Fractions. Math. It’s hard…
Kinda like variables… Is it IT2?! Is it IT3?! I feel like I’m taking crazy pills!
Apparently it’s “IT2” when alluding to his non-related, same-named NBA legend Isiah Thomas. For like a year I thought Isaiah Thomas was legit his son! But then Thomas flashed the “IT3” nickname because he… shoots a lot of 3s? Eesh. Originality is lacking! So I have officially donned him IT2/3 to solve all the confusion, and to reference his diminutive size.
After returning from elbow and back injuries, IT2/3 was atrocious last Wednesday for 4 Pts and 3 TO against the Heat. I was passing on him in at least 2/3 of comments! But IT2/3 had a monster weekend with 18/1/6 and 19/0/7 lines with a combined 17-19 at the stripe. Getting a foul called on 2/3 of his drives! Certainly a must-own down the stretch, it has also made Marcus Smart a dumpster fire. Hopefully those of you still alive in Razzball Nation ignored my 2/3-of-the-time wrong advice and can ride IT2/3 through the H2H Finals! Here’s what else happened over the weekend in fantasy basketball action:
Reggie Jackson – Man, that game a few weeks ago where he was held without an assist sure seems like a distant memory! 9+ dimes in 7-straight including tripdubbing Friday for 26/11/10 then 31/6/9 last night. Hopeful 15-16 R-Jax owners are like, “stop going so ham, I want to get you at a value next year!”
Andre Drummond – Career high alert! I mean, with no Whiteside and Udonis Haslem starting at the 5, you better bring the big boy pants! 32/14/2/1/2 on 14-17 FG in the kind of line we were hoping for every other night from Drummo. After shooting sub-45% through November, he’s been a boss the past 4 months.
Hassan Whiteside – Speaking of no Whiteside, he almost played bouncing back from the stitches in the webbing between his fingers. Maybe he’s related to Dr. Evil… “My mother was a 15-year-old French prostitute named Chloé with webbed feet.”
Dwyane Wade – Wade is not moving into that shade! After a report he had a lot of fluid buildup in his knee, Wade still suited up last night and was a monster for 40/6/4 on 14-27 FG and 12-13 FT. After the game he was like, “gimme the hose, I need more fluid in my other knee!”
Nerlens Noel – Captain N bringing the career high game! Unreal 12-17 from the field Friday night for 30/14/2/2/0. Imagine that line with 3, 3, 2, 4, or 6 blocks on it! Because that was his blocks tally the previous 5! Slim might be right… “Mini-Brow!” With that 69% FT in the second half, he really has become the big I had hoped. Look at that #1 human ranking not being so dumb after all!
Mo Williams – I tried to tell ya to keep the Mo from off the Flo! As in, hold onto him… Nice bounce back weekend for a rainbow/near-tripdub 26/9/10/2/2 Saturday night and 18/1/4 last night with 4 treys in both. Going to remain a big part of the O the rest of the way!
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist – Will be a much lesser part of the O, after suffering an ankle sprain and will miss 7-10 days. Ugh, rough finish, and injury concerns might follow MKG as a deeper league prospect next year.
Drew Gooden – With the exorbitant amount of DNPs and injuries this past month, we should’ve all expected a big line from Drew Gooden, amiright?! 15/17/4 Saturday, but Nene was playing nono good in that one.
Jeremy Lin – Sat last night an upper respiratory infection (just say flu teams! it’s so much shorter!) and Jordan Clarkson had another solid 18/6/7 line. If Lin sits again tonight, it’ll open up some G minutes for someone pretty sexy! More below!
Josh Smith – The run is nice and the counting stats – as always – are helpful, but Smoove without fail finds a way to kill ya. 16/9/11/0/3 with 3 treys Friday (but 6 TO), then 14/10/3/1/2 with 2 treys yesterday (but 4 TO). Luckily only 1-2 FT these past two games in his upticked 76 minutes over the weekend, but if TO and FT aren’t concerns, he should continue to play big minutes and contribute while Donatas Motiejunas (1-2 weeks with a bad back) and Terrence Jones (rib and collapsed lung) miss games.
Patrick Beverley – More Rox more injuries, and PBev is probably out for the season according to Kevin McHale. Jason Terry and Pablo Prigioni will split some PG minutes down the stretch, and I ain’t got time for dat!
Gorgui Dieng – Just what the Wolves needed as well, more injuries! Left early last night with a facial contusion, but had 3 blocks in 9 minutes! On his way to 12 blocks! Ughhhhhh.
Chase Budinger – He’s going to have to start playing 48 per game during this plague of Minnesota, and given Budinger’s injury-past, it’s shocking HE’S the healthy one! Only 10/5/2 last night with no treys, but didn’t commit a TO and has been pretty much must-own the past 2 weeks.
Justin Hamilton – The migraine issues that cost J-Ham some games were really untimely, as he was on a roll and looking at monster minutes. He’s still getting eased back, but if Dieng misses any more action, Hamilton just has to play. 5-6 FG 11/5/0/1/1 in 23 minutes last night, and would be an interesting stream if The Dieng Train remains off the rails.
Anthony Bennett – After playing only 9 minutes since Feb 11, Bennett finally got back into the fold and missed all 4 shots in 11:30 last night. Rusty McGusty! He’s not going to get pushed; only worth a look in deepers.
Jameer Nelson – On an absolute tear! He’s a G version of Budinger, an off-the-bench scorer that’s had 9-straight of must-own. 18/1/3 and 22/2/5 this past weekend with 4 treys in both.
Brandon Knight – The Knight hath save us! Anddddddddd shot only 1-10 FG in his 22 minutes last night, after missing a few weeks with that kankle. Like IT2/3, I won’t make the same mistake twice! Be sure he’s owned if you’re still alive.
Kevin Durant – Mannnnnn, well the 2014-15 season will forever be subtitled: The Collapse of KD. Early drafts had him BY FAR the consensus #1! Heading for another foot surgery and will be held out of basketball activities 4-6 months. All we’re going to talk about through the first month or two of the ranks is KD and the risk…
Dennis Schroder – Back-to-back starts for resting/kankled Jeff Teague, and dubdub dimebags in both! 12/3/11 then 17/4/11 in a smorgasbord of stats! Numbers as tasty as schnitzel! Dude, when I was in Germany last year I had jager-schnitzel and mmmmmmmm, I’m hungry now…
Jordan Hill – Well, after Byron Scott said there’d be no Hill for 4-5 games, he comes back after 3 with Ed Davis getting a DNP-tanking (nice terminology, Rotoworld!). Hill made his run count, too! 22/16/1/0/1 on 10-17 shooting. But you can’t add him in any normal leagues, it’s very likely another DNP next time out.
Rajon Rondo – Monta Ellis sat last night with a calf issue, and was on crutches over the weekend so easily could miss a few more. And with the extra G usage-rate floating around, Rondo actually looked like an NBA PG again! 17/7/10/2/1 on 8-14 FG and made his 1 FT. Rondo is out there in a lot of leagues, and I actually like him for these next few games without Ellis.
Streamers/Cheap Daily League Picks:
Adreian Payne (2% owned) – If there’s indeed no Dieng, it’s going to be a Major Payne to watch the Wolves tonight, that’s for sure! But he’ll get run, and I trust the minutes more than other streamer candidate J-Ham.
Jabari Brown (0% owned) – Slim’s new D-League love affair! Slim loves him some Jabari Brown, who went bonkers in 31 minutes last night for 11/4/3/4/1. He’s a really solid looking player, and another 30 minutes should be coming his way if there’s no Lin. And the Lakers opp? The Sixers tonight. Mmmmmm, the hottest Jabari in the NBA right now, that’s for sure!
I hope everyone made it to their H2H Finals or are still in the running in their Roto leagues, and we’ll see you tomorrow for a special edition post Razzball Nation!
Razz up
Somehow scraped through semi finals and feeling excited about opportunity to win my first fantasy title. Regular season means nothing come playoffs and nearly got pipped by 4th seed but got through by one free throw (even overcoming Beard’s 45 free throws for week). Anyway overcame horrendous injury/rest week (had Hayward, Hood, #Occupy and Dieng in weekly lineup where only allowed one sub and had to bench Rubio on top of that’s) up against defending champ with 40 game schedule.
Feeling good about this week up against #2 seed who has been hit by injury bug:
My team: Curry, Hayward, Giannis, Brewer, AD, #Occupy, MBarnes, Mirotic, JVal, Gobert
His team: Wall, Lawson, Clarkson, Ish, Butler, Duncan, Covington, Ilyasova, Vucevic, Faried (he has Favors and Whiteside out injured at moment but may sub one in if gets positive news before tip off tomorrow I’d guess).
I have slight schedule advantage and look good for blocks, afg, threes and rebounds while he is a lock for assists. I have edge in turnovers, steals and free throws with points too close to call.
Wish me a healthy week please!
Thanks for all your help during the year … Love this blog!
@Dirk’s Digglers: Nice work man! Stay healthy and may the fantasy gods be in your favor! Anything you need throughout the week, def stop by. Really appreciate that man!
So what’s the deal with Pistons and their PG? Now they have Rjax and Jennings. I assume one of them will be traded? Or …
@DK: Yeah I think BJ getting moved makes the most sense. I know he’s progressing well, but he also could mis the start of 15-16 as well and then ease him in as the 6th man, but with Dinwiddie looking great in that role, seems like too many guys. Hopefully they’re both not there and it spells doom for my KCP… No!!!!!
1. is whiteside a hold given he nearly played? at least i made the finals in my 14m league.
2. drop crowder for thaddeus or is the knee sprain too risky?
3. injuries really killed me this year, but still managed to make a final play for 3rd in my 16m. thanks to you and slim for all your help this year!
@hamtime: just noticed cj miles is available and is playing well. prefer him or crowder? (both 4 game weeks, but if i drop crowder now, ill get that extra game. 3 adds for the week).
@hamtime: 1. Whew, nice work man! Yeah I’d def hold. 2. Saw your below comment, I might go CJ Miles actually. Agree it’s risky for Thad and Crowder is prob gonna keep losing minutes. 3. Awesome man, thank! We try!
Hey JB,
Having a tough go of it in the playoffs this year. Outted in 3/4 leagues already!
Just one left.
14 Team H2H (11 CAT w/ FGM & FTM)
Lillard, Lawson, Rubio, GHill
Bledsoe, Knight, Lou Williams
JButler, Hayward
Deng, Carroll
Markieff, Olynyk
Punting REBS and BLKS.
I know you mentioned holding BKnight in your article, but I’m leaning towards a drop.
I want to stream a slot and hes looking like the one.
I could dump Olynyk but at least he has games and will play.
What do you think?
Chalmers and Stuckey on the wire for tomorrow.
Thanks!
@j: That’s still pretty good man! Injuries and DNPs have made a lot of better teams fall apart. Yeah I know Olynyk has the extra game, but man given BLK/REB are punts, I’d still rather 3 from Knight.
Is it weekly line-ups or daily? BEcause both go tonight then you could address from there who to lose for tomo. If Olynyk is pretty crappy again in low 20 mins, I think he’s gotta go.
Any time!
Today marks the finals of my h2h points league. Lineups lock At 5 today and are set for the week, so obviously total games played is huge, quality games a non factor.
Having a lineup crisis:
Thoughts on…
Ersan: Can he keep up even 85 percent of this for one more week?
Deron Williams: is his starting job/minutes secure for the moment?
Marc Gasol: why is he sucking?!?! It’s to the point im thinking of benching him for either Willaims or Ersan, because they are not trending down AND Gasol only has 3 games this week, and they both have 4.
Covington: when he starts he is great but when he doesn’t, he sucks. Is this Jason Richardson garbage gonna continue for the next week?
@Steven: Nice work! Ersan – Sure, he was this good 2 years ago before a myriad of injuries. Maybe he’s finally healthy + in his old groove. Little bit of an outlier last game due to blowout.
Deron – Yeah they should be, had a bumpy game 2 ago then got 34 minutes last game.
Gasol – Yeah, only 3 games, I’d play Deron over him in a Pts with the extra game. Don’t have an answer, he’s just fading down the stretch! As are the Grizz as a whole…
Covington – Yeah, I think so… Unfortunately haha. He’s 4th down even with the 4 games of all these guys to me
Made it to the semi finals in 3 leagues but not sure i will be able to survive anymore of these injuries….baseball needs to come soon!
@matt: Hah yeah it’s been brutal! Only 6 days away until baseball!
Should I drop Steven Adams for Zaza?
@Scott: or Henson?
@Scott: 3 games Adams vs. 4 Zaza. I think they’re both above Henson for me – got a little extra run last game in blowout loss. Ya know, gimme 4 from Zaza
Like I said I’m losing all those guys and I’m in need of boards an blocks.. Do you like Haslem??
Or David West?
@Frank White: Nah, Whiteside seems like he was really close to returning. Not big on West either, but like him over Haslem. Henson is sneaking in REB/BLK if he’s out there…
I’m in the finals, but the injury bug is currently FBI kicking me in the groin. Any advice on my lineup? Weekly head to head points league.
PG – Oladipo
SG – Harden
G – Ariza
SF – Covington
PF – Giannis
F – Mirotic
C – Millsap
C – Markieff Morris
U – Steven Adams
U – Budinger
Bn – Dieng (injury ugh)
Bn – Favors (injury ugh)
Bn – Pachulia (just regular ugh)
Already lost Ibaka and Rubio in the past few weeks. Thanks to Razzball I was so dominant during the regular season, and now I think I might lose in the finals. NOOOOOOOOOOO
PS – Thanks for your advice all season and any advice you can give today.
@Filkarri: Hah, you and me both man, had Ibaka and Rubio on my REL team! 20-teamer can’t bounce back from that shizz to win in the semis, ughhhhhh. I mentioned above I’d take 4 Zaza over 3 Adams, so making that move! Only question mark for me past that is Covington. I think the 4 games is worth it, but this J-Rich starting is garbage.
Glad to help man, any time, thanks for stopping by! Good luck int he finals!
Could use some advice for the finals! My team’s strength is my bigs and my opponent has stacked 3s, points and assists. I have six moves to make this week and he has one move left for the year. I’m hoping my moves can make the difference so I’ll be doing some heavy streaming
Any strategy or personnel advice? Make sense to drop Dieng or Ellis to maximize my games?
FAs: Miles,Galloway, Tobias, Foye, Vasquez, Lou Will, Marvin Will, McLemore, Canaan, Jameer, T-Ross
My team:
MCW
Conley
Lavine
Lillard
Mo Williams
Monta
Budinger
Mirotic
Giannis
Drummond
Cousins
Dieng
Gobert
His team:
Curry
Teague
Ish Smith
Lin
Lowry
Dragic
Jason Terry
Covington
Danny Green
Bargnani
Randolph
Howard
Pau
MANY THANKS!
@jcg: Whoa, yeah that’s a monster advantage! Yeah Ellis can prob go, this calf sounds like multi-game injury for sure. Dieng given he’s questionable and part of your advantage up front I’d hold until we know if he plays tonight. Lowry already out, I’d snag Vasquez to block him for Lowry being out. Prob losing LaVine so you can be sure and win TO. That’s how I’d start for now. ANy time!
@JB Gilpin: I like your thinking! with Stuckey questionable…would you drop Lavine and Ellis for CJ Miles and Watson?
@jcg: Yeah I think I indeed would do both of those! Watson playing sneaky good with no Stuckey
Ok JB, here we are, championship week, we’ve made it! Thank you JB, Brandon Knight and Hassan Whiteside and my brother who refused to give them up because of how “they’re the best keepers ever”.
Team:
Anthony Davis
Harden
Klay
Al Jefferson
Giannis
Batum
Tiago Splitter
Mike Conley
Zaza
Gorgui Dieng
Evan Turner
Jeremy Lin
So many questions marks. If the Dieng Train is derailed today, that leaves 2 games left for him in the week and on both busy days. Would you pick up Iggy or H. Barnes today for their 4 game schedules starting tomorrow? I was thinking about dropping Conley as well after today for 4 games of Deron Williams. I’m trying not to worry about Al Jeff, he seems like he wants to play no matter what. Same with Lin. Dieng getting a boo boo seems like all the reason the Wolves need to sit him for a week. Thoughts? I want that sweet trophy and my money.
@Philzilla (Cats Like War Milk): Haha, nice work man! Ugh, well I have KNight and Whiteside on my 20 teamer and lost, but had many other injuries as well. They are some nasty keepers though 🙂
Yeah Dieng can def go if he’s out. Thinking on for who… Love the COnley to Deron swap. Lin is a possible drop if he misses his first this week. The problem with either Warrior is Kerr could bench either one at least 1 game. So I’m likely avoiding getting locked in with those guys.
Let’s do this man!
Hey what’s up? So I’ve made it to my championship. It’s a weekly league and I could some advice. I need to start two. What two would you play? Brandon Knight, Mo Williams, Robert Covington, or Dennis Shroder. Also, Do you think Whiteside plays at all this we? Thanks as always.
@Osnam: Nice work man! Not 100% trusting of Knight in a weekly, or Covington. Same with Schroder with Teague playing tonight. So Mo is my #1, then leaning Covington 2. I’d guess Whiteside does play the whole week, barring another injury of course haha. Any time!
this is my first year playing fantasy basketball and I’ve had so much fun doing it. I’m pleasantly surprised how it’s coming down to the wire despite a roto format, half the teams in the league are aggressively streaming to finish the season.
I spent all year obsessing over FG% since I was punting the only other percentage category, and it has allowed me down the stretch to stream high volume scorers who are a drain on FG% such as Zach Lavine.
So with two weeks to go, I have a 53 point edge on the second place team and a 25 assist edge over the same team. While I’ve been focusing on maximizing volume scoring lately, my first place lead in FG % has fallen to .4813 over .4794 the next team. Seems like a tricky stat to track but should I be concerned about FG% over the last two weeks?
Should I play LaVine over B Knight tonight? Thanks for the help
@dom: Awesome man, yeah hoops is a ton of fun! Very similar to baseball with more team-dependent variables. As with your FG% example!
I’d def be more concerned with Pts, then Ast, then FG% last of the 3 at this point. A lot of data into that FG%, but certainly worth monitoring. Given Pts seems the scariest to me, I think I’m playing LaVine, I think he scores more. Plus I just saw Knight had a limp and might not go already. yikes Any time!
@JB Gilpin: thanks man, do you like John Jenkins for tomorrow? Haven’t been following what the hawks are doing. CJ Miles? Stuckey if he plays?
@dom: Eh sounds like Hawks are playing everyone. I like Miles the best probably, Stuckey a strong 2nd if he does play
Ugh negative rotoworld article on whiteside saying heat have no timetable. Do I drop for haslem or thad?
@Hamtime: Ryan kelly and jordan hill also available.
@Hamtime: Hah, they quickly flip-fopped that! Upgraded to probably playing, now holding
Would you rather have Justin Hamilton or Len? Deing should miss multiple games and Minnesota plays 4 games this week.
@TheMuppetManiac: Damnnnnnn that’s a toughie. Yeah I’m leaning Hamilton too for that extra game
Staring on wed when waivers are cleared, would you rather have DWill or Ish? Three games each. Thanks!
@Miles proudfoot: Gimme D Will. Any time!
Whats up JB
Been a great season. Had a monster looking team led by RWB but I lost by like .009 FG%…
I had a feeling I would end up losing FG% when I picked up LaVine and KCP for last week. I was winning till yesterday and after those two nubs put up 30% it dropped my FG%… It also didn’t help I had numerous guys sit out during the week lost 3’s and stls also. Now playing for third even money. Anyways rant over. Thanks for all your hard work with the blog and podcasts. See you next year!
– Guy who guessed “Kobes Line” perfectly
@m1chael: Damnnnnnnn that sucks man! Yeah I lost by 20something FG% in the REL, but I usually lose it and my bigs were both hurt. Ugh.
Hah, thanks so much man! See ya next year!
I’m playing against the Harden owner in both my leagues. Any chance of him DNPing down the stretch?
@Scott:
I hope so. I’m playing a guy that has Harden and Westbrook. I’m hoping both guys miss games.
@Scott: A “chance”? Sure. But I have a feeling he won’t, sadly
haha looks like you helped quite a bit of people get to the championship JB, well done!
Desperation set in last night, tons of drops in an attempt to make up cat’s in the last minute. Who do you think is a must own out of these guys (Pick 4) THanks man!
Antetokounmpo
Thad Young
Zaza
Middleton
Mo Williams
Budinger
Evan Turner
Matt Barnes
Faried
Covington
MCW
IT2
@Guile: I know man, I’m so happy we have all the comments!
All things equal, I am taking Giannis, Middleton, Mo Williams and IT2. Thad’s knee is scary, Faried and DNPs and playing bad, Covington PT, a lot of little factors that could swing it, but yeah, dem my 4!
Schroder’s not even gonna travel with the team this week.. Great. He was gonna kill it for me.
Well, need the 3s. Tomorrow’s stream: cj Miles, cj watson (if stuckey sits) or m Barnes?
@Lasandro: Woooowwww yeah that’s a surprise. Gimme Miles for those sweet sweet treys