Give Me The Rock
this is fantasy basketball
Beginning today is our week-long rundown of top 10 fantasy players at each position going into the year. Why 10? Because you’ll need to buy the Four Fingers Draft Guide to see all 40. Still, 10 for free ain’t bad, especially if you’re playing in a 4-team league. First up, point guards.
1. Chris Paul
Paul should be the first or second pick in all leagues and league formats. Why? As if leading the league in assists and steals each of the last two seasons wasn’t enough, he’s averaged 5.5 rebounds a game, finished 7th in total points while shooting over 50 percent from the field. He also led the league in assist-to-turnover ratio over the last three years. Is that enough? Paul does so many things so well, it gives you the flexibility to build any type of team around him.
2. Deron Williams
There’s Chris Paul. Then there’s Deron Williams. Then there’s the rest of the PG tiers. Like his New Orleans counterpart, Deron seems to have youth, talent and I can fly higher than an eagle potential on his side. The kid is a legitimate first round pick who is primed for a career year as a 20 point, 10 assist guy with 50 FG%. Really, the only thing that separates him and CP3 is a couple of rebounds and a steal a game. Ignore last season’s bad ankle sprain, Deron built like truck compared to the other point guards in the league.
3. Chauncey Billups
You might be concerned about Billups’ age, but the 33-year old is downright pre-pubescent compared to the next point guard on the list. In the Nuggets’ high-powered offense, Billups should give you points, assists, and 2+ threes a game. He’s also one of the best free throw shooters in the league (although his percentage from the floor hovers around 42%). Unlike Kidd and Nash, Billups has yet to see any age-related decline in his stats. Add in the fact that he’s shown himself to still be 80 games durable – and you can draft Billups with confidence that you will get production from the PG spot.
4. Jason Kidd
With the window closing on the Mavs championship chances, Mark Cuban has gone all-in this year in hopes of getting that elusive ring. In addition to re-upping Kidd, new additions Shawn Marion and Drew Gooden join the team and should benefit from Kidd and his passing ability. As for man himself, for the past 5 years we’ve been saying that Kidd his stats are eventually going to fall off a cliff. Will this finally be the year we’re right? Hell, none of us knows (and don’t pretend that you do). What we do know about Kidd is this: over the past few seasons, the number of shots he takes a game and his scoring has decreased to be point of being ridiculous, his rebounds have slid from 8 a game with NJ to 6 a game with Dallas, his assists have slid from 10+ at the height of his talents to 8+ currently, and yet he’s retained his fantasy value by becoming one of the most efficient three point shooters in the league and improving his per game steals with the Mavs. Hell ya I’d pee my pants a little drafting Kidd, but the man has been proving everyone wrong for years.
5. Jose Calderon
Draft Calderon for two reasons: his 8.9 apg and his percentages (career averages of 50 FG%, 38 3PT%, 89 FT%). Don’t draft Calderon for his defense, which is as solid as Kevin Federline’s acting credentials. While Calderon will still be one of the best assist men in the league, the signing of Jarrett Jack should steal some minutes away from Calderon (although that is not necessarily a bad thing as the man was overextended at times last year). As a result, expect a regression in his numbers back to the line of two seasons ago or even a tick below.
6. Devin Harris
Proving Mark Cuban wrong since 2008. One of last season’s most improved players will look to build off of his momentum as the leader of a young New Jersey squad. With Vince Carter now in Orlando, Harris will have to become the team’s go-to scorer as well as main distributor. Factor in a year of growth from Brook Lopez, and Devin Harris could provide Deron Williams type production at least a round or two later. Look for an All-Star caliber season from Harris that is full of points, assists and steals for fantasy owners.
7. Steve Nash
See Kidd, Jason.
Nash, like Kidd, is not the player he once was, but is still one of the best distributors in the league and an efficient – although not prolific – scorer. His percentages are still crazy good for a PG and the return of the run and gun Suns should benefit Nash’s scoring and assist totals. But while Nash and the Suns training staff keep him in great shape, but you have to worry about any type of chronic back injury affecting the number of games he can play this season.
8. Jameer Nelson
On a per game basis, Nelson was the 18th best fantasy player in the league last season, thanks in huge part to his 50% shooting from the floor and 2 threes a game. However, I’d bet my left nut (which, granted, is worth a lot less than it used to be now that I’m married) that he cannot keep up that pace over 82 games. Especially since the addition of Vince Carter will suck the ball out of Nelson’s hands like a human vacuum cleaner. Nelson will certainly be a Top Tier PG, but his stint in the Top 20 will be short lived.
9. Rajon Rondo
Unless you think Eddie House is the answer, The Celtics’ PG spot will continue to be the Rajon Rondo show, which is good for Rondo’s minutes (expect an increase into the mid-to-high 30’s) and his overall fantasy prospects. However, unlike the PGs above him on the list, Rondo’s ceiling is limited because he’s not a scorer and he doesn’t have a long range game to speak of. Rondo is what he is – which in fantasy is not always a bad thing. Draft him for mad assists and steals with the durability to play in 80+ games.
10. Derrick Rose
The world better watch out if Rose ever develops an outside shot, because the rest of his game runs like a Swiss clock made of Belgian chocolate (which I would imagine is both sweet and flawless). Even a minor improvement over his rookie season would put him in 19-20 point, 8 assist territory, which is home to only a few of the best point guards in the league. Add in a respectable amount of steals and great percentages and Rose should be off the board by the 4th round.
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For the rest of our top 40 list of point guards (as well as the rankings of the other positions, positional tiers, and cheat sheets), you’ll have to check out the Four Fingers Draft Guide. Help me feed my baby!
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