We’re now at the 10-game mark, a time and place where numbers start getting real, and y’all know what happens when we keep it real in Fantasy Basketball… I’m actually not sure, so you’ll have to let me know. In the mean time, we’ll keep it the literal real, in that, we’re gonna take what’s real in this 10-game span and see what might hold and what might not. For real, folks.
And since it’s easy, obvious and full of Clint Eastwood (just like your mom), we’ll go at this with descriptors and context based on The Good, The Bad and the Ugly. Yes, I know that’s like a 1-3 positive/negative ratio content rate, but if you ain’t negative about two-out-of-three things in your life, you don’t belong in the 2020’s.
The Good
Let’s start off in the Motor City where yes, I think the Pistons are for real, which pretty much tells you what I think about Jalen Duren‘s start to the season. Roster may have taken a step back on paper during the offseason, but this young team is taking another step based on the first 10 games. Can they hold the one seed? Maybe, but the Knicks, Cavs and Bucks might have something to say about that as time goes on.
Speaking of the Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo is quietly putting up another monster season and Kyle Kuzma has shown signs of life? Yes, I think both are real, but let’s stay a bit measured on the former.
Everyone wants to talk about the lucky number one pick that the Mavs were blessed with in the last draft, but it just covers up V.J. Edgecombe‘s equally interesting route to a team that desperately needed a soft reset after watching Paul George and Joel Embiid do what they do best. The Philly backcourt is for real.
I don’t really have to say it, but yes, Wemby is for real, and the Spurs are showing it in the standings. But it’s not just him, we’re seeing positive but measured output from Fox and Harper, but the real question might be is Stephon Castle for real. I think so, the energy, athleticism and IQ have been stellar so far.
Josh Giddey and Austin Reaves? Yes, they’ve been good, but are they for real? This is where it starts getting a bit complicated, but if you’re not in the hedging mood, you gotta think they are for real. 10-games may not be a large enough sample size to say so, but we are now seeing trends from these two players that have extended from last season. Obviously Reaves ceiling might be volume, but at some point, we have to accept that Giddey will continue to be a great contributor with enough shooting to unlock his full potential. I’m not sure if the Bulls or Lakers are for real, but these two guys just might be.
The Bad
Don’t get me wrong, Aaron Gordon doesn’t really belong here, but Cam Johnson does and the reason why Gordon is here is because that’s on me, this is my “bad”. Going into the season, I had these two names flipped on value; Gordon was coming off a season where he had the most open threes while also dealing with nagging injuries. Cam Johnson, to me, was a step ahead of MPJ and had a skillset that could flourish in a Jokic-focused system. I’ll eat crow and also mention, this might be for real. If Gordon stays healthy, I see no reason why he can’t continue a monster year while on the flipside, I’m not sure with to do with Johnson. I don’t think his numbers right now are a forgone conclusion, but we gotta see something soon.
The Kings certainly belong here and just generally, if 25-26 Westbrook is giving us flashes of 16-17 Westbrook as the only highlight, something else might be wrong.
While you might be tempted to put the Nets and Hornets in “the Ugly” category, trust me, I have two other teams in mind that fit that bill better. I might have just spoiled it, but there is something to be said about expectations. Regardless, for these two teams, it’s all real, all of it. Look for both teams to shed something or anything (besides youth) as we get closer to the deadline. Maybe les so for the Hornets.
The Ugly
Of course the Clippers and Mavericks were going to hold this fort. Both teams are miserable for a bunch of different reasons and there’s a lot to tackle here when it comes to what’s real and what’s not. First, the meta take, are the Clippers for real this bad? I would say yes and no. Yes, I think the eye test and metrics both tell us the same thing, they old and slow. But, Beal hasn’t ramped up yet, Kawhi won’t return for a week or so and Zubac has looked lost on both ends and might be playing into shape. So let’s get real.
James Harden strong start for real? Yeah, this is who he is, a regular season stalwart. What about Zubac? I don’t think so. Kawhi? Yeah, this is real, same as it ever was, 50ish games or none.
The Mavericks are just plain hopeless at this point. While we can kick the Clippers while their collecting social security, I see no reason why talking heads should be convinced that the potential return of a 33-year-old Kyrie Irving coming off a torn ACL will turn this season around. The team has no guards, has no picks and is a mess when Anthony Davis sits.
Is Cooper Flagg‘s start for real? Sorta, he’s been fine and will continue to do better, he’s just 18. There will be growing pains, but look for the year to get better.
Jay is a longtime Razzball everything who consumes an egregious amount of Makers Mark as a vehicle to gain wisdom and augment his natural glow. Living in the D.C. area, he also likes spending time visiting the local parks and feeding lettuce to any turtles he encounters, including Mitch McConnell.
