Fantasy Basketball: OladipNOOOOOO….

Victor Oladipo missed 11 games due to a right knee injury two months ago. Since returning from that injury, he’s been a top 65 player (19 games), averaging 17.3 points, 1.9 threeecolas, 4.9 boards, 5.8 dimes, 1.8 steals, and 0.2 blocks. The shooting efficiency was a putrid 40%. A far cry from the 47% efficiency and top 10 production from last season. His owners were not happy. Our very own “I Just Wanna Kawhi” couldn’t take it anymore and shipped him away last week. I need to hit him up for the upcoming Powerball numbers because his owners will no longer have to worry due to the injury Oladipo suffered yesterday. Defending a full court pass, Oladipo jumped and his knee gave out, the same knee that caused him to miss those 11 games. The trainers draped a towel over his leg and he was taken to the locker room via stretcher. Prayers up for Oladipo and his family. Since this is a fantasy website, we need to discuss who replaces him and how it affects the Pacers rotations. The most obvious replacement is Tyreke Evans, who was scooped right away in a few of the RCLs I’m in. Y’all are too sharp and fast on the draw. In 715 minutes without Oladipo on the floor, Evans has a 29.3% usage rate and produces 1.05 fantasy points per minute. The player that saw the biggest increase in usage with Oladipo off the floor, though, was Bojan Bogdanovic, with an increase of 2.1% to a 23.2% usage rate. Domantas Sabonis is the Pacer that scores the most fantasy points per minute at 1.39 with Oladipo off the floor. If you want to do a little speculating, Aaron Holiday could be a nice pickup. He’s played 275 minutes without Oladipo on the court and has garnered a 24.1% usage rate and scored 1.06 fantasy points per minute. Granted, most of that run came earlier in the year, as he hasn’t received 10 minutes of run in any game this month, but someone to keep an eye on. Anyways, hate to see injuries and let’s all send good vibes towards the Oladipo family. Oladipo Ho! Oladipo Ho! Oladipo Ho! 

Here’s what else I saw last night:

 

James Harden

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
61	15	4	5	0	5	5/20	17/38	22/25

Played 40 minutes. We are living in a simulation where the creator is playing NBA 2K 24/7 with James Harden.

Kenneth Faried

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
11	8	1	3	3	2	0/2	5/11	1/4

Got the start and played 26 minutes. The Manimal can still play folks. He’s still only 29 years old and is a good fit for the Rockets until Clint Capela is able to return.

Eric Gordon

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
20	4	0	2	0	2	3/5	8/15	1/3

Played 37 minutes. That’s nice and all but why not just let Harden try for 100?

Noah Vonleh

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
10	10	2	1	2	2	0	4/7	2/4

The free throw shooting has been rough lately (52%), but other than that, Vonleh contributes a little something something across the board.

Mitchell Robinson

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
12	1	0	1	3	0	0	5/5	2/2

Only played 17 minutes because he fouled out, but the big news is that Enes Kanter DNP-CD. There really is no use to play Kanter, so let the young kids get some run and “Stop Tryin for Zion.”

Allonzo Trier

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
31	10	3	1	0	3	2/4	12/18	5/5

Played 33 minutes off the bench. Over the past five games, Trier has been a top 75 player. Over the past three games, he’s been top 25, averaging 28.6 minutes, 20 points, 1 threeecola, 6 boards, 4.7 dimes, and 1.3 steals on 58% shooting from the field and 100% from the line on 5.7 attempts. Let the kids play!!!

Serge Ibaka

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
23	11	3	0	3	0	0/2	11/19	1/1

Kawhi Leonard did not play last night. In 422 minutes this season with Kawhi off the court, Ibaka has a usage rate of 29.8% (an increase of 5%) and is scoring 1.31 fantasy points per minute. Impressive, but I’m just happy that my Iblocka was back last night.

Kyle Lowry

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
20	5	7	0	1	6	3/7	6/13	5/6

In 405 minutes with Kawhi off the court, Lowry has a 24% usage rate but also is scoring 1.31 fantasy points per minute. With Kawhi on the court, he has a usage rate under 20. After a blistering start to the season, like top 25 blistering, Lowry has been a top 100 player over the past few weeks, primarily due to the 34% shooting from the field.

Thaddeus Young

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
23	15	3	2	2	1	2/4	10/19	1/1

The longest heater I’ve seen at a craps table was close to an hour. What Young has been doing trumps that by a mile. Over the past 28 games, he’s been a top 30 player, averaging 14.8 points, 0.7 threeecolas, 6.6 boards, 2.1 dimes, 1.8 steals, and 0.6 blocks. He’s been shooting 56% from the field during that span, while his career mark is 50%. I’m done thinking that he’s going to regress, which probably means he’s going to regress. Anyways, with Oladipo out now, there’s a chance Young picks up usage, but in 508 minutes with Oladipo off the court this season, he’s had a 18.5% usage rate and scored 0.90 fantasy points per minute.

Myles Turner

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
13	10	2	1	4	2	1/2	5/13	2/2

Those 500 Myles I walked earlier this season were well worth it, as Turner has been a top 20 player over the past two months.

Darren Collison

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
17	4	8	1	0	0	0/3	5/13	7/8

Top 45 player over the past two months. I’m never a fan but the numbers don’t lie.

Tyreke Evans

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
11	3	4	1	0	1	1/4	3/10	4/4

Played 27 minutes. Scroll back up to the lede.

Cory Joseph

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
7	3	4	0	0	0	1/4	3/10	0

Played 32 minutes. Could see an increase in playing time, especially if Aaron Holiday (DNP-CD) doesn’t get run, but that’s a situation to moniter as I think Holiday will enter the mix.

Domantas Sabonis

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
12	6	1	0	1	0	1/1	4/5	3/5

Only played 14 minutes. I wouldn’t make too much of that, as the rotations were all out of whack last night.

Tobias Harris

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
31	7	6	1	0	3	2/4	12/19	5/5

A nice bounce back game after the debacle against Dallas two nights ago. Played a team-high 39 minutes and led the way with Danilo Gallinari missing another game. Beep. Boop. Bop. The Stocktonator doesn’t get clouded by recency bias like us silly humans. It predicted a rebound for Tobias.

Patrick Beverley

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
4	6	2	1	0	0	0/3	1/5	2/2

Got another start and played 34 minutes. The shot attempts and efficiency came back down the earth (after his prior two-game explosion), but Beverley does enough in the peripheral categories to provide some semblance of a floor.

Montrezl Harrell

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
16	5	1	0	1	0	0	6/7	4/8

Played 26 minutes off the bench, while Marcin Gortat received the start and played 23 minutes. That was probably a matchup thing with Hassan Whiteside.

Lou Williams

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
13	5	6	1	1	1	1/4	5/12	2/4

Only played 21 minutes. Not sweet, but the Clippers comfortably won and Lou is still getting ramped up after missing two games to injury.

Hassan Whiteside

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
22	16	2	1	1	4	0	10/13	2/5

Mt. Whiteside!!! Anyone remember G.L.O.W.? I always think of Mt. Fiji when I write about Whiteside. Anyways, the minutes are all over the place. The last five games, he’s played 32, 20, 25, 19, and 26 minutes. Shrug emoji.

Josh Richardson

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
17	5	5	1	0	0	3/9	5/15	4/5

My RichardSON!!! The shooting has been inconsistent, but over the past six games he has been converting at a 42% clip. Top 55 production isn’t bad, but the lack of blocks is somewhat troubling. The 5 dimes have been money, though. I still believe in my RichardSON.

Tyler Johnson

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
15	2	5	0	1	1	1/6	5/11	4/6

Got the start and played 36 minutes. Remember when Rodney McGruder was a thing? Man, I had fun writing the lede for him earlier in the season, but that feels like a lifetime ago.

Dion Waiters

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
9	1	3	0	0	1	2/6	3/9	1/2

Played 29 minutes. Waiters has a usage rate near 25, but….don’t do it to yourself.

Blake Griffin

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
37	9	7	1	0	1	4/9	14/28	5/6

Andre Drummond (concussion) did not play last night. In 424 minutes with Dre off the court this season, _lake has a usage rate of 36.4% and scores 1.43 fantasy points per minute. That’s impressive until you see what James Harden is doing.

Zaza Pachulia

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
8	10	1	1	1	2	0	3/6	2/4

Has played 31, 24, 35, and 28 minutes the last four games that Dre has been out. Pachulia won’t score much, but he will grab boards, dish out a few dimes, and get his 211 on.

Reggie Jackson

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
17	5	3	0	0	1	4/7	6/11	1/2

Reggie kind of sucks, but he’s serviceable from time to time. Have fun trying to figure out when. Over the past seven games, he’s been a top 300 player, averaging 8.6 points, 1 threeecola, 3.1 boards, 3 dimes, and 0.9 steals while shooting a ghastly 30% from the field.

Julius Randle

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
13	13	2	0	2	3	0/1	6/14	1/1

Continues to start and played 34 minutes. Over the past two months, Randle has been a top 70 player. While he’s increased the threeecolas a bit, in order to take that next leap he needs to contribute more D.

Jahlil Okafor

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
17	10	0	0	6	5	0	8/13	1/5

Got the start for Anthony Davis (finger) and played 31 minutes. In two starts for AD, Okafor has shot 8-for-13 and 9-for-11 from the field, dub-dubbed in both games, and blocked 8 shots. Ok then.

Jrue Holiday

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
29	5	7	0	0	0	0/2	14/24	1/2

A Jrue Holiday season until AD returns.

Nikola Mirotic

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
11	7	1	0	1	1	3/6	4/12	0

Played 24 minutes off the bench. The pecking order has been established, so Mirotic is going to have to stab Julius in the back if he wants to get ahead.

Nicolas Batum

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
18	4	2	0	1	1	4/6	6/9	2/2

Played 37 minutes. Batum has scored at least 20 points only two times this season, so getting to 18 is quite the accomplishment. With that said, for as bad as we think Batum has been, he’s actually been a top 85 player over the past seven games.

Bismack Biyombo

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
9	10	1	1	0	1	0	2/5	5/7

Bismack Biyombo Boards and usually Blocks, But Bageled in that cat last night.

Kemba Walker

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
22	2	7	4	0	1	3/7	9/17	1/2

Played a team-high 39 minutes. Top 50 player over the past seven games with a usage rate of 32.6%.

Willy Hernangomez

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
8	9	1	0	1	0	0	3/4	2/3

Played 18 minutes off the bench. Willy will never be freed, but will entertain in confined spaces at scheduled times like the animals at Sea World. Willy is averaging 16.7 minutes over the past seven games, but if you need boards, he’s been grabbing 8.3 per.

Marc Gasol

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
22	17	10	3	0	3	2/6	8/15	4/5

Just messing around to show all the haters that he’s still got it. The prior game, Gasol put up 22 points, 8 boards, 6 dimes, and 1 steal on 9-of-19 shooting. Is he finally healthy again? Or rejuvenated by the trade whispers?

Mike Conley

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
31	2	1	1	0	3	2/5	10/17	9/9

Conley and Gasol saying, “We ain’t going out like a bunch of chumps!” Looks at scoreboard: CHA 118 – MEM 107. Hmmm, ok, “We at least going down swinging!”

John Collins

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
35	8	2	2	0	2	4/4	14/16	3/3

Top 50 player. He now sits with one buttocks on the shoulder of Phil, while the other buttocks is on the shoulder of Joan. Man, this kid is really special. Just get those D stats and we looking at a potential top 20 player.

Taurean Prince

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
15	6	2	1	1	1	3/7	6/10	0

Got the start and played 28 minutes. Prince has now played five games since returning from injury. The minutes played have been 11, 13, 23, 25, and 28. I think he’s ready to start getting over 30 minutes of run.

Trae Young

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
5	7	12	1	0	3	1/7	1/12	2/2

Brother-from-another-mother Thaddeus is soaking up all the shooting efficiency! Pretty impressive how well Trae rebounds for a player of his stature. I’m a believer in Trae, as his IQ and passing acumen are very mature. Once he gets his shot going, watch out.

Jeremy Lin

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
15	2	4	0	0	3	2/4	6/10	1/3

Played 22 minutes off the bench. Over the past five games, Lin has been averaging 24 minutes per game and playing alongside Trae at times. If you need some points and dimes, he’s a viable option. Just don’t expect much else.

Alex Len

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
14	10	1	2	0	1	0	4/10	6/7

Played 23 minutes off the bench. Len is inconsistent but has the ability to stuff the stat sheet on any given night.

Lauri Markkanen

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
22	6	1	0	1	2	3/8	8/16	3/3

He’s no John Collins, but few are. I kid. Markkanen is a good player and I’ve mentioned in the past that I really like his mentality. With that said, he is a black hole. Is that a prerequisite to be a Bull these days?

Kris Dunn

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
16	4	3	2	2	1	1/2	5/11	5/6

If you want dimes and steals, then Dunn is your guy. Just know that he has the ability to tank your field goal percentage.

Zach LaVine

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
23	4	4	2	0	3	2/6	6/15	9/10

Usage rate is 30 but the shooting efficiency is still a problem at times. LaVine is a top 100 player over the past two months, but he’s been contributing 1.9 threeecolas, 3.4 boards, 4.1 dimes, and 0.9 steals. I really like the 4.1 dimes. Maybe the Bulls aren’t all a bunch of black holes after all.

Bobby Portis

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
9	7	2	0	0	1	1/4	3/12	2/2

Played 33 minutes off the bench. Puke, a bad shooting performance but Portis is getting the minutes and is even playing the 5. He’s a per minute monster, so as long as he gets the minutes, he’s going to produce points, threeecolas, and boards.

DeMar DeRozan

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
26	9	3	2	1	6	0	12/19	2/3

DeRozan had been in an awful streak, as he was a top 290 player over the past six games. Nice to see him rebound like he did last night.

The Spurs scored 120 points last night.

13 – LaMarcus Aldridge

14 – Bryn Forbes

15 – Derrick White

16 – Marco Belinelli

17 – Patty Mills and Rudy Gay

Joel Embiid

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
33	19	3	0	1	3	2/4	13/28	5/6

The question isn’t, “Who gonna sex Embiid?” It is, “Who in their right mind doesn’t want to?”

Ben Simmons

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
21	10	15	1	0	3	0	9/14	3/4

Shrug emoji. He’s that good.

Man, I really wish Hinke was allowed to continue his Process. What would he have done during the 2017 draft? That’s the third thing I do when I get my time machine, do everything in my power to keep Hinke in office.

Corey Brewer

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
9	1	2	2	0	2	2/3	3/7	1/2

Has started the last two games and played 28 and 33 minutes because Jimmy Butler (wrist) has been out. Top 100 here we come!!!

Jonathan Isaac

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
16	4	2	1	3	1	4/7	5/12	2/2

Played 35 minutes. It was mentioned that his dad was in the crowd, so it’s time to make him a part of the travelling circus. I dropped Isaac for Tyreke, so you’re welcome.

Nikola Vucevic

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
21	14	5	2	4	4	1/3	9/20	2/2

Yawn.

That’s when you know you’ve entered the pantheon of greatness.

D. J. Augustin

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
19	3	6	2	0	2	2/5	5/11	7/7

A solid contributer, like 125 solid. D. J. will provide points, threeecolas, dimes, and provide excellent percentages.

D’Angelo Russell

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
25	7	10	2	0	3	3/8	9/21	4/5

Played 34 minutes. Many of you won’t remember this, but there was a time when downloading pictures would take forever. Like you would see each pixel appearing, line by line. Well, that’s what Russell’s season has been like. He was DLoading for most of the season, but when all the buffering was complete, glory transpired. Over the past six games, he’s been a top 10 player. Over the past two months, top 35.

DeMarre Carroll

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
19	4	1	0	0	1	3/7	6/13	4/6

Threeecolas and boards. Don’t expect much else.

Spencer Dinwiddie

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
29	3	3	1	0	1	2/8	10/17	7/8

Dinwiddie was scorching hot to begin the season, then he got paid and cooled off. I’m not saying that’s why he cooled off, though, but I’m not denying it either. Am I even in a position to deny that? Anyways, points, threeecolas, and dimes are what Dinwiddie delivers. And when he gets hot, he gets NBA Jams hot.

Cedi Osman

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
25	8	2	0	0	3	6/7	8/11	3/4

Led the Cavs in scoring. Osman! And he didn’t tank the percentages. Double Osman!!

Ante Zizic

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
19	8	0	0	0	5	0	9/17	1/3

Got another start because Tristan Thompson (foot) was out and played 33 minutes. Over the past seven games, Zizic has been a top 80 player, providing points, rebounds, a tinge of D stats, and excellent percentages. Cavs should just continue running Zizic out there. Why not?

Alec Burks

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
10	9	6	2	2	2	1/2	3/8	3/4

Burks continues to start and played 26 minutes. He contributes across the board. Unfortunately, the shooting efficiency is bad, like 39% bad. In fact, over the past four games, it’s been 26% bad. Over the past seven games, it’s been 35% bad.

Terry Rozier

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
26	8	6	1	0	2	4/5	9/13	4/4

Got the start because Kyrie Irving (flu) was out and played 30 minutes.

Jaylen Brown

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
23	6	0	1	0	1	2/3	8/12	5/6

Played 25 minutes off the bench. Over the past four games, Brown has been a top 90 player. He’s been shooting 47% from the field and 81% from the line on 4 attempts. The efficiency is his main weakness, as he’s 44% from the field on the season and 67% from the line. He doesn’t dish out many dimes, but he does provide the D, boards, and threeecolas.

Nikola Jokic

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
28	21	6	2	1	3	1/7	10/21	7/7

First 20/20 game of the season. He did have a 30/20 game though. Such a Jokic! The dude literally does it all. The blocks are a little light, but that’s all you can bad mouth him for. Now go wash your mouth out with soap. You heathen.

Gary Harris

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
16	2	2	0	1	2	0/2	6/9	4/4

First start since returning from injury and played 28 minutes. It’s happening. Whether he gets back to last season’s production remains to be seen, especially since the Nuggets play at a much slower pace, but the ceiling is top 35 player.

Will Barton

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
22	9	5	1	1	3	4/5	8/13	2/2

Played 30 minutes off the bench, which was the first time getting that amount of run since returning from injury. Man, the Nuggets are getting healthy and that’s a scary proposition for the rest of the league. Barton was a top 50 player last season, so…..

Derrick Favors was ejected in the first quarter for getting into it with Mason Plumlee.

Joe Ingles

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
14	5	8	0	1	3	4/10	5/12	0

Played 36 minutes. Ingles has been bad. The shooting percentage has been poor (39%) and the D stats have been lacking. I think he makes for an intriguing buy-low target.

Rudy Gobert

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
15	11	3	0	3	0	0	4/11	7/9

Yawn.

Ricky Rubio

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
17	3	6	0	0	1	2/6	6/10	3/3

Got the start and played 24 minutes in his second game back from injury.

Donovan Mitchell

PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	3PT	FG	FT
35	6	6	2	2	3	6/10	12/25	5/9

The dog has been unleashed and there’s no way to get him back into the yard. Not even Cesar Milan can do it. Who let the dog out? Over the past seven games, Mitchell has been a top 20 player with a usage rate of 35.5. The return of Rubio could bring that down, but didn’t you just read what I wrote in the first sentence?