Fantasy Studs & Duds, Week One.

All rankings based on 9 categories (pts/reb/ast/stl/blk/3/fg%/ft%/to) and head-to-head format.

STUDS

Point Guards:

• Russell Westbrook, OKC, 3 games: Russell was  the best player in fantasy basketball this week with his 22/7/7 on 46% shooting.  He also made over 90% of his freethrows (on 10 attempts per game!) and threw in 2.7 steals per.  That’s a hell-of-a three game stretch, the only real flaw was that he didn’t hit a single three pointer.  If you own Russell Westbrook you probably know not to expect too many of those from him anyway.
• Rajon Rondo, BOS, 3 games:  Rondo slacked a little in the scoring department putting up only 10.7 PPG, but he more than made up for it by averaging just under 17 assists a game.  No, that’s not a typo.  He had a career high 24 dimes against NY, and he had 17 on opening night.  He did average almost five turns per game, but when a guy is getting that many assists, can you really complain?  Rajon also threw 6.3 boards and a couple of steals into the mix.
• Devin Harris, NJ, 3 games:  After a rough 09/10 season, Harris has gotten his 10/11 season off to a nice start.  He averaged 19/3/8 on 57.6% from the floor with over a three and a steal a game for week one.  He also knocked down over 80% of his freethrows on 5.7 attempts per game.  We’ll have to wait and see if he can keep it up and stay healthy.
• DJ Augustin, CHA, 3 games: With the departure of Raymond Felton, Augustin is seeing a lot more minutes.  DJ actually got a TON of burn, averaging 40 minutes a night for week one.  He took advantage of his new-found opportunity and put up 17/3/5 with almost three triples per game, and he knocked down all 11 of his foul shots.  The million dollar question: can he keep it up?  I don’t see why not.  There’s not really anyone threatening to take his minutes (Sherron Collins and Shawn Livingston are the only other PGs on the roster), and he has been improving by the game up to this point. 
• Mike Conley, MEM, 3 games: Conley has been an enigma over the first three seasons of his career.  He’s had great stretches where he’s been a top fantasy player for short periods of time, but he’s never been able to put a full season together.  Is this his year?  I’m not convinced, but his week one numbers look promising: 15/4/6 with 3.7 steals per game.  His FG% could’ve been better (41.5%), and he only hit two threes.  Still a very nice week.

Shooting Guards:

• Carlos Delfino, MIL, 3 games: It wasn’t John Salmons or Corey Maggette getting it done in Milwaukee, it was Carlos Delfino.  He’s got the starting small forward spot and he’s taking advantage to the tune of 17/5 on 49% from the floor and FOUR threes per game.  Eye-popping digits for Delfino, who always seems to play well as long as the minutes are there.  He actually threw in two steals a night as well. 
• Nicolas Batum, POR, 3 games: The third year SF for the Blazers lit it up from everywhere expect the freethrow line in week one (60% FG, 47% threes, 50% FT).  Batum missed most of last season with an injury, but did have various nice games upon returning.  The problem was his minutes, they were all over the board.  Look for Batum to continue putting up numbers as long as he keeps getting his minutes.
• OJ Mayo, MEM, 3 games: Mayo had a rough opener, but followed it up with two solid performances.  He averaged 19/4/3, nothing too special… throw in 3 triples, 2 steals, and a perfect freethrow percentage… looks a lot better.  Mayo’s minutes are actually down a little from last season through three games, though, and Z-Bo wasn’t around to take shots away from him in either of his two good games.  Mayo will be good, but whether or not he will improve on last season at all, too early to tell.
• Kevin Martin, HOU, 3 games:  If you had Kevin Martin on your roster, I’ll bet you probably won the FT category with ease.  Martin’s got a streak of 30 consecutive made freethrows going, but he’s struggling from the field (40%) and from three (29%).  The fact that he is hoisting damn near six threes a game has to encourage his owners, though, because if you have Kevin martin on your team that’s precisely what you want him doing.  He’ll start hitting them sooner rather than later.  Kev Mart put up 25/2/3 on the week.
• Ben Gordon, DET, 3 games: Following an abyssmal 09/10 season, BG has come out scorching hot this year.  For week one he put up 21.7 a game on 66% from the floor, 67% from three, and 90% from the line.  How about those percentages?  It’s like Steve Nash on steroids.  Do I expect this to last?  No, I’m not a moron…  Detroit is still a bad team with too many rotation players at the same positions.  I figure BG will be better than last season (it would be difficult for him to be any worse), but I don’t see him being a 20 ppg scorer.

Small Forwards:

• Dorell Wright, GSW, 3 games: I really regret not taking a chance on this guy in any of my leagues.  Dorell is one of those guys who has shown flashes, but has never gotten it done on a consistent basis.  Here he is in his seventh year in the league showing his greatest flash yet: 19/5 on 52% with almost four threes a game for week one.  Can he keep this going?  He’s in the best possible place starting at SF for the run-and-gun Warriors, and I’m starting to believe.  Keep an eye on this guy.
• Wilson Chandler, NYK, 3 games: Will The Thrill was behind only Russell Westbrook in the rankings for week one, putting up MONSTER numbers all across the board: 21 points, 10 boards, 1.3 steals, 1.7 threes, 3 blocks, 0.7 TOs…  he only had a couple of assists and his %s sucked, but you can live with that if he’s going to play like this.  When he began the season coming of the bench I was a little scared that he wouldn’t do much, but it looks like he may thrive in this role.  My only concern:  he’s jacking up six threes a game, and he’s not making enough of them to justify it.  If he doesn’t start hitting more or taking less, I can see his minutes suffering because of that.
• Rudy Gay, MEM, 3 games: So far Rudy is earning the big-time paycheck he got from the Grizz.  For week one, Rudy put up nice numbers in every single category except blocks:  22/8/3 on 47%/33%/83% with a three, 2.7 steals, and only one turnover per game.  It seems like everyone in a Grizzlies uniform has been great, we’ll see how it works when Z-Bo gets back in the mix.
• Danny Granger, IND, 3 games: His boards and dimes were a little slack, but the scoring was great: 27 points on 51.7% with 3.7 threes so far for DG.  He also got it done with the highly-coveted 1+/1+ steal/block line.  He’s currently launching eight threes a game at a high percentage.  Expect him to cool off a little bit, he’s human, but I see a great year coming up for Danny as long as he stays healthy.
• James Jones, MIA, 3 games: He’s James Jones and he did something productive, that makes him a stud.  He scored double figures and hit three triples a night, that’s about it.  I couldn’t seem to find a great candidate to put here, and I wanted five players at each postion.  James will be good for some threes until Mike Miller comes back in january.

Power Forwards:

• Paul Millsap, UTA, 3 games: Millsap improved game to game as the week went on, finishing it off with a 30/16 performace Sunday night.  He averaged 21 points and 12 boards with 63% FG.  He didn’t shoot well from the stripe and he blocked under a shot a game, but that’s minor.  Expect the beasting to continue from Millsap, at least until Okur returns.
• Luis Scola, HOU, 3 games: Scola finished the week as the 4th best player in fantasy basketball.  I expected him to enter beast-mode with Yao playing limited minutes, but these numbers are ridiculous: 27 points, 14 rebounds, 57% FG, a block, and only 1.7 turnovers per game.  Obviously the guy isn’t going to do 27/14 all season, but I could see him being a 20/10 guy, or at least coming close. 
• Blake Griffin, LAC, 3 games: Blake Griffin averaged a double-double for his first week in the NBA, putting up 16.7 points and 11 boards a game.  He’s been impossible to keep off of the offensive glass so far, averaging almost two more offensive boards than defensive boards so far.  His field goal percentage was low (41.5%) and he turned it over quite a bit (3 a game), but low FG and high TO is pretty normal for rookies, you have to expect that.  I’m a little surprised that he didn’t block a single shot in three games.  He’s way too athletic not to be swatting a few shots here and there.
• Elton Brand, PHI, 3 games: His 14.7 points and 9 boards don’t jump out at you, but the 2.7 steals and 2 blocks do.  Brand had a very efficient week, turning the ball over a total of two times and hitting six of seven from the stripe.  Unfortunately the lack of turnovers, the abundance of steals, and the high freethrow percentage are all probably fluke things.  He’s never averaged more than 1.2 steals per game, and he’s turned the ball over more than 2 times a night every season of his career except for one. 
• Lamar Odom, LAL 3 games: Lamar finished the week ranked 22nd, the 3rd highest ranked player who doesn’t start.  He put up 16 points and nearly 14 boards to go along with 3.3 dimes and a three per game.  He shot nearly 68% from the floor, but he was horrible from the stripe (only 42.9%). Odom had two games against uptempo teams with small frontcourts (PHX and GSW).  Teams like these are the ones he tends to beast against, so it makes sense that he had a great week.  I figure he’ll end up averaging somewhere between 10 to 15 points and 8 to 10 rebounds while shooting somewhere in the high 40s, because that’s pretty much what he’s done for the past six years. 

Centers:

• Joakim Noah, CHI, 2 games: 16.5 points, 18 boards, 52% FG, 2.5 blocks, 1.5 steals… the guy’s a beast, everyone knows he’s a beast, and he’s going to continue to be a beast.  I don’t know about 16.5 points all season,  but you didn’t draft Noah for scoring anyway.  He’s going to clean the glass and he’s going to swat the shots.
• Roy Hibbert, IND, 3 games: Big Hibbs was the 12th ranked fantasy player for week one.  He averaged 18 points, 10 boards, and damn near FIVE assists.  He also swatted 2.7 shots a game and made 86% of his freethrows.  He shot 47% from the floor, a little low for a center, but that’s nitpicking.  I think Hibbs is going to have a breakout season.
• Reggie Evans, TOR, 2 games: I think Reggie Evans is the only player in the NBA capable of making the stud list while averaging one point per game.  His 15 boards were easily enough to get him here, especially when he’s a guy that probably wasn’t drafted in any league, unless your league has like 20+ teams.  Reggie did pretty much nothing other than rebound the ball, but he did it well and will continue to do it well as long as he gets minutes. 
• Serge Ibaka, OKC, 3 games: Serge Ibaka’s shot blocking abilities were on display in week one as he swatted three shots a night.  He also averaged ten points and eight boards on 55% from the field and 90% from the line.  Serge isn’t starting, but he’s a more effective player than starter Nenad Krstic, so expect him to see plenty of minutes to continue swatting his share of shots, although expecting anything like three a game all season is unreasonable. 
• Darrell Arthur, MEM, 3 games: Darrell didn’t really hit the glass or block any shots, but he did score 17 a game on 60%.  When you’re Darrell Arthur that’s enough to get you on the stud list.  Don’t expect anything like this to continue from Arthur after Z-Bo returns from injury, which is supposed to be soon.

DUDS

Point Guards:

• Chauncey Billups, DEN, 3 games: Mr. Big Shot didn’t make many shots of any size (27.6% to be exact).  The rest of his numbers were rather pedestrian as well: 15.7 points, 5.3 assits, 0.3 threes…  he did rack up some steals and knock down 10 FTs a game. 
• Jrue Holiday, PHI, 3 games: He came into the season with a bunch of hype, but he’s not looking so good three games in…  in fact, he got badly out played by his backup Louis Williams.  Jrue’s numbers: 8.7/3/3 on 32% FG.  Eeew.  He better get it going fast or Lou’s going to start to eat up some of his minutes.
• Baron Davis, LAC, 3 games: Baron Davis is one of those players I never draft anymore, no matter how far down the board he falls.  I have no faith in the guy at this point, and his last three games have only made my case against him a little stronger: 10/3/6 on 32% (11% from three) with three TOs… scary bad.

Shooting Guards:

• John Salmons, MIL, 3 games: Carlos Delfino’s beastlyness came at the expense of this man right here, John Salmons.  John only managed to get off nine shots a night last week, down from the 15 shots he put up with the Bucks last year.  The numbers ended up looking like this: 9/2/2 with 3.3 TOs per game.  Salmons is kind of stuck in a log-jam right now with Corey Maggette and Carlos Delfino being solid options at both of his positions.  His minutes and shots will probably suffer all season long.  Wait for a good game and trade him to one of the less intelligent members of your league.
• Mike Dunleavy, IND, 3 games: I don’t have any faith in this guy, but he got drafted in all of my leagues, so apparently someone does.  Dunny JR put up 11/7/1 on 39% last week.  The seven boards are cool, but you probably didn’t put Dunny on your team for the boards.  He jacked up six threes a game while only connecting 21% of the time.  That’s not going to get it done…  57.1% from the line isn’t going to get it done either.  Expect the shooting to improve in all three categories, but don’t expect much else.
• Terrence Williams, NJ, 3 games: After his nice finish to last season and his solid preseason, I was on this guy’s bandwagon.  I’m pretty close to jumping off after week one’s 8/4/2 with 0.3 steals 4 turnovers a night. 

Small Forwards:

• LeBron James, MIA, 3 games: 20/6/6 is great for a lot of players, but this is LeBron James, a guy who was probably a top three pick in everyone’s league.  His owners are looking for more than this, and they’ll probably get it, he just didn’t have a very good opening week.  Expect his shooting percentage (44% so far) to improve quite a bit, and expect increases in the blocks, steals, assists, and rebounds categories.
• Kevin Durant, OKC, 3 games: KD finished the week as the 24th ranked player.  Not horrendous, but not what you want from the #1 pick in everyone’s fantasy draft.  The points were there (29.3), the boards were there (6.3), the steals were more than there (2.3), and the threes were there (2), but his field goal percentage was bad enough to cost an owner the category (39% on over 22 shot attempts), and he turned it over 13 times while only recording 5 assists.  Like LeBron, KD will be fine, he just had a very rough week in a couple categories.
• Gerald Wallace, CHA, 3 games: Aside from the 18.7 PPG he put up, Crash didn’t really contribute like he usually does.  He only collected 6 boards a game, he averaged 10 last year.  He shot 44% from the floor, hardly made any threes, only blocked a couple of shots, and turned the ball over 5 times a game.  Again, as with the other two SFs on this list, Gerald’s a great player who just had an off week.  I wouldn’t worry too much about it.

Power Forwards:

• Chris Bosh, MIA, 3 games: Chris Bosh just didn’t really do much of anything last week.  He couldn’t buy a basket in the season opener, so even though his shots started falling in the next two games his FG% was only 45.  He averaged 13 points and 6 boards, blocked a shot or two, and knocked down his freethrows.  That’s it.  I predicted that he’d average an efficient 18-20 points and about 10 boards this season…  it’s too early to tell, obviously, but right now I’d be slightly worried if I used a good draft pick on the guy. 
• Jason Thompson, SAC, 3 games: Jason Thompson is the odd man out in Sacramento’s frontcourt so far.  He’s only playing 15 minutes a game, and with DeMarcus Cousins and Carl Landry playing pretty well, it doesn’t look good.  It’s probably safe to drop him at this point.  Oh yeah, the numbers: 6/4 on 33%.
• Amare Stoudemire, NYK, 3 games: Amare was unstoppable late last season and in the preseason, and I was expecting a big start for him.  He’s been alright, but not great so far: 21/8/3 on 40% from the floor and 70% from the line with 5.7 turnovers and not a single steal… yeah, he could’ve gotten off to a better start.  I still expect him to be a beast in NY’s system, though.  I’m looking for points in the high 20s, double digit boards, and a high FG% from Amare, and I think he’ll end up delivering.

Centers:

• Andrea Bargnani, TOR, 2 games: Yeah, 21 PPG is cool, but 3.5 boards a night for a starting big man?  That’s un-freaking-acceptable.  That alone gets him on the duds list.  Bargs needs to step it up and steal a few boards from Reggie Evans. 
• Marreese Speights, PHI, 3 games: Knowing that he wouldn’t have much competition at C in Philly, I took the guy in the later rounds of a few of my drafts.  Apparently the presence of Spencer Hawes is enough to keep Speights glued to the bench.  Somehow Speights coudln’t even get double digit minutes in a game where Hawes hardly played.  I don’t know what’s going on here, but if Speights is still on your roster for some strange reason, drop him right now.  The numbers: 5 minutes per game, that’s the only one that matters.
• Amir Johnson, TOR, 2 games: Amir may be getting the big money, but Reggie Evans is getting the big minutes.  Amir can’t get off the bench, playing just 16 minutes a game so far.  He’s only been able to get two boards a game, pretty weak, even for 16 minutes.  If he doesn’t start getting more burn soon, drop him.