Fantasy Outlook: Ride Tolliver's Hot Hand
By Matt Rochinski
bobcats.com
March 3, 2014
In last week’s Fantasy Outlook we touched on the potential impact new Cats additions Gary Neal and Luke Ridnour could have on your fantasy squad, and in weeks past we have discussed how the explosion of Al Jefferson and Kemba Walker could help carry your fantasy squad. So where do we turn to now? With Big Al and Kemba making plays, headlines and a move up the Eastern Conference standings for the Cats, who else could make an impact on your fantasy squad? If you’re looking for some cheap, longrange help this week, you might want to turn your attention to Charlotte forward Anthony Tolliver.
Tolliver’s season got off to a slow start with the Cats after signing as a free agent in the offseason. Through 12 games in November, he averaged just 3.3 points while shooting 36.7 percent from long range. He was a sharpshooter struggling to find both minutes and his shot an a Cats squad badly in need of both. Tolliver continued to show signs of improvement as the calendar turned to 2014 and saw his scoring averages improve each month – 5.7 points in December and 6.4 points in January – while keeping his shooting percentage from long range in the mid-40’s. It was clear Tolliver was starting to find his groove in the Cats offense.
Now, as we watch the month change to March, it’s clear Tolliver might be exactly what some potential fantasy playoff teams will need if their looking for a cheap source of three-pointers off their bench come playoff time, and he wont hurt you in other categories either.
In 11 games through February and March, Tolliver is averaging 10.3 points, including 2.5 treys while shooting 47.4 percent from long range. With 57 three-pointers attempted in that time, he’s also getting a fair amount of shots up (5.2 attempts per game), which can be important to fantasy squads built around three-point percentage. Tolliver is also a perfect 16-for-16 from the free-throw line over that stretch while grabbing 2.2 rebounds, and he’s only turned the ball over a total of two times in those 11 contests.
For Tolliver, the key has always been consistency, and he’s found it with the Cats again. He currently ranks ninth in the NBA in three-point field goal percentage (.435) for players with at least 40 attempts and the 43.5 percent from long range currently sits as a career best. He’s also shooting 43.5 percent from the field, marking the second-highest field goal percentage of his seven-year career (45.0 percent with Minnesota in 2010-11).
Tolliver has clearly found his niche with the Cats and could be a surprise fit on your fantasy squad considering he is not even owned in enough leagues right now to qualify for 0.1% owned. With four games this week, it might be time to ride his hot hand.
Past Fantasy Outlooks:
Feb. 24: Neal and Ridnour Look to Make Impact
Feb. 17: Jefferson and Walker To Reach Higher Gear
Feb. 3: Jefferson's January to Remember
Dec. 23: Class in Sessions
Dec. 9: Hendo a Hot Add
Nov. 25: McRoberts a Find
Nov. 11: Big Al's Status
Nov. 4: Walker and Jefferson Cats 1-2 Punch