We’re officially in the NBA’s silly season, and combined with a 14-game schedule last night there is a lot to get to so let’s get right to it.
To follow me on Twitter for real-time news and fantasy insights, click here.
READ AND REACT
The Heat will rest players according to Eric Spoelstra, and with the Bulls 2.5 games ahead of them for the top seed in the East I believe him. Spo put that plan into motion last night when he rested both Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh against the lowly Raptors. That left LeBron James free to do his thing, as he scored 28 points on 12-of-15 shooting with five rebounds, four assists, and two steals, and Mario Chalmers picked up the pace with nine points, seven assists, two steals, and a three in the blowout win. Like a lot of situations around the league, all owners can do is read and react.
RIP TO THE RESCUE
Derrick Rose did not play against the Bobcats, as expected, and said before the game that he’s still dealing with fluids around his injured ankle’s tendons, which is a fancy way to describe swelling. Luol Deng (ribs) did not play, either, but both are at least candidates to play tonight against the Heat. Richard Hamilton scored 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting with four threes and six assists, and while we have to consider the opponent he has had two other similar games in the four games before tonight. Will Rose and Deng hurt him upon return? Of course. But if the Bulls can beat the Heat they'll have the top seed all-but wrapped up, and even if they don't win they'll have a few shots to do it after tonight. If/when they wrap it up, each of the team's main contributors will be candidates for rest. Unlike his teammates, though, Rip may be put on a different plan because he still needs to improve his conditioning. C.J. Watson was not needed much and finished with nine points, six rebounds, three assists, and two threes in just 21 minutes, and he should be owned until we get confirmation that Rose is returning at the very least.
YOU COMPLETE ME
Baron Davis (illness) did not play last night, giving Mike Bibby a rare start at point guard. Bibby put up eight points with three boards, eight assists, a steal, and two threes, and could conceivably be the next old guy up if Davis can’t go. Unless this was a one-time shot, Mike Woodson has essentially said that he’d rather put a liability on the court than move Iman Shumpert to the point. Shump had four steals to go with his eight points, three rebounds, and five assists, and is best served as a steals specialist right now while his numbers are down on the whole. Carmelo Anthony continued his torrid pace with 33 points, five threes, seven boards, four assists, and a block, and sidekick J.R. Smith kept up his must-start pace with 15 points, eight boards, a steal, and three treys. They complete each other.
LEAVE IT TO CRASH
Deron Williams (calf) did not play and could be done for the year, so Sundiata Gaines stepped up again with 18 points, four threes, six rebounds, six assists, and a steal. Assuming no funny business out of Avery Johnson’s camp, I don’t see why Gaines won’t continue providing at least low-end production while Williams is out. I’m calling him a must-own player right now. Gerald Wallace (hamstring) played last night and put up 21 points, five rebounds, one assist, and one three in 31 minutes. Leave it to Crash to fight his way back into meaningless games, but it doesn’t hurt that he’ll be in the market for an extension. His return put MarShon Brooks back into training wheels, as he scored just five points with not much else in 21 minutes. If you can buy time to see how Saturday’s game goes for Brooks it is ideal, but he can’t be considered a must-own player knowing that Wallace steals his thunder the moment he steps on the floor.
FOR EMERGENCIES ONLY
Jose Calderon (eye) was available for emergencies only last night, so Ben Uzoh filled in and put on one of his disappearing acts with three points, five rebounds, and two assists in 33 minutes of action. He’s a desperation play at best, even in 14-16 team formats. Calderon is being handled like a guy who is shutting it down, but information is scarce right now. James Johnson continues to put up usable numbers off the bench, as last night he scored 18 points with six boards, two assists, and three steals. Alan Anderson is getting heavy run, playing 45 minutes on his way to 15 points on 7-of-18 shooting (0-for-8 from deep). A 3-point specialist for rosters right now, he won’t miss forever and the volume here is enticing. Linas Kleiza (knee) didn’t play and any future absences will help both Johnson and Anderson. Amir Johnson (three points, four boards) and Ed Davis (eight points, four boards, one steal, three blocks) were both uninspiring, but will be worth a look playing for a decimated Raptors squad.
OPEN HOUSE
Eric Gordon was rested last night and is apparently likely to go tonight against the Rockets. I don’t get it, as the Hornets are letting Gordon gear up for one-game explosions that are just going to drive up his value this summer. Of course, maybe that’s what they want, as some team is going to crack open the piggy bank and offer his Brandon Roy knee a lot of money. I’d be willing to bet the Hornets are letting Gordon call the shots here, trying not to offend the player that was the centerpiece of the Chris Paul trade fiasco. Marco Belinelli scored 16 points with two threes and will be worth a look for those categories whenever Gordon is out.
Hornets backup PG Jerome Dyson bricked a dunk 30-feet straight up in the air the other day, and aside from his recent signing that’s about all I knew about the athletic UConn product. Last night he did what most 10-day guys do when they get a chance, and that’s fire at will on his way to 24 points on 5-of-7 shooting (14-of-16 from the foul line) with three rebounds, two assists, and three steals in 27 minutes off the bench. Greivis Vasquez was quiet during Dyson’s audition, scoring nine points on 4-of-9 shooting with seven turnovers, nine assists, and two steals. I can’t tell owners to run to the wire knowing that Vasquez’s sloppy night likely contributed to the undrafted free agent’s big night, and a return to equilibrium combined with the inconsistency that Dyson is likely to show is a recipe for disappointment. I’m calling Dyson a flier at best, especially with Gordon targeting tonight for a return. Fellow 10-day guy, center Daryl Watkins had 13 boards with two blocks to go with two points in 27 minutes, and will be worth a look behind Jason Smith (12 and four, no steals or blocks) and Carl Landry (16 points, one board, one block).
IVAN THE NOT-SO-TERRIBLE
The Hawks spanked the Pistons last night, so none of the starters eclipsed 23 minutes. Owners of Jeff Teague (6-3-5), Josh Smith (12 and nine, one block), and Joe Johnson (13 points) can give them each a pass due to the blowout, but we’re not going to write off Ivan Johnson’s 16 points and 10 boards. With Zaza Pachulia likely out the rest of the year, Johnson is now a must-own player in 12-team leagues.
IS THAT AN ALBATROSS IN YOUR CONTRACT OR ARE YOU JUST HAPPY TO SEE ME?
Brandon Knight finally cooled off in the Pistons’ blowout loss, scoring five points on 2-of-9 shooting with two rebounds, three assists, a block, and a three in 27 minutes. Overall, owners have to be pretty happy with how the rookie handled the past week or so after a miserable slump. Rodney Stuckey missed all three of his field goal attempts for zero points, two boards, and two assists in just over 20 minutes, and staring at the third game of a triple-set of games owners have right to be concerned. If he’s not injured he’s primed to bounce back, because that’s what he has done many times this season, but if he’s limping to the finish tonight could look a lot like last night.
Austin Daye got a start and was miserable, hitting just 1-of-11 shots for four points, five boards, and one block. He needs a change of scenery bad. Charlie Villanueva put up another solid deep league effort with 14 points, two threes, and six boards in 20 minutes off the bench. The Pistons would love for him to finish strong and acquire some sort of value both inside and outside of Detroit, though trading him would be an exercise in finding another team with albatross contracts. If you told me you were thinking about adding Charlie V in a 12-team league for the final four games I’d tell you it is a risk, but I wouldn’t chortle on my beverage of choice, either. A report about D-League call-up F Vernon Macklin was released yesterday morning, citing that Lawrence Frank wanted to get him playing time. Macklin tore up the D-League and those type of reports are often breadcrumbs for owners to follow, and Macklin posted a tidy eight-point, nine-rebound, one-block line in 23 minutes. Deep leaguers should keep one eye on him, even if Jonas Jerebko (seven points, eight rebounds, one three, 19 minutes) might be a half-step higher on the Totem pole.
BLINDSIDED
The only story coming out of Memphis’ win over the Hornets was the second-straight slow night from Marc Gasol. Granted, the game ended in the third quarter, but six points on 3-of-3 shooting with three boards, four assists, two steals, and one block in 23 minutes while his healthy teammates cracked 30 minutes isn’t warming the heart. There’s enough upside to keep him in lineups barring a bad report, but it’s not like we’ll be blindsided if he has another slow night. It doesn’t help that the Grizzlies have at least two games in front and in back of them as they’ve cinched up the No. 5 seed, and have the Bobcats on Friday and the Blazers, Cavs, and Magic after that. Weigh your options carefully. Owners may want to be a bit more bullish on Tony Allen (four points, two boards, two steals, one block, 19 minutes) and Marreese Speights (two points, three boards, 15 minutes) than the numbers might suggest.
CREDIT FOR TRYING
Nene (foot) made a somewhat surprising return to action on Wednesday, though the surprise isn’t so much that he returned following reports to that effect, but instead that he actually followed through with his return during the NBA’s silly season. Give him credit for trying. He put up 14 points, four rebounds, and two blocks in just 18 minutes, and he’ll be a risk-reward play not knowing if he’ll be on a minute-limit. Kevin Seraphin was predictably watered down by Nene’s presence, scoring 14 points with five rebounds and nothing else in 29 minutes. The Wizards have two days off and then will embark on a stretch of four games in six nights to finish out the year. Nene will have to be healthier than he has been all year to survive that with an up arrow next to his name, and regardless I’m holding Seraphin through Saturday unless streaming is a consideration. Jordan Crawford continued to make his case for end-of-the-year waiver wire awards, scoring 32 points with a relatively normal stat line. James Singleton kept making noise with 11 points, five boards, two steals, a block, and a three in just 21 minutes, and I’m not writing him off just yet, either.
PARTNERS IN CRIME
Jrue Holiday disappointed on Tuesday, but has otherwise picked it up as of late and last night he hit 6-of-6 threes for 24 points with five assists. His partner in crime, Andre Iguodala, continued to pour it on for owners with 19 points, 13 boards, seven assists, two steals, a block, and three treys as the Sixers picked up a much-needed win. They’re now 2.5 games ahead of the Bucks for the last spot in the East with nine games to play between the two squads.
POPULAR VOTE
The Bucks fielded a rotation that one might dare to call conventional, with Monta Ellis (31 points, six assists), Brandon Jennings (25 points, five boards, four assists, three treys), Drew Gooden (21 points, 11 boards, six assists, two steals), and Ersan Ilyasova (14 points, 11 boards, three steals, one three) all playing at least 32 minutes. Carlos Delfino (14 minutes, four points) and Mike Dunleavy (eight points, 35 minutes) were the big losers, and it’s too bad for Bucks fans that their coach doesn’t decide on a rotation and allow it to gel. These guys probably didn’t know what to do playing so much together. On a side note, Scott Skiles was voted second-to-last in popularity by an unscientific Sports Illustrated poll of players about coaches. Last? Stan Van Gundy. The top five? Pop, Rick Carlisle, Doc Rivers, Mike D’Antoni, and Rick Adelman. Not mentioned? Scott Brooks, Nate McMillan, or Monty Williams, who all have wings in the Basketball Hall of Fame in case you hadn't read Twitter in the last year.
BACK TO BOSTON
Big Baby (knee) was back to play his old boys in Boston last night, and didn’t disappoint with 27 points on 12-of-16 shooting, seven boards, three steals, and one block in 35 minutes. He’s a must-start player going forward, and a prime example of mediocre players on bad teams gobbling up statistics. Jameer Nelson is more average than mediocre, and he has returned from the dead to become a consistent, must-start player. He scored 21 points on 7-of-19 shooting (including three treys) with four rebounds, nine assists, and a steal. J.J. Redick (13-4-5, one three) and Jason Richardson (11 points, six boards, one three) are still chugging along as must-own players in 12-team formats.
LAST MEN STANDING
Ray Allen (ankle) did not play last night and owners have to at least consider the chance that he is rested all the way until the playoffs. Rajon Rondo (back) was given the night off after his tough fall on Tuesday, but we haven’t heard anything to suggest that the injury is serious. Mickael Pietrus (knee) rounded out the injury report, leaving Avery Bradley and Sasha Pavlovic in the starting five. That left Paul Pierce free to go nuts, despite the fact that he is nursing a thigh injury and has a sore left toe. Pierce scored 29 points on 9-of-14 shooting (11-of-12 FTs) with five boards, 14 assists, and two steals. Brandon Bass put up 21 points but just two boards, Kevin Garnett went for 15 and nine with a steal and block, Greg Stiemsma totally redeemed himself after bagels on Tuesday with a steal and four blocks last night, and Avery Bradley scored 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting with a three, a steal, and not much else. Bradley is posting solid mid-round value over his last five games while averaging 19.0 points, 2.2 threes, and 60 percent field goals. Give him a look if those categories interest you.
TODAY IN ‘YOU CAN’T MAKE THIS STUFF UP’
D.J. Augustin (knee) didn’t end up playing last night, but the story of yesterday was 68-year old Paul Silas shoving perennial disappointment Tyrus Thomas into his locker. I’d like to quip that if you had that outcome in your Bobcats disaster pool that you’re lying, but I can actually picture that square in one of those Super Bowl style buy-a-box contests. You know, right next to ‘develop all of your injured veterans’ and ‘sneak your son into the coaching box.’ The only thing that would have made the scene better was if Charles Oakley was still coaching. Thomas might have left the arena drinking his dinner through a sippy-straw.
Derrick Brown stayed in the game despite tweaking his ankle, scoring 14 points with six boards, a steal, and a block, and has been playing well enough to be worth a look in 12-team formats. Reggie Williams (concussion) is nowhere near returning, so Brown is a relatively safe bet in a decidedly unsafe environment. Bismack Biyombo continues to be worth owning for his blocks, and hopefully for owners he’ll continue to build to a crescendo down the stretch. He had seven points on 2-of-10 shooting with 13 boards, three assists, one steal, and two blocks. Byron Mullens got a start last night, but hit just 3-of-11 shots for nine points with three boards and no treys, steals, or blocks. Being a player with questionable talent on a team that is trying to become the worst of all time, consistency just can’t be expected. Kemba Walker posted a standard 16-3-5 line on 4-of-12 shooting, and is a must-own/start player until further notice.
We’re officially in the NBA’s silly season, and combined with a 14-game schedule last night there is a lot to get to so let’s get right to it.
To follow me on Twitter for real-time news and fantasy insights, click here.
READ AND REACT
The Heat will rest players according to Eric Spoelstra, and with the Bulls 2.5 games ahead of them for the top seed in the East I believe him. Spo put that plan into motion last night when he rested both Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh against the lowly Raptors. That left LeBron James free to do his thing, as he scored 28 points on 12-of-15 shooting with five rebounds, four assists, and two steals, and Mario Chalmers picked up the pace with nine points, seven assists, two steals, and a three in the blowout win. Like a lot of situations around the league, all owners can do is read and react.
RIP TO THE RESCUE
Derrick Rose did not play against the Bobcats, as expected, and said before the game that he’s still dealing with fluids around his injured ankle’s tendons, which is a fancy way to describe swelling. Luol Deng (ribs) did not play, either, but both are at least candidates to play tonight against the Heat. Richard Hamilton scored 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting with four threes and six assists, and while we have to consider the opponent he has had two other similar games in the four games before tonight. Will Rose and Deng hurt him upon return? Of course. But if the Bulls can beat the Heat they'll have the top seed all-but wrapped up, and even if they don't win they'll have a few shots to do it after tonight. If/when they wrap it up, each of the team's main contributors will be candidates for rest. Unlike his teammates, though, Rip may be put on a different plan because he still needs to improve his conditioning. C.J. Watson was not needed much and finished with nine points, six rebounds, three assists, and two threes in just 21 minutes, and he should be owned until we get confirmation that Rose is returning at the very least.
YOU COMPLETE ME
Baron Davis (illness) did not play last night, giving Mike Bibby a rare start at point guard. Bibby put up eight points with three boards, eight assists, a steal, and two threes, and could conceivably be the next old guy up if Davis can’t go. Unless this was a one-time shot, Mike Woodson has essentially said that he’d rather put a liability on the court than move Iman Shumpert to the point. Shump had four steals to go with his eight points, three rebounds, and five assists, and is best served as a steals specialist right now while his numbers are down on the whole. Carmelo Anthony continued his torrid pace with 33 points, five threes, seven boards, four assists, and a block, and sidekick J.R. Smith kept up his must-start pace with 15 points, eight boards, a steal, and three treys. They complete each other.
LEAVE IT TO CRASH
Deron Williams (calf) did not play and could be done for the year, so Sundiata Gaines stepped up again with 18 points, four threes, six rebounds, six assists, and a steal. Assuming no funny business out of Avery Johnson’s camp, I don’t see why Gaines won’t continue providing at least low-end production while Williams is out. I’m calling him a must-own player right now. Gerald Wallace (hamstring) played last night and put up 21 points, five rebounds, one assist, and one three in 31 minutes. Leave it to Crash to fight his way back into meaningless games, but it doesn’t hurt that he’ll be in the market for an extension. His return put MarShon Brooks back into training wheels, as he scored just five points with not much else in 21 minutes. If you can buy time to see how Saturday’s game goes for Brooks it is ideal, but he can’t be considered a must-own player knowing that Wallace steals his thunder the moment he steps on the floor.
FOR EMERGENCIES ONLY
Jose Calderon (eye) was available for emergencies only last night, so Ben Uzoh filled in and put on one of his disappearing acts with three points, five rebounds, and two assists in 33 minutes of action. He’s a desperation play at best, even in 14-16 team formats. Calderon is being handled like a guy who is shutting it down, but information is scarce right now. James Johnson continues to put up usable numbers off the bench, as last night he scored 18 points with six boards, two assists, and three steals. Alan Anderson is getting heavy run, playing 45 minutes on his way to 15 points on 7-of-18 shooting (0-for-8 from deep). A 3-point specialist for rosters right now, he won’t miss forever and the volume here is enticing. Linas Kleiza (knee) didn’t play and any future absences will help both Johnson and Anderson. Amir Johnson (three points, four boards) and Ed Davis (eight points, four boards, one steal, three blocks) were both uninspiring, but will be worth a look playing for a decimated Raptors squad.
OPEN HOUSE
Eric Gordon was rested last night and is apparently likely to go tonight against the Rockets. I don’t get it, as the Hornets are letting Gordon gear up for one-game explosions that are just going to drive up his value this summer. Of course, maybe that’s what they want, as some team is going to crack open the piggy bank and offer his Brandon Roy knee a lot of money. I’d be willing to bet the Hornets are letting Gordon call the shots here, trying not to offend the player that was the centerpiece of the Chris Paul trade fiasco. Marco Belinelli scored 16 points with two threes and will be worth a look for those categories whenever Gordon is out.
Hornets backup PG Jerome Dyson bricked a dunk 30-feet straight up in the air the other day, and aside from his recent signing that’s about all I knew about the athletic UConn product. Last night he did what most 10-day guys do when they get a chance, and that’s fire at will on his way to 24 points on 5-of-7 shooting (14-of-16 from the foul line) with three rebounds, two assists, and three steals in 27 minutes off the bench. Greivis Vasquez was quiet during Dyson’s audition, scoring nine points on 4-of-9 shooting with seven turnovers, nine assists, and two steals. I can’t tell owners to run to the wire knowing that Vasquez’s sloppy night likely contributed to the undrafted free agent’s big night, and a return to equilibrium combined with the inconsistency that Dyson is likely to show is a recipe for disappointment. I’m calling Dyson a flier at best, especially with Gordon targeting tonight for a return. Fellow 10-day guy, center Daryl Watkins had 13 boards with two blocks to go with two points in 27 minutes, and will be worth a look behind Jason Smith (12 and four, no steals or blocks) and Carl Landry (16 points, one board, one block).
IVAN THE NOT-SO-TERRIBLE
The Hawks spanked the Pistons last night, so none of the starters eclipsed 23 minutes. Owners of Jeff Teague (6-3-5), Josh Smith (12 and nine, one block), and Joe Johnson (13 points) can give them each a pass due to the blowout, but we’re not going to write off Ivan Johnson’s 16 points and 10 boards. With Zaza Pachulia likely out the rest of the year, Johnson is now a must-own player in 12-team leagues.
IS THAT AN ALBATROSS IN YOUR CONTRACT OR ARE YOU JUST HAPPY TO SEE ME?
Brandon Knight finally cooled off in the Pistons’ blowout loss, scoring five points on 2-of-9 shooting with two rebounds, three assists, a block, and a three in 27 minutes. Overall, owners have to be pretty happy with how the rookie handled the past week or so after a miserable slump. Rodney Stuckey missed all three of his field goal attempts for zero points, two boards, and two assists in just over 20 minutes, and staring at the third game of a triple-set of games owners have right to be concerned. If he’s not injured he’s primed to bounce back, because that’s what he has done many times this season, but if he’s limping to the finish tonight could look a lot like last night.
Austin Daye got a start and was miserable, hitting just 1-of-11 shots for four points, five boards, and one block. He needs a change of scenery bad. Charlie Villanueva put up another solid deep league effort with 14 points, two threes, and six boards in 20 minutes off the bench. The Pistons would love for him to finish strong and acquire some sort of value both inside and outside of Detroit, though trading him would be an exercise in finding another team with albatross contracts. If you told me you were thinking about adding Charlie V in a 12-team league for the final four games I’d tell you it is a risk, but I wouldn’t chortle on my beverage of choice, either. A report about D-League call-up F Vernon Macklin was released yesterday morning, citing that Lawrence Frank wanted to get him playing time. Macklin tore up the D-League and those type of reports are often breadcrumbs for owners to follow, and Macklin posted a tidy eight-point, nine-rebound, one-block line in 23 minutes. Deep leaguers should keep one eye on him, even if Jonas Jerebko (seven points, eight rebounds, one three, 19 minutes) might be a half-step higher on the Totem pole.
BLINDSIDED
The only story coming out of Memphis’ win over the Hornets was the second-straight slow night from Marc Gasol. Granted, the game ended in the third quarter, but six points on 3-of-3 shooting with three boards, four assists, two steals, and one block in 23 minutes while his healthy teammates cracked 30 minutes isn’t warming the heart. There’s enough upside to keep him in lineups barring a bad report, but it’s not like we’ll be blindsided if he has another slow night. It doesn’t help that the Grizzlies have at least two games in front and in back of them as they’ve cinched up the No. 5 seed, and have the Bobcats on Friday and the Blazers, Cavs, and Magic after that. Weigh your options carefully. Owners may want to be a bit more bullish on Tony Allen (four points, two boards, two steals, one block, 19 minutes) and Marreese Speights (two points, three boards, 15 minutes) than the numbers might suggest.
CREDIT FOR TRYING
Nene (foot) made a somewhat surprising return to action on Wednesday, though the surprise isn’t so much that he returned following reports to that effect, but instead that he actually followed through with his return during the NBA’s silly season. Give him credit for trying. He put up 14 points, four rebounds, and two blocks in just 18 minutes, and he’ll be a risk-reward play not knowing if he’ll be on a minute-limit. Kevin Seraphin was predictably watered down by Nene’s presence, scoring 14 points with five rebounds and nothing else in 29 minutes. The Wizards have two days off and then will embark on a stretch of four games in six nights to finish out the year. Nene will have to be healthier than he has been all year to survive that with an up arrow next to his name, and regardless I’m holding Seraphin through Saturday unless streaming is a consideration. Jordan Crawford continued to make his case for end-of-the-year waiver wire awards, scoring 32 points with a relatively normal stat line. James Singleton kept making noise with 11 points, five boards, two steals, a block, and a three in just 21 minutes, and I’m not writing him off just yet, either.
PARTNERS IN CRIME
Jrue Holiday disappointed on Tuesday, but has otherwise picked it up as of late and last night he hit 6-of-6 threes for 24 points with five assists. His partner in crime, Andre Iguodala, continued to pour it on for owners with 19 points, 13 boards, seven assists, two steals, a block, and three treys as the Sixers picked up a much-needed win. They’re now 2.5 games ahead of the Bucks for the last spot in the East with nine games to play between the two squads.
POPULAR VOTE
The Bucks fielded a rotation that one might dare to call conventional, with Monta Ellis (31 points, six assists), Brandon Jennings (25 points, five boards, four assists, three treys), Drew Gooden (21 points, 11 boards, six assists, two steals), and Ersan Ilyasova (14 points, 11 boards, three steals, one three) all playing at least 32 minutes. Carlos Delfino (14 minutes, four points) and Mike Dunleavy (eight points, 35 minutes) were the big losers, and it’s too bad for Bucks fans that their coach doesn’t decide on a rotation and allow it to gel. These guys probably didn’t know what to do playing so much together. On a side note, Scott Skiles was voted second-to-last in popularity by an unscientific Sports Illustrated poll of players about coaches. Last? Stan Van Gundy. The top five? Pop, Rick Carlisle, Doc Rivers, Mike D’Antoni, and Rick Adelman. Not mentioned? Scott Brooks, Nate McMillan, or Monty Williams, who all have wings in the Basketball Hall of Fame in case you hadn't read Twitter in the last year.
BACK TO BOSTON
Big Baby (knee) was back to play his old boys in Boston last night, and didn’t disappoint with 27 points on 12-of-16 shooting, seven boards, three steals, and one block in 35 minutes. He’s a must-start player going forward, and a prime example of mediocre players on bad teams gobbling up statistics. Jameer Nelson is more average than mediocre, and he has returned from the dead to become a consistent, must-start player. He scored 21 points on 7-of-19 shooting (including three treys) with four rebounds, nine assists, and a steal. J.J. Redick (13-4-5, one three) and Jason Richardson (11 points, six boards, one three) are still chugging along as must-own players in 12-team formats.
LAST MEN STANDING
Ray Allen (ankle) did not play last night and owners have to at least consider the chance that he is rested all the way until the playoffs. Rajon Rondo (back) was given the night off after his tough fall on Tuesday, but we haven’t heard anything to suggest that the injury is serious. Mickael Pietrus (knee) rounded out the injury report, leaving Avery Bradley and Sasha Pavlovic in the starting five. That left Paul Pierce free to go nuts, despite the fact that he is nursing a thigh injury and has a sore left toe. Pierce scored 29 points on 9-of-14 shooting (11-of-12 FTs) with five boards, 14 assists, and two steals. Brandon Bass put up 21 points but just two boards, Kevin Garnett went for 15 and nine with a steal and block, Greg Stiemsma totally redeemed himself after bagels on Tuesday with a steal and four blocks last night, and Avery Bradley scored 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting with a three, a steal, and not much else. Bradley is posting solid mid-round value over his last five games while averaging 19.0 points, 2.2 threes, and 60 percent field goals. Give him a look if those categories interest you.
TODAY IN ‘YOU CAN’T MAKE THIS STUFF UP’
D.J. Augustin (knee) didn’t end up playing last night, but the story of yesterday was 68-year old Paul Silas shoving perennial disappointment Tyrus Thomas into his locker. I’d like to quip that if you had that outcome in your Bobcats disaster pool that you’re lying, but I can actually picture that square in one of those Super Bowl style buy-a-box contests. You know, right next to ‘develop all of your injured veterans’ and ‘sneak your son into the coaching box.’ The only thing that would have made the scene better was if Charles Oakley was still coaching. Thomas might have left the arena drinking his dinner through a sippy-straw.
Derrick Brown stayed in the game despite tweaking his ankle, scoring 14 points with six boards, a steal, and a block, and has been playing well enough to be worth a look in 12-team formats. Reggie Williams (concussion) is nowhere near returning, so Brown is a relatively safe bet in a decidedly unsafe environment. Bismack Biyombo continues to be worth owning for his blocks, and hopefully for owners he’ll continue to build to a crescendo down the stretch. He had seven points on 2-of-10 shooting with 13 boards, three assists, one steal, and two blocks. Byron Mullens got a start last night, but hit just 3-of-11 shots for nine points with three boards and no treys, steals, or blocks. Being a player with questionable talent on a team that is trying to become the worst of all time, consistency just can’t be expected. Kemba Walker posted a standard 16-3-5 line on 4-of-12 shooting, and is a must-own/start player until further notice.
DON’T SCARE ME LIKE THAT
Kyrie Irving (shoulder) made his return and put Byron Scott through a mini-scare crashing around the court a few times. He was allowed to play 20 minutes, finishing with nine points, three boards, four assists, and a three, and he’ll be touch-and-go for the rest of the year. I’m calling him a must-own player, but owners need to watch him like a hawk. Donald Sloan (four points, seven assists) and Lester Hudson (15 points, two threes) are going to be a mixed bag for owners to avoid unless Irving gets shutdown, and even then they’ll be a crapshoot.
Alonzo Gee (ankle) did not play, and while he proved he should be on the fantasy radar in some respects, he’ll enter next year with questions about his shooting and his ability to survive any potential position battles. The athleticism and work ethic isn’t a problem, but everything else is up for discussion. Samardo Samuels had 15 points, five rebounds, and a block, and Manny Harris slithered away from Tuesday’s nice effort with seven points, three boards, and three assists in 22 minutes. Both are deep league specials, at best.
GOOD GRIEF
Go back about two weeks ago and Kevin McHale was getting a tiny bit of praise for his coaching work this season, and the Rockets were in the tier just above the bubble teams in the West. Five straight losses later with Kyle Lowry (11 points, five assists, two threes, 19 minutes) back in the mix and Houston has officially had an overused NASA reference. They’re now tied with the Suns at 0.5 games behind No.8 Utah and scrambling to figure out how to put their finger in the dike. The good news for them is that they have three wins scratched in pencil for games against the Warriors and Hornets, the latter of which they play twice. They also get a Heat team that could be resting up on Sunday. Goran Dragic had six turnovers in their loss to the Mavs last night, but was otherwise electric with 20 points, 10 assists, two steals, and two threes while sporting a 8-of-12 mark from the field. Dragic also hit 2-of-3 shots from the charity stripe, and as reader Joshua Richards pointed out to me via email, he has been sneakily carrying owners in that category. His 5.8 free throw attempts per game over the past three weeks are bested by just Kevin Durant, Kevin Love, Dirk Nowitzki, and DeMar DeRozan, and Dragic has done his part by hitting 85.9 percent of them. I took a small amount of grief when saying that Dragic and Isaiah Thomas were both top-15 point guards right now, and it’s going to be fun watching analysts play catch up next season.
Courtney Lee continues to make his case for ownership and had another 16 points, four threes, and two steals last night. Ride him until the wheels fall off. Marcus Camby (back) went from doubtful to starting and scored 11 points with 17 rebounds and a steal, which sent Samuel Dalembert back to irrelevancy with two points and four boards in six minutes. As long as Camby is on the court he’s a must-start player, despite the risk of an in-game aggravation of his back. Chandler Parsons scored 12 points with a full line and is worth a look, especially given the cupcake schedule upcoming. Chase Budinger scored 14 points with two threes, and is well behind Parsons in fantasy leagues. Lowry sounds like his conditioning is a larger issue than it appeared when he returned to action, and owners facing tough decisions should at least consider the possibility that he’s a 20-minute guy while the Rockets play three games in four nights starting tonight.
TOOTHPICKS
All of the key Mavs played just two days after their triple-overtime loss to the Jazz on Monday, and nobody appeared to be limited due to their workload that night. Dirk Nowitzki kept his foot on the gas pedal, scoring 35 points on 10-of-18 shooting (3-of-4 from deep, 12-of-12 from the line) with five boards and a steal, Jason Terry scored 19 points with a full line, and Jason Kidd scored 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting (all threes) with eight assists – and each of them logged 32-plus minutes. They sit in an extremely interesting playoff position, probably too far away (2.5 games) to catch the Grizzlies for the No. 5 slot, putting them into a matchup against the Lakers if the playoffs were to start today. It’s possible the Clippers overtake the Lakers for the No. 3 slot, but the elephant in the room is a possible fall to the No. 7 slot for the Mavs with Denver a half-game behind them. This would line them up with No. 2 Oklahoma City, and after Rick Carlisle used Scott Brooks to pick his teeth with during last year’s playoffs – I wouldn’t be surprised if they’d rather take on the Thunder.
Shawn Marion was benched again late, finishing with four points, six rebounds, and two steals in 26 minutes. Some say it is for offensive spacing reasons, but a lot of it has to do with Vince Carter’s recent tear. Carter had 23 points on 8-of-18 shooting (1-of-6 from deep) with four rebounds, three assists, and a steal in just under 30 minutes, and while he’s worth a look in 12-team formats he is a risky play with the Warriors coming up on Friday. In fact, the whole darn team is a risky play against a Warriors team that may be as bad as the Bobcats. Delonte West (11-2-3, two steals, 21 minutes) and Brandan Wright (four points, five boards, one block, 21 minutes) are guys who could step up, and it’s noteworthy that Wright will be playing his old team. Roddy Beaubois played just under 10 minutes last night, and he’ll also be worth a look if the DNPs start coming through the chute on Friday.
FAIR AND BALANCED
The Clippers were about as productive and balanced as a team could be for fantasy purposes in their win over the Nuggets. The big names got it done more or less, as Chris Paul scored 21 points with a full line and Blake Griffin went for 17 and seven with five assists and a steal. Mo Williams scored 19 points with four threes and four assists, Randy Foye stayed relevant with 12 points and two threes, and Nick Young built off a solid outing on Monday with 13 points and three treys last night. DeAndre Jordan blocked three shots with nine boards in 30 minutes. Williams should be in most lineups going forward, while Foye and Young are worth a look for their 3-point shooting. Caron Butler scored 14 points with four threes and not much else, and he’s just too inconsistent to be relied upon in standard leagues.
ROLE THE DICE
The Nuggets trail the Mavs by a half-game for the No. 6 slot and hold a 1.5 game lead over the three teams vying for the eight slot, so they just have to win a few more games and they’ll be in the playoffs. In fantasy leagues, their biggest storyline belongs to Danilo Gallinari, who just hasn’t got his rhythm back after missing time for both ankle and thumb injuries. He went hitless on seven shot attempts and finished with four points, three boards, two assists, and a steal in 28 minutes. Unless we hear of an injury, he’ll be a tough guy to bench unless you’re swimming with options or want to run with a safe, low-end play instead. Even if the Nuggets don’t need him to be the man, they will need to get him going before they enter the playoffs to avoid confusion with roles. Al Harrington scored 14 points with eight boards, and his torn meniscus hasn’t really gotten him down. Wilson Chandler (hip) needs surgery and is out for the year, and has been more trouble than he has been worth from all vantage points.
GO FIGURE
Tim Duncan was the only member of the Big Three to get a night off last night, leaving Boris Diaw and DeJuan Blair in the starting lineup against the Kings, who kept things close until the second half. Tony Parker started and scored 15 points with five boards and eight assists in 25 minutes, and Manu Ginobili scored 13 points on 4-of-5 shooting with two rebounds, five assists, a steal, and a three in just 17 minutes. Kawhi Leonard saw the most minutes, playing 27 total with 13 points, five boards, four assists, two steals, and a three, while Diaw logged 24 minutes and had eight points, five boards, one assist, and two threes. Tiago Splitter played well with 17 points, seven boards, and a block in 22 minutes, and Gary Neal hit 8-of-9 shots for 17 points with no threes. Go figure. Next up are the Lakers on Friday, followed by a day off, and then a stretch of four games in five nights. Sacrifice a bucket of KFC if you’re going to go beyond the Big Three for your fantasy lineup.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST
The Kings are a hot mess in many respects right now, but the mess that fantasy owners care about involves Tyreke Evans right now as struggled yet again with five points on 2-of-8 shooting, three rebounds, and one assist. Meanwhile, Isaiah Thomas scored 21 points with eight assists and is the team’s No. 1 ball-handler heading into next year, period. Marcus Thornton (20 points, 9-of-16 FGs) is the team’s primary perimeter scorer, DeMarcus Cousins (18 points, nine boards) is the interior scorer and rebounder, Jason Thompson (10 points, six boards) is No. 1A down low, Terrence Williams (eight points, eight assists) is a cheaper, savvier version of Evans coming off the bench, and Jimmer Fredette (nine points, one three) is there to sell tickets and try to erase this past year from his memory. That leaves Evans and his poor man’s Paul Pierce act on the outside looking in, and that’s why you’re seeing the inconsistent play. When he’s on he’s a force and very fun to watch, but when he’s off the gears start jamming up and unlike prior years IT is there to provide a contrast that is undeniable.
JAZZ FLUTISTS
The Jazz picked up a big win over a tanking Blazers team last night, and they’ll get the Magic, Suns, and Blazers again as they attempt to take the eight slot in the West, which they now hold with a half-game lead over the Suns and Rockets. Devin Harris continued his renaissance with 27 points, six threes, four rebounds, and four assists, and Gordon Hayward put up 23 points with three treys, four boards, and two steals. Alec Burks put his name on the radar with 17 points, five boards, five assists, and a three in 27 minutes, but the risk-reward quotient is only good for deep leagues right now. Derrick Favors did not get minutes after Monday’s triple-overtime thriller that saw the Jazz bigs exceed 50 minutes of run. He played 17 minutes, scoring five points with four boards and a block. They’ll all get two days off before taking on the Magic at home.
PORTLANDIA
Jamal Crawford joined Raymond Felton on the sidelines last night so the youngsters could play, and Nicolas Batum (knee) started but ended up leaving the game at halftime after gimping around during the first half. Batum finished with two points on 1-of-6 shooting to go with two boards, three assists, and two steals in just over 15 minutes, and it’s fair to wonder if his season is over. Luke Babbitt (16 points, two threes, five boards, two steals, one block, 35 minutes) will qualify for the NBA’s three-point shooting percentage crown this year with five more threes, and his 46.4 mark trails Steve Novak by just 0.5 percentage points. He has filled in for Batum admirably over the past few weeks, and while he is fool’s gold in reality basketball for everything he cannot do besides shooting the three, he’s a must-own player unless you absolutely don’t need the deep ball. The Blazers are going to play their young guys, and that is that. Nolan Smith got the start at point guard after outplaying Jonny Flynn on Monday, scoring 16 points with no assists and a three in 39 minutes, while Flynn returned the favor by outplaying him tonight with 11 points and seven assists in 25 minutes. I expect this pattern of alternating games to continue, probably because the starter will play across from better competition, if anything. Hasheem Thabeet got a start and put up four points, six boards, and two blocks, and is only worth watching if you’re desperate for blocks. Whoever is left standing in Portlandia is going to be well-positioned to do damage.
COACH OF THE YEAR
James Harden, who would be a No. 1 on many teams, scored a career-high 40 points on 12-of-17 shooting (5-of-8 from deep, 11-of-11 from the foul line) with seven rebounds, three assists, and four steals in 36 minutes. The 17 field goal attempts were a career-high, and the funny thing is that everybody is acting shocked that Harden pulled this off. If I had my way, he’d be the de facto point guard for the Thunder, with Russell Westbrook off the ball focusing on quick-hitting, binary-decision plays that get him the ball while in motion. Then again, I would also play Serge Ibaka more than the 18 minutes he got, because I’m not hell-bent on making my general manager look good by playing Kendrick Perkins and Derek Fisher a combined 45 minutes.
FAILURE TO RESPOND
Grant Hill (knee) did not play last night, but Shannon Brown did not respond this time with a quiet seven-point effort. Marcin Gortat missed wide open shot after wide open shot, hitting 2-of-13 FGs for nine points with 12 boards, a steal, and a block, and Jared Dudley was the only big winner with 21 points, two threes, and six boards to go with a 5-of-10 mark from the foul line. The Suns, who are a half-game back for the eight slot, have perhaps the toughest schedule out of the bubble teams, playing the Clippers tonight followed by the Nuggets, Jazz, and Spurs.
THE ABSTRACT ARTS
Pau Gasol said that “he wouldn’t mind a breather,” and it remains to be seen how the Lakers will play the playoff positioning game. They are currently a half-game ahead of the Clippers for the No. 3 seed, which gives them Dallas if the playoffs started today. Of course, the Mavs don’t have Tyson Chandler and J.J. Barea anymore, making them a less scary version of last year’s squad, and sitting in the No. 5 slot is a formidable Grizzlies squad. But Marc Gasol’s knee injury and Zach Randolph’s relatively mild play could be two reasons that the Lakers slyly attempt to fall to the No. 4 slot, assuming Mike Brown can process an abstract idea like that. Brown, who is known for his straight-forward coaching style -- hasn’t been able to process the idea of pulling your starters in blowout games, so that bit of analysis might be for naught.
And while Pau would appreciate a breather, the guy that everybody will be watching for is Kobe Bryant (shin), who could play on Friday after undergoing a pretty heavy workout before last night’s game. While Kobe has been out, his teammates have been on a fantasy bonanza, which was enhanced by playing a ridiculously bad Warriors squad last night. Gasol had a triple-double with 22 points, 11 boards, 11 assists, and three blocks, Metta World Peace put up 18 points, nine assists, two threes, and a block, Ramon Sessions was steady with nine points, seven boards, and five assists, and Matt Barnes had six points, nine boards, four assists, three steals, and a block. Peace and Barnes were performing at a low-end level before Kobe left the court, but everybody’s numbers are going to take a hit. That also includes Andrew Bynum, who managed to score 31 points on 12-of-14 shooting with nine boards, a steal, a block, and yet another Darwin moment when he big-timed Fox Sports’ Lindsay Soto.
NOW IF YOU WANT TO CROWN HIM
Nate Robinson (hamstring) was a late scratch for the Warriors, leaving Charles Jenkins all alone with the point guard duties against the Lakers last night. Jenkins scored six points with 11 assists and will be worth a look as a low-end producer if Robinson’s injury is at all serious. Klay Thompson said some more ridiculous stuff about being a top-5 pick in last year’s draft, and hit just 7-of-22 shots for 17 points, four rebounds, five assists, and a steal. Nobody is questioning his ability to shoot, but literally every other facet of the game is a huge question mark. That the Warriors crowned him without asking him to play a lick of defense is par for their course. Dorell Wright is going to do some damage this week, and kept things moving with 12 points, seven boards, three assists, three steals, and a three. Brandon Rush is dealing with knee issues, explaining some of his struggles, and may be feeling better after showing us 10 points, one three, five boards, and a block in 30 minutes. Richard Jefferson and his $23 million over the next two years returned to action from his knee injury, scoring seven points in 20 minutes. Mickell Gladness (eight points, five boards, one steal, one block) and Jeremy Tyler (15 points, six boards, one steal, one block) are holding down the fort, with Tyler having a clear edge over Gladness in fantasy leagues.