LestersLegends.com

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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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Looking for help in the block category? There is a player that is owned in 9.0 percent of Yahoo! and 2.1 percent of ESPN leagues that is averaging 1.4 bpg on the season and 2.0 in his past six games. That player is Chicago Bulls power forward Taj Gibson.
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Because of the Bulls’ depth in the front court, namely Carlos Boozer, Joakim Noah and Omer Asik, Gibson is averaging just 20.1 minutes per game. None of them are playing so lights out to keep Gibson from getting some run.
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Noah, for example is averaging just 7.5 rebounds, and has been about as inconsistent as they come. Boozer, at 13.3 ppg, is averaging his lowest total since his rookie year. Both Noah and Boozer have injury history so Gibson could potentially get a nice spike in value if either go down.
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Gibson isn’t going to help you in many categories other than blocks unfortunately. He’s shooting 48.6 percent on the year, which is slightly above his career average. He’s only scoring 6.7 ppg with 3.9 rpg, 0.9 apg, and 0.3 spg.
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If you add Gibson though you’re not looking for points. He’s best used in a head-to-head situation when the blocks category is up for grabs. If you can sacrifice a little scoring he can give you the edge in blocks.
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If you are in a roto league you can use him in spurts to pick up some blocks, but you probably don’t want him long-term as he’ll drag you down in other categories.
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You’ll also want to make sure you have somebody that you can drop that you won’t regret later.
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Also check out:

• Little Man Nate
• Do You Believe in Amir?
• Need Big Man Help? Marreese Speights Could Be Your Answer
• Jump on Shumpert
• Is Richard Jefferson Turning Back the Clock?

Image courtesy of Sports Illustrated

Carlos Boozer was Public Enemy number one when he gave his word on a contract extension with the Cavs, only to skip town for the extra money Utah was offering. Now he has a chance to stick a dagger in the hearts of Cavs fans once again if his decision to sign with the Bulls sways LeBron James to join him.

The Bulls certainly have a nice team to play alongside James should he choose Chicago. Derrick Rose, Luol Deng, LeBron James, Carlos Boozer, and Joakim Noah would certainly make a formidable starting unit. Boozer and LeBron played one year together in 2003-04, and LeBron told Boozer he has to do what is best for his family prior to his departure. If New York and Miami became the front runners by signing A’mare Stoudemire and Chris Bosh, Chicago is back in the game with the signing. I’m afraid Cleveland just won’t have anything to offer LeBron in order to keep their hometown hero.

From a fantasy perspective, look for Noah and Boozer’s rebound totals to take a hit. Luol Deng will likely also take a hit both in points and rebounds. Rose could see an increase in assists.

5/2/09

Chicago Bulls vs. Boston Celtics
Ben Gordon – 33 Points
Ray Allen – 23 Points, 7 Rebounds
Paul Pierce – 20 Points, 9 Rebounds
Kendrick Perkins – 14 Points, 13 Rebounds
Joakim Noah – 7 Points, 15 Rebounds
Derrick Rose – 18 Points
Kirk Hinrich – 16 Points, 4 Steals
Eddie House – 16 Points
Glen Davis – 15 Points
Rajon Rondo – 7 Points, 11 Assists, 5 Rebounds, 3 Steals, 2 Blocks

Even
Rafer Alston is headed from Houston to Orlando.  He was putting up decent numbers with Houston, and I don’t see much of a change in Orlando as Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis, and Hedo Turkoglu are the primary scoring options.  Malik Rose didn’t do much for the Knicks and he won’t do much for the Thunder.  At this point in his career, he’s just a contract.  The same goes for Jerome James who went to Chicago from New York.  He’s out for the year with a Achilles’ tendon injury.  Anthony Roberson won’t get an opportunity in Chicago behind their glut of Guards, not that he got one in New York. Brian Cook went from Orlando to Memphis.  He didn’t do much with the Magic, and that likely won’t change.  Kyle Lowry went from Memphis to Houston.  He’s still a backup PG so I don’t see a value change there.

Losers
Tim Thomas is moving from the Knicks to the Bulls.  There just won’t be enough minutes or touches in Chicago.  Nate Robinson, Quentin Richardson, and Wilson Chandler will likely see a small dip in their time as Larry Hughes settles into the rotation.  Al Harrington and David Lee could lose a little of their production to Wilcox.  Tyronn Lue and Anthony Johnson were seeing an increase in minutes since Jameer Nelson went down.  With Alston’s arrival, that is going to change.   

Winners:  Andres Nocioni escapes the crowded Bulls stock of 2′s and 3′s that includes Ben Gordon, Luol Deng, and Kirk Hinrich.  He played just 24.1 minutes for the Bulls.  John Salmons played 37.4 for the Kings so Nocioni should see a bump in minutes.  Drew Gooden was in Chicago’s crowded frontcourt with Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah.  Thomas should benefit by playing alongside Brad Miller, who’s one of the best passing big men in the NBA.

Even:  Brad Miller gets to at least compete for a playoff spot.  He’ll get his minutes and his touches.  He’s not going to wow you any more, but he’ll be average around a low double-double for the Bulls.

Losers:  John Salmons days of 18.3 points per game are over.  With Derrick Rose, Gordon, and Deng, there just won’t be enough shots going around.  It’s a lot easier to rack up stats on a bad team.  Joakim Noah has been playing decent of late, but Miller’s arrival could limit Noah’s minutes.  Ben Gordon, Kirk Hinrich, and Thabo Sefolosha will also see a dip in their playing time with Salmons’ arrival.