2008 Woodie Awards
Fantasy Basketball Preview
Jose Ortiz
Issue date: 10/28/04 Section: Sports
On Nov. 2, the 2004 - 2005 basketball season will kick off, and with that, thousands of fantasy sports players will be mulling over their drafting options. A lot of players have changed teams this year, and many new doors and opportunities will present themselves for all of these players. There will be sleepers who come out with a breakout season, and prolific players who disappoint.
When you put your fantasy teams together this season, the guard play becomes what owners rely on for a lot of points, assists, three-pointers, and a high free throw percentage. These are the guards of this season that will get the job done.
1. Jason Terry (Dallas Mavericks): Terry has been an outstanding point guard for a last place team in Atlanta for the past five seasons. Now that he will be on a contending team with Stackhouse, Nowitzki, and Finley, Terry's assists will definitely rise, and the threat of Nowitzki, will leave Terry open for a lot of three-pointers, and many other scoring opportunities.
2. Stephon Marbury (NY Knicks): The guard from Brooklyn is always a safe pick for fantasy owners. He led the league in assists last year, and he gives you around 20 points a game, and eight assists per contest. You can't ask for much more than that from a starting point guard.
3. Jason Kidd (NJ Nets): He may not have Kittles or Martin with him anymore, but he still has a budding young star in Richard Jefferson, and Kidd is still one of the best players ever running the fast break. He will get you 17 points, nine assists, five boards, and almost two steals per game. Be careful though, his low field goal percentage may be a hindrance depending on what kind of league you are in.
4. Baron Davis (New Orleans Hornets): Remember that last year Davis was without Mashburn for almost the entire season. He averaged over 22 points per game, led the league in steals, and made over 180 three-pointers. However, he has an unusually low free throw of under 70 percent, and shoots horribly at times.
When you put your fantasy teams together this season, the guard play becomes what owners rely on for a lot of points, assists, three-pointers, and a high free throw percentage. These are the guards of this season that will get the job done.
1. Jason Terry (Dallas Mavericks): Terry has been an outstanding point guard for a last place team in Atlanta for the past five seasons. Now that he will be on a contending team with Stackhouse, Nowitzki, and Finley, Terry's assists will definitely rise, and the threat of Nowitzki, will leave Terry open for a lot of three-pointers, and many other scoring opportunities.
2. Stephon Marbury (NY Knicks): The guard from Brooklyn is always a safe pick for fantasy owners. He led the league in assists last year, and he gives you around 20 points a game, and eight assists per contest. You can't ask for much more than that from a starting point guard.
3. Jason Kidd (NJ Nets): He may not have Kittles or Martin with him anymore, but he still has a budding young star in Richard Jefferson, and Kidd is still one of the best players ever running the fast break. He will get you 17 points, nine assists, five boards, and almost two steals per game. Be careful though, his low field goal percentage may be a hindrance depending on what kind of league you are in.
4. Baron Davis (New Orleans Hornets): Remember that last year Davis was without Mashburn for almost the entire season. He averaged over 22 points per game, led the league in steals, and made over 180 three-pointers. However, he has an unusually low free throw of under 70 percent, and shoots horribly at times.