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…comin’ for to carry me OUT of my fantasy playoffs!  Brutal news yesterday that Kyle Lowry has to undergo surgery on his right wrist – his shooting wrist – to remove some loose bodies.  Should’ve kept those bodies in a well, like Buffalo Bill!  “It puts the lotion on the skin!”  Without an IL spot, you’re cutting him in your redraft leagues, even with the prospect he gets a couple games in right before the playoffs.  The timeline is “hopeful to return in 4-5 weeks”, which would put us in early April.  Plus he’s a shooter, and gonna have a rusty wrist.  Hah, that sounds like a sex thing…  Moving on!

In his place, it’s time for the Cojo mojo!  11/1/6/3/0 then 14/1/6/1/0 over the weekend for Cory Joseph, with only 2 combined TO, showing what kind of sexy roto-asset he could be.  But thennnnn, struggled last night – as did the Raps as a while – to knock off the Poppycockers in a 1-point win, going 6/3/4/2/0 with 2 TO.  Still got 33:30 minutes, but he’s more in the fringy starting PG class (your Brogdon, McConnell, et ceteras) than in the most-own zone.  You could say he’s in the friendzone.  Although dudes don’t really have a friendzone, it’s only chicks that apply that logic.  The friendzone is a very sexist area!  After this dunk in the 2014 Western Conference Finals (back when he was on my REL team), Cojo could have his way with me any time he wanted!

Here’s what else went down last night in fantasy basketball action:

Malcolm Brogdon Speaking of Brogdon, maybe he needs to be ranked above the friendzone!  20/3/5/1/0 with 3 treys in 31 minutes last night.  Shared a lot of court with Matthew Dellavedova in his revenge game against the Cavs.  Two straight good games for Broggy Bear, but it’s Jason Kidd, I don’t trust the role.

Michael Beasley – F man, after all my good luck with REL health, my players’ knees have had injury and injury lately…  LaVine, Love, and now Beasley.  I know he’s not in the same class as those guys, but he had been playing well!  Injury looked rough – like a hyperextension – in the 2nd quarter, as he could barely put any weight on it going to the locker room.  We’ll likely know the severity today.  While Khris Middleton DNP-rested this one, with Beasley out assumedly a little while, the Bucks will still need some shooting.  I could see Mirza Teletovic playing a bit more if you wanted a spec add in the deeper leagues.  He only played 9 minutes last night and didn’t do much, but is just a thought.

Channing Frye – Well, that ended quickly!  Moved to the bench and only played 14 minutes in favor of Richard Jefferson playing 30 minutes as the starter.  Now, this was probably a matchup thing since Frye can’t really guard Beasley, but the fact they’ll tinker by matchup has me thinking Frye is really a streamer-only in most leagues.

DeMar DeRozan Might score a bajillion points a game for the remainder of the season.  Especially if friggin’ Derrick Rose is guarding him at the pivotal possession of the game…

37/8/2/1/0 last night, on 13-25 shooting including the game-winner, with 10-13 FT.

Jonas Valanciunas Ughghghghghg, puke!  Just like Drew Barrymore in Santa Clartia Diet.  Actually kinda like that show…  Pretty solid 10/5/0/2/1 for JV (minus the 3 TO, but did make every basket – 4-4 FG, 2-2 FT), but in, get this, only 19 minutes again!!!!  Ahhhhhh!!!!  Raps playing Serge Ibaka at the 5 and bringing in PJ Tucker to play a super smaller line-up…  Frustration!  10ers I think JV is a cut, really do.

Poppycockers Phallic References – Big Willy Hernangomez got 33:30 and his normal, decent line, going 8/9/2/1/0 on 4-6 shooting.  Get him more rock!  Stupid Melo shooting 9-26, he can’t get shut down soon enough…  Then the backup KOQ, Kyle O’Quinn, went 4/6/4/1/3 in only 14:30.  My fantasy abacus tells me that’s a direct split of minutes!  Was hoping KOQ might get a little more run than that while Kristaps Porzingis is out (kankle), but looks like we’re still only gonna get a small KOQ.

Kevin Durant Returned from a game off with a hand bruise, only to lose his shoe!

But he’s Durant, even with a shoe in one hand, he’s a top end NBA player… 27/8/4 last night in a game the Dubs actually had to fight to win at Philly.  Doesn’t help when Steph Curry is 0-11 from 3pt land, sheesh.  Know your range!

Richaun Holmes As I said on today’s Pod, if Jahlil Okafor is sucking – and Jahlil is mad inconsistent (7 TO and 5 fouls in 17 minutes last night!) – Holmes is gonna play!  And he’s got some mad hops!

15/4/2/1/3 on 6-11 shooting with no TO.  Starting to feel like he might be in the 12er convo, now that Joel Embiid is looking like he could be shut down for the season.  I just lost my EMBIIIIIIIIID, that’s for sure!

Sergio Rodriguez – Overtook some minutes from T.J. McConnell, who picked up some early fouls.  While he should be solid moving forward, McConnell is still in my friendzone.

Dario Saric Continuing his strong play, with a 21/7/7 line and 9-10 FT.  Might be the best player on this team right now!

Avery Bradley – Damn, something with the team chemistry was off last night, let’s not hope it was the long-awaited return of Avery!  6/0/0/3/0 for Avery in 15 minutes with a couple of treys.  Good to see him out there, but man the Celtics stunk up the joint.  Isaiah Thomas didn’t even score 20, snapping his streak of like 40 some odd in a row!  4-21 from the field…  Who left the window open, it’s drafty in here!

Taurean Prince 30 minutes off the bench for 8/12/3/2/1.  Even after they dumped Kyle Korver, the Hawks have shown no interest in giving continuity to any of their wings.  Friggin’ bringing Tim Hardaway Jr. off the bench now?!  I’m kinda souring on them all.

Josh Richardson As I said a few times in the comments over the past few weeks, I worried how much run he’d get since the Heat have been winning without him.  After 13 then 14 minutes over the weekend, only 8 last night.  He’s still got upside if you can stash in deeper leagues, but Dion Waiters has completely taken that role.

Seth Curry I don’t want to take all the credit – not like he has a hereditary connection to good basketball – but I think I motivated him throughout this season to be what he is now.  29/1/3 with 5 treys last night.  A little ThrAGNOFfy still, but you’re owning him.  Deron Williams getting the ax is helping a ton.

Nerlens Noel Only 25 minutes last night, which is kinda a bummer.  The Mavs seem intent on playing smaller, and not sharing Dirk Nowitzki and Noel on the court together too much.  6/6/1/1/1 for Noel with no TO and 3-3 shooting is still nice though.

Monta Ellis – Man, he looked left for dead, but 12/7/8 last night and playing 30ish MPG again.  Sure he had 6 TO, and he’s more a streamer in 12ers, but I got a very fortunate REL asset here for a low value, so I got the bias-colored glasses!

Thaddeus Young Gotta think the wrist is still bothering him a bit, only getting 23 minutes of 8/5/1/1/0 and missing both his FTs.  Be tough to leave, like, R Holmes out there in a shallower league and needing some stats now.

Lou Williams Death, taxes, and you can count on Sweet Lou for some scoring!  James Harden was 5-17, Trevor Ariza was 2-10, Eric Gordon was 3-11…  But Sweet Lou kept it close!  8-15 FG (5-10 3PTM 7-8 FT) for 28/3/1/1/1.  I didn’t think he’d maintain value, but he’s made 14 treys in his 3 Rockets games, and making high-volume FT.  His calling card!

Gorgui Dieng Man, I dunno what is going on with the Dieng Train.  Only 20 minutes last night, shot 0-8 from the field, and had an uncharacteristic 2 TO for that low of run.  Plus we saw 35 minutes outta nowhere for Nemanja Bjelica, going 10/12/2/2/0 with no TO and 2 treys.  He still only shot 4-15 though, so not like he caught fire…  While the Kings did go small, it’s still annoying.  I’ve seen comments asking if Dieng should be dropped, but I would hold.  Typically the minutes have still been there, steals and rebounds are still there, he just regressed on a per-minutes basis which is saddening… Choo, choooo, wahhhhh, WAHHHHHH!

Willie Cauley-Stein Not a great game, but KAT is a tough matchup.  14/6/5/1/1, but 4 TO and 4-8 FT.  That said, by far led the Kings in minutes with 34, and he’s virtually the focal point for their offense.  Almost every play started with a pick-and-roll/high screen from him, so I’m still mad bullish on his upside ROS.

Tyreke Evans – Came off the bench as Joerger went with the Ty Lawson/Darren Collison combo guards.  Really all of these assets are blah to me right now.  Evans was “fine” for 13/5/2/1/1, Lawson got 9 dimes, Colly was 10/2/2 with no TO, but it’s all so meh for me in 10/12ers.

 

I hope everyone got their week 18 off to a great start, and getting pumped for the fantasy playoffs!  Shoot your thoughts in the comments, and happy second half, Razzball Nation!