Posts tagged with “golden st playoffs 2011”

NBA: Warriors Fantasy Sleepers

Saturday, 31 December, 2011

 

By Vidur Malik

notjustagame23@gmail.com

The Golden State Warriors don’t usually make much noise on the national scene, and for the most part, that hasn’t changed this season.

 

Their main storylines going into this season were the transition to first-year coach Mark Jackson and their inability to land marquee free agents.

 

Even though the Warriors may not have signed Tyson Chandler, Chris Paul or DeAndre Jordan, a few of their new players could end up having a fantasy impact. Kwame Brown and Brandon Rush are two Warrior sleepers who are worth considering.

 

Brown may never shake off his status as a bust after being picked No. 1 overall in the 2001 draft, but he has the chance to be a key member of a Golden State team that is trying to establish a defensive identity. At 6-foot-11 and 270 lbs., he brings much needed size to the Warriors and can be a presence down low. He grabbed 10 rebounds in only 12 minutes in the Warriors’ 92-78 win over the Knicks on Wednesday, and his numbers should improve as he gets more comfortable with Jackson’s defense. Brown should also block a good amount of shots this season, so he can help your fantasy team in that category. Brown has bounced around several teams in his career, but if he can become the defensive anchor the Warriors need, he might have a home in the Bay Area.

 

While Brown has the potential to boost the Warriors’ frontcourt defense, Rush can do the same on the wing. Rush has become an all-around threat in his first three games with Golden State, averaging 12 points, four rebounds and two blocks per game. At 6-foot-6 and 225 lbs., he should be able to outmuscle smaller players on offense and play strong defense throughout the season. He also brings offensive production, so look for him to be a solid bench player you can promote to the starting lineup if need be.

 

If the Warriors do play stout defense this season, expect Brown and Rush to be major contributors. They may not have been the most sought after players in the offseason, but you can use that to your advantage and add them to your team while they fly under your opponents’ radars.