Most Disappointing Fantasy Small Forwards of NBA's First Half

By Vincent Frank on Thursday, February 16th 2017
Most Disappointing Fantasy Small Forwards of NBA's First Half

Trevor Ariza, Houston Rockets

Positional Ranking: 11th

Preseason Small Forward ADP: 8th

It's not that Ariza has been bad this season. He's still averaging 11.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Instead, it's that the fake basketball community overvalued him a great deal in terms of his preseason ADP. For someone that has not put up as much as 13 points per game in each of the past two seasons, it made no sense for him to be the eighth small forward off the board heading into the year. 

True to form, Ariza simply has not lived up to expectations from that perspective. It had to be expected with both Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson coming over to Houston to act as secondary scoring options to James Harden. It also doesn't help that Ariza is shooting just 41 percent from the field and averaging just 10.2 shot attempts per game. 

Add in the fact that he's not producing as much as six rebounds and three assists per outing, and it's readily apparent that preseason expectations for Ariza were overblown a great deal. 

 

Chandler Parsons, Memphis Grizzlies

Positional Ranking: N/A

Preseason Small Forward ADP: 15th

This is more about injury than anything else. Parsons has played a grand total of 26 games and is averaging less than 20 minutes per game due to minutes restrictions since returning. But when on the court, Parsons simply has failed to return to earlier-career form. 

Here's a guy that's shooting at a career-low clip from both the field (35 percent) and three-point range (27 percent). The hope here is that once Parsons gets his legs under him, he'll be able to perform at a higher clip. Unfortunately, Parsons' recent history, less than 14 points per game last season, seems to suggest this is a long shot. 

 

Jae Crowder, Boson Celtics

Positional Ranking: 16th 

Preseason Small Forward ADP: 10th

After improving in each of his first four seasons in the NBA, most expected Crowder to break out big time this season. He was looking to take on a secondary scoring role behind Isaiah Thomas and the recently acquired Al Horford. Unfortunately, that simply has not happened. 

Crowder is shooting at a career best 47 percent from the field while also topping is personal mark from distance at 42 percent. He is, however, averaging less points while maintaining the same level in terms of rebounds and assists as a season ago. That's not the statistical progression most expected and it has him as nothing more than a bench option in standard leagues 

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