NBA Category Strategy: New Opportunity

The Celtics and Grizzlies play twice this week while the Suns are scheduled for five games. Every other team plays three or four times.

Arbitrary Suggestion Thresholds:
Yahoo! & ESPN - less than 40 percent owned

POINTS

Jeremy Lin (PG/SG)
(Ownership percentages: Yahoo - 41; ESPN - 43.4)

I'm fully aware Al Jefferson returned from suspension Saturday night but that didn't stop Lin from attempting seven shots and eight free-throws in 28 minutes. Coach Steve Clifford will likely bring Jefferson along slowly, potentially utilizing him as a reserve for another week and incrementally increasing his playing time.Discounting the outlier 35-point game, Lin has scored at least 12 points in four straight games and eight of the last 10. In those 10 games, Lin is shooting 46 percent from the field, 40 percent from downtown and 76 percent at the free-throw line. Lin also adds out-of-position blocks, averaging 1.3 blocks per game over the last eight, compiling four multi-block games in that stretch.

REBOUNDS

Jon Leuer (PF)
(Ownership percentages: Yahoo - 30; ESPN - 29.7)

I've learned my lesson after suggesting Kyle O'Quinn over Leuer last week. Clearly, Markieff Morris is not to be trusted. The Suns play five times this week, and Leuer will remain in the starting lineup for at least the first game because Morris must serve the second game of his two-game suspension. I urge you to choose Leuer over Alex Len because coach Jeff Hornacek doesn't delegate all 48 center minutes to a traditional center. While Len may play over 30 minutes once or twice this week, he loses appeal with Tyson Chandler healthy and capable of eating 10-15 minutes at the center position.

I can't speak to the turmoil surrounding the organization, but if they do shake up the roster, it would make sense to do so next week when the Suns play three games over an 11-day stretch. The extra days off would allow Hornacek, if he's still employed by team, to acclimate the new acquisitions over those eight off days. Should drastic moves occur, you can pivot to Taj Gibson if he's still available in your league.

ASSISTS

Ish Smith (PG)
(Ownership percentages: Yahoo - 33; ESPN - 30.8)

Smith was the easiest and most advisable recommendation this week. He played 25 games with the Sixers last season, averaged 6.1 assists in 27.1 minutes per game and chose not to re-sign with the organization in the offseason. He landed in Washington, was waived, joined the Pelicans and averaged 8.4 assists per game in 14 November appearances. Smith was reportedly targeted at the behest of assistant coach Mike D'Antoni. The journeyman point guard started Saturday night and had 14 points and five assists in 31 minutes, pushing Kendall Marshall from the starting lineup. I don't expect Smith to play more than 30 minutes a night once Marshall is fully cleared, and his inefficiency must be taken into consideration. In all likelihood, someone already added Smith in your league, leaving Matthew Dellavedova or Jameer Nelson as consolation.

STEALS

Gary Harris (SG)
(Ownership percentages: Yahoo - 8; ESPN - 6.4)

If you missed out on Matt Barnes, whose assistance you should prioritize immediately, I offer you Gary Harris. Coach Mike Malone called Harris the team's best two-way player, and on most nights, Harris guards the opposition's best perimeter scorer. Even though he failed to record a steal in the last two games after straining his right knee, Harris is second on the team with 1.0 steal per game. The Nuggets play two back-to-back sets this week, which will fatigue starting point guard Jameer Nelson and force Harris to play more minutes with Emmanuel Mudiay (ankle) potentially sidelined for another week. Harris rarely strips the ball from his assignment; he's too valuable on defense to accrue reach-in fouls. Most of his steals occur via offensive carelessness and loose balls. Three of the Nuggets' four games this week are against two teams in the top-10 in turnovers (the Nuggets play the Blazers twice).

BLOCKS

John Henson (PF/C)
(Ownership percentages: Yahoo - 8; ESPN - 5.5)

Henson has blocked 13 shots in the last three games sans Jason Kidd, who underwent hip surgery last Monday and is out indefinitely. Henson has never been able to gain a coach's trust, a list that includes Scott Skiles, Jim Boylan and Larry Drew. With Joe Prunti taking over on an interim basis, Henson once again has the opportunity to disappoint another coach. Until that happens, Henson will play 15-20 minutes per game as the backup center and provide close to two blocks per outing, setting his baseline at eight blocks with four games this week. As with most shot-blocking specialists, Henson struggles from the free-throw line, hitting 56 percent of his freebies this season.

THREE-POINTERS

Devin Booker (SG)
(Ownership percentages: Yahoo - 2; ESPN - 1.2)

Eric Bledsoe suffered a sprained left knee Saturday night and Booker started the second half in Bledsoe's absence, scored 19 points, including three three-pointers. The youngest player in the league is shooting 59 percent on three-pointers and just 9-of-42 (21 percent) two-pointers outside the restricted area. Booker averaged 18 minutes per game in his previous two starts and missed both his three-point attempts. With the Suns scheduled for five games this week and Bledsoe's future uncertain, Booker profiles as a solid three-point threat. He did sprain his left ankle Saturday night, but that didn't stop him from missing the rest of the game.

Because the Suns play five games this week, they play two games the following week. I only recommend Booker because he's going to launch whether he starts or come off the bench, but I don't expect him to be a well-rounded contributor - he's recorded eight assists, three steals, and one block in the last eight games. Consider adding Omri Casspi as a better long-term fantasy option or Jared Dudley, who leads all qualifiers as a 49 percent three-point shooter. Both will suffice if Booker's ankle swells up and forces him to miss the start of the week.