PROTECT THE PAINT

Every year during fantasy drafts people attempt to predict which players will drop off, and which will rise to new heights in production. Some of this can be attributed to a change of team, sometimes it is simply due to a player passing his prime.

In other cases, players rekindle their careers by having monster years in a new change of scenery. This season, pundits predict the following players to experience decreases in their numbers due to a new team. I believe the exact opposite, and here are the reasons why.

Richard Jefferson – San Antonio Spurs

Jefferson should be huge for San Antonion this year. (Credit: oddjack.com)

People are saying he is the 4^th fiddle in San Antonio. If anything, Jefferson will receive many wide-open threes as result of being paired with the best big man passer in the league, Tim Duncan. He will not bear all the pressure like he did in Milwaukee.

Expect the game to come easier playing for the best team he has ever been a member of. His point totals and rebounding might not improve, but his shooting % should see a dramatic increase as he will undoubtedly be benefiting from Poppovich’s system.

Shawn Marion – Dallas Mavericks

Marion will benefit from Jason Kidd. (Credit: picapp.com)

Shawn Marion is simply not suited for half court offense. We saw this as he faded away in Toronto and in Miami. Now, in Dallas, with Jason Kidd pushing the ball, look for Marion to be revived with the run and gun fast break basketball style in Dallas.

Marion should yield big numbers and have a high impact in multiple categories. He should have his best season since he last played along side Steve Nash in Phoenix.

Ron Artest – Los Angeles Lakers

Artest will fill multiple categories this year. (Credit: picapp.com)

Media predictions are claiming Artest should see a decrease in numbers this year. I have already seen him available lower than usual in the draft, which makes him possibly the biggest steal of the draft. He is an 8-category threat, and hits a huge amount of 3s.

Even if his scoring decreases, his all around stats should rise substantially within the Lakers’ system, making him a valid selection for your team. If you plot your draft course correctly, he should still be around later than usual.

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