When I was younger, I used to love watching The Jeffersons. Always made me laugh. It wasn’t until later in life that I fully appreciated what the show was about, though. Race and the American Dream. It was possible for people of color to achieve success and move up the proverbial ladder. In the case of George Jefferson, he was able to accomplish it through the opening of a chain of dry cleaning stores. But there are a myriad of ways to accomplish the feat. Which brings me to Al Jefferson of the Indiana Pacers. The 33-year-old has played 14 seasons in the NBA. A once 20/10 player had been relegated to bench mob, averaging less than 15 minutes a game over the past two seasons. Last night, though, he got his opportunity due to injuries for both Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 20 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9/15 | 2/3 |
What year is it? Anyways, it was a season-high for points, rebounds, and minutes played. With Sabonis out until next week and Turner possibly out as well, Jefferson is movin on up that depth chart.
Here’s what else I saw last night:
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Rudy has been hard at work in the lab. His latest creation? DAILY LINEUPS PAGE. So good. So smooth. So helpful. He decided to go with the Sonny Bono red tint, while I prefer the blue tint. What say you?
Darren Collison:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 22 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3/4 | 8/11 | 3/6 |
Is Collison also a Jefferson? Because he will probably be movin on up that depth chart as well. Last night was the fourth game played since returning from injury. Hasta la vista, Cory Joseph.
Thaddeus Young:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 13 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1/4 | 6/13 | 0 |
Played 31 minutes and could be looking at few more in the next couple of games, due to the aforementioned injuries. Thad can do it all, but he can also do nothing.
Serge Ibaka:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 13 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3/8 | 5/13 | 0 |
That was Ibaka’s sixth double-dub of the season. For perspective, Carmelo Anthony has six on the season as well. Uh, Serge.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 16 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1/1 | 5/14 | 5/5 |
Played 27 minutes. JV now has five double-dubs in the last eight games. Uh, Serge. Dwane Casey is the kind of guy that properly breaks in a new car. Keeps the rpms at a reasonable level in the beginning and won’t start putting the pedal to the medal until it’s time. Well, every year it’s the same story with how he deals with JV. Gives him around 20 mpg early in the season, then like clock work, ramps him up down the stretch.
Marvin Williams:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 17 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3/5 | 7/9 | 0/3 |
Anytime Marvin scores in double figures, I feel obligated to write him up. Why? I don’t know. I guess it’s my charitable contribution for the year.
Dwight Howard:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 33 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 13/20 | 7/8 |
REVENGE!!! 7-of-8 from the free throw line, huh? Someone in the organization needs to make some contact lenses that makes Dwight see the opposition wearing ATL uniforms.
Nicolas Batum messed around.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 10 | 10 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2/4 | 4/9 | 0/1 |
Batum is a nightly triple-dub threat. Glad to see that he’s healthy.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 21 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2/3 | 7/10 | 5/7 |
Yeees. Yeees. Unleash the beast! I can’t wait to see what Collins does next season. I’m very bullish on him.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 22 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6/12 | 8/18 | 0 |
Played 37 minutes. Last three games: 24.8, 28.6, and 31.1 usage rates. The two games before that: 12.2 and 14. A microcosm of Prince’s season. Up and down. With that said, he plays on a shitty team that is going to give the young guys plenty of run. He obviously has the skills. Let’s see if he can be more consistent.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 14 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3/5 | 5/8 | 1/2 |
Played 26 minutes. On a 10-day contract, so the 25 year old, 6′ 6″ 210 pound shooting guard out of Louisville could get shipped back down to the G-League. On the other hand, the Hawks could keep him up and give him run to see what they got. Remember, Kent Bazemore has been shut down for the year.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 21 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4/8 | 7/13 | 3/4 |
The Mario with the D just continues to produce. The Casanova of fantasy basketball.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 29 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2/5 | 11/21 | 5/7 |
I used to live down the street from MSG, on 34th and 9th. A good two to three blocks away. I bet the line to sex Embiid would’ve traversed that distance, no problem.
Ben Simmons messed around.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 13 | 10 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5/11 | 3/8 |
If you have a mouse with a scroll thing-a-ma-jig, please scroll up 10 clicks. Now press play. Anyways, the free throw shooting is freaking BS.
Ersan Ilyasova:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 9 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2/5 | 3/13 | 1/2 |
Played 24 minutes. The production, minutes, and usage have been all over the map, but if he gets around 25 minutes a game and shoots 13 times, he can be very useful. Will grab some boards and shoot 3s.
Michael Beasley:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 24 | 13 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1/2 | 11/16 | 1/3 |
Got the start and played 34 minutes. After being quiet for an extended period of time, Beasley has played 34 and 33 minutes the past two games, attempted 16 and 13 shots, and scored 24 and 21 points. I like when Beasley forgets who he actually is.
Enes Kanter played 24 minutes and went 14/10, while Kyle O’Quinn played 24 minutes and went 15/10. Hornacek going all pee wee in his allocation of playing time.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 9 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1/8 | 3/13 | 2/2 |
You know crapping out is the most likely outcome at the table, but you keep shooting and placing all the Hardaway bets. It’ll hit….eventually….right?
Courtney Lee:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 16 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1/3 | 6/10 | 3/4 |
He’s alive.
Trey Burke:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 16 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1/2 | 7/11 | 1/2 |
Played 25 minutes after two games with 15 minutes and one game with 14. If Trey gets the minutes, he can light it up from downtown.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 29 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3/6 | 13/24 | 0 |
Played 40 minutes. Top 10 player over the last month. He doesn’t jump over KIA’s but I think Clippers fans are okay with that. And they say people in Los Angeles are all about the glitz and glamour.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 8 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4/9 | 0 |
Jordan has been an animal on the boards. His last eight games: 18, 18, 18, 23, 20, 15, 20, and 16. On the season, he has a total of 933 boards. Freaking Andre Drummond has 1021!!! Dre has played four more games, but still.
Sindarious Thornwell:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0/2 | 3/9 | 0 |
Got the start and played 37 minutes. Very…..how shall I say it?…..underwhelming.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 19 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 9/16 | 1/2 |
There were questions about whether he would play last night, due to a thumb injury. Thumbs up!
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 23 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7/9 | 8/13 | 0 |
Played 30 minutes. REVENGE??!! Do we need to get him some contacts as well? We know about the downtowners, but Gordon has been back to contributing in the periphery categories lately. Very nice.
Chris Paul scored 11 points while James Harden ONLY scored 24 points. Yet, the Rockets still won 101-96. The Rockets are playing at one of the slowest paces in the league, but are just so damn efficient on offense that they score a ton of points. A sneaky thing about the team, though, is that their defense has been one of the best.
Noah Vonleh:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 7 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1/6 | 3/10 | 0 |
Got the start and played 33 minutes. Vonleh is getting run because Lauri Markkanen has been out due to injury. Markkanen should be back soon, but you never know. I think Vonleh sucks but if he gets minutes, he has some value.
The Bulls played 11 players. All received at least 10 minutes of run and eight played 20 or more. They defeated the Grizzlies 111-110, in a hot potato game. You win. No, you win. I insist, you win. The Bulls won/lost.
JaMychal Green:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 15 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1/3 | 7/13 | 0 |
Played 38 minutes. Has four double-dubs in the past seven games. The shot attempts and points won’t always be there, but he does yeoman’s work on the glass.
Marc Gasol:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 21 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 2/6 | 7/14 | 5/7 |
Gasol is one of my favorite players now. Love his game on the court, but love his game off the court more.
Tyreke Evans:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 25 | 5 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5/9 | 8/18 | 4/5 |
Got the start and played 33 minutes.
Briante Weber:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1/2 | 0 |
Played 21 minutes. It’s like the Price Is Right down in Memphis. Briante Weber! You’re the next contestant to play point guard for the Grizzlie. C’mon down!!!
Nikola Mirotic:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 6 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0/2 | 3/12 | 0 |
Got the start and played 29 minutes. I wouldn’t worry too much. The minutes and shot attempts are there.
Can never count out the Spurs and Gregg Popovich, as they stymied the Pelicans 98-93.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 21 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0/2 | 8/19 | 5/5 |
The Spurs are one of the few teams that give AD some trouble.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 24 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2/5 | 9/23 | 4/5 |
Such a beast. I wonder if he could make the Oladipo leap on a team where he was the man. With that said, even playing alongside AD, Jrue is hoisting 20 shots a game. He could be a triple-dub threat, but surprisingly has not grabbled 10 boards in a game all year. Been close a few times, though.
Ian Clark:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 16 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2/3 | 6/11 | 2/2 |
Played 32 minutes. Has been getting around 24 minutes a game, with two over 30. In addition, double-digit shot attempts in four of the past five games. With that said, doesn’t contibute much in the periphery categories or launch many downtowners.
LaMarcus Aldrige:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 25 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0/1 | 11/27 | 3/3 |
Played 38 minutes. LMA with the O!!!
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 18 | 12 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1/2 | 8/13 | 1/2 |
Loves playing against the Pelicans. In three games this season: 16.7 points, 8 boards, 3 dimes, .67 blocks, and 2.7 steals.
Blake Griffin:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 26 | 6 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5/8 | 9/21 | 3/3 |
Just another day at the Lake.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 21 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9/18 | 3/8 |
Every day is Dre Day.
Dwight Buycks:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 21 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1/3 | 8/15 | 5/6 |
Played 23 minutes and taking minutes from Ish Smith. Keep an eye on the playing time.
Wilson Chandler:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 0 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0/1 | 0/6 | 0 |
Played 40 minutes. Back-to-back games playing 40 minutes. Last night, he shot 11-of-16 and scored 26 points. The metronome of fantasy basketball? Chandler’s floor is relatively high, due to his production in the periphery categories. Keep playing him unless the minutes start getting scaled back.
Will Barton:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 23 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1/5 | 8/16 | 6/8 |
Played 32 minutes. I was getting a little concerned, as he was only getting around 25 minutes of run the last couple of games. I’m a worry wart.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 26 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5/8 | 9/17 | 3/5 |
And Mike Malone was actually benching Murray earlier in the season. Oh, wait. I forgot. This is the same Mike Malone that was benching Jokic his rookie year.
Speaking of Jokic….
Nikola Jokic messed around.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 23 | 12 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2/5 | 8/15 | 5/6 |
Since it would take too much time to scroll up…..
Played 38 minutes. But people kept telling me in the preseason that he couldn’t contribute D stats. Fine, to be fair, while he’s over 1 steal per game, the blocks are under 1. If the D stats do become more consistent, who do you take? Jokic of KAT?
Back to freaking Malone….Gary Harris left the game due to injury. After the game, Malone was asked if it was a knee or an ankle. He replied “somewhere in the middle, if that makes sense.” (quote via @TJMcBrideNBA on Twitter)
Dragan Bender:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 7 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1/4 | 2/5 | 2/2 |
Yup, the nightly Bender.
Elfrid Payton:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2/3 | 0 |
Played 17 minutes. Minutes played the last four games: 30, 27, 23, and 17. Not a good trend. As for replacements, Tyler Ulis played 16 minutes, while Shaquille Harrison played 18 minutes. Devin Booker did play some point guard, so maybe the Suns just go that route.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 12 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1/4 | 3/18 | 5/5 |
Booker was questionable to play due to an injury near the right pinkie knuckle. Since that’s his shooting hand, I think it’s fair to assume that the injury affected his shot. Something to monitor going forward.
Josh Jackson:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 17 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1/1 | 6/11 | 4/6 |
Played 24 minutes. The minutes have come down but maybe Elf gets demoted and JJ gets more PT.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 21 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8/11 | 5/6 |
Rudy! Rudy! For the month of March (8 games): 18.7 points, 13.9 boards, 1.1 dimes, 2.3 blocks, and 1.1 steals. Dayam.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 23 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2/7 | 10/21 | 1/4 |
I love you. That is all.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 10 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0/1 | 3/7 | 4/6 |
Played 14 minutes for his first action of the season. Welcome back, Dante!
Ricky Rubio:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 12 | 5 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2/6 | 5/15 | 0/2 |
For the month of March: 14.6 points, 6.6 boards, 7 dimes, and 1.4 steals. No R&R or siestas for Ricky.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 35 | 14 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 1/4 | 15/25 | 4/9 |
Played 41 minutes. And the Cavs lost 105-113. LA Bron James!!!
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 16 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1/4 | 5/12 | 5/6 |
With both Mr. Kardashian and Larry Nance Jr. out due to injury, Green got the start at center and played 34 minutes last night. Getting the run and shot attempts. Is better in a run-and-gun, uptempo environment, so I’d definitely target him in those situations.
Kyle Korver:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 19 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3/8 | 7/13 | 2/2 |
Has been starting at shooting guard and played 38 minutes last night. 3 & no D player, but he did get some D last night. Phrasing?
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 7 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3/9 | 1/4 |
Only played 19 minutes. While the matchup with Green looked juicy on the offensive end, it was more problematic on the defensive side of the ball, as he was in foul trouble all night long. Also, this probably had something to do with his shitty performance….
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 24 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1/8 | 7/20 | 9/9 |
Played 36 minutes. Y’all know it’s usually Dame Dolla time, but not his finest game last night, so Dolla will not be making an appearance. 24/3/9 on 7-of-20 shooting is a floor game for Lillard. Nasty.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 29 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3/10 | 12/24 | 2/2 |
Let’s cut to highlights of CJ from last night….
