That song always did/does get me hyped up. Was I the biggest Ja Rule fan? Naw, but I did enjoy some of his songs and he was quite popular when I was growing up. Whatever you or I think about him, you can’t deny that he brought the energy and was a success. Just like Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies, who brings it at both ends of the court, attacks the rim with ferocity, and has the conjones to take the last shot and lead his squad to victory.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 30 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1/2 | 13/22 | 3/4 |
The game went to OT, because Ja blocked Kyrie Irving’s shot in regulation, then he dished a dime to Jae Crowder for the game-winning tres. There was some concern to start the season, as he only played 25 and 28 minutes respectively, but make no mistake about it; this is Ja’s squad and he’s a legitimate ROY candidate.
Here’s what else I saw last night:
The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Golden State Pacifists, 120-92. It got so bad that Damion Lee played 17 minutes and Ky Bowman played 12 minutes.
D’Angelo Russell
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0/1 | 3/10 | 0 |
Was ejected early in the game for snitching. Fine, that’s old news. The Pacifists are a terrible team and Russell is trying to fit in. He’s always been more of a pick-and-roll guy, but the Warriors used to be about movement and cutting. The field goal percentage has been poor and there’s been no defensive contributions whatsoever. It’s going to be tough sledding, as opposing teams know that there are only two scorers on the Pacifists. He’s currently outside the top 150, so better days should be ahead. I’d look to buy low, but only if it’s gotta be super low.
Eric Paschall
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 10 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/1 | 4/6 | 2/2 |
Played 24 minutes after getting 31 minutes of run the prior game. The rookie may get significant run due to the composition of the Pacifists roster. Only viable in the deepest of leagues or those that have minutes played as a category.
Marquese Chriss
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 10 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0/1 | 3/7 | 4/6 |
He’s the #1 pick in a fouls league. Outside of that, the physical tools allow him to procure counting stats, but his lack of awareness leads him to the pine more often than not. MC act like he don’t know. With injuries to Willie Cauley-Stein and Kevon Looney, Kerr may be forced to play him, though.
Omari Spellman
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 9 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1/3 | 4/10 | 0 |
Played 25 minutes off the bench. As with the MC blurb, Spellman may get more run due to the WCS and Looney injuries. With that said, there’s a chance he starts taking some of Chriss’s playing time. Something to monitor.
Chris Paul
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 10 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2/2 | 2/5 | 4/4 |
Got the start but only played 19 minutes. The blowout had something to do with that, but I think the master plan is to trade him at some point. So, the Thunder will have to showcase him without damaging the goods. Is this the dilemna of a pimp?
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 19 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1/5 | 8/14 | 2/4 |
OKC is Shai’s team, which is so Gilgeous-Alexander. Who’s Alexander? The outside shooting isn’t great but more than effective. The boards and defensive stats should be there as well. What most impresses me about his game is that he can get to the rim at will. Now, he’s not going to provide a ton of dimes, but I can see a similar arc to what Devin Booker has done in his career.
Dennis Schroder
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 22 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1/2 | 9/13 | 3/3 |
Dennis played 25 minutes as was a menace for the Pacifists. He has this kind of upside, but can be a menace for his owners due to inconsistency. To open the season, Schroder has played 31, 25, and 25 minutes, and we know that’s half the battle. Yo, Joe!
DeAndre Jordan
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 6 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3/3 | 0/2 |
Got the start and played 23 minutes, while Jarrett Allen played 27 minutes off the bench and produced….
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 14 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5/6 | 4/4 |
It’s a shame that DJ is on the squad, as going to Jarrett would be more beneficial. It is what it is, though. I think we know how the situation will play out going forward. Against big, lumbering centers, DJ will get the start, while against small, more athletic ones, the Nets will go to Jarrett.
Kyrie Irving
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 37 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5/12 | 11/27 | 10/11 |
He is so damn good. Possesses one of the wickedest handle packages in the league and his hesitation, studder steps are not fair. I can’t believe I was taking Kemba ahead of Kyrie in some drafts. I’m a stupid, stupid man.
Caris LeVert
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 27 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3/7 | 11/22 | 2/3 |
Played 39 minutes. LeVert is LeGood and Son is LeStupid. Granted, a big part of why I ranked him so low was due to the injury concern and low games played projection. If he stays healthy, LeVert will LeCrush my preseason projection.
Jonas Valanciunas
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 16 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3/5 | 5/11 | 3/3 |
In 20 minutes! And those tres! This was definitely not a jv-esque performance. Bring him up to the varsity! He’s still on a minutes limit due to recovering from injury, but he should get ramped up to 25-26 minutes soon. Boards, blocks, good percentages, and some tres are lovely from this big man.
Brandon Clarke
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0/3 | 5/12 | 0 |
Played 26 minutes after playing 25 and 23 the first two games of the season. Clarke is the real deal and has carved out a role, but what happens when JV gets ramped up? Me thinks he will be fine, but the uncertainty is there.
Zach Collins
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 10 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2/3 | 3/5 | 2/2 |
Only played 24 minutes because he injured his shoulder. I’m sad because I have so many shares and had such high hopes for him. An MRI will be performed on Monday, but he’s going to miss games; it’s just a matter of how many. Skal Labissiere could get more run, but so could Anthony Tolliver. There’s also the chance the Trail Blazers just go small. My money is on Tolliver. Just remember that I’m a stupid, stupid man.
UPDATE: I forgot to mention Super Mario Hezonja. He will likely start in place of Collins I told y’all I’m a stupid, stupid man.
CJ McCollum
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 35 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1/4 | 13/26 | 8/8 |
CJ led the Trail Blazers in shot attempts, points, and minutes (41). He does pop like this once in a while, and has 40-burger upside, but more often than not, he’s meh because he doesn’t contribute much in the periphery categories.
Rodney Hood
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 20 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3/3 | 8/12 | 1/2 |
Got the start and played 32 minutes. It’s always dangerous venturing into the Hood, but he’s getting the minutes and shot attempts. Don’t expect those stocks on a nightly basis, but he’s a good source of points. With the Collins injury, he could have a more secure role.
Kent Bazemore
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 11 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1/2 | 4/8 | 2/3 |
Played 30 minutes off the bench. He should get around 30 minutes on a consistent basis, possibly more with the Collins injury. Bazemore is usually a good source of stocks and can provide points. Unfortunately, he usually tanks the field goal percentage.
Luka Doncic
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 29 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 2/11 | 8/22 | 11/14 |
Hey Luka, you so fine, you so fine you blow my mind. Hey Luka! He aaaaaaaaaaallllllllmost messed around, but fret not, he will mess around plenty this season. It’s nice to see him contributing the D, but the shooting efficiency is one of his big bugaboos. The Stocktonator loved him last night, as it had him as the #4 player. Listen to the Stockonator and you too will not be a big bobo.
Kristaps Porzingis
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 32 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3/10 | 11/23 | 7/10 |
Luktaps Donzingis is going to be a formidable combo for many years to come. I’m picturing a centaur right now for some odd reason. Anyways, the dimes are a nice addition to KPs game, as he was often a hucker and a chucker. You know you’re getting blocks, boards, and tres, so that would vault him way up the rankings. Now, we know that Dallas is going to load manage him later in the season, so don’t mental masturbate and early ejaculate yet.
Jalen Brunson
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1/4 | 1/6 | 1/1 |
Got the start and played 27 minutes. He’s playing because he takes care of the ball. From a fantasy perspective, he will provide some dimes but not much else, as the Mavs solar system only consists of two main planets.
Delon Wright
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 8 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2/2 | 3/4 | 0 |
Got the start and played 23 minutes. He’s in the starting lineup for his defense.
Seth Curry
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 12 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2/7 | 4/10 | 2/2 |
Played 25 minutes off the bench. He’s the gunner off the bench, so if you need points and tres, then the Curry is palatable.
Kendrick Nunn
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 25 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 5/9 | 9/17 | 2/2 |
Continues to start and played 40 minutes. Do I love Kendrick? Nunn ya. Nunn ya? Yeah, Nunn ya damn business. How many leagues should Kendrick be available on the wire? Nunn. Thank you, thank you very much. There’s a donation jar on your way out. In his first three games to start the season, Nunn has scored 24, 18, and 25 points. He’s shot 55%, 47%, and 53% respectively. He’s grabbed some boards, dished out a few dimes, and has 2 steals in every game! Now, keep in mind that this is all with Jimmy Butler out, but he’s been too good to get nuked from the rotation.
Bam Adebayo
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 13 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0/1 | 6/10 | 1/5 |
That free throw shooting? The ghost of Hassan Whiteside lives! Whatever, I love Bam. He’s a big who can do it all. Literally. I still remember him playing in the Summer League before his rookie season. He was leading fast breaks and Euro-stepping defenders in the open court. That’s when I knew. He’s going to contribute in the D stats and the dimes are what really elevate him.
Duncan Robinson
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 21 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4/7 | 8/12 | 1/1 |
He’s played 23 minutes in every game so far this season. He’s strictly a tres guy and is getting run because of Jimmy Butler’s absence, so the answer to your question is no. As for the blocks, the statitician must’ve made a mistake.
Robert Covington
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 11 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2/8 | 3/10 | 3/4 |
Played 28 minutes. The Lord often giveth, but the Lord has taken away sanity from his owners of late. Patience grasshoppers.
Andrew Wiggins
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 25 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4/10 | 9/18 | 3/4 |
Hahahahahahahahahahahah. The perfect Wiggins line.
Jeff Teague
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 21 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1/3 | 5/8 | 10/11 |
Whew. That’s more like it, as Teague had struggled in his prior games. I’m not worried. Who’s worried? You worried? Yeah, I kind of was.
Treveon Graham
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0/2 | 0/5 | 0 |
Graham has started three straight games, but the minutes have gone from 35 to 23 to 20. That my friends is what’s called a trend. Does it continue? That’s the $1 question. The Timberwolves are 3-0 and Graham is out there for his defense. The more I think about it, he is the Yin while Wiggins is the Yang. Harmony and balance. From a fantasy perspective, he’s strictly a 3-and-D player and only fit for the deepest of leagues.
Cody Zeller
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 19 | 14 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1/3 | 9/13 | 0 |
Missed a game for personal reasons but returned in style. I like Zeller, as he’s usually underrated and produces across the board production. He just can’t stay healthy.
Miles Bridges
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 23 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2/4 | 8/17 | 5/5 |
Led the Hornets in shot attempts and points. Is it happening? Is what happening? Is IT happening? What is IT? Yes, I’m battling with myself. It’s not such a lonely existence. Miles could be what we keep mental masturbating what Aaron Gordon should be. Looking at the roster, it’s not inconceivable that Miles becomes the alpha at some point.
Devonte’ Graham
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 9 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1/6 | 1/13 | 6/6 |
Played 28 minutes off the bench. Terry Rozier’s mini me.
Anthony Davis
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 29 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 3/5 | 10/19 | 6/6 |
Yawn.
Dwight Howard
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 16 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 8/8 | 0/2 |
Played 23 minutes off the bench. This is a ceiling outcome for Dwight. I just don’t think he gets the minutes and produces consistently enough to be relied upon.
