For the fantasy league folks, but I like the recognition our guys are getting here!
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/fantasy/02/15/stats.all.folks/1.html
Stat's All Folks
Crowning achievement: Plenty of Kings are heating up
This week, the Kings rule!
Kevin Martin, SG, Sacramento Kings
47 G; 25.9 MIN; 10.5 PPG; 3.7 RPG; 1.3 APG; 41 3PTM; 48.9 FG%; 88.2 FT%; 0.7 SPG; 0.1 BPG; 1.2 TO
We begin with two Kings who have shown great skill lately in ruling with a deft touch and an iron fist! Not only that, they both have first names as their last names, which adds a little more parallel and synchronicity to this edition of Stat's All Folks. First up is Martin Kevin, I mean, Kevin Martin. At first an afterthought when the season started, thanks to Bonzi Wells, Martin has since become a solid starter for the Kings because of Wells' continued groin injury problems and Peja Stojakovic's trade to the Pacers.
Opportunity wrapped in a purple bow arrived just before Christmas when Martin filled in for the injured Wells in the starting lineup. Since then, Martin's minutes and points per game have gone up from 22.6/9.6 in December to 31.4/12.3 in January, to his current 37.8/18.1 numbers this month. Martin is an excellent shooter as the stats above can attest to and has been scoring consistently in bunches lately (double figures in every game this month). However, Martin can do more than just put the ball in the basket. In the past week, Martin averaged six boards, two dimes, and 1.3 steals per game in four contests. What happens when Buckaroo Bonzi comes back? Well, Wells did come back for two games about a couple of weeks ago and Martin averaged 17.5 points in limited minutes off the bench. How do you like them apples? In any case, Wells could take a bit of time before being fully healthy, so don't hold your breath on his return to prominence any time soon ... or Martin dropping in his crown any time soon.
Kenny Thomas, PF, Sacramento Kings
52 G; 26.1 MIN; 9.2 PPG; 6.7 RPG; 1.9 APG; 0 3PTM; 48.0 FG%; 69.9 FT%; 0.7 SPG; 0.3 BPG; 1.7 TO
Next up is King Kenny, who, like Martin, got his first taste of starting around the end of December and also due to another player getting injured. In this case, it was when Shareef Abdur-Rahim's jaw met Zach Randolph's atomic elbow in a display Hulk Hogan would have approved. With opportunity a knockin', Thomas came out a rockin'. In January, Thomas averaged a double dip in points (12.6) and rebounds (10.3). This month, his numbers have really dipped, but only a bit, coming down to 11.3 points and 9.4 boards. Even with the return of Abdur-Rahim, Thomas has still been starting at the four and has kept his minutes per game about the same from January (35.7) to this month (35.6). So, no worries with Thomas not being able to produce in a big way for your team. In standard leagues, Thomas has been snatched up already, but he could be available in shallow leagues due to owners waiting to see how Abdur-Rahim's and Brad Miller's returns from injuries plays out. It's safe to say that if you need a solid scorer and rebounder, you can safely roll the dice on Thomas. Yahtzee!
Francisco Garcia, SG/SF, Sacramento Kings
47 G; 21.5 MIN; 6.1 PPG; 2.9 RPG; 1.6 APG; 25 3PTM; 38.3 FG%; 79.5 FT%; 0.7 SPG; 0.8 BPG; 1.2 TO
Garcia is Mr. Versatility for the Kings, but nowhere near the way he was at Louisville when he regularly brought the ball up and was a major piece in moving the ball in Rick Pitino's offense. The rookie is quietly doing his thing, but in much more quietly, almost ninja-like. His versatility has never been more apparent than last week when he averaged 6.5/5.3/2.5 while also stealing the pill 1.5 times and stamping 1.8 rejections per game. What deep league fantasy team couldn't use those overall numbers? If Ron Artest ever gets injured or suspended (nah, it'll never happen!), Garcia would produce just as well as he did when Stojakovic was injured earlier in the season. Garcia is a ninja initiate at this point of his career, but he is only a rookie. Soon, he'll reach the Sho Kosugi level and the NBA better watch out then. For now, he should have a place in every deep league dojo.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/fantasy/02/15/stats.all.folks/1.html
Stat's All Folks
Crowning achievement: Plenty of Kings are heating up
This week, the Kings rule!
Kevin Martin, SG, Sacramento Kings
47 G; 25.9 MIN; 10.5 PPG; 3.7 RPG; 1.3 APG; 41 3PTM; 48.9 FG%; 88.2 FT%; 0.7 SPG; 0.1 BPG; 1.2 TO
We begin with two Kings who have shown great skill lately in ruling with a deft touch and an iron fist! Not only that, they both have first names as their last names, which adds a little more parallel and synchronicity to this edition of Stat's All Folks. First up is Martin Kevin, I mean, Kevin Martin. At first an afterthought when the season started, thanks to Bonzi Wells, Martin has since become a solid starter for the Kings because of Wells' continued groin injury problems and Peja Stojakovic's trade to the Pacers.
Opportunity wrapped in a purple bow arrived just before Christmas when Martin filled in for the injured Wells in the starting lineup. Since then, Martin's minutes and points per game have gone up from 22.6/9.6 in December to 31.4/12.3 in January, to his current 37.8/18.1 numbers this month. Martin is an excellent shooter as the stats above can attest to and has been scoring consistently in bunches lately (double figures in every game this month). However, Martin can do more than just put the ball in the basket. In the past week, Martin averaged six boards, two dimes, and 1.3 steals per game in four contests. What happens when Buckaroo Bonzi comes back? Well, Wells did come back for two games about a couple of weeks ago and Martin averaged 17.5 points in limited minutes off the bench. How do you like them apples? In any case, Wells could take a bit of time before being fully healthy, so don't hold your breath on his return to prominence any time soon ... or Martin dropping in his crown any time soon.
Kenny Thomas, PF, Sacramento Kings
52 G; 26.1 MIN; 9.2 PPG; 6.7 RPG; 1.9 APG; 0 3PTM; 48.0 FG%; 69.9 FT%; 0.7 SPG; 0.3 BPG; 1.7 TO
Next up is King Kenny, who, like Martin, got his first taste of starting around the end of December and also due to another player getting injured. In this case, it was when Shareef Abdur-Rahim's jaw met Zach Randolph's atomic elbow in a display Hulk Hogan would have approved. With opportunity a knockin', Thomas came out a rockin'. In January, Thomas averaged a double dip in points (12.6) and rebounds (10.3). This month, his numbers have really dipped, but only a bit, coming down to 11.3 points and 9.4 boards. Even with the return of Abdur-Rahim, Thomas has still been starting at the four and has kept his minutes per game about the same from January (35.7) to this month (35.6). So, no worries with Thomas not being able to produce in a big way for your team. In standard leagues, Thomas has been snatched up already, but he could be available in shallow leagues due to owners waiting to see how Abdur-Rahim's and Brad Miller's returns from injuries plays out. It's safe to say that if you need a solid scorer and rebounder, you can safely roll the dice on Thomas. Yahtzee!
Francisco Garcia, SG/SF, Sacramento Kings
47 G; 21.5 MIN; 6.1 PPG; 2.9 RPG; 1.6 APG; 25 3PTM; 38.3 FG%; 79.5 FT%; 0.7 SPG; 0.8 BPG; 1.2 TO
Garcia is Mr. Versatility for the Kings, but nowhere near the way he was at Louisville when he regularly brought the ball up and was a major piece in moving the ball in Rick Pitino's offense. The rookie is quietly doing his thing, but in much more quietly, almost ninja-like. His versatility has never been more apparent than last week when he averaged 6.5/5.3/2.5 while also stealing the pill 1.5 times and stamping 1.8 rejections per game. What deep league fantasy team couldn't use those overall numbers? If Ron Artest ever gets injured or suspended (nah, it'll never happen!), Garcia would produce just as well as he did when Stojakovic was injured earlier in the season. Garcia is a ninja initiate at this point of his career, but he is only a rookie. Soon, he'll reach the Sho Kosugi level and the NBA better watch out then. For now, he should have a place in every deep league dojo.
