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While the day's headlines will surely focus on the Kyrie Irving's score-la-palooza right after KAT's err, score-stock, right after Lebron went on Fyre? I think I'm running out of festivals. Regardless, with there being only 16 50-point games this season, with half of them coming in the last 17 days, today's content will not focus on any of that. Shunning the SEO gods, that always works... but Tyler Herro's recent performance deserves at least some attention. And positive metrics! Coming off the bench against the Pistons, Herro managed 29 points on 8-15 field goals and 9-11 from the free throw line. Obviously it's hard to apply the sixth man label here when Herro is averaging the same minutes played as Giannis Antetokounmpo, but not only is he a huge part of the Heat right now, the future remains bright for this young point guard.
While the trade deadline is now a distant memory as we quickly head toward the play-ins, playoffs, and... play-ons? Yeah, why are there no play-ons or even play-outs? Maybe we just haven't evolutionized (totally a word) enough yet? Regardless, for those of you who remember (where were you when the Kings were peak Kings?), Sacramento ended up trading their most cost-controlled asset in Tyrese Haliburton (along with Buddy Hield and Tristan Thompson) for Domantas Sabonis, Justin Holiday, Jeremy Lamb and a 2023 second-round pick. And it just so happens that right after the trade, I took a look at Sabonis and the Kings separate from any analysis of the trade itself. Basically, Sabonis is a big man with some big skills that would continue being that. And while the Kings haven't really succeeded with their "win-now" strategy (2-8 in their last 10, 4 losses behind the 10 seed), there's been nothing but confirmation that the Pacers made out like gangbusters (dated reference ftw) with Tyrese flourishing with his new team.
We're back to our regularly scheduled Tuesday night programming after a bit of travel to sunnier climes, and I hope the time away has been as good for you as it was for me. In case you missed it, Son and I just did a pod yesterday that covered all things RazzJam. It was good fun and I think I might have said something useful? After faceplanting in my first attempt last year, this year's campaign is going much, much better and I find myself in the hunt for a title as we come down the home stretch of the season. Son and I chopped up how such a dramatic turnaround came to be and maybe even figured out some viable strategy for next year. And speaking of Cam Payne...
While the title is a bit clunkier than my normal "flowful" (totally a word) attempts, I feel the metaphor carries some extra oomph, if only so I can type out the word oomph. Keep in mind that the pun is based on power hour, a term loosely defined as the last part of an investor's trading day and with the recent Clipper's acquisition (fleecing?) of Norman Powell (and Robert Covington) from the Trail Blazers, it seemed apt to sacrifice flow for accuracy. (That's what she said.) So many parenthetical statements, so little time! And with Powell's debut last night to the tune of 28 points on a 56/50/86 split in just 23 minutes, we'll take a look at Powell, the Clippers, and try and answer the question why anyone still picks up the phone when Jerry West calls...
Variety, they say, is the spice of life. So while there were monster games on Tuesday night from all the usual suspects -- Joker, Joel, LeBron, Harden, Anthony Edwards, the Boston Boys -- I'm bowing out on trying to split those hairs and passing on the opportunity to bestow the lede player honor on one of these repeat customers. Instead, we'll spice things up by going off the beaten path and checking in on a number one pick who feels like he's flying a bit under the radar.
Hey Jack, it's a fact: 1) Paprika is for men. 5) You snooze, you lose. B) ReSpEk ThE SuN. VII) Wiggins is an All-Star! What a time to be alive, especially if you are Andrew Wiggins. And watching this slow-moving transition has been quite the experience, filled with a bunch of memes and "what?" mutterings thrown about. From a young and a wild shooting wing several years ago to perhaps one of the better three-and-d players right now is quite the journey, and take it from this writer, the next stage should probably be an All-Star appearance (his first)...no? Okay, okay, that might be going a little too far, but what this post presupposes is, what if I'm not? This calls for a jiggy jump! You know, because the "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It" reference and jumping from the lede to the full post with the link below... yeah, exactly.
Look, if I have a chance to go Trek, imma go Trek. Famous last words from a nerd (I think the best jingles rhyme), but what else should I do with a player named Nah'Shon "Bones" Hyland that isn't sexually explicit? Sharing the same naming conventions of Duncan Idaho or perhaps the more-widely known Hannah Montana, Bones Hyland has been making a name for himself lately, which seems redundant in this context. For a rookie that has set career-high for point in his last four games, one might wonder what his true ceiling is, and while he wasn't considered in the highest tiers in this past draft class, surely that sentiment is changing and for good reason. So while he might not ever reach Doctor McCoy levels of stardom, one has to be happy with the fact that he actually might become an NBA star, which you know is probably more important since, well, yeah, spoiler alert, this is a basketball site.
I'm not the biggest AC/DC fan... which is probably an understatement. But of course, I have yet to meet anyone who doesn't feel a smidgen of hype by the time "Thunder" is said seven straight times, and in a way, perhaps a metaphor for the actual Oklahoma City Thunder. I've never actually met a Thunder fan, have never seen one outside of Paycom, and I have a hard time finding a reason to retain any information of the team from year-to-year, yet at certain times, usually the playoffs, I find myself getting hyped by their ability to just grind. And while this was not actually one of those games (WHAT A TWIST), I do find it absolutely compelling when watching a team come down from 26 points to defeat a Lakers team that oddly has a few players which might have played for Oklahoma at some point and time? As I said, Thunder retention has been at an all-time low for me, but the fact remains, after four straight losses and allowing the Lakers 41 points in the first quarter, under 27 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a double-double by Josh Giddey, the Thunder were able to pull out an implausible victory against the Lakers and a quadruple-double from Russell Westbrook. I mean, even the Knicks had a 27-point lead the other day against the 76ers and managed the win so... ahem. Here's what else I saw and hopefully retain (crosses fingers) with last night's games...
Welcome to Thursday Night DFS Dunks with me, Cousin Timmy.  I will break down the NBA slate and give you my starting 5 for both FanDuel and Draftkings.  These will be my core plays (guys I'll be playing in my lineups with my money) for hitting the cash line in 50/50s and double-up contests.  If you're looking for GPP winning plays you'll have to follow me on Twitter (@TimmySperos) and then we can talk. At the end of the article I'll have a pool of 3-5 players I like that you can use to fill-in the rest of your lineups. Since this is the first article of the season I'd like to give you some general strategies you should be thinking about before we get to my favorite plays. Here we go.
Helloooooo Razzballers!  My name is Jonny, but most refer to me in the fantasy realm as Da Fantasy Guru (DFG).  I'd like to start off by giving thanks to Son and Grey for bringing me on the team.  I really look forward to contributing what I can, working with such great people, and sneaking in some 80's movies references!  A little bit about me - I'm proud to say I just hit middle age and as I think about it, I have now been doing fantasy for over half of my life (25 years), you try to do the math.  Come to think of it I'd like to say I started fantasy right around when something amazing was created called Fantasy Football, at least when it became more mainstream. 
I really didn't want to write a 76ers preview before the inevitable Ben Simmons trade, but alas, the season is almost upon us and BS is still on the roster.  I don't practice santeria ... I ain't got no crystal ball, but there are some safe assumptions I can make for Philly as they part ways with Simmons.  The most obvious is that Joel Embiid is the undisputed focal point of the team.  He is hungry for a deep postseason run and perhaps some individual hardware after finishing second in MVP voting and being upset by the Hawks in the conference semifinals.  Aside from his continued dominance and Tobias Harris's reliability, there are few guarantees on this roster heading into the 2021-22 season.  Notwithstanding the unknowns, here are the things to consider when looking at the 76ers for your fantasy draft and beyond.
I'm the big, fat loser this year in our 9-cat league's championship game. Am I happy I made it this far in a totally insane season? Yep. Am I upset I lost? It always stings, but one week can make or break you and I don't feel bad losing to a team I lost to the only time I faced them in the regular season. It feels like the right team won. All that said, this season was completely wackadoodle and probably the most benefit you'll get from reading these words is this introduction where I'm going to attempt to break down my thinking on the season and how we all got here.