|
|
They are the men in the middle, the 7-foot trees who block the most shots, snag the most rebounds and get the most easy baskets. They are the centers - and they are not easy to find in fantasy basketball.
The center position
is not just the most top-heavy position in fantasy hoops, it is the most top-heavy
position in all of fantasy sports. Shaquille O' Neal is No. 1 and nobody else
comes close to sniffing his crib.
All of the centers in the top 10 are very good, but Shaq is a top-five pick
overall, where no other center would be taken until at least the middle of the
second round in most fantasy drafts.
Here are the top 25 centers in fantasy basketball heading into the 2003-04 campaign, beginning with "Shaq Diesel." Ticketmaster
1. Shaquille O' Neal, Lakers: He comes into this season in better shape and better health with better motivation. He is heads and tails above every center in fantasy basketball and might very well be the top fantasy player overall. Now if he only hit a 3-pointer once and a while.
2. Yao Ming, Rockets: Everybody's favorite pitchman was outstanding in his rookie season, averaging 13.5 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. Another year of experience and having Jeff Van Gundy molding the offense around him should vault him into the fantasy stratosphere.
3. Eddy Curry, Bulls: He looked like a colossal bust for the first 1 1/2 years of his NBA career, but the light finally went on in his head after the All-Star Game last season. He averaged 18 ppg over his final 25 games and finished leading the league in field goal percentage. He is unstoppable when he gets the ball within five feet of the basket.
4. Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Cavaliers: "Mr. Foot Problem" stayed away from the injured list and turned in an All-Star season. As long as he stays healthy (which is asking the world), he is a super center to own. Ticketmaster
5. Michael Olowokandi, Timberwolves: "The Kandi Man" gets to spread his sweetness in Minnesota this season. Getting away from the Los Angeles Clippers automatically raises his fantasy value 100 percent.
6. Radoslav Nesterovic, Spurs: Tim Duncan will open up things down low for Nesterovic, who had an underrated fantasy season with the T-Wolves in 2002-03.
7. Brad Miller, Kings: He would have been ranked in the top five if he stayed in Indiana, but going to Sacramento is going to hurt his fantasy worth. He will only put up superb stats when Chris Webber spends his annual two months on the injured list.
8. Jamaal Magloire, Hornets: He almost averaged a double-double per game last season and might very well do it this season. Not having Elden Campbell around to steal minutes from him anymore certainly helps.
9. Antonio Davis, Raptors: He is getting up there in age, but most fantasy owners would die to get 13 points and eight boards a night out of their top center.
10. Lorenzen Wright, Grizzlies: He quietly has averaged at least 11.4 points and 7.5 rebounds in each of the past three seasons. He flies under the fantasy radar screen because of where he plays. Ticketmaster
The rest of the top 25 centers:
11. Alonzo Mourning, Nets: Mourning is back and raring to go. The problem is that his minutes will be limited and he will most likely only play in 50-60 games because of his serious health problems.
12. Derrick Coleman, 76ers: He is no longer a malcontent? He likes to stay in shape? He will play out of position to help the team? Is this the same Derrick Coleman?
13. Keon Clark, Jazz: Do not forget that he averaged 11.3 points and 7.4 rebounds two seasons ago. All he needs to produce is playing time, something that is in great abundance in Utah now.
14. Theo Ratliff, Hawks: He made a nice comeback last season by leading the league in blocked shots.
15. Marcus Camby, Nuggets: He remains the undisputed champion of injury-prone players. You might as well throw the title in the garbage until he retires. But for those 20 games a season he does play, he is pretty darn solid.
16. Erick Dampier, Warriors: "The Damp One" looks like a monster in the middle - in about a third of the contests he plays in.
17. Raef LaFrentz, Mavericks: There are not nearly enough balls to go around in Dallas to get this guy more than 12 points per game.
18. Vlade Divac, Kings: The tag team of "Father Time" and Brad Miller will cause Divac's fantasy value to shrivel up.
19. Chris Kaman, Clippers: The lottery pick out of Central Michigan might need a year or two before he becomes worth something fantasy-wise. Ticketmaster
20. Dikembe Mutombo, Knicks: Released by the Nets and signed by the Knicks, Mutombo probably would like to show the world he is not washed up yet. If anything, he will still be good for rebounds and blocks.
21. Greg Ostertag, Jazz: With no Karl Malone and John Stockton around anymore, maybe Ostertag will be forced to score double digit points every evening.
22. Scot Pollard, Pacers: He will fill Miller's shoes in Indiana, but he will be nowhere near as productive.
23. Brendan Haywood, Wizards: The next coming of Wes Unseld he is not.
24. Jason Collins, Nets: Mourning is not Cal Ripken Jr. Collins will still see plenty of floor time.
25. Tony Battie, Celtics: He does a good job of standing around and watching Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker shoot.