Week 7: Beyond the Arc

What's up everyone and welcome to another fantastic edition of "Three in the Key Fantasy Basketball Pickups"! The rules are simple, I write about five players (one for every starting position) and they all must be owned in less than 50% of Yahoo leagues. I love all your basketball questions so I encourage all of you to continue posting in the comment section of the article.

It seems to me that the past couple of weeks there have been some solid pickups but not many players that can have strong season long impacts. It's time we went beyond the arc and try to strike for some gold. Let's see who caught my eye this week!

Point Guard


Jarrett Jack (PG,SG) Yahoo Ownership 37%

He's back! As much as I like putting out new names every week for recommendation, I just couldn't wait any longer to write about Jack for the second time. It's truly stunning that Jack is still owned under 50% in Yahoo leagues, even though he has averaged top 100 fantasy production over the past 30 days. When I first recommended J.J. in this article things started off great and he was receiving playing time and putting up serviceable numbers for his owners, yet around mid November Jack went through a bit of a shooting slump and his minutes began to decline so perhaps I was a little overzealous on him. However in the month of December both Jack and the Warriors have been on fire, the team going 7-2 and Jack averaging top 50 fantasy production...coincidence? I don't think so. Over the past 15 days Jack has averaged 29:30 mpg, 13.3 ppg, 1.4 3PT, 5.3 assists, and 1.1 steals, while shooting 50% from the field and 91.7% from the charity stripe. Again, like I said before Jack won't put up stand out numbers in a single category, but his ability to put up solid numbers across the board with good percentages needs to be respected by fantasy managers. The key for Jack to continue to put up these solid numbers lies not in his playing ability but rather in Mark Jackson's distribution of playing time. With players like Steph Curry and Klay Thompson situated ahead of Jack on the depth charts, some nights it becomes difficult for Mark Jackson to deploy Jack unless he goes to a three guard set, meaning that some nights Jack just won't see the court as much. So far in December, Jackson has had no problem in giving minutes to him but fantasy owners should keep in mind that Jack will have some downs, but they will most certainly not outweigh his ups. Owners would be smart to acquire the services of Jack in favour of mediocre guards such as Mario Chalmers, and Andre Miller. Pick up Jack now before it's too late, and enjoy the top 100 fantasy production from the veteran guard.

Solid Buy (10-12 team plus)

Jack is back! 

Bellineli can help your scoring woes

Shooting Guard


Marco Belinelli (SG) Yahoo Ownership 29%

Viva Italia! Last week we went French with Kevin Seraphin, this week's international flavour comes from the golden boot. As a former Raptor I'm familiar with Marco Belinelli's game, and let me tell you this guy can shoot the three ball. Coming into this season Belinelli was buried on the depth chart with the likes of Rip Hamilton, Kirk Hinrich, and Nate Robinson positioned ahead of him. Due to Rip Hamilton's recent injury (something that we could have all predicted would happen) Belinelli has now found himself atop the depth chart and has started the past 9 games. Now with the starting opportunity Belinelli has done everything I imagined Rip Hamilton would do this season and more. He has become the primary scorer for the Bulls, averaging an outstanding 17.1 ppg and has turned major profits for fantasy owners by averaging an elite 2.1 3PT made per game and 1.4 steals per game. His numbers will probably regress a little due to the career high in shooting percentage and free throw percentage, but there's no denying the uptick in usage rate for Belinelli. Unlike Hamilton, Belinelli is an elite shooter beyond the arc and it's the main factor why he has averaged top 40 fantasy production since gaining the starting role. Owners in a pinch for some cheap steals and 3's would be wise to acquire the services of Belinelli immediately, before some of his injured teammates return. Owners would be wise to grab Belinelli in favour of players such as Mike Dunleavy and Wilson Chandler (can't believe those guys are still owned). Hurry up and grab the Italian now before the usage rate drops and his elite production vanishes.

Moderate Buy (12 team plus)




Small Forward


Kyle Korver (SG,SF) Yahoo Ownership 34%

Let's stick to the beyond the arc trend and talk about one of the veteran three point specialists in the game, Ashton Kutcher....I mean Kyle Korver.  Many people forget but in his early day's in Philadelphia, Korver was actually a solid fantasy assest, averaging double digits and playing around 30 mpg. Alas over the past 5 season while splitting time between Utah and Chicago, Korver has become a fantasy enigma due to his lack of playing time. Now in his first season with Atlanta, Korver has finally received valuable minutes (averaging just over 27 mpg) and is producing at a solid rate for fantasy owners. So far Korver is averaging 10.3 ppg, an elite 2.5 3PT made per game, and 1.1 steals. Numbers that are most certainly useful for owners who are struggling in the steals and three's department. You may be wondering how in the world a player who is averaging top 60 fantasy production this season can possible be owned under less than 40%, and to be honest I'm not sure why that number is so low. My best guess would be that Korver struggled with a back injury for the late part of November, and it forced him to sit out 5 straight games. Since returning from injury the Hawks have handled Korver with kid gloves and haven't played him over 23 mpg, but fear not this number will rise. Owners would be wise to go out and grab Korver immediately before someone else does, because he will be a hot pickup once he starts producing like he did earlier this season. Grab Korver in favour of players such as Harrison Barnes and Michael Beasley, and enjoy the elite 3-point shooting for the remainder of the season.

The Ashton Kutcher lookalike can help owners with his deadly 3-point range

Please Toronto free Ed Davis!

Power Forward


Ed Davis (PF,C) Yahoo Ownership 33%

I can't believe it, I can finally recommend one of my beloved Raptors on my blog and actually feel confident that they will do well this season. Davis, unlike the Raptors, has a solid outlook for the remainder of the season with the recent elbow injury to underwhelming power forward Andrea Bargnani. Both the Raptors management and coaching staff have been foolish for holding down Davis for this long, the kid can ball and will most certainly help this team win more games. Unfortunately since his rookie season Davis has barely sniffed the court, but during his limited playing time he has shown potential to a be fantasy stud if given the minutes to do so. Now with Bargs gone Davis has started the last three games and most certainly has not disappointed. As a starter Davis has averaged top 50 fantasy production, putting up 13.3 ppg, 8.0 reb, 1.0 steals, and 1.0 blk, while shooting 74.2% from the field and 87.5% from the charity stripe. Clearly Davis has some impressive stuff to offer owners and can most certainly be a difference maker for the remainder of the season, especially if Bargnani is traded (a likely possibility). As long as the incompetent coaching and managing staff continue to give Davis the playing time he deserves (something that isn't guaranteed)  than I have no problem claiming that Davis will be a top 100 fantasy commodity come years end. Owners would be wise to cut ties with players such as Brandon Bass and Kris Humphries in favor of Davis. Pick up the third year veteran now and enjoy the solid fantasy production from the Raptor forward.

Strong Buy (12-14 team plus)


Centre


Tiago Splitter (C) Yahoo Ownership 14%

Let's go with some more international flavour and talk a little bit about Tiago Splitter, the big man from Blumenau, Brazil. I've been a fan of Tiago's game since his rookie season in the NBA, unfortunately my opinion doesn't translate into playing time. Tiago plays for the fantasy menace Gregg Popovich, who I think enjoys making fantasy owner's lives miserable. Recently though, Mr. Popovich has seen the light and has given his big man some serious playing time over the past 2 games averaging just over 28 minutes in both contests and starting the most recent one. When given over 28 mpg Spiltter has averaged a solid 14.3 ppg, 8.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.0 blocks, while shooting 56.7% from the field. These are very impressive numbers and most certainly can be useful for fantasy owners. Splitter isn't all perfect and does have some warts to his game, shown with his poor free throw shooting (career 64% shooter) and high turnover rate (1.8 turnovers as a starter). So you may be wondering why now has Popovich decided to start giving his big man more playing time, and I believe it's due to two main reasons; defense and durability. Over the course of the season Splitter has shown an improvement in his defense with his increase in rebounds and blocks and it was showcased in his last start in which he held Kevin Garnett to 6 rebounds and 13 points. While his defense has improved, the veteran big men around Spiltter are not getting any younger and Popovich is starting to find more opportunities to rest his star Tim Duncan (the Miami incident was proof of this). Owners would be wise to pick up Splitter now and see if the playing time increase continues, because if he proceeds to get more run owners may be looking at a top 100 fantasy producer.

Moderate Buy (14 team plus)

The Brazilian centre may be starting to live up to his potential

That's it for this week's edition of Three in the Key Fantasy Basketball Pickups, I leave you all with my misplay of the week. Since we talked about Tiago Spiltter, I found it necessary to post this hilarious video. Boy Skip Bayless sure knows how to win an argument: