Dwyane Wade was able to stay healthy for much of the season. However, now that the playoffs have arrived, he’s hurt once again. This time, he has a sore back that has also become stiff. Wade’s back was obviously hurting him in Game 4 of the Miami Heat’s first round series against the Atlanta Hawks.
Playing 45 minutes, Wade finished with 22 points, seven assists and six rebounds, however he made just 9-of-26 field goals and 1-of-8 three-pointers as the Heat lost by a final score of 81-71.
Despite his sore back, Wade vows to play in Game 5. With the series …read more

Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
In Dwayne Wade’s last five games, the Heat guard is averaging 32 points, 6.2 assists and 6.2 rebounds. On top of those numbers, he’s averaging 1.8 blocks and 1.4 steals. While his struggling a bit from downtown, his field goal percentage has been solid.

Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
In the month of December, Dirk Nowitzki has been on fire. He’s averaging more than 30 points and his rebounding numbers and shooting percentages are way up. Nowitzki had a slow start to the season but has recently regained his MVP form.
Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder are a horrible basketball …read more

Does your fantasy basketball team need more steals? Target these players for production in that statistic.
Mario Chalmers, Miami Heat
At Kansas, Mario Chalmers was known as a player who could swipe steals at a stunning rate. While he’s been on and off in the steals department in the NBA, his overall rate is very encouraging. In a game earlier in the season, he had nine steals.
Trevor Ariza, Los Angeles Lakers
Trevor Ariza has been turning a lot of heads this season. One overlooked aspect regarding his production is his steals. He’s stealing the ball at a very good rate. If his minutes …read more

Which fantasy basketball rookies are off to a good start in the NBA? Here’s a look at our early top five:
1. Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
Coming into the NBA, everyone knew Derrick Rose could pass the ball. What is surprising NBA scouts is his ability to score the ball. He uses his combination of quickness and strength to get to the rim and score against bigger defenders. Since he’s starting and already playing big minutes, he’s not only looking like a good fantasy basketball player but also the lead candidate for Rookie of the Year.
2. Michael Beasley, Miami Heat
Although he has …read more

Although the NBA season just started, this is a great time to hit the waiver wire and look for gems and fantasy basketball steals. Which players looked good on the opening night of the NBA? Check out these fantasy basketball players.
Mario Chalmers, Miami Heat
Mario Chalmers started for the Miami Heat at point guard and played a great game. Threatening to get a triple double in his first game, Chalmers is a definite pickup in all fantasy basketball formats. The only word of caution is to realize that the Heat were playing the Knicks — who are perhaps the worst defensive …read more

Check out this new Converse commercial starring Dwyane Wade. You can watch a video of the commercial at the end of this entry.
The commercial basically chronicles a lot of the doubt Wade has faced in his basketball career. At the end of the commercial, a voice on the radio is heard saying Wade is injury prone and Wade gets up to seemingly go prove the doubters wrong once again.
The theme of this commercial can easily be transferred over to the fantasy basketball world. Every year, it seems that drafting Wade is a boom or bust proposition. This season, while some …read more

Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
Although Derrick Rose has looked really good at times and really mediocre at times in the preseason, there is no denying his talent. He’ll eventually take over the reins as the starting point guard for the Bulls and he will hold the spot for a long time. Not only is he a world class playmaker, he is already proving that he can score on the NBA level.
Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
During summer league, Russell Westbrook looked amazing. While he hasn’t looked as amazing in preseason, he still is showing a lot of promise. He might not start …read more

LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland Trail Blazers
Although Greg Oden is getting most of the publicity, LaMarcus Aldridge very well could be the better player during the 2008-09 fantasy basketball season. He’s a player that seems to be improving each time he steps out onto the court and could become a star in his third season.
Michael Beasley, Miami Heat
Most league pundits expect Michael Beasley to put up decent stats. But don’t forget that this sleeper was just a certified beast as a freshman in college. If he can adapt quickly to the NBA, he could end up the year as a top eight …read more

5) Rudy Fernandez, Portland Trail Blazers
Although it’s definitely a long shot, Rudy Fernandez has a chance to win the 2008-09 NBA Rookie of the Year award. He’s the most hyped player coming from the NBA from Europe and showed in the Olympics that he has an immense amount of talent.
4) Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
The number one pick of the 2008 NBA Draft doesn’t have the best chance of winning the award for the NBA’s best rookie. He’s playing on a team that has a lot of good players and he may not be forced into a large amount of minutes …read more

Although training camp hasn’t started yet, it is never too early to take a look at the MVP favorites. For the 2008-2009 season, five players have a really great shot at winning the MVP award. Here are the top five 2009 NBA MVP candidates:
5. Tracy McGrady, Houston Rockets
If the Rockets can live up to their lofty expectation and Tracy McGrady can stay healthy all year, T-Mac has a chance to be in the MVP running. He’s an immensely talented player who could impress a lot of voters this season. Staying healthy will be a challenge, however.
4. Dwyane …read more