Fantasy Basketball Week 15: Assist Man Assistance?

We've got some ground to make up with some major trades (Rudy Gay to Toronto) and are a couple all-NBA point guards with injuries recently. One, Chris Paul, who is second in the league in assists per game (9.7) has been battling injury and is seemingly permanently on day-to-day status.  The other, Rajon Rondo, just got injured Sunday and is out for the season; Rondo was leading the league in assists per game by a wide margin (11.1).  Rondo’s injury is devastating to the Celtics and puts a crimp in fantasy owners assist-category totals; but there is a surplus of decent “1s” in the league (but probably not on the waiver wire).  It may be time to bake up a trade for second-tier assist leaders Greivis Vazquez or Jose Calderon (who himself was traded to Detroit as part of the Gay trade); or you can take advantage of Rondo’s absence by picking up some these point guards.

Jerryd Is Keeping Competition At Bay(less)

Mike Conley, the point guard for the Grizzlies, has also been sidelined with an injury and Jerryd Bayless (PG/SG, Grizzlies)  has seen some fantasy-relevant stats in his absence. He's getting major looks from fantasy owners not only because Conley missing time, but Rudy Gay was recently shipped to Toronto, meaning more minutes at the "two" as well.  Bayless is a more of a two guard anyway, but slid over while Conley was out.  Now with Gay gone, Bayless is the hottest fantasy basketball add this week because of his last five contests, as he’s averaged 15.8 points, 5.8 assists, and 3.4 boards in 32.4 minutes.

Bledsoe: A 15-5-5 Guy?

Eric Bledsoe (PG, Clippers)  is continuing to get scooped up at a decent rate as Chris Paul’s injury continue to linger.  Even though Paul is technically day-to-day (knee) there’s no telling when Chris Paul will return; Bledsoe is seeing a lot of adds because of his last five game averages: 11.6 points, 5.4 assists and 5.2 rebounds.  The Clippers have an assist-friendly lineup to boot and Bledsoe continues to be a very strong rebounder for a 6’1” point guard. We may just be scratching the surface of Bledsoe’s talents: in a game against the T-Wolves he scored 10 on 3 for 14; which is his one drawback (FG%) but still added ten assists and six steals. All of the wire! Get him.

My favorite NBA 50-Cent lookalike Nate Robinson (PG,SG, Bulls) has filled in nicely as a scorer/facilitator with the no-Rose Bulls for the last few games.  Wednesday night he went ham on Milwaukee, going 9 for 11 for 24 points, 4 assists and 3 steals in 26 minutes, being efficient and brilliant at the same damn time.  Robinson has shown opponents no mercy in his last five, averaging 18.2 points a game, 4.6 assists, and 3.2 boards, shooting nearly 40% from downtown and 55% from the field.  He’s known for these hot streaks so ride this wave while you can.  He can get you assists pretty consistently these days although he isn’t the passer that Bledsoe or even Bayless is.

Avery Bradley (PG/SG, Celtics) Rondo’s backup and while he’s a lock to get minutes and points for the remainder of the year barring his own injury, the jury is out on whether or not his assists will increase as the director of an aging, yet capable Boston team.  His career high in assists in the NBA is seven, set last season and he had a career high of six in college.  That’s not going to get it done in the NBA level; although with Rondo in Boston what opportunity was Bradley going to get to get dimes, running with the second team? I’ll say he averages five a game for the duration of this year.  He won’t cost you at the charity stripe and can actually shoot from downtown unlike Rajon, so there’s upside there.

Fantasy Basketball Week 13: Amir Coincidence?

Johnson: Don't Get Caught Up in The Raptor

Last week when we perusing alternatives for Anderson Varejao and Kevin Love, two injured bigs, I’ll admit we were starting to see signs of Amir Johnson (PF/C, Raptors) breakthrough into fantasy usability in Week 12 --but now there’s a full bum rush to add the guy.  He has seen one of the biggest jumps in the 2012-13 fantasy basketball season, with an add rate at 61% clip in Week 13 in ESPN standard leagues.  The real catalyst for Amir was a 22 point, 14 rebound game against the Bucks that also saw him chip in 4 dimes, 3 steals and 2 blocks for 43 standard points.  In his last five games he’s averaged 17.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.8 blocks a game while shooting a blistering 64% from the field and 75% from the charity stripe.  His minutes averaged over the last five games span (35.8) indicate he is clearly taking run away from someone in the future.  The Raptors have Andrea Bargnani, Ed Davis and Johnson now to help at the “4”; an enviable problem.

Throw the Alley-Oop to Al-Farouq

Al-Farouq Aminu   (SF, Hornets) is a “3” who has been dominating the boards since the New Year like a "4". He will also contribute steals and blocks, as a unique type of small forward that may pair well with a number of “4”’s who score but don’t rebound necessarily well. His field goal percentage is steadily climbing this season and stands at 47%.   Since January 5^th he’s averaged fantasy-relevant numbers: 7.9 points, 10.6 boards, 1.9 steals. His add rate is 15% this week. Time to take a look, at least.

Still Dre Day?

Old habits die hard with Denver’s Andre Miller (PG, Nuggets).  Throughout his tenure in the league the wily but three-point-range-lacking, Miller has made a career of helping fantasy squads in assists, steals, free throw % as well as great shooting percentages sans from downtown.  He’s not getting thirty minutes anymore coming off the Nugget bench, but his add rate is up 15-20% in some leagues because of injuries to point guards like Chris Paul.  He’s going to rebound better than most of your point guards, and in his last five has averaged 9.6 points, 6.4 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1 steal.  His teammate, the ever-enigmatic Wilson Chandler is getting eased back into the swingman rotation for the Nuggets, who have great depth there, scored 13 and 14 with 6 boards in two games after a two month hiatus due to injury. Someone to monitor surely,  as swingmen like Chandler (and like I say seemingly every post) are in great demand for fantasy basketball owners.

No need to split hairs over Tiago Splitter (PF/C, Spurs) He has been seeing more grind for the Spurs lately and isn’t a premier rebounder or anything but he is scoring and shooting well for a big man.  After starting only 8 out of 119 games played in the last two season in 2012-13 he’s started 19 out of 41 for a veteran San Antonio Spurs squad that will continue to rest their older players.

Chris Paul’s backup Eric Bledsoe (PG, Clippers) has also seen his add rate jump due to Paul’s Day-to-Day status.  He’s been added at a 20-25% rate in standard leagues this week.  He’s shooting 47% from the field from the season and 36% from downtown.  His value is tied toward CP3’s injury status in any case.  He can help in steals, and had six of them in a game recently (against Celtics).