How much more will Kendrick Perkins have to do to prove to Fantasy owners that he is for real?
It seems like they are waiting for Perkins to walk on water before they trust him in their lineup, as the big man is only active in 64 percent of CBSSports.com leagues entering Fantasy Week 9 (Dec. 22-28). His continued upswing and favorable four-game slate in the upcoming scoring period is why he's our choice for Start of the Week.
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| Owners have been slow to warm up to Kendrick Perkins so far in 2008. (Getty Images) |
Somehow, Perkins is still available in 19 percent of leagues and is not active in 36 percent of leagues. Considering the fact he's a center, that just does not seem right. Heck, in most leagues, 20 minutes per game and the occasional double-digit performance in any category makes someone a viable No. 2 center these days. Perkins is offering a whole more than that.
This week, Perkins will get four games in a scoring period where only eight teams play four times. He will face a Warriors team that allows the most points in the NBA (111.9) and the most rebounds (48.0). He will also face a Kings team that allows the third most points in the league (105.9) and 11th most rebounds (42.1).
That makes this week a very promising one for Perkins, who along with Rajon Rondo should continue to take the pressure off the team's prominent trio of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. If Fantasy owners would let him, Perkins can take a lot of pressure off the players on their Fantasy squads as well.
Guards
Start 'Em
J.R. Smith, Nuggets (Dec. 22 vs. POR; Dec. 23 at POR; Dec. 26 vs. PHI; Dec. 28 at NY): The Nuggets have four games this week and Smith is playing very well of late. He is averaging 18.2 points per game over his last five games with two 20-point games in that span. He is also averaging 4.7 rebounds and 2.2. assists in December with multiple threes in five straights contests (including five his last time out against the Suns). The matchup against the Knicks on Dec. 28 should be particularly fruitful, considering the Knicks allow 107.9 points per game. Ownership: 70 percent Starting: 47 percent
Derek Fisher, Lakers (Dec. 23 at MEM; Dec. 23 at NO; Dec. 25 vs. BOS; Dec. 28 vs. GS): The Lakers also play four games and Fisher has been on a tear lately. He is averaging 14.4 points, 4.8 assists and 2.8 rebounds over his last five games, including a 27-point effort at Orlando on Saturday. Matchups against the Grizzlies and Warriors should make up for tough games in New Orleans and at home against Boston on Christmas Day. This is an excellent week to drop him in the lineup in cumulative formats to fill in for a guard with fewer games. Ownership: 46 percent Starting: 31 percent
Sleeper Alert: Steve Blake, Trail Blazers (Dec. 22 at DEN; Dec. 23 vs. DEN; Dec. 25 vs. DAL; Dec. 27 vs. TOR): Blake is another four-starter who has been putting in some decent totals lately. He is coming off a 22-point, 10-assist effort against the Suns and is averaging 11.6 points and 5.3 assists in December. He is also averaging over three rebounds per game and can help out in three-point shooting and steals. He is a decent one-week fill in for anybody looking for a stopgap guard in cumulative scoring leagues. In average-based leagues, he can serve as a No. 4 option in standard 12-team leagues if an injury-replacement is needed. Ownership: 56 percent Starting: 39 percent
Andre Miller, 76ers (Dec. 23 at BOS; Dec. 26 at DEN): Miller is coming off a triple-double, but the Sixers have just two games this week and they come in Boston and Denver. The Celtics allow just 91.4 points per game and their defensive prowess is well chronicled. The Nuggets, however, have been surprisingly stout defensively since acquiring Chauncey Billups. That, plus the absence of Elton Brand, should mean less assists and fewers points to go around in what should be two low-scoring affairs. Miller is a low-end option this week in cumulative scoring formats and can be stashed in favor of a four-starter or even a solid three-starter. Ownership: 99 percent Starting: 61 percent
Mike Bibby, Hawks (Dec. 23 vs. OKC; Dec. 27 vs. CHI): The Bulls also play just two games this week and Bibby's Fantasy owners in cumulative formats have to think about stashing him for more promising scoring periods. As always, weigh your options, but if you have a three or four-starter who can guarantee more than the equivalent of around 35 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds, go with that option this week. Ownership: 98 percent Starting: 58 percent
Bust Alert: Jason Richardson, Suns (Dec. 25 vs. SA): The Suns are the only team in the league to play just one game this scoring period, so Fantasy owners will clearly need to think about resting all of their players in cumulative formats. Even in larger average-based leagues, though, the thought of getting just one crack at a good game and it coming against a Spurs team that allows the fourth fewest points in the league should be food for thought. Ownership: 99 percent Starting: 45 percent
Forwards
Start 'Em
Michael Beasley, Heat (Dec. 23 vs. GS; Dec. 26 vs. CHI; Dec. 28 at CLE): The Heat also play three games, but one comes against a Warriors team that allows 111.9 points per game. They also give up the most rebounds in the league. That should really count as 1 1/2 games. Beasley had 19 points and six rebounds against the Warriors on Dec. 1. The Bulls give up 102.6 points per game and Beasley should benefit from the fact that Drew Gooden (ankle) will not be available in the low-post for that matchup. Beasley's numbers have not been great recently (12.5 points, 3.8 rebounds over his last five games), but he should get a real good chance to step up his production. Ownership: 92 percent Starting: 39 percent
Boris Diaw, Bobcats (Dec. 23 vs. WAS; Dec. 26 at NJ; Dec. 27 vs. NJ): This recommendation is slanted more towards Fantasy owners in average-based leagues, but can also be helpful for Fantasy owners in cumulative formats considering how many teams play three games this week. Diaw is fitting in very well with his new team and is already a go-to option in the offense. He is averaging a very well-rounded line of 16.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.8 blocks in five games since joining the Bobcats. He also offers decent three-point shooting for a big man. His matchups this week are favorable against a Wizards team that gives up 103.4 points per game and a Nets team that gives up 102.8 points per contest. Ownership: 79 percent Starting: 46 percent
Sleeper Alert: Andres Nocioni, Bulls (Dec. 23 at DET; Dec. 26 at MIA; Dec. 27 at ATL): The injury that will keep Drew Gooden out for at least the next week and possibly longer should create an opportunity for more minutes for Nocioni. And when Nocioni has gotten minutes this season, he has contributed. Nocioni is averaging 17.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists over his last three games. Gooden has missed the majority of the last two. Consider him as a nice stopgap option in larger cumulative formats this week and in any average-based league. Ownership: 59 percent Starting: 35 percent
Sit 'Em
Marvin Williams, Hawks (Dec. 23 vs. OKC; Dec. 27 vs. CHI): The Hawks have just two starts this week and the return of Josh Smith has taken some of the luster off Williams recently. He has been held under 10 points in two of his last four games and is too risky to take a gamble on in a shortened two-game scoring period for him. Ownership: 83 percent Starting: 39 percent
Richard Jefferson, Bucks (Dec. 23 vs. UTA; Dec. 27 vs. DET): The Bucks have just two games this week and they come against two solid defensive teams. He is averaging 16.6 points over his last five games and Fantasy owners in cumulative leagues can likely find four-starters or even solid three-starters that can manage more than 30-40 points over the course of the week. Ownership: 98 percent Starting: 56 percent
Bust Alert: Al Thornton, Clippers (Dec. 22 vs. TOR; Dec. 28 vs. DAL): The Clippers have just two games in Week 9 and Fantasy owners in cumulative leagues will want to stash Thornton where possible. Weigh your options. If you have a player who can guarantee more than the equivalent of 40 points, six rebounds and a couple of assists with a couple of blocks and steals mixed in, go with that option. Ownership: 94 percent Starting: 51 percent
Centers
Start 'Em
Brad Miller, Kings (Dec. 22 at SA; Dec. 26 vs. TOR; Dec. 28 vs. BOS): Miller seems to be getting over his disappointing start, averaging 10.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists over his last five games with a block in each of his last three and he has a double-double in two of his last four games having just missed a third by one rebound in that span. He is starting to turn things around and Fantasy owners can trust him as a No. 2 center again. Ownership: 94 percent Starting: 60 percent
Tyson Chandler, Hornets (Dec. 23 vs. LAL; Dec. 25 at ORL; 26 vs. HOU; Dec. 28 at IND): Speaking of centers who are turning things around after a slow start, Chandler is finally settling in. He is back to around 10 points and 10 rebounds per game and will have a favorable four-game slate this week, making him someone worth starting as a No. 2 center in cumulative formats. Ownership: 93 percent Starting: 56 percent
Sleeper Alert: Brook Lopez, Nets (Dec. 22 vs. HOU; Dec. 23 at IND; Dec. 26 vs. CHA; Dec. 27 at CHA): Lopez was our Sleeper Alert center in this spot a week ago and he did not let us down as he posted his best week of the season. He had 22 points and 13 rebounds on Saturday against the Heat and had an otherwise solid scoring period. He should get a chance at similar production in another four-game scoring period. The return of Josh Boone has not affected him much at all and he is getting around 30-35 minutes per game with double-digit shot attempts and good rebounding figures. Ownership: 80 percent Starting: 62 percent
Sit 'Em
Al Horford, Hawks (Dec. 23 vs. OKC; Dec. 27 vs. CHI): Horford continues to be an excellent option in any Fantasy format and is averaging 11.4 points and 10.0 rebounds over his last five games. However, this two-game scoring period leaves him as a risky play in cumulative scoring formats. Weigh your options, but Fantasy owners with a choice of a four game starter like a Brook Lopez, Matt Bonner or Marc Gasol should think about going that route this week. Horford can only offer around 20 points and 20 rebounds with a handful of blocks and assists this week. Ownership: 98 percent Starting: 59 percent
Andrew Bogut, Bucks (Dec. 23 vs. UTA; Dec. 27 vs. DET): Bogut is also enjoying a quality season, but like Horford is a risky play due to a two-game slate. Bogut can offer a tad more than Horford (around 25-30 points with 20 rebounds and a few assists and blocks), but Fantasy owners can get that and more from a four-starter. Ownership: 99 percent Starting: 64 percent
Bust Alert: Amar'e Stoudemire, Suns (Dec. 25 vs. SA): Stoudemire has not scored under 100 points in standard cumulative Head-to-Head formats this season, but he will this week. The Suns play just one game and even if Stoudemire has a monster game, he is looking at around 50-60 Fantasy points in a best-case scenario. Ownership: 100 percent Starting: 55 percent
Do you have a lineup question for our staff? You can e-mail us at DMFantasyHoops@cbs.com. Be sure to put Attn: Start /Sit in the subject field. Please include your full name, hometown and state.
