There was wide speculation yesterday afternoon that Baron Davis would make his season debut against the team that released him five weeks ago after he told them he wouldn’t be healthy for at least eight. Whoops. Davis didn’t show his mug last night, but all signs point to this weekend. If you haven’t added him yet, what are you waiting for? The Knicks have had the easiest schedule up until this point and they have a losing record. So of course, New York’s answer is to add one of the most troublesome players in the league. If he’s not hurt, he’s fat. If he’s not fat, he has a terrible shot selection. If his shot selection is under control, well, Lord help y’all ’cause that means he won’t be passing much. Barone “Sanitation” Davis (for you Sopranos fans) is far from a sure thing, okay? Keep that in mind. But sure thing or not, the Knicks need a facilitator. Not someone who will take an unending series of bad jumpers (Iman Shumpert) or a guy just as likely to hand the ball to the other team than his own (Toney Douglas). So, yeah, Davis is a must-add, much the same way Greg Oden would be a must-add if he was scheduled to start for Portland. Being a must-add doesn’t guarantee anything except that the upside is high and the price is low. Even in his four worst statistical seasons, Boom-Dizzle averaged 13 pts/7 ast/1.8 stl and 1.2 3ptm. This is more or less what I’m expecting for as long as he can stay healthy. Eventually (if not immediately) New York will move Davis into the starting lineup. Fields will likely stay at the two, moving Shumpert to be the first guard off the bench and Douglas to spend most of his time on the bench playing “Is She From Jersey Or NYC?” Here’s what else I saw in a jam-packed night of fantasy basketball.
Amar’e Stoudemire – Double-doubled for the third time in four games while surpassing or matching season-highs in both rebounds (14) and turnovers (6). Grab a Powerade and maybe take a breather on the desperation trade offers you’ve been sending since December trying to rid yourself of the guy.
Antawn Jamison – Dropped a hot 13 points at the half and ended the game having scored a significantly less hot 15 points. Significantly less hot like buying a Starters jacket in 1988 when it was okay to do that and walking around with it today like it is still okay to do that. Your 15 points are pretty old, ‘Tawn!
Al Jefferson – The injury gods thought it’d be funny to swap Jefferson for a healthy Josh Howard. Thus proving that the Gods are about as fond of the Salt Lake City area as most Democrats.
Derrick Favors – Took the open starting lineup spot left by Jefferson and ended with 16/12 and a block. It was his third double-double of the season, but most of his other games have been utter cowpies. As long as Jefferson is a center on this team, Favors will always be the second-prettiest girl in the clique. The second-prettiest girl is always just as pretty as the prettiest girl, except for one flaw, like a flat butt or a wonky eye. Favors has a wonky eye compared to Jefferson. *Note: Derrick Favors does not have an actual wonky eye. However, I DO believe he had a flat butt as a teenager.
Tyrus Thomas – Started. Ended with 13/9, with 4 steals and 9 blocks. Nine blocks!?! Oh! Em! Gee! EVERYONE BETTER RUSH TO PICK HIM UP OR TRADE THEIR SECOND-BEST PLAYER FOR HIM BECAUSE THIS IS THE START OF A CAREER YEAR. Settle down, Mr. Capital Letters. This was against the Washington Wizards and Charlotte was running without Mullens for much of the game, Augustin, and Henderson. Also, this was against the Washington Wizards. I may have already mentioned that.
Matt Carroll – All season-high everything as Carroll ended with 17/3/1 on 7-for-10 shooting in 35 of Gerald Henderson‘s minutes. Henderson pulled himself out of the lineup complaining of a bruised tailbone. Even if Henderson misses another game or two, Carroll shot .700. I’d bet Thomas gets 9 blocks in the next 10 games before I bet Carroll does that again this season.
Byron Mullens – Left with a hand injury, but came back to be just as ineffective as he was prior to the injury. Time to grab your Diaws, kids, as Mullens’ time in the spotlight is probably nearing its end. Nope. Not those Diaws. Grab your chubby French Diaws. Not those, either. Where did you get those? That’s terrible.
Andrew Bogut – He “boguted” his ankle, so you just know that shizz was gross. He was helped off the court and never returned, which means that Drew Gooden just became your new best friend. Or if not your best friend, the person you invite over to your house to watch “The Bachelor” (because watching it alone is soooo pathetic).
Shaun Livingston – 6/0/2, in 18 starter’s minutes. Stephen Jackson – 20/1/3 in 30 reserve minutes. So that’s where that’s at.
Jrue Holiday – Came into last night’s game shooting .397 in his last four. Then he shot 5-for-13 last night. He finished with seven assists for only the second time in his last 10 games. So suddenly, I’m thinking a little bit less from column A and little bit more from column B and we’ll be straight.
Austin Daye – After starting the season 0-for-14 from the arc, dude has hit 7-of-his-last-11. His 28/6/3 performance last night was more of what I envisioned than the 4/2/1 he’s averaged so far. Let him string together a couple more solid games before you waste a spot on him, though.
Trevor Ariza – Shot 1-for-8. Ended with 2 points. THERE he is! I missed you, Trev’.
Ronnie Brewer – 20/10/5, with a quartet of steals. I told you two days ago to pick him up. You picked him up, right? Tommy, tell me you got that!
Joakim Noah – Has anyone noticed JoaNoa is averaging 11.8 pts/11.3 rbd/2.5 ast/0.8 blk in his last four games? No? Well, I suppose you didn’t notice that I got my haircut yesterday either.
Wayne Ellington – Luke Ridnour was out with a sore knee. Or maybe he and his knee both just stayed in and watched a movie. I’m not sure. Either way, Ellington took his place in the starting lineup and ended with 16/4/3, with a bunch of other fun little stuff to help your fantasy team. It was easily his best game of the season and one that he is unlikely to duplicate anytime soon. Keep any eye on him, just in case I’m drunk, but I’m pretty sure I’m not drunk and I’m positive that under no circumstances should Ellington be on your team. In fact, I’m disappointed in you for even reading this passage because it suggests you were considering putting Ellington on your team.
Linas Kleiza – 25 points, but it took him about five quarters to get there. Kleiza owners have to rollover 20 percent of last night’s stats into Toronto’s next game.
Ty Lawson – Sprained his ankle. If you’re reading this less than seven hours after it happened, I’ll know more and update this blurb in the morning. If you’re reading this more than seven hours after it happened, then clearly I’ve dropped the ball and I’ll be happy to refund every last cent you paid for this service.
Tiago Splitter – 16/8/2, with a block in 20 minutes from the bench. He’s really starting to develop into a solid FA pickup. Duncan finally accepted his Words With Friends invite, that’s why.
Matt Bonner – Drained five 3ptm on his way to 17 points. Bonner Jamz, ’12!
Marcus Thornton – To miss 1-2 weeks with a left thigh injury. Jimmer Fredette is the obvious add, but seeing as how the majority of the West is gaga for JimmyJam, he’s likely taken in many leagues. For you deep leaguers, take a look at Isaiah Thomas. He’ll see a bump in minutes and ended with 13/1/4 last night.
Chris Paul – Returned. His shot was rusty, but he doled out 10 assists in under 16 minutes. A dozen over the course of 26 minutes.
Stephen Curry – 32/6/7, with 4 stl and 6 3ptm. See the Stoudemire blurb about 7 inches above this one.
Brandon Rush – He’s quietly averaging 10.5 pts/4 rbd/2 3ptm, with solid percentages over his last six games. He’s also quietly reading the last book in the Hunger Games series and hasn’t been talkative on team flights lately.
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Do you have $100? No? Do you want it? Sure you do. Daily Joust is hosting a $100 prize contest tomorrow night. It’s free to enter, which is nice. And winner gets a cool hundo, which is also nice. Unfortunately, those who do not win will most likely be hunted down and killed for sport. /re-reads the contest rules. I’m sorry, I misread that last part. Those who do not win will not be hunted down and killed for sport. At least not by the fine, fine people at Daily Joust.
