Beast of the Night: Tyson Chandler posted 20 points, 13 rebounds, one assist, three steals and three blocks last night against the Bobcats. He shot 88 percent (7-8) from the floor and 75 percent (6-8) from the free-throw line, and didn’t have any turnovers. Though he’s been a bit inconsistent, Chandler is averaging 12.0 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.8 blocks and 1.1 turnovers per game, while shooting 73 percent from the field and 79 percent from the line. Those are top 10 numbers. He’s also playing nearly six more minutes per game than he did last season. So long as he’s healthy, Chandler’s a very helpful fantasy player. Read More »

Weekend Wonder: Josh Smith averaged 24.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 3.5 steals, 4.0 blocks and 0.5 threes in two games over the weekend. In that stretch, he shot 63 percent from the field, 60 percent from the free-throw line and turned the ball over twice a game. After a slow start to the season, Smith has really found his groove lately. In his last four games, Smith is averaging 20.0 points, 11.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.3 steals and 2.8 blocks. Read More »

Beast of the Night: LeBron James had himself a typically big line to the tune of 35 points, six rebounds, seven assists, three steals and two blocks. He shot 57 percent (13-23) from the field, 100 percent (9-9) from the free-throw line and had two turnovers. Through three games, James is averaging 32.7 points on 59 percent shooting from the field and 87 percent shooting from the charity stripe. The odd thing is that he has yet to attempt a single three-pointer. The fact that he’s been such a stud without a three-pointer says volumes about his fantasy value. It’s early, but James looks like the probable top dog in fantasy basketball this season. Read More »

The lockout is just a memory, the NBA is days away from its glorious Christmas Day return, and fantasy basketball preparations are in full swing. But you can’t escape the past. This isn’t a life lesson from the fingers of someone wholly unfit to give you non-fantasy basketball advice – it’s a reminder that suspensions handed down late in the 2010-11 NBA season are going to affect some players’ availabilities in the early going this season. On top of those suspensions are injuries and health conditions that will have implications from the outset of the 2011-12 NBA season. Below is a rundown of early suspensions and injuries, and the players who stand to benefit from those circumstances. Read More »

One of the more prominently promoted features of the new NBA 2K12 is the ability to play with great teams from NBA history. Ostensibly, this would allow one to discover who the greatest squad ever was, albeit in a virtual and fictional setting. Is it Jordan and the 72-win Bulls? Bird and the ’86 Celtics? The Kobe-Shaq Lakers? The Duncan-Robinson Spurs? Make it a head-to-head contest, and you can find your answer. Read More »

Tyrus Thomas is one of the NBA’s largest enigmas. One of the league’s foremost “Holy s—!” athletes, he’s never really developed the rest of his game, hasn’t advanced like say, the guy he was traded for on draft night, LaMarcus Aldridge. While Thomas isn’t a full-time starter, he’s also one of the best off-the-bench big men in the league. For a guy who was nearly a No. 1 overall pick, he hasn’t really panned out, but also hasn’t been labeled a bust either. He’s just sort of here, going weeks without anyone noticing him (until he gives us one of his patented “Holy s—!” moments). Now on his birthday (he turns 25 today), I’m reminiscing about how I believed he should’ve been the undisputed No. 1 pick that night in 2006 after watching the way he dominated at LSU.

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Buy Low: Joakim Noah hasn’t exactly blown fantasy owners away with his lines since returning from his thumb injury. In his nine games back, Noah’s averaging 9.4 points, 11.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.6 steals, 1.2 blocks and 2.3 turnovers. With Carlos Boozer sidelined with a sprained ankle, Noah should get some opportunities in the coming handful of games to approach his averages during the first 15 games of the season, when Boozer was also out. During that initial stretch of the season, Noah averaged 15.6 points, 13.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.5 steals, 1.5 blocks and 2.1 turnovers. If he can stay out of foul trouble, expect Noah to thrive in his next few games. Read More »

Is it ever acceptable to settle for mediocrity? In the NBA, more times than not, being mediocre can still land you millions of dollars. But Michael Jordan has never been known as mediocre. The Charlotte Bobcats have been a mediocre team since they were founded in 2004. Believe it or not, when the Bobcats moved their second best player in Gerald Wallace for Joel Przybilla, Dante Cunningham, Sean Marks, and two first-round draft picks, they took a step in the direction to being a relevant franchise in a few years. Read More »

It should be considered a borderline miracle if the Portland Trail Blazers hang onto their 8th-seed playoff spot in the West, especially with Marcus Camby‘s knee surgery basically cutting their winning formula in half. Back when the roster was (mostly) healthy, Portland had a routine: Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge did the heavy lifting for three quarters, then Andre Miller and Camby would contribute clutch plays throughout the fourth/overtime, and B-Roy would handle the really heroic duties. Now it’s down to just LaMarcus and ‘Dre, but the Blazers are still winning … Read More »

We’ll say this much: Had LeBron James been able to (or wanted to) convince Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to move to Cleveland last summer, they would be playing in a much more electric building for their home games. Last night, as the Heat fell behind early on the scoreboard and couldn’t penetrate Atlanta’s brick wall of a defense, the Miami crowd was more dead than Dr. Conrad Murray’s office phone … LeBron was back after missing two games with an ankle injury, while Bosh sat out with his own ankle injury. Read More »