Fantasy Notes: Better in reality than fantasy

People make the mistake all the time. They hear enough praise on the tube about a certain player that they assume they must rank among the elite in fantasy sports. We might as well call this the Shaquille O’Neal dilemma, as sometimes players are better in reality than they are in fantasy. As for Shaq, as dominant as he was from field goal range, it was understood that whoever ended up with the big guy on their roster would also suffer the consequences of his free throw shooting. Here’s a look at some of the other players in the NBA who currently rank better in reality than they do when it comes to fantasy basketball.

C, DWIGHT HOWARD, ORLANDO MAGIC
His numbers are unreal: 22 points and 15 rebounds per night along with 2.6 blocks. It sounds like the second-coming of Shaquille O’Neal and unfortunately for fantasy managers, it is. In his rookie season, Howard shot 67 percent from the free throw line. That figure is in the Tim Duncan range and more than acceptable by fantasy standards. Since then, Howard has struggled to stay above 60 percent. This inadequacy is accentuated by the fact that Howard shoots 12 free throws per game. There are other issues for Howard, including his 3.4 turnovers per game and 1.4 assists per game. The latter figure is a bit odd considering the sharp shooters surrounding the Magic’s big man. While the double-doubles may continue, fantasy managers would be wise to trade him to a manager who can overlook the free throw shooting due to their need for rebounds and points.

PG, TONY PARKER, SAN ANTONIO SPURS
The multiple championships are proof that Tony Parker is a star in reality, but when it comes to fantasy, he leaves much to be desired. His scoring has spiked to 19 per game and his assists are now up to six, but there are too many foibles to be overlooked. Parker does not do well in the defensive statistics; he averages just 0.1 blocks and 0.8 steals. He grabs a paltry three boards per game and can’t hit a three-pointer (25 percent). While his shooting percentage from the field usually hovers around 50 percent, his free throw shooting is no better than most big men at 72 percent. Of course, point guards are usually depended upon down the stretch for their free throw shooting, which makes Parker the exception.

SF, RICHARD JEFFERSON, NEW JERSEY NETS
This guy can score with the best of them; however, the remainder of his daily statistics are no better than average. Jefferson entered the NBA with a reputation for being a hard-nosed player, particularly on the defensive end. The much-anticipated defense has not translated into gaudy statistics at the NBA level. For the third straight season, Jefferson is not averaging a steal or a block per game. Once approaching four assists per game, Jefferson is currently sitting on three per game this season. Among small forwards, Jefferson looks more like a guard, with just four boards per game. His three-point shooting hasn’t improved much either, as he is averaging less than a trey per game. Sure, the 24 points are attractive and lead to plenty of play on the national highlight shows, but in your fantasy lineup, you’ll learn that they are quite hollow.

SF, TAYSHAUN PRINCE, DETROIT PISTONS
Similar to Tony Parker, this guy knows how to win.  In his third season, Prince seemed to be on the fast track to fantasy stardom, averaging 15 points, one block, five rebounds, and a three-pointer. Little did we know that those numbers would never be replicated or surpassed. While we always hear about the Pistons having the best starting five in the NBA, it has certainly had a negative impact on Prince. As a result, in his 34 minutes per game, Prince is relied more for his defense than his offense. A trade out of Mo-Town would do wonders for his fantasy value, but I’m pretty sure that Joe Dumars is more concerned about reality.

PF, ZACH RANDOLPH, NEW YORK KNICKS
He’s been known as a cancer to his teams in reality and I’m afraid there are no cures in fantasy either. This guy is a double-doubles machine. Even in a down year in his debut with the Big Apple Circus, Randolph is living up to his reputation, averaging 17 points and 10 rebounds per game. The dilemma here is that you have to combine his steals and blocks to reach a full number. The recipe for success in the NBA certainly involves defense. The same can be said about fantasy basketball, as two of the categories are dedicated to defense and cannot be ignored. How else can you explain that Shane Battier’s fantasy value soars in comparison to Randolph?

Rob Shaw is the Lead Expert for FantasyFanatics.com, the premier fantasy sports community.

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