The first time someone called me loco, I knew exactly what it meant without knowing what it meant. It’s just one of those words. The funny thing about the word is that it’s derogatory in nature, but is often used in a flattering context. Loco means crazy in Spanish. “He went loco” could mean: he literally lost his mind or he did something at the highest level possible. Well, what do you think Bruno went Caboclo means?
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 24 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4/7 | 8/13 | 4/4 |
Got the start and played 35 minutes. Bruno had started nine of the last 11 games prior to last night, so he’s been getting the run. He just wasn’t doing much with the opportunity. For the season, he’s played a total of 26 games and scored in double figures just five times and grabbed double digit rebounds twice. Bruno is 23 years old and this is his fifth year in the league. With the Grizzlies out of it, he will likely receive as much run as he can handle down the stretch. The free throw shooting has been poor (63%) over the past six games, but Bruno can provide points, treys, boards, and a smattering of stocks. The usage rate is only 15, so I wouldn’t expect games like last night often, but there’s always a chance that something has clicked. Something to keep an eye on. If that happens, then we will all be going loco for Caboclo.
Here’s what else I saw last night:
Devin Booker
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 59 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 5/8 | 19/34 | 16/17 |
Talk about loco?! We’ve been waiting for an explosion like this from Booker all season. He’s reached the 40-point mark twice this season, but that 70-point explosion from two years ago is always fresh in our minds. The turnovers are high and the field goal percentage can bad at times, but the upside. Oh, that upside. I do think he can be a top 25 player next year if he continues developing his game. The most bullish sign for me is that he’s increased the dimes every season he’s been in the league.
The two things you need to know from the Suns game are that they got smoked, 92-125 in Utah, and Jimmer Fredette (1-for-10) was the only other player to attempt at least 10 shots. Ha!
Derrick Favors
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 18 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9/13 | 0 |
Boards and blocks are what Favors provides. It’s too bad he only averages 23 minutes per game.
Rudy Gobert
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 27 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9/11 | 9/11 |
Yes, the cops needed to be called last night, as the Jazz murdered the Suns.
Joel Embiid
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 20 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1/3 | 8/15 | 3/6 |
#4 player over the past six games, but no match for Nikola Vucevic and the Magic, as they made Embiid and the Sixers….POOF….disappear, 119-98. Orlando is known as the “Theme Park Capital of the World.” You know those impossible carnival games they have at theme parks? Well, it all makes sense now because the Magic have had the league’s second-best defense since the All-Star break.
T. J. McConnell
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 2 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1/4 | 0 |
Got the start and played 29 minutes because Ben Simmons (stomach) was out. I guess that Simmons guy is pretty good, huh?
Jimmy Butler
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 13 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0/2 | 4/10 | 5/5 |
Top 15 player on the season. I’ve mentioned it often in the past, but it really is the quietest top 15 season I can remember. Butler hasn’t wowed in any cat, but he’s contributed something in every one.
Tobias Harris
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 15 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0/2 | 5/10 | 5/6 |
Over the past seven games, Tobias has been a top 120 player. The usage has dipped below 20 and he’s attempting two fewer shots. He’s primarily a points, treys, and boards player with small contributions in dimes and stocks.
Nikola Vucevic
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 28 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2/5 | 11/21 | 4/4 |
#6 player over the past six games. He whispered into Embiid’s ear, “This is my house, Joel. By the way, you are nothing without B. S.” As Embiid opened his mouth to respond, Vucevic cut him off and put his index finger over his mouth. “Ah, ah, ah, Joel.” With his other index finger, Vucevic pointed up to the……scoreboard.
Evan Fournier
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 24 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2/5 | 11/17 | 0 |
Don’t look now, but Fournier has scored at least 20 points in three straight games. He’s been a top 10 player over that span, averaging 33.2 minutes, 24.3 points, 2.7 treys, 4.3 boards, 5.3 dimes, and 1 steal. The usage rate has been 24, a two percent increase, and the field goal percentage has been 61%. He’s more like a mid-40% shooter from the field, so expect some regression.
Michael Carter-Williams
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 15 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1/3 | 5/8 | 4/4 |
On a 10-day contract, MCW played 20 minutes last night and received 15, 18, and 16 minutes the prior three games. The answer to your question is no.
Paul George
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 30 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5/15 | 10/29 | 5/6 |
Looks like he’s getting healthy again, as PG has been a top 10 player over the past six games. That shoulder injury was wreaking havoc earlier in the month.
Russell Westbrook
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 16 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1/6 | 6/20 | 3/6 |
You know those Before and After pictures? We got Before Westbrook last night.
Dennis Schroder
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 25 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2/4 | 9/14 | 5/6 |
Played 37 minutes off the bench. That’s back-to-back games scoring at least 25 points for Schroder. He gets the minutes, as he’s averaging over 33 per game, and the shot attempts (around 14), but he’s inconsistent. In addition, he contributes very little on D.
Justin Holiday
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 17 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3/8 | 6/13 | 2/2 |
Justin has been on a Holiday for most of his stay in Memphis, especially over the past month. Last night was only the second game he scored in double figures. With that said, he’s played 33, 31, 43, and 39 minutes over the past four games. Do you like to live dangerously?
Jonas Valanciunas
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 18 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6/12 | 6/8 |
Played 32 minutes. Top 60 player over the past four games, with the key number being the 33.9 minutes per game. JV is getting the letterman jacket for sure!
Delon Wright
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 18 | 3 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0/3 | 8/14 | 2/3 |
Got the start and played 35 minutes.
Tyler Dorsey
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 21 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3/5 | 7/13 | 4/7 |
Got the start and played 39 minutes.
Mike Conley (thigh) did not play, so both Wright and Dorsey got the run and usage. Keep in mind that the usage numbers are significantly lower when Conley plays.
The Trail Blazers prevailed in 2OT, 148-144 over the Nets.
D’Angelo Russell
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 39 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3/14 | 16/34 | 4/8 |
Russell has loaded up top 25 production over the past five games. The usage rate has been 36 and he’s jacking up over 24 shots per game! The turnovers can be high, the shooting efficiency can be low, and the blocks are non-existent, but the rest is magnifique.
Spencer Dinwiddie
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 22 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3/7 | 6/15 | 7/7 |
Played 41 minutes off the bench. Dinwiddie has scored double digits in 16-straight games. With that said, the minutes and production have been inconsistent. The shooting efficiency has been poor lately (34%) and, while he contributes some stocks and treys, the boards and dimes are light.
Caris LeVert
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 16 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1/2 | 5/8 | 5/6 |
Played 24 minutes off the bench. If only he didn’t get hurt….
Moe Harkless
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 13 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2/5 | 5/13 | 1/2 |
Played 40 minutes. Harkless is a low usage player, so the points won’t be voluminous, but he contributes a little something something in every cat. Over the past five games, he’s been a top 70 player, providing 0.8 treys, 3.2 boards, 2.4 dimes, 1 steal, and 1.4 blocks.
Jusuf Nurkic
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 32 | 16 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 13/24 | 6/8 |
All season long, it’s been profitable to play centers against the Nets. Nurkic was example #74. He had been struggling a bit over the past six games, so the matchup was a welcome sight. Unfortunately, he broke his leg during the second overtime and had to be taken off the court via stretcher. It’s Kanter time.
Damian Lillard
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 31 | 6 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4/16 | 10/30 | 7/8 |
Top 10 player on the season and #3 over the past six games. He contributes in all cats but blocks, and even provides excellent percentages. The turnovers are low and, the most impressive number, is that he has a usage rate under 30. With that said, with both Nurkic and McCollum done for the season, that usage rate will more than likely sky rocket.
Seth Curry
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 20 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3/7 | 6/13 | 5/6 |
Played 40 minutes. Curry has played 40, 32, and 28 minutes the past three games and scored 20, 16, and 20 points respectively. With all the injuries, the usage and playing time should increase.
Rodney Hood
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 18 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1/5 | 8/16 | 1/2 |
Played 43 minutes. I hate going to the Hood, but sometimes one must do what one must do. Prior to last night, he was averaging around 24 minutes per game. That number could increase with all the injuries.
