2011 NBA All-Star reserves announced
Posted by Dennis Velasco Categories: Athletes, Kudos, NBA, News,
Los Angeles Clippers rookie and odds-on favorite for NBA Rookie of the Year honors, Blake Griffin, is being praised about half a season into his NBA career. Griffin was named one of the Western Conference's All-Star reserves, joining the San Antonio Spurs' Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan, Dallas Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki, Los Angeles Lakers big man Pau Gasol, Utah Jazz point guard Deron Williams, and fellow first-time All-Star, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook.
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2010 NBA free agents to talk
Posted by Dennis Velasco Categories: Athletes, Front Office, NBA, News, Rumors,
Okay, first of all, don’t call this gathering of 2010 NBA free agents - Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Joe Johnson, Chris Bosh, and allegedly Amar’e Stoudemire - a “summit.” Let’s be clear, they’ll just be talking about one subject, possibly in one location, and discuss their futures. Yes, this does not sound like a summit at all. Well, maybe a little. In any case, it’s amazing that these aforementioned NBA free agents will basically dictate who the next NBA powerhouse will be, particularly if any combination of two players go to one team. As previously posted here on Endscore, the Cleveland Cavaliers have the edge to re-sign LeBron, so maybe someone like Bosh signs with the Cavs after a sign-and-trade deal is struck. Maybe Amar’e heads from one warm weather climate in Phoenix to another one in Miami. Who knows what happens, but it’s clear that the players are in control in the NBA.
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LeBron James tells CNN that the Cleveland Cavaliers have the edge
Posted by Dennis Velasco Categories: Athletes, Front Office, NBA, Rumors,
Well, take heart Cleveland Cavaliers fans, LeBron James has finally spoken about his upcoming NBA free agency and the incumbent team has the edge to re-sign The King. James spoke with CNN’s Larry King on Tuesday for an interview to appear on Friday, saying, “... you know, this city, these fans, I mean, have given me a lot in these seven years. And, you know, for me, it’s comfortable. So I’ve got a lot of memories here. And—and so it does have an edge.” This may dampen the spirits of the New York Knicks who have laid it all on the line, suffering through two bad and almost wasted seasons under the current regime of Donnie Walsh and Mike D’Antoni. The Knicks have purposely traded assets to get under the NBA salary cap in order to sign LeBron and one of the other big NBA free agents - Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Joe Johnson amongst others. If James does in fact sign with Cleveland, many teams such as the Chicago Bulls and New Jersey Nets, teams with legitimate shots to sign LeBron will need to move on. For the Knicks, however, how would they?
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NBA Fantasy Alphabet: Eastern Conference, Week 2
I appreciate musical mash-ups. Fantasy Alphabet will be my mash-up combining articles that look at hot waiver wire pick-ups, players of the week, and notable injuries. The format will consist of quick hits focusing on one player per team, and arranged in alphabetical order to help make quick scanning easier. This week, I arrange the teams in reverse alphabetical order because I want to shine the spotlight on the artist, I mean player formally known as Agent Zero.
Washington Wizards: Gilbert Arenas. I experienced immediate non-buyer’s remorse on Arenas. Over his first four games, he averaged 36 minutes of playing time while putting up 26.5 ppg on 47.3% shooting and 6.3 apg. On the down side, he has coughed the ball up four times a game, and has shot less than 80% from the charity stripe. Yet his threats to curb his three-point shooting have not come to pass, as he has drained two moneyballs a game. I took Andre Iguodala over him in one league after much deliberation, and opted for Vince Carter in another, and feel okay about those selections, but will still shake my head in frustration any night Gilbert goes for 30-plus. He came back to earth a bit on Friday against the Pacers as the Wizards were down pretty much from the start, but he shot 50% for the game so there are still good signs from a down game.
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2009-2010 NBA Southeast Division Preview
Posted by Phil Partington Categories: Editorial, NBA,
The Orlando Magic were so close to winning the 2009 NBA Championship, they could practically taste it. However, poor foul shooting by star big man Dwight Howard, and simply being overmatched by the Los Angeles Lakers snuffed that dream rather quickly. However, the Magic are back with renewed spirit and added depth in hopes of getting another shot. Meanwhile, the rest of the Southeast Division hasn’t gotten any easier. Some believe it to be one of the toughest divisions in the league. The Washington Wizards also added depth and seem to be healthier than last year; the Miami Heat hope its young prospects can emerge to give Dwayne Wade a decent supporting cast; and the Atlanta Hawks look to take its immensely talented, but immensely unproven roster to the court again.
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Fantasy NBA: Analysis of Second Round
The first two picks usually define the direction your fantasy team builds towards. For example, matching Dwight Howard with Jose Calderon would not be the best play for a head-to-head league; although this pairing begins to cover all the various categories, the strengths of these players do not overlap. Punting categories gets too much attention in head-to-head articles; however the art of building up strength in certain categories is a requirement for success. And so, let us now look at the second round based on Yahoo average draft position (ADP) rankings, with some specific attention to how these players might complement certain players taken in the first round.
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One Man Mock Draft, Fantasy NBA 2009: Round 2, Pick 10
Last year Ron Chow and I were lucky enough to land the number one pick in the Dropping Dimes Expert League. Rewind to one year ago and LeBron James had major free-throw issues, issues I would find a way to deal with, but with the #1 pick, we went with Chris Paul. That league had two slots for centers, and as we watched our tier of big men empty out before the draft snaked its way back to us, we realized the draft forced us to go in another direction. Thus, we matched Paul with the best multi-faceted guards on our draft board. One of them was this next pick.
Round 2, Pick 10: Joe Johnson, PG/SG, Atlanta Hawks
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One Man Mock Draft, Fantasy NBA 2009: Round 2, Pick 8
This player might best exemplify the difference between drafting for a roto league and a head-to-head league. Although picking players who shoot well ranks importantly across the board, shooting percentages will fluctuate week to week. Thus, a high percentage, but low volume shooter like this lead guard who plays north of the border may not be quite as valuable in a head-to-head league. Yet, in mock drafts that I have seen so far, he continues to be confidently targeted by prospective fantasy GMs. Let us put his game under the microscope as training camp opens this week.
Round 2, Pick 8: Jose Calderon, PG, Toronto Raptors
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One Man Mock Draft, Fantasy NBA 2009: Round 2, Pick 5
So who wins the bronze medal in fantasy point guards heading into this season? Chris Paul gets consideration for first pick overall, so calling him the first point guard to be taken comes across as a big understatement. Deron Williams sits solidly in the #2 position. As you prepare for week 1 of the NFL season, keep in mind that NBA teams will open their training camps in just a few weeks. At least four to five point guard-eligible players will come off the board in between the early second round and the beginning of the third round. I always like a point guard who can score as well as shoot the three, plus of course dish the rock in elite fashion. “Mr. Big Shot” took his trade to his home state team in stride and led them to the conference finals last season.
Round 2, Pick 5: Chauncey Billups, PG, Denver Nuggets
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One Man Mock Draft, Fantasy NBA 2009: Round 1, Pick 12
Following the all-time leader in assists and steals is a lot of pressure, both for the management who must try to find “the next one” and for the player who must work to fill the shoes of one John Stockton. Plus, the Utah Jazz picked this player over Chris Paul! The Portland Trail Blazers continue to receive ridicule for picking Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan, but the Houston Rockets generally get a pass because they drafted Hakeem Olajuwon, a player who became a two-time champion and MVP over a hall of fame career. Expect the noise to be as quiet as it was for Hakeem for this player, as he is on track to do almost as well as Paul, moving forward.
Round 1, Pick 12: Deron Williams, PG, Utah Jazz
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