Time to Get REAL: Part Two

Here are rounds six through ten of the 18-man, H2H league I’m in. Check out rounds 1-5 here.

Legend: I like. I don’t like.

Round 6

1. Jamal Crawford (Atl – PG,SG) - Big Three Miami

2. Tyrus Thomas (Cha – PF) - Bench Boys

3. Andris Biedrins (GS – C) - Malibuguns

4. Emeka Okafor (NO – C) - Ogre Tactics

5. Jose Calderon (Tor – PG) - Great Eagle …

6. Tony Parker (SA – PG) - hotdogs2011

7. Mike Conley (Mem – PG) - Supercow

8. Al Harrington (Den – PF,C) - Crunchers

9. Brendan Haywood (Dal – C) - Mariuz

10. Carl Landry (Sac – SF,PF) - meanstreakers

11. Robin Lopez (Pho – PF,C) - Unlimited Reach

12. Anthony Morrow (NJ – SG,SF) - The Expendables

13. Anderson Varejao (Cle – PF,C) - Dark Blue Raps

14. Michael Beasley (Min – PF) - Z E N

15. J.J. Hickson (Cle – PF,C) - Cop-a-Feeler

16. Vince Carter (Orl – SG,SF) - Up In The AAir

17. Mike Miller (Mia – SG,SF) - No Upside

18. Corey Maggette (Mil – SF,PF) - yotimon

I was pretty much second guessing myself after picking Jrue Holiday in the fifth, but after seeing the PG run in this round, I’m happy that I did secure a PG with at least some upside. After Anthony Morrow (who was my target this round) was taken, I decided to fill my team’s PF needs. Beasley had a troubled year in Miami last season, but I felt that he would get some decent usage in Minnesota for the simple reason that they lack talent. I can see him playing decent minutes along with Kevin Love, especially during those games that Darko gets into early foul trouble.

Jose Calderon, this early scares me. I personally am ranking Jarrett Jack higher than Calderon. I expect Jack to start and/or Calderon to be traded, which leaves a lot of question marks over Calderon’s head.

Al Harrington has more than just plantar fasciitis at this point. He has a partial tear. That puts his projected games to be missed somewhere between what Joakim Noah missed last season (18) and what Danny Granger did when he tore (severely) the same muscle (20). The good thing is that the regular season is still a few weeks away, but I can see Harrington missing about 10-15 games due to the recurring nature of his injury.

Vince Carter. Meh.

I’m loving Biedrins at 93. If I didn’t already have two C-only guys, I’d take him in this round too.

I’m not too sure about the Robin Lopez over J.J. Hickson choice. Even though Lopez had the better progression last season, I feel that LeBron’s departure just opens the flood gates for Hickson’s improvement this year.

Round 7

1. Greg Oden (Por – C) - yotimon

2. Luol Deng (Chi – SF) - No Upside

3. Richard Hamilton (Det – SG,SF) - Up In The AAir

4. Mehmet Okur (Uta – C) - Cop-a-Feeler

5. JaVale McGee (Was – PF,C) - Z E N

6. Leandro Barbosa (Tor – PG,SG) - Dark Blue Raps

7. Beno Udrih (Sac – PG) - The Expendables

8. Terrence Williams (NJ – SG,SF) - Unlimited Reach

9. Jarrett Jack (Tor – PG,SG) - meanstreakers

10. Boris Diaw (Cha – SF,PF) - Mariuz

11. J.R. Smith (Den – SG,SF) - Crunchers

12. Ron Artest (LAL – SG,SF) - Supercow

13. D.J. Augustin (Cha – PG) - hotdogs2011

14. Linas Kleiza (Tor – SG,SF) - Great Eagle …

15. Yao Ming (Hou – C) - Ogre Tactics

16. Nicolas Batum (Por – SG,SF) - Malibuguns

17. Evan Turner (Phi – SG,SF) - Bench Boys

18. Drew Gooden (Mil – PF,C) - Big Three Miami

Believe it or not, Dwight Howard and Marc Gasol are not enough to lock down the specialties (FG%, REB, BLK) even in a league this deep. McGee helps me make sure I win BLK and REB against virtually every matchup this season. That was my thinking, when I clicked “Draft.” However a “/facepalm” moment quickly followed when I saw Leandro Barbosa get taken immediately after my McGee pick. As I said before, I really like the Raptors in fantasy this season.

“No worries,” I tell myself. As early as three days before the draft I calculated that picking Linas Kleiza in the 8th round of the draft would be enough of a reach to guarantee my ownership while late enough for me to have built some stable picks to support the risk. As you can see from the 14th pick of THIS round, I quickly re-introduced my palm to my face. They didn’t seem to hit it off the first time.

“Que se ra… ZEN”

I drafted Greg Oden in two leagues last season. About this late/early too. So you can see where I am coming from when I say: I don’t know what yotimon was thinking, perhaps he wants to be a card carrying member of the “I was burned by Greg Oden” Club.

Based on rankings, Yao was the “right” pick here. However, Ogre Tactics already owns Brook Lopez and Emeka Okafor. Teams only have ONE center roster spot. I feel it’s a bit overdone in the “draft for best value” scheme, especially if puts you in a position to be in a bind. He says he will trade away one of his bigs, but I find it to be strategically flawed to assume that you will be able to get the same or even right value in a post-draft deal. Drew Gooden (FT% and projected minutes) or DeMarcus Cousins (Upside), and their PF eligibility would have been decent fits this team assuming he wanted another big. Draft to win, not to trade. – because the other managers are drafting to win.

D.J. Augustin might emerge with some sleeper value here. The same goes for Nicolas Batum.

Round 8

1. Reggie Williams (GS – SG,SF) - Big Three Miami

2. George Hill (SA – PG,SG) - Bench Boys

3. Luke Ridnour (Min – PG) - Malibuguns

4. Wilson Chandler (NY – SF,PF) - Ogre Tactics

5. Goran Dragic (Pho – PG,SG) - Great Eagle …

6. Jason Thompson (Sac – PF,C) -hotdogs2011

7. Richard Jefferson (SA – SF) - Supercow

8. Ben Gordon (Det – SG) - Crunchers

9. Tayshaun Prince (Det – SF,PF) – Mariuz

10. DeMarcus Cousins (Sac – PF,C) - meanstreakers

11. Thaddeus Young (Phi – SF,PF) - Unlimited Reach

12. Shawn Marion (Dal – SF,PF) - The Expendables

13. Josh Childress (Pho – SG,SF) - Dark Blue Raps

14. Travis Outlaw (NJ – SF,PF) - Z E N

15. Chris Andersen (Den – PF,C) - Cop-a-Feeler

16. Charlie Villanueva (Det – PF) - Up In The AAir

17. Dorell Wright (GS – SG,SF) - No Upside

18. Jermaine O’Neal (Bos – C) - yotimon

Ben Gordon and Richard Jefferson have some “comeback potential” stamped on them, so they’re not too shabby this late. Cousins can just blow up, challenge Griffin and Wall for R.O.Y., and make this pick awesome.

Marion and Jermaine O’Neal are the fantasy equivalents of extras in The Walking Dead. Considering the team that picked O’Neal ALSO has Greg Oden… I’ll shut up now. I still have to play a full season with these guys, and I may want to get a trade done. “Don’t shit where you eat.” Nuff said.

You know you’re close to scraping the bottom of the center barrel when you see Chris Andersen and Jermaine get taken off the board.

Travis Outlaw. I am cheering for him to make a fantasy return. I’m hoping to see something close to his 2008 numbers where he brought 1.1 3PTM, 0.6 SPG, 0.7 BPG at 1.2 TO’s. He’s a nice support for my Ariza pick. Well at least I think so.

Round 9

1. Shane Battier (Hou – SF) - yotimon

2. Louis Williams (Phi – PG,SG) - No Upside

3. Mike Bibby (Atl – PG) - Up In The AAir

4. DeMar DeRozan (Tor – SG,SF) - Cop-a-Feeler

5. Kirk Hinrich - (Was – PG,SG) Z E N

6. Amir Johnson (Tor – PF) - Dark Blue Raps

7. Michael Redd (Mil – SG,SF) - The Expendables

8. Tiago Splitter (SA – SF,PF,C) - Unlimited Reach

9. Ramon Sessions (Cle – PG,SG) - meanstreakers

10. Marvin Williams (Atl – SF,PF) - Mariuz

11. James Harden (OKC – SG) - Crunchers

12. Udonis Haslem (Mia – PF,C) - Supercow

13. Spencer Hawes (Phi – C) - hotdogs2011

14. Nenad Krstic (OKC – PF,C) - Great Eagle …

15. Mario Chalmers (Mia – PG) - Ogre Tactics

16. Mike Dunleavy (Ind – SG,SF) – Malibuguns

17. Rodrigue Beaubois (Dal – PG,SG) - Bench Boys

18. Wesley Johnson (Min – SF) - Big Three Miami

Michael Redd? The Expendables promptly dropped Redd and added Corey Brewer once the waivers cleared.

Listen to what we have to say about Chalmers and Haslem.

Mike Bibby?

Spencer Hawes has the potential to deliver some good value, but at this point it’s still up to Doug Collins will manage his usage.

Nenad Krstic?

Thumbs up for those Dunleavy, Sessions, and DeRozan grabs. Wesley Johnson, an auto-pick, is actually intriguing in a deep league.

I went for Kirk Hinrich for the simple reason that I needed and wanted a back-up point guard. Considering the fact that we adjust rosters daily, I wanted to maximize the use of the PG slot. I don’t get to do that with just ONE PG. If Kirk can give me 1.3 treys and 1.2 steals a night, I’m happy.

Round 10

1. Serge Ibaka (OKC – C) - Big Three Miami

2. Francisco Garcia (Sac – SG,SF) - Bench Boys

3. Ben Wallace (Det – PF,C) - Malibuguns

4. Derrick Favors (NJ – PF) - Ogre Tactics

5. Ersan Ilyasova (Mil – SF,PF) - Great Eagle …

6. Josh Howard (Was – SG,SF) - hotdogs2011

7. Taj Gibson (Chi – PF) - Supercow

8. Brad Miller (Hou – C) - Crunchers

9. Darko Milicic (Min – PF,C) - Mariuz

10. Kyle Korver (Chi – SG,SF) - meanstreakers

11. Will Bynum (Det – PG) - Unlimited Reach

12. J.J. Redick (Orl – SG) - The Expendables

13. Al Thornton (Was – SF,PF) - Dark Blue Raps

14. Jamario Moon (Cle – SF) - Z E N

15. Kelenna Azubuike (NY – SG,SF) - Cop-a-Feeler

16. Ronnie Brewer (Chi – SG,SF) - Up In The AAir

17. Tyson Chandler (Dal – C) - No Upside

18. Steve Blake (LAL – PG,SG) - yotimon

I like Jamario. He’s a worthwhile flier pick, considering I got at 176. Ariza + Outlaw + Moon = lots of multi-cat fun! Well at least that’s what I am hoping for.

I think Kelenna Azuibike and Francisco Garcia should win (tie) for best value picks in this last round. Taj Gibson shares that honor, but only while Carlos Boozer is hurt.

Ben Wallace and his days of fantasy relevance are over. Greg Monroe’s basketball IQ will see to that.

***

There you have it folks, a real 18-man draft. I hope you were able to get some insights for your draft.

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Tags: Andris Biedrins, Ben Gordon, DeMarcus Cousins, Greg Oden, Jamario Moon, Linas Kleiza, Michael Beasley, Travis Outlaw, Yao Ming

DMtShooter

On the off chance that anyone wants in to a great auction keeper league that’s rebooting, please ping me at dmt shooter at gmail dot com. Live draft happens this Saturday at 1, with an online supplement for folks who aren’t local to Hamilton, NJ.
Dnylkiller

Not too shabby EriK. Jrue looks like a nice pick after his Triple double!
http://givemetherock.com/ Erik

Thanks. As of now, Moon and Outlaw are my “weakest links.” I will, however, wait out the pre-season before making any add/drops. I want to see how both of them perform in a regular season game or two.

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