The NBA playoffs are usually when Fantasy owners can relax. The season is over, your work is done and there's not much you can do to improve your roster. Or is there?
Every good Fantasy owner knows this is the time to do your homework. This is the time to find out who can help you next year based on what happens in the playoffs.
LeBron James and Kobe Bryant are still elite players, but what about guys like Mo Williams and Andrew Bynum? The perception is they have struggled in the playoffs and it could hurt their Fantasy value next season.
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Glen Davis turned it up in the playoffs, but what will Kevin Garnett's return do to his value?
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Williams, for example, hasn't scored at the same level he did in the regular season, when he averaged 17.8 points compared to 15.6 in the playoffs, and his confidence appears shaken. But his assists (4.1 in the regular season and 4.3 in the playoffs) and rebounds (3.4 for both) have been almost identical. Williams should still perform at a high level in the regular season and will remain a No. 2 Fantasy guard.
Bynum has struggled in the playoffs but he's not fully recovered from the knee injury that cost him 32 games. He averaged 14.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.8 blocks during the season but only 6.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in the playoffs. He'll be fine once next year starts and should still be considered a No. 2 Fantasy center in all leagues. When he's healthy, he's a dominant force, and we saw that last year.
In Boston, Glen Davis had a tremendous playoff run, including a game-winning shot against Orlando. But Davis saw his stats rise with Kevin Garnett (knee) out. Davis, who averaged 15.8 points and 5.6 rebounds in the playoffs compared to 7.0 points and 4.0 rebounds in the regular season, is a restricted free agent this offseason. If he returns to the Celtics as expected, he'll see a boost in production but not enough to make him a Fantasy starter as long as Garnett is around.
We can envision a scenario with Garnett playing around 30 minutes a game to make sure he's ready for the playoffs, which will lower his Fantasy value to a No. 2 forward, but he's still the focal point of Boston's offense. Davis will get increased playing time behind Garnett and Kendrick Perkins, but he's still a No. 4 Fantasy option at best.
But Davis' teammate, Rajon Rondo, has seen his Fantasy value rise in the playoffs, along with Houston's Aaron Brooks and Luis Scola, Mickael Pietrus of the Magic and Denver's J.R. Smith. These five players have stepped up in the postseason and will be solid Fantasy options next year.
Aaron Brooks, G, Houston Rockets
Brooks gets a boost in Fantasy value because he's now the starting point guard with Rafer Alston in Orlando. He also could continue to score at a high level with Tracy McGrady (knee) not expected to be ready for the start of the season. And if Ron Artest leaves as a free agent, Brooks will shine. Brooks has the potential to be a No. 2 Fantasy guard if his assist total can match his scoring output. Coach Rick Adelman said in the Houston Chronicle he is confident the improvement will come for Brooks. "He's a starting point guard in this league," Adelman said. "He's just going to get better."
Regular season stats: 11.2 points, 3.0 assists, 2.0 rebounds
Playoff stats: 16.8 points, 3.4 assists, 2.6 rebounds
Final regular season CBSSports.com Owned/Started Percentage: 56/22 percent
Mickael Pietrus, G, Orlando Magic
Pietrus was expected to be the starting shooting guard for the Magic this year before injuries limited him to 54 games and opened the door for rookie Courtney Lee. But Pietrus has shown he deserves to be on the court at the end of games, and his play in the playoffs is proof of that. He's a good three-point shooter and a versatile scorer and would be worth using as a No. 3 Fantasy guard if his rebound and assist totals could improve. There's a chance Hedo Turkoglu could leave as a free agent, which would allow Pietrus to be even better. He's a definite sleeper next year and is worth a late-round pick.
Regular season stats: 9.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists
Playoff stats: 10.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.0 assists
Final regular season CBSSports.com Owned/Started Percentage: 24/7 percent
Rajon Rondo, G, Boston Celtics
Rondo had a breakout regular season, but he took his game to another level in the playoffs. He had three triple-doubles, and his rebound totals skyrocketed with Kevin Garnett (knee) out. While those stats will come down, he'll still produce at a high level. He was worthy of consideration as a No. 2 Fantasy guard next year, but now he's on the cusp of a No. 1 option. It wouldn't be a surprise if he's drafted in the second round in all formats. His shooting will continue to improve, and he's a triple-double threat every time he steps on the court. He's no longer an afterthought in the Celtics offense.
Regular season stats: 11.9 points, 8.2 assists, 5.2 rebounds
Playoff stats: 16.9 points, 9.8 assists, 9.7 rebounds
Final regular season CBSSports.com Owned/Started Percentage: 98/72 percent
Luis Scola, F, Houston Rockets
Scola improved each of his first two seasons in the NBA but got a chance to display his game to a national audience (non-Olympics) with the Rockets finally getting past the first round. He's a double-double threat and has the potential to average 15.0 points and 10.0 rebounds for the season. Scola took advantage of Yao Ming (leg) getting hurt against the Lakers when he had four double-doubles in the second round. He has become a solid No. 2 Fantasy forward and is worth drafting around Round 5 or 6 in all formats.
Regular season stats: 12.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists
Playoff stats: 14.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists
Final regular season CBSSports.com Owned/Started Percentage: 91/61 percent
J.R. Smith, G, Denver Nuggets
The playoffs showed that Smith is one of the best shooters in the NBA. He made 180 three-pointers in the regular season and has 486 treys the past three seasons. Consistency is a problem for Smith, as he will score 20 points one night and three the next, but he is worth using as a No. 3 Fantasy guard. He's even better in Rotisserie formats because of his shooting ability. His playmaking improved in the playoffs, and he had three games with six assists. Again, if he could be more consistent in that area, he would be a star. Look for Smith to continue to improve entering next season.
Regular season stats: 15.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists
Playoff stats: 14.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists
Final regular season CBSSports.com Owned/Started Percentage: 78/41 percent
Do you have a question or comment for Jamey? You can e-mail him at DMFantasyHoops@cbs.com. Be sure to put Attn: Playoffs in the subject field. Please include your full name, hometown and state.
