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Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Wesley Matthews Replaces Nicolas Batum in Starting Line Up

Portland Trailblazers head coach Nate McMillan has elected to move Wesley Matthews into the starting line up over Nicolas Batum. Matthews responded to the promotion with 26 points tonight.

The Breakdown
Matthews has been hot recently and that is likely why he's been promoted to the starting five. He's scored 20+ points in four of his last six games and he's even playing well with Brandon Roy back in the line up. Mainly known for his defensive prowess, Matthews is turning into a great all-around player now that his offense is picking up. Fantasy owners who took our advice last week and pounced on Matthews may have picked up a player who can be a major contributor for the rest of the season. He's now a must own in all formats while he's starting. Many team managers failed to show the patience we recommended and dropped Matthews after his 4-point game recently, leaving him available in over 60% of leagues. Be sure to snatch him if he's unowned.

As for Batum, this is a huge blow to his value. Nicolas was having a great season and putting up career-best numbers across the board. We doubt he can produce enough off the bench to be worth rostering in standard leagues. His value is strictly limited to deep leagues for the time being. Owners in standard leagues may still want to hang onto him a little longer if nothing worthwhile is available in your free agent pool. With Brandon Roy still dealing with his knee injury, he could miss a few games. The Blazers are even considering resting him in the second game of back-to-backs. Batum would likely see extended minutes when Roy sits out. Roy's knee troubles are obvious as he wasn't himself tonight, scoring just 10 points. Now it's looking like Batum's value will hinge on Roy's health.

Tim Duncan Registers Triple-Double

San Antonio Spurs big man Tim Duncan recorded the third regular season triple-double of his career. His line: 15 points, 18 rebounds, and 11 assists.

The Breakdown
Although he didn't shoot the ball well, Timmy showed fantasy owners he's still capable of putting up big games. With such a great supporting cast around him that has the Spurs sporting the best record in the NBA, Duncan doesn't need to have big nights all that often anymore. After this performance, it may be a good time to find a taker for Duncan. Because Duncan is a big name, you may be able to pull off a deal for a player who you can rely on nightly. Also, consider that Duncan will lose a lot of value during the fantasy playoffs as the Spurs will rest him for a deep playoff run. Now is a good time to make a move. Duncan currently sits at #35 in our player ratings.

Carl Landry Moved to Kings' Second Unit

Sacramento Kings power forward Carl Landry has been replaced in the starting line up by Jason Thompson.

The Breakdown
Head coach Paul Westphal continues to shuffle his starters and the rotation, so this move isn't surprising. Landry, though, has thrived in previous seasons as a sixth man so this move doesn't necessarily hurt his value. Fantasy owners in standard leagues should wait a couple of weeks before making a move.

As for Thompson, he's a worthwhile speculative add in deep leagues. He has some value as long as he's playing over 20 minutes a game, but it's anyone's guess how long his stint as a starter will last.

To the Month of November --




From a snowball, to an avalanche, Captain Captain Industries has finally begun to pick up steam. From exclusive video premieres, to top-of-the-line album releases, and even the various .jpeg's we pick up from the forgotten corners of the internet, November has truly been a month of triumph for the Industry.

December has quite the act to follow. We'll have many more original concepts, ideas, and of course, more local premieres than you'll know what to do with.

Here's to you November -- We all at the Industry salute you.

(Reader's note : You know the previous post about Lane Weaver, Fooch, and Naledge? That's been our best flow of traffic yet. We averaged around twenty-something people an hour for quite a bit. That's better than the four or five clicks a day that we received back in September. Handy tools like the FaceBook Sharing Button at the top right of the screen have made this whole blog possible. Without you frequenters, I'd just be talking to myself. Thank you for making this the best month ever here at Captain Captain Industries.)

So long, November!
C.C.I xx

Video Premiere Tuesday --


November 30th must be a quality date for releasing music videos. Captain Captain Industry new-comer Fooch, as well as the much hyped Lane Weaver, have dropped their long-awaited viral sensations today.

Peep 'em here first, and always be sure to drop a constructive/complimentary comment -- people love logging on and seeing a dozen new 'thumbs ups'.

--

First off, we have Fooch's newly mastered track, "Flows Ferocious". You may have heard this performed originally by his crew, Purple Asteroid Cadillac. This time around, the live instruments have been replaced by a five-star production squad, with the back-beat that's absolutely begging for remixes for months and months to come. Be sure to check the blog for Fooch's new joint, Classic Made, hosted by DJ Logikal, as well as Kidz in the Hall's own Naledge. Brainiac Society's always doin' some serious work.

Without further ado, we present -

Flows Ferocious, the first official video from Fooch's mixtape, Classic Made.





--

Next, we've gotten our hands on the newest official video from Lane Weaver. We've tossed the original song on the blog before, but now we have this official video premiere to back it up. Lane's presence on the blog has skyrocketed traffic almost every time his name is mentioned. Seriously. We average around twenty more views than we usually do every time he drops a track or new video, so I have no reason to doubt that this new joint, titled "From Her", will be a cult classic. Bustin' out the wobble on this, Lane reveals some of his more electronic-based background, while still applying his signature hip-hop accents. It's a pretty nice combo, but you don't need me tellin' you. Watch for yourself!

You saw it here first --

Lane Weaver's new official video, "From Her".



--

And just to show some love to Captain Captain Industries new-comer Naledge, we're throwin' this fan-made video of his groove-hop jam, "Star Struck" on the front page. I gotta say it again though -- Brainiac Society's doin' some WORK out here.



--

What we're on is dangerous. Be sure to catch Lane Weaver, Ill & Natti, and Utopia Park live @ the Beauty Shop (Fairfield, IA) 12/11/10. (Notice the date goes down a number, which probably means you shouldn't miss this show.)

Also, the Beauty Shop needs some financial boostin'. Don't worry! It won't cost you a dime -- you've heard of the Pepsi Refresh Project, right? Well, if not, you've gotta do some research. For those who know, I'd like to extend a hand to my brothers and sisters down on Main Street by re-posting this new video live on Captain Captain Industries. Be sure to vote every day -- starting tomorrow, December 1st. Together, we can make some waves.




--

Big day in local music, huh? Looks like you've got yourself some vid's to check out. I'll leave you to it, while I go hobble around in the new snowfall.

Always good to hear from ya'.

- C.C.I xx

Five Most Added Players: November 24-30

  1. Darko Milicic (9.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.9 blocks): Milicic tops our most added players list for the second consecutive week. We had previously noted that Darko should be owned in all leagues purely for his shot blocking, but fantasy owners only started taking notice now that he's come alive offensively and strung together five consecutive games in double figures. In addition to the shot blocking, he is also a decent source of rebounds, though he's inconsistent because Kevin Love is out there dominating the glass on most nights. While last week he was available in nearly 60% of leagues, this week he's unowned in just 7% of leagues.
  2. Grant Hill (13.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, 53.2% FG%): We recently mentioned Hill as one of top fantasy producers that was under 50% owned. Ever so slightly, that is no longer the case as Grant is now owned in 58% of leagues. Hill's major contributions to a fantasy team come in the form of points and percentages, but he can also chip in rebounds with the occasional steal and block.
  3. Kyle Lowry (8.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 6.4 assists): Lowry's been given big minutes in the wake of Aaron Brooks' injury. As a starter, he's averaging 8.9 points, 7.2 assists, 4.4 rebounds, and 2 steals in 35 minutes of action. Be reminded that Lowry only has value in standard leagues while Brooks is out. Brooks is expected to return in early December, though, so don't drop a more reliable player for him. He remains unowned in 56% of leagues.
  4. Landry Fields (11.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 54.9% FG%): Fields is a player we've been urging fantasy owners to snatch up for weeks now. It's looking like team manager's are finally starting to buy in. Fields' value comes from his great rebounding from the wing position, along with a great FG% and his ability to help out in three-pointers, assists, and steals. He recently strung together back-to-back double-doubles and looks like a great play for the rest of the season. He's still available in just over half of leagues.
  5. Jose Calderon (8.3 points, 5.9 assists, 1.2 steals): In the aftermath of the Jarrett Jack trade to New Orleans, Calderon appears to be revitalized and he's playing big minutes as the team's starting point guard. In his four games as a starter, Calderon is averaging 10.5 points, 7.8 assists, 1.3 three-pointers, and two steals in addition to being one the NBA's top free throw shooters. He is a must own now that's he's back playing over 30 minutes a game. He's available in just over 12% of leagues.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Chris Douglas-Roberts Returns With a Vengeance

After missing the team's first 15 games after being poked in the eye in the preseason, Milwaukee Bucks wing Chris Douglas-Roberts came out with his scoring guns blazing. In his first two games, CDR is averaging 15 points and 2 three-pointers on 50% shooting from the field.

The Breakdown
Much like Larry Sanders, CDR is taking advantage of increased playing time in the face of numerous injuries in Milwaukee. It remains to be seen what his role will be once Carlos Delfino and Corey Maggette are both healthy. For now deep leaguers will want to pick him up and ride him while he's getting extended playing time. Once the Bucks start getting healthy, we'll have to see what CDR's role is and decide whether he's worth keeping on your roster.

Fooch Tha' MC // Purple Asteroid Cadillac





Chicago is known for quite a few things. The pinnacle of the Michael Jordan era, Mr. Man of the Hour - Kanye West, the authenticity of Wrigley Field, the infamous Super Bowl Shuffle, President Barack Obama, and of course Ditka's.

Hold up a minute now. We gotta add one more to the list --


Ladies and gent's -- Captain Captain Industries Presents :
Local Midwest hip-hop pioneer, Fooch (a.k.a. - Nick Stylz)

Fooch represents not only Chicago (as well as Southeastern Iowa hip-hop), but he also rep's the up-and-comers from Brainiac Society. In between chillin' with Kidz in the Hall and catching his breath between various Purple Asteroid Cadillac gigs, he's found time to team up with DJ Logikal to bring you what may be the Mixtape of the Month. Plus, he's a damn nice dude. Don't pass this one up. You'd regret it.

Fooch Tha' MC - Classic Made (Hosted by DJ Logikal)

Be sure to click the 'download' link nearest the bottom -- otherwise, you get an unwanted 'Download Manager' that's mildly confusing and slow.



While I'm at it, hit up Fooch, SHZA, Zach, and the Captain's long-time compadre, Jason, over at Purple Asteroid Cadillac's Reverb Page.

Straight outta the bio, y'all -

"Purple Asteroid Cadillac, [or simply THA P.A.C.] combine live instruments with the flyest emcee in the state to create a sound that is completely new and finds influence in every genre.

Fooch is part of the Brainiac Society and has been an emcee for a number of years. SHZA [I laughed when I first read the name. At least ya' know the bass player listens to the staples. Wu-Tang is here forevaaa'!] studied jazz and blues in college. The two decided to combine elements and form a band. Jason was discovered playing guitar in a coffee shop and with his background and resources, quickly agreed to join. Zack moved to the area from Seattle and has played with several touring bands, but joined after finding this project was the first truly original group he has found.

In P.A.C.'s first show, they attracted a large crowd that danced and cheered, begging for the band to play more songs."

- Purple Asteroid Cadillac's Biography on ReverbNation.


Can't touch that, huh? Finally good to get a post on here about the P.A.C. They could arguably be one of my favorite groups around this place. Take a listen for yourself -- they've developed quite the following. Plus, the P.A.C. merch is (pun intended) outta this world.

Figured you all needed your daily dose of hip-hop. Now go snatch that mixtape!

C.C.I xx

In Case You Missed It: R. Kelly Shuts Down The Soul Train Music Awards

Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young --



Have you seen this new Sidney Crosby Reebok video yet? The Canadian Maestro takes his ice hockey talents to the next level -- check how accurate this mo'fo is.




It's called the 'Pyramid Trick'. Only, the thing at the end is the chocolate-covered cherry on top of a chocolate-filled cherry. Pure deliciousness.

C.C.I xx

Thunderstorms @ the Industry











New Videos: Keri Hilson~The Way You Love Me


Here is the second video for Miss Keri Baby off her new album No Boys Allowed which is scheduled to drop in December. Check for cameos from Dawn Richard of Dirty Money and Faith Evans.

Rihanna Covers British GQ

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Sewer Lord Presents : Pocket Monster



Look at what this /mu/ frequenter created -- Pokemon cries and everything. This unique beat is creative, and certainly vibe-worthy.

You can find more of Sewer Lord's material over at his YouTube channel right here


Subscribe to his channel, and let him know the Captain sent ya'.

Good night, Sunday.
C.C.I xx.

Following Jack Trade, Jose Calderon Playing Heavy Minutes

Following the trade that sent Jarrett Jack to New Orleans, Toronto Raptors point guard Jose Calderon is playing big minutes. In the four games since the trade, Calderon is averaging 32.3 minutes per game, up from the 23.4 minutes he was seeing previously. As a result, his stats across the board have increased.

The Breakdown
It appears that Bayless will only play a limited role and Calderon has locked down the starting point guard spot. Calderon's value is now very high and he should be owned in all leagues. Calderon has potential to be one of top assist men in the league and he's an excellent free throw shooter who can contribute threes and steals as well. He remains available in 14% of leagues.

J.R. Smith Erupts For Season-High 30 Points

After a shaky start to the season and a stint in George Karl's doghouse, Denver Nuggets sixth man J.R. Smith put up a season-high 30 points tonight.

The Breakdown
Smith also played a season-high 30 minutes, though the performance could be chalked up to Carmelo Anthony leaving the game in the early minutes due to an illness. With Smith averaging 29 minutes in Denver's last two contests, now may be the time to pick up Smith who had been dropped by many frustrated fantasy owners. He's unowned in about 60% of leagues.

Aaron Brooks Nearing Return From Ankle Injury

Houston Rockets point guard Aaron Brooks is recovering from an ankle injury and could return within the next two weeks.

The Breakdown
Word is that Brooks is targeting Houston's game on December 4th, though he may actually return a few games after that. Some frustrated owners dropped Brooks, so he's available in 5% of leagues. Grab him now and stash him if he's available.

Joey Dorsey Starts in Place of Injured Reggie Evans

With Reggie Evans suffering a broken foot, the Toronto Raptors started little-used forward Joey Dorsey. He finished today's game with 9 points and 6 rebounds in 20 minutes.

The Breakdown
The fact that Dorsey saw 20 minutes was surprising as we expected Amir Johnson to see the bulk of the playing time. Johnson only played 21 minutes. Dorsey is worth a speculative addition in very deep leagues in case he continues to play in the range of 20 minutes a game. Because Evans missed 51 games last season due to a foot injury, he could once again be sidelined long term and Dorsey could become a useful addition.

Deep leaguers will also want to keep rookie Ed Davis on their radar. Davis is scheduled to have a short stint in the D-League to work on his conditioning, but could see some minutes once he's called up to the Raptors with the team's lack of front court depth.

Asian Yahoo! Search




Dude, one of Captain Captain Industries' traffic sources is ...

Asian Yahoo!


Check it out --

Click this ---> WORD <--- for quality Asian Yahoo! time.

First link! That's stylin'. We official now.


Overseas and beyond,
C.C.I xx

SNL (Re-run)

Yesterday, I checked out SNL -- a rebroadcast of the 10/2/10 filming.

As a sort of retaliation to Blogger for deleting my link to the new Kanye album, the Industry has decided to post the two performances that Mr. West performed on SNL.

Quality stuff -- Kanye's an entertainer for sure. Hate if you will, but you can't deny his producing legacy.





One of my favorite skits from the episode : (Note -- Due to copyright issues, the annoying text at the bottom has to be there. Sorry y'all. Don't let it distract you, okay?)



Annnnd the Jag's just lost. Damn, dude.
C.C.I xx

Five Players on the Cusp Of Moving Into Our Top 150

152. Josh McRoberts (5.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.1 steals): While his stats are not particularly overwhelming, McRoberts is contributing in a number of categories and that is where he's deriving his value. He's currently outside the top 150 only because Indiana has played the fewest games in the league. McRoberts could be of help in category leagues if you can afford to take on his terrible percentages.

154.
Shaquille O'Neal (12.3 points, 7 rebounds, 69.3% FG%): As we recently noted, Shaq has been coming on strong in recent games. He only sits outside our top 150 at this time because he missed five games in early November, but he's clearly producing like a player that should be owned in all standard leagues. Shaq is currently 65% unowned.

163. George Hill (9.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.1 steals): We expected Hill to have a much better season thus far, but he's failed to significantly improve on his numbers. Although he's playing more minutes, he's giving us about the same per-minute production as he did last year. George is starting to see even more minutes of late and has a good chance of moving into our top 150 in the coming weeks.

166. Al-Farouq Aminu (7.6 points, 0.9 three-pointers, 3.3 rebounds, 1 steal): The rookie has climbed up the player ratings after being a non-factor in the early going. He's failed to show consistency, as expected, but he's also shown he can have some big nights. He'll be sure to move into the top 150 as long as he continues to play around the 27 minutes a game he's been getting as a starter.

170. Marco Belinelli (12.7 points, 2.1 three-pointers, 2.3 rebounds): Like McRoberts, Belinelli ranks this low because New Orleans has played fewer games than most teams up to this point. While Belinelli can only help in points, three-pointers, and FT%, he is seeing nearly 30 minutes a night and has Chris Paul setting him up for open looks.

Player Ratings Updated

FBB's player ratings have been updated. You can check them out by clicking on the link below.

2010-11 Player Ratings

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Dorrell Wright Hits Nine Three-Pointers On Way to Career-High 30 Points

Golden State Warriors small forward Dorell Wright went off tonight against Minnesota. He hit a career-best and Warriors record nine three-pointers, finishing the game with a career-high 30 points.

The Breakdown
Dorell Wright remains the best free agent acquisition in fantasy this year. He was virtually unowned to start the season and now sits just outside the top 50 of our player ratings. Wright owners should feel fortunate to have found the proverbial diamond-in-the-rough because Wright will have value all season in Golden State's high octane offense.

Rookie Larry Sanders Making Best of Opportunity Amid Injuries

After struggling to get off the bench all season, Milwaukee Bucks power forward Larry Sanders has been given a chance to play big minutes in the team's last two games as a result of injuries to Andrew Bogut and Drew Gooden. Sanders has responded with averages of 8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 1.5 blocks in those two games and replaced Jon Brockman in the starting line up tonight.

The Breakdown
Entering the season, we felt Sanders was one rookie who was ready to contribute right away. Now that he's had a couple of solid games, he may get an opportunity to play with more regularity. Deep leaguers will want to make a speculative addition and see what happens when both Bogut and Gooden return to action.

Nick Young Heating Up

In the wake of injuries to John Wall and Al Thornton, Washington Wizards guard Nick Young has stepped up his game. Young is averaging 19.5 points and 2.3 three-pointers in Washington's last four games.

The Breakdown
We're not sure if this production will last once Wall and Thornton both return, but Young is worth a speculative addition in deep leagues if you need help in scoring or three-pointers. Young, though, doesn't offer much else outside of those two categories.

Obama Gets Lip Busted During Basketball Game


Rey Decerega, who works for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute in Washington, DC, was identified by the White House as the one who gave President Obama a fat lip during a pickup basketball game at Fort McNair in Washington, DC yesterday. U.S. President Barack Obama took an elbow to the mouth as he went up for a rebound while playing a pickup basketball game with his personal assistant Reggie Love (a former Duke University standout), and “family members” – according to the AP. Obama’s busted lip required 12 stitches to close. The number of stitches was increased due to doctors using a smaller filament (string) to stitch the wound tighter so the resulting scar would not be as visible when it heals.

Carlos Boozer Expected to Practice Monday

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Bulls power forward Carlos Boozer is nearing a return from a broken hand. He's expected to practice with the team for the first time on Monday and is projected to return in about two weeks.

The Breakdown
With Boozer nearing a return, Taj Gibson's fantasy value is about to plummet. He's currently ailing, but if you can find a reasonable deal, make sure you pull the trigger soon. Boozer, Joakim Noah, and Luol Deng are going to play big minutes, leaving very little playing time in the front court for Gibson.

First Employee Termination




Mr. Kyle Brotzman, kicker from Boise State University -- You're fired, son. Blowing a 24-7 lead is harsh. Losing because your kicker didn't show up is an absolute joke. Four years of kicking and you miss a couple from inside the thirty. WTF, BRO. >:(

Man, I wanted Oregon - Boise St. so bad.

Not all was horrid on Black Friday -- Oregon pulled out a solid second half to bury Arizona, and Auburn posted their best victory yet over #11 Alabama. If Oregon can hold ground next week against cross-state rival Oregon State (you remember last year's Rose Bowl bid?), and if Auburn can sink Steve Spurrier's South Carolina ship, (alliteration!) then the BCS Championship Game looks to be a real barn-burner.

Friday night college football -- Possibly the most exciting weekend of the season so far.

We'll be throwin' up some tunes later this week -- Always keep posted. Subscribing certainly helps!

C.C.I xx

Russell Westbrook Goes Off For Career-High 43

Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook had a monster night on Friday. His line: a career-high 43 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals, and a block while hitting 17 of 18 free throws.

The Breakdown
Westbrook has taken his game to another level this season, well above what even the most optimistic fantasy owners had anticipated. Russell's scoring has taken a huge leap up to 23.8 a game this season thanks in large part to his ability to get to the line nearly 10 times a game while hitting a career-best 90.3% of his attempts.

Westbrook had already established himself as a nightly triple-double threat even last season, but now that his percentages and scoring have risen, he could be a top 10 fantasy player for the rest of this season and a top 10 preseason pick entering next season. As of today, he ranks second in our player ratings. If he can sustain the great free throw shooting, which is almost 10% higher than his career average of 81.4%, he remains a strong candidate to finish at the top of the player ratings at season's end.

Bradon Roy Returns, Wesley Matthews Struggles

After missing a stretch of games due to pain and swelling in his left knee, Portland Trailblazers star Brandon Roy returned to action last night and scored 27 points.

The Breakdown
While Roy played well, the knee still remains a concern for the foreseeable future. The discomfort could return at any time, putting him back on the shelf. We recommend seeking out a trade while Roy is healthy and producing.

Roy's replacement, Wesley Matthews, returned to his bench role and scored just 4 points in 20 minutes. As we previously noted, Matthews' fantasy value hinges on Roy's health. If you're one of the owners who picked up Matthews in a standard league, you'll have to show some patience for the next couple of weeks before making a decision on whether to drop him.

Shaq Becoming a Viable Fantasy Option

Although he's playing only 22.7 minutes a game, Boston Celtics center Shaquille O'Neal is putting up some good numbers. In his last five games, Shaq is averaging 14.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, and a block on a scorching 75% shooting.

The Breakdown
Shaq appears to be a viable option for owners in standard leagues in need of help at center. Snatch him up while he's playing well. Be ready to cut him loose, though, if he goes through a bad stretch. With only 22.7 minutes a game, we're not sure how long he can keep producing solid fantasy lines. The Celtics are trying to keep him rested for a deep postseason run, so the minutes are unlikely to increase.

Center Merrygoround Continues in Houston

This season, the Houston Rockets have used four different starters at center.

The Breakdown
With Yao Ming injured, head coach Rick Adelman has used all of his centers in the starting line up and is continually shifting minutes. Without any clear center rotation, deep leaguers should drop Brad Miller, Chuck Hayes, and Jordan Hill and find a more steady player to fill that roster spot. When Yao Ming returns, things will get even more muddled in Houston.

Rashard Lewis Improving Offensively

After a terrible start to the season, Orlando Magic forward Rashard Lewis has put together a nice stretch of games offensively. In his last five, Lewis is averaging 15.2 points and 2.4 three-pointers on 56.8% shooting from the field and a sizzling 63.2% from downtown.

The Breakdown
It's good to see Lewis upping his scoring and percentages. If he can keep it up, he can get back to the numbers he averaged last season. While his rebounding is just slightly better than last year, we're not sure if Lewis can stay around five rebounds a game for the season. His numbers in other stats are slightly down and his free throw shooting is at just 73.7%, down from his career mark of 80.7%. Lewis is looking like he's going to end up a major disappointment for fantasy owners this season unless he has a major turnaround.

Interestingly, we've observed that Rashard's numbers have dipped in each of his seasons with Orlando. This may be a sign his game is starting to decline if he doesn't significantly improve this year and is something worth noting for owners in keeper leagues.

J.J. Hickson's Fantasy Value Falling

Cleveland Cavaliers power forward J.J. Hickson has seen his value take a hit of late. He has failed to score in double figures in the team's last six games. With his low scoring output and modest rebounding totals, Hickson is just not worth rostering in standard leagues.

The Breakdown
Head coach Byron Scott has given the bulk of the playing time back to the veteran Antawn Jamison. Although Jamison is not putting up the numbers we expected out of him entering the season, he is the better option right now. He's getting the bulk of the playing time and putting up the better lines.

J.J. Hickson continues to start, but he's playing right around 20 minutes a night and he's just not producing enough to help most fantasy squads. Owners in standard leagues will want to start looking for an upgrade via the free agent pool. Hickson is still owned in over 70% of leagues, but that's still far too many teams hanging on to him.

Friday, November 26, 2010

Wizards Deploy Three-Guard Line Up

With forward Al Thornton sidelined due to an ankle sprain, Washington Wizards head coach Flip Saunders used the three-guard starting line up of Gilbert Arenas, John Wall, and Kirk Hinrich that he deployed in the preseason.

The Breakdown
The move was inevitable whether Thornton was hurt or not. Arenas had been coming on very strong in recent games and deserved the starting nod. Thornton owners will just have to monitor what happens when Al returns from his ailment in the next couple of games. This could be a huge blow to his value, which was already going to drop with the eminent return of Josh Howard. If Thornton is moved to the bench, he may not be worth rostering in standard leagues.

John Wall owners should also closely monitor the situation. Arenas is a talented player who will take away scoring and assist opportunities from the rookie phenom. Wall had a poor game tonight while Arenas played well. If this trend continues and Arenas doesn't return to a reserve role, Wall owners may want to look into potential trades.

Baron Davis Practicing, On Verge of Returning

Los Angeles Clippers points guard Baron Davis has begun practicing with the team and could return in the next week.

The Breakdown
Davis' injury opened the door for rookie Eric Bledsoe to emerge as one of the biggest surprises of this year's rookie class. It will be interesting to see what happens when Baron returns to action. With Bledsoe's scoring and shooting percentage starting to cool, the rookie may be moved to the bench in favor of the experienced Davis, thought it's not certain.

Even if Bledsoe moves to a reserve role, fantasy owners may want to wait a few games before dropping the youngster. Davis has shown over the years that he's injury prone and it would not surprise us if he was sidelined again in the near future. He actually came back from his present injury for one game and then sat the team's next eight games. The Clippers are also likely to shop Baron around the league, though it's unknown whether many teams would be interested. The Clippers know they have their future point guard and are going to find a way to get him minutes.

Rookie Rankings Updated

  1. Blake Griffin (19.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, 51.1% FG%): With nine double-doubles, one amazing performance, and an injury to John Wall, Blake Griffin ascends to the top of the rookie rankings. He's a proven double-double threat every time he steps on the court and he's greatly outperformed his average draft position. Griffin has a good shot of being this year's top rookie. He's moved up to #14 in FBB's player ratings.

Click Here for More...

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Thnx, y'all




HAPPY THANKSGIVIN', EVERYBODY.

Top 100 Players That Are Under 50% Owned

Here are a few players sitting in the top 100 of FBB's player ratings that could very likely be free agents in your league:


75. Grant Hill
(14.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 52.5% FG%): The veteran small forward has been fairly consistent so far this season. He hasn't had many huge games, but he's a good source of points, rebounds, and percentages with the ability to contribute steals and blocks on occasion.

80. Landry Fields (10.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, 55.9% FG%): We asked why you hadn't picked up Landry Fields, but few listened. Fields has actually moved up in our player ratings since then. He's a great source of rebounds for his position and he won't hurt you in any category. It's a crime that he's still available in over 80% of leagues.

85. Kris Humphries (7.7 points, 8 rebounds, 63.3% FG%): Humphries continues to play well in the absence of Troy Murphy. Murphy, though, is expected to return in the near future, so it may not be worth picking up Humphries now as there's likely to be a battle for minutes between New Jersey's three power forwards that may hurt all of their fantasy values.

86. Matt Barnes (9.4 points, 1.2 three-pointers, 5.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists): While he's only playing about 21 minutes a night, Barnes is putting up viable fantasy lines on a regular basis. Like Hill and Fields, Barnes is another one of those players that doesn't wow you in any category, but instead gives you steady across-the-board production. He's still out there in over 95% of leagues.

90. Amir Johnson (8.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.1 blocks 58.8% FG%, 90.7% FT%): It's easy to see why fantasy owners have overlooked Johnson, who's playing just under 20 minutes a night. Still, he's ranked higher than starting power forward Reggie Evans (#93) because of his better all-around game. Much of Johnson's value is coming from his great percentages. His free throw shooting, though, is well-above his career mark and doesn't appear to be sustainable for the length of the season. Much like Humphries, there may not be enough minutes to go around in Toronto when rookie Ed Davis is ready to play in the next few games.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

O.J. Mayo to Come Off the Bench?

After Memphis Grizzlies guard O.J. Mayo came off the bench for the second consecutive game tonight, it appears that head coach Lionel Hollins is planning to use Mayo in a sixth man role for the time being.

The Breakdown
Hollins told USA Today that he's looking for more scoring off the bench, so it looks like Mayo could be used as a sixth man for the foreseeable future. The move doesn't necessarily hurt his fantasy value unless his minutes drop, which they have over the last two games. Mayo owners will just have to stick out this rough stretch and hope Mayo thrives in his new role or returns to the starting line up.

O.J. has been replaced by rookie Xavier Henry as the team's starting shooting guard. Henry doesn't appear to be a player who's ready to make an impact, but owners in very deep leagues may want to make a speculative addition.

Matt Bonner Eating Into DeJuan Blair's Playing Time

San Antonio Spurs center Matt Bonner has been playing over 25 minutes a night in the team's last five games. In the same period, starting center DeJuan Blair's minutes have dipped to just 16 a game including a low of 6 minutes tonight.

The Breakdown
Head coach Gregg Popovich appears to be favoring the experience of Bonner and Antonio McDyess over the younger Blair and Tiago Splitter. Bonner's had a couple of good games since his return from a back injury, but he's been fairly inconsistent. With the minutes he's seeing, though, owners in deep leagues should jump on him. Be aware that Bonner's only real contributions are in scoring and three-pointers, with a few rebounds here and there. Bonner is available in almost all leagues.

Reggie Evans Continues to Dominate the Glass

Early in the season, we noticed Toronto Raptors power forward Reggie Evans had been a monster on the boards. Evans is still snatching up all loose balls in his sights, including a 22-rebound performance tonight.

The Breakdown
For a player in the top five in rebounding, fantasy owners have failed to jump on him. True, he doesn't give you anything but rebounds, but he remains a valuable addition in any category-based league. Because the players around him are such poor rebounders, Evans will put up big rebounding numbers for as long as he's getting starter's minutes. Our only worry is whether rookie Ed Davis will hurt Reggie's playing time when he returns shortly, though it's likely Davis plays limited minutes in the early going. Evans is unowned in nearly 90% of leagues.

Delonte West Fractures Wrist

Boston Celtics reserve guard Delonte West fractured his wrist in tonight's game against the Nets. Although no time timetable has been set for his return, he'll be out for at least the next six weeks.

The Breakdown
The news is unfortunate considering West was playing decently and getting nearly 20 minutes a night. For those that had picked up West recently, it's time to start looking for a replacement.

Marcus Jordan

Y'all know Michael Jordan's son, Marcus?



This. Right here. Is my. Swag.

The most decked-out basketball gear I've seen in years.
C.C.I xx