Dear readers,

As you may have noticed, there haven't been many (any) recent updates on this blog. It is with great sadness that I have to announce that this wonderful ride of ours has come to its end. It's been awesome to be part of such a great network (Bloguin). I'd like to thank Derek and the rest of the Bloguin admin team for having me here. Next fantasy basketball season, Points in the Paint will be no more. You can still catch my fantasy basketball articles and advice over at Give Me The Rock, where I will be contributing every now and then. I'd like to thank my loyal readers for following what I've put out through these years. Most of you have been following me since my wordpress days. I am going to be venturing into some other writing projects, and possibly even some podcasting. I'm still going to be doing some fantasy writing, but enough to support a fantasy basketball blog, solo. It's been a wonderful ride, thanks for the company.

Yours truly,

Erik

Each week throughout the season, fantasy experts from all over the interwebs have converged for a roundtable discussion of pertinent and pressing fantasy basketball topics.

The Participants:
- Ryan Lester: Lester's Legends
- Tommy Beer: HOOPSWORLD
- Jeff Andriesse: Rotoexperts.com
- Erik Ong: Points in the Paint & Give me the Rock
- Patrick Madden: Give me the Rock

Last week we discussed some general trade advice – this week, let's get specific.  So, we asked the roundtable: "With most fantasy league trade deadlines inching closer and closer, which player(s) will you be targeting to acquire as a 'buy low?' And/or is there someone you would suggest trading away because you view him as a 'sell high' candidate?"

Aaaand we're back.... and ready to resume blogging. Well, more ready than Carmelo Anthony is to resume playing for the Nuggets at this point, anyway.

So we're back by hosting this week's Fantasy Basketball Roundtable discussion. This week's topic: The NBA trade deadline is just around the corner and soon so will be the one for most fantasy leagues, what general or specific trade advice can you give fantasy managers out there?

Joining me this week at the discussion are:

Ryan Lester, Lester's Legends

Tommy Beer, Hoops World

Patrick Madden, Give Me The Rock

Each week throughout the season, fantasy experts from all over the interwebs have converged for a roundtable discussion of pertinent and pressing fantasy basketball topics.

The Topic Up for Debate: "Last week we highlighted players who had not lived up to draft day expectations, but were expected to turn it around over the second half of the season.  This week, let's flip it: Pick out a few players that performed like studs over the first two months of the season, but will turn into duds in 2010?"

The Participants:
- Alex Woods - BleacherCreatureRotoTalk
- Ryan Lester - Lester's Legends
- Nels and Patrick - Give Me the Rock
- Tommy Beer - HoopsWorld
- Erik Ong - Points in the Paint

Here are my picks. They're not going to end up as true "duds" per se, but will seem disappointing relative to their initial fantasy production.

Each week some of fantasy basketballs greatest strategic thinkers assemble to debate and explore interesting issues pertaining to fantasy basketball. A big thanks to Ryan Lester from Lesters Legends for bringing this together.

Sitting at the Fantasy Hoops Roundtable:

- Alex Woods, BleacherCreatureRotoTalk
- Ryan Lester, Lester’s Legends
- Your Dear Friends at Empty the Bench
- Nels and Patrick, Give Me the Rock
- Jon, Bleacher Report
- Tommy Beer, HoopsWorld
- Erik Ong, Points in the Paint

This week's topic: It's a new year and time for new beginnings. Among the players who have currently fallen short of expectations, name two to three players you believe can turn around their fantasy performance (for the better) this 2010.

That's just how the proverbial ball bounces, sometimes they're up, sometimes they're down. The good news is that when they're down, most of them bounce back up. Here are some guys we experts feel are legitimate "buy low" targets. If you can nab them in a trade this holiday season, then you may just be the one who's merry this coming 2010.

With Quentin Richardson missing time due to problems with his hamstring, Dorell Wright has stepped up his game.

This 24-year-old has seen his NBA career get plagued with various injuries and hasn't really had a chance to get off to a good run in fantasy. He was once believed to have the potential to become a multi-cat contributor for fantasy, setbacks however, have delayed that potential coming into fruition time and time again. He's scored in double-digits in two of his last three games off the Miami bench and in each of those outings he shot beyond 66% from the field. This may perhaps be the (w)right time to pick him up in leagues 14-man or deeper. He should be a suitable source of points and some assorted contributions in other categories here and there. He can block and shoot the trey and potentially chip in some boards too.

Even though Miami has a light schedule this week (3 games), Dorell may just prove to be useful as a boost for your fantasy team. Just cross your fingers that he is at 100% and can string together some consistent games.

Danny Granger of the Indiana Pacers is gone for at least four weeks. I feel for you, poor and distraught, fantasy owners.

Where, oh where, will the Pacers find 24 PPG?

Where should fantasy managers look to for consolation? No where. That's why he's a first-rounder folks. The 3 3PTM, 6.1 RPG, and 20-something PPG doesn't just grow on trees. The best thing to do is rummage through his supporting cast and scrounge for whose value/fantasy production will improve the most.

Danny's injury is going to open doors for Brandon Rush and Dahntay Jones to boost their fantasy value. Brandon is expected to start, but Dahntay has proven to be the more consistent scorer between the two. I would grab Dahntay in 12-man leagues or deeper and take Brandon in 16-man leagues or deeper. A.S.A.P.

For the next four to six weeks of Granger's absence, the biggest fantasy impact should really be expected from "White and Whiter". That would be Troy Murphy and Mike Dunleavy Jr.

They're the proven fantasy commodities in the Pacer stable. The problem is that both of them are not quite at 100% health, just yet. Both of these gentlemen are still slowing recovering from injuries. We know Troy is not going to morph into a super-scorer overnight, well at all, actually. So that leaves us with Mike, who in the past, has proven that he can easily average 20 PPG or more.

The question is now whether he, well more like his knees, can pull it off. At this point, his health is the only thing limiting his minutes. I expect them to rise considerably, and with it his real-life and fantasy production. I would, however, prefer to see him go through this progression slowly. As opposed to the risk of him overexerting himself and potentially re-injuring his busted knees.

It's time for another session at the Fantasy Round Table!

Each week some of fantasy basketballs greatest strategic thinkers assemble to debate and explore interesting issues pertaining to fantasy basketball. A big thanks to Ryan Lester from Lesters Legends for bringing this together.

Sitting at the Fantasy Hoops Roundtable:

- Alex Woods, BleacherCreatureRotoTalk
- Ryan Lester, Lester’s Legends
- Your Dear Friends at Empty the Bench
- Nels, Give Me the Rock
- Jon, Bleacher Report
- Tommy Beer, HoopsWorld

... and of course, yours truly.

This week was hosted by Alex Woods of Bleacher Creature Roto Talk.

This Week's Topic: At the end of the season who will be the top three rookies from a fantasy basketball perspective?

Post Stephen Jackson Trade: Who is stepping up?

We know that Don Nelson likes to keep a relatively tight and minimalistic player rotation. We have seen that Anthony Morrow appears to be a lock at starting SF for the Golden State Warriors, earned through his efficient and consistent play.

At power forward, Vladimir Radmanovic looks like the current flavor of the month. Well Radman can possibly be more than just a fad. He fits the bill of one of Nellie's favorite player archetypes - the three-point shooting big man. So we might just see him keep his starting job for a longer period of time than what the average hoops fan would expect. However, due to Vlad-Rad's lack of defensive prowess and intensity, and occasional absent-minded errors; he might not be able to maintain his 32-minute playing time average.

Mikki Moore is the current starter at center for the Warriors, but Andris Biedrins is due to be back soon and Moore's uninspiring fantasy play will soon return to the bench.

Let's take a quick look at the Warriors' current reserves and see who among them has some functional fantasy value.

There are rumors going around that it is possible Tyrus Thomas and Jerome James of the Chicago Bulls could be traded to the New York Knicks for Al Harrington.

From a standpoint of preparation for the future, I can see how this works out for the Bulls. They can participate in the free agency market next season while retaining their core of Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, John Salmons, and Luol Deng, and still end up being a playoff contender this season with Harrington as an added weapon.

Now I generally do not like jump the gun and discuss ramifications of potential trades, but this one involves some decently big names in fantasy basketball.Uh, that would be Thomas and Harrington, just in case you owned Jerome James . So I thought it would be alright to paint the scenario for their owners, and for the owners of players who may be affected by this potential transaction.