavyweight fighters, but Smith threw for four touchdown passes and essentially locked up the Heisman Trophy … BCS Implications – Ohio State became the first team in three seasons to earn a perfect 1.000 BCS score, and both OSU and Michigan finished their regular seasons … despite the loss, the Wolverines ended up No.2 in Sunday's BCS rankings, but won't stay there when No. 3 USC takes care of No. 5 Notre Dame next week.

NBA
Shaq to Have Surgery - Miami Heat center Shaquille O'Neal is having surgery on his left knee and is expected to miss the next 4-6 weeks. We're starting to see accelerated wear and tear from supporting such a large human all these years. Maybe again he's 'fresh' for a playoff run, but that only happens if he can return to the lineup by January and get back into playing shape … Don't Get Too Excited Jazz Fans - The Utah Jazz is off to its best start in franchise history at 9-1, but don't get too excited just yet. This isn't the first time a Jazz team has flown out of the gates, and I don't buy them as a contender just yet. The Northwest Division is very average, so they'll win that and get a Top 4 seed, but they're not up to par with the Mavs or Spurs.

NFL
Chad Johnson Did It Again - Bengals WR Chad Johnson caught six passes for 190 yards and three touchdowns against the Saints on Sunday. That gives the wideout two-week totals of 17 receptions for 450 yards and five TD's … McNabb, Eagles Done - Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb tore his ACL on Sunday, effectively putting an end to the Eagles and your fantasy season. Needless to say, that offense just won't run the same with Jeff Garcia leading it ... Steelers Still Have a Pulse - They've got work to do, but the Pittsburgh Steelers aren't dead yet. Big Ben Roethlisberger threw for 224 yards in the third quarter after being picked off three times in the first half, and the Steelers rallied to beat the Browns on a Roethlisberger-to-Willie Parker connection with 30 seconds remaining … Colts Loss a Blessing in Disguise – They've been walking a tightrope for some time now, and I don't think anyone was shocked when the Colts lost to the Cowboys on Sunday. They'll get their edge back and be in better shape for the playoffs than they were last year … LT a Touchdown Machine – Not much you can say here that the numbers don't already suggest. LaDainian Tomlinson reached the 100-touchdown plateau faster than any player ever over the weekend, and he put the Chargers on his back in a comeback win in the process.

MLB
Cubs Keep Working in Free Agency – The Chicago Cubs have inked outfielder Alfonso Soriano to an 8-year, $136 million contract, it was announced on Sunday. It was the fifth-largest deal in Major League Baseball history. His rare 40-40 potential and dynamic bat combined with the signings of Neal Cotts and Mark DeRosa and the resigning of Aramis Ramirez have made for an outstanding off-season already for the Cubbies.

FANTASY NBA: One Small Step Last Night, One Giant Leap to Come

By Kenny Bloggins and Steve "Supreme Commander" Cernak

Every Weighed Bloggs staffer picked up New Orleans’s C Hilton Armstrong around midnight. He is an absolute stud-in-waiting playing alongside MVP candidate Chris Paul.

With Tyson Chandler injured, Byron Scott surprisingly started the 12^th overall pick in last June’s draft because of the athleticism he has is rare in a 6-foo-11 frame. Armstrong moves like a small forward and his long limbs don't get in his own way. And because he'll seldom be the focus of an opposing team's game plan and qualifies as a center, he's a must-have on your fantasy roster.

Armstrong emerged against the Detroit Pistons. In his first career start, he scored 17 and grabbed 9 boards. He also showed some guts and heroics in the final seconds, first sinking the winning free throw and then swatting away his own miss on the second attempt as time expired.

Remember, Armstrong was successful at UConn, along with fellow 2006 draftees PG Marcus Williams, SF Rudy Gay and PF Josh Boone. Now he's in a better position to succeed because of Paul's brilliance, SF Peja Stojakovic's zone-busting shot and he'll play alongside front court stalwart David West.

FANTASY NBA: Digging Deep on the Waiver Wire

Fantasy basketball enters Week Two, and I suddenly feel a sense of urgency after crawling into the cellar of a Yahoo! Public league. In my defense, the team hasn't been looked at in a week since the draft, but if that's anything other than a short-term excuse, that's not exactly a compliment. It is now time to step up my game and do what I do best: Find free agents. Here are some of the best undervalued commodities out there, and there is a strong possibility that more valuable guys are available

F/C Andris Biedrins, Golden State
I wanted to pick up Biedrins before he blocked six shots on Tuesday night, and now I'm thinking it's an absolute must. If you're looking for blocked shots, Biedrins has a nice pedigree (11th overall, 2004 draft), is playing consistent minutes and is shooting a ridiculously high percentage from the floor (17-of-21, 80.9%). Foul trouble plagued the 20-year old in his first two seasons, but he seems to have gotten a handle on those problems this season. Even if you don't need a center or blocks, it would still be a good idea to pluck an upside guy with blocks potential off the waiver wire and keep your opponents from getting better.

PG Jamaal Tinsley, Indiana
It's only three games into the season, but his numbers across the board are starting to take the same shape of his numbers from the 2005-06 season. He won't have the freedom to take a lot of shots, but if he can keep setting up his teammates (6.7 assists/game) and racking up steals (1.7 steals/game), he should be on somebody's roster. Any kind of injury or inconsistency from Tinsley likely lands him back on the waiver wire, but take a chance now if you could use a true point guard.

SF Luke Walton, Los Angeles Lakers
Walton was a tease at portions of last season because he flashes eight-category potential. He also found a way to essentially disappear from December through February last season, then came back and played well in the final month and the postseason. He's a nice fit in the Triangle offense, so as long as he remains an important part of the Lakers' rotation, he could keep putting up double-figure scoring games (4 in 4 games this season), strong shooting numbers and a little bit of everything else.

PF Craig Smith, Minnesota
If Smith keeps scoring big points in small minutes, he's bound to see more playing time. He's scored in double figures again tonight and has scored 48 points in his last 70 minutes on the floor. Don't worry about the low rebounding numbers, if he can start pushing 25 minutes per night, he'll hit the boards.

PG Carlos Arroyo, Orlando
He doesn't have to unseat Jameer Nelson in the backcourt to have value in fantasy hoops. We've seen point guards coexist in the backcourt before, and we'll see it again. If Arroyo can keep scoring the basketball, he'll keep playing and helping your team.

PF Travis Outlaw, Portland
It's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hide with Outlaw early, so take a wait-and-see approach and look for an improvement in his discipline. If he can avoid picking up fouls in bunches, he'll get into a better rhythm with the offense and produce more consistent results. That might be a big 'if' though.

FANTASY NFL: Keeper Quandary

By Steve "Supreme Commander" Cernak

Gabe dropped one hell of a fantasy football question on MySpace:

Hey who would you drop if you had to drop one? Deshaun Foster, Maurice Jones-Drew, Brandon Jacobs. I'm leaning towards keeping BJ because i'm in a keeper league. I'm also thinking of trading my Shaun Alexander. I can only have 4 RB's max in my league, and don't know who to let go of. Should I let go of Foster or MoJo? I'm afraid that Williams will start to play a bigger role, as Deshaun hasn't produced like i’d have thought he would. Not to mention the poor O-line play of the Panthers. I'm also afraid of Fred Taylor getting hurt and then MoJo will be the stud.

Keeper fantasy adds complexity in how a manager plays the season. Production is typically all that matters. In keeper, you try to win both immediately and over the long haul.

Let's start by looking at my current 2006 rankings:

1. Shaun Alexander
2. Maurice Jones-Drew
3. DeShaun Foster
4. Brandon Jacobs

Alexander is injured now but who is the first RB you'd start in the playoffs?

Jones-Drew put serious production up this season for a back-up. Taylor complained about not getting enough carries for his incentive laden contract. Taylor knows Jones-Drew is legit and actually is pondering retirement because it apparently takes a lot of money to want to constantly rehab injuries.

Foster is an injury risk, but at least he is a starter. Brandon Jacobs has "fantasy stud" written all over him, but the future NFL Hall Of Fame RB Tiki Barber is the Giants starter.

Fast forward to my 2007 projections:

1. Shaun Alexander
2. Brandon Jacobs
3. Maurice Jones-Drew
4. DeShaun Foster

Alexander is a proven TD machine. Jacobs may eventually become better than Alexander, because he has feature back speed and is a goal line power. Maybe this is just the giants fan in me, but I see him as an athletic Jerome Bettis (meaning he isn’t a fatty). DeAngelo Williams will be better and start over Foster soon.

To answer the question: hold onto Alexander, Jacobs and Jones-Drew. That will be the nastiest platoon in your keeper league next year.

As for Foster, you have two options. Either (1) hold onto him to cover for Alexander or (2) trade him now for an older productive player. Let’s say you need a QB and the guy who has Brett Favre needs a RB. Favre will likely retire, so why not maximize production from a guy who will likely retire after this year for a player you were planning to cut? Foster could get you a productive older player and I'd do that if a decent RB is on the waiver wire.

EDIT: originally I had Amani Toomer listed as a possible replacement, but news just broke that he may have torn his ACL. DEFINITELY DO NOT PICK AMANI TOOMER UP.

Fantasy NBA: Andrew Bynum

By Steve "Supreme Commander" Cernak

Andrew Bynum is my early favorite to become this year's Boris Diaw.

I don't mean that he's going hit every statistical category. What I'm telling you is he available in one out of every two leagues and will be one of the best centers in the league.

Last night I watched Screamin' A. Smith's show. Kobe Bryant said he's at the Laker's practice facility at 5:30 AM rehabbing his knee and Bynum is there by 6:30 or 7:00 AM practicing his game.

That's ridiculous (in a good way). He puts the hours in now that are required to be legendary--at 19 years of age.

PICK BYNUM UP NOW.

NBA: Hock and The Commander Discuss Opening Night

Dustin Hockensmith: The NBA season is officially underway, and we saw some pretty exciting things on Tuesday. To start, I can't say how impressed I was by Tyrus Thomas and how disappointed I was to let him slip off my fantasy draft radar. You see this kid play? He's a little raw offensively, but he's got the kind of game-changing athleticism that makes all Amare Stoudemire comparisons legitimate.

Supreme Commander: Tyrus Thomas is a beast and it's a shame his nose broke. You have to love that he thinks he will be able to play. Rookies tend to get "injured" or gassed as the season progresses. A schedule around 30 games compared to the 82-game NBA grind is ridiculous, especially with the excess of NBA groupies. Do you see any rookies or guys who just signed fat contracts essentially quitting basketball, to professionally bang groupies?

DH: If someone told me that Thomas broke his nose on the rafters at AmericanAirlines Arena, I might actually believe them. I don't know if I necessarily see guys who will quit the game to professionally bang groupies, but I see some who will 'multi-task' more than others. That's one thing you have to respect about NBA players; many are full-time athletes, sinners and adulterers at the same time.

SC: That's what people don't seem to understand. Stephon Marbury scores 20 and gets 8 assists... or at least he used to before he just straight-up started sucking donkey dong. He used to pretend to play and pad his stats by only passing when he'd get an assist or halting the offense to set up his lay-up... anyway, that's not my point. What I'm trying to say is basketball stats are nowhere near as meaningful as in baseball. Tyrus Thomas' stats mean something because they come when he hustles, just like Adam Morrison's game-winning jumpers will mean something. guys like Marbury only score in the first three quarters or don't feed the post because he won't get an assist.

Now that we're talking performance, who's your breakout performer of this coming season? I'm going with Chris Wilcox.

DH: I like Shaun Livingston to have a big year. Still not much of a perimeter game, but while he's gained some needed pounds, Sam Cassell has gained another year of existence on Planet Earth. Give a healthy Livingston even as many as 25-30 minutes per night and we'll see something close to 12 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds. I think we'll also see Deron Williams have a breakout season, he has such great instincts and vision, and I hope to see a guy like Nick Collison find himself and start producing.

The question is, before we see most teams play a game, who you got winning it all? I think Dallas is hands-down the best team in the NBA and beats Cleveland in five games in the finals.

SC: I love Dirk, but he just doesn't scare anyone. He's a goofy white dude. Cleveland has LeBron and should be much better this year, but the team is still located in Cleveland. I cannot imagine a championship in Cleveland.

I'm going with the Houston Rockets over the Orlando Magic. TMac and Yao have health issues. Everything went wrong last year, this season will be different. Adding Bonzi to the mix (who is playing for a contract) is big, and Shane Battier is awesome. Luther Head is underrated as well.

Every established team in the East sucks and I like Jameer Nelson and Dwight Howard to blow up. Grant Hill will play 5 great games, die, then Turkoglu will step in capably. JJ Reddick won't be a NBA star, but he sure can stroke it from deep. The additions of Darko and Arroyo at the trade deadline will push the Magic over the top.

FANTASY NBA: Drafting a Team That Could Almost Nearly Win Your League – Part Two

• Drafting a Team – Part One

By Dustin Hockensmith

So we got you pointed in the right direction with Part One. You know where you pick in the draft, you know who's picking around you and you should have an idea of which players you're targeting. Now comes the hard part: executing the draft. In Part Two, we'll talk about prioritizing your players, crunching the numbers and finishing the draft on a high note to get your season started with a bang.

The Early Rounds
You can probably guess that the first five rounds are the most crucial and difficult in the draft. You get to use your imagination in the later rounds, but in the early rounds you're feeling the pressure of filling all your positions as best you can. This includes not just getting the best players, but also filling most of the spots in your starting lineup. Timing is a key, and it's the first pick you make that sets the pace of your draft and how you want to use your next handful of picks.

The first round always seems to be broken down in thirds, and many times you'll do well by picking with the last of the picks in those groups. With picks No. 4, No. 8 or No. 12, you should usually get as good a player as the ones leading up to yours. An example from my lone draft of the season went as follows: I had the fifth overall pick and Dwyane Wade, Gilbert Arenas and Kobe Bryant virtual equals. So the way to differentiate between the three is how you feel about what they give you. Do you like Wade's field goal percentage and blocks, Arenas' 3-pointers and steals or Bryant's scoring and lesser mix of the other two's strengths?

After you make this choice, you should be able to narrow your next pick down to who you should expect to be there. Brace yourself for the possibility of all three being there and know how all three would complement your first round pick. How you want them to complement that player is entirely up to you: You can find a player with similar strengths and hope to 'kill' categories, address your first-rounder's shortcomings or complete a dominant backcourt or frontcourt. Be flexible how you view this pick, but keep these types of strategies in the back of your mind as you go.

My Personal Take
I overplayed this strategy in my draft this year, but I think it is always a good idea to select players who can put up DOMINANT numbers in steals, blocks and, to a lesser extent, 3-pointers. These categories are available in the form of weaker players in the middle of the draft and in moderate doses late, but anchoring these categories with big-time producers greatly increases your odds of scoring big points. Points, rebounds, assists and percentage numbers are available in decent packages throughout the draft, but these harder-to-find categories come at a higher sacrifice to at least one area of your team.

Middle and Late Rounds
These rounds should be pretty wide open to personal preference. You have the opportunity to guess a little and try to hit home runs or choose the safer producers to be fixtures in your lineup. Again, there's no right or wrong way to do it, but I try and have it both ways. My theory is to seek out 'controlled upside', as in third or fourth year players in new roles or who appear ready to break out. The worst-case scenario is that they underachieve and you're left with the same player from the season before. Not great if it happens often in your draft, but not bad if you're closer to the upside for some other key players.

With that in mind, my advice is to usually stay away from the popular rookie and let your opponents overpay for them. I'll take slightly less upside in a less risky package, though it's usually a non-issue since someone always takes these guys too early. Give me (actual examples) Charlie Villanueva, Danny Granger, T.J. Ford or Shaun Livingston, guys that can be found at cheaper prices than the top rookies.

I hope that paints a pretty good picture of where your thoughts should be on draft day. With the draft complete, our thoughts will next shift to the upcoming free agency market and what you can do to be the first to act. In the third and final Fantasy NBA preview segment, we'll talk about how to strike gold on the waiver wire, address your needs through trades and field a consistent team for an entire season.

FANTASY NBA: Drafting a Team That Could Almost Nearly Win Your League - Part One

By Dustin Hockensmith

So you're starting your fantasy basketball draft, and you're not real sure which direction to go with your team. Beyond the first round, there is a lot of room for projection and personal taste, and there are a number of different approaches for building your squad. I won't try to talk you out of your strategy or tell you who to pick, but I will rather give you some tips that have made me a moderately successful Fantasy NBA General Manager.

The first part of this exercise focuses on the early stages of your draft, including your plan, your opponents and your league's rules. Often overlooked, these are parts of your strategy that you must understand as well as, if not better than, the other members of your league to get off to a good start and keep the upper hand.

Your Opponents
You likely can't do anything about how or where your opponents draft, but what you can do is not let them affect your draft strategy. We all have moments during the draft when our players of choice are snatched up one pick before ours. That's inevitable, but what we can do is understand how the other players draft and what positions on their roster they need to fill.

Say, for instance, you pick eighth in the fourth round and fifth in the fifth round, and you need both a point guard and a center. Look at the two opponents who stand in your way and see which is the least likely to be taken after you pick. If both have centers on their roster, you're safer to leave a more desirable center and select a point guard. It's not quite as straightforward if there are 10 picks before your next, but you're still better off when you calculate the odds.

Your Draft Order
Knowing which pick you have as soon as that information becomes available is an easy way to get a jumpstart on your strategy. Since the first round is pretty cut and dry, you can anticipate which player you will get and which needs you will then have. Look ahead to the second, third and fourth rounds and try to find a group of three to five players that you would ideally select in those situations. What this does is establish a good, tentative framework for your team and show the options you will likely have for each of your top four picks.

How to Rank Your Players
To me, it's a waste of time to create your own set of rankings from scratch. You know who you like and who you don't like, and you know who is not listed on the rankings that you'd like to draft anyway. There are plenty of time consuming things that you can do to prepare yourself for the draft, don't get caught up in the trivial work of documenting them.

My solution instead would be to print out the rankings you like (I also find ESPN's live draft results helpful since they gauge which players' stocks have risen), highlight or star the players you like and cross out the players you will not draft. It is also very important to find the rookies who are not listed in the rankings and list them in your pre-draft rankings so they're easy to find. The bottom line: know the general vicinity of where your desired players are, and make sure you can find all of the underrated rookies that interest you.

Knowing the League Rules
Just as important as drafting good players is drafting the RIGHT players. If you know your league scoring system and know what your starting roster looks like, then you can keep the playing field level or take an advantage over some of your opponents. You also must know who is eligible for which position(s), so you can get a feel for exactly how scarce quality players are at each position.

Many leagues have standard formatting for rosters and scoring systems, so knowing them well is all that you can do. But some leagues are set up in these regards by humans, which almost always gives you an opportunity to capitalize on a flaw. In a rotisserie situation, it may be an exotic category that no one else anticipates, or in a points-based league maybe blocks are weighted too heavily. Find if or where these opportunities exist and get an edge on your opponents before the season even begins.

Part two will be released soon and include: how to make your early-round selections, how to value rookies and how to adapt to the draft and change your strategies as you go. Stay tuned to Weighed Bloggs leading up to and throughout the season for all of your sports and fantasy sports needs.

FANTASY CONGRESS: Worst Fantasy League EVER

Idealistic nerds everywhere rejoice! There is finally a fantasy league available for you, Fantasy Congress.

Too bad it is a worthless piece of $%&*. Living walking distance from Georgetown, I can tell you that the Hill is staffed with morons in their 20s whose parents pay for their Burberry and $1,500 a month in rent. Living like you are worth something is hard to do on $28,000 annually.

Despite getting press in the New York Times, this is one of the worst constructed leagues in fantasy history. It lacks vision and practical application. People interested in this league are the ones whose parents would not let them participate in sports “where a ball could hit my baby in the face.” Obviously, they have no understanding of competition when everyone in their youth soccer league “won” a trophy.

I set up my team, “My priest touched me” (I was disappointed to see Foley was ineligible) with grand aspirations. I win most of the leagues I participate in, why should his be any different?

Well, I stopped five minutes into the process because you do not draft in this league and there are no restrictions. Everyone is a FA and every team can have an identical roster. This is an excercise in participation rather than a competition.

I will never get those five minutes back and I am genuinely enraged. Complete and utter waste of me.

Final verdict: an idealistically horrendous waste of time perfect for individuals who grew up pretending to compete and have a cabinet full of complimentary participation trophies.

FANTASY NFL: Recreating A Miracle - Cal-Stanford 1982

Let's set the scene for one of the biggest fantasy miracles in the history of Planet Earth. The score is Supreme Commander 143.65, Kenny Bloggins 135.80. SC is coming off a score and kicking off to KB, who is pulling out all the stops and looking for a Monday night miracle. With Chicago quarterback Rex Grossman facing my Arizona safety Adrian Wilson as a final gasp for victory, I don't like my chances. My team has heart and a trick up its sleeve, though, so we're not dead yet.

Back deep to receive is Wilson, who catches at the Kenny Bloggins 3 yard line. He fakes a reverse to the team's starting tailback Steven Jackson, jets down the side line and runs into trouble at his own 20. With no other options, Wilson pitches it back to tight end Marques Colston, who then passes it across the field for Eli Manning. His attempt to find Manning in space hits the turf, and there's a loose ball at the 35-yard line. Bodies are flying around, and Supreme Commander thinks the end is in sight when his star player, Grossman, recovers at midfield.

"What is he doing??" the frustrated fantasy owner remarks. "The game is over, take a knee!" But not on this day. Victory is not good enough for Grossman; he wants fame, riches and a late night booty call from the blond, whorish captain of the Cardinals cheer squad. He scrambles, flings it across the field in the direction of Travis Henry. Henry, exhausted after carrying the Titans to victory on Sunday, does not see the pass in time, and it's picked off (-2 points) by Wilson. Not one to limit his effort to just one kind of turnover, Grossman strips the ball and runs the option with Joey Galloway. His pitch attempt is fumbled by himself (-2 points), intercepted (-2 points) and fumbled by a teammate to his credit (-2 points), before he throws it into the stands (-2 points) while the referee isn't looking.

Seeing the ball chucked into the stands, the Fighting Supreme Commanders band comes onto the field. They march around and do all the flamboyant things that band dudes and chicks do until they see the play on the field coming their way. With a full head of steam, scorn in his eyes and a grudge against Grossman that dates back to a childhood fear of the Tyrannosaurus, Wilson finds a seam and heads for paydirt. The only things standing in his way are Grossman and an unknowing tuba player.

Wilson is not stopping and sacrificing his place in fantasy football lore for the sake of humanitarian or nonviolent beliefs. He stiffarms Grossman at the goal line and then inadvertently steamrolls Supreme Commander carrying his tuba and preparing to belt out the SC victory song. Pointing to Kenny Bloggins wearing his maroon #24 Cardinals jersey in the front row, Wilson tosses him the ball, winks and says, "This one's for you, Dad."

Long Story Short
Supreme Commander had Rex Grossman, who could have very well been the highest scoring player in fantasy football entering the week, against my defender Adrian Wilson with an 8 point lead. In my estimation, I had a 0.5% chance of winning. But thanks to four interceptions, two lost fumbles and negative fantasy points by Grossman, my team beat the odds and prevailed.

Neither of us were particularly impressive on the week, as we both ranked among the three lowest scoring teams. I suppose that was to be expected when both of us were so ravaged by injuries and bye weeks that we each had an empty roster spot.

FANTASY NHL: I Love Hockey and Don't Care That You Hate It

Before I get into the hockey post, I will be attending the Michigan at PSU game with Kenny Bloggins. We will update with our experiences there ASAP. Back to the post:

I'm the only American (that isn't foreign) that cares about Hockey, so I'm just going to throw out two names that will help you win your league:

Anze Kopitar: The kid can play and he's getting major minutes. He was the 11th pick in the 2005 draft and only fell that far because he's from Yugoslavia. Not exactly a strong hockey country... or strong in anything for that matter. Anyway, he's getting 20+ minutes a night.

Alexander Semin: Without a doubt, he was the NHL 2k6 MVP. First, he's got a nasty shot. Second, many drunken Swingers-esque hockey games were played and it led to many intoxicated semen-in-your-face jokes. He's a second line LW, behind possibly the best sniper in the league, Alexander Ovechkin. Teams gameplan around Ovechkin, so Semin will have benefit of dealing with the opponent's third defensive pairing.

FANTASY NFL: Why T.O. Should Seek Jesus

This dude kills me every year in some capacity.

He absolutely KILLED me in the 2003 playoffs (I'm a big Giants fan). From Wikipedia:

The team's success was hampered by (Terrell) Owens' feuds with Garcia and 49ers head coach Steve Mariucci. Those feuds were temporarily put aside during the 2002 season when the 49ers surged to win the NFC Western division and earned a home playoff date against the New York Giants. In that game the 49ers produced the second-greatest comeback in NFL playoff history by coming back from a 24 point deficit (14-38) and winning 39-38 behind notable performances from Garcia and Owens in particular. Although the team lost its subsequent game to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the season had been successful.

Well that's just great. To top it off he was on my fantasy team that year, so I effectively rooted for this bastard all year only to watch him rip my heart out. Anyway, we all know how Philly turned out and look what's developing in Dallas. Vegas took this bet of the books a very long time ago.

Having him on your fantasy team is as horrifc as watching your puppy get hit in the face with a shovel.

I was camping in the gorgeous Assateague Island during hurricane Ernesto. I have the pictures to prove it. So I autodrafted Clinton Portis, Fred Taylor, Ahman Green, Adam Vinitieri, Wayne Gretzky, Antonio Gates (that whole Phillip Rivers thing) and Alfred Hitchcock. Another story for another time.

What's important now is the T.O. situation because he's throwing it up my poop chute--yet again--AND I HAVE TO TAKE IT. I autodrafted a complete jerk again. I hate watching him on Sunday because I have to hear about how much he sucks.

No one wants to deal with him. He's still the kid on the playground who picks on everyone to get attention for himeself. I don't want to deal with that anymore. I have to though, because if you screw up either of your first two round draft picks, you are either a) screwed or b) need to get really creative to win your league. There is a plan c, but would you really drop The Prince of Darkness?

If I get lucky though and T.O. seeks Jesus, I could win my league. I really hate this epic war of good and evil.

My advice: trade for T.O. You'll get him cheap and when he hauls in 3 TD passes week 17 (when Bill Parcells concedes to him because the playoffs are the line), you'll win a league championship.

FANTASY NFL: Two-Back System Gives Fantasy Players Fits

Each year in fantasy football presents new challenges and new ways for fantasy owners to find value in drafts and free agency. As the NFL game evolves, so too does the fantasy landscape. What we saw coming and expressed frustrations with say, Fred Taylor and Greg Jones in Jacksonville in 2005, has changed and presented different problems and benefits. The initial use of a two-back system was in goalline scenarios and didn't have a drastic impact on a running back's touches in a given game. But in 2006, all bets are off. Taylor is now giving way to Maurice Jones-Drew, Deuce McAllister to Reggie Bush in New Orleans, LaDainian Tomlinson to Michael Turner in San Diego, Dominic Rhodes to Joseph Addai (or vice versa) in Indy and the list goes on. Exciting young backs are providing their teams with changes of pace, boosts to the passing game and more flexibility in their play-calling. Unfortunately, it's also tormenting fantasy owners.

In any given week, a different one of the two backs can have a big impact, little impact or no impact in a game. Coaches are now afforded the option of feeling games out and going with the hot hand, and how the hell are average followers of the game (I'd be generous to call myself even that) supposed to know who that will be? This problem's not changing, so we must adapt our fantasy strategies to make the most it. My theory: strength lies in numbers - big-time backs are few and far between and a little difficult to predict. After being head and shoulders above the field after 2005, Larry Johnson and Shaun Alexander are stumbling for their own reasons in '06. It's hard to rely on a one-man show in your fantasy backfield, so roll the dice on young, talented rookies and hope that the development of your season allows you to keep them on your roster. A well-timed pickup or draft of a Cedric Benson, DeAngelo Williams or LenDale White can boost your team's depth tremendously. In my 12-team league, I start Steven Jackson, Willie Parker and DeShaun Foster each week, but have Williams and White stashed away for a rainy day.

Pluck these guys off the market, and buy yourself some flexibility, an opportunity to hit a home run in a given stretch of the season and bye week insurance for down the road. Some of these guys mentioned are still available in 10 team leagues and maybe some 12 team leagues; pick them up if you can, I think you'll be glad that you did.