There are two obvious downsides to living in Milwaukee — winter (duh) and NBA League Pass blacking out the hometown team as they take up their championship defense. Considering the grinding nature of an 82-game regular season, it’s not the worst thing to have an excuse that allows you to check-out on February basketball, but it’s still nice to occasionally see the boys without using a VPN. Last night, the Bucks were fully visible the national stage against the Wizards and the game flow reads like regular season game where the better team wasn’t fully engaged all night.
The reason why the Bucks were able to build such a big lead (twice) is obvious: the two-time MVP and last year’s Finals MVP remains a problem that opposing defenses still doesn’t have an answer for.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 33 | 15 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 14/21 | 5/5 | 2 |
Antetokounmpo still has holes (threes and free throws) that keep out of the highest levels of the fantasy game, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to love about the Big Buck. There’s still top-20 value here and the perfect night from the charity stripe seems like it could be legit-ish. On the season, the FT% has climbed up into the 70s. What a Freakin’ G.
Here’s what else I saw on a Tuesday night in the doldrums of the NBA season…
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Brandon Ingram
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 26 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8/18 | 9/10 | 0 |
It sure looks like we can put that ankle sprain that cost BI his last five games behind us, yeah? The assist production is fascinating here. The numbers are skewed a bit because of his missed games, but the last time Ingram handed out fewer than four helpers was Boxing Day. He’s a top-65 player over that stretch. The turnovers are trending the right direction too.
Jonas Valanciunas
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 13 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4/9 | 5/6 | 4 |
There are only four players with better rebounding numbers than JV — Joker, Gobert, Capela, and Domas — and given the injuries to three of those, the case for waiting on a big if missing out on Joker holds some water with me. The blocks are slightly down for Valancuinas in 21-22, but you’ll take it for the increased scoring, FT%, and triples in yet another top-50 season.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 14 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5/11 | 2/3 | 4 |
After scoring 63 points in three games, NAW posted back-to-back single digit clunkers to close out January. This month, he’s off to a stronger start — a full line is a sight seldom seen from Alexander-Walker — but he’s a hard guy to trust given the minutes he’s getting (19 on Tuesday night) and his inefficiency (a career 38% FG).
Cade Cunningham
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 6 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3/8 | 0/0 | 2 |
Ugh. Only played 21 minutes before leaving early with a hip pointer, opening the door for the Pistons to cough up a game they could have won. Corey Joseph (18/2/3 in 29 minutes) is the guy you’ll want if Cade is sidelined.
Isaiah Stewart
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 8 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3/5 | 2/2 | 1 |
The gap between Stew and Trey Lyles — 9/4/1/1/1 in 21 minutes — seems to have widened back out again. Now you can just be mad at yourself for drafting him instead of being mad yourself for drafting him and him losing his job.
Jerami Grant
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 17 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6/13 | 2/3 | 3 |
Goodbye, Jerami! The Pistons have two more home games before playing host the Grizzlies on February 10 (Trade Deadline Day), so Grant’s running out chances to beguile the Detroit faithful. Regardless of laundry, fantasy managers are just happy to have him back in the lineup after six weeks off. Hello, Jerami!
Kyle Kuzma
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 25 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 9/19 | 4/6 | 2 |
Excellent shooting and a sudden surge of swats have pushed the ex-Laker to the top 15 over the last week. Kyle Kruz-ma, amirite?
Montrezl Harrell
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 20 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9/15 | 2/4 | 2 |
The good news: Daniel Gafford has all but fallen out of the rotation, and neither Thomas Bryant or Rui Hachimura looked better than Trez against the champs. The bad news: this line has got me craving doughnuts. Brb.
Spencer Dinwiddie
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 7 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2/9 | 1/2 | 3 |
[Wipes at a sweaty brow and steps away from the sugary remains of a box of mixed dozen] Oh come on, Spencer! I just ate!
Jrue Holiday
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 22 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 9/16 | 0/0 | 3 |
I’d put him on the All-Star team, my fantasy team, my pick-up team…really, name a team and I want Jrue Holiday on it. Dimes were a bit light, but dude is nice.
Grayson Allen
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 10 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4/9 | 0/0 | 1 |
I’m not saying that you have to like Ted Cruz’s long-lost and wayward son, but Grayson has been a top-75 player over the last week (even with DiVincenzo back) and a top-115-ish player on the season. You might have to hold your nose while you do it, but Allen could probably help your fantasy team.
Jimmy Butler
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 16 | 8 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3/10 | 10/10 | 3 |
Only a real pro would be able to turn a 3/10 shooting night into a near triple-double with a sprinkling of steals. There won’t ever be a ton of triples, but Jimmy is such a baller that even his bad nights are pretty good.
PJ Tucker
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 12 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5/11 | 1/2 | 3 |
Tucker has been floating around the top-100 for about two weeks. By now you know what good Tucker looks like — steals and threes and a bit of FG% — so if you’re in need, I’d bet he’s on the wire.
Bam Adebayo
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 32 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 13/17 | 6/7 | 2 |
Even with Kyle Lowry still on ice, it doesn’t look like last year’s assists are ever coming back. Instead, you’ll just have to settle for a big man with ~25% usage rate who helps out in points, boards, FG%, steals, and, yes, even a smattering of dimes. Poor you. Adebayo has been closer to a top-25 player since coming back from his thumb injury, and looks poised to finish strong.
Tyler Herro
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 18 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7/12 | 2/2 | 3 |
Feeling like you should have traded him while he was hot? Me too. Luckily, Herro is as liable as anyone to pour in some buckets. Maybe the scoring can create another sell-high window that dazzles your leaguemate who only looks at scoring.
Scottie Barnes
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 11 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5/13 | 0/0 | 1 |
Fred VanVleet
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 21 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 5/11 | 9/11 | 3 |
Pascal Siakam
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 16 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5/14 | 5/7 | 4 |
OG Anunoby
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 13 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6/10 | 1/1 | 3 |
Gary Trent Jr
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 33 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5/13 | 0/0 | 1 |
All five starters played at least 34 minutes in this one. Nick Nurse’s rotations are the real MVP.
Precious Achiuwa
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 12 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5/7 | 0/2 | 2 |
Good luck cracking that rotation, Precious. For what it’s worth, it appears that Achiuwa has passed Boucher in the pecking order, at least for now.
Franz Wagner
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 22 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 9/16 | 1/2 | 1 |
I regularly bellyache about rookies and their tendency to shoot poorly and turn the ball over, but not this time. Wagner, a top-90 player, is breaking even or better in both of those categories and the rest of the package isn’t too shabby either. Hard to believe that this is rookie to roster in Orlando, sorry Suggs, but Wagner is cooking.
Wendell Carter Jr.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 24 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11/15 | 1/1 | 3 |
Can you call it the Wendell Carter Jr. Revenge Game in a loss? No? We’ll call it a get-right game then, as this was the first time WCJ went for more than 20 since January 3. His season-long numbers are still on the right side of 100, but after the strong start, the slide has been intense.
Cole Anthony
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 20 | 6 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7/16 | 4/4 | 3 |
This kind of assisting could land Cole in a place where many of his peers have dreamed of going. No, not the All-Star game. I’m talking about those woeful State Farm ads. Seriously, Anthony is up 40 dimes in his last five games and has handed out 5+ in seven of his last eight. Yo Cole, you ready to meet Jake?
DeMar DeRozan
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 29 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 12/20 | 3/4 | 1 |
Stuffing the stat sheet again en route to his most valuable fantasy season in seven years, just like we all expected when he rolled into the Windy City. DeMar is such a boss.
Zach LaVine
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 26 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8/17 | 8/8 | 3 |
Given the impact that DD has made in Chicago, you’d expect that LaVine’s numbers have been adversely impacted. They have been in pretty much every category except for free throw shooting, but even with an across the board downturn, the value hasn’t been dinged nearly as much as you might think. LaVine broke out as a top-25 player last year, but this year’s 31st most-valuable player hasn’t burned managers too badly.
Nikola Vucevic
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 18 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8/17 | 2/2 | 1 |
Copy the LaVine analysis and paste it here. Vuc has seen small declines in every facet of his game except swats, but has still maintained top-25 production. The draft day decision to take him at #20 instead of Michael Porter Jr. has saved my RazzJam team and has me on the podium…for now.
Ayo Dosunmu
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 13 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4/7 | 2/2 | 1 |
If it weren’t for all the injuries in Chicago we might not have seen what an impact the second-rounder from Illinois can make here in his rookie campaign. Instead, Dosunmu is making a splash and winning over the hometown fans by burying massive triples. Ayo is found money for the Bulls and has been turning in top-80 value while seeing 35+ MP over the last two weeks.
Javonte Green
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 11 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3/8 | 5/7 | 1 |
When there are minutes available, you have to seize the opportunity. Like his teammate Dosunmu, Green has been seeing 25-ish minutes per over the last few weeks and is producing at a rate that has him just outside the top-100. PT really is more than half the battle.
Nikola Jokic
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 21 | 16 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6/12 | 8/9 | 5 |
Monte’ Morris
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 13 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5/7 | 2/2 | 1 |
Looking at this Nuggets boxscore, it’s Joker and then a bunch of lines like this. Monte’s 13 came on accurate shooting, which is more than what can say for Will Barton or Aaron Gordon. Jokic is virtually peerless as a basketball player. We gotta get Jamal Murray and MPJ back for him. There’s a desperate need for the calvary.
Jarred Vanderbilt
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 18 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8/12 | 2/4 | 1 |
This is year four for Vando, but it looks like things are finally really clicking for him in Minnesota. The usage is tiny — 11.1%, the lowest of his career — but he’s been able to pump out top-70 value on the strength of his boards, stocks, and FG% boost. The minuscule turnover rate plays especially well in 9-cat formats. Imagine what he’d be capable of if he didn’t play with those usage hogs.
Karl-Anthony Towns
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 24 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8/12 | 7/8 | 1 |
One of the aforementioned usage hogs who is turning in a top-8 season: “You were saying something?”
Pat Beverley
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 11 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3/6 | 2/2 | 1 |
I was so shocked to see Beverley hit three triples this game that I had to go to his game logs to see how unusual this line was. Did you know that he fit five against the Thunder in early January? No, come on, it counts. That’s a good JV team.
Taurean Prince
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 23 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 8/12 | 1/2 | 2 |
At first I just assumed that Prince and Anthony Edwards accidentally swapped jerseys, but it turns out it actually was Taurean out there. Believe it or not, it’s been a nice couple of weeks of ball for Prince, mostly because the threes have been falling. Despite a down year shooting, he’s posted solid 3P% figures for the last four seasons, so the six trips aren’t that flukey. Still, don’t get too excited.
Jordan Poole
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 31 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 9/24 | 4/13 | 1 |
Damion Lee
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 21 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 7/15 | 2/2 | 1 |
No Steph, Klay, Dray, or Wiggins for the Warriors in this one. Did we suddenly fall back into 2020 or something? Can’t be, as we know Lee and Poole to be proven stewards when the champions are unavailable, something that wasn’t necessarily true the last time the cupboard was this bare. Not only did the second-stringers post solid fantasy lines, but they also dragged Golden State to a come-from-behind W against a plucky Spurs team.
Moses Moody
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 20 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6/12 | 2/2 | 1 |
After spending significant stretches of this season in the G-League, Moses has come down from Mt. Sinai and walked straight into the starting lineup on back-to-back nights. One would assume that the 19-year-old rookie isn’t doing anything more than catching some seasoning and eating minutes for the banged up and aged championship contenders, but who knows? Maybe Moody slipped Steve Kerr a stone tablet that reads, “Thou shalt let me cook.”
Jonathan Kuminga
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 19 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 8/15 | 1/1 | 3 |
I’m so smitten. The kid is an electric watch.
GPII with the steal ➡️ Jonathan Kuminga with the windmill 🤩 pic.twitter.com/yaZURIQUwv
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 2, 2022
Dejounte Murray
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 27 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 12/21 | 2/3 | 6 |
Kyrie Irving, Chris Paul, LaMelo Ball, Donovan Mitchell, and Tyrese Haliburton are all point guards who are looking up at Murray on the player rater. A top-10 player on the season, the only guards in front of him are Curry, FVV, and James Harden. The breakout is real and it’s spectacular.
Derrick White
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 16 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6/10 | 0/0 | 3 |
He’s overshadowed by the other half of the Spurs backcourt, but White is also enjoying his best season as a pro — jumping more than 35 spots up from last year’s ranking to land in the top-60 in 21-22. I was high on both preseason because of the playmaking void created by DeRozan’s DeParture, but now I’m wondering if there’s any way I can swap the three or four shares I’ve got of White for a single hit of Murray.
Keldon Johnson
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 21 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8/10 | 2/4 | 3 |
Young Keldon has enjoyed a fortnight of good shooting from deep, and during that time he’s made his way into top-70 status. Outside of the last two weeks? Kind of a meh top-150 guy, as he doesn’t do any one thing especially well.
Devin Vassell
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 14 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 4/10 | 2/2 | 0 |
Vassell and Keldon are basically in the same boat here. There’s promise and potential, but I’d be surprised to see anything truly impactful before the year is through. Johnson is 22 and Vassell is only 21, so they’re good names to remember for next year.
Kyrie Irving
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 26 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 10/20 | 3/4 | 2 |
Say whatever you want about Kyrie, at this point he’s earned it, but my flat-out truth is this: I just love watching this man play basketball.
James Harden
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 22 | 5 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6/19 | 7/9 | 4 |
On the other side of the Kyrie coin is Harden, a workhorse of a star who, for better or worse, plays through pain and lack of fitness all the time. What can I say? Beauty is vain and evidently extremely skeptical of vaccines. My aesthetics bend toward Irving.
Devin Booker
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 35 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 13/23 | 6/7 | 2 |
The TNT crew were trying to bait Book into being spiteful for his All-Star starter snub, but the young stud deflected and said that the team was proud of Monty Williams for getting the nod as the West’s head coach. Starter or not, Booker is a bonafide bucket getter and the Suns are scary good.
Mikal Bridges
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 27 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 10/14 | 6/7 | 0 |
Miles Bridges he is not, but that doesn’t mean that Mikal hasn’t rewarded those who drafted him with fantasy goodies. The blocks, triples, and FG% are all a tick down from last year, but the steals and all-around contributions have Mikal locked into mid-round value. There are a lot of mouths in Phoenix though, so nights like this need to be cherished.
Deandre Ayton
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 12 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5/7 | 2/2 | 4 |
The key stat to keep in mind for the Bahamian big who returned to the floor after a couple weeks off with an ankle injury is the 28 minutes he logged. Welcome back, DA. Better days ahead.
Chris Paul
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG | FT | TO |
| 20 | 4 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5/12 | 9/9 | 2 |
Point God doing Point God things. How’s that for analysis?
