The number 3 is considered a mystical and magical one by many because the Universe is predicated on it. There’s the Holy Trinity. Three little bears. Larry, Moe, and Curly. Past, present, and future. Birth, life, and death. Beginning, middle, and end. Menage a trois. Yummy. Outside of a circle, the minimum number of sides you need to create a pattern is three. Only a third person can break a tie to decide where to go eat. Last night, Fred VanVleet, who has three capital letters in his name and wears the number twenty-three, went H. A. M.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 54 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 11/14 | 17/23 | 9/9 |
The 54 points set a new career-high that also produced a new Raptors franchise record. The 11 tres set a new career-high. The 17 field goals set a new career-high. By my calculations, that’s THREE new career-highs! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!! I’m going to have freaking nightmares with Count Dracula counting the number three on repeat. *Gets tapped on shoulder* Sorry, I’ve gotta get out of here as the Numerology Society sent a delegation of three to break down FVV’s stat line.
Here’s what else I saw last night:
Want the best tools and projections to help dominate your league? Check out the Stocktonator, the byproduct of Rudy and machine making love. Click HERE for a FREE 3-day trial.
Kyle Lowry
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 14 | 10 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 3/8 | 4/11 | 3/5 |
Lowry messed around and he gets treated like an Asian kid coming home with an A-minus on the report card. That was the 17th time Lowry has messed around in his career.
Norman Powell
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 23 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 4/9 | 7/15 | 5/5 |
Got another start because OG Anunoby missed his fourth-straight game due to a calf injury. In eight games as a starter this season, Powell has been a top 35 player, averaging 32.6 minutes, 20.5 points, 2.9 tres, 3.4 boards, 2.1 dimes, and 1.8 steals while shooting 50% from the field and 87% from the line.
Chris Boucher
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1/1 | 2/3 | 2/2 |
In 19 minutes off the bench. This Boucher is a waterboy when the opposition has a big man who can punish down low.
Nikola Vucevic
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 21 | 18 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2/7 | 9/19 | 1/1 |
Vucevic is such a good offensive player. He can punish defenders down low with his back to the basket, space the floor and drain tres, and either pick-and-pop or pick-and-roll. So versatile. He’s the number 16 player for fantasy on the season and finished as the 19th and 12th player the prior two seasons.
Evan Fournier
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 21 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 1/5 | 7/15 | 6/8 |
Was scorching hot to start the game then cooled off, but still a very nice game. The Evan is pure and quenches the fantasy thirst as he provides a little something something in every cat. Interestingly, over the last six seasons, he’s alternated seasons being inside and outside the top 100. In 2014, he was the 198th player. Then, he finished 70, 122, 66, 144, and 77 last year. He’s currently the 99th player but if the SATs taught me anything, it’s that Fournier is a lock to finish outside the top 100.
Kawhi Leonard
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 33 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1/5 | 12/24 | 8/9 |
The Jedi Masters have already commissioned the factory on planet Kamino to replace the Clone troopers template from Jango Fett to Kawhi Leonard. He’s the number two player for fantasy and could finish as the top dog come season’s end. I ain’t laughing. You laughing?
Paul George
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 26 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3/7 | 11/24 | 1/1 |
Pre-injury, George would showcase moves and put up performances that would get us all into an expletive-filled orgy. Post-injury, we were cussing but for other reasons. Mainly because he f-ing sucked. Now, he settled into a mode that’s been strictly PG. He’s shooting 49% from the field and contributing top 15 production. Over the last three seasons, George shot 43% in each of those years. Some regression is in store but he looks so comfortable now and career-high efficiency could be there at season’s end.
Nicolas Batum
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 21 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5/8 | 7/10 | 2/3 |
Continues to start and played 38 minutes. Batum is a low usage rate player (12.4) but he’s posting top 60 production because he’s hitting tres, grabbing boards, and getting his 211 on while shooting 50% from the field and 84% from the line. Hmmmm, both PG and Batum are shooting very well. Maybe this Tyronn Lue guy is alright. Now, over the last three season, Batum shot 34%, 44%, and 41% from the field, so it’s unlikely he maintains this efficiency.
Marcus Morris Sr.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 16 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3/6 | 6/10 | 1/1 |
In 31 minutes off the bench, a season-high. Morris is strictly a points and tres guy but could be useful as a microwave if he continues getting the minutes.
Kyrie Irving
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 39 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6/8 | 15/23 | 3/3 |
A season-high in points and the fifth time scoring at least 30 points in a game this year. The usage rate was 30.6 last night, after languishing in the low-to-mid 20s the prior five games. He’s the number five player for fantasy and should be fine as long as he doesn’t fall off the edge of the Earth.
Kevin Durant
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 28 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1/1 | 11/13 | 5/5 |
The number four player for fantasy. Garnered a 23.7 usage rate last night, the lowest of the season so far. He still put what would be a career game for most. For KD? Yawn.
James Harden
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 23 | 11 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1/6 | 7/15 | 8/8 |
Played a team-high 43 minutes and messed around for the 50th time in his career. I wonder what that number is at da club. Without looking at the data, I so want Harden to be the number three player for fantasy. Please. Please. Please. Damn, number 11. I kind of want them to finish 1, 2, 3. For shits and giggles. Now that I think about it, I want them to tie for number one.
Dillon Brooks
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 25 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2/5 | 10/18 | 3/3 |
It’s been a while since we sauntered down by the Brooks. Oh, I forgot that the Grizzlies haven’t played in forever ever. Brooks has a high usage rate of 27.5 on the season and hucks and chucks over 15 shots per game. As evidenced by last night, he can get hot on occassion. Brooks has scored at least 20 points in five games. Unfortunately, he makes us hurl chunks of shit with the 38% field goal percentage.
Desmond Bane
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 16 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3/6 | 6/13 | 1/1 |
Played 26 minutes off the bench because the game was a blowout, with the Grizzlies losing 116-134 to the Pacers. So was the prior game, and the one before that. With that said, Bane has scored double-digits in five straight games and provided tres, some boards, and a few dimes.
Domantas Sabonis
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 32 | 13 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2/5 | 13/15 | 4/6 |
Alright, the start of a new dub-dub streak. He opened the season with 16 straight dub-dubs. What’s the O/U on this next one? I say he gets to 20.
Myles Turner
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 22 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 3/6 | 9/13 | 1/2 |
Yoooo, he’s starting to rebound now, too?
He’s the number eight player for fantasy on a per-game basis right now. I am now naked and about to go run a few Myles outside. Please excuse me.
Jeremy Lamb
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 19 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5/7 | 6/9 | 2/2 |
Made his fourth-straight start and played 27 minutes. I was skeptical at first but Lamb has made me rethink my existence on this planet. Now, he’s shooting 51% from the field. That’s going to come down to the 45% range. He’s also blocking 0.8 shots, after never averaging 0.5 in any prior season. He can still be productive, though, because he’s starting, playing minutes, and contributing a nice amount of points, tres, boards, and defensive stats.
T. J. McConnell
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 6 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0/1 | 3/7 | 0/2 |
In 29 minutes off the bench. Like the Energizer Bunny, McConnell just keeps going and going and going and going. Over the last 10 games, he’s dished out 7, 8, 6, 9, 9, 7, 6, 6, 6, and 8 dimes.
Robert Covington
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 19 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5/8 | 6/10 | 2/2 |
Our Lord has risen! Over the last three games, Covington has been a top 40 player, as he’s shot 45% from the field and contributed a little something something in every cat but blocks. On the season, Peasant Covington has converted 33% of his field goal attempts. Is it happening? My money is on the pass line.
Enes Kanter
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 14 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6/10 | 2/2 |
Since Jusuf Nurkic went down, Kanter has played over 30 minutes and averaged a dub-dub. The field goal percentage has been excellent while the free-throw shooting has been a respectable 70%. He’s even chipped in some defensive stats.
Damian Lillard
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 32 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4/14 | 9/23 | 10/10 |
Yawn. It’s time to go to sleep.
Gary Trent Jr.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 26 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7/9 | 8/16 | 3/3 |
Played a team-high 40 minutes. Since CJ McCollum went down, Trent has started five games and produced top 40-ish value. The field goal percentage hasn’t been great at 42% but he’s providing a handful of tres, plenty of points, and some steals. He’s also been playing over 35 minutes per contest. Yo, Joe!
Carmelo Anthony
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 21 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1/5 | 8/16 | 4/4 |
In 26 minutes off the bench. Garnered a 30.5 usage rate and produced his third 20-point game of the season. Prior to last night, Melo scored 6, 4, and 6 points. Like manna falling down from the heavens for the Israelites, the Wizards came to town so that all Trail Blazers could feast.
Rui Hachimura
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 24 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3/4 | 10/12 | 1/2 |
Since returning to action after missing three games, Rui has played 24, 29, and 34 minutes. He had scored 9, 9, and 24 points respectively. Now, the minutes are nice as it looks like he’s ramped up and ready to go. The usage rate hasn’t been over 20, though, and he shot 83% last night. That’s not happening on the regular.
Russell Westbrook
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 17 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1/3 | 7/15 | 2/2 |
The 151th time Russ has messed around. Only 30 more to tie the great Oscar Robertson. I don’t think he can get there. What do you think?
Bradley Beal
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 37 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6/12 | 14/24 | 3/5 |
Garnered a 36.4 usage rate last night and was cooking as usual. That is now back-to-back 37 point games and he’s scored at least 20 points in 16 straight. He’s the number 10 player for fantasy. I love when my Beal is extra crispy and cooking defenders as efficiently as my air fryer.
Davis Bertans
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2/10 | 2/10 | 0 |
Something is wrong with the guidance system as he’s shooting 33% from the field. He’s a career 44% so I believe he will eventually turn it around. I’m hoping that he didn’t actually get the Rona as there have been many of players who have had difficulty coming back from it.
Garrison Mathews
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 11 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 5/5 |
In 15 minutes. He had been playing in the mid-20s, so with the Wizards healthy now, minutes will be an issue.
Jerami Grant
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 27 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2/5 | 9/18 | 7/8 |
Played a team-high 38 minutes. We all should’ve known that Grant would ball out like this. Who willingly goes to Detroit on their own volition? That signifies some mental fortitude and crazy right there.
Mason Plumlee
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 17 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7/11 | 3/3 |
Only his fourth dub-dub of the season but all have come in the last five games. Boards dimes, and a touch of defensive stats are contributed on the regular. So is excellent field goal percentage. The surprise has been the free-throw shooting, as he’s converting 71% of his attempts after shooting sub-60% the last four seasons. There’s something in the water in Detroit, literally and figuratively.
Josh Jackson
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 22 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 3/7 | 7/15 | 5/5 |
In 30 minutes off the bench. Jackson usually plays in the low-20s but this is the second time he’s received at least 30 minutes of run in the last seven games. Jackson is inconsistent and the minutes aren’t guaranteed. The one thing about him, though, is that when he’s on the court, he’s going to go for his. The usage rate will usually be above 20 and he’s gonna huck, and chuck, and blow your house down.
Royce O’Neale
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 12 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2/6 | 5/11 | 0 |
O’Neale has been playing at a top 80 level over the past month. The usage is low (9.2) so don’t expect many points but he contributes a little something something in every cat without hurting you anywhere. He’s also playing over 32 minutes per game so he will trip into counting stats.
Donovan Mitchell
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 32 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4/7 | 10/17 | 8/11 |
Nice bounceback game after posting 13 and nine-point performances in the prior two games. Mitchell is a top 85 player on the season. I love Mitchell in real life and I often wonder how much of a boost for fantasy he’d get if he played in an uptempo system because he’s already getting a ton of shot attempts. Would the defensive and counting stats go up? I lean yes but not completely sure.
Jayson Tatum
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 27 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4/10 | 9/19 | 5/6 |
Since returning from his five-game hiatus, Tatum has played 31, 34, and 40 minutes while scoring 24, 25, and 30 points respectively. The trend is our friend and it looks like he’s all systems go now. Release the Kraken!
Kemba Walker
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 19 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3/9 | 6/18 | 4/4 |
Played 31 minutes, the first time eclipsing the 30-minute mark all season. Forget about the Kraken. Release the Kemba!!! With that said, I’m wary of Kemba and would look to sell if possible. Will Stevens play him in back to backs? Will injuries creep back into his life? I’ve got questions y’all.
Draymond Green
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 2 | 11 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 0/3 | 1/7 | 0 |
A typical Dray game, although he was averaging 0.1 blocks on the season. He’s shooting 34% from the field on only 5.2 attempts so don’t expect points. Boards, dimes, and steals, though, should be a part of the daily diet.
Kevon Looney sprained his ankle and left after 13 minutes of run. With James Wiseman out for a week or so, Green and Eric Paschall will likely have to play small-ball center.
Steph Curry
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 38 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 7/14 | 12/21 | 7/7 |
The Curry was especially spicy last night. Interestingly, that was the third game this season in which he’s grabbed 11 boards in a game. He’s also stolen three in three games. Last night was all about 3!!!
Juan Toscano-Anderson
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 16 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3/3 | 6/9 | 1/1 |
Played a season-high due to all the injuries. Could see significant run in the short term.
