The NBA season opener is tonight, which, of course, means it's time for fantasy basketball. I recently drafted my team for the year (I only draft 1 per season) in a 12-team roto league on CBS. Although I am playing against complete strangers, there's a fairly large sum of money on the table, and we're all experienced players (from what I can gather).
With that being said, here's what my team looks like. I'm not one to gloat, but it does look pretty damned good (on paper). We'll see if they can live up to their billing soon enough, but chronic injuries do have me a little concerned (say, if Bynum, Bogut and Nene were to all go down, I'd be completely screwed... knock on wood). But, in any case, here's what I ended up with:
RB Lakers
G: Deron Williams - BKN, Jrue Holiday - PHI, Jeff Teague - ATL, Dion Waiters - CLE
F: Rudy Gay - MEM, Kevin Garnett - BOS, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist - CHA, Kris Humphries - BKN
C: Andrew Bynum - PHI, Andrew Bogut - GS
Bench: Derrick Favors - UTA, Nene - WAS, Ray Allen - MIA
I had the 7th overall pick and didn't expect to land Deron Williams, so that was a nice surprise. I had planned on taking Josh Smith or Dwight Howard with my 1st pick and draft rebound-heavy for the first few rounds (there is a noticeable lack of good Forwards once the top guys go off the board) but all my planning was rendered useless right out of the gate. Much like in warfare, as the circumstances change, so must your plans, or you will get torn to bloody ribbons (ok, maybe that analogy is a little extreme, but you get the idea). So, I had to pretty much wing it. I began, of course, by taking the best players on my board, and then began to fill needs as the draft moved along.
And, without further delay, the Recap:
Draft Order
1. Pistol Pete
2. SternSucks
3. Magic
4. PEDs
5. Tarheels
6. YankeeDoodle
7. RB Lakers*
8. Bruins
9. Catch These
10. Jackpot Blunts
11. Ballas
12. Net Slashers
*My team
Rd 1
1. Kevin Durant, SF - OKC
Pistol Pete
2. LeBron James, SF - MIA
SternSucks
3. Russell Westbrook, PG - OKC
Magic
4. Chris Paul, PG - LAC
PEDs
5. Josh Smith, PF - ATL
Tarheels
6. Dwyane Wade, SG - MIA
YankeeDoodle
7. Deron Williams, PG - BKN
RB Lakers*
8. Carmelo Anthony, SF - NY
Bruins
9. Kyrie Irving, PG - CLE
Catch These
10. Al Jefferson, C - UTA
Jackpot Blunts
11. Kobe Bryant, SG - LAL
Ballas
12. DeMarcus Cousins, C - SAC
Net Slashers
Best Pick: Deron Williams at #7, if I don't say so myself.
Needless to say, I was pretty surprised when he fell to me. There are three elite PGs who stand head and shoulders above the rest: CP3, Westbrook and Williams. They're better scorers than Kyrie Irving, Brandon Jennings and Ty Lawson, and CP3 and Williams dish out just as many dimes as Rondo. So, they are on a tier all to themselves. And, if you have a chance to get one of those guys in the top of the draft, you don't pass up that opportunity. Williams should've been the 4th or 5th player off the board, without question. Falling two or three spots, from 5 - 7, may not seem like that big of a drop, but it is, considering the caliber of player we're talking about.
Worst Pick: Carmelo Anthony at #8.
Melo is a case of a player who is better in real life than in fantasy. Sure, he scores a lot, but points are the easiest stat to come by, and he's not really a standout in any other category. He's not a big rebounder, he doesn't get many assists, or steals, or blocks, or shoot all that many 3s. So, he's sort of lives in a fantasy no-man's land. I have him ranked at #19 overall, so #8 is quite a reach, especially with so many other players available.
Sleeper Pick: Kyrie Irving at # 9.
It's hard to call Kyrie Irving a sleeper, since he's one of the hottest young players in the NBA, but could potentially join the ranks of the elite 3 PGs this season, making it the elite 4.
Rd 2
13. Kevin Love, PF - MIN
Net Slashers
14. Dwight Howard, C - LAL
Ballas
15. Ty Lawson, PG - DEN
Jackpot Blunts
16. LaMarcus Aldridge, PF - POR
Catch These
17. Pau Gasol, PF - LAL
Bruins
18. Andrew Bynum, C - PHI
RB Lakers*
19. Marc Gasol, C - MEM
YankeeDoodle
20. Brandon Jennings, PG - MIL
Tarheels
21. Blake Griffin, PF - LAC
PEDs
22. Rajon Rondo, PG - BOS
Magic
23. James Harden, SG - HOU
SternSucks
24. Stephen Curry, PG - GS
Pistol Pete
Best Pick: Dwight Howard at #14.
Even though many analysts are down on him this year, I still have Howard ranked as the #1 Center in fantasy (call it Lakers' bias if you will, but I'd rank him the same regardless of the jersey he wears). Yes, he does have obvious injury concerns, but he is such a beast on the boards, he could still potentially finish the season as the league's top rebounder, and one of the top shot-blockers, even if he only plays 70 games. I could make a case that he should've gone as high as #7 (I had considered taking him there if Williams & Smith were off the board), so he's quite a steal at #14.
Worst Pick: Stephen Curry at #24.
Stephen Curry is NOT a 2nd rounder, especially considering the surplus at PG. There are so many players I'd take before Curry it's pointless to even list them out, and that's even if he bounces back at 100%, which I don't think he will (at least, not right away).
Sleeper Pick: James Harden at #23.
I wasn't all too hep on Harden before the trade that sent him to the Rockets, but now that he'll be "The Man" in Houston, he'll have the opportunity to take his game to the next level. Whether he will or not is another question.
My Pick: Andrew Bynum at #18.
I think I got good value on Bynum. Some analysts rank him ahead of Howard for the year, even though he's been plagued by injuries just the same. So long as the two can stay at least relatively healthy, they should finish the season neck-and-neck statistically. Bynum may not rebound quite as much, but he probably will score a little more now that he's the #1 option for Philly. I really liked the idea of pairing him with Deron Williams. The pair give me a solid statistical foundation across the board.
Rd 3
25. Al Horford, C - ATL
Pistol Pete
26. Steve Nash, PG - LAL
SternSucks
27. Marcin Gortat, C - PHO
Magic
28. Tony Parker, PG - SA
PEDs
29. Mike Conley, PG - MEM
Tarheels
30. Goran Dragic, PG - PHO
YankeeDoodle
31. Rudy Gay, SF - MEM
RB Lakers*
32. Greg Monroe, C - DET
Bruins
33. Kyle Lowry, PG - TOR
Catch These
34. Carlos Boozer, PF - CHI
Jackpot Blunts
35. Monta Ellis, SG - MIL
Ballas
36. Andre Iguodala, SF - DEN
Net Slashers
Best Pick: Monta Ellis at #35.
This is really nice value pick here. Ellis is a pretty versatile guard, and can give you a bit of everything; points, assists, steals and 3s. He's basically Mike Conley, but will score nearly twice as many points. He's a much better option than Parker or Lowry and, as I said, I'd take him over Conley as well.
Worst Pick: Carlos Boozer at #34
There's no way to put it nicely; this is a terrible pick, possibly the worst in the entire draft. By my estimation, Boozer is the 66th best player available, and I'm probably being nice. To take him in the 3rd round, when forwards like Serge Ibaka, Paul Millsap and Anthony Davis were still on the board is mind-bogling. I would've taken Kevin Garnett over Carlos Boozer... and I did... in the 5th round.
Sleeper Pick: Goran Dragic at #30.
Again, he's not much of a sleeper, since everyone is jumping on the bandwagon, but in his limited time as a starter last season for the Rockets, he averaged 18 ppg, 8.4 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.8 3s, which isn't bad. Whether he can do that on a regular basis now that he's taken over for Steve Nash in Phoenix remains to be seen, but here's betting that he can.
My Pick: Rudy Gay at #31.
I felt comfortable taking Gay in the middle of the 3rd round for two reasons; 1) He's good. 2) The SF position is incredibly weak this season. There are only 5 top-tier SFs available in the draft (4 if you don't count ol' Paul Pierce as top-tier anymore) so, if I didn't take Gay here, I probably would've ended up reaching for someone like Nicolas Batum or Gerald Wallace two rounds too early. Could I have gotten a better player? Yes (I could've taken Monta Ellis, for one), but I don't feel like I reached here. ]
Rd 4
37. Paul Pierce, SF - BOS
Net Slashers
38. Roy Hibbert, C - IND
Ballas
39. Gordon Hayward, SF - UTA
Jackpot Blunts
40. Serge Ibaka, PF - OKC
Catch These
41. Joe Johnson, SG - BKN
Bruins
42. Jrue Holiday, PG - PHI
RB Lakers*
43. Anthony Davis, C - NO
YankeeDoodle
44. Kemba Walker, SG - CHA
Tarheels
45. Chris Bosh, PF - MIA
PEDs
46. Luol Deng, SF - CHI
Magic
47. Joakim Noah, C - CHI
SternSucks
48. Paul Millsap, PF - UTA
Pistol Pete
Best Pick: Paul Millsap at #48.
Worst Pick: Kemba Walker at #44.
Sleeper Pick: Jrue Holiday at #42.
Rd 5
49. Paul George, SG - IND
Pistol Pete
50. Brook Lopez, C - BKN
SternSucks
51. Ryan Anderson, PF - NO
Magic
52. John Wall, PG - WAS
PEDs
53. Tyreke Evans, PG - SAC
Tarheels
54. David Lee, PF - GS
YankeeDoodle
55. Kevin Garnett, C - BOS
RB Lakers*
56. Raymond Felton, PG - NY
Bruins
57. Nicolas Batum, SF - POR
Catch These
58. Klay Thompson, SG - GS
Jackpot Blunts
59. Jeremy Lin, PG - HOU
Ballas
60. Gerald Wallace, SF - BKN
Net Slashers
Best Pick: Tyreke Evans at #53
Worst Pick: Raymond Felton at #56
Sleeper Pick: Klay Thompson at #58
Rd 6
61. Damian Lillard, PG - POR
Net Slashers
62. Tim Duncan, PF - SA
Ballas
63. Marcus Thornton, PG - SAC
Jackpot Blunts
64. Dirk Nowitzki, PF - DAL
Catch These
65. Lou Williams, SG - ATL
Bruins
66. Jeff Teague, PG - ATL
RB Lakers*
67. Andrea Bargnani, C - TOR
YankeeDoodle
68. Darren Collison, PG - DAL
Tarheels
69. Tyson Chandler, C - NY
PEDs
70. Manu Ginobili, SG - SA
Magic
71. Danny Granger, SF - IND
SternSucks
72. Amare Stoudemire, PF - NY
Pistol Pete
Best Pick: Danny Granger at #71
Worst Pick: Manu Ginobili at #70
Sleeper Pick: Damian Lillard at #61
Rd 7
73. Ersan Ilyasova, PF - MIL
Net Slashers
74. Eric Gordon, SG - NO
SternSucks
75. Chandler Parsons, SF - HOU
Magic
76. Kenneth Faried, PF - DEN
PEDs
77. Michael Beasley, PF - PHO
Tarheels
78. Jameer Nelson, PG - ORL
YankeeDoodle
79. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF - CHA
RB Lakers*
80. Brandon Knight, PG - DET
Bruins
81. Wesley Matthews, SG - POR
Catch These
82. Danilo Gallinari, SF - DEN
Jackpot Blunts
83. Zach Randolph, PF - MEM
Ballas
84. Mo Williams, PG - UTA
Net Slashers
Best Pick: Kenneth Faried at #76
Worst Pick: Chandler Parsons at #75
Sleeper Pick: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist at #79
Rd 8
85. Luis Scola, PF - PHO
Net Slashers
86. Greivis Vasquez, PG - NO
Ballas
87. JaVale McGee, C - DEN
Jackpot Blunts
88. Isaiah Thomas, PG - SAC
Catch These
89. JJ Hickson, PF - POR
Bruins
90. Kris Humphries, PF - BKN
RB Lakers*
91. Arron Afflalo, SG - ORL
YankeeDoodle
92. Nikola Pekovic, C - MIN
Tarheels
93. OJ Mayo, SG - DAL
PEDs
94. George Hill, PG - IND
Magic
95. Kawhi Leonard, SF - SA
SternSucks
96. Evan Turner, SG - PHI
Pistol Pete
Best Pick: Isaiah Thomas at #88
Worst Pick: JJ Hickson at #89
Sleeper Pick: Greivis Vasquez at #86
Rd 9
97. Kevin Martin, SG - OKC
Pistol Pete
98. Elton Brand, PF - DAL
SternSucks
99. DeMar DeRozan, SG - TOR
Magic
100. DeAndre Jordan, C - LAC
PEDs
101. JJ Redick, SG - ORL
Tarheels
102. Rodney Stuckey, PG - DET
YankeeDoodle
103. Andrew Bogut, C - GS
RB Lakers*
104. Ramon Sessions, PG - CHA
Bruins
105. Glen Davis, C - ORL
Catch These
106. Bradley Beal, SG - WAS
Jackpot Blunts
107. David West, PF - IND
Ballas
108. Omer Asik, PF - HOU
Net Slashers
Best Pick: Kevin Martin at #97
Worst Pick: JJ Redick at #101
Sleeper Pick: DeMar DeRozan at #99
Rd 10
109. Devin Harris, PG - ATL
Net Slashers
110. Kirk Hinrich, PG - CHI
Ballas
111. Gerald Henderson, SG - CHA
Jackpot Blunts
112. Anderson Varejao, C - CLE
Catch These
113. Samuel Dalembert, C - MIL
Bruins
114. Nene, C - WAS
RB Lakers*
115. Jason Terry, SG - BOS
YankeeDoodle
116. Taj Gibson, PF - CHI
Tarheels
117. Chris Kaman, C - DAL
PEDs
118. Andrei Kirilenko, SF - MIN
Magic
119. Luke Ridnour, PG - MIN
SternSucks
120. Ricky Rubio, PG - MIN
Pistol Pete
Best Pick: Anderson Varejao at #112
Worst Pick: Devin Harris at #109
Sleeper Pick: Andrei Kirilenko at #118
Rd 11
121. Derrick Rose, PG - CHI
Pistol Pete
122. DJ Augustin, PG - IND
SternSucks
123. Hedo Turkoglu, SF - ORL
Magic
124. Jordan Crawford, SG - WAS
PEDs
125. Andre Miller, PG - DEN
Tarheels
126. Alonzo Gee, SF - CLE
YankeeDoodle
127. Dion Waiters, SG - CLE
RB Lakers*
128. Jamal Crawford, SG - LAC
Bruins
129. Thaddeus Young, SF - PHI
Catch These
130. Jason Richardson, SG - PHI
Jackpot Blunts
131. Shawn Marion, SF - DAL
Ballas
132. Bismack Biyombo, PF - CHA
Net Slashers
Best Pick: Thaddeus Young at #129
Worst Pick: Hedo Turkoglu at #123
Sleeper Pick: Dion Waiters at #127
Rd 12
133. Jose Calderon, PG - TOR
Net Slashers
134. Tristan Thompson, C - CLE
Ballas
135. Jarrett Jack, PG - GS
Jackpot Blunts
136. Jeff Green, PF - BOS
Catch These
137. Jared Dudley, SG - PHO
Bruins
138. Derrick Favors, PF - UTA
RB Lakers*
139. Harrison Barnes, SF - GS
YankeeDoodle
140. Andre Drummond, C - DET
Tarheels
141. Derrick Williams, PF - MIN
PEDs
142. Nikola Vucevic, C - ORL
Magic
143. Terrence Jones, PF - HOU
SternSucks
144. Dorrell Wright, SF - PHI
Pistol Pete
Best Pick: Jared Dudley at #137
Worst Pick: Terrence Jones at #143
Sleeper Pick: Andre Drummond at #140
Rd 13
145. Byron Mullens, C - CHA
Pistol Pete
146. Emeka Okafor, C - WAS
SternSucks
147. Jose Juan Barea, PG - MIN
Magic
148. Spencer Hawes, C - PHI
PEDs
149. Tyrus Thomas, PF - CHA
Tarheels
150. Tiago Splitter, C - SA
YankeeDoodle
151. Ray Allen, SG - MIA
RB Lakers*
152. JR Smith, SG - NY
Catch These
153. DeJuan Blair, C - SA
Jackpot Blunts
154. Trevor Ariza, SF - WAS
Ballas
155. Austin Rivers, SG - NO
Net Slashers
Best Pick: Spencer Hawes at #148
Worst Pick: DeJuan Blair at #153
Sleeper Pick: Byron Mullens at #145
Pistol Pete
G: Stephen Curry, Paul George, Evan Turner, Kevin Martin, Ricky Rubio, Derrick Rose
F: Kevin Durant, Paul Millsap, Amare Stoudemire, Ersan Ilyasova, Dorrell Wright
C: Al Horford, Byron Mullens
SternSucks
G: James Harden, Steve Nash, Eric Gordon, Luke Ridnour, DJ Augustin
F: LeBron James, Danny Granger, Kawhi Leonard, Elton Brand, Terrence Jones
C: Joakim Noah, Brook Lopez, Emeka Okafor
Magic
G: Russell Westbrook, Rajon Rondo, Manu Ginobili, George Hill, DeMar DeRozan, Jose Juan Barea
F: Luol Deng, Ryan Anderson, Chandler Parsons, Andrei Kirilenko, Hedo Turkoglu
C: Marcin Gortat, Nikola Vucevic
PEDs
G: Chris Paul, Tony Parker, John Wall, OJ Mayo, Jordan Crawford
F: Blake Griffin, Chris Bosh, Kenneth Faried, Derrick Williams
C: Tyson Chandler, DeAndre Jordan, Chris Kaman, Spencer Hawes
Tarheels
G: Brandon Jennings, Mike Conley, Kemba Walker, Tyreke Evans, Darren Collison, JJ Redick, Andre Miller
F: Josh Smith, Michael Beasley, Taj Gibson, Tyrus Thomas
C: Nikola Pekovic, Andre Drummond
YankeeDoodle
G: Dwyane Wade, Goran Dragic, Jameer Nelson, Arron Afflalo, Rodney Stuckey, Jason Terry
F: David Lee, Alonzo Gee, Harrison Barnes
C: Marc Gasol, Anthony Davis, Andrea Bargnani, Tiago Splitter
RB Lakers*
G: Deron Williams, Jrue Holiday, Jeff Teague, Dion Waiters, Ray Allen
F: Rudy Gay, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kris Humphries, Derrick Favors
C: Andrew Bynum, Kevin Garnett, Andrew Bogut, Nene
Bruins
G: Joe Johnson, Raymond Felton, Lou Williams, Brandon Knight, Ramon Sessions, Jamal Crawford, Jared Dudley, Jerryd Bayless
F: Carmelo Anthony, Pau Gasol, JJ Hickson
C: Greg Monroe, Samuel Dalembert
Catch These
G: Kyrie Irving, Kyle Lowry, Wesley Matthews, Isaiah Thomas, JR Smith
F: LaMarcus Aldridge, Serge Ibaka, Nicolas Batum, Dirk Nowitzki, Thaddeus Young, Jeff Green
C: Glen Davis, Anderson Varejao
Jackpot Blunts
G: Ty Lawson, Klay Thompson, Marcus Thornton, Bradley Beal, Gerald Henderson, Jason Richardson, Jarrett Jack
F: Carlos Boozer, Gordon Hayward, Danilo Gallinari
C: Al Jefferson, JaVale McGee, DeJuan Blair
Ballas
G: Kobe Bryant, Monta Ellis, Jeremy Lin, Greivis Vasquez, Kirk Hinrich
F: Tim Duncan, Zach Randolph, David West, Shawn Marion, Trevor Ariza
C: Dwight Howard, Roy Hibbert, Tristan Thompson
Net Slashers
G: Damian Lillard, Mo Williams, Devin Harris, Jose Calderon, Austin Rivers
F: Kevin Love, Andre Iguodala, Paul Pierce, Gerald Wallace, Luis Scola, Omer Asik, Bismack Biyombo
C: DeMarcus Cousins
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