Fantasy Basketball Player Rankings & Projections
2010 Point Guard Preseason Preview
Chris Paul
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There is argument that Chris
Paul should be the top pick of the fantasy basketball draft.
But he is clearly the best point guard available. |
1. Chris Paul - New Orleans
While he isn't quite the top pick overall in most fantasy basketball
leagues, there is no doubt that Chris Paul will be the first point
guard selected in the 2009 fantasy season. In 2008, Paul posted
career highs in field goal percentage, free throw percentage, rebounds,
steals, and points. Paul easily led the league in assists and steals,
and had no problem averaging a double-double (22.8 points, 11.0
assists) last year. He has continued to develop his 3-point shot
as he matured, which will take his game to an all-time high. Expect
more of the same brilliance from Chris Paul in 2010. He should be
gone within the first three picks of any draft.
2009 Statistics:
22.8 Pts - 5.5 Reb - 11.0 Ast
2010 Projection: 20.4
Pts - 5.1 Reb - 10.6 Ast
2. Deron Williams - Utah
A combination of great shooting and passing, Deron Williams should
be the next PG scooped up after Chris Paul. Considered a younger
Steve Nash, Williams has averaged 19.1 points and 10.6 assists
in his last two seasons with Utah - while shooting a respectable
percentage from the field. He hasn't yet developed a consistent
3-point shot, but he has a ton of potential, and at age 25, he
doesn't come with a lot of risk. Having proven himself as an all-star
caliber player, Williams will be the centerpiece of the Jazz offense.
The four year-pro will get more opportunities to score, and has
a strong chance of averaging 20 points, 10 assists in 2009. He
should be taken at the end of the first round - anything after
that is a bargain.
2009 Statistics:
19.4 Pts - 2.9 Reb - 10.7 Ast
2010 Projection: 20.1
Pts - 3.1 Reb - 10.2 Ast
3. Steve Nash - Phoenix
The best shooting point guard in the league, Steve Nash should
be the next PG scooped up after Chris Paul. Despite the downfall
of the Phoenix Suns, Nash should be equally, if not more effective,
than last year as he will face a ton of minutes in a contract year.
And luckily for fantasy owners, Nash's two weaknesses, his age and
ludicrous amount of turnovers, won't count against him in standard
leagues. He isn't as dominant as a few years ago, but he is a lock
for his sixth consecutive season of 50% from the field, and 40%
from 3-point - as well as his fifth consecutive of 90% from the
free throw line. We don't care that Nash has reached the declining
age of 35, there is
some health risk in drafting him, but
he has been reliable throughout his entire career. No other point
guard will be anywhere close to Nash in shooting percentages in
2010.
2009 Statistics:
15.7 Pts - 3.0 Reb - 9.7 Ast
2010 Projection: 17.9
Pts - 2.8 Reb - 10.0 Ast
4. Chauncey Billups - Nuggets
All 2009 did for Chauncey Billups was show that he could be equally
as good on Denver as he was on Detroit. He led Denver to the best
record since their first season in the NBA. Although it wasn't necessarily
a career year for Billups, he shot over 40% from behind the arc,
and 90% at the free throw line, while leading the Nuggets to the
No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. Billups also, is reaching
the mid-30s where he will slowly start to experience statistical
decline. But looking at his outstanding performance in the 2009
playoffs, it is evident that Billups still has a couple good years
left. And with plenty of offensive weapons, he will be efficient
in points and assists.
2009 Statistics:
17.9 Pts - 3.0 Reb - 6.4 Ast
2010 Projection: 16.5
Pts - 2.8 Reb - 6.1 Ast
5. Devon Harris - New Jersey
In his first full season in New Jersey, Devon Harris posted a
career year in points, assists, rebounds and minutes, in addition
to being selected as an All-Star reserve for the first time in
his career. One of the quickest players in the league, Harris
will continue to score effortlessly in 2010 by drawing contact
and getting to the free throw line. While his shooting percentages
aren't superstar caliber (44/29/82), Harris has even more potential
to improve in 2010, as he has claims he will be more assertive
on the offense. He isn't one of the most gifted passers in the
league either, but his prolific scoring should be enough to make
him a safe draft pick. Look for Harris to have another year stocked
with career-bests in 2010 - he makes for a bargain pick in the
third round.
2009 Statistics:
21.3 Pts - 3.3 Reb - 6.9 Ast
2010 Projection: 23.4
Pts - 3.7 Reb - 7.3 Ast
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6. Jose Calderon - Toronto
A rising star, Jose Calderon is a low-risk, high-reward point
guard entering 2010. Jose Calderon is the best free throw shooter
in the league (98%), and is one of the most efficient from the
field (49.7%). The Spainard, who will enter his fifth year, has
been heavily criticized for not being able to play defense. But,
he averaged 12.8 points and 8.9 assists in 2009, making him a
threat for posting a double-double every night. Calderon is entering
his second full season as a starter, and seems to mature on the
court every game. For second round productivity you can get in
the fourth, Calderon is one of the best sleeper picks for this
year's draft.
2009 Statistics:
12.8 Pts - 2.9 Reb - 8.9 Ast
2010 Projection: 15.4
Pts - 3.0 Reb - 9.9 Ast
7. Jason Kidd - Dallas
One of the best point guards of this generation, Jason Kidd is
still
a triple-double threat every night, despite having served 15
years in the league. His move to Dallas did hurt his fantasy value
significantly, but he can put up respectable numbers in every statistical
category. Unlike other elite point guards, Kidd will do his damage
by grabbing stray rebounds, as opposed to dropped 20 ppg. At age
36, Kidd is slowly on his path to retirement. Nonetheless, he is
still a solid fantasy point guard - he won't be explosive, but you
know what to expect from him. He has played at least 65 games in
each of the last ten seasons. Kidd will provide moderate doses in
every statistical category, making him one of the safer fantasy
options in 2010
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2009 Statistics:
9.0 Pts - 6.2 Reb - 8.7 Ast
2010 Projection: 9.2
Pts - 6.2 Reb - 8.5 Ast
