Ohhhhh Brad Stevens. You look like you’re 12 and coach like you’re… 12. But at least, unlike Larry Drew, his inconsistencies have been pretty centralized to the… center. I need to work on expanding my vocab! First there was the Vitor Faverani early (albeit very brief) breakout, then Kelly Olynyk got some starts, followed by a really nice run from Jared Sullinger. I at first brushed him off, but then had Yahoo highlights for a Celtics game and was really impressed. I liked how he saw the floor, played hard, a nice-looking shot, and just overall looked like a guy that would be a must-own. Then after some flagrant fouls and rough-n-tough play racking up the personals, Stevens threw him to the bench. From December 22nd to January 8th he was brutal and I had to jump ship as well. And of course right after that happens, he goes for 21/11 and 14/10 over the weekend, with a pair of treys in both. The first comment on Friday was asking about dropping Sullinger and I said “12 team with a solid squad I might hold, but if I had injuries or needed production now, he’s droppable. I think he is bad a few weeks, but gets back into the starting lineup.” That’s me quoting me! My timetable was off, turned out he was done being bad/underplayed, but I still had some faith. I think he needs to be owned in most leagues with double-double upside, a perimeter game, and I think the assists come back (only 1 in the past 4, but was at 2.3 dimes a game in December). Let’s all just hope Stevens doesn’t keep sullying fantasy hoops for us… Here’s what else I saw over the weekend (through tears of sadness after the refs rigged the 49ers a playoff win) in fantasy basketball:
Kevin Durant – Had a spill and almost broke his wrist on Saturday. He left with a brace after the game, and luckily it’s the left wrist and he was able to finish the game. Injuries need to stop claiming all these lives!
Marc Gasol – Set to practice Monday. Last chance to buy low for a nice second half. I think he will be a great add if anyone that has held onto him isn’t so convinced.
Kawhi Leonard – Woop woop! This is what I’m talkin’ about! Rainbow line of 17/6/2/2/2 on 8-11 shooting with a trey. This is what he gives you when he plays 36+ minutes, Popp!
Corey Brewer – Two straight bad ones. Last night wasn’t helped by the Spurs blowing out the Wolves, but Chase Budinger is getting PT and it’s tough to be too optimistic. You like the treys and swipes though! I think those will continue even in smaller workloads.
Mike Scott – The non-Dundler Mifflin Michael Scott got 29 minutes off the bench for 15/4/1/1/0. Double-digit scoring in 5 of the last 6, boards a tad, hits threes, and gets some steals. Worth a look in deep 12-teamers and beyond if that fits what ya need.
Courtney Lee – The Grizz like their new shizz! Near rainbow 15/1/2/2/2 in his 32 minute start last night. Actually three straight fantasy-usable games from C Lee. C was Low in Green, the change in his pocket wasn’t enough, now he has a Voice in Memphis. The convoluted joke fairy just bitch slapped me on that one!
James Johnson – I like James Johnson. I like multi-cats. I like 7/4/3/3/2 lines with a three. I like rainbow lines. I don’t like how crowded things will be when Marcy Marc Gasol gets back. If only dates went this well!
Ed Davis – Part of the revolving door of fantasy glimpses that carousel round-n-round for Memphis’ big men. The Grizzlies are kinda like The Walking Dead. No, not because they’re old! But because I like them, they have flashes of greatness, but then something else is good and the first thing is bad. Like Carl when he starts a season with a silencer on his gun, but then later he is all whiney and Rick won’t let him have a gun. Then he gets an assault rifle and helps his dad mow em down! Or the prison, which when they get there is awesome and rife with opportunity, only to squash it with a flu outbreak, then back up with a tank assault. The flu? Really?! Anyway, Davis has had double-doubles every other game in 2014. Creepy! Only 6/5 last night. Part of the “scared how minutes will go when Gasol is back” bunch.
Luol Deng – 12/5/2/1/0 and not gettin’ it done for his new team. Womp womp.
Slim’s Andray Blatche vs. JB’s Tristan Thompson – Speaking of womp womp! TT 6/3/0/0/1 last night?! What are you doin’ to me?! Blatche 14/12/1/1/0 his last two, TT 24/18/2/0/1. It’s like Blatche is sinking to TT’s level! I don’t feel great about it, but marginal lead thus far.
C.J. Miles – I was unsure how the minutes would play out with Deng getting there, and C.J. has been fine. 14 Pts in the start last night, 17 the night before, but is still a ThrAGNOF. Not doing much else.
Jason Thompson – Pulled down 16 boards last night. Actually has had 4 pretty usable games in a row. He’s not going to all the sudden bust out, but a good depth guy in deeper leagues right now.
Josh Smith – Smooooooooove bitch, get out the way! Someone has probably made that joke before… But no one has two super-rainbow lines this year (4 of each cat)! Or double-rainbow…? I guess double rainbow makes sense since those actually exist. A nasty 22/13/7/4/5 line. I had highlights for this game, and he was all over the place. This one on Michael Carter-Williams was pretty nasty. Then had a game-winner on Saturday. There were a lot of comments asking about selling Smith, and while sometimes he hurts ya, games like this make him tough to give up.
Kris Humphries – So easy to make fun of, especially after Blake Griffin climbed over him, but after that game 16/14/0/2/3 Friday then rainbow 10/8/2/2/3 on Saturday. I said yesterday I would take Blatche over him. I think I’ll stick by that ROS, but right now I would want to hump.
Brian Roberts – 9/7/1 then 7/3/8 in his two starts. Why I was pessimistic in my assessment. Just won’t be enough of an impact guy. I’m sure a few nice ones will filter in here-and-there, but feels good to be right on this one so far!
Dirk Nowitzki – Put up a 40-burger. Getting harder and harder for him to outscore his age, but he did it here! Man, if you got him at his ADP you are rockin’ like it’s Oktoberfest.
Evan Fournier – Moving west, viva la Fournier! 18/5/2 on Saturday and double-digits in 4 of 5. The Shaw-shank Redemption (TM) where Brian Shaw solidified his rotations have given the Nugs 5 straight wins and consistent fantasy value. Worth an add in 14-teamers.
Giannis Antetokounmpo – Larry Drew needs a Shaw-shank redemption. Or at least, just the shank… After three bad games, Drew finally gave Giannis a big run and he got him to the Greek! Rainbow line! 13/11/5/2/2. He’s going to have a ton in his career. Especially after Drew gets fired.
D.J. Augustin – Move over Colorado and Washington, because Chicago’s got it legal too! D.J. with a sick dimebag Saturday for a 20/12 game. He’s been a big asset for me in questions, I believed! It’s not such a Full House for D.J.! He’ll get his run!
Mason Plumlee – Got his first start on Saturday. And it was pretty nice. 6/5/0/2/4 with no TOs shooting 3-5. Didn’t even play a minute in the past two games. Logged just seconds. Sucks for his averages! Not too much to see unless Kevin Garnett misses a few more games with incontinence.
Kevin Seraphin – 18/5/1 out of nowhere on Saturday. Dude, literally wrote that then saw Rotoworld used the same description. Shared conscious! But, not seeing anything lasting. The faster they rise, the harder they Seraphin Falls.
I hope everyone had a better weekend than me, as I broke my TV after throwing my shoe at it during the Panthers game. Good luck to everyone this week!
