As a fantasy sports nut that has multiple teams with multiple platforms, I have spent plenty of time toggling between different websites and having mutliple browsers open as I kept tabs on my fantasy teams. I always though that it would be great if I could manage all of my fantasy teams from one location. Now you can.
PICKEMFIRST acts like a Fantasy Sports assistant. This internet browser extension will save you time by identifying athletes on any web page you visit and highlighting the Free Agents in your fantasy league. It also provides shortcuts to your favorite fantasy website and conveniently aggregates news from Rotowire and tweets from the athletes themselves. The best thing is, the service is free at www.pickemfirst.com.
Pick ‘em First made some dramatic changes and improvements. It is now available on Internet Explorer and Google Chrome, it was extended to support NBA, NHL and College football, you no longer need a google account to use Pickemfirst, and you can import fantasy football leagues from 7 different websites! Yahoo, ESPN, CBS, RTsports, MFL, nfl.com and Athlon.
Here is a video to show how this slick program works:
Well, the decision has come down. Like Stephen A. Smith and others suspected, LeBron is joining Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami. They have to be the favorites to win the Eastern Conference. Time will tell if this power trio will be enough to dethrone the Lakers.
From a fantasy perspective, I’m afraid all three will take a hit to their production. It would be hard not to take LeBron with the number one pick in fantasy drafts, but there has to be a case for Kevin Durant.
As the world prepares for LeBron’s announcement later tonight, the Celtics made a move to bolster their chances of repeating as Eastern Conference Champions. They added Jermaine O’Neal to fill the void the C’s will feel as Kendrick Perkins recovers from his knee injury. O’Neal, who will turn 32 in October should give them an upgrade over the recently retired Rasheed Wallace. His fantasy value takes a hit as there are more scoring options in Boston than there were in Miami.
I should probably call it the Big Four as Rajon Rondo proved to be as important as any of the Celtics’ future Hall of Famers (Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen). Perhaps the Big Five if the Jermaine O’Neal to the C’s rumors are true. Whatever number of big players the Celtics have next year, they will have sharpshooter Ray Allen there for two more years after he signed a $20 million deal. He will turn 35 later this month so the odds that he can match the 16.3 points he averaged last year aren’t great. That said, he is a great source for three-pointers and free-throw percentage and a good source for points and field goal percentage. He offers little in the rebounds and assists category. A lot of teams are gearing up in the East, and it appears Boston will remain in the hunt.
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.
You can forget about an ESPN special down the road featuring Kevin Durant letting the world know where he’s going. On the day it was reported that Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade would team up in Miami, and a day before King James’ one-hour special, Durant quietly signed with Oklahoma City.
Durant has to be one of the most admirable young stars in the game. He did not make an issue of being bypassed by Portland for Greg Oden because of the questions surrounding his strength. All he did was go out and prove that he should be spoken about in the same breath as LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Kobe Bryant. In fact, if LeBron were to go to the Heat as speculated, there would be a considerable case for Durant as the first overall fantasy pick next year.
For future reference for NBA GMs out there, how many times you can bench press 185 pounds does not mean you can’t play at a high level.
ESPN’s Chris Broussard is reporting that Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh have decided to team up in Miami. Details have not emerged the compensation Bosh will receive, specifically if he will get the extra money associated with a sign-and-trade deal with the Raptors. There is also no word whether or not LeBron James, who will announce live on ESPN his intentions tomorrow night, will join them in South Beach or not. For now, Wade is Batman and Bosh is Robin. Wade is Crockett and Bosh is Tubbs.
While the Knicks are waiting for their main course (LeBron or Dwyane Wade) they are enjoying a pretty good (and expensive) appetizer in the form of A’mare Stoudemire. The electric power forward is reuniting his former Suns coach Mike D’Antoni. The Knicks are paying him a pretty penny, close to $100 million over five years. Any fears that A’mare’s numbers would suffer upon leaving the desert have been put to rest by his decision to join D’Antoni’s up-tempo offense. As long as he stays healthy, there is no reason A’mare can’t approach the 23.1 points and 8.9 rebounds he averaged last year.
I posted my lottery picks last month. Here’s a look at the whole first round.
1.Washington Wizards – John Wall, PG, Kentucky
Nothing has changed to move Wall out of the top spot.
2. Philadelphia 76ers – Evan Turner, SG, Ohio State
Turner remains the Sixers’ best choice.
3. New Jersey Nets – Derrick Favors, PF, Georgia Tech
Favors remains the logical choice to bolster the Nets’ frontline.
4. Minnesota Timberwolves – DeMarcus Cousins, C, Kentucky
While Wesley Johnson fills a need at the small forward position, they are easier to come by than true centers. Cousins gives the Wolves a force in the middle to pair with undersized Al Jefferson and/or Kevin Love.
5. Sacramento Kings – Greg Monroe, C, Georgetown
With Cousins moving up a slot in this mock, the Kings go for Monroe instead to solidify the middle.
6. Golden State Warriors – Wesley Johnson, SF, Syracuse
Johnson slips to Warriors, who gladly snatch him up. He is a great fit in their system as he can run the floor and stretch defenses with his three-point ability.
7. Detroit Pistons – Ekpe Udoh, PF, Baylor
Udoh gives the Pistons a talented big man that can help out on both ends of the court. His shot blocking ability will be coveted.
8. Los Angeles Clippers – Al-Farouq Aminu, SF, Wake Forest
The Clippers continue to put the pieces together as Aminu fills as need at small forward. With Baron Davis, Eric Gordon, Aminu, Blake Griffin, and Chris Kaman, the Clippers have a talented, young nucleus.
9. Utah Jazz – Cole Aldrich, C, Kansas
The Jazz were exposed for their lack of size against the Lakers. Aldrich gives them a better chance to advance.
10. Indiana Pacers – Ed Davis, PF, North Carolina
Davis could end up one of the top 3-5 players in this draft. Getting him at ten, while filling a need, is a steal for the Pacers.
11. New Orleans Hornets – Patrick Patterson, PF, Kentucky
What Patterson lacks in size, he makes up for it with ability. Chris Paul will fall in love with him.
12. Memphis Grizzlies – Luke Babbitt, SF, Nevada
Babbitt won’t confuse anybody for a defensive stopper, but he is very talented offensively. He gives Memphis another shooter.
13. Toronto Raptors – Hassan Whiteside, C, Marshall
Assuming Chris Bosh does not return to the Raptors, it’s rebuilding time. That affords them to take the raw Whiteside and allow him to develop. He should be a force immediately on defense and grow into an offensive player.
14. Houston Rockets – Daniel Orton, C, Kentucky
Even if Yao Ming is healthy, they need insurance in case he is injured again. Orton needs some time to develop, which the Rockets can provide him as long as Yao is healthy.
15. Milwaukee Bucks – Gordon Hayward, SF, Butler
Hayward made a name for himself in Butler’s impressive tourney run. He gives the Bucks another smart player that can knock down open shots. continue reading »
1. Washington Wizards – John Wall, PG, Kentucky Point Guards are the name of the game in this league it seems. Washington could consider Evan Turner since they have Arenas, but they can’t pass on the draft’s top prospect.
2. Philadelphia 76ers – Evan Turner, SG, Ohio State There is always a chance that they trade out of this slot, but I doubt it. Instead they’ll add Turner to their backup with Jrue Holiday and slide Iggy over to the 3.
3. New Jersey Nets – Derrick Favors, PF, Georgia Tech The Nets were removed from the LeBron Sweepstakes when they failed to land the #1 pick. While it would have been nice to land Wall, they can plug in Favors, and athletic big man, to play alongside Brook Lopez.
4. Minnesota Timberwolves – Wesley Johnson, SF, Syracuse Back-to-back years the Wolves nab a top Syracuse player. Johnson gives the Wolves a talented wing player, a position of need. His three-point shooting can help stretch th floor. Of course, the Wolves make so many trades that it’s hard to predict what they’ll do.
5. Sacramento Kings – DeMarcus Cousins, PF/C, Kentucky If Cousins didn’t have baggage (maturity, weight issues, inconsistency) he would likely be the top big man selected in this draft. There is still time for him to move up, or slide down if he doesn’t impress. For now I’ll add him to the Kings’ frontcourt.
6. Golden State Warriors – Al-Farouq Aminu, SF, Wake Forest Aminu is very athletic and should thrive in the Warriors system. Gives them a boost in rebounding and defense.
7. Detroit Pistons – Greg Monroe, PF/C, Georgetown Monroe gives the Pistons length. He’s not a great rebounder or defender, but has the best passing skills of any big man in this draft.
Trading cards is a popular fixture in American culture.The best time to find a better trade in the NHL is around the league's annual trade deadline in March.
