Hoops demands that we break down its players not just by stats but by the time and place they occur. Not fantasy hoops, though, where cold calculations rule the day and the matchup. Who are the Fantasy Doctor‘s picks for the five best-producing players from each conference, plus reserves, of the first half? Hit the jump to find out.
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EASTERN CONFERENCE
PG: Kyrie Irving, 23.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 2.0 treys, 1.7 steals, 0.4 blocks
He may not be the best point guard in the NBA just yet, but in fantasy, only Chris Paul is better. Kyrie got off on the wrong track, missing 11 games because of a broken finger in November and December, but has overcome the whispers that he might never fulfill his potential because of injuries. Irving hasn’t missed a game since and looks to be the future king of all point guards.
SG: Paul George. 17.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.2 treys, 0.8 steals, 0.7 blocks
For the first time in a long time, Dwyane Wade is no longer fantasy’s best Eastern Conference shooting guard. The emergence of Paul George has been incredible, making many forget that Danny Granger, Indiana’s best scorer since Reggie Miller retired, ever existed. George was selected with the 10th pick in the 2010 NBA Draft and was very little known from his days in Fresno State up until his breakout campaign this year. Now, George is here to stay.
SF: LeBron James. 27.1 points. 8.1 rebounds. 6.9 assists. 1.4 treys. 1.7 steals. 0.9 blocks
I could go on and on about how great it is to own LeBron James in fantasy, but for your sake, I’ll keep it short and to the point: LeBron is by far the best basketball player on the planet. His fantasy value is incomparable to anyone else in the league. When you have a threat to drop triple-double like LeBron, you never have to punt a category and you can rely on him to be playing night in and night out. He can single-handedly put your fantasy team on his back and take you to the championship. This year, he’s averaging career highs in both rebounds and field goal percentage. It’s scary, but the King is only getting better.
PF: Carmelo Anthony, 28.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.7 treys, 0.8 steals, 0.5 blocks
Mike Woodson‘s decision to start ‘Melo at the four has paid dividends for both the Knicks and fantasy owners everywhere. Rebounds and blocks can be made up elsewhere, but no other power forward comes near his 28.6 points and 2.7 threes per game. While the MVP talk has cooled down since the Knicks’ hot start faded, he has still been balling out. His fantasy value lies just where his real-life value does. He’s one of the most dominant players offensively, but you’re not building your defensive categories around him.
C: Joakim Noah, 11.8 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.3 steals, 2.0 blocks
Noah is having a career year and with Roy Hibbert underachieving offensively and Tyson Chandler not contributing much outside of rebounding, he is an easy choice for the East’s starting center. Outside of his amazing defensive stats, Noah is putting up career highs in points and assists (as well as rebounds, steals, and blocks). He’s your prototypical hustle player and brings it every night no matter what. If you’re concerned about his recent plantar fasciitis, I don’t blame you for selling him, but you can’t take away the great first half he had this season.
RESERVES
Dwyane Wade: 21.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.8 blocks
Those numbers represent a down year for Wade. Sign me up.
Jrue Holiday: 19.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, 8.9 assists, 1.0 treys, 1.5 steals, 0.4 blocks
Took the reigns and ran with them after Iggy’s departure.
Josh Smith: 17.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 0.8 treys, 1.2 steals, 2.1 blocks
After a slow start, Smoove’s numbers are right around his career norms.
Greg Monroe: 16.1 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.7 blocks
Monroe has developed into the league’s best passing big man.
Brook Lopez: 19.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 52 percent FG, 0.5 steals, 2.2 blocks
Slipped in most drafts but has been playing like a legitimate first-team center.
Chris Bosh : 17.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 55 percent FG, 0.8 steals, 1.2 blocks
Welcome back Chris Bosh‘s blocks! Glad you finally made it from Toronto.
Paul Pierce: 18.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.8 treys, 1.3 steals, 0.3 blocks
Seems to be ageless. Still dropping 50 and triple-doubles in games.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
PG: Chris Paul, 16.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 9.5 assists, 1.2 treys, 2.6 steals
Paul has been the definition of a perfect fantasy point guard throughout his career, so why should this year be any different? The way I see it, anyone who can put the Clippers on the map deserves all of the credit in the world. Paul is Mr. Efficiency and although he’s not the MVP of the fantasy world (that has to go to either LeBron or Kevin Durant), he’s a nice consolation prize. The sky is the limit with all of the weapons that he’s surrounded with.
SG: James Harden, 26.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 2.0 treys, 1.9 steals, 0.5 blocks
Anyone who tells you they knew that Harden was going to break out this year is lying. Sure, he always had the potential to put up these types of stats, but it simply wasn’t possible to achieve in Oklahoma City. With his own team, Harden has become a fantasy monster. He’s a scoring machine, but the part that surprises me most is the 5.7 assists he’s averaging. A lot of the stats he’s putting up are based on volume of touches, but still, if Harden keeps up this pace, he’s sure to be a top-five pick in next year’s drafts.
SF: Kevin Durant, 29.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 2.0 treys, 1.6 steals, 1.2 blocks
I never faulted anyone for drafting LeBron over Durant, but next year might be different. Durant’s assist game has been much improved this season, with the 4.4 he’s averaging per game being a career high by a long shot. He’s also putting up career highs in field goal percentage, threes, three-point percentage, free-throw percentage, steals and blocks. If Durant was a fantasy beast coming in to this season, I’m not even sure what that makes him now. The one thing I do know now though is that Durant’s fantasy game is not nice, unless you own him of course.
PF: Serge Ibaka, 13.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, 55 percent FG, 0.3 steals 3.0 blocks
Serge Ibaka’s fantasy value is predicated on one category, the block. Owning him all but guarantees winning that category consistently, so I’m giving him the edge over some players who might score and rebound a little better. Aside from the blocks, Ibaka is rounding out his game, averaging career highs in points, rebounds, and field goal percentage. He’s not all the way there yet, but when he reaches his full potential, his fantasy game will be lethal.
C: Tim Duncan, 17.2 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 50 percent FG, 0.8 steals, 2.8 blocks
There aren’t enough injuries or Gregg Popovich benchings in the world to take away all the success Duncan had in the first half of the season. At 36 years old, Duncan isn’t quite near his old self, but is still more than productive in fantasy circles. Trust me, I’m not knocking Duncan at all. His 17 points, nine rebounds and two-plus blocks per game are more than solid for a big man, but when you consider he once put up 20-plus points with 12-plus rebounds, it just doesn’t seem the same. The best power forward to ever play the game is still as solid as they come and deserving of both a real and fantasy All-Star spot.
RESERVES
Russell Westbrook: 22.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 8.0 assists, 1.3 treys, 2.0 steals, 0.3 blocks
Paul is the only thing keeping him from being a starter. Averaging career highs in treys and steals.
Stephen Curry: 21.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 3.1 treys, 1.9 steals
There are always concerns about the ankle, but Steph is efficient as they come when healthy.
Kobe Bryant: 27.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.7 treys, 1.4 steals, 0.3 blocks
Will be one of the best scorers in the league until he decides to hang them up.
Dwight Howard: 16.3 points, 11.9 rebounds, 58 percent FG, 1.0 steals, 2.4 blocks
Disappointing season, but still dominates head-to-head leagues.
Nicolas Batum: 15.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 2.3 treys, 1.3 steals, 1.2 blocks
Batum is filling up the stat sheet in his breakout season.
LaMarcus Aldridge : 20.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.8 steals, 1.3 blocks
If Aldridge played in New York, Chicago, L.A., Miami, or OKC, he would be a household name.
David Lee: 19.0 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.2 blocks
He won’t help you much defensively, but is one of the best offensive bigs in the fantasy game.
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Is it just me or would the West kill the East in a head-to-head fantasy matchup?
Who’s your most overachieving fantasy pickup of the first half?
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