LestersLegends.com

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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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I blame myself for O.J. Mayo’s fall. When I traded for him he was averaging around 17 points per game. He’s down to 12.2 ppg and has been suspended for ten games. In all seriousness, owners like me may have to hit the waiver wire to find some help, though I’m not sure I would cut ties with Mayo altogether.
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Tony Allen and Sam Young will get extra run in his absence, and could be decent fantasy options. I would probably look outside the Grizzlies organization to meet your fantasy needs.
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Some shooting guard options that could be available in your league are: 

• Ben Gordon, Detroit Pistons:  13.3 ppg in the past 15 days.
• Sasha Vujacic, New Jersey Nets:  13.1 ppg in the past 15 days.
• Daniel Gibson, Cleveland Cavaliers:  12.8, 4.4 apg in past 15 days.
• Anthony Morrow, New Jersey Nets:  17.5 ppg in past two games.
• Mike Miller, Miami Heat:  Tempting match-up with Knicks tonight.
• Randy Foye, Los Angeles Clippers:  17.5 ppg in two starts in place of Eric Gordon.

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The good news, or bad news, is that Mayo hasn’t really set the bar high for him of late. His inconsistency makes him a tough start anyway.

2/2/09

30 Point Club
Kobe Bryant - 61 Points
Dwight Howard - 35 Points
Stephan Jackson  - 33 Points
O.J. Mayo - 33 Points
Tim Duncan - 32 Points
Dwyane Wade - 32 Points
Manu Ginobili - 32 Points
Pau Gasol - 31 Points

Chairman of the Boards (12+ Rebounds)
Tim Duncan - 15 Boards
Kurt Thomas - 15 Boards
Pau Gasol - 14 Boards
Lamar Odom - 14 Boards
Antawn Jamison - 13 Boards
David Lee - 12 Boards

March of Dimes (10+ Assists)
Chris Paul - 13 Dimes
Stephan Jackson  - 11 Dimes

Thieves & Swatters (5+ Steals or Blocks)
None

Double-Double Trouble
Tim Duncan - 32 Points, 15 Rebounds
Dwight Howard - 35 Points, 11 Rebounds
Pau Gasol - 31 Points, 14 Rebounds
Stephan Jackson  - 33 Points, 11 Assists
Antawn Jamison - 29 Points, 13 Rebounds
David Lee - 22 Points, 12 Rebounds
LaMarcus Aldridge - 22 Points, 11 Rebounds
Marc Gasol - 22 Points, 11 Rebounds
Chris Paul - 12 Points, 13 Assists

Messed Around and Got a Triple Double
None

As the first full month of the NBA season comes to a close it’s time to take a look at the impact the Rookies have made thus far.

As Good As Advertised
To me this rookie class begins with Derrick Rose.  He is playing the most difficult position (Point Guard) of any of the Big Three (Rose, Beasley, Mayo) and he looks comfortable out there.  He is second among rookies in scoring with 19.0 points per game and first in assist with 5.7 apg.  He is every bit as good as advertised and will be a star in this league.  While Rose is the best Rookie in the league, O.J. Mayo is the most explosive.  He leads all rookies with a 20.6 ppg scoring average.  He has reached 25 or more points in five of his fourteen games already.  He too will be a star in this league, but I don’t expect as much team success for O.J.  He is fortunate go get out of Minnesota.  Memphis may be as bad, but at least it’s warm there.

Give Them Time
I am not going to label Michael Beasley a disappointment because he’s third among Rookies in scoring at 14.8 ppg and 8th in rebounding at 5.5 rpg.  Dwayne Wade has been lights out early on this year, which has limited his scoring opportunities.  He is playing alongside Shawn Marion and Udonis Haslem, which has a negative impact on his rebounding.  I see both of those numbers improving as the season goes on.  Greg Oden is another guy that you’re going to have to wait until he starts to reach his full potential.  Not only does he have to learn the pro game like the rest of the rookies, but he has to work the rust off from missing a full year of hoops.  I expect him to grow into a force in the paint on both ends of the floor.

Pleasant Surprises
Marc Gasol has to be one of the more pleasant surprises from this Rookie Class.  Second-Rounders generally do not make a big splash.  He has done just that though averaging 12.0 ppg and 7.2 rpg while shooting a Rookie best 57.7% from the floor.  Luc Mbah a Moute is another Second-Rounder who is providing dividends to his team (Milwaukee) and his fantasy owners.  Mbah a Moute leads all Rookies in Rebounding at 7.6 rpg.  Mario Chalmers is another Second-Rounder that is contributing.  He’s playing nearly 30 minute a night and averaging 8.3 points, 4.6 assists, and 2.0 steals.  Russell Westbrook is having a solid start to his Rookie season.  He’s put up averages of 12.1 points and 3.7 assists per night.

Early Disappointments
It’s hard to get on a guy who’s injured, but Danilo Gallinari has scored just two points in 11 minutes.  He didn’t even make a Field Goal.  Kevin Love not only has to deal with playing on the lowly TImberwolves, but he has to deal with the pressure of being the guy traded for O.J. Mayo.  Love was the fifth pick in the draft yet his the 16th leading scorer at 8.3 ppg and the 7th leading rebounder at 6.0.  Perhaps where he’s disappointing the most is the 36% he’s shooting from the floor.  Joe Alexander was the 8th pick and he’s averaging just 4.0 ppg and 13.3 minute per game. #7 pick Eric Gordon isn’t much better with just 6.0 ppg in 15.2 minutes per game.  Perhaps most disappointing of all is #11 Jerryd Bayless.  He’s played in just five games for an average of 7.2 minutes per night.  All he has to show for himself is a 1.8 ppg average.

Taking Advantage of Injuries
Early injuries have allowed Sacramento’s Jason Thompson (11.6 ppg, 70 rpg), San Antonio’s George Hill (11.0 ppg), and Portland’s Rudy Fernandez (11.6 ppg) to get off to fast starts.

11/10/08