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Dropping Dimes is trying out a new feature. Fantasy 30 intends to rank all of the NBA teams in terms of fantasy power. A list like this tends to lead to a lot of disagreement and discussion, but the hope is that these rankings will be fluid and updated as the year goes on. Thanks to Ron Chow for the assist. In addition to publishing updates on the Fantasy 30, once in a while we hope to produce sister articles that focus on a specific team and its roster.

#1: Los Angeles Lakers: Kobe Bryant ranks as a top four fantasy player this year. The Lakers employ two fantasy-worthy starters for center in Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. Lamar Odom has played well coming off the bench. Jordan Farmar has sleeper point guard potential, and the team also employs three-point threats like Derek Fisher and Vlad Radmanovic. All of this adds up to the Lakers being top dog early in the year.

Click to continue reading Fantasy 30, Version 1


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Dwyane Wade The end of the first round appears to be the land of boom-or-bust.  Just a pick earlier, we saw Gilbert Arenas fly off of the board.  Not long before him, Caron Butler’s entrance into the first round could make or break a few seasons.  Needless to say, getting this guy with the 12th selection this season could prove to be quite a steal, assuming he plays to even half of the level which we saw against the rest of the world during the Olympic games.

Though he ruined many of fantasy seasons last year, I have no hesitation in selecting…

Dwyane Wade, PG/SG, Miami Heat

Click to continue reading Dropping Dimes Mock Draft: Round 1, Pick 12 - Dwyane Wade


Shawn Marion got his wish last season when he was traded to the Miami Heat. Marion felt he was not getting the spotlight he deserved in Phoenix playing in the shadows of Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire. In Miami, he’d be able to spread his wings and show his true talents. Well, the grass is not always greener on the other side. Let’s say that his fantasy performance last year in Miami was more like that of “Matrix Revolutions” and not like the original “Matrix” movie we loved in Phoenix. Not bad but not as good as the original.  Let’s take a peep what you can expect from the Matrix this season.

Shawn Marion Miami Heat

Click to continue reading Dropping Dimes Mock Draft: Round 1, Pick 6 - Shawn Marion


Those of you that have read my work in the past know that I’m not a huge fan of taking the fantasy plunge with rookies on draft day.  For every Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade, we’ve had a Darko Milicic and Michael Olowokandi.  This year, we will be faced with decisions on when to take members of this year’s draft class.  If you inking of giving Michael Beasley the “Kevin Durant treatment” and take him in the early middle rounds, maybe this will make you think twice:

MIAMI (AP)—Michael Beasley’s first official practice with the Miami Heat ended quickly.

Beasley was struck in the chest by an inadvertent elbow during a defensive drill about 45 minutes into Miami’s first summer-league workout session Wednesday, and the No. 2 overall pick in last week’s NBA draft was taken to a doctor for observation.

Obviously, the team may just be a little touchy with their prized possession from a few Thursday’s ago.  But if the kid can’t take an elbow during drills, what is he going to do when Brendan Haywood comes to town?

Beasley catches elbow, leaves 1st Heat practice [AP]


AI vs. DeronTo the three voters for the All-NBA team that did not name Chris Paul to the first team; you need to seriously have your head examined. Two voters picked Steve Nash instead and one vote went to Tracy McGrady. Come on, people! To pick Nash ahead of Paul means you have not watched ball since last season. The Hornets had a better record, Paul did more with less established talent around him, not to mention he had superior overall stats. As for McGrady, I guess it was a nod to the Rockets’ winning streak.

Nash was in action last week. Does he get to move on? Paul suits up this week, so check out who we have him partnered with? And the picture gives you a preview of who else is part of our hype match-ups this week!

Click to continue reading Dropping Dimes Two-on-Two Tourney: Round 1, Games 9 and 10


DescriptionOur one-on-one tourney was a blast to conduct last year and you can click on the link to check it out. Spoiler alert! The link takes you to the winner being crowned and the page has links to all of the match-ups.

So what better way to follow that up but to double the pleasure, double the fun and make it a two-on-two tourney, people! G’yeah! There are only four more days before the regular season comes to a close. Thankfully us hoopheads have two months of playoff action to look forward to, but fantasy play dies down in favor of baseball, golf and barbeque unless you and your buddies set up a playoff pool. So check back every Sunday and give us your ten cents for the match-ups we set up for you! Who will be the “Dynamic Duo” when all is said and done?

Click to continue reading Dropping Dimes Two-on-Two Tourney Begins!


Baron Davis and his beard taking a jumperMost of us fantasy fanatics are in some sort of consolation play this week. After all, only two teams in each league can vie for the championship. How are things over in the “real” NBA? Well, the Golden State Warriors are playing almost .600 ball and are still trying to claw into playoff position. How’s that for a tough break?

In my league with family and friends, the teams in the consolation bracket battle for draft position next year. The winner of the consolation playoffs gets the first overall pick, the runner-up gets second pick and so on. It’s enough incentive for everyone to continue setting their lineups, and it’s enough of a prize that people take it seriously enough to put forth the effort. If you have a league with little GM turnover year to year, this is something you can do so that everyone can enjoy fantasy hoops right to the very last day, not just the finalists.

Perhaps the NBA should adopt a consolation playoff format and the winner gets first pick in the draft. This certainly would guard against bad teams tanking it at the end of the season.

Click to continue reading Consolation Playoffs in the NBA?


DescriptionYou probably have read reports that Dwyane Wade’s recovery from his shoulder surgery may force him to miss this year’s training camp and could miss the start of the regular season. Wade is arguably a Top 6 fantasy pick and with him dropping to the 9th pick it makes him a reasonable gamble. I like to compare it to taking the sexy, smart, athletic, talented valedictorian to your prom. She is not only easy on the eyes; she has a great sense of humor, cool with your friends and likes your parents. She is pretty darn close to the complete package. Imagine on prom night, you go over to her house to pick her up and you end up waiting two hours for her to get ready - would you kick her to the curb?  Probably not unless you have aspirations to mold your life after Andy Stitzer, the 40 year-old Virgin.  Better late then never to the prom. It is not certain how many games he may miss at the beginning of the regular season, but when Wade does play he is a fantasy stat stuffer. 

Click to continue reading Dropping Dimes Mock Draft Blog 2007 Round 1, Pick 9


Franchise: Taking his cufflinks elsewhereI’m not sure where I went wrong, but while I’m sitting here in an office that faces a parking garage, Steve Francis is not only fresh off of a $30 million buyout, but he’s now the NBA’s newest free agent.  A free agent that’s likely to sign a deal with a very good team, for even more money. 

The Miami Herald reports that “Franchise” cleared waivers last night and will now test the free agent market.  Conveniently, Francis has narrowed down his list of possible destinations.  Here’s a hint: Milwaukee is not on the list.

Of the four teams that the veteran has chosen to be possible suitors, three of them are Western Conference teams looking to go a bit further in the playoffs than their past suggests, and one Eastern Conference team that I hear has a fairly nice beach scene near by.

Click to continue reading The Rich Get Richer: Steve Francis, Free Agent


Dwyane Wade injuried

Will the injuries ever stop this season?!? Fantasy ballers need a bottle of Pepto Bismol to stomach all the injuries this year. This year, fantasy championships could be a war of attrition – the healthiest team may have the best chance to take the championship in your league. This session of the Injury Lowdown will look into the slew of recent injuries.

Click to continue reading Injury Lowdown - Guards Needed!


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