After each month of the NBA season we will compile our NBA All-Fantasy teams comprised of the top fantasy performers at each position along with a few honorable mentions that might break into the starting lineup next month.
We will start first in the Eastern Conference where I’ll give you a starting five as well as a couple honourable mention spots that came close but ultimately fell just short of cracking the starting lineup. All rankings are based on eDraft’s fantasy stats and are based on a cumulative total for the month which is not necessarily indicative of individual fantasy point per game averages.
Chris Paul - Los Angeles Clippers
The single most productive fantasy player through the first ten weeks of the NBA season is now officially out for at least four weeks with a separated shoulder. Paul got off to an amazing start to the season and he was putting together an MVP-caliber season. Paul’s slash line was an impressive 19.6 ppg, 11.2 apg, 4.6 rpg and 2.4 steals per game. It is too bad that Paul is going to lose a month of NBA action; both for him and for fantasy general managers who were counting on him.
Stephen Curry - Golden State Warriors
Curry has been an electric player both on the court and on fantasy sheets alike. Granted his performances have been a little inconsistent of late; it is his ability to bounce back the next night that gives him great value. Curry was the second best fantasy option in the entire league through to the end of December as he and Paul outpaced the rest of the Association by a wide margin. With Paul down to injury, the path has been cleared for Curry to not only assume fantasy supremacy but to also become a true MVP candidate.
Kevin Love - Minnesota Timberwolves
Love is having a career year for Minnesota as he has raised his scoring and rebounding averages over his career numbers. Love has been an extremely consistent fantasy performer thus far and a general manager can pencil him in for a double-double on a nightly basis. Love’s 26.3 ppg, 13.5 rpg and 4.1 apg a GM’s dream come true and there is no sign of him slowing down in January.
Kevin Durant - Oklahoma City Thunder
It’s hard to imagine that a player of Durant’s status and ability actually seems to be getting better as the seasons go by. Durant has elevated his field goal percentages by taking better shots and by getting his teammates involved rather than forcing an opportunity. Durant figures to be a staple on the All-Fantasy squad for the duration of the year. Durant certainly rang in the New Year with a bang as he is averaging 35.2 ppg, 10 rpg and 5.0 apg over his last five.
LaMarcus Aldridge - Portland Trailblazers
Portland’s eight-year pro is having a career year as he is posting 23.3 ppg, 11.1 rpg and 1.0 blocks per game so far. A nice bonus for fantasy general managers is that he is position eligible at center as well as forward in most leagues. Making Aldridge eligible at center actually has him ahead of the Houston Rockets Dwight Howard in terms of production. Aldridge will have to keep up the stellar play if he wishes to keep ahold of this spot as Howard is coming on strong.
Honourable Mentions
Blake Griffin - Los Angeles Clippers
Griffin is certainly having a nice bounce back year from the 2012-13 season. So far this year he is averaging 22.0 ppg, 10.5 rpg and 3.1 apg to go along with his 25 double-doubles on the year. Griffin has shown that he has more to his game than just high-flying acrobatics. He has developed a decent post game and a consistent knock down elbow jumper. A true test for Griffin will be to see how he fares now that Paul is down with injury for at least a month.
Dwight Howard - Houston Rockets
Rounding out our All-Fantasy squad is the much criticized Howard. Howard has been playing well this season and he has certainly had his tremendous stat-stuffing games along the way. Inconsistency has been an issue though as Howard has registered three games with single digit point totals. Despite the occasional lacklustre performances, Howard is still averaging 17.8 ppg, 12.9 rpg and 1.8 blocks per game thus far.