Yeah, you caught me. You didn’t believe it because there aren’t any grizzly bears in Memphis. Look how smart you are! ESPN readers would have tweeted the headline without thinking. Now if the headline read “Gilbert Arenas Fights Grizzly Bear In Vancouver” then you totally would have believed it. Why? Because Gilbert Arenas is crazy. I’m talking pull a gun on your teammate in the locker room over a gambling debt crazy. So yeah… Gilbert Arenas didn’t fight a grizzly bear, instead he’s reportedly joining the Memphis Grizzlies. Arenas will be playing behind Mike Conley and here are the numbers the last time Arenas came off the bench: 8/2.4/3.2/.9/.2 with 35% FG and 1 3PM in 21 mpg. Just stop. I know what you’re thinking. He won’t do it. Nope. Not going to revert back to his 2009-2010 numbers or even the solid 2010-2011 Wizards’ 17.3/3.3/5.6/1.4/.6 with 2 3PM in 35 mpg. Leave him on the wire and take a look at what else happened last night:
Wilson Chandler – I really thought about leading with this, but I don’t know what to make of the Denver situation. Chandler played 28 minutes in his first game back with a stat line of 38% FG, 1 3PM, 13/4/2/1/1. Meanwhile Danilo Gallinari played 23 minutes and had 4 measley points with 6 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1 steal (let’s not forget Corey Brewer – 24 minutes). It looks like we’re going to need a couple more games to see how things shake out, but for right now Chandler is worth a speculative pick up.
UPDATE: After originally saying that Gallo could try to play through his injury, the Nuggets are saying he could be out for four weeks. It’s that time of the season to drop guys who won’t help you and pick up the ones who will. In other words, GO GET WILSON CHANDLER NOW.
The Charlotte Kittens – Tyrus Thomas, Bismack Biyombo, and D.J. Augustin. If I told you that one of these STARTERS finished with the line 15 pts, 11 rebs, 7 asts, 2 stls, and 2 blks, could you guess which one? Of course you can’t because that’s the combined line of those three guys. There’s a rumor going around that you can play Michael Jordan in a high stakes poker game for a spot on the roster.
Spencer Hawes – 13 pts, 11 rebs, 3 asts, 1 stl, 3 blks. On Thursday, Adam told you to sit on him. So you kept him nice and warm like a hen waiting for an egg to hatch. After last night’s line he looks like he’s ready to come out of his shell. Stop sitting on him and get him in the lineup because he’s gonna contribute. Also, it looks weird sitting on 7′ 1″ man (or any man really). Probably not very comfortable either. *DISCLAIMER*: This line came against the Kittens.
Evan Turner – Blew up for five games and then threw up for the past two (6/4.5/1/1/0). Look for more inconsistency down the stretch.
Joe Johnson – Yeah he’s owned but I just wanted to point out how absurd he’s been since returning from his knee injury. 54% FG, 93% FT, 3.3 3PM, 25.7/3/4.7/1.8/0 in 38 mpg the past 7 games. I guess we’ll be hearing sources say that Johnson went to a doctor in Germany after consulting with Kobe Bryant.
Rajon Rondo – Shooting under 40% over the past five games, he capped off that stretch with a 4-14 performance last night. Rondo still had the highlighted line of the night for the Celtics due to 13 assists and 6 steals. I really tried to find someone else on the Celtics that could help fantasy owners besides the main 4 guys (Brandon Bass 8 pts, 10 rebs, 1 blk, WOO!), but like the Celtics season and Rondo himself… it looks ugly.
Tristan Thompson – Exploded against the Nets for 27/12/1/0/1 while shooting 12-16 from the field. I wanna tell you that this is the FA pickup that is going to lead you to the promised land, but I’m not. After averaging less than 25 minutes for five games, he’s played 35 and 37 minutes the past two with one being a total stinker. Keep an eye on this to see if the Cavs will look to Thompson more down the stretch, but as far as I’m concerned it’s a lottery ticket at best.
Shelden Williams – *WARNING – Completely Biased Anti-Duke Blurb*. OK, I warned you so now anything is fair game… it’s like how Ricky Bobby says “With all due respect” and then says whatever he wants. 9 pts, 5 rebs, 2 asts and 1 blk in a loss to the Cavs. Why am I writing about Shelden Williams? #1 – To highlight how he got destroyed by rookie Thompson, #2 – Duke sucks, #3 -To somehow incorporate #15 Lehigh beating #2 Duke into the post (it still didn’t fit but who cares!), and most importantly #4 – Duke sucks.
Gerald Wallace – 27/11/1/0/1. Better point guard + less offensive options = Fantasy playoffs gold. If you’re still holding onto MarShon Brooks (8.2/2.6/2.8/.8/.2 last 5) then stop playing with yourself, wash your hands (or at least use hand sanitizer for God’s sake), and put him on the wire.
C.J. Watson and John Lucas – With Derrick Rose out, Chicago’s substitute PG can help your fantasy team out. There are two problems with this: #1 – There’s no telling when Rose will be back because Chicago has a playoff spot locked up and they want his groin injury to heal. #2 – There is no consistency between Watson and Lucas. One game Watson will go off and then the other Lucas will go off. Last night it was Lucas’ turn (20/1/2/1 with 4 from downtown), but if I had to pick one I’d go with Watson since he’s starting.
The Orlando Magic – 59 total points last night against the Bulls. 59. There is no information to be gathered from the Orlando side. Throw it all out the window. Ignore it. Try to forget it. If you watched this game, your IQ dropped 10 points.
Andre Miller – Played just 5 minutes in Denver’s loss to the Mavs after suffering a shoulder injury (day-to-day). With the way he’s been playing recently, you wish he’d be out for the rest of the season. Oh and the whole Wilson Chandler thing I’ve already mentioned could be trouble as well.
Rodrigue Beaubois – 6-14 shooting, 2 3PM, 14/3/6/2. Believe me, I dislike the French as much as the next person but Beaubois has scored in double digits the past 5 games. He is a high upside play while he’s getting > 25 mpg.
Nikola Pekovic – Played 11 total minutes while re-aggravating his ankle injury. Lump him in the Andre Miller blurb… it’s getting to be fantasy playoffs time and nagging injuries could spell disaster for your team. Keep a close eye on this one.
Richard Jefferson – 19/4/2/2 in his second game with his new team. TJ Lavin sat courtside and yelled “YOU KILLED IT!” as Jefferson left the court. Yeah TJ he did, but he’s still the same ol’ Richard Jefferson. Don’t look for much more than what he was giving you while on the Spurs.
