basketball: Who's Hot?

[gradysfalcon]

By Steve Alexander
Here is a look at 10 of the biggest fantasy surprises so far this season. I’m sure I’m leaving some out (Vince Cater, Damon Stoudamire, etc.), so forgive me. The list is followed by some pickup advice for this week. Enjoy.


10 Surprises for 2003


10. Andre Miller – Nuggets


Dre Miller got off to a slow start, but has returned to being a legit point guard, adding to the legacy he started a few years back in Cleveland. Miller is averaging 16 points and six assists this season, while shooting 44% from the field. While these numbers don’t necessarily knock your socks off, he is one of the better point guards in the league and was undervalued coming in to the season due to his disappointing stint with the Clip Joint.


9. Carlos Arroyo – Jazz


Most people hadn’t heard of Arroyo coming into the season, and fewer expected him to have any fantasy value this year. He was a great sleeper pick and is averaging 14 points and just over six dimes a game this year. If you latched on to him in the later rounds of your draft this year, congratulations. Yeah, the eight games he missed with the bad ankle were painful, but he is a great keeper for next year.


8. Marcus Camby – Nuggets


Marcus Camby is still playing! Can you believe it? Nope, I can’t either. The oft-injured semi-star has had some nagging back problems this season, but has been on the floor for most of the year. In fact, he has played in 28 of the Nuggets 33 games and is posting very respectable numbers. Seven points, nine boards and 2.25 blocks a game is not bad. In fact, he’s a poor man’s Ben Wallace of last year. If you own Marcus Camby, you know he could go down at any minute and you may get a missed game each week. But he is one of the most solid shot blockers around, so ride him as long as you can.


7. Carlos Boozer – Cavs


Booz may be the most underrated fantasy basketball player ever. You never see him on television. You never hear his name come up on draft night. You never hear about anyone other than LeBron in Cleveland. Yet, the man is a stud, night in and night out. 13 points, 11 rebounds, a block and a steal a game. And, you can probably get him without selling the farm.


6. Drew Gooden – Magic


Gooden was another slow starter, but he has been on a tear over the past six weeks. On the season, he’s at 13 points and eight rebounds with a block and a steal per game. Unfortunately, he has a four point-four rebound night occasionally, but more often than not, he is money.


5. Voshon Lenard – Nuggets


We all keep waiting for this dude to cool off, but it’s not happening. In fact, he is actually getting better as the season progresses. I don’t understand it, really, but he’s been an awesome source of threes, points and steals. For being a long-range bomber, he’s shooting a modest 43%, which is the second best percentage of his long career and he’s at 17 points a game and 59 threes so far. Denver is having a great year and Lenard is a big reason why (along with Camby, Carmelo, Nene and Andre Miller).


4. Antoine Walker – Mavs


I had Walker rated very highly in the Rotoworld Draft Guide this preseason. I didn’t keep the email, but some guy ripped me a new one because the Guide had Walker rated alongside some guy named Dirk. Well, guess what? I was right. Walker has had an incredible year so far. 17.5 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, 47 threes and he’s shooting a career-high 43.3% to boot. Let’s compare the fifth or sixth rounder to the 4th overall pick in most drafts…Dirk’s at 19 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2 assists, 27 threes and 42.3% from the floor. Yeah, I’ll take Walker, thank you very much. He can’t shoot free throws and Antawn Jamison is starting to eat into his production slightly, but he’s had a great two months.


3. Lamar Odom – Heat


Lamar Odom has been injured for most of the past couple years. This year however, he’s shown no signs of weakness and is putting up very solid numbers for the Heat. Seventeen points, nine rebounds and four assists a game, to be exact. With Dwyane Wade out of the way for the next couple weeks, Odom should be even better. Enjoy.


2. Baron Davis – Hornets


Baron is a misfit on this list because he’s a superstar. However, what he’s done can’t really be overlooked, as he has been on the best two month tear of his career. 24 points, eight assists, four rebounds, 2.6 steals a game and he’s hit 98 from downtown. His shooting percentages are discouraging (39% and 63%) but the little man is getting it done everywhere else. He’s even averaging a half block a game!


1. Zach Randolph – Blazers


Yeah, you knew it was coming. I was on top of this one early and you’re surely tired of hearing about it by now (especially those of you lucky enough to be in leagues with me). The numbers will speak for me. Just one arrest, 23 points, 12 rebounds and 2.5 assists a game while hitting 49% of what he puts up. He can also hit free throws, which is nice. I’d like to see more blocks from him, but those will come as he grows up. Hopefully, Damon Stoudamire isn’t mentoring him on how to transport his chronic.


You probably noticed that the biggest sleeper of the year was not on this list. You’re right, Flip Murray didn’t make it. I tried to list guys that had a great start, but will continue to flourish. As you know, Flip’s switch has been turned to the off position with the return of Ray-Ray. By the way, did you see that game last night? Kobe and Ray Allen were going at it like Dominique and Larry in game six, circa 1988. Pretty cool.