October 15, 2007, 2:28 PM

Key Position Battles

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Whitling By Josh Whitling
Special to ESPN.com
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Jason Williams versus Smush Parker, Heat point guard
Both players have holes in their games. Parker's percentages -- 43 percent on field goals and 64 percent on free throws, are wretched, and he's not a distributor, averaging just 2.8 assists in 30 minutes per game last season. But he did average 1.3 3-pointers and 1.5 steals, and his real advantage over Williams is his defense. Last season, White Chocolate shot 41 percent from the floor, but 91 percent from the stripe and averaged 5.3 assists and 1.6 3's, good enough numbers to make him fantasy-viable. This looks like a classic time-share, much like Earl Watson and Luke Ridnour in Seattle, where one is on the floor when the team needs an offensive facilitator and the other when it needs defense. Neither will gobble up all the minutes, and regardless of who starts, this is a classic case of a platoon hurting both players' values. Parker has a higher ceiling and is a much lower injury risk, but Williams will likely start and get more minutes at the beginning of the season since Smush came into camp out of shape.

Charlie Villanueva versus Yi Jianlian, Bucks power forward
Had management not supposedly guaranteed Yi (pronounced "E," like the worst character on "Entourage") big minutes, it seems as if the no-brainer is to start Villanueva and give him the bulk of the playing time while slowly developing Yi. But if Yi's gonna get 25 minutes per night, Villanueva will have to play a lot of small forward to top 30 minutes per game, which he's failed to do in each of his first two seasons. Even though he can play the 3, there's a similar duel there between Desmond Mason and Bobby Simmons, so minutes are sparse there as well. The Bucks better hope Yi deserves the minutes he was promised, because they're being taken away from an enticing player who has yet to play his best basketball.

Damon Stoudamire versus Mike Conley Jr. versus Kyle Lowry, Grizzlies point guard
Stoudamire still has enough game to warrant minutes when he's healthy, but he has played in just 89 games over the past two seasons and is on the downswing of his career. Mighty Mouse hasn't been quiet about the fact he wants to play for a contender, even though he hasn't officially demanded a trade. He did come into camp in the best shape he's been in since he blew out his knee back in December 2005. I still don't trust his health, though. If he's out of the picture -- either because of trade or injury -- it would really open the door for Lowry. The second-year guard from Villanova played well in 10 games last season before a broken wrist ended it. He and Conley look like a nice point-guard tandem for the future and both of them could end the season with better stats than Stoudamire. I'm banking on Stoudamire beginning the season as the starter, getting hurt or traded and Conley taking over the reigns, with Lowry as a capable backup.

Antoine Walker versus Dorell Wright, Heat small forward
Walker posted career lows in nearly every category in '06-07, and his productivity is clearly declining. Enter Wright, a potential-laden swingman who could be a serious sleeper this season. I wouldn't be surprised if he was the starter at small forward on opening day, and with 0.6 steals and 0.7 blocks in just 19 minutes per game last season, Wright could eclipse one per game in both categories, a prized combination in the realm of fantasy hoops.

Speedy Claxton versus Acie Law, Hawks point guard
Injury-prone vet, or the rook drafted to be the future leader of the team? Lucky for the Hawks, they won't have to choose one or the other, since it'll likely be a time-share, but if Claxton misses games as usual, the college vet could be one of the best rookies in the league. The ambidextrous-shooting '"Captain Clutch" averaged 18.1 points on 50 percent shooting while hitting 1.1 3's, grabbing 1.1 steals and dishing out five assists per game as a senior at Texas A&M and was impressive during the Hawks' summer league games. Claxton had knee surgery in June and has averaged a mere 47 games per season in his seven-year career, if you count his rookie season in which he missed all 82 games. Law will have fantasy value this year. Most pegged Mike Conley to be the best rookie point guard, but Law might take that crown.

Gordan Giricek versus Ronnie Brewer versus Morris Almond versus C.J. Miles, Jazz shooting guard
Derek Fisher's departure leaves a gaping hole in the Jazz's lineup, and one of these guys is going to have to step up and prove he's worthy of the minutes. I'm not a fan of Giricek in the fantasy sense. Brewer has the highest upside and was touted as the shooting guard of the future for Utah, but disappointed last season. Almond provides a much-needed shooter, and was the third-leading scorer in the NCAA last season with 26 points per game. However, he's seen as a one-dimensional scorer and his defense is lacking. After a testy offseason involving contract disputes and criticism from Jerry Sloan when he didn't play summer ball, Miles has thrown his name into the hat. Calvin Junior probably could've used a few years in college, but has some talent and could emerge as the backup. Due to his ability to defend three positions, the fact Sloan spoke highly about him during preseason, and his overall potential, I like Brewer's prospects to emerge as the best fantasy candidate here. Keep an eye on Almond, though, as he should help in 3's this season.

Tyrus Thomas versus Joakim Noah versus Andres Nocioni versus Joe Smith, Bulls power forward
Scott Skiles must determine how to get his promising youngsters some run, while ensuring Nocioni's recently-signed 5-year deal is worth it and finding minutes for Smith. Luckily, all four players have some positional versatility, and Nocioni will likely act as a backup at both forward positions, providing a scoring punch. He suffered from plantar fasciitis in his right foot last season, which limited him to 53 games, so heaping minutes upon him likely isn't in Skiles' game plan. I think Thomas will end up as the starter and be near a steal and two blocks per game. He's the best bet to break out. Noah will play well in limited minutes backing up at the 4 and 5 and fighting Smith for PT. Smith basically inherits P.J. Brown's role and his workload will be heavily dictated by how well the youngins play.

Jorge Garbajosa versus Jason Kapono versus Joey Graham versus Carlos Delfino, Raptors small forward
Garbajosa turned heads last season, but was favoring his leg at the start of training camp and underwent ankle and fibula surgery March 30. Kapono won the 3-point contest then got a big contract, but might not even start. The only thing Graham has done consistently is disappoint, and Delfino never found his niche in Detroit and has a fresh start with the Raps. I think that Kapono will be the best fantasy player, albeit a bit one-dimensional, because his 3's are a guarantee even if his role as a starter is not. Two 3-pointers per game is not out of the question if he logs 30 minutes per night. Garbajosa will play minutes at power forward as well, and even though I like his combo of 3-pointers and steals, I have a bad feeling about that leg. He turns 30 in December so he isn't the typical second-year player. As for Graham, it's never a good sign when a player's minutes decrease from his rookie to sophomore campaigns. This is his make-or-break year, and he's shown little in training camp to prove he's going to make it. Delfino has worked his way into the mix and can also play shooting guard. He should see an uptick in minutes and stats, since he's in a much better situation than playing behind Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince. Kapono's overall stats should improve this season, even if he fails to match last season's unconscious 51 percent mark from downtown. I think he is the best of the bunch.

David Lee versus Quentin Richardson versus Renaldo Balkman versus Jared Jeffries, Knicks small forward
Q should begin the season as the starting small forward, but he had back surgery in March and will be pressed for PT when Balkman returns from his ankle injury. Richardson should start the season off well and is a great source of 3-pointers and surprising rebounds (2.0 and 7.2 last season, respectively), but he's a huge injury risk. Balkman will miss all of training camp and perhaps a few games, opening a window for Jeffries to produce, but don't expect much since he never has in the past. Balkman was a defensive stopper in the summer league, and is the most intriguing of all these players. He gets steals, blocks and boards when he's in, and scores with efficiency. I like his long-term prospects, but Richardson is a better bet for the start of the season. Lee will backup Zach Randolph at the 4 and play the 3 in certain lineups, but will have difficulty increasing his minute total from last season unless injuries occur. He missed time due to a stress reaction in his leg last season, so it's probably better long-term that he's not needed forty minutes per-night. Even though he's not a starter, he's the best of this group, as his 60 percent from the floor, 82 percent and 10.4 rebounds make him fantasy gold.