NBA Fantasy Basketball Stock Watch: Roy Hibbert Loves Him Some Roses
Mr. Hibbert is putting together quite the rookie campaign thus far. He’s almost averaging a double-double on the season (16.1 PPG and 9.6 REB) along with three assists per game. Hibbert has put up double-digit points in all but three games. He is proving to be a capable NBA big man with a solid all-around game and a nice shooting touch – 48% FG / 80% FT. Seemingly the only thing that can slow Hibbert down is the infamous “sophomore wall”.
↑Derrick Rose, PG – Chicago Bulls
Mr. Rose has simply been lights out throughout the first month of the season. He has picked up the scoring slack while the Bulls eagerly await the debut of their high-priced free agent addition, Carlos Boozer. Rose is second in the league in scoring, 26.6 PPG trailing only wunderkind Kevin Durant by less than one PPG. Rose is also averaging almost five REB/G and 8.2 assists/game. He’s done everything to prove that he’s risen to elite status not only amongst NBA point guards, but all players. When Boozer returns to the lineup, he should open up the court even more for Rose by attracting attention in the low-post.
↑Kevin Love, PF – Minnesota Timberwolves
Gentlemen, Mr. Love has arrived. While he’s still only 22 years old, Love is displaying the front-court prowess of a season veteran and has given T-wolves fans hope of a brighter future. Love is averaging 19.0 PPG and a league-leading 14.9 REB/G. He’s posted eight games of 15+ rebounds including back-to-back games of 22 rebounds. But let’s not forget, Love has skills on offense as well. He’s scored double-digits in all but two games this season and has scored 20+ points in ten of his team’s 17 games thus far on the season. For the lowly T-wolves franchise, things can only get better with Love and Darko anchoring the front line.
It appears that the myriad of injuries (plantar fasciitis, ankle sprains, mysterious other illness) is taking its toll on the 2009 Rookie of the Year. His shooting is suffering and has gotten to the point that fantasy owners either have to trade or bench Evans. Evans’ FG% is a paltry 40.1, and what’s even uglier is his 20% 3-PT FG% (45.8 and 25.5 respectively in 2009). In his last five games he’s shooting 28.4% from the field and averaging 12.2 PPG. If there’s a silver lining to Evans’ 2010 season, it’s that his assists and rebounds are virtually on the same level as last season.
Mr. Williams happens to have fallen into the same class as Mr. Evans. After a solid campaign in 2009 that saw Williams put up a career high 14.0 PPG on 47% shooting from the field, his numbers are down to 11.8 PPG with an atrocious 35.1 FG%. Ironically, both his 3-PT% and FT% are up slightly from last year. However, his rebounding, assists and steals are all down as well which can be a direct result of the decrease in his playing time (29.9 MPG in ’09 and 38 starts versus 22.4 MPG this season and zero starts). Williams is the Sixers 6th man so here’s to hoping he either regains his shooting touch or is traded somewhere he can start.
This prestigious mention goes out to none other than Mr. Lebron James. For all the talking, promising, complaining (and bumping) he’s done, the Heat have only a 10-8 record to show for it. In case you’re wondering, the Cavaliers have only three less W’s than the over-hyped Heat.
King’s scoring is down by 6 PPG, which was to be expected, however his FG% is down, along with his 3-PT%, rebounding and assists. The only meaningful statistic that’s higher this year is his turnovers. Therefore, Mr. James, you are presented with my first Goat of the 2010 Season award.
Written by Rosti Satanovsky exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com. You can follow him on Facebook or Twitter@TheSportsFariah
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