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By Josh Heisner, www.TalentedMrRoto.com

Weekly analysis of the rise and fall of player values

With the emergence of Kevin Martin this season, the Kings have a strong Big Three to deal with. (Rocky Widner/NBAE/Getty Images)

Check out the Fantasy Sports Performance Index

Don’t let Turkey Day distractions cause you to fall behind in your fantasy league. I know you’ll be enjoying (or dreading) family time, watching football and taking tryptophan induced naps. That’s tradition. Just don’t forget to set your fantasy lineups accordingly. Many a fantasy player has fallen behind after not dealing with their team for an extended weekend. A Thanksgiving travel trip can do much more damage. Hey, I’m only trying to help. Before you head to grandma’s, here are some things to chew on.

Three-Headed Monsters

It seemed an odd coincidence that many of the e-mails I got last week asked me to weigh in on deals involving Washington’s Caron Butler. That got me to wondering where the Wizards’ Big Three ranks among fantasy trios. I checked out which groups of three teammates have the lowest combined FSPI rankings and here’s what I found. The guys in the top spot surprised me. Thanks to the outstanding numbers of their two sharpshooters, Seattle has the best Fantasy Big Three at this point. Rashard Lewis (3), Ray Allen (4), and Luke Ridnour (28) take the honors. Lewis is averaging above or right at his career highs right now, which includes his 42 percent from three and 84 percent from the line. Ray just plain gets it done. He’s averaging a career-high 26.5 points per game and has only missed six of 69 free throws. There were questions coming into the year as to whether Cool Hand Luke would start at the point or if last season’s acquisition, Earl Watson, would get the nod. Ridnour has silenced all the critics. He’s playing 36 minutes per game, averaging a career-high 15.9 points, and shooting a career-high 44 percent from three. On the year, he’s a better fantasy performer than Andre Miller (37) and Kirk Hinrich (43).

The second rated trio resides in Phoenix. Shawn Marion (7), the surprisingly good Leandro Barbosa (11), and the clean-cut Steve Nash (22) take second place. Marion only seems to get the credit that he deserves from fantasy players. Starting his eighth year, the guy has put up 19 points, 10 boards, two assists, two steals, a block and shot 35 percent from downtown. I’m not big on the movies, but I’m a huge fan of “The Matrix”. Barbosa may have taken advantage of the NBA’s new rules better than any other player. They’re designed to favor speed, and he’s one of the fastest guys in the game. He’s the fastest guy at back-pedaling I’ve ever seen. He can back pedal faster than many players can sprint forward, but that’s a completely different story.

Though Gilbert Arenas had the top FSPI at the time of this writing, Washington’s trio is only the third best in combined ranking. Arenas loves to shut up critics, and you can tell he took the Word Championship snub personally. He’s averaging a career-high in assists at 6.6, equaling his career-high in steals at two per game, and shooting career-highs from three (41.3 percent) and the line (91 percent). Antawn Jamison (FSPI of 32) has been his rock solid self in giving you 19 and eight per game. Butler’s shooting numbers are slightly down, but the guy’s putting up 17 points, seven boards and 2.9 assists. He’s also grindin’ on defense like he’s working to put food on his plate. His 2.2 steals per gives him the third best average in the NBA.

The Second Tier

The league’s fourth and fifth best trios stand out due to a pair of rising young guys and a pair of veterans who aren’t living up to preseason expectations. Sacramento’s Kevin Martin (12), Ron Artest (29), and Mike Bibby (42) make up the fourth best trio in combined FSPI. Martin’s virtues have been extolled to the max by myself and the rest of the NBA.com staff. No one benefited more from Bonzi Wells’ exit than Kevin Martin. Wells was a Top 100 FSPI guy last year (89) and got 32 minutes per game for the Kings. This year, injuries have limited him to two games in Houston. Jumping from 26 minutes per game last year to nearly 40 this season, Martin is definitely proving he’s worthy of the time. The guy whose absence is notable is the injured Brad Miller. The Utah Jazz have the fifth best fantasy trio. Super sophomore Deron Williams (22) leads the way. He’s putting up 18 points and nine assists per game. He’s even rated higher than fellow sophomore point “god” Chris Paul (25). During the last five games, Williams has been number four in overall FSPI. The other heads of the monster are Carlos Boozer (26) and Mehmet Okur (39). Andrei Kirilenko (87) has been a bit of a letdown. He was probably a first or second round choice, but he’s performing more like a seventh round guy.

Rising

Danny Granger was a name that I heard was mentioned as a “Next Shawn Marion” coming out of New Mexico last year. He’s a good player, but he has a lllooonnnggg way to go before he reaches that level. He has been a top 50 FSPI guy (42) during the last five games though. He’s at 60 on the year. In the last five games, he’s been lights out from behind the arc. Lights out as in 12-of-21 for 57 percent from downtown. Don’t look now but 13 points, six boards, and 4.4 assists per game through the last five have helped Mike Dunleavy Jr. (81 overall) jump to 48 in the last five games. Paul Millsap (75) has been the top rated rookie during the last five. Millsap has put up 11 points on 61 percent shooting to go with six rebounds and 1.8 blocks in that span. Those numbers are only in 21.8 minutes per game. If you are in a keeper league, you really want this guy. When he finds the right situation, he could easily average a double-double. He’s put up better numbers in the last five than Zach Randolph (80) and Nenad Krstic (85).

Another keeper league prospect is Randolph’s teammate, LaMarcus Aldridge (92). He’s only appeared in Portland’s last five games, but he’s made his presence known. In 25.6 minutes per, he’s putting up 10.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, a block, a steal, and an assist. The stat I like the most is his 69.7 percent from the field. The one I like least is his horrible 66 percent from the foul line. Be ready for Aldridge to bust out sooner rather than later. Bostjan Nachbar (104 in FSPI over the last five) has not missed a free throw all year. He’s also good for a three and a block per game. During the last five games, he’s given better fantasy numbers than Shane Battier (117) and Ryan Gomes (123). Lawrence Roberts is a surprise at 116 during the last five games. In that span, he’s averaging eight points and 6.6 rebounds. He’s a good guy to pick up and use now, then discard him as the rest of the Grizz’s front line starts getting healthy. During the last five, he’s putting up better numbers than Chris Wilcox (139) and Andrew Bogut (143).

In case you’re wondering how the Fantasy Sports Performance Index works, take a look for yourself.

Well, folks, I hope you’re enjoying watching future pros in the Maui Classic. I know I have been. I just hope the coaches’ hideous Hawaiian shirts don’t cause me to lose my lunch. High school basketball really gets started in my area this week, and I can’t wait for that. If you want to see a couple of thousand fired up people in Southern Illinois or Western Kentucky, head to a big high school basketball game on a Friday night. I’m getting pumped up just thinking about it! Till next time, you’ve got six fouls …. Get your money’s worth!

Josh Heisner is a fantasy expert for www.TalentedMrRoto.com, which features free advice, news, stats and analysis for all fantasy sports. It was nominated for four FSTA awards, including best site. Contact him at jheisner@TalentedMrRoto.com.

The views expressed by TalentedMrRoto.com represent only the views of the writers; they do not represent the views of the NBA or any NBA team.

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