Fantasy Basketball Take - By Answerman

Editor's note: This was written late last week, and is being posted slightly late, but it's still perfectly valid.

The Answerman has been participating in fantasy leagues since Joe Smith was considered part of the revolution, which also included J.Kidd, K.Garnett, Eddie Jones, and Jim Jackson. Superstar Nike contracts don't guarantee Superstar Careers.

Big NetsFan writes:

Hey Answerman, can you explain to me why the Nets get no respect? I know he's (Kenyon Martin) only in his third season in the league, but have you seen him play lately? He at the least deserves an honorable mention as a defensive player for the Nets! Don't you think? If not, why not?

BigNetsFan

Dear BigNets:

You meet so few genuine Nets fans - there are a lot of bandwagoners out there. The question you must ask anyone wearing a Net hat is, "Who is/was the better shooter, Draz or Peja?"

If they do not know who Draz is, they are clearly not a real Net fan. Even worse, if they answer Peja, then they are not only a poser but also an idiot - and by no means a Net fan.

The Nets get no respect because they have a very small fan base, they play in the Eastern conference and did not grow into a good team until just a season ago. If you look at Sacramento, San Antonio and Dallas you can track steady improvement over the last 5 years as they became contenders.

The Nets were a bad (30 win) team. Then they traded for Jason Kidd and they go to the Finals. They haven't convinced anyone that they are real. Only recently have they received more support.

More importantly, you specifically asked about Kenyon Martin. I'll give you that he probably belongs on an all-defensive team and he does things that do not appear on a box score, but for fantasy purposes he is a 7th round selection (at best). Here's why:

Player A
PPG 16.7, RPG 8.3, APG 2.4, SPG 1.27, BPG .91, FG% .470

Player B
PPG 18.5, RPG 11.3, APG 2.5, SPG 1.15, BPG 2.55, FG% .502

Player C
PPG 20.6, RPG 7.8, APG 4.7, SPG 1.68, BPG .38, FG% .462

Player D
PPG 13.4, RPG 9.0, APG 1.8, SPG 1.09, BPG 1.22. FG% .459

Ranking these players, you'd say that B is the best, followed by C (best scorer, passer, and stealer of the batch) then A, finished by D. Though D is a good rebounder, everything else is a little below.

Putting names to the letters, B is Elton Brand, C is Karl Malone, A is Martin, and D is 6th man Donyell Marshall. We're not even discussing Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Garnett, and Chris Webber.

This should give some perspective as to where Martin ranks in the pantheon of forwards in this league. A responsible owner this past season would've picked Martin AFTER Brand, who is a mid-second rounder, after Malone, who was a 5th rounder, but before Marshall, who is a 10th round pick.

Martin doesn't score or rebound like a star. He is not a shot-blocker (less than 1) and for a guy who gets a bunch of dunks on Sportcenter, he shoots a low percentage.

Even in these playoffs, Game 3 against Detroit, he only had 6 boards.

When Martin gets the stats up during the regular seaon, he will get respect. And that could happen once next season starts. Until that time, he's 3rd or 4th tier forward.

Let me reiterate - do not let playoff achievements cloud your regular season fantasy judgment.

If you have any questions, write the Answerman@insidehoops.net.