Ohhhh, Blake Griffin. Well maybe stud is a reach… I don’t want to change the title! With your powerful dunks and lifeless expression when you try to make the other team hit you… Sigh. I think Griffin was on some of the most overrated/bust/avoid lists on draft sheets heading into the season, and rightfully so. But maybe I’m just in my own head with a false narrative… The scoring and rebounding in 2012-13 went down for the third consecutive season (as did his minutes), and he just didn’t do enough multi-cat for you to pay the premium over your moron little brother’s friend who only knows NBA players from Sportscenter top 10. Gerald Green, first pick! That said, it was still a solid 2012-13 campaign. I ended up having him at 42, 7 higher than Yahoo and 10 below ESPN, so I was right in the middle. His ADPs on both sites were 6-7 picks ahead of their respective rankings, but I think the hardcore fantasy players were probably avoiding at the ADPs. He’s looked fantastic so far this season, averaging a career-high Pts, shooting his best FG% and stealing at a career pace. I really liked what he did last night, as Serge Ibaka was letting him have his shot from outside, and BGriff was draining em. Ended his night with a sultry 12-13 27/10/5/2 line. It’s like he went back in time, and told his 2011 self to get better at racking up fantasy stats. Championships? Pshhhh, we want fantasy goodness! I know I won two fantasy leagues last year, but I have no idea who won the Finals! I’m not exactly going to unload my roster to try and get Griffin, but I wouldn’t be selling high either if I ended up with him. Sit back, and enjoy your highlight dunks. Here’s what else I saw last night in fantasy hoops:
Luol Deng – Shot a horrific 3-18 last night. What is he, Gordon Hayward!? Haha, sorry Gordo, just too easy… I’ve never liked Deng in fantasy, part of my whole “avoid dookies” mantra, but at least he got ya 6/13/2 to avoid giving your line-up a total botched spinal tap.
Gordon Hayward – Speaking of Hayward, he pulled the whole “I only sucked so bad because I was hurt!” routine. Has a bruised right knee cap and didn’t practice yesterday, Is a game-time decision for tonight, so be sure to check your line-ups, if you haven’t already thrown your computer across the room looking at 22% team FG thanks to him…
Joakim Noah – Triple double alert! Well, a little late by now… Geez thanks JB! 11/12/8 with a block. The line really surprised me. I remember a couple dimes being mere handoffs that turned into something, and not necessarily him making plays. Joakim Noah is now Christian Ponder.
Taj Gibson – Posterized Timofey Mozgov. Reggie Miller even clowned Mozgov saying it was no surprise. Hell, I’d be embarrassed if Gibson posterized me in a adult rec league. “My knee cap is bruised!”
Mike Dunleavy – Got the start with Jimmy Butler on the shelf for a while. Butler is droppable in almost all leagues. I like Butler a lot, but it’s gonna be a while. Dunleavy is a dookie. I have very little interest. Went 15/5/2 with two threes, so he’s a ThrAGNOF stream target for deeper leagues.
Derrick Rose – It’s so weird watching him vs. fantasy analyzing him, because he looked fantastic yet again. He did play just over 33 minutes, but he sat a lot down the stretch. 9-20 19/4/4 with a three. I might start formulating some buy low offers, but that’s just because I want to sing Seal when looking at my line-up.
Kenneth Faried – Manimal instinct. 12/11/2/1/2, and survived a scary hard fall early in the first when he landed square on the ass. Good thing his Manimal tail broke the fall.
Nate Robinson – He’s terrible. If you’ve read me since last year, you know he’s my least favorite player. Goes 3-13, but happened to his two threes in a row and everyone, including Reggie Miller, just freeeeaaakkkkssss out. All you have to do is be short and hit a three or two, and the NBA loves you. Mostly because the really tall ones like Mozgov keep getting posterized.
Wilson Chandler – Ok, I know the stat line blew chunks, but he just never got the ball in his hands. Some part of the game plan or something. Shaw-ed!
Jordan Hamilton – Don’t go run off thinking Hamilton might be winning his job back. Went 6-12, but one was a shot clock buzzer-beater three that looked ugly and banked in, and another was a gimme layup with no one near him. Also got to play some extended minutes with the Nugs up big most of the fourth.
J.J. Hickson – A solid line of 6-11 14/9/1. Nothing spectacular, and they had the freedom not to run him into the ground at 29 minutes.
DeAndre Jordan – Just wasn’t the big fellah’s night. 2-8, 0-4 FT, 4/12 with one block. Fear the Kendrick Perkins defense! Haha.
CP3 – Another double-double, a game after setting the Pts/Asts 10+/10+ record to start a season. He’s handing out so many dimebags, he may as well be our dealer!
J.J. Redick – Really cooled off lately. I know I avoid dookies, and Redick is one of the most infamous, but he’s a guy I kinda like as underrated in fantasy. I love that Rotoworld’s news blurb said “he finally cooled off” even though he was awful at 3-13 and 5-14 the past two games before 3-11 last night. I gotta stop pickin’ on them, they do great work. Anywho, I think the shot comes back, he does a tiny bit of everything else, nice buy low in deeper leagues.
Steven Adams – I thought he looked really good in this game. Now, given a lot was against Ryan Hollins, but hey, gotta start somewhere! 6/7/2 with three blocks.
Serge Ibaka – I love ya Serge. 8-10 17/5/1/1/3. And a lot of those were nice mid-range jumpers too. He’s settling back into elite big man value.
Next Game: I’ve got Utah @ Dallas tonight. Dammit, the Jazz again!? Yikes. I’m hoping for a big Trey Burke emergence and some decent run from Shane Larkin. Battle of the rooks! Hope you had a solid week, and looking forward to week 5!
