What a night for the Brow!
On a near-unparalleled night for my bold call for MVP yesterday and Razzball’s #1 fantasy pick, I’ve gotta say, it feels like it’s going to be a great season! An unbelievable 26/17/2/3/9 in a near trip-dub with the blocks, and fitting he’d be 2014-15’s first rainbow line (at least 2 Pts/Reb/Ast/Stl/Blk). In H2H leagues, if you have Brow you better win blocks this week! Not only were those blocks more than enough, but Brow was a solid 10-22 from the field (6-9 FT), and didn’t commit a single TO. About all you could complain about is if you play in a triple-doubles league, he just needed one more swat! Just one!
Of the 25 experts on FantasyPros, only 5 had Brow #1 overall with yours truly one of the five, and Razzball’s Seth a second. Now, before you go unloading your top 5 picks for Brow in a desperate trade, don’t forget this was against the Magic who looked pretty horrific. Then again, Stephen Curry and LeBron James are going to have to do something outrageous to make the Brow non-believers feel better tomorrow…
Here’s what else went down across the league’s first three regular season games:
Julius Randle – When there’s peaks of happiness, sometimes there’s troughs of sadness. I really like this kid, just didn’t think it would come together for fantasy this year, and he suffered a broken leg last night. With how bad the Lakers looked, I kinda doubt he plays again this year if I had to guess for a timetable.
Elfrid Payton – Had 4 shots blocked in the first half. 5 blocked total in the game, shooting 2-8. But he did start, played hard, and fell into a 4/5/7/1/0 line. It’s low end, but useful! And only 2 TO in his debut; although getting 5 shots blocked should could for a turnover or two…
Evan Fournier – His hair tells it all. Had like a 2 inch ponytail with hair not even close to long enough for a ponytail. It’d be like telling Manu Ginobili to grow a ponytail! Evan really wants to stay a virgin… 11/3/2/0/0 with 4 TO. Probably moving on and streaming that spot in 12 or 14 teamers, but for deeper leaguers, it certainly helps that Ben Gordon looked like the worst NBA player on the floor last night. Shot 1-8, and got blocked by Jimmer Fredette (called a foul, but it was all ball. Even Ben Gordon’s mom yelled at the reffing at that call).
Tobias Harris – Huge debut going 25/8, but had a little injury scare late in the game. Kinda landed funky driving to the rim on O, then the following possession on D seemed to bang knees. The broadcast suggested it may have actually just been a cramp, but worth keeping an eye out. Don’t want Tobias to lose out on “this type of agility?!”
Kyle O’Quinn – Started at the 4 with Tobias at the 3. Only got 21 minutes, a little early foul trouble hurt, but nearly rainbowed for 4/2/5/1/3. Shot only 2-8 and his jumper looked pretty flat, but still borderline usable in all leagues while Channing Frye is out. I will caution that Aaron Gordon looked decent for 11/3/0/1/1 but 3 TO. Gordon needs the minutes (had 28 last night) to be productive, O’Quinn doesn’t.
Nikola Vucevic – Redonkulous! 15/23/1/1/4. Almost a Goromotaro! If he gets to 2 blocks a game this year, which I’m doubting but you never know, he’s all the sudden a top-20ish player.
Jrue Holiday – Only played 27 minutes, but conked heads with Payton and busted his eye open. Have you seen Eflrid’s hair?! It’s like running into a bag of broken glass. Jrue got some stitches (he’s not one of the snitches!), but was able to get back into the game late even though it didn’t matter. Still, 8/2/4/3/1 is some pretty solid mutlicatness.
Austin Rivers – Played 20 minutes as the main benefactor of Bleedy McGoo, and looked competent. REL bias! Loving this $1 buy. You don’t like the 3-6 FT, but made a few plays and played aggressive.
Omer Asik – Starting to feel like a six foot turkey on this one! It’s one game though, JB! 14/17 with 5 blocks. Did his normal Asik-ness of 0-3 FT, but you can live with that.
Ryan Anderson – ThrAGNOF! But with boards and out of position… Why I ranked him fairly well, and after starting cold last night ended up going 22/9 with 3 treys.
Tyreke Evans – 12/9/6, good! 5-15 FG 2-5 FT, reek! Started, played 35 minutes, nothing but encouraging except the percentages, which should be fine.
Chandler Parsons – Let’s be real, this was the reek! Awful debut for Chandy P, shooting 2-10 for only 5/4/0/2/1. Obviously there’s no need to panic, but his night ended on the sourest of sour notes with a pretty wide open look at 3 to win the game go clankity clank. “Clankity clank” – the less popular Under Armor ad campaign…
Jameer Nelson – Not gonna lie – a tad bit scrubby – but ya know, you’ll take it. 9 points (all on 3 treys), with 3 dimes a steal and a block without logging a single TO. Who the hell is getting blocked by Jameer Nelson?! Ben Gordon didn’t even play in this game! Devin Harris ended up playing the final minutes with the hot hand (shot 6-12 for 17 Pts), and got his PT up to 29 minutes. I’m still big on Jameer if there’s a buy low opportunity after another slower game or two…
Monta Ellis – 26/4/6. He’s really good at basketball. And unlike his misfortune, I wouldn’t be ashamed to ride this Moped!
Kawhi Leonard – Might be able to play Friday for the Spurs second game. Even though I highly doubt it, I hope he has to wear rec specs for a few games. Because then Kawhi would be killin em.
Tim Duncan – I wonder if he’ll make the Hall of Fame… 14/13/2/1/2. Near rainbow! Keep playing, Timmay, don’t walk into the light!
Boris Diaw – Recommended him as a stream, and I got a saucy little 5/9/6 line with a trey. I’m gonna have him teach me to sous-vide that sauce for a souffle! Yeah, I know cooking, I watch Top Chef!
Manu Ginobili – The souffle can come with a side of empanadas! Wow, this dish is getting out of control. About as bad as one of those god forsaken Michelle Obama school lunches! Anyway, 20/2/6/2/0 with a pair of treys in a game I don’t believe. No Kawhi meant extended G minutes, and well, nearly 28 minutes for Manu these days works him out harder than a Remember the Titans summer practice..
Kyle Anderson – DNP, President Snow’s decision. Can’t tell me Pop’s beard doesn’t make him look a little Hunger Games-y…
Doesn’t seem like he’ll make any time in the rotation any time soon. Revolution! Hope. It is the only thing stronger than fear. A little hope is effective. A lot of hope is dangerous.
Terrence Jones – Wheww-ee! Looked really really good. Another Razzball favorite! Before he was stolen… 16/13/3/2/2 in the night’s second rainbow.
Dwight Howard – Why we hated him, and by a good margin the lowest on him of all experts. Of course, I’m sure some of their rankings are for different formats where he could be better, but 13/11/1/0/1 with that typical Dwight 7-16 FT. Such a killer, and the blocks just aren’t there anymore.
James Harden – 15-16 FT. Still, paired with Dwight you’re 22-34, so 65%. When you should be killin’ FT! Why you avoid Dwight…
Kostas Papanikoalaou – So many vowels, so little time! His name reminds me of Vegas Vacation. Papa Georgio! It’s weird how from afar, he’s so reminiscent of Omri Casspi… But Papa’s more a typical wing at the 3, and looked pretty decent for 4/6/4/2/0 in 20 bench minutes. I’m not expecting much, but he’s in the rolodex of guys to keep an eye on.
Kobe Bryant – Well, my bold line sure didn’t work out! Neither did Kobe and Dwight having an amicable game… 19/3/2 in a very disappointing effort, but not so disappointing for A Hill O’ Beans! Guessed 23/3/2, only those four points off. A couple people got the Pts exactly right, but sadly, JashFath’s line of 12/2/2 and getting injured was nearly second closest haha. Mr. Breans – British Gangster you – you have won the first guess the Kobe line of 14-15!
*UPDATE* – Sorry everyone, forgot the Lakers were on a back-to-back! Give me 22/3/7 tonight in Guess the Kobe stat line.
Ed Davis – Looked solid off the bench, albeit a few buckets were in junk time… 11/6/0/1/2 in 22 minutes. Robert Sacre only played in true junk time (those last 7 minutes), so if anything happens to Jordan Hill, Davis would become pretty interesting. Always thought he was an underrated player. Chapel Hill bias! At least we know Davis got good grades in school…
There just plain wasn’t much to like for the Lakers, so I am mercifully ending our first in-season wrap-up here. Good luck to everyone with the big slate of games tonight!
