---

The Answerman is the first and only fantasy basketball and romance advice columnist on the net. He is here to answer all your questions (or at least the interesting ones).

It's the INBOX baby!

Dear Answerman....

I just found your site recently and it rocks... So much useful information, if I woulda known about it sooner maybe I'd be leading my league... Anyway.. I’m in a 10 team roto-league and need to ask you a pretty straightforward question.. My line up has Centers: Ben Wallace, Theo Ratliff,Nazr Mohammed, and good ol' Vlade Divac. What do you figure with Divac and do you think I have too much in terms of guards??? -Vla Dee-Dah

Dear Dee-Dah: Two parts to answer your question. On the one hand, I don’t think too much of Vlade. He has been an unusual center over his career. Great in terms of passing, but never really did the appropriate center-things (block, rebound, shoot a high fg%) to merit a big part of as good fantasy team.

However, you are currently stocked with traditional centers, Nazr for the boards, Ratliff for the blocks, Wallace for the whole thing mixed together. If you don’t have pressing needs at guard or forward, there is no harm in hanging on to Vlade. There may come a situation where you need some extra assists. Vlade may prove to be a useful specialist.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the interests of equal time, and because this guy spent a lot of time on this e-mail:

While I agree with most of your assessments in your Dec. 22 column, I disagree with your take on Larry Hughes. Have you watched much of the Wizards this year? The way Eddie Jordan uses Hughes and the way he has been playing suggest that he will keep it up all year.

Specific reasons why he will keep it up:

1) minutes - he gets 36+ a night, which is 3 more than his last year average and 6 more than his career average

2) the hybrid backcourt - Hughes brings the ball up as much as Arenas. They are both hybrid point/shooting guards and Hughes is more involved in the offense as a shooter AND a passer

3) defense - Hughes seems to be playing with tons of intensity on the defensive end and seems determined to steal the ball every possession. More importantly, Jordan has him guarding opposing point guards rather than 2-guards, hence the steal surge.

4) productive Washington offense - It is comforting that the trio of Hughes, Arenas and Jamison all seem to be putting up numbers at the same time and Washington is scoring 100+ points per game

5) consistency - Hughes used to be very inconsistent. This year, he seems to put up close to his 19, 6, 5, and 2 averages every night and isn't going off one night followed by a dud the next.

While I don't think he can get much better, I don't see him falling off either. I would argue not to "sell high".

Have I changed your mind?

--Jeff

Dear Jeff: No, not really. Looking at your reasons, who knows if any of these will keep up? Hughes’ defensive intensity? Productive Washington offense? Consistency? If there has been one consistent in Hughes’ career, its inconsistency. In light of that, I see him falling off.

I hope he keeps it up - I really do. I just don’t see it.

I recently acquired Marc Jackson of Philly Sixers. Marc has had an outstanding season this year as starting center for Philly but for some reason the Coach asked him to come off the bench starting Dec 13 for Samuel Dalembert.WHAT!!!! is he nutsss? I mean don't get me wrong Sam is an ok player.. but not quite as good Jackson..(You might disagree with me on that).. Should I keep jackson on my roster?? or drop him? Do you think the coach will realize as the season progresses that Jackson is the better qualified center? -- Hali.

Dear Hali: I am done with Jim O’Brien and his center nonsense. No matter who starts between Dalembert and Jackson, neither gets enough consistent minutes to warrant your reliance.

Move on. The Nets are more committed to Krstic, who leads the league in consonant to vowel ratio (5:1), than Philly is to either Dalembert or Jackson.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reading your article is like watching Dr. J driving to the lane with finesse and style. It has actually helped me on and off the fantasy courts. Im currently fourth (5-2 record) on my league( 12 teams) and of my two losses I was Leading or close at almost all categories except assists (where I’m dead last) I'm thinking of trading Mobley for Arroyo and Ridnour. They don't score much but they help me out at a category where I suck. Thank you for your time and patience. -- Gerald

Dear Gerald: Great e-mail. Well spelled, grammatically correct, with a good compliment - advice to the readers, this is what I want my INBOX to look like.

Do not trade Mobley for the extra assists. Assuming you are in a head-to-head league, you can do very well giving up on a category and make up the difference in the categories in which you are only slightly lacking. Arroyo and Ridnour will not make you an assist king.

Like the song says, accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative. Adding a guy like Arroyo to a team without assists only gets you a spot as Mr. In-Between.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Should I trade one of Redd or Jefferson and Randolph for ming and Mobley. Then I would offer Mobley to another team who wants him for C.Webber. -- Chipper

Dear Chipper: I have no problem with the proposed deal - by the numbers. I just want to tell you that unless your league has an three-way-trading mechanism, I’d avoid doing a deal based on what another owner tells you they will do.

Fantasy owners are scumbags. There is no code of conduct, rules of professionalism, courtesy owed to one another - there is only rabid competition among owners. So, before you go forward with this deal, be prepared to have Mobley in your lineup. If you can deal with that, do it. If not, see if you can just move Jefferson for Webber.

Think of bad singers. Don’t sing 3 notes when 1 will do.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I am a single parent that has custody of my 7 year old daughter. I have a friend who does not understand that I cannot come and see her whenever I want to because I am a father 1st, 2nd and 3rd. We argue like we are in a relationship but neither one of u wants that title. But when we do get together, the loving is darn good if you feel me. Should I leave her alone since I am tired of arguing or just stick it out and reap the benefits whenever we do get together? Keep doing what u do because I enjoy reading it. Sincerely -- What is a man to do

Dear What: This questions sounds much more difficult that it is. Just work the numbers...how many kids you got? 1? How many girls out there can "give the good love"? A million?

Honestly, what magic does that girl have that make it worth the aggravation?

Find another girl to be passionate about. One who understands and respects your job as a man.

That’s all the time for now. Remember, any questions, ask the Answerman@insidehoops.net