Have you ever read those stories of mothers that morph into the Hulk to lift a car so that their babies can be freed? Wild stuff. While that is an extreme example, it does show that motivation is a powerful tool that can propel us to do some insane things. And one of the greatest motivators comes from rejection. The hometown school doesn’t recruit a player? I know it’s narrative street, but said player often balls out against that school. A girl or guy breaks up with you? After the mourning period, you eventually rise from the ashes and try to be so nice that they become jealous. Well, last night, DeMar DeRozan provided another example.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 21 | 14 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7/15 | 7/7 |
His first career trip-dub, as the Spurs blew out the Raptors 125-107. Don’t tell me he wasn’t extra motivated. Shh. Zip it. I can’t hear you. Anyways, he doesn’t play the Raptors every game, so what can we expect? Top 30-40 player sounds about right. He averages 35 minutes, around 22 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, and 0.5 blocks. 47% from the field and 84% free throw shooting on 6 attempts are nice. Turnovers are low at 2.4 and the usage rate is in the 27 range. The only thing that’s missing are the threeecolas. It’s not the debauchery we witnessed last night, but it’s not bad at all.
Here’s what else I saw last night:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 21 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0/2 | 8/13 | 5/7 |
Damn, I guess he’s not a robot. This feeling I’m currently experiencing is akin to the first time I learned that wrestling was fake. Grey, I’m going to need to take a few weeks off. Cool?
Danny Green
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0/6 | 0/7 | 0 |
So that’s why the Spurs traded him to Toronto. He’s their Manchurian Candidate. Yo, Pop. This plot looks eerily similar to the first season of Homeland.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 12 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1/6 | 5/11 | 1/1 |
Got another start because Kyle Lowry was out (back) and played 28 minutes. Continuing to show why he is far from elite.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 14 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1/3 | 5/11 | 3/3 |
Played 25 minutes. Since returning from injury, Powell is averaging 23 minutes, 10.2 points, 1 threeecola, 2.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.5 blocks. He will probably lose some minutes when Lowry returns but he may also be carving out a little niche for himself. Keep an eye on the minutes, as he’s been a top 130 player over the past six games.
LaMarcus Aldridge
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 23 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10/14 | 3/3 |
LMA. Top 20 player over the past seven games with a usage rate of 29! LMA with the O.
Bryn Forbes
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 20 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6/7 | 7/10 | 0 |
Straight cash homie. Over the past seven games, Forbes has been a top 50 player. He’s been averaging a trifecta of threeecolas, rebounds, and assists with 1 steal per game.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 19 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2/3 | 8/11 | 1/2 |
From a fantasy perspective, he’s been amazing over the past couple of weeks, as he’s been a top 25 player. From a real life perspective, he’s been just as good, especially on defense. Pop had him guarding Kawhi at times last night. Anyways, the rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks give him a high floor, but he’s a low usage player and is shooting a little too efficiently right now for this lofty production to continue.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 12 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5/7 | 2/4 |
Continues to start and played 30 minutes. Paul Millsap should be returning to the starting lineup soon, so Plumlee will go back to the bench.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 26 | 13 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3/8 | 10/18 | 3/4 |
He’s good. Next.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 36 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 6/12 | 12/24 | 6/10 |
A really good matchup for Murray, as the Kings play at a fast pace and they give up the third-most threeecola attempts per game. After a slow start to the season, Murray has picked it up and has been a top 30 player over the past four games: 30.3 points, 4.8 threeecolas, 5.5 dimes, 5.5 boards, 0.8 steals, and 0.5 blocks.
Paul Millsap
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 10 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1/2 | 3/6 | 3/4 |
Played 22 minutes. Since returning from injury, Millsap has played 14, 22, and 22 minutes. It’s only a matter of time.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2/5 | 4/10 | 4/5 |
Played 31 minutes off the bench. Since returning from injury, Harris has played 20 and 31 minutes. I guess it’s time.
Nemanja Bjelica
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 17 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3/8 | 7/14 | 0 |
Got off to a smoking hot start, but then nothing. Someone lit the blunt then stopped puffing. It’s going to go out if you stop paying attention to it.
Iman Shumpert
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/5 | 0/7 | 0 |
Trusting in the Iman really tests one faith. He can be a top 120 player who provides threeecolas, assists, and steals. He can also be a deliverer of bagels.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 29 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5/9 | 12/19 | 0 |
Played a team-high 35 minutes and shot a team-high 19 shots. My Buddy and me.
Harry Giles
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 6 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/1 | 3/8 | 0/1 |
Played 19 minutes. No need to send out the nationwide text, but Giles is someone to keep an eye on. Juuuuust in case.
Rockets defeated the Warriors, 135-134 in OT.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 29 | 21 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 12/19 | 5/5 |
Played a team-high 46 minutes. C & C making that beautiful music once again. Third 20/20 game of the season. When Chris Paul and Eric Gordon are off the court, it’s all about the Harden/Capela pick-and-roll.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 44 | 10 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 10/23 | 13/32 | 8/9 |
The warning label for Viagra says that an erection that’s painful or lasts longer than four hours should be discussed with a doctor. Well, I’m kind of getting a little worried about Harden because this erection has been going on for…….11 games? 50, 32, 47, 35, 36, 39, 41, 45, 41, 43, and 44 points. I’ve written ad nauseum about how his usage rate spikes when Paul and Gordon are off the court, but man, this is just ridiculous stuff.
Austin Rivers
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 18 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4/9 | 7/18 | 0 |
Continues to start and played 44 minutes. Rivers sucks but he’s playing 40.6 minutes over the past three games, and minutes are half the battle. Yo Joe!
Gerald Green
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 16 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3/10 | 6/13 | 1/1 |
Played 30 minutes off the bench. The main and only guy off the bench.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 9 | 11 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0/2 | 4/7 | 1/1 |
Green has been a top 45 player over the past seven games. He’s rounding back into form, as he’s shooting more and contributing across the board. The last piece to the puzzle is the shooting efficiency. Time to get a new backpack?
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 26 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1/5 | 10/23 | 5/5 |
Yawn.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 35 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5/15 | 14/27 | 2/3 |
YAWN!!!
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 26 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4/8 | 11/20 | 0 |
YAWN!!!
