RADIO
There's an old cliche, "Offense wins games, defense wins championships." While that may ring true in the NBA, in fantasy basketball, owning a player who can score the ball at a high level can aid you in a number of ways.
Gunners typically has a negative connotation, referring to someone who shoots without consequence. For the purpose of this exercise, a Gunner is not only someone who shoots without shame, but someone who gets a lot of those buckets to fall. His scoring, however is not a detriment to his team, but rather due to advanced metrics we know that these Gunners produce the highest number of wins for their team compared to their contemporaries.
In other words, shooting wins. Just like any Gunner would tell you.
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Damian Lillard
Lillard was selected for the All-Star team for the first time in his career this season, but his play on the court has been elite for a few years.
Lillard continues to get better each year and has become well known for his ability to take over games in the clutch.
Dame Time.
It's as if an internal clock goes off in his head that morphs his body into a scoring machine.
It was on display in Monday's win over the Lakers. Lillard scored 39 points, including 15 straight to lead the Blazers back from 10 down.
For the season, Lillard is sixth in points per game (26.2), and sixth in offensive win shares (6.9). He is shooting 44 percent from the field, while averaging three threes per game. He is a 91 percent shooter from the free throw line, not to mention averaging 6.5 assists per game.
In a conference that boasts point guards Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul and Steph Curry, Lillard has long been its most unheralded star. If he keeps gunning, it won't be for much longer.
Kemba Walker
Kemba Walker made his second All-Star game appearance this season after injuries sidelined a few players. Despite Charlotte's woeful season, Walker has been its lone bright spot. A consistent beacon of scoring that does not change whether the team wins or loses. During Charlotte's current three-game losing streak Walker has averaged 27 points per game. In the Hornets' five game winning steak preceding its current slide, Walker averaged 24.6 points per game.
For the season, Walker is averaging 23.2 points per game, and is 15th at 5.5 offensive win shares. Walker, despite any type of help coming close to his skill-level, still averages 5.5 assists per game. Walker also has a tendency to put players on skates like he's running an ice rink.
Walker's shooting percentage is not great. Given, however, how many different areas he's able to contribute due to the volume and expectations the Hornets have for him offensively, it's not surprising that Walker is currently ranked 20 in Yahoo! Sports leagues.
DeMar DeRozan
DeMar DeRozan has always been considered a supreme talent. Ever since he was drafted ninth in the 2009 draft, DeRozan has shown the potential to be a prolific scorer. The last five years he has realized those predictions, while also evolving his game.
Despite DeRozan's proclivity to score, his value in fantasy basketball was always limited by his shot selection. In his previous eight years, DeRozan averaged less than a half a three a game. This season he made the decision to extend his game and double the amount of threes he takes. The results have elevated DeRozan from a mid-level talent to teetering on third round fantasy value.
DeRozan is averaging 23.7 points per game and touts a 5.6 offensive win share--good enough for 12th. His advanced metrics are the best they've ever been, having career highs in almost category, including win share per 48 minutes (.184), offensive box plus/minus (3.1), box plus/minus (2.5), value over replacement (2.4) and the ever important true shooting percentage (.560).
Now that he's taken his game outside, it has forced teams to stretch their defense which has led to a more efficient game and better numbers for the Raptors and your fantasy basketball team.
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