Entering this season, everyone (including this humble narrator) was weary of Dirk Nowitzki, which is a weird thing to be for a healthy reigning NBA Finals MVP. I saw him drop deep into the second round in more than a couple drafts. He’s 33, which ain’t young, but he’s not 43. To call what Dirk has done in the first third of the season a slump is putting it mildly. There are slumps and then there are season lows in just about any category you would care about. That’s Dirk right now. Say hello. Shake hands. The problem is, and the problem will continue to be all season, that he’s Dirk. Redirkulous. The Dirkus Circus. The German PERman (stat geek nickname). He’s still this team’s leader, but a collapse of this proportion from a bona-fide, basically healthy superstar is unheard of. And fantasy owners for weeks have started seriously wondering what to do and how to do it. It’s stinky, even for Dallas where everything smells like beef jerky. At this point, there are two options: 1) close your eyes, hang onto your butts and pray Nowitzki hits his stride toute suite or 2) get what you can from someone who’s willing to be no. 1. Only you know who you are. Me? I’m done. A week ago I was saying buy low. Now, I’m suggesting you sell. Not for pennies on the dollar, but maybe dimes on the dollar. Is that an expression? It should be. Anyway, pour out a little for your fallen German and let’s move on to some more fantasy basketball news from Wednesday.
Shelvin Mack – Um, I only know three things about Mr. Mack: 1) He dropped a season-high 12 points last night, 2) Of the 20 games he’s appeared in, yesterday was the first time he hit double-digits, and 3) if you re-arrange the letters in his name, they spell “Clank ‘Em, Shiv” Plan for Shiv to clank ’em pretty good in the future, despite his performance last night.
John Wall – 0-for-6 from the floor at halftime, and 1-for-11 by game’s end. Sweet Sue! That’s-a funky clunky. Wall’s shooting .385 on the season. And now let us open the floor to discussion that Brandon Jennings is the better fantasy option between the two.
Brandon Jennings – 31/4/8, with 4 stl and 7 3ptm. The rest of the Bucks are several inches below, but I just wanted to belabor my point up in the John Wall blurb.
J.J. Redick – Matched his season-high 21, with three threes (stutterer!) Anyway, neither Jameer Nelson, nor Jason Richardson are playing. As long as this is the case – and assuming you can look past J.J.’s hedge fund trader haircut – he’s a decent play in medium or deep leagues.
C.J. Watson – Finished with 20/4/4, including 4 3ptm. It’s worth nothing that he played most of his minutes at the two alongside Rose (or in garbage time). Might be somethin’. Might be nothin’. Either way, I’d hover my FA-drafting finger over his name and wait.
Lavoy Allen – 15/6/3, with two steals. Allen dropped a career-high 15 on Wednesday. Only his second double-digit game of the season. You gotta like it. Although I should warn you, I’ve been told that if you like something, you should put a ring on it. And that’s just silly. It’s also silly to add this guy based on one blowout win.
Ed Davis – 10/12, and 2 blocks. It was his second double-double of the season and week. Yesterday I told you to skip him. Today I’m telling you to skip him in a much softer, meeker voice. Tomorrow, I’ll be wearing an “Add Ed” trucker hat.
Jordan Farmar – No Mar$hon, no Morrow, so there were, ahem, farmar minutes available for Jordan than there normally would be. I’d tell you that Farmar should be owned, but not only did you all already stream this guy for the ninth time this season, you’ll only need him for another game before dropping him back into the FA pool.
Jared Dudley – Despite having played in a rather dud-ly manner so far this season, three of Dudley’s five best games this season have come in the last week. His upside and expectations coming into this season were big enough that he’s worth grabbing if he was dropped, or worth starting if he’s been benched.
Greivis Vasquez – Dropped 20 points, 12 assists and sank 3 threes (all season highs) from the bench. Jarrett Jack only had 10/6, whereas Vasquez has had at least 10/4 in each of his last three. Sheesh. Why can’t you be more like Greivis, Jarrett? By the way, “Why Can’t You Be More Like Greivis, Jarrett” is the title of a new play I’m writing about two brothers who both suspect the other was adopted.
Serge Ibaka – Got the rare block-rebound double-double (10/11). All is forgiven, my man.
Luis Scola – 4/3/0, with 5 tov. I am now convinced he’s daring us all to flat drop him. Al Jefferson had a better first quarter last night than Scola’s last two games.
Reggie Williams – Played in his second game of the season last night. He hasn’t done much in either game, but he’s a firecracker that can play either guard position and should be on a short list of guys you’re keeping your eye on despite not having earned such interest in any way. Even if he plays only in garbage time, on this Bobcats team, that’s still all of the second half of most games and parts of the second quarter!
Caron Butler – His back caused a late scratch. Ryan Gomes took his spot and wasted everyone’s time doing shockingly little. I can’t feel too bad about Caron’s back scratch, I can’t even reach mine.
