Fantasy NBA Players of the Week 18

Week 18's Mythical 5:

The Director
Chauncey Billups (DEN) - 3.7 3FGM, 26.3 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 5.0 APG [2]

The Skywalker
Kevin Durant (OKC) - 1.8 3FGM, 27.8 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.8 SPG [7]

The Triggerman
LeBron James (CLE) - 2.0 3FGM, 30.7 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 10.3 APG, 1.3 SPG [11]

Captain Lionheart
Gerald Wallace (CHA) - 1.7 3FGM, 23.0 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 3.3 APG, 2.3 SPG [2]

Tower of Power
Zach Randolph (MEM) - 24.3 PPG, 14.5 RPG, 2.5 APG, 2.3 SPG, 1.3 RPG [2]


Couple of things we must note this week:

1. LeBron James is again the best player in fantasy basketball. Numbers, team's record, overall impact all point to him becoming a back-to-back MVP, especially since Kobe sat down for several games. Plus, Shaq going to be out for over a month means more of the monster numbers for the King.

2. Danny Granger again pays the price for becoming a Small Foward.

3. It was a slow week for point guards. Chauncey Billups didn't put up whoa numbers and yet he was the best at his position for this week.

Fantasy NBA Players of the Week 13

The Director
Chauncey Billups (DEN) - 0.909 FT%, 4.3 3FGM, 25.7 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 7.7 APG [1]

Finally, Mr. Big Shot arrives. Seems to have perfect timing too as the wind-up to the all-star game is right upon the world. Last year, he got the snub even after turning Denver around. This year though, Tony Parker isn't playing as well, so this would seem to be a lock unless Deron Williams creeps into the picture.


The Skywalker
Kevin Durant (OKC) - 1.3 3FGM, 31.0 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 2.8 SPG, 1.5 BPG [5]

He's back. He's been here less than just 1 person. Like almost everybody has said, the Thunder were not supposed to be this good this early. Durant is leading the precocious team with his own advanced-for-his-age numbers, and they're in the playoffs. Who knows, they might even leapfrog Portland as the "Young team the NBA is afraid of." He's gonna be an all-star for sure.


The Triggerman
LeBron James (CLE) - 2.3 3FGM, 34.0 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 10.7 APG, 1.7 SPG, 1.7 SPG [7]



As if last week wasn't good enough, he upped himself and beat Kobe and his Lakers too. Mo Williams is down for the next month or so, thus we can expect more of this from LeBron. The best players in fantasy basketball (and real basketball) is on a different plane these last 2 weeks.


Captain Lionheart
Corey Maggette (GSW) - 0.929 FT%, 30.3 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 5.0 APG [1]

The conflict of the week! Andrei Kirilenko was another candidate for this slot, with better percetages and defense. But he only played 2 weeks. So, I went with Maggette since he played more games and his FT% was way up there considering the volume of FT he takes.


Tower of Power
Andrew Bogut (MIL) - 20.3 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 2.5 APG, 4.0 BPG [1]

He was the number 1 pick, folks, not CP3 or D-Will. Yes, it might have taken him a couple of years longer, but the Australian is here to stay. Tag teaming with a young spitfire in Brandon Jennings, they seem to make each other better. Let's see if this combo heats up the Milwaukee cold.

NBA Christmas Preview

This year's NBA schedule will feature 5 games, which more or less were desgined to give some family entertainment during the "best time of the year." These 5 games all have interesting backstories behind them and aims to capture even those non-basketball fans because of the hype and telenovela like stories being built up.

The NBA made this schedule even before the season started. Let's see if they got their gut-feels right...

Miami vs New York

This game is simply all about one man. Dwyane Wade is on the free agent market next year, and is probably the 2nd target of the New York Knicks after LeBron James. HE provides the struggling Knicks franchise with a superstar big enough to handle the bright lights of the big city. Hell, even Jay-Z made a comment about Wade in New York...


Boston vs Orlando

Everybody was saying last year that D12 and the Magic were only able to get through the Celtics was because they were missing Garnett and the defensive tenacity he brings to the floor. This year, we get to see it. In the Finals, Paul Pierce even mentioned that he thought that the Magic was a "poodle" compared to the "rotweiler." Unfortunately for the Truth, he'll be observing this Christmas day game as he was diagnosed to miss the next 2 weeks with a knee injury.


Cleveland vs Los Angeles Lakers

With the help of these dudes, Nike has been building up this match since the playoffs started last year. They were hoping it would happen in the Finals, but we all ended up waiting another half year to see it. Individually, I think we cannot contest that Kobe and LeBron are the 2 best players in the league, and they hope to lead their star-studded teams in clash in Hollywood. Just enough of a bright lights, big stage, right time set-up for a primetime, national television broadcast. The Mamba vs the King.

LA Clippers vs Phoenix Suns


Initially, I was supposed to label this match-up as a battle of "failure of the 2009 season" with both teams having stocked line-ups, stubborn coaches and too little wins to get into the playoffs. Then I remembered the crazy stuff their 2 starting point guards do during their free time. Yes folks, that's Steve "Two Time" (MVP, not Tiger Woods two-time) Nash and Baron "Boom Dizzle" Davis. If you can find a clip of it online, these 2 made a video in the style of Will Ferrel's and C. THomas Reiley's Stepbrothers, hence the stupid outfits... Now, on the basketball side of it, The Suns are resurgent and now seem to be contenders in spite of their recent struggles, and the Clippers seem to be getting there. The added bonus of Blake Griffin was supposed to be highlighted here as well, but a broken kneecap has said no.


Denver Nuggets vs Portland Trailblazers

Here's is where the league was bitten in the ass by the injury bug. Oden, Roy, Outlaw, Batum, Pryzbilla, Billups and Martin might all miss the game due to one injury or another. It was supposed to be a battle for supremacy of the US Northwest, and instead it will be Carmelo Anthony vs LaMarcus Aldrigde. Sort of an anti-climactic way to end the night...