Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Fantasy basketball owners should start targeting players like the Brooklyn Nets’ Andray Blatche and Marcus Thornton, who have heavy game volume during the fantasy playoffs.
Most fantasy postseasons run from Weeks 21-25 (March 17-April 16). The Nets are just one of two teams (the other being the Miami Heat) who have a “perfect” fantasy playoff schedule. During that period the Nets will have weeks of 4, 4, 4, 4 and 2 games, so preemptively adding a few of their players makes sense in competitive leagues:
» Andray Blatche, PF/C (23.2 percent owned on ESPN.com):
Although the Nets have a few decent players on most waiver wires, Andray Blatche is one of the few who stand out as a speculative add.
When Brook Lopez went down with a broken foot, Blatche was highly coveted in the fantasy basketball world, but he’s mostly failed to live up to expectations
Ideally, his numbers would have gone up in a bigger role, but they’ve been nearly identical, leaving owners who splurged on him with a sour taste in their mouths.
In the the 26 games prior to Lopez’s injury, Blatche averaged 11.8 points (47.4 FG%), 5.9 rebounds, and 1.0 steals in 22.7 minutes per contest. Comparably, in the 27 games since, he’s scored 11.9 points on 47.0 percent shooting, with 5.5 boards and 1.3 steals in 21.2 minutes.
His last three games may give owners some hope though, as he’s scored 14.0 points with 7.3 rebounds and 2.3 steals in 24.7 minutes. It’s worth noting that Kevin Garnett sat out all three of those contests with back spasms, but if Blatche can produce similar numbers come playoff time, he’ll be an asset in fantasy leagues.
The Nets have a deep roster, and 22-26 minutes is probably going to be the range for Blatche, but in a playoff situation, he could net better returns than say a Derrick Favors or Tobias Harris, who have three less games to work with during those weeks.
Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
» Marcus Thornton, SG (0.6 percent owned on ESPN.com):
Marcus Thornton has given the Nets a real boost since coming over from the Sacramento Kings at the trade deadline. The team is 4-1 when he’s on the court and he seems to be fitting right in with his new teammates.
In the five games he’s suited up, the fifth-year pro is averaging 13.4 points and 1.8 3-pointers, while shooting 47.1 percent from the field and 83.3 percent from the free throw line.
If you’re asking why there’s no mention of his rebounds, assists and steals, it’s because he doesn’t provide enough to be considered a contributor in those categories. If you’re adding Thornton, it’s for his volume scoring and 3-point shooting — and nothing else.
His scoring has been a little erratic, with games of 9, 10, 25, 3 and 20 points, but the fact that he’s playing 22.8 minutes and getting off 10.2 shots per contest are both positive things.
Thornton will have his ups and downs, but he’ll get plenty of opportunities with Shaun Livingston continuing to struggle on the offensive end (7.2 points, 2.7 assists over last 10) and with Joe Johnson remaining a shell of his former self. Thornton’s 42-point explosion vs. the Pacers on Jan. 24 is an example of where he can be when he’s “up”, and it never hurts to gamble on a player with that kind of scoring potential.
Other Nets to consider: Shaun Livingston (0.8 percent owned), Mason Plumlee (0.4 percent owned), Andrei Kirilenko (17.0 percent owned)