It is now Week 3 of the fantasy basketball season and to help you win your league, The AOSN is premiering a fantasy basketball guide called Four Quarters. We will be publishing this column on a weekly basis with four sections (or “Quarters”), featuring: 3 players with good weeks, a hot and not section, sneaky pickups and my players I like for the week.
Quarter 1: The Week 2 Performances to Remember
Andre Drummond, Center, Detroit Pistons
It is safe to say that if you own Andre Drummond you were happy with every performance he has had this week, especially 25 points and 29 rebound game against the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday. Owning Drummond does come with some down side. You will have to punt free throw percentage given that he’s shooting 40% from the charity stripe over his career. But you can expect a double-double almost every night and he will help you in points, rebounds and blocks.
Kristaps Porzingis, Power Forward, New York Knicks
When Porzingis was drafted fourth-overall by the New York Knicks in this year’s NBA Draft, many expected him to not show up for the first few years while the Knicks organization worked on their rebuilding process. So far, that is not the case. Porzingis is averaging 12.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.2 steals in just 24 minutes a game through his first six games this season. Also, he has not been afraid to let it rain from behind the arc. Porzingis is a viable option in all leagues and should be owned in all leagues as this week he played very well, collecting double-doubles on Monday and Friday.
D’Angelo Russell, Point Guard, Los Angeles Lakers
Russell, the second-overall pick by the Los Angeles Lakers in this last year’s draft, had himself a good game Friday against the Brooklyn Nets, tallying 16 points, 4 rebounds and 3 steals. He also broke Jarrett Jacks ankles, which was good to see with his ball handling. He must be owned in all formats as well, as I expect similar production out of him for much of the season.
Quarter 2: Who is HOT, and Who is NOT
Many players are posting very good games and many players are not, but there are two very specific guys I would like to single out in this portion of the column, one of them being hot, and the other? Well, not so much.
Stephen Curry, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, Golden State Warriors– HOT
Curry has been absolutely, unbelievably awesome through his first 6 games, and that might be an understatement. Averaging 35.5 points a game while racking up 6 three pointers, 6.5 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 2.3 steals a game, he has been unstoppable. He does it all. He is an 8 category machine and if I were drafting today with the first-overall pick, I would take him without a second thought. Not to mention he also posted a 53 point game against the New Orleans Pelicans. This guy is on fire, and he should be in your lineup every night.
Dwight Howard, Center, Houston Rockets– NOT
Howard, on the other hand, is not hot, at all. Ever since leaving the Orlando Magic, he has not been the same player. With back problems still lingering and him leaving his prime, I do not know if he ever will ever get back to the same level. Averaging 16 points, 9.7 rebounds a game, and not playing everyday, he is not someone I am high on the rest of the season and would try and sell while you can.
Quarter 3: Free Agent Pick-ups
This part of the column are guys I believe should be owned in all leagues and in some cases deeper leagues. To qualify, the player must be less than 50% owned in ESPN leagues.
Kent Bazemore, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Atlanta Hawks
Bazemore has been terrific this season and has been a starter for a very good Atlanta Hawks team ever since the departure of DeMarre Carroll, who left to sign with the Toronto Raptors in free agency. Through the first seven games, Bazemore is averaging 10.3 points, 1.7 steals, 1.6 3-pointers made, 4.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists while playing 28.3 minutes per game. He is not someone you can rely on to carry your team on his back but he is a 7 category player who will contribute every night he plays. He is currently owned in 41.1 percent of ESPN leagues and should be owned in over 50 percent.
Ed Davis, Power Foward/Center, Los Angeles Lakers
If you need rebounds, this guy is who you need to add, averaging 8.2 rebounds a game. The rest of his stats are not very pretty but he won’t kill you in any category, and he can bulk up your rebounds in the blink of an eye. Ed Davis is a must own in all leagues, coming in at 47.2% owned in ESPN. Considering his talent and tall stature, he needs to be owned.
Rodney Hood, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Utah Jazz
Hood is a deeper league add, coming in at a 27% mark of being owned on ESPN. Hood has had himself a nice couple of weeks to start the season and has been a force in every statistical category, besides blocks. I am looking to add Hood in a 14 or 16 team league.
Quarter 4: Must Starts for the Week
Karl-Anthony Towns, Power Foward/Center, Minnesota Timberwolves
There are many reasons to start Towns this week, with great talent being one but the other being volume. Towns has 5 games this week. That is a lot. He also has good match-ups in all of them except against the Memphis Grizzlies. Towns should have a big week and needs to be started in all 5 games.
Damian Lillard, Point Guard, Portland Trailblazers
With no LaMarcus Aldridge, Nicolas Batum, or Wesley Matthews, Lillard has been the obvious focul point of the Portland Trailblazers offense. Playing 36.7 minutes per game while scoring 27.3 points per game and getting his fair share of dimes and boards Lillard has been great this year. That should continue in his four games this week.
Al Horford, Power Forward/Center, Atlanta Hawks
Horford basically does the same thing night in and night out. He gets his 7-10 rebounds, 15-20 points, 2-3 blocks and surprisingly has been shooting the 3 ball. I expect no different this weekend, as he plays 4 games, 3 of which are home games.
I would like to thank everyone for reading my first fantasy hoops column here with TheAOSN.com. This column “Four Quarters” will be posted weekly before the new fantasy basketball week tips off. Make sure to follow me on Twitter @triplegfantasy for all your fantasy basketball needs! Enjoy!
