Most improved players

By: David Lister

Now on to the good stuff. These are the guys you call your friends and brag about. Does it matter that you got lucky by picking them up? Nope. The only thing that matters is that if you have a guy on this list, you’re smarter than your friend (or at least better at fantasy basketball).

PG-Jose Calderon, Toronto Raptors

It’s unfortunate that Calderon is only here because of another T.J. Ford injury, but he’s easily been the most pleasant surprise this year. And it’s not that Calderon became a much better player over this summer, it’s that he’s finally getting 30-plus minutes a game. Calderon isn’t a dominant scorer–and he probably won’t ever be–but he’s going to be among the league leaders in assists and he’s shooting 42 percent from behind the arc this year.

Honorable mention-Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets

Yes, we all knew he was good, but I don’t remember hearing he was going to be this good. Probably the top fantasy guy this year, and easily a top five pick in next years draft.

SG-Mike Dunleavy, Indiana Pacers

After seven average, nondescript years in the NBA, Dunleavy has suddenly become a really good fantasy player. His field goal percentage is up to 49.1 percent and he’s shooting 41.5 percent from three. He’s also a decent rebounder (5.9 per game this year) and defender (1.1 steals per game). He probably will never be an elite player, but for a guy who was taken around round 9 in this year’s draft, you could have done a lot worse.

Honorable mention-Rudy Gay, Memphis Grizzlies

Gay has taken a huge step this year, averaging 19.4 ppg and 5.9 rpg. Now he’s in the slam dunk contest, assuring that he won’t be a sleeper next year. No word on how his jersey sales are doing, though.

SF-Hedo Turkoglu, Orlando Magic

Given that new Magic Rashard Lewis essentially plays the same position as Turkoglu, you had to think this would be a down year for Hedo. But he has moved to a kind of point forward role and is having a career year, averaging 18.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists a game. He turns the ball over too much (2.9 per game), but that is going to come with almost any good player, so it’s of little worry.

Honorable mention-Grant Hill, Phoenix Suns

Everyone expected Hill to put up numbers as a Sun, but he has also managed to keep his legs healthy and added a three-point shot. As a Suns fan I’m biased, but Hill’s return to health the last two years is one of the real good stories around, you can’t help but root for him.

PF-Danny Granger, Indiana Pacers

I put Granger here because I didn’t have room at SF and because he does deserve pub for the year he’s having. Like Dunleavy, you have to wonder if he will ever be a star, but he’s definitely on his way to All-Star status (17.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.1 steals and 1.0 blocks per game). His minutes are actually down slightly from last year, but just about every other statistical category is up for the third-year player.

Honorable mention-Udonis Haslem, Miami Heat

Haslem isn’t a better player than he was in the past, he just has to play a lot more now that the Heat suck. In fact, his player efficiency rating is actually down for the fourth year in a row. What this teaches fantasy basketball owners is ignore PER, pay attention to minutes played.

C-Chris Kaman, Los Angeles Clippers

Kaman didn’t really come out of nowhere, but I doubt many predicted this kind of year from the Clippers big man (17.4 ppg, 13.7 rpg, 3.1 bpg). Not much to say about Kaman other than he is doing everything better this year, but it will be interesting to see how he reacts when Elton Brand returns to action (whenever that is).

Honorable mention-Andrew Bynum, Los Angeles Lakers

His injury is so unfortunate, as Bynum seems on the verge of becoming a huge star. The good news is that this time off will take him off the radar of some less-attentive fantasy owners during next year’s draft.

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David Lister is the web editor for the National Sports Review. You can reach him at chicagosportsreview@gmail.com. Go Cards.

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1 Comment

  1. Nice work, and I agree with all your picks (though one could argue against Haslem–I’m not though). I’ll add John Salmons, Brad Miller (compared to last year’s performance), Jason Maxiell, Samuel Dalembert, and Jamal Crawford to the list.

    Comment by Brian on January 24, 2008

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