Just over two weeks into the NBA’s condensed 2011-12 season, the fantasy basketball landscape is rounding into shape. Some fantasy owners are enjoying extra value from unexpected places and huge improvements from previously borderline fantasy players. 2012’s early breakout players include Philadelphia 76ers’ center Spencer Hawes and Orlando Magic forward Ryan Anderson
Spencer Hawes, Philadelphia 76ers:
Hawes is finally putting together the type of production the Sacramento Kings envisioned when they drafted him in 2007. Through seven games, Hawes is nearly doubling his 2010-11 output in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals and blocks. Per game, he ranks seventh among all players in Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball with 12.6 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.9 blocks and a .646 field goal percentage.
Ryan Anderson, Orlando Magic:
After breaking out as a three-point specialist for fantasy owners last year, Anderson continues to improve. He has embraced his role and taken over where Rashard Lewis left off: as a sharpshooting frontcourt compliment to Dwight Howard’s paint dominance. Through nine games, Anderson boasts career high averages of 18.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.2 three-point baskets per game. He already has three double-doubles and five 20-point games.
Kyle Lowry, Houston Rockets:
Lowry was expected to be good, but through his first six games of the year, he ranks as the second most valuable player per game in Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball. Through six games, Lowry averages 15.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 10.0 assists along with big contributions in the secondary categories with 1.8 threes and 2.0 steals per contest.
James Harden, Oklahoma City Thunder:
Now in his third season, Harden continues to improve as the Thunder’s number three option. Though he continues to come off the bench behind Thabo Sefolosha, Harden is getting 30 minutes a night and generating top-tier production. He’s providing value across the board with 17.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.7 threes per game with a .476 field goal percentage and .887 free throw percentage on 7.1 attempts.
Andrew Bynum, Los Angeles Lakers:
Bynum’s bouts of strong production before inevitable injury seem to get better by the year. He’s no Dwight Howard, but Bynum is doing his best to replicate his fantasy production, right down to the terrible free throw shooting. Since returning from suspension, Bynum boasts averages of 18.8 points, 15.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game with a .536 field goal percentage and .548 clip from the line. Considering he hasn’t topped the 65-game mark in any standard season since 2006-07, buyer beware.
Honorable mentions: Paul George, Greg Monroe, Jeff Teague, Jarrett Jack and Ty Lawson.
Sources:
All stats obtained from Yahoo! Sports
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