**I am happy to announce that this write-up has made it on to a main stream sports website!
The NBA season finally got underway and some surprising players are already putting up monster stats. Scroll down for Week 2 pickups.
While LeBron, Kobe, Dirk are putting up top 15 stats, there are some other real surprises.
Stars with an awesome week
Carmelo Anthony, F, Denver
You probably saw Melo shoot the lights out in all three games so far. He shot 54 percent from the floor, 88 percent on free throws and 37 PPG will get it done. He's also getting good rebound and assist numbers against just six turnovers.
Rajon Rondo, PG, Boston
He has 47 assists plus 10 steals in four games. Add 56 percent field goals and 20 rebounds to that and Rondo is really rewarding those who drafted him early.
Andrea Bargnani, F/C, Toronto
Thus far, he's putting up 22 PPG, more than two threes, with awesome efficiency numbers. Look for this to continue all season. Capable of being a top-30 fantasy player.
Shooting Stars
Channing Frye, F, Phoenix
Ridiculous shooting numbers so far, going 6-for-10 in threes in one game. You definitely want him on your team, and he's only owned in 57 percent of Yahoo! leagues. He can single-handedly carry your team's three-point need all season and add in some decent rebounding numbers. Think last season's Troy Murphy with more threes, but half the rebounds.
Danilo Gallinari, G/F, New York
Even more threes than Frye, yet only 70 percent owned so far. He should be owned in all leagues simply because the volume of threes he'll be taking (and making). Definitely capable of shooting 42 percent from long range, but he's one-dimensional and won't contribute elsewhere. His shooting percentage is bad for a forward.
Andray Blatche, F, Washington
Draining mid-range jumpers at a 72 percent clip. That'll definitely slide, but he should be a good source of blocks and rebounds as long as either Caron Butler or Antawn Jamison aren't in the lineup.
Monster Numbers
Marc Gasol, C, Memphis
Only 80 percent owned? Pick him up NOW! RIGHT NOW! There were concerns about Gasol getting enough touches with all the newcomers on the Memphis squad, but he's put up 20 PPG plus 11 RPG in three games. He'll shoot an awesome percentage from the stripe, and the field goal percentage is likely to be 55 percent-plus. He'll provide double-digit scoring and rebounding in addition to the great percentages. Turnovers might be a concern, but it should be less than three per game.
Chris Kaman, C, L.A. Clippers
Perhaps getting overshadowed by other top performers this week. He has 22 PPG, 10 RPG, 1.8 BPG with career averages of 50 percent field goals and 74 percent free throws. He's certainly capable of 15 and 12 with two blocks as seen in 2007-08 season. It's just a matter of if he's interested in basketball. Right now, the answer is yes.
Marcus Camby, C, L.A. Clippers
Puts up some gaudy scoring numbers with his usual boards and blocks. Sell high soon, as come December he won't be getting the same playing time.
Youngsters taking flight
Louis Williams, G, Philadelphia
Not getting the same attention as Frye or Danilo, but he put up big scoring numbers with just two turnovers in three games. He won't continue to shoot 63 percent, but 17 PPG-plus and 1.5-plus steals can be had. Check if he's still available!
Aaron Brooks, PG, Houston
Shouldering the scoring load for Houston, he has 22 PPG and eight APG so far. We should expect 18 PPG, 6.5 APG this season. Look for his shooting average to be closer to 43 percent than the current 49, though. He'll be a great source of threes and steals all season, but you have to take his turnovers too, which will hover over three.
Worthy mentions of non-superstars
Al Horford, C, Atlanta
Brook Lopez, C, New Jersey
Grant Hill, F, Phoenix
Marreese Speights, C, Philadelphia
Gilbert Arenas, PG, Washington
Trevor Ariza, G/F, Houston
Andrew Bynum, C, L.A. Lakers
Ryan Anderson, F, Orlando
Mario Chalmers, PG, Miami
The Poopy List (Disappointing Stars)
Jose Calderon, PG, Toronto
Monta Ellis, G, Golden State
Stephen Jackson, G, Golden State
Anthony Randolph, F, Golden State
Derrick Rose, PG, Chicago
Charlie Villanueva, F, Detroit
Baron Davis, PG, L.A. Clippers
Fallen Stars (Injured)
Pau Gasol, F/C, L.A. Lakers
Antawn Jamison, F, Washington
Devin Harris, PG, New Jersey
Mehmet Okur, C, Utah
Nate Robinson, G, New York
Caron Butler, G, Washington
Josh Howard, F, Dallas
Richard Hamilton, G, Detroit
Vince Carter, G, Orlando
Solid Pickups
Ryan Gomes, F, Minnesota
Very solid for points, rebounds and threes. Won't hurt your team in the shooting categories. Definitely deserves a spot in any standard 12-team roto league.
Brendan Haywood, C, Washington
Should be owned already. Playing the Pacers and Suns back-to-bacl late in the week. Should definitely be a good play for those two.
Ben Wallace, C, Detroit
Getting lots of playing time. The steals, blocks and rebounds are there. The free throws ... well ... have never been there.
Cory Brewer, G/F, Minnesota
Managers looking for steals and blocks should take a look at Brewer. He'll even throw in a few threes to help.
Good Luck and beat your friends or win money(or both)!
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10) Out of bounce: First come first serve.
When the ball goes out of bounds, it shall be thrown into the field of play by the person first touching it. In case of a dispute, the umpire shall throw it straight into the field. The thrower-in is allowed five seconds; if he holds it longer, it shall go to the opponent. If any side persists in delaying the game, the umpire shall call a foul on that side.
It would fun to see Shaq diving race Nate Robinson into the stand to retrieve a errant pass.
9) Spiderman Basketball
Backboards are moved two feet from the wall of the court. Previously, players would climb up the padded walls to sink baskets.
It might be pretty cool to see that today. Vince Carter slamball style off the wall 360 windmill dunk.
Silence is a virtue?
Coaches allowed to talk to players during timeouts.
So what is Jeff Van Gundy supposed to do if he can't talk during timeouts?
7) Did you see the fight outside?
Refs can call fouls away from the ball.
So Ron Artest and Stephan Jackson can be tag-teaming poor Adam Morrison and no fouls would be called.
6) Stand Still
Coaching box is introduced.
They need to bring this rule back.
5) 3,4,5,10,11,12 - find the pattern
Uniform numbers "1", "2" and any digit greater than "5 " are banned.
No Kobe, you can't have #8 back. This rule is so absurd.
4) Open Era
The bottom of the net is left open.
Good. We don't have to see Joe Crawford climg up a ladder every made basket.
3) Desginated Free Throw Shooter
A fouled player must shoot his own free throws.
Sweet, now we can have the World Series of Basketball featuring the AL Cavs with Mo Williams shooting free throws for Lebron.
2) Application Accepted...
Any team tendered an NCAA tournament bid must accept it or be banned from postseason play.
... welcome and just so you know, you can't go anywhere else.
1) Dunk no more
Dunk is outlawed.
Lets see you score now, Dwight Howard. This is dumb.
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