In yet another bad turn for fantasy top-100 Cs, JaVale McGee joins the triage with Tyson Chandler as centers with broken legs. However unlike Chandler with the impact fracture, McGee discovered a stress fracture in his tibia with the ominous “out indefinitely” declaration. It’s a very tough break (ugh) for the Nuggets and fantasy owners hoping to see stat lines of 10/10/5 when the Nuggets were on the slate. All joking aside, I hate seeing players get injuries and it’s my least favorite open in news recaps in any sport. There are a select few that are funny (my favorite will always be Bartolo Colon trying to swing for the fences and throwing out his back, and I have little sympathy because he’s a roider), but I wish McGee a speedy recovery. For fantasy, he’s droppable in virtually all leagues. A tall guy with a stress fracture isn’t swell, plus he was only playing 16 minutes a game anyway. J.J. Hickson and Tomfey Mozgov get immediate boosts in value, Mozgov is decent when he’s not getting posterized, but Hickson I think is the biggest takeaway and probably should be scooped up in most leagues if he’s not owned already. He proved he can be valuable with starting minutes and is a quality big man. Here’s some other headlines from over the weekend:
Kyle Korver – My arch nemesis. I am like the fantasy Sheldon Cooper to his Will Wheaton. So what if he’s better looking than me and can score the girls. I’m taller! Ummmm, that’s all I got… Well, officially we’re the same height… Dammit! I could, ummm, yeah I doubt I’d win in horse. Around the back and look-the-most-awkward layup! Tough for Korver to beat that one. So as I said in my last update, “If he keeps up the multi-cat stats, of course he’s a must-own.” That’s me quoting me! Then everyone’s favorite ThrAGNOF went 14/8/5 on Saturday. Looks multi-cat to me! I own Korver in a league, he didn’t play Sunday, and despite making a run at a few cats and streaming another spot, I didn’t drop him. He’s past a ThrAGNOF! There, you happy Razzball Nation? YOU HAPPY?!
Brandon Knight – Returned! Rejoice! 3-7 6/0/1 in 15 minutes. Ok so not too much rejoicing. But he should be back into the starting lineup this week, and if anyone cut him, he’s a great guy to look to add. Still think he can have a really good year alongside O.J. Mayo, even if it’s a little slow-going early on.
Kyrie Irving – We can rejoice for overtimes instead! Irving with the big game-winning layup capped off a fantastic 39/5/12 line but shot 15-33. 33 shots! What is this, Animal House!? I love that Irving said after the game “shooting 33% isn’t bad, I’d take that any day.” Owners in FG% leagues are like, “um, no.”
Caron Butler – Took 19 shots on Saturday?! What the hey?! Get this guy a straw! I mean, uhhhh, don’t. Got 19 points, but more surprisingly pulled 13 boards for a 19/13/3/2/0 line. Played over 38 minutes after not topping 30 the previous 3 games, I’m not buying this much at all.
Evan Turner – Another guy I might be wrong on, but despite going 31/10 had only 1 Ast, no Stls or Blks, shot 9-23 and got aided by the double overtime. It of course all counts, but it’s another uncommon boost to his averages. A sell high if any buyers.
Michael Carter-Williams – Crazy. The name so nice, he got it thrice! Wait, I don’t think that really applies… A ridiculous 21/7/13, shooting 9-17 (nice!) and only 4 TOs in 50 minutes (very nice!). He’s shown the FG% and TO bugaboos won’t cut into the production. ROY winner!
Anthony Davis – I tweeted out after 2-3 minutes in the first quarter on Friday that the Brow would be a top 5 pick next year. Next thing you know he goes 32 (career-high)/12 with 6 blocks. It’s like I saw the future! Followed up with 14/12/1/4/1 last night. Definitely value him as a top-10 player right now if assessing any trades.
Andrea Bargnani – I also tweeted he was a must-own in virtually all leagues Friday night after going 25/8/3 with three treys and shooting 11 for a ridiculous 25 shots taken. Followed that up with a subpar 16/1/0/0/0. 1 rebound? Doug Collins shout out! Still think he needs to be owned in virtually all leagues.
J.R. Smith – Returned! Rejoice! Ok, no rejoicing at all. Abysmal 1-9 and 4 TOs in 21 minutes. Smith was still half-baked for this game. Couldn’t tell if it was him or Jim Breuer out there.
Kawhi Leonard – Came off the bench?! WTF?! Ok, chill out, the Knicks went out and started Raymond Felton, Pablo Prigioni and Iman Shumpert, so sorta like two 1’s and a 2 instead of a 1/2/3 which comes up 3 short. I just did some sort of weird Beautiful Mind stuff on ya right there. As in, it makes sense to me, but maybe not to anyone else! I’m a good code cracker! And married to Jennifer Connelly – I love my life! That’s the only reason Marco Belinelli got the start at the 3. Still, Kawhi was decent going 18/4/0/1/1 shooting 7-10 and hitting a 3. Hold tight.
DeAndre Jordan – I think just got another rebound… Totals of 19, 14 then 18 to round out the week. And to think I lost by 11 rebounds in REL to DJ and Bismack Biyombo getting boards. Ugh.
Steven Adams – The stand in for the walking trees in The Lord of the Rings movies had a huge Friday night going 17/10/3/1/3 in 31 minutes, but I wasn’t completely buying in. The Thunder seem insistent on starting Kendrick Perkins even though he’s terrible, and that big game from Adams was in a game the Thunder had locked up fairly early. Followed that up with only 1/2 with 2 blocks in 20 minutes last night and that was without Nick Collison dealing with a hip contusion. Help, I fell and can’t get up! Hopefully Adams at some point starts at the 5 with Serge Ibaka at the 4, but who knows if Mr. Brooks will let his team roll that way. He may just kill any criticizers with a shovel with William Hurt whispering in his ear.
Andre Drummond – Where’s the Drummond fans today?! A measly 4/3/0/1/2 in 23 minutes on Friday night. One of my biases turning out right!
Reggie Jackson – In 28 minutes had a fantastic 12/7/4 with 2 steals. Ok, ok so I called him a drop in most leagues, but Russell Westbrook was ice cold at 4-16 and will heat up. I don’t see either line as a theme. Plus Westbrook go ejected. If you’re in a really deep league and can move Jackson for something, I would.
Greg Monroe – I feel like perception from commenters thought I had him way too low in early rankings, then a tad too high in final rankings. Maybe I’m writing a false narrative there, but he’s been ridiculous with double doubles in 4 of 5 while shooting great from the field and the stripe. Still feel like he’s been underrated, and looks like a much better player from the guy I saw last year.
Wilson Chandler – Practiced and indeed looks like he’ll return tonight. Probably won’t start his first game back, but that team is in turmoil and needs offense. I see a lot of rock coming his way.
Damian Lillard – Somehow managed to shoot 1-15. That’s like Boomhauer’s success rate. At least the Omen managed 4/6/6, but yikes! He’s managed to have his FG% go down in 6 straight games to start the year. That’s tough to do! But it’ll be even tougher to shoot lower than 6.7% in game his seventh game!
Klay Thompson – This is what he is and why he’s never on any of my teams. After the huge 30 point effort last Wednesday, 11/1/2/3/1 Friday then 12/1/2/0/1 Saturday shooting 31 then 39 percent. Why I called him a glorified ThrAGNOF!
Harrison Barnes – Another dimming star, fading off after a big debut to two unusable games. Definitely droppable to stream.
Patrick Beverley – Slim went out and got wasssssssssted after this one! 19/5/3/4/2 for a delicious rainbow line on Saturday night. Jeremy Lin 6/1/7 and played 11 fewer minutes. I would mention something about his armor, but I’d like to keep my job… Still think Lin needs to be owned though, I like him in that 6th man role.
Marc Gasol – 18/7/3/1/3 and no turnovers. This is the kind of tapas I was looking for!
Goran Dragic – Returned to action, and despite not starting got 30 minutes for 12/1/3. Not huge, but getting back on the court is huge. How are the Suns 5-2?! I think this is about the end of the road for Gerald Green‘s value in shallower leagues, so feel free to drop in weekly leagues and/or look at wire options.
Anthony Morrow – Played just over 28 minutes to Tyreke Evans playing just over 7?! Yup, 7. Morrow 16/3 to Evans 0/2/1. Evans’ multi-cat upside keeps him worth holding on to in deeper 12 teamers, but he’s certainly droppable if you need the spot.
Markieff Morris – On a tear and probably the best run of his career. What is in the Phoenix drinking water?! Gold Bond?! 23/5/2/2/1 shooing 9-13 in 34 bench minutes. Channing Frye after a hot game a while back has looked fried. I don’t know if that metaphor makes sense, but Morris is clearly the 2nd big man to own in Phoenix. Miles Plumlee with another solid line of 8/12 with 5 blocks has him the gas giant you want (not an indictment of his flatulence but a star metaphor. I need to go to metaphor school).
Archie Goodwin – My boy! 6/4/0, but 3 blocks in this one. He doesn’t get minutes, but has shown he can contribute anywhere, even if he shoots 0-4 from deep like yesterday…
Danny Green – Has the resurgence on Wednesday, I stream him in a league on Friday and does nothing then drop him, then has a huge Sunday. Fantasy feels so personal sometimes… 8-11 (6-9 3PTM 2-2 FT) 24/10/0/1/1. Not making me feel green, Ruby Rhod!
Bradley Beal – 34/6 with 6 treys in a near upset win. The only thing sexier is his sister Jessica…
Ricky Rubio – Triple Double. Or ¡doble triple! 12/10/14 and 5 steals. The Rubio that makes me want to rub-you! 5-9 FG and 2-2 from deep. I knew he could shoot! I’ve been saying he’s a buy low and this is what I was looking for.
Corey Brewer – If only someone had said this would work well in ‘Sota! 17/1/3/4/2. Brew it up!
Xavier Henry – Wheels is dealing with quite the flat tire. Droppable in virtually any league.
Next Game: I’ve got DEN @ UTA then MIN @ LAC tonight. Great Denver story lines with how the playing time will break down with JaVale on the shelf and how Wilson Chandler looks in his return. Then what should be a fantastic game with the upstart Wolves playing well. I’ll probably be tossing out a few tweet (@jbgilpin) if you’re bored. Good luck in week 3!
