LINAS KLEIZA (Den, SF)
He’s been having an up-and-down season to this point, but recently he has begun to pick it up again. And what’s not to like about a team that has scored over 100 points a game in every game since February 25th and over 115 points a game the past 5 games? But seriously, pick this guy up if your desperate for 3 balls, points and percentages. Last night he put up a pretty good line of 23 points on 9-11 shooting with 4 rebounds in only 23 minutes.

Second Best: EARL BARRON (Mia, C)
Ok so Miami stinks–we know that. But because of all the injuries and troubles, minutes are up for grabs if you can show you deserve them, and that’s what Barron’s been doing recently (and it’s probably because he doesn’t want to be sent back to the D-league). In his last four games he’s logged an average of 28 minutes a game and has scored 12.5 points and pulled down 6 boards a game during the stretch as well. This is probably a stretch pickup, though, so don’t go dropping Camby or Chandler just yet. I’ll monitor Barron for you.

For daily fantasy basketball advice subscribe to FBP’s RSS feed.

To hoops,
Farid

Not much to choose from tonight. Only 3 games played. Bulls get trounced by the Spurs. The Celtics pull of the Texas 3-step beating the Spurs, Rockets, and Mavs in Texas. I have been down on them all year saying that the Pistons are better and that the champion will be from the West, but I’m starting to become a believer in that team.

VLADIMIR RADMANOVIC

He has pulled off some solid games recently while getting the start with Pau Gasol injured. Had 21 points (8-13 from the field, 4 threes, 1-2 from the line), 10 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals against the Mavs on Tuesday. He backed that up with 13 points (5-6 from the field, 3 threes), 3 rebounds, and 1 assist while playing in only 22 minutes. Not too great of a line, but like I said, only 3 games were on tonight.

Second Best: JERRY STACKHOUSE

I am still unsure about the Stack Attack, but if he is available in your league, at least continue to watch him. He had 17 points and 3 threes last night against a great defensive team in the Celtics, to go around with 1 rebound and 4 assists. Not much of peripheral stats, but he played 36 minutes. At least put him on your watch list. He’s been cooking up some good games recently (see pic below).

Fantasy Basketball Pros is your home for fantasy basketball breaking news and analysis. If you like what you’re reading, please subscribe to our RSS feed.

Mike
Senior Writer

Man, a lot of things are going really well for the NBA right now. At least 6 players are in contention for the MVP (Kobe, LeBron, CP3, TMac, KG, Dwight Howard), Golden State (8th seed) is only 4 games from 1st place New Orleans in the West, team’s are putting up insane offensive numbers (12 teams are averaging 100+ points per game), Rafer Alston is talking smack and Chris Paul is talking MUCH MORE back (seriously read this, it’s hilarious), rivalries are stronger than ever, ratings are through the roof, Pat Riley takes days off to do research for his bracket scout top prospects, etc. Point is most people either love this game or are very intrigued by the story lines.

Should be a great end to the season and I’m really looking forward to the playoffs. Stay tuned to Fantasy Basketball Pros for end-of-the-year pickups and advice. Fantasy Basketball Pros: where amazing fantasy basketball analysis happens. Now on to the pickups of the night:

BONZI WELLS (NOH, SF)
The saavy 31 year-old is showing he still has some game left in him. In his last two outings he has seen increased minutes and productivity. Last night against Houston his 25 points were 28% of his team’s total point output, and he also came away with 2 steals and 3 blocks in the win. As I always say, if the coach (Byron Scott in this instance) gives him more minutes, Bonzi’s fantasy value will go up tremendously. If you’re playoff positioning in your H2H is nearly set and you want to take a shot on Bonzi, I don’t blame you. I just might.

Second Best: RONALD MURRAY (Ind, SG)
Ronald “Flip” Murray has been on fire of late. Last night in particular he torched the struggling Bobcats for 22 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 3 steals and a block. The 3 games before last night he averaged nearly 16 points as well. Who knows what the Pacers are doing with their point guard situation, but the one thing we have observed is that Flip is now in the starting lineup and his minutes have increased. Real estate agents will constantly tell you it’s all about location, location, location, well in fantasy basketball it’s minutes, minutes, minutes. And Ronald Murray is looking good with the additional playing time. I just picked him up in a league Mike and I are in. Sorry Mike.

For daily fantasy basketball pickups, be sure to subscribe to our free RSS feed.

To hoops,
Farid

Looks like Dirk won the battle against Kobe last night, but the Lakers beat the Mavs 102-100. Dirk’s line, 35 points on 11-23 from the field, 10-12 from the line, 3 threes, 11 rebounds, and an astounding 5 blocks. Now for the Pickup of the Night:

JASON MAXIELL
Maxiell has seen some pretty sporadic playing time of late. He logged only 5 minutes against the Spurs and 9 against Philly. However, in the rare Detroit Pistons shootout last night in which they beat the Nuggets 136-120, Maxiell logged 18 points on 8-11 from the field and 2-3 from the line, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block in 32 minutes. He did manage 3 turnovers. If Maxiell gets more minutes down the stretch, he will be an asset on a fantasy team like he was earlier on in the year.

Second Best: MIKKI MOORE
Farid has been touting this guy for awhile also. Moore has been a beast from the field and the line (8-10 and 3-3, respectively) while logging 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks. This guy is a hustle player who is getting a ton of playing time (32 minutes last night) and making the most of it. The Kings are a decent team, but Moore seems to be the only muscle in the middle (Brad Miller is brittle), so he could be a good pickup. By the way, Beno Udrih sat out last night and his sub, Anthony Johnson (part of the Mike Bibby trade), had a spectacular line: 13 points, 2 threes, 6 rebounds, and 13 assists.

For daily fantasy basketball pickups, be sure to subscribe to our free RSS feed.

Mike
Senior Writer

Farid’s Fantastic Predictions
I like the Rockets over the Celtics today with McGrady going for 24/8/6. I also like the Lakers over the Mavs with Kobe (38/9/3) dominating Dirk (19/11/5) in his own building. Let’s see how I do. But anyway, on to the pickups of the night:

KYLE KORVER (Uta, SF)
Coach Sloan has been talking about integrating Korver as more of an option within the Jazz option and that’s exactly what has occurred. Korver put a ridiculous line of 17 pts [6-7 FG, 1-1 3PT, 4-4 FT], 4 reb, 4 asst, 2 stl in only 21 minutes of play last night. Although I’d like him to get more minutes, I still think he’s a viable option for a fantasy manager looking for points, threes and above average percentages.

Second Best: SAM CASSELL (Bos, PG)
I bet you didn’t think you’d hear Alien’s name come up this early in his tenure with the Celtics, but with Allen banged up and the Celtics looking for veteran leadership, Cassell has fit right in with Boston the last couple of games. Last night against the Spurs he went for 17 points and 5 rebounds on 7-13 shooting from the field. If I was a betting man (ok, I actually am), I’d put money on Cassell finishing off the season with decent fantasy numbers.

For daily fantasy basketball pickups, be sure to subscribe to our free RSS feed.

To hoops,
Farid

For those of you who want some NBA with the NCAA brackets just out (watch out for Pitt in the Final Four, you heard it here first), here is our latest pickup of the night.

JOSH CHILDRESS
I know that we have been down on this guy in the past. But there is no way the Hawks can go through a playoff push with only a five-man rotation, and Childress should be the first guy off the bench. Against the defensively-challenged New York Knickerbockers, Childress recorded 22 points on 6-8 from the field (including 1 three) and 9-10 from the line. It also helped that he contributed with 9 rebounds and 3 steals (and only 1 turnover). That is a pretty great line. Childress may not be available in your league, but with some lackluster play recently, he may have been dropped by a frustrated owner.

Second Best: RONNY TURIAF
Farid really loves RT21. I think that he is overrated. Still, with Pau Gasol not playing, RT21 scored 13 points on 3-4 from the field and 7-9 from the line with 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 blocks. Hell, if RT21 goes for 3 blocks a game, he could do very little in other categories and be worth owning. It wouldn’t be bad to use a pickup on him if he isn’t gone already. And you gotta love this picture of him below.

For daily fantasy basketball pickups, be sure to subscribe to our free RSS feed.

Mike
Senior Writer

DARIUS SONGAILA (Was, PF)
Songaila moved into the starting lineup yesterday after Brendan Haywood did not play because of a left patella tendon strain. In his last 5 games Songaila has seen extra minutes and it has helped him average around 12 points, 5 boards, 3 assists and 1.5 steals on above-average percentages. Depending how long Haywood is out, Darius might get some quality minutes. Pick this guy up if Haywood’s out for an extended period of time. Seems like Washington will use Songaila more over Blatche.

Second best: JOSH BOONE (NJN, PF)
Stagnant at the beginning of March, Boone seems to have got his groove back. In his last two games he has averaged 17 points, 10 boards and 1.5 blocks on 13-16 shooting from the field. New Jersey also beat both Cleveland and Utah in those two games. If Boone is in the starting lineup and he continues logging 30+ minutes a night, I think he’s a good pickup.

For more daily pickups, be sure to subscribe to our free RSS feed.

To hoops,
Farid

JASON WILLIAMS
Yes, he shoots a terrible percentage. Sure, he plays on the worst team in the NBA. But with Dwyane Wade shut down for the season last week, Williams has begun to log more minutes and more shots. He took 26 shots and made 14 of them against the Orlando Magic. Williams also recorded 34 points, 5 threes, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists while only turning the ball over twice (and the word “only” should be included here, as Williams has been less than careful with the ball in his career). So if he is available in your league, consider picking him up. He seems to be one of the only players trying on a pathetic team.

Second Best: THABO SEFOLOSHA
For those of you who have been paying attention to the Fantasy Basketball Pros, you should know who Sefolosha is. Although the Bulls backcourt is full of average players (Hinrich, Gordon, Hughes, bums like this), Sefolosha has the length that they all lack and should see more playing time. His line against the 76ers (who staged a huge comeback): 20 points, 8-13 from the field, 2-3 from the line, 2 threes, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 2 turnovers in only 23 minutes. Now if you extrapolate that to about 45 minutes, he’s Kobe Bryant. Not bad. By the way, as a Bulls fan, I’ve decided to start rooting against the team in hopes of getting a lottery pick instead of losing in 4 games to the Celtics in the first round of the playoffs. As part of that, though, I want to see the youngsters play.

Mike
Senior Writer