Valley of the Suns
Fansided

Phoenix Suns – Fantasy basketball to reality Part 1

By Khaleel Abdullah

PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 9: Alex Len #21 of the Phoenix Suns is introduced before a game against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 9, 2017 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 9: Alex Len #21 of the Phoenix Suns is introduced before a game against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 9, 2017 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The NBA season is finally here. And so is Fantasy Basketball. To make it a little interesting, I thought I’d look at the projected fantasy stats for each member of the team and put it next to what I think could be their real life averages this year.

Mike James, Alec Peters and Derrick Jones Jr. are further down on the depth chart barring injury. Brandon Knight, Davon Reed and Alan Williams are injured to begin the season. Jared Dudley will miss time due to injury and will be more of a vet presence than stat contributor. These players won’t be included for these stated reasons.

DRAGAN BENDER – PF

SALT LAKE CITY, UT – OCTOBER 6: Dragan Bender #35 of the Phoenix Suns looks on during the game against the Utah Jazz on October 6, 2017 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – OCTOBER 6: Dragan Bender #35 of the Phoenix Suns looks on during the game against the Utah Jazz on October 6, 2017 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Last Season – 35% FG 27% 3P 36 % FT 3.4 Pts 2.4 Rebs .5 Blks in 13.3 Mins
ESPN Fantasy Projection – 4.8 Pts 2.6 Rebs .5 Blks in 15 Mins

Bender took 3.7 FGA and played 13.3 minutes per game. For his development, he needs to take more shots to improve his shooting and play more but he is too raw to make a huge jump.

Respectable progress while keeping it obtainable would put his shooting splits around 40FG%, 303P%, 60FT and 5 FGA would be allowable in 20-25 minutes per contest. This would have him averaging…

Reasonable Prediction – 40 % FG 30 % 3P 60 % FT 5.1 Pts 3.2 Rebs .7 Blks in 20 Mins
Goal – 45% FG 35 % 3P 65 % FT 10.4 Pts 4.5 Rebs .9 Blks in 25 Mins
Middle Ground – 42 % FG 32 % 3P 62 % FT 7.7 Pts 3.9 Rebs .8 Blks in 22 Mins

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