From Deep: 3 underperforming players who’ve become playoff heroes

The three-ball has become arguably the staple of scoring in the NBA — so we figured we’d take some shots from way downtown, too. Here, fantasy basketball analyst Dan Titus will break down the three things fantasy managers need to know. Or, he’ll break down multiple three-point pieces of advice, analysis and more — it just depends on how open he is From Deep.

Here are three players who underwhelmed for much of the season but came through for fantasy managers in the playoffs:

Jalen Green – PG/SG, Houston Rockets

Green didn’t come close to justifying his seventh-round ADP throughout the year. From October to February, he ranked 208th in per-game value in nine-category formats. February in particular was near rock bottom for the third-year pro. He shot 37% from the field and 26% from three with a 95 offensive rating — the second-lowest mark since his rookie season.

He was outside the top 250 that month, and fantasy managers (like me) even dropped him. And it’s not like that was a surprising move — Rockets fans were just as frustrated, clamoring for him to be benched or even traded.

Then the calendar turned to March, and both fantasy managers and fans finally got the Jalen Green they invested in, plus way more.

Green finished March as the 17th-best player in nine-category formats.

A top-20 finish was easily the best month of his career, and he nearly won his first Western Conference Player of the Month award (Luka Dončić won). That’s insane production by Green. From Weeks 21 to 23, his being a second-round value has been pivotal for fantasy managers vying for a fantasy championship. He even made it to top-three status in Week 22!

A bit of cold water, though: remember, come next season, much of Green’s epic late-season run came without Alperen Şengün in the lineup.

Josh Giddey – SG/SF/PF, Oklahoma City Thunder

Fantasy managers were too giddy about Giddey heading into the 2023-2024 season. Legal issues aside, he was still drafted in the top 60 in fantasy leagues this preseason. Analysts and fantasy managers likely underestimated how much he’d be impacted by becoming a fourth wheel behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander,…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/from-deep-3-underperforming-players-whove-become-playoff-heroes-155207150.html

Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-04-04 15:52:07

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