The Dingo 69: #12 – #1

THE WAIT IS FINALLY OVER. As you prepare to watch the Cavs play their first game tonight, here are the top 12 players of this season. 

12. Russell Westbrook, PG/SG, Oklahoma City Thunder

The absence of KD for the first four to eight weeks of the season threatens to take Rusty to a whole new level of shoot-first-ask-questions-later. Is it necessarily a good thing, though? More shots taken could equal more shots missed, leading to a flattening out of Westbrook’s fantasy potential. Regardless, the upside is worth taking a gamble on, and he’ll still be great when Durant comes back.

11. Blake Griffin, PF/C, LA Clippers

One of the truest, most aggressive bangers in the league, Griffin brings unbridled delight to any fantasy team because he scores with panache and joie de vivre and with his balls in his opponent’s face. His connection with CP3 is unstoppable, and with the Clips set for a big season, this guy is going to be an absolute monster. Get him on your team.  

10. Damian Lillard, PG, Portland Trail Blazers

Could he be the most valuable point guard in 2014/15? In a crowded waiting room, he is in the conversation to be asked into the doctor’s office and told to take his pants off and lie down on the consultation table before any other point guard is asked to do the same. Plays on a consistent team where everyone knows their role. Hold onto your ankles because this could be a huge season for the guy.

9. Al Jefferson, PF/C, Charlotte Horncats

Now HERE is the real Big Al. Gah, is there anything more beautiful than a Big Al post move? Answer is no, there’s not, now LET’S GO GET A GD SNACK (Hi, Rex!). Makes the art of banging look like poetry, and is almost guaranteed to produce on a surging Hornets team so long as he can stay healthy.

8. Stephen Curry, PG, Golden State Warrios

Is this the year for the Warriors? Could Steph’s threes as well as his assists to Klay and Lee be the secret to winning your fantasy league? Who knows—but here’s a great recipe to curry chicken and broccoli that my mum used to make me at least once a week:

Stephen Curried Chicken and Broccoli Casserole

Ingredients:

cooking spray (such as Pam®)

1 bunch broccoli, cut into chunks - or more to taste

1 (3 pound) cooked rotisserie chicken, meat removed from bones and chopped

2 (10.75 ounce) cans cream of chicken soup

1 cup mayonnaise

1/4 cup lemon juice

1 teaspoon curry powder

salt and ground black pepper to taste

1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

1 cup crushed corn flakes cereal

1/4 cup slivered almonds (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.

2. Place broccoli into a microwave-safe dish with a lid, pour in a small amount of water, cover, and cook on high in microwave until broccoli is steaming and bright green, 2 to 3 minutes. Carefully remove lid and spread broccoli into the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Spread cooked chicken in a layer over the broccoli.

3. Whisk cream of chicken soup, mayonnaise, lemon juice, curry powder, salt, and black pepper in a bowl and pour sauce over the chicken and broccoli. Spread the Cheddar cheese over the sauce and sprinkle casserole with corn flake crumbs and almonds.

4. Bake uncovered in the preheated oven until the casserole is bubbling, the cheese has melted, and the crumb topping is browned, about 30 minutes.

5. Enjoy!

7. Kevin Durant, SF/PF, Oklahoma City Thunder

Even without a functioning bone in one foot, I still believe KD deserves to be ranked this highly. Here’s why: when active, he can single-handedly carry your team to fantasy victory week after week after week. Every other night, he is worth two top-20 players combined. He’s stinging from last year’s playoff loss, and wants to play at an even higher level this year. Ignore the injury, keep the faith and get him on your roster.

6. Boogie Cousins, PF/C, Sacramento Kings

Lolz this is a hilarious ranking for Boogie but I CANNOT HELP MYSELF, I JUST CAN'T. Freed from the “curse” of Isaiah Thomas (“HE WAS STEALING MY SHOTS NOT FAIR” *crosses arms tightly, pouts*), Boogs is ready to take 75% of the shots on a stinky Kings team this year. And hey, why not! No one else on this team can shoot, except maybe STAUSKAS off the bench. Get ready for a season of bad, banging basketball from the Kings—with this guy leading the charge.

5. Chris Paul, PG, LA Clippers

While he may not shoot as often as Russell Westbrook, or score as many threes as Lillard and Curry, CP3 brings an all-round game, including leadership, to a Clippers team which is on the rise. The Clippers feel well balanced this year, and poised to make a story-tale run at the championship. And it will be this guy leading the way, with elite defense, solid shooting, and dishing lob after lob to his big boys Blake and DeAndre.

4. Lebron James, SF, Cleveland Cavaliers

The King is back in Cleveland and everyone is happy about it. Anyone who followed his work last year, though, would’ve seen that The King felt the pains of his Miami team on the fantasy court just as much as he did in American Airlines Arena. He will take awhile to get accustomed to his new teammates and new coach in Cleveland, and may look to become more of a distributor than an out-and-out scorer. So don’t rely on this guy being the Fantasy MVP to go along with the real deal.

3. Carmelo Anthony, SF/PF, New York Knicks

Dear lord, what happened to the GD Knicks? Goodness gracious me. Big Phil is in town to try to save face, playing games of Telephone with Derek Fisher about how to run the team while also saying HEY THIS IS YOUR TEAM but run it my way but HEY YOU DO YOU. The main problem for Fisher will be getting Melo to snap out of his shoot-first mindset, a near-impossible task that is great news to fantasy owners. Trust me: this Big Dog is gonna eat, and eat often.

2. Anthony Davis, PF, New Orleans Pelicans         

Is this brow, The Brow's brow, the most famous brow of all time? I’m not just talking basketball here, I’m talking all fields, all industries—is he the most famous brow to ever walk the Earth?? I'm pretty certain he is, but hit me @fantasydingo if you think I’m wrong. In the meantime, Davis is back and looking better than ever on a still-mediocre Pelicans team. If he stays healthy, there’s a huge chance he will be the number one player in fantasy.

1. Kevin Love, PF, Cleveland Cavaliers

Should we have ranked him #0? Eh, probably not, that's kind of lame. K-Love may have some doubters out there about his ability to carry a team. But there are no doubts regarding his fantasy ability. While he was the only option on the Timberwolves last year, he will maintain his elite level on the Cavs as LeBron takes on more of a curatorial role, and begins to mentor the likes of Kevin and helps to get them going each and every night. Brings a unique combination of bangs and treys, and can shoot a mid-range one play and take it to the hoop the next. In short, K-Love has it all.