Fantasy Outlook vs. Wizards, Timberwolves
Is MKG Heading for Fantasy Breakout?
By Matt Rochinski
bobcats.com
November 12, 2012
If you took a flier on Bobcats rookie Michael Kidd-Gilchrist in your fantasy draft, the risk paid off on Saturday against Dallas. MKG had a breakout performance against the Mavs with 25 points on 8-for-12 shooting (66.7 percent) from the field and 9-for-10 shooting (90.0 percent) from the charity stripe. He recorded his first career double-double as well, hauling down 12 rebounds, including five offensive boards. Throw in two blocks and one steal without a turnover, and those are fantasy MVP-type numbers. Kidd-Gilchrist will be tested this week as he’ll be matched up against Washington’s Trevor Ariza, Minnesota’s Andrei Kirilenko and Memphis’ Rudy Gay.
With John Wall still sidelined with a knee injury, fourth-year point guard A.J. Price is taking advantage of his opportunity to man the helm for the Wizards and is putting up solid fantasy numbers doing it. Price has scored in double digits the last three games for the Wiz while averaging 10.0 assists and 4.7 rebounds in those contests. His 0.333 shooting percentage from the field might scare most fantasy players, but he connected on 40.5 percent (15-for-37) of his shots last week, so don’t let his overall numbers fool you. As long as Wall is out, Price will be a nice fantasy filler.
After missing the 2011-12 season, Andrei Kirilenko has returned to his role of fantasy stat sheet stuffer with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2012-13. Through six games with the T’Wolves, Kirilenko is averaging 11.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.7 steals. He’s also connecting on 56.8 percent of his shots from the field. All but his points per game (12.3) are at or above his career averages. The 11-year veteran seems to have been rejuvenated by a year away from the NBA, so fantasy players should take note and get on his bandwagon while it has some momentum.