Leandro Barbosa had a really good run in the 2000’s, captaining the Black Pearl, slashing to the basket with some great drives – just like the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise was all-around fun to watch in his prime. After a decline in Leandro’s play, he was shipped to Toronto for some turkey named Hedo Turkoglu. Barbosa averaged nearly 13 Pts a game north of the border in two seasons, but then he was constantly asea with stints with the Pacers and Celtics before tearing his ACL in February last year. And man, did that injury make him look attractive to the Wizards, who traded for him in a salary move. Never playing for the Wizards and not getting any deals in the offseason, Barbosa looked stranded on the Isla de Muerta. But some rum runners and/or braiding human hair from his back to lash together sea turtles got him back to civilization and re-signed by his former Suns a week ago. After three meh games, Barbosa broke out with a 21/3/2 game last night. Commodore Barbosa! Bootstraps’ bootstraps! He stayed on the court just over 30 minutes, and was infinitely better scoring the ball than Gerald Green, who shot 2-16. Labradoodle alert! No need to Geoffrey Rush to the wire in 10-teamers or 12-teamers, unless you’ve got a banged up squad in 12-team and only need points. He’s a little interesting in deeper leagues though. Mainly because he’ll get minutes, get shots, and will breakout on cold Green nights. Here’s what else I saw last night across the Caribbean:
John Henson – Welcome back! 18 minutes off the bench for a 8/5 game, but most importantly added 4 blocks. BlockNOF! Hah, doesn’t have the same ring to it… It’s going to be tough for Henson to crack 30 minutes a game again since the team is run by Muppets, but I would say should be owned in most 12-teamers that need big man stats/upside.
Larry Sanders – Had four less blocks than Henson. Zero. 6/8/1 in 28 minutes with 3 TOs. Single digits in 5 straight, and he was ejected the game before. It pretty much couldn’t be a worse year for Sanders, but with all that money coming his way, he’s gonna keep playing. Narrowly still like him over Henson, but by narrow I mean by the width of a Henson chicken leg.
Giannis Antetokounmpo – The biggest 2 guard ever to play in the NBA. OK, I have no evidence to back that up, but at 6′ 10 now (grown an inch since being in the NBA), he is really fun to watch and now two straight good games going 11/7/4/2/1 last night. And just so much of an upgrade over Luke Ridnour… I really have no idea what will happen next, but I would re-add Giannis if you had him before. He could have a rainbow line in 35 minutes on Wednesday or play 8 minutes.
Ersan Ilyasova – We saw the offensive upside he has some nights. 11-16 (3-3 3PTM 4-4 FT) for 29/9/0/2/0. Last time I saw him play a few games ago, he could shoot and do nothing else. Looks fairly comparable here minus some nice boards. He’s worth a roster spot in most leagues, sure, but in deeper leagues he’s a sell-high after last night. Don’t think you can really sell him in shallower leagues.
Patrick Patterson – Playing big lately. So far in 7 2014 games is averaging 13.1/5.4/1.9/0.7/0.7 in only 24 minutes a game. I was slow on the upkeep on this one. Owned in 13% of leagues, he’s already snatched up in both my RCLs. P Patt is so cute, friendly and loveable! Just like Pit Pat from Mr. Show. Needs to be owned in more leagues as I see the minutes keep increasing. “Take it from me, I love you!”
Amir Johnson – One good game, one medium-ish game, and two brutal games in the past 4. Not a recipe for success in shallower leagues. Especially with Pit Pat playing so well.
Dwight Howard – 10-18 FT! Hack-a-Howard only kinda worked! 32/11 as well. After a lull at the end of December, playing like Dwight in 2014.
Jeff Green – A disgrace. Said he hurt his shoulder in the first quarter and that’s why he sucked. Pssshh.
Jared Sullinger – Just can’t stop fouling people! At least he got ya 8/10/1/0/1 in 23 minutes, while he racked up those 5 fouls. But hey, 10+ boards in 3 straight and continues to be somewhat useful.
Kris Humphries – A – started at center, B – had 3 blocks, C – WTF, where they all on Dwight Howard?! Because that would be kinda awesome. Didn’t see this game, but a decent 21 minute 4/8/2/0/3 line. Multi-cat!
Jerryd Bayless – Power of JB! 7-13 FG (1-1 3PTM 2-2 FT) 17/1/4/2/1. More multi-cat! No other Celtics G off the bench really got much run in this game, so I think mid-20 minutes and decent scoring/marginal diming is legit until Rondo is here (which may be soon, see below). Deeper leagues need to be sure to behold the power of JB.
Rajon Rondo – Hinted he’ll be back Friday, which would of course cut into Bayless a bit. Cut right into that headband. Also will hurt Jordan Crawford. But Rondo won’t be playing 30+ minutes right away either.
Markieff Morris – Ejected last night. I was mad, so ejected him off one of my RCL teams for a stream spot. I might regret it, but I need all I got to beat Pete!
Channing Frye – I’ve always hated on him this year. Proved me right last night! 3-12 for 10/5/0/1/0 with 2 treys. “But JB, he’s been good, and you’re only adding him to the recap today because of last night’s game!” You caught me anti-commenter-bias man! The year average 2.2 3s are great from a big, but he doesn’t do enough of anything else for me to hop aboard. 11.9/5.4/1.1/0.8/0.8, yeah, that’s cool that he’s multi-cat, but there’s nothing really great except the 2.2 treys a game and no upside like Pit Pat. If he boarded like a big, or blocked like a big, oh man it would be my party and I’ll Frye if I want to… ThrAGNOF!
Raymond Felton – Multi-cat! 19/1/1/1/1 hahaha. The Knicks are the most selfish team in hoops. 11 team assists in an overtime game. Yikes. The “Don’t Be Shellfish” button at the top of articles should be pasted across their locker room…
Carmelo Anthony – The Knicks big men are all either hurt, old, or Andrea Bargnani… So it’s no big surprise Melo is averaging a career-high 8.9 boards a game, 1.3 higher than his career-high in 2010-11. Another 16 last night. Pushing his fantasy game into a new level.
Kawhi Leonard – I watched this game and Kawhi was awesome. 13/6/3/2/1 shooting 4-6 (1-1 3PTM 4-4 FT). Love the 33 minutes too. This play encapsulated how smooth he was – just wanted an excuse to share that one I made. Love that highlight.
Tim Duncan – Fouled out early in the 4th quarter. Which was a little surprising. Just over 26 minutes, but he didn’t get Popped like you’d think…
Anthony Davis – Rainbow line! 22/11/2/3/2. This block was nasssssty. Don’t break your hand again! I don’t think I’ve ever seen a block come that close to shattering a backboard… But in all seriousness, Davis did have his hand stepped on and looked like he was in pain earlier in the game. I haven’t seen any injury updates, but worth monitoring. Davis is such a beast – probably going to be a top 5 pick for me next year, we’ll have to see how consensus that becomes.
Brian Roberts – Best game since taking over starting PG duties. 35 minutes for 19/4/4/0/0 with two threes. This is why I didn’t like Roberts that much, just doesn’t do enough past scoring for me to warrant him a must-own while Jrue Holiday is hurt.
Ryan Anderson – Out at least two months. Tough break, droppable in all redraft leagues.
Al Farouq-Aminu – Actually led the Pelicans in minutes playing 37:01 last night. 8/11/1/0/0. Had two nice layups early, but is just so raw offensively and ended up 3-10 from the field. Unpolished offense, no steals or blocks in two straight, I mean he boards and has multi-cat upside but not anything I feel great about. Rather Antetokounmpo for example, but I don’t think that was too too close… I’d rather Patrick Patterson! Maybe that helps…
Nene – Returned to the starting lineup and rainbow alert! It’s raining Brazilians last night! 19/5/5/2/2 in 36 minutes. Worth a pickup in most leagues if he’s going to get 30+ minute a night run, but beware the 1-6 FT from last night. Only shooting 61% from the line, a career worst since 2007.
Tony Snell – A night after literally doing nothing (and for all you grammar purists out there, he played 17:01 for a 0/0/0/0/0 line with a foul shooting 0-2 so pipe down) he goes 5-9 (2-4 3PTM) 12/2/1/2/0. I still like him in deeper leagues/dynasties.
Orlando Magic – Had one block as a team last night. From backup PG E’Twaun Moore of all guys. What, playing Glen Davis at the 5 isn’t gonna help your interior D?! Orlando has dropped 8 straight and could not need Nikola Vucevic more…
Wilson Chandler – Returned from hip and groin issues for 12/5/1/1/0 shooting 4-10 (2-5 3PTM 2-3 FT) without a TO. 22 minutes off the bench and hopefully will be back in the starting line-up soon. My stock rating is still a hold for right now. With upside of me getting an excessive growth.
Evan Fournier – Mentioned it yesterday, and now it’s 6-straight solid games since the Shaw-shank redemption. Now, it helped Evan out that Randy Foye somehow fouled out in 18 minutes, but the Fournier-Year-Old Virgin got 37 minutes for 16/3/2/3/0 ball with 3 treys. Getting into the 12-teamer region.
Alec Burks – Career-high 34 points filling in for Gordon Hayward who is out with labradoodle soreness. Ew – that sounds wrong… Anywho, Burks got hot going 13-19 and 8-8 FT for 34/3/5/1/0. Worth a stream if Hayward misses again Wednesday, but he is traveling with the team. So not huge on Burks as an add if he’s out there in shallow leagues.
Next Game: I’ve got a good one in OKC @ MEM tonight. Ohhh, the bad blood! Should get a little chippy. I hope everyone had a good Monday and start to their week 12!
