Bold Predictions

By: Andrew Katz

So I figured I’d mix it up today and instead of talking about projections and realistic expectations, we should travel to the opposite end of the spectrum and make some ‘bold predictions’ that probably won’t come true, but if they do I will be sure to reference this column six times a day, every day as the one time in life that I was in fact right about something. Let’s go with two predictions per sport/league that I claim to have reasonable knowledge about starting with the MLB.

MLB:

BP1 – Erik Bedard will be a Blue Jay on opening day.

Hey, it makes sense at least. Recall that earlier in the offseason the Jays were in serious talks with the Giants about landing either Matt Cain or Tim Lincecum for Alex Rios. Luckily for Toronto I don’t foresee Bedard costing them their best hitter. A package consisting of Adam Lind, Dustin McGowan, Sergio Santos, and J.P. Arencibia should definitely be sufficient to lure Bedard away from the Orioles. This trade gives the Orioles much needed help in the youth department while making the Blue Jays pitching staff a top 5 rotation in baseball and, maybe more importantly, it does not break up the nucleus that J.P. Ricciardi has worked so hard to form. Whereas previously the Blue Jays were looking as if they were settling in for another .500 season, this trade potentially puts them in the 90-95 win range.

BP2 – The Rays will win 80 games for the first time in club history.

This is the year the Baby Rays finally grow up. Assuming everyone’s healthy, they have a very potent lineup centered around Crawford, Upton, Baldelli, Pena, Iwamura, and the kid, Evan Longoria. The Garza trade though, one of the fairest I’ve seen in years, may very well end up being the move that solidifies this team. The Rays’ rotation now has four starters who very well may be all-stars within the next season or two including Kazmir who is already at that level. Garza, after spending the better part of three years in the minors, is very polished and can be expected to contribute at least 10-11 wins this year. We’ve seen what James Shields has and contrary to what many thought, he did not tail off as the year went on but maintained solid numbers throughout the duration of the season. He could be considered a possible outside shot at the Cy this year (not really, but admit it, it sounds sexy.) Their fourth quality starter, Andy Sonnastine is possibly the most intriguing of them all. He rarely walks anyone and last season was either unhittable or gave it to the hitters on a silver platter. I suspect that we will be seeing more of the former this season, potentially Andy could post 15 victories and a sub-4.00 ERA. If the bullpen comes together expect 80 or even, dare I say, 90 wins.

NBA:

BP1 – Chris Paul will lead the Hornets to the NBA finals.

Yes, I do have an unhealthy obsession with CP3, however I don’t think that this is pushing the envelope too far. The Hornets have the best big man combination in the NBA in Chandler and West who are each dropping a double-double every night. Couple this with an outstanding three point shooter in Peja and some excellent young talent (Hilton Armstrong and Julian Wright) and Paul has all of the necessary components at his disposal to lead the Hornets to the finals. Of course, I assume that they avoid the Spurs who I feel are simply a more grizzled and experienced version of the Hornets.

BP 2 – The Wolves will show the greatest improvement from the first to second half in the wins column.

Laugh all you want but these Wolves are starting to shape up. Al Jefferson is already a superstar at the age of 22 and he will only get better. Corey Brewer and Craig Smith have come into their own the last month and are now starting to see bigger minutes and McCants is finally starting to live up to the hype that came with him on draft day. However, the biggest difference in this team will most certainly be the presence of Randy Foye. After averaging 10 ppg last season Foye appeared poised to jump to the next level, however his season was derailed before it even got started thanks to a knee injury. He should be back around the all-star break so expect his presence to be felt almost immediately. Taking all of these factors into account, and assuming that Randy Wittman can serve as a somewhat capable coach, the Wolves have the capability of winning 15-20 games after the break.

NFL:

BP1 – The Jaguars will defeat the Patriots en route to the Super Bowl.

The Jags are probably the only team who really has any shot at beating the Gods That Hail From the North. Their defense is filled with monsters so you know that they’re going to get pressure on Brady. They’ve got the best running back combination in the league and I actually can’t recall ever seeing a better one. But the factor that may ultimately put them over the top is David Garrard. Anyone who has watched the Pats knows that all season they have been creating turnovers almost at will when necessary (just look at the tapes of the Ravens and Eagles games and you’ll see what I mean.) Garrard will not allow this though. All season long the guy has been a machine at managing games and finally he’s starting to get some help from his receivers in Williams and Jones. Clearly, he’s going to have to take a couple of chances during the game, but the defense will keep the Jags in it, and if Garrard can capitalize on the opportunities he’s presented with then we could see the biggest upset in NFL history.

BP2 – The Jets will not draft Darren McFadden.

It’s bold because the Jets never draft anyone who we Jets fans want them to, so they’re probably thinking right now “Hmmm…Chris Long? Another lineman…yeah, that should piss ‘em off, either that or we’ll trade down.” Don’t worry; Run DMC will not be wearing green and white next season. I don’t even know why I’m even considering it an option.

NCAAF:

BP1 – Georgia and South Florida will win by more than a combined 50 points.

This seems like a lock when you actually look at it. First and foremost, a Leaf brother is starting for Oregon so they’re already down 20 points. You have to feel bad for them though. They were so much fun to watch when Dixon was starting and now they’re just plain awful and it’s really sickening to watch them play. Regarding the Georgia / Hawaii game, I don’t expect Georgia to fully shut down Colt Brennan. In fact, I think he’s good for about 350 yards and 3 TDs, however I give Hawaii zero chance at stopping Georgia, who probably improved the most from week one up to now. Look for Moreno to run all over the field as Georgia comes out on top by a score of 55-27.

BP2 – The Illinois / USC game will be the most exciting game of Bowl Season.

USC’s high powered offense, Juice running and passing all over the field, Ron Zook taking a team to a BCS bowl while the team who fired him is stuck at the Capital One Bowl (one of the most overlooked stories right now actually,) what’s not to like? If Illinois can get anything going on offense, and their track record says they will be able to, then we could see a game in the 40-37 range. I’m really hoping this game is as exciting as it could be. The Rose Bowl strikes me as the one bowl that hasn’t truly sold out to the system yet and I respect that. Let’s hope they never give in and this year’s game draws great ratings. Go tradition!

NCAAB:

BP1 – Michael Beasley and Bill Walker will lead Kansas State to a Big 12 Tournament Championship.

Of course every knows by now exactly how dominant Michael Beasley is, but considerably less know about the extremely high ceiling of Bill Walker. Walker was a five-star recruit coming into last year who appeared ready to play a year then make the leap to the NBA. Unfortunately, six games into his freshman campaign, Bill ruptured his ACL causing him to miss the rest of the season. Early this year, it appeared Kansas State was easing him back into a starter’s role but expect him to increase production in the coming months. By the time tournament time rolls around you’ll be hearing about the dynamic frosh duo of Walker and Beasley. Count on it.

BP2 – The St. Mary’s Gaels will become America’s Team by mid-March.

Move over Gonzaga (it makes me sad to say that, I love ‘em so much,) the WCC has a new champ in the making! Led by Patrick Mills along with others native to the Land Down Under, the Gaels are currently 10-1 and ranked second in the RPI (you know, the only relevant ranking system.) It’s tough to see, outside of Gonzaga, St. Mary’s having any real challenges in conference, so a 24-4 record and a top 5 ranking heading into the WCC tourney isn’t inconceivable. By the way, mark it down right now. January 5^th. 6:00 PM EST. In front of your television (or at the bar in my case.) St. Mary’s v. Texas. This could be one of the great games of the year.

The New DUI Test

Anyone can walk in a straight line or say the alphabet bombed. I have come up with a new test that is far more accurate - it tests reflexes, coherence, and the ability to drive a car. The new DUI test is an obvious one - JETMAN. If you haven't downloaded this Facebook application, I suggest you do it now. If you fear that it will be added to your mini feed, don't worry! There is an option so when you dl it, no one will know. The only people that will know you play Jetman are other nerdy Jetmaners - eventually 90% of your friends will dl this app, so this will be irrelevant anyway. To get back on track, if you score over 700 you should be allowed to drive. The guy is wearing a fucking jetpack - if you are able to navigate a man flying through the air around large blocks, there is no doubt in my mind that you can drive a car down a road.

Top 50 Keepers (MLB edition)

By: Anthony D’Amato

Katz tackled basketball, so I decided to take baseball. Similar guidelines apply, with the next 3 seasons maintaining the heaviest weight. I believe putting up consistent stats in baseball is harder than in any other sport, due to the length of the season, injury contingency, and simply because hitting a mid-to-upper-90’s pitch is the hardest thing to do, especially with movement on the ball. So although Carlos Pena finished 2^nd in the AL with 46 HRs, he’s only eclipsed 20 dingers and 80 ribbies one other time, and he’s never hit over .250 in a season in which he plays 100 or more games.

On The Bubble

Eric Byrnes: I need to see another few months of recent production. Changing teams in twice in 2005 clearly delayed his development

Chipper Jones: Injuries have always been a concern, and he isn’t getting any younger, but when he mashes when he’s in the lineup

Miguel Tejada: I don’t know how the whole steroids issue will play out, although the short porch in left field in Houston and the switch to the NL should help boost his power numbers

Brian Roberts: (see above)

Ian Kinsler: 20/20 at second base warrants a pick in the top 10 rounds

Torii Hunter: Now that he’s paid, will he put up the numbers to earn the paycheck?

Chris Young (SD): On the brink of greatness, and home field is a pitcher’s haven

Nick Markakis: Consistently produces day-to-day despite weak Orioles lineup

Not Yet Polished, but Definitely Solid

50. Chris B. Young (ARI): CB Young is the next Mike Cameron, but with more upside. The development of fellow youngsters Mark Reynolds, Stephen Drew, and Justin Upton will only elevate his ceiling

49. Garrett Atkins: Might stumble a bit out of the gate, but picks it up as the season progresses. I held on to him last year in one of my leagues, and he rewarded me by picking up AVG in 2^nd half

48. Derrek Lee: No longer an SB threat, but don’t forget he’s a former MVP. If he, Soriano, Ramirez can stay healthy and Fukudome delivers as advertised, 120 RBIs isn’t out of reach

47. Hunter Pence: He’ll produce across the board if he can avoid a sophomore slump

46. Chone Figgins: Plays 3 positions, provides 3 categories

45. Justin Verlander: Won 18 pitching in front of fearsome Tigers lineup… that now features Cabrera. Just pray he doesn’t blow his arm out

44. John Lackey: Fierce competitor is reminiscent of vintage Mussina – the kind of pitcher that wants the ball in big games/wants to close out close games

43. Cole Hamels: Mr. Effectively Wild cut his BBs, ERA, + WHIP while bumping up Ks last year

42. Carsten Charles Sabathia: AL Cy Young winner enters contract season, expect similar numbers in ‘08

41. Gary Sheffield: Health issues (shoulder), but slotted in the middle of power-packed lineup, and should be 100% by Opening Day

40. Aramis Ramirez: .300-30-100-80, if healthy all season long

What You See is What You Get, which is a Good Thing with this Group

39. Josh Beckett: He’s reached 200 IPs both years with Boston – no longer Blister Beckett

38. Manny Ramirez: First time in 9 seasons that he failed to reach 30 HR, 100 RBI

37. Carlos Lee: .290-30-100-90-10, take it to the bank

36. Victor Martinez: Elite catcher which is incredibly weak. 1^st in HR, 1^st in RBI, 2^nd in AVG at that position

35. Adam Dunn: Slugger entering his prime, even added 9 SBs last year

34. Derek Jeter: As long as he’s batting in front of A-Rod, he’ll keep scoring a ton of runs

33. Russell Martin: 20/20 at C, and will only improve over next handful of seasons

32. Alex Rios: Power surge last year (+17 XBH between ’06-’07), and more coming. Vernon Wells once said he sees more power in Rios than Carlos Delgado had

31. Robinson Cano: He’s increased RBI + XBH totals each season

Yesterday Meets Tomorrow

30. Troy Tulowitzki: If not for Ryan Braun, he probably would’ve won NL ROY. A real gamer, he reminds me a bit of a young Jeter, with less speed and more power

29. Erik Bedard: Should land on a contender by midseason, which will net +5 W’s

28. Lance Berkman: Strong 2^nd half indicates a rebound from an otherwise forgettable ‘07

27. Magglio Ordonez: Talk about earning your paycheck! But can he repeat?

26. Brandon Phillips: Former top-prospect removed mega-bust label with 30/30 season

25. Justin Morneau: He’s only one year removed from an MVP season. Depending on what spoils a Johan trade brings, he can return to form this season

24. Carlos Beltran: Injuries, slumps, and streaks balance out to solid (if inconsistent) numbers

23. Mark Teixeira: Smooth transition to NL despite moving away from Smallpark at Arlington

22. Ichiro: 7 straight seasons of 200+ Hs, 100+ Rs, 30 SBs (career .333 AVG)

21. Grady Sizemore: Expect 30/30, with 125 runs to boot. He’s got 5-tool written all over him and sits atop a formidable Indians lineup

20. Vladimir Guerrero: Age, back are issues but boy can he MASH

On The Brink of Superstardom

19. Curtis Granderson: Jimmy Rollins-lite

18. BJ Upton: Breakout ’07 should help this former 2^nd overall pick realize his potential

17. Jake Peavy: The NL version of Johan

16. Ryan Braun: Always beware of sophomore slumps (same goes for Tulowitzki), but these are keeper rankings, and he will be the cutoff mark for elite 3Bs

15. Johan Santana: Went 1-8 vs CLE + DET last season, so a trade should bring back Cy-worthy line. I’d draft him in the top 2 rounds just for his 2^nd half dominance alone (primetime performer during championship runs in head-to-head format)

14. David Ortiz: If his knees hold up, he could reach 150 RBIs with Ellsbury + Pedroia atop lineup

13. Carl Crawford: 100 Rs + 50 SBs guaranteed, with a realistic chance at .300 AVG + 15-20 HRs as a nice bonus

­­­­­­­­The Elite

12. Alfonso Soriano: Should return to 30/30 threat, so long as he stays healthy. If he could ever keep himself from flailing at terrible pitches, he’d easily maintain a .300 AVG and add 100 Rs

11. Prince Fielder: I stole him last year in the 9^th round of our keeper draft (it was our first year), but he exceeded my expectations by 15 HRs. With Rickie Weeks, JJ Hardy, + Braun in front, and Corey Hart providing protection behind, should maintain production

10. Jimmy Rollins: Only Jimmy the Psychic and Granderson had a 20/20/20/20 season (doubles, triples, homers, steals)

9. Ryan Howard: Looking for 50 HRs, but missed out on the 1^st or 2^nd overall pick? Look no further, as long as you can stomach the Ks

Untouchables

8. Matt Holliday: Last season cemented him as an elite hitter. He has one of the most refined swings in the game, and his 3-year-old son can imitate nearly every batting stance in today’s game

7. David Wright: He consistently delivers in all 5 categories, and sits in the middle of one of the most potent lineups in the game

6. Chase Utley: Missed 30 games and was still la crème of a weak 2B crop

5. Hanley Ramirez: If not for loss of Cabrera, #s and age could justify taking him 2^nd

4. Miguel Cabrera: .325-35-130-110 a realistic possibility in Detroit’s lineup

3. Jose Reyes: Mets’ tablesetter will pout in Rs + SBs

A League of Their Own

1b. Albert Pujols: .332-40-123-121-5 is his average line, and he has just hit his prime (.327-32-103-99-2 was considered a down year for him, as he had career lows in R, HR, RBI)

1a. Alex Rodriguez: New York environment no longer an issue, he’s back to record-setting pace

Welcome!

Welcome to The Locker Room!! Our team consists of sports enthusiasts with diehard loyalties, although that doesn't taint our appreciation for each league and its constituents. Our goal is to offer insightful perspectives on the world of sports, from Fantasy Basketball Keepers and Power Rankings to previews and predictions. We encourage argument/discussion/debate, so feel free to post comments or e-mail us! Remember, the opinions expressed on this site are our own, and are not intended to offend anyone. Any and all humor is good-natured and lighthearted. We hope you enjoy our little corner of the web, and any questions/comments/suggestions are appreciated. Anything you'll find in a locker room, you'll find here!!



-- slashh

Top 50 Keepers (NBA edition)

By: Andrew Katz

Before we dive into this list there are a few rules to keep in mind when considering how this list was put together:
· The players are ranked by how it is felt they will perform over the next three years, hence the reason why Tyson Chandler would be ranked ahead of Marcus Camby
· These rankings are based upon projections for a standard Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball league, meaning that if you are an elite scorer putting up 25 ppg (Carmelo Anthony?) that doesn’t necessarily mean you will be ranked at an elite level here
· Just because a player is having an all-around great fantasy year (Mike Dunleavy) does not mean that I anticipate him being able to do this for the next 2 or 3 years, or even the rest of this year. Essentially, staying power is an issue that has to be factored into these rankings as well
On the cusp…
Emeka Okafor: Hasn’t shown much improvement over his first three years, and appears satisfied being a 13/10 kind of guy

Ronnie Brewer: Very young so you know he’s got a shot to maintain his top 50 Y! ranking, but has been slumping of late and hasn’t really shown anything that stands out and screams “ I am here to stay!”

They certainly won’t hurt you ….

50. Lou Williams: Thank me when Andre Miller gets traded and he’s dropping ten dimes a game

49. Tim Duncan: The general rule of thumb is that centers start to burn out (quickly) around the age of 33 or 34. Timmy’s 31, so he’s probably still worth the gamble, even if you only two more legitimate Tim Duncan years

48. Al Horford: Already averaging just about a double-double as a rook. Don’t expect him to contract Emeka Syndrome either, this kid’s got the drive that it takes

47. Tony Parker: So what if he has some turnover issues, he’s 25 (wow), is averaging a career high in assists, points, and is the point guard on the best team, tough to go wrong here

46. Richard Jefferson: The guy could easily be a top 20 fantasy caliber player, it’s all up to him, as evidenced by this past month where he was ranked 82nd over that period

45. Hedo Turkoglu: The guy simply dropped into the perfect situation – point guard who can dish, dominant post player, and the Hedo upgrade, Rashard Lewis, he’s putting up career highs across the board, and it’s tough to find a reason why he shouldn’t be able to keep his stats where they are for the next few seasons

44. Jason Kidd: He’s still got it. Here’s the kicker, one of two things has to happen for him to be the Jason Kidd fantasy performer of old:
1) His teammates, outside of Sean Williams, have to start caring again.
2) He has to be traded (a trade to the Lakers or Dallas would immediately vault him into the top 20 range)

43. Tyson Chandler: Another guy in a great situation, on a young team with loads of potential and just starting to realize his own. Expect as high as 15/15 this year and only increases from here on forward

42. Devin Harris: Loads of talent; will become a bigger part of offense as year goes on, expect him to be a top 7 PG by the end of the year

41. Allen Iverson: Never doubt The Answer, even if his body takes more of a beating than the average Guido’s wife. But seriously, with Carmelo improving every year, AI will be able to relieve a little of the pressure from his shoulders, allowing him to maintain a top 50 Y! ranking for the next few years

Count on them to appear on the Championship team…

40. Chauncey Billups: It seems like he’s gotten better every year since he was 21. Even if he will be 34 three years from now, the chemistry the Pistons have will allow him to continue to put up legitimate fantasy numbers over the next few seasons. Keep in mind that he’s the number 14 player in the Y! game this year, playing less than three quarters per game

39. Andris Biedrins: He’s 21, the Warriors seem to be protecting him, he’s averaging a double-double in not even 30 MPG, he’s going to be great

38. Rashard Lewis: With Dwight dominating the inside and Jameer doing his thing, Rashard can be Rashard and not even worry about carrying the team

37. Joe Johnson: As the Hawks improve, so will Joe. He’s got a world of talent and we’ll see him shine in more ways than just scoring once this team matures a little. Watch out: top 20 Y! potential

36. Manu Ginobili: Averaging career highs across the board, and showing no signs of letting up

35. Leandro Barbosa: FINALLY starting, even if numbers are slightly down in some categories, two 3’s and a 1.5 steals/game are very nice

34. Michael Redd: A younger, just as lethal Paul Pierce, who is finally starting to get some help from teammates

33. David West: It’s almost not fair having him and Chandler on the block. Expect 20/10 and close to 2 blocks a game very soon

32. Gilbert Arenas: Fantasy owners can only hope that he realizes that just because he’s so talented, that he doesn’t have to do everything himself (and that he signs with a contender in the offseason)

Look out, here come the young guns….

31. LaMarcus Aldridge: Don’t be fooled by the Y! ranking, 19/8 and a block are more than we could ever have expected from this second year stud

30. Danny Granger: Thrived in Jermaine O’Neal’s absence, once he’s dealt the sky is the limit

29. Jose Calderon: If he hadn’t received limited playing time throughout portions of the year, would be number 2 in assists, we’re looking at Steve Nash minus the scoring (and you have to love only 38 TO’s!)

28. Andrei Kirilenko: His reputation tells us that if he stays away from the injury bug he’s good to keep up those all around solid fantasy numbers

27. Kevin Durant: He’s got the talent, it’s all about whether he will become a TMac or a Kobe, fantasywise

26. Kevin Martin: Hurt right now, but when he comes back expect his usual all-around solid fantasy game who, with the acquisition of a quality running mate could vault into the top ten

25. Rudy Gay: Worth Shane Battier? For damn sure. Basically being Kevin Martin averaging 21/7/2/1/1 with solid turnover and 3PTM /game over the last month, he’s living up to the immense hype that surrounded him on draft day and then some

24. Brandon Roy: Proving himself to be as much the leader he was in college, simply taking over during the Blazers’ ten game win streak

Do what it takes to get ‘em….

23. Dirk Nowitzki: There’s no reason to believe that he won’t continue to be a top 25 Y! player for the next few years, even if his points have declined slightly this year, every other category is up to par or better

22. Carmelo Anthony: I refuse to believe that he will not mature over the next few years and cut down on his TO’s while upping his assists. He simply has too much of a will to win not to have this happen. And people, try to remember, he’s only 23

21. Baron Davis: The formula for him his simple: avoid injuries, put up top 10 kind of stats. Of course, it’s almost a sure thing for him to find the injury bug at least once a year. It seems weird that he’s only 28 and even if he only plays 65 games a year he’s still well worth a second round pick at least

20. Andre Iguodala: The cornerstone on a 76ers team that’s playing better than people think. His 18/5/5 line is great, but it’s the 2.4 steals/game that really blows you away (nearly limitless potential when coupled with Lou)

19. Dwyane Wade: His Y! ranking is deceiving not only because he was hurt for much of the season, but also because that 4.5 TO/game stat is due much in part to the fact that he basically has to create everything himself. If Randy Pfund wakes up and realizes that not even The Flash can do everything on his own, then immediately put DWade back in your top 15.

18. Caron Butler: Putting up absurd numbers right now but a couple of factors must be considered when assessing his potential
1) When Gilbert returns, points and assists likely immediately drop
2) Numbers have tended to drop off as the season goes on, and this was while he wasn’t even the go to guy on the team
Clearly he could very well stay a top 10 fantasy player, but it is too soon to much that much confidence in him

The Elite

17. Steve Nash: OK, he’s 33, but has he showed ANY signs of slowing down? He’s surrounded by the likes of Barbosa, Marion, Hill, and Stoudemire so basically even I could play the point here and have some success. Expect at least another two years of typical Steve Nash production

16. Chris Bosh: Will be a consistent 20/10 player for years to come, also brings a nice 80% FT to the dish, something most eligible centers lack. The combination of a steal and block per game with less two TO’s/game as well show that he is progressing very quickly through the maturation process of becoming one of the game’s few premier big men

15. Deron Williams: Already so fundamentally sound at the age of 23, Williams to Boozer brings back memories of another Jazz guard/forward duo. It’s tough to find any areas in his game in which he can really improve upon, so for now he’s a safe bet to fluctuate between ranks 10 and 30 in Y! but not much higher or lower, basically he’s a rock

14. Josh Howard: Hitting his prime just as he’s being asked to do more for this team. Josh has been very efficient putting up 21/7 a game while turning the ball over only a little more than once a contest. As Nowitzki ages, don’t be surprised if Howard’s numbers jump into the 25/9 range

13. Al Jefferson: Averaging 20/12 in just his second year starting on a very raw, albeit talented team. His FT% and assist totals have improved every year, so expect more of the same there. BY ’08 expect consistent 25/14 with a steal and couple blocks to boot. His low TO numbers are also encouraging. Top 10 is a possibility for next season

12. Amare Stoudemire: So what if he’s “soft,” all we fantasy guys care about are the stats and there’s no doubt he’s in the right place for plenty of those. His injury tendencies (knee specifically) coupled with the always swirling trade possibilities are all that are stopping him from being ranked much higher on this list

Mortgage the farm for ‘em…

11. Andrew Bynum: Now we know why the Lakers were so reluctant to trade him in the offseason. The guy is averaging a double-double and averages almost twice as many as blocks as he does turnovers per contest. He’s twenty years old and hasn’t even begun to feed off the asset that it is to have Kobe demanding such interest from defenders. 18/15 is a realistic possibility next year with potentially even more blocks as his minutes increase

10. Kevin Garnett: The good news - he’s finally on a winning team that can take some of the strain off of him, his minutes are down slightly, and he’s still producing at a very high level. The bad news – This Is his 13th season and you know he’s going to be counted to play more down the stretch if the Celtics need are in a fight for playoff positioning. His numbers may drop as the season goes on, but expect numbers no worse than 30th in the Y! game over the next few years, of course depending on how much he has left he’s always got the potential to be a top 3 caliber player

9. Yao: This was supposed to be his NBA season but so far signs point otherwise. Sure, he’ll post his 20-25 ppg and 10-12 boards, but he appears to lack the drive to make jump into legendary status (fantasy wise anyway.) Expect him to be a top 20 fantasy contributor for years to come (and he may even crack the top 10 at some points) but at the pick where you would take him, you can definitely get better value, even if it may be at a slightly higher level of risk

8. Shawn Marion: The Matrix simply gets the job done, both on the court and in the stat department. His steals and blocks are right where they’ve always been and even as his points have decreased slightly, he’s made up for it by limiting his TOs and contributing over 10 boards a game. Quite simply, the guy was built for fantasy basketball; however one has to wonder how much more his body can take considering the kind of game he plays over such an extensive amount of minutes

7. Chris Kaman: Already dropping 19/14 along with 3 blocks a game at the age of 25 on a truly dismal team that lacks another decent scoring threat. Once the Clips get one of those, expect decreased TOs and potential for 23/15. In a league filled with great young true centers, consider him no worse than third best of the bunch

6. Josh Smith: The next Shawn Marion, possibly even better (scary.) No one else is currently putting up anything like the otherworldly 17/9/4/2/3 (pts, rbs, asts, stls, blcks) stat line that Smith had over the last month. Once Atlanta settles on a true point guard, expect the Johnson-Smith duo to become one of the most electric the NBA has seen in some time

If you don’t have them, you’re not getting them…

5. Kobe Bryant: Well, even though he’s in his twelfth NBA season, he’s still Kobe. Bynum’s emergence should take some of the weight off of his back, but as we’ve seen from the past, Kobe will be called on in the season’s final couple of months to play an absurd amount of minutes. I say he’s got more Dominant year in him before we his numbers recede to a more human level, although most likely he will still be flirting with a rank inside the top 20

4. Carlos Boozer: Talk about someone who made the jump, Boozer has improved substantially in every category across the board from 2005 until now, while managing to maintain a superb shooting % and shoot well from the charity stripe. There is no reason to believe that Boozer will not continue to dominate as long as Deron Williams calls Utah home. The guy wants to win and is willing to lay it all out on the floor as evidenced by his averages of 4 assists and 2 steals over the last month that certainly have fantasy owners drooling

3. Dwight Howard: Here’s the potential line for him in the not so distant future (averages): 30/20/1/4 (pts, rbs, stls, blks) to go along with 65% from the field. Whereas these numbers are basically unprecedented, they are not impossible for Dwight. Just look at the leap he made from last year to this one – increasing points, rebounds, and blocks by 6, 3, and .7, respectively. Fortunately, he is also on a team that has the pieces to help with his development and launch him towards uncharted territory

In a fantasy league where there was no money on the line, you still couldn’t acquire these guys through bribery…

2. LeBron James: He’s the king, how much more can be said? His stat lines are a cross between Kobe’s and Kidd’s, unfortunately his teammates are holding him back big time. Until Danny Ferry wakes up and realizes that he needs to find a Scottie (no Danny, for the 20th time Larry Hughes will not suffice) for his MJ, LeBron appears to actually have a ceiling, considering the constant double-teams and hacking he will be facing. We may not see the impact that it has on him immediately in fantasy land, but the body can only take so much punishment before it starts to say stuff along the lines of “hey LeBron, don’t go for that tough layup with three men in your way, pass it off to Eric Snow, he’s open!!”

1. Chris Paul: A shocker!! (at first anyway.) However, there are logical reasons why I currently have Paul ahead of Bron Bron:
1) First and foremost being that Paul’s supporting cast is way better than LeBron’s. David West and Tyson Chandler offer two low post options for Paul to dish to, Peja provides a great kick out option, and the Hornets even have a couple of extremely talented, granted raw, prospects that should only help Paul even more in the years to come.
2) He averages 20/10, and not the common 20/12 either (points and boards.) The last person to average 20 points and 10 assists a game throughout the duration of a season? Magic Johnson.
3) Paul is averaging as many steals as he is TOs (both a shade under 3/game,) very efficient for a guy who handles the ball as often as he does. I assume that if LeBron’s supporting cast was better we would also see his TOs plummet.
4) Paul is currently ranked number 2 in the Y! game, and he still has so much potential he has yet to unlock. Fortunately for him, he is playing on a team that will be growing right alongside with him, seeing as the core made up of players no older than 27.
A lot of people would argue with me here, shouting that they would take LeBron over Paul, however you’ve got to keep in mind that in order to dominate in the world of fantasy a player has to be able to be both efficient and statistically exceptional across the board, and in order for that to happen he has to be able to rely on his teammates as well (TOs, assists.) Right now I simply feel that everything is falling into place for Chris Paul to be the dominant fantasy basketball player for years to come. LeBron may have the fire to get his team single-handedly to an NBA championship, but Paul has the repertoire and the teammates to guide my fantasy team to the crown.