The craziness of the sixty-six game NBA regular season is now 25% over and it is important to analyze the status of your fantasy player's actual teams.
The standings show that the worst teams in the NBA are the Detroit Pistons, Charlotte Bobcats, New Orleans Hornets and Washington Wizards. Players on these teams lose fantasy value as the season progresses because they do not play in as many meaningful games as other teams.
On January 25th Yahoo Sports reported that Washington Wizards Center, JaVale McGee, "mentally checked out of Monday's game early. McGee was 1-for-4 for two points, with three rebounds and one blocked shot. Mcgee spent the fourt quarter from the bench biting his nails."
Entering this NBA season, McGee had potential to become a valuable fantasy Center because of his rebounding and shot blocking ability. But the status of his team has ruined his value as a fantasy player and it would be wise to trade McGee for a player who is on a team with a brighter outlook than the Wizards.
The same thing can be said about the Charlotte Bobcats Forward/Center, Boris Diaw. Diaw started off the first few games of the season with great overall statistics in points, rebounding and assists, but the Bobcasts have gotten off to a 3-16 record and Diaw has since disappeared.
This compacted NBA regular season schedule will continue to weed out the weaker teams and cause a greater divide between the teams fighitng for a playoff spot and the teams fighting for a lottery pick. Be wary of players such as McGee and Diaw who are already thinking about their off season vacations.
Do not hesitate to trade or drop players who are sinking alongside their NBA team. Target players who look like their team will be making a playoff push for the entire year. Houston Rockets Center Samuel Dalembert, Atlanta Hawks Point-Guard Jeff Teague, and Portland Trail Blazers Shooting-Guard Wesley Matthews are examples of players who were most likely not drafted before this year, but have gotten off to an unexpected strong start and are now very valuable because they will be playing meaningful games the rest of the way.
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