Domantas Sabonis missed five games due to an ankle injury. His first game back, he played 20 minutes and shot 1-for-7 from the field and scored 9 points. In the second game, Sabonis only played 18 minutes but shot 4-of-12 from the field and scored 10 points. Since we all live on Planet Earth, we have all experienced a storm. They don’t magically appear out of nowhere. A combination of low and high pressure systems merge, form clouds, and often produce high-speed winds. You can see the clouds approaching or feel the wind picking up. In its most severe form, a storm brings a deluge of rain, crackling thunder, and a light show that would make the greatest of deejays jealous. That’s what occurred in Indiana last night, as Sabonis made it rain and lit up the Thunder:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 26 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7/12 | 12/13 |
In 28 minutes. When Sabonis is right, he provides points, boards, some dimes, and a smattering of stocks. He also shoots close to 60% from the field and over 70% from the line. The main issue for Sabonis is the minutes, though, as Nate McMillan likes to go with Thaddeus Young at power forward alongside Myles Turner. As a result, he only averages around 24-25 minutes per game. Last night against the Thunder, Sabonis was abusing Jerami Grant, so McMillan stayed big, but outside of obvious matchups or injury, I wouldn’t consider last night to be the norm going forward. Storms don’t happen often, and ones with both lightning and thunder are rare.
Here’s what else I saw last night:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 10 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1/3 | 3/9 | 3/3 |
Played 24 minutes. Love hurts. To be fair, the Magic have been the best defensive team over the past 15 games and Love was in foul trouble. I wouldn’t be too concerned going forward.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 23 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2/7 | 7/16 | 7/8 |
Played a team-high 39 minutes. Sexton has now scored at least 20 points in four straight games and been a top 40 player over that span. He’s shooting an unsustainable 58% from the field, so when he cools off, his value will plummet because he doesn’t contribute much else outside a handful of boards and dimes.
The Magic made the Cavs disappear, 120-91, so no more blurbs for them!
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 21 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3/6 | 7/16 | 4/4 |
Life is all about expectations. If we viewed Gordon as a scrub, we’d be ecstatic about last night’s performance. I have great expectations, though, so I’ve got fantasy blue balls. Gordon has been a top 150 player over the past six games.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 19 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9/15 | 1/1 |
Vucevic has dub-dubbed in six straight games and would’ve had a monster game if the Cavs didn’t suck so bad. Vucevic is an UFA after the season, so I’m curious what happens to him. Will the Magic re-sign him? Or will he bolt for greener pastures?
D. J. Augustin
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 20 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1/2 | 7/11 | 5/5 |
This D. J. is so solid. Just provides the tunes without any breaks or skips. The wild card is the points, as he will go for 20 like last night, but more often than not, he will provide points in the teens with 5 dimes, a couple boards, and a steal.
Khem Birch
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 13 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6/8 | 1/2 |
In 18 minutes! Class, when I say “garbage” you say “time.” GARBAGE…….
Terrence Ross
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 14 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3/6 | 5/12 | 1/2 |
Played 26 minutes. In the month of March (six games), Ross is averaging 14.2 shot attempts with 8.6 from downtown. There’s an equal chance of him shooting 1-for-12 from the field as he is to convert 8-of-17 shot attempts. Welcome to the world of Ross.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 36 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 6/11 | 10/23 | 10/12 |
I guess he’s healthy now. He had been producing top 50 value, primarily because he was shooting sub-40% from the field. PG should be showing top 10 value for his fans sooner than later.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 19 | 14 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 1/5 | 8/18 | 2/2 |
Yawn. Just another night of Russ messing around. Over the past four games, he’s been a top 10 player. The free throw shooting is still sub-70%, but the turnovers are down to 3.3 and the field goal percentage has been 49%.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 7 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1/2 | 3/10 | 0 |
Played 32 minutes off the bench. Schroder is averaging over 31 minutes and jacking up 14 shots per game. Yet, he’s outside the top 200. No D stats and atrocious efficiency (37% shooting from the field). That’s why they call him Dennis the Menace.
Bojan Bogdanovic
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 23 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2/5 | 7/16 | 7/11 |
When are we all gonna recognize? The usage rate is 26 and he’s hoisting up 16 shots per game. Bojan is also tied for 11th in three-point shooting percentage (42%).
Darren Collison
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 17 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0/1 | 6/11 | 5/5 |
Top 40 player over the past six games. You roster him for the dimes and steals, but he’s been scoring and grabbing those boards for you. He won’t shoot 53% from the field like he has over the past six games, but he has a 47% mark for the season, so the regression shouldn’t be too bad. With that said, Collison only averages 10 shots per game.
Wesley Matthews
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 16 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 4/7 | 6/15 | 0 |
Matthews kind of sucks, as he’s shooting around 40% from the field, but he’s averaging over 35 minutes per game. A pure volume play in which you hope he falls into some treys and boards.
Willie Cauley-Stein
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 10 | 13 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5/7 | 0/2 |
Played 29 minutes. I don’t know about you, but I expect more from WCS, especially considering the pace at which the Kings play at and the athleticism that he possesses. He grabs the boards but the blocks are so light. Also, that free throw shooting is vomit-inducing.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 19 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1/4 | 7/15 | 4/8 |
Like WCS, the free throw shooting is not good (61% on 6.5 attempts over the past six games), but the dimes and steals are plentiful. Plus, Fox rebounds well for a guard. I wonder how many Kings will be on championship rosters this year.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 34 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6/10 | 14/24 | 0 |
Over the past six games, Buddy has averaged 23.7 points, 3.5 treys, 5.5 boards, 3.8 dimes, 0.7 steals, and 0.5 blocks. The efficiency hasn’t been good (40%), but he’s jacking up 20.5 shots per game! Damn! I’d expect the usage to be super high, but it’s only at 28. Vivek knew! Never doubt a self-made billionaire.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 14 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1/2 | 5/9 | 3/4 |
Returned from a five-game absence due to injury and played 19 minutes. Prior to the injury, Bagley was playing around 35 minutes per game. I wonder if the Kings ramp him up to that level again, as they are five games back of the eighth seed.
Nemanja Bjelica
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 9 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0/7 | 4/12 | 1/2 |
Got the start and played 27 minutes. Everything depends on what the Kings do with Bagley.
Marcus Morris
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 21 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3/7 | 7/15 | 4/5 |
Every month, you will get one good game from Morris. Well, the quota for March has been satisfied. See you in April.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 31 | 10 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1/9 | 11/28 | 8/9 |
First time messing around this season. Or was it the second? Are we counting the earth is flat thing as serious or not?
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3/4 | 9/16 | 1/3 |
Played 32 minutes off the bench. Anytime a member of the Celtics backcourt misses time, it’s Brown who picks up the slack. Last night, Terry Rozier (illness) did not play.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 29 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1/5 | 12/29 | 4/7 |
Played 32 minutes. Space Jam II better be the nuts.
JaVale McGee
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 9 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4/5 | 1/2 |
After playing 33 minutes the previous game, McGee received 19 minutes of run. Shrug emoji. I have no idea what Luke Walton and the Lakers are doing. Apparently, neither do the Lakers.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 16 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1/1 | 5/7 | 5/5 |
Played 27 minutes off the bench. Yes, it’s that time. I like Caruso. He’s gritty and has some pizzazz to his game. He’s shown what he can do in the Summer League and G League. Hopefully, he gets some significant run down the stretch, as the Lakers have nothing to play for. With that said, I have no idea what the Lakers are doing and neither do they.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 16 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0/4 | 3/16 | 10/12 |
Played a team-high 39 minutes. Siakam has been shooting in the low-to-mid 40% range. He had been at 54% for most of the season. He probably got bored and is trying out new stuff.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 25 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 5/8 | 8/20 | 4/6 |
The algorithms said going to Los Angeles was not the right move. Whoever programmed Kawhi did a fabulous job of making sure he follows orders from the motherboard.
Jeremy Lin
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 9 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1/5 | 4/9 | 0 |
Got the start and played 21 minutes because Kyle Lowry (ankle) did not play. It’s insane that I keep expecting Linsanity. I’ve dabbled in the markets long enough to know that past performance is not indicative of future performance. I’m sad now.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 20 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3/6 | 7/14 | 3/4 |
Played 24 minutes off the bench. Powell always has the ability to put up games like last night. He just doesn’t. Part of it is that he doesn’t get the minutes. The other part is that he’s inconsistent. Only viable if injuries strike or the Raptors play a crappy team like the Lakers.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1/4 | 6/17 | 1/3 |
Returned from a three-game absence due to injury and played 30 minutes. Owners of Wiggins are probably wishing he stayed injured. He’s only 24 years old and has so much potential, but I’m thinking this is who he is. What say you?
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 26 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3/4 | 9/15 | 5/7 |
MEOW! And only played 27 minutes due to fouling out. KAT is a fabulous fantasy player, but I highly doubt that he ever leads a team to anything of significance. I hope he proves me wrong, but I just don’t see it.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 12 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0/1 | 6/9 | 0 |
Got another start and played 29 minutes because Jeff Teague (foot) was out. In addition, Derrick Rose (elbow) was out as well. Solid player, but not the one we all keep imagining. Top 65 player over the past three games.
Jerryd Bayless
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 8 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0/1 | 4/9 | 0 |
Played 23 minutes. Jones can’t play all 48 minutes at point guard.
Derrick Favors
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 17 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0/1 | 8/12 | 1/2 |
Do yourself a Favors and pick him up if available. Top 20 player over the past six games, despite averaging only 25 minutes per game. Points, boards, stocks, and excellent percentages are what Favors provide. The 83% from the free throw line on 3 attempts is an anomaly, though, as he’s more like a 68% shooter.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 12 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 2/8 | 5/11 | 0 |
Ingles vacillates between top 60 and top 100 value. The floor is high because he contributes across the board, but the upside is limited. Over the past six games, he’s been dishing 8.3 dimes but only shooting 41% from the field.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 10 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5/7 | 0/2 |
I want to scream “Viva la France,” but 46% from the free throw line on 7.2 attempts makes that impossible. We need to all get together and chant “Rudy, Rudy, Rudy” to encourage him.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 24 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1/6 | 8/17 | 7/9 |
I be sliding into the DMs night and day. The usage rate is over 32 and he’s jacking up over 21 shots per game! Over the past three games, DM has been a top 15 player, as he’s been contributing across-the-board production.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 18 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2/7 | 5/10 | 6/8 |
The percentages suck, but Crowder averages around 29 minutes per game and provides treys, boards, and steals. Just know that the Crowder gets ice cold, which makes it indigestible.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 16 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1/1 | 5/10 | 5/5 |
Continues to start and played 36 minutes. Over the past six games, Powell has been a top 35 player. The percentages have been excellent and he’s been providing boards, dimes, steals, and treys. Unfortunately, he doesn’t provide blocks.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 24 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1/8 | 10/23 | 3/7 |
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalmost messed around. Is Doncic the Euro Westbrook? Trip-dubs with low percentages?
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 20 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3/7 | 8/15 | 1/1 |
Played a team-high 39 minutes. The Mavs must be ecstatic that their second-round pick from last year is playing at such a high level. Brunson was a two-time, NCAA champion with Villanova, so it’s not like he’s coming from nowhere. With that said, he wasn’t doing much earlier in the season, but is has now been providing top 25 value over the past four games.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 11 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1/2 | 4/8 | 2/2 |
Played 29 minutes off the bench. Too bad the Mavs can’t squish Kleber into Powell’s body because he’s the big that provides the blocks.
Paul Millsap
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 33 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1/3 | 14/19 | 4/4 |
Played 36 minutes. That’s back-to-back good games for Millsap, as he scored 23 points the prior game and stuffed the stat sheet. There was a four-game stretch last month when he posted a dub-dub in each game and provided across-the-board production. The issue has been the inconsistency. Hopefully, this is a sign of things to come and Millsap is able to contribute like this every night.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 11 | 14 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0/2 | 4/9 | 3/4 |
It’s such a Jokic that he’s almost messed around despite deferring to Millsap.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 7 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1/4 | 3/7 | 0 |
Played 31 minutes. The prior two games, Morris played 27 and 29 minutes. We all know about the amazing assist-to-turnover ratio, but the key thing here is that Isaiah Thomas is no longer in the rotation. As a result, Morris has been the one to soak up the minutes.
