It’s a good bet that I’m talking to deep leaguers if I dedicate this much space to a guy who’s only started in four games, and averaging 23 minutes this season on a Bucks team that seems to consist of Brandon Jennings, Andrew Bogut and, like, 10 6-foot-9 guys who do everything and nothing simultaneously. It’s like a team full of neopolitan ice cream. Three flavors instead of one, but those three flavors make one gross color mashup that makes the whole thing unappealing. Ersan Ilyasova is knee deep in that pinkish-brown sludge and frankly, it looks good on him. After a dip in production in his last three games, Illy dropped a 21/10 line in just under 40 minutes last night. Yes, Drew Gooden is out and Carlos Delfino is out and mares eat oats and does eat oats and little lambs eat ivy, but Illy’ll eat ivy too. Scott Skiles will have him eating ivy as long as he produces and no one else is around to take away his minutes. The big news for Ilyasova – besides last night’s performance – is that Delfino is seemingly nowhere near a return (they just ruled out his concussion being career-threatening, which is like going to Lens Crafters to have them tighten a hinge in your glasses only to have them clarify that you don’t have cataracts). Also, guys like Larry Sanders are even more erratic than Ilyasova. He averaged 16.3/8.7 the three games before his most recent 5/6.7 trio. This will probably continue, which is why he’s a must-add in deep leagues and a “probably not” in moderate to shallow ones. As long as Delfino is out and Gooden is wonky and Skiles hates Maggette and Sanders is a rookie, Ilyasova looks most aligned as the guy to own. For now, anyway.
Here’s what else went down in fantasy basketball last night:
Carlos Boozer – 4/3/2 in 21 minutes, Just when you thought he was out, they pulled him back in. “Out” meaning fully productive, not gay. Though I would be curious to know who these people are pulling gay people back in.
Daniel Gibson – Looks like Byron Scott is shaking things up, starting both Daniel Gibson and Antawn Jamison for the first time in 22 games. He didn’t shoot well (.250) but he scored 14 point, grabbed eight boards (pay attention J.J. Hickson!) and otherwise filled up the box score. I love a full Boobie.
Antawn Jamison – Played a season-high 34 minutes, which is kind of ridiculous when you think about it. Why is he only just now playing his season-high in minutes and why is it only 34? He’s probably this team’s best player. He’s certainly this team’s best Antawn. I mean, Antawn Roberson is a fine member of security personnel, but his jumper is somewhat worthless. Anyway, the double-shot of Jamison helped the Cavs not get embarrassed by the Bulls on Wednesday, as he ended with 24/6/2.
Ray Allen – Sank the second-most points of his season (28). It was the first time he’s scored 20+ since November 11.
Al Harrington – 7/8/1, turned the ball over six times and missed all but one of his seven attempts from downtown. Threejerk!
Landry Fields – 9/10. He might be the best rebounding two-guard in the league and a perfect player to pair with a soft big, low on boards like Brook Lopez or Andrea Bargnani.
Andrea Bargnani – Speak of the devil, Andrea Bargnani (or Banana Grinder as Mr. Anagram called him after a night of heavy drinking), scored a season-high 41 points along with seven rebounds and six assists. Golf clap when he does it against the Knicks, heart attack if he does it against the Celtics.
Serge Ibaka – Eight rejections. That’s 19 in five December games. Sure, I’llblockya.
Corey Brewer – 13/3/6 with three steals. This line was made possible by a grant from the Darko Milicic Strained Hammy Foundation. Without it, this and other lines like it just wouldn’t be possible.
DeJuan Blair – 15/13 as Blair has three double-doubles this season, including two in his last five games. Both of those games were against Golden State though. Still, it’s comforting to know he’ll have at least two solid games a season from here on out.
Shannon Brown – Well, it’s Thursday which means Shannon Brown must have scored in double-digits and sunk a shizz ton of threes. /peeks at box score\ Yes. Carry on.
Reggie Williams – 31/2/2 with eight treys in 36 minutes of work subbing for the injured Stephen Curry (spoiler alert!). He has it in him to do this every night and might be a smart pickup because it feels like Stephen Curry has it in him to hobble off the court every night.
Stephen Curry – He played less than 11 minutes and didn’t have the decency of racking up a quick 15 points before being carried off the floor with the same bum ankle that forced him to miss games earlier this season. Effin’ Curry!
Louis Amundson – 4/1 and two blocks in his first game back from injury, then improved to 6/5 with a steal last night. He’s only two games in to the season, but Louis already looks like he’s Amundson to the season. … Oh what, you’re too good for puns now?
Pooh Jeter – Eugene has dropped 24/8/11 and four steals over 44 minutes in his last two games. Many of those minutes have come in garbage time, but they won’t continue being in garbage time if he keeps defenders on their backs. Eugene Genie needs to be considered in moderate leagues if Evans’ feet continue forcing him to produce lines like those of his last two games.
Tyreke Evans – Evans says he has plantar fasciitis, Sacramento’s press reports he’s got a stress fracture. Either way, things are turning into a Tywreck over in Sac-Town.
Zach Randolph – I was starting to get a little worried about Z-Bo, as he’s only cleared 20 points in 1/3 of his games this season Then he went and did something like Wednesday’s performance … and totally redeemed himself! (34/17 including a three).
Jason Richardson – Foul trouble on Tuesday; freezer burn on Wednesday, shootin’ 1-for-11 in 21 minutes. He’s scored 10 total points in the last two days and now half of you are going to try to unload him on some other owner. This is me telling you not to be part of that half. This is also me telling you that several earlier me’s have mentioned that Richardson does this. He’s hot and he’s cold. He’s yes and he’s no. Now he’s no. He’ll be yes soon enough.
