It’s been a rough stretch for Lakers fans. The team is 8-15 to start this season and had win totals of 26, 17, 21, and 27 from 2013-2016. Prior to that, though, there was a Golden Age of epic proportions. Since moving to Los Angeles in 1960, the team had missed the playoffs only four times and had fewer than 40 wins in a season just six times (one being a strike-shortened season). If any of you play Civilization, then you know that Golden Ages don’t last forever. With that said, how could you blame a Lakers fan for thinking that “this time it was different?” See all the Bitcoin madness lately? Remember the housing craziness? What about the NASDAQ insanity? That’s how it was. For over 50 years! What made it even better was the fact that Chick Hearn was the broadcaster for most of that run.
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Oh, how I miss thee. Anyways, it’s been a while since we’ve been blessed with the voice and presence of Chick Hearn, but last night’s night game in Philly made me think of the great Chick as Brandon Ingram drilled the game-winning three. Granted, the “door’s closed, the lights are out, the eggs are cooling, the butter’s getting hard and the jello’s jiggling” when the game is well in hand with some time on the clock, but when Ingram drained that three, all I could hear was Chick voicing those beautiful, beautiful words.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 21 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2/3 | 7/21 | 5/10 |
Ingram hasn’t been a great fantasy player. The shooting percentages (46/30/68) are pretty terrible. He’s only 20 years old, though. The improvements that he made from his rookie year to now have been undeniable. He’s only going to get better. The J is coming along and he can get to the rim at will. Ok, he does have trouble going to his left, but I have confidence that he’ll figure it out. He’s getting a ton of minutes each night and the organization is behind him 100%. By the end of the year, I think Ingram is a top 100 player.
Here’s what else I saw last night:
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Jahlil Okafor and Nik Stauskas were traded for Trevor Booker. I like the trade for both teams. Okafor gives the Nets a bonafide scorer in the post, while Booker provides toughness for the Sixers and allows them to matchup well with small ball, lineups of death. From a fantasy perspective, the situation doesn’t get any better for Okafor, as defense is optional in Brooklyn. The offensive is free-flowing with lots of movement and there are a ton of shooters on that team. The only issue is if he will be able to huff and puff his way up and down the court in the uptempo style. He was scooped up immediately in most the leagues that I saw, but if he’s out there, grab him for sure. I think he could be Enes Kanter-esque. As for Stauskas, I don’t see how he gets many minutes. The Nets are stacked with wing players. Booker will get some run, but I doubt he becomes fantasy relevant.
Brook Lopez played 20 minutes. His last six games: 20, 20, 24, 17, 16, and 17.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 11 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1/5 | 4/9 | 2/2 |
Lopez is in fantasy purgatory. He’s doing just enough to not go to Hell, but he’s not getting enough minutes to enter Heaven.
Which brings me to Julius Randle.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 16 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0/3 | 7/15 | 2/3 |
Played 30 minutes. The lineups with Randle at center have the highest net rating for the Lakers. Things that make you go hmmmmmmm.
Lonzo Ball almost messed around and put up some juicy D stats.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 10 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0/3 | 5/11 | 0 |
He was getting booed constantly by the home crowd. I thought Philly was the City of Brotherly Love? Oh, I forget that they pelted Santa Claus with batteries.
With Dario Saric out, Jerryd Bayless got the start at shooting guard, while JJ Redick got the nod at small forward. Bayless played 30 minutes and went:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 12 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2/3 | 5/9 | 0 |
I’m just glad his name isn’t Skip.
Joel Embiid –
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 33 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 2/3 | 11/17 | 9/10 |
Who gonna sex Embiid?
Ben Simmons messed around. The Stocktonator, on the other hand, does not, as it loved Simmons last night.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 12 | 13 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 6/14 | 0/2 |
Richaun Holmes played 22 minutes, while Amir Johnson got 10 minutes of run. He’s the handcuff to Embiid.
Markieff Morris –
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 21 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2/5 | 8/12 | 3/3 |
Morris is the lure of fantasy basketball. Once in a while, we will see him move and glitter like the real thing, but when we latch on, we get hooked and then die. Probably eaten sashimi style.
Bradley Beal –
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 34 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1/5 | 13/22 | 7/9 |
85 points in two games! Kobe says, “Sup.”
Marcin Gortat played 23 minutes while Ian Mahinmi played 25.
Gortat:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 4 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2/6 | 0 |
Mahinmi:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 10 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4/5 | 2/3 |
If I were a Gortat owner, I’d be scurred.
With Devin Booker out, Josh Jackson got the start at shooting guard and played 24 minutes.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 10 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1/3 | 3/8 | 3/6 |
I’m sorry Ms. Jackson, but Josh cannot shoot. Will you get him to practice some more?
Tyson Chandler was slated to start, but was a late scratch for personal reasons. As a result, Greg Monroe played 27 minutes, while Alex Len received 21 minutes of run.
Monroe:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 15 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6/7 | 3/5 |
Len:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 7 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3/4 | 1/1 |
Prior to the game, the plan was for Chandler to start, but with all three players receiving run at center. It’s NBA three-card monte!!!
Troy Daniels played 28 minutes.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 10 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2/6 | 2/6 | 4/4 |
Should receive more run while Booker is out.
Jared Dudley –
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 6 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1/4 | 2/6 | 1/1 |
Played 17 minutes. Why? I’ve been racking my brain for a reason. The only thing I can come up with is that it gives Jay Triano some solace if the team loses. “At least I went to Jared tonight.”
Russell Westbrook –
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 31 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2/6 | 10/27 | 9/12 |
That’s nice and all RW, but you lost to the Nets 95-100. What do you have to say? Click HERE.
Carmelo Anthony –
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 11 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0/4 | 5/20 | 1/4 |
We want Korver!!! clap clap clap. We want Korver!!! clap clap clap. Yah? Nay? Bueller?
Paul George did not play, so Alex Abrines got the start at shooting guard while Andre Roberson slid to small forward. I heard from the brother of a friend who is the girlfriend of his brother who works with the guy that knows the mom of the Uber driver that George was in LA looking at homes.
Spencer Dinwiddie –
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 5 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1/4 | 2/6 | 0/1 |
Only played 19 minutes due to early foul trouble. So, calm down. Take a big, long breath. Unless you live in Los Angeles near the fires.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson –
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 17 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1/2 | 7/15 | 2/5 |
Played 35 minutes and put up 15 shots, both team highs. I love RHJ. Can do it all and is so versatile.
Allen Crabbe –
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 15 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4/9 | 5/12 | 1/2 |
Played 32 minutes. This is what I was envisioning in the preseason. Actually, it was way, way more, but I’ll take whatever I can get at this point.
Caris LeVert –
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 21 | 5 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1/4 | 6/10 | 8/9 |
Played 30 minutes. Can’t deny the minutes and usage. The past seven games: 30, 28, 25, 28, 29, 29, and 27 minutes. He’s put up 10 or more shots in four of those games. The efficiency may not continue, but he’s been contributing across the board.
Ryan Anderson –
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 23 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5/6 | 9/11 | 0 |
The coding in the Matrix for Mr. Anderson gives him a ratings boost for away games.
Chris Paul almost messed around.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 18 | 9 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2/5 | 7/14 | 2/2 |
He’s such a good neighbor that it makes James Harden excited.
Donovan Mitchell –
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 26 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2/6 | 9/19 | 6/6 |
Led the team in minutes played (35), shot attempts (19), and points (26). Does Ricky Rubio curl up in bed at night and have nightmares about DMitch?
Speaking of Rubio:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 11 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1/2 | 3/7 | 4/4 |
Played 30 minutes but has essentially gotten his nuts cut off.
With Rodney Hood locked away in some Public Storage unit, Alec Burks played 27 minutes.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 17 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2/5 | 6/12 | 3/4 |
Rudy Gobert –
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 6 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 2/5 | 2/2 |
Played 28 minutes. Rudy! Rudy! Rudy!
