Felipe Molina

With the NBA season on the way, it’s time for you to start getting your fantasy team ready. With that said, I figured I help you guys out and give you my top five fantasy players. My top player is obviously LeBron James. King James was last season’s leading scorer, averaging 30 points per game, and will again wear the crown this season, as James is the Cleveland Cavaliers’ offense.

For No. 2, with a man I personally don’t care for on a personal level, you have to give credit where credit is due and Kobe Bryant will help out any fantasy team. Bryant averaged 28.3 points per game last season, and coming off of a disappointing loss in the NBA Championship, you know Bryant is going to come out aggressive and stay aggressive all season.

Number three has to be Amare Stoudemire. Stoudemire on one of the highest scoring offenses in the league, so you know he’ll get you at least 20 points a game week in and week out. Stoudemire will also pull down at least five to eight rebounds a game to go along with his 20-points-a-night.

For my fourth and fifth picks, I thought more outside the box, and these two players are my two dark horses. These guys would be steals in the later rounds and anybody who ever played in a fantasy league knows it’s the dark horse that wins it for you. With that said, my No. 4 pick is Michael Redd from the Milwaukee Bucks. He’ll get you about 20 points per game and a few assists a night.

Now for No. 5, you have to go with Mike Dunleavy. That’s right, Mike Dunleavy. You’re probably asking why. I ask, “Why not?” Dunleavy will average 19 points a game, and with the Pacers low on talent he should get more playing time, which will translate to more points. If you’re not sold on Dunleavy now, just think about how he might just surprise you.

Ronnie Nurss

When the NFL season rolls around there are two things that come to my mind. One, baseball is ending soon… thank you, God. There is nothing more agonizing than watching Sports Center filled with 30 minutes of so called “baseball highlights.” Second, the NBA season is right around the corner starting on Halloween. Last season was full of surprises. This season should be no different.

If I was master of the universe, my championship-winning, starting line-up would look like the following:

1. Deron Williams – Deron Williams will become the most solid, pure and true point guard of the NBA. I love Steve Nash, but the fact that he’s turning 35 leaves me with doubts about his health. D-Will is a big point guard with unmatched quickness and can be unstoppable when given the opportunity. He can run any offense and orchestrate any fast break. And if breaking ankles was a stat, he would be numero uno.

2. Kobe Bryant – Sacramento seems to have a fetish of hating on Kobe. As a basketball player, he is the most dominant player in the 21st century and the greatest 4th-quarter assassin of all time. And yes, Kobe is better than LeBron, at least today. Look for Kobe to still score, and watch him pile up assists as he finally has legit teammates to rely on such as big guys who can actually catch a ball (see Kwame Brown). With Andrew Bynum ready to become a premier center in the NBA and the craftiness of Pau Gasol, Kobe will be adding more hardware to his trophy case.

3. Tayshaun Prince – Defense wins championships and Prince is living proof of it. Every team needs the guy that can lock down any scorer. Prince is the ultimate 1v1 defender. He reminds me of Inspector Gadget with his ever-growing arms. He is the best weak-side block shotter in the league. The most underrated, small forward with great basketball IQ and has no loose nuts in the head (see Ron Artest?).

4. LeBron James – Since LeBron is just a freak of nature, and with the rise of smaller and faster game play, I will start King James at power forward. He proved he can play it in the Olympics, and c’mon, there may be only a handful of guys that can hang with him physically. Kobe and Lebron are both a jackpot for fantasy leaguers and GMs alike.

5. Dwight Howard – Finally, a true center the NBA has been waiting for. There has not been a legit, real center since Shaq weighed less than 400 pounds. Centers do not shoot three-pointers or finish with weak lay ups. Centers actually jump and contest shots (see Brad Miller). Dwight is low maintenance since he doesn’t need designed plays for him to score. He will average 20 points from rebounds and alley oops along with 15 board a game.

Honorable mention to Kevin Martin. This guy finally added meat to him and look for him to step up for the Kings. Andrew Bynum will become the Laker’s ticket to the NBA Finals.

Busts are going to be the likes of Dwayne Wade. I knew this guy would only last a few years -max. He’s too small for getting knocked down as many times as he does. Those injuries are finally catching up to him. Brad Miller should follow Shareed Abdul-Rahim and just retire. I feel embarrassed and break stuff when I watch him try (or not) to block shots. He’s like Vlade Divac, but Divac could still dunk.

Jordan Guinn

Fantasy basketball is my annual ritual of belligerently deriding opponents homicidal rhetoric on the message boards and shattering their frail egos with my superior fantasy basketball coaching skills. I’m Red Auerbach, Lenny Wilkens and Bobby Knight all rolled into one.

Like all of them, I believe in seeing the game played right so I will give you this public service and offer my experience.

The only league worth playing in is a head-to-head league with a 12-man roster and you have to play seven players each night. Ideally, there is no limit on transactions. If possible, have a live draft. Do not play in any other type. A league that allows you to share players is a socialist, time-wasting endeavor.

Now I know this is all anyone is reading this column for, so I will stop with the filler material and give you the lineup.

My fantasy roster this year: Dwight Howard, Amare Stoudemire, Shawn Marion, Paul Pierce and Chris Paul. My bench will be a mix of guys who give me double-doubles on a consistent basis and those who fill in when a starter goes down with an injury or suspension.

I also believe in snatching people up just so others cannot get them. If you are playing a team that is thin on point guards, pick up whoever might be available just to spite your opponent.

Good luck.

Felipe Molina, Ronnie Nurss and Jordan Guinn can be reached at [email protected].