LestersLegends.com

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Detroit Pistons forward Tayshaun Prince is feeling it. Over his past five games he’s averaging 38.4 minutes, bringing his season average up to 33.4 mpg. He has made the most of his extra playing time.
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During his five-game stretch he’s averaged 20.0 points per game. His high coming in the form of a 29-point explosion on January 18th against the Timberwolves. He’s been in double-figures in his past seven games to raise his scoring average to 12.2 ppg on the season, which is his lowest mark since his second season in the league, but his recent stretch is encouraging.
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Prince isn’t quite doing the same across the board damage we’ve grown accustomed to. He’s averaging 3.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists on the year. Even his recent five-game average of 4.0 rpg and 0.8 apg don’t quite reach his career 4.6 and 2.7 marks respectively.
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Prince has provided a fair share of blocks (1.0 bpg) and steals (0.8 spg) during his hot stretch and his season numbers are in line with his career numbers in those categories.
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He’s right at his career mark for three-pointers per game on the year, but has doubled that number (1.4 3pg) over the past five games. Prince is shooting a career low 41.5 percent on the year, but is at 48.3 percent during the stretch. He’s also hit 90.0 percent of his free throws, which has brought his season average (76.0 percent) in line with his career mark (76.4 percent).
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Prince is owned in 45.0 percent of Yahoo! and 57.6 percent of ESPN leagues. He has never averaged more than 14.7 ppg for a season so don’t expect the scoring binge to last, but he is a solid multiple category contributor. Ride him while he’s hot.
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Also check out:

• Jodie Meeks or Kyle Korver for Three
• Udonis Haslem Hits the Boards
• Byron Mullens Scoring Big
• Leandro Barbosa Heating Up
• Need Steals? Look to Tony Allen – Need Points? Pass the Mayo

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How’s your three-point production these days? If you were counting on Eric Gordon, Jason Richardson, or Stephen Curry to carry your category, you’re hurting right now (pun intended).
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There is help out there. Philadelphia’s Jodie Meeks or Chicago’s Kyle Korver can help shoulder the load.
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Meeks is an explosive scorer. His main issue is getting enough minutes to be productive enough for fantasy owners. On the year he’s averaging 8.8 points, 1.8 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.2 blocks, 0.5 steals, and 1.6 three-pointers.
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In his past eight games though, Meeks has heated up, averaging 11.3 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.3 blocks, 0.8 steals, and 2.3 three-pointers per game.
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His field goal percentage has been erratic and other than a mediocre scoring average, the rest of the numbers have been insignificant. However, with at least a three-pointer per game during his hot streak and the solid 2.3 per game average, he can help your fantasy team.
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Meeks is owned in 34.0 percent of Yahoo! and 3.1 percent of ESPN leagues.
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Another player that can help you in the three-point department is Chicago’s Kyle Korver.
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Korver is averaging a modest 6.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.2 blocks, and 0.6 assists making of little consequence for fantasy owners. However, he does excel in one category, and that is the deep ball.
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Korver hasn’t made a three-pointer in four straight games, but his season average remains a solid 1.5 per game. He has drained multiple three-pointers in eight of the 16 games he’s played in.
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Korver is eligible at shooting guard and small forward, which gives you some positional flexibility. He is owned in 15.0 percent of Yahoo! and 11.4 percent of ESPN leagues. Korver is a streaky shooter so I’d probably wait until he heats up again before looking to add him.
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Also check out:

• Udonis Haslem Hits the Boards
• Byron Mullens Scoring Big
• Leandro Barbosa Heating Up
• Need Steals? Look to Tony Allen – Need Points? Pass the Mayo
• Maybe Zaza?

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Are you lacking in the rebounding department? I’m sure you’re not alone. Have no fear, Udonis Haslem is here.
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Haslem may not be part of Miami’s big three, but he gives them toughness, and can still be of major help to a fantasy team in need of a boost in boards.
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Haslem is averaging a career high 10.2 rebounds per game and has been remarkably consistent. He has reached double-digit rebounds in eight of his twelve games, and has had at least eight boards in all but one game (six on December 28th against Charlotte).
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Haslem isn’t a guy that you have to worry about suddenly dropping off the map. He has averaged between 7.9 and 9.1 rebounds over the past seven seasons.
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He’s never been much of a scorer so don’t expect much more than his 8.1 ppg average, especially when Dwyane Wade returns. That isn’t what he brings to the table. Don’t look for a lot of assists, blocks, or steals either. Again, that’s not his game.
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I do expect his poor shooting to come around. He’s at a career low 40.2 percent, which is significantly lower than even his rookie season mark of 45.9 percent. Throughout his career he’s made roughly half of his shots. Maybe he’s suffering because he missed most of last season with a foot injury and didn’t have the normal offseason to get up to speed. Regardless, given his track record I expect improvement.
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He’s also a solid free-throw shooter with a lifetime 76.5 percent mark.
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Haslem is owned in 56.0 percent of Yahoo! and 46.6 percent of ESPN leagues. He’s more valuable in Yahoo! leagues because he has Center eligibility along with the Forward eligibility that he has in ESPN leagues.
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Is Haslem the answer to all of your needs? Of course not. If he was he’d be owned in more than half of all fantasy leagues. He can give you a nice boost to your rebounding category, and I anticipate he’ll eventually benefit your field goal percentage without jeopardizing you free-throw percentage. There is definitely value there.
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Also check out:

• Byron Mullens Scoring Big
• Leandro Barbosa Heating Up
• Need Steals? Look to Tony Allen – Need Points? Pass the Mayo
• Maybe Zaza?
• Can Taj Gibson Host Your Block Party?

Chuck Burton /AP       
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Charlottle Bobcats Center Byron Mullens averaged 1.1 points as a rookie during the 2009-10 season for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Last year he increased his output to 1.9 ppg. Not many people could have saw his success coming. In his one year of college ball Mullens averaged 8.8 ppg for Ohio State.
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Regardless of how Mullens got to this point, the fact is he enters today’s Martin Luther King matinee averaging 13.0 ppg on the year.
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He’s been even more ridiculous of late. In his past four games he averaged 18.5 points and 7.0 rebounds while shooting 47.5 percent from the floor and 88.2 percent from the line.
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Mullens isn’t your protypical big man. He’s only averaging a half a block per game. He only has one game with multiple blocks in his 13 appearances. Eight of the games he played in he didn’t even record a block.
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While he isn’t helping in the block category, he does give you an unexpected boost in the free throw percentage category. He’s shooting 93.8 percent from the charity stripe this year.
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If you want to get Mullens you better get while the gettings good. He is still reasonable available in Yahoo! leagues at 49.0 percent ownership, but he’s been jumping off the shelves in ESPN leagues, as he’s up to 77.7 percent ownership.
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Will his scoring spree continue? Hard to say, especially given his track record. For now, ride him while he’s hot.
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Also check out:

• Leandro Barbosa Heating Up
• Need Steals? Look to Tony Allen – Need Points? Pass the Mayo
• Maybe Zaza?
• Can Taj Gibson Host Your Block Party?
• Little Man Nate

Getty Images
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Toronto Raptors guards Leandro Barbosa is a streaky player. When he gets hot he can fill it up. Right now he’s sizzling.
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He’s averaging 11.8 points per game on the year, but he’s upped the ante to 16.8 ppg over his past five games. Along with the scoring binge, he’s averaging 1.2 three-pointers, 3.2 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.2 blocks, and 0.8 steals. Barbosa is shooting 46.6 percent from the floor during his hot streak, 37.5 percent from downtown, and 76.9 percent from the line.
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Barbosa qualifies at the point guard and shooting guard position, which gives you some added positional flexibility. He’s owned in 10.0 percent of Yahoo! and 2.3 percent of ESPN leagues.
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As long as he continues to stay healthy and see 25+ minutes per game, he should provide some decent scoring. In the nine games he played 20+ minutes he has averaged 15.1 ppg and 1.0 three-pointer per game. For his career he averages 1.5 three-pointers per game.
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The Raptors play three games on the road this coming week against the Hawks, the Celtics, and the Clippers, as well as one at home against the Trail Blazers. He’s scoring average is nearly identical at home (11.8) and on the road (11.9).
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Don’t expect a scoring spree like Kobe is in the midst of, but as long as he continues to play 20+ minutes he’ll give you a decent bump in points and three-pointers. As always, make sure you have somebody that you can drop (and not miss) before picking him up.
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Also check out:

• Need Steals? Look to Tony Allen – Need Points? Pass the Mayo
• Maybe Zaza?
• Can Taj Gibson Host Your Block Party?
• Little Man Nate
• Do You Believe in Amir?

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Memphis Grizzlie shooting guard Tony Allen is up to his old tricks. On Thursday he picked up a ridiculous five steals to give him 20 steals on the year through ten games.
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Allen averaged 1.8 steals per game so the thievery should not come as a surprise to anybody that plays fantasy basketball. Neither should his 49.3 shooting percentage.
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Those are two categories that you have been able to bank on for a few years. Allen shot 51.0 percent last year for the Grizzlies and a matching 51.0 percent the prior year for the Celtics.
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Allen has never been a big at hitting the glass, but is averaging a career high 3.4 on the young season. Nor is he adept at collecting assists, blocks, three-pointers, or points in general.
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Allen, however, has picked up some of the scoring slack in his past six games, twice hitting the 20-point plateau for an average of 12.5 points. He’s averaging 3.8 rebounds during that stretch as well. He could see more points and rebounds while Zach Randolph is out.
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That’s not why you should think about adding him though. It’s the steals. In the ten games he’s played this year he has had multiple steals in seven games.
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If you need help in that category, Allen is owned in 66.0 percent of Yahoo! and 34.3 percent of ESPN leagues.
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If you are looking for some some scoring help, fellow Grizzlies shooting guard O.J. Mayo could be an answer. He’s owned in 39.0 percent of Yahoo! and 19.3 percent of ESPN leagues.
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Mayo is averaging just 10.9 ppg on the season, but he’s kicked it up to 12.8 in his past five games. Without Randolph’s scoring the Grizzlies are going to need someone to help shoulder the load. He averaged 18.5 and 17.5 ppg in his first two seasons in the league.
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Depending on what your needs are, either of these two guards could help your fantasy squad.
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Also check out:

• Maybe Zaza?
• Can Taj Gibson Host Your Block Party?
• Little Man Nate
• Do You Believe in Amir?
• Need Big Man Help? Marreese Speights Could Be Your Answer

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You’d have to have a good “Poker Face” to let on that Al Horford’s injury wasn’t troublesome to your fantasy squad. I’m not saying that Zaza Pachulia is going to be the answer to all of your needs, but he can help.
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Zaza has stepped up his game since Horford went down, averaging 31.0 minutes, 10.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 0.5 blocks.
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He only played 20 minutes in three of his first ten games, averaging 10.0 points and 8.0 rebounds suggesting that his two game spurt is not a fluke. The bottom line is when Zaza plays, he gives you a near double-double effort.
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Obviously Horford was a different player than Zaza. I wouldn’t be surprised if he comes close to matching the scoring and rebounding production, but you’re going to have to look elsewhere for the loss in blocks and steals. Zaza just isn’t the same level of defender as Horford.
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Pachulia is most likely available as he is owned in just 13.0 percent of Yahoo! and 6.1 percent of ESPN leagues. He has big shoes to fill, but he has shown he is capable when he gets the opportunity.
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During the 2005-06 season Zaza averaged 31.4 minutes, 11.7 points, and 7.9 rebounds. The following year he averaged 28.1 minutes, 12.2 points, and 7.0 rebounds.
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In deeper leagues you can possibly turn to Ivan Johnson. He came off the bench to play 21 minutes for the Hawks last night, scoring 12 points and grabbing seven rebounds. He should see more opportunities as he teams with Zaza to fill Horford’s void.
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Also check out:

• Can Taj Gibson Host Your Block Party?
• Little Man Nate
• Do You Believe in Amir?
• Need Big Man Help? Marreese Speights Could Be Your Answer
• Jump on Shumpert