Much has been pontificated, written, said, even dreamed! about LeBron’s recent kerfluffle, kerfluffle being the *official* term, so I’ll leave that where it lays. It’s like how you’re never supposed to beat up a dead horse, mainly because I’m sure it smells and you shouldn’t be touching anything that’s been dead for a while. I’m sure that’s what that saying means. But man, is it just me, Captain Obvious, your friend, or do the Lakers kinda-sorta suck without LeBron James? With Thanksgiving Eve bringing a full slate of games and content, it was still too easy to focus on this Lakers vs. Pacers matchup that went to OT and saw LeBron play for 43 minutes, scoring 39 PTS on 13-29 shooting and 5-12 3PT with 5 REB, 6 AST, and 2 BLK. The performance and James leading the Lakers in the fourth quarter to force OT was what I call his usual Wednesday, but I guess he had to once again remind all the haters about his GOAT status, even playing center and being the best defender on the floor at the same time. Good Jokic if I ever saw one. With that pun already making me roll all of our eyes, let’s check out what else happened last night in the N-B-A…
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.
Devin Booker – 39 MIN, 14-21 FG, 2-3 3PT, 4 REB, 3 AST, 1 STL, 4 TO, 35 PTS. I still feel like Booker, after these past three seasons, is still underrated. Is it playing for the Suns? Being named Devin? A little of both? Who knows.
Chris Paul – 32 MIN, 4-8 FG, 2-3 3PT, 2 REB, 12 AST, 3 TO, 17 PTS. One of the best point guards right now not named Steph, come at me. Also Paul and Booker are leading the Suns to one of the quietest 14-game win streaks I’ve seen.
Jalen Suggs – 30 MIN, 6-14 FG, 0-5 3PT, 4 REB, 6 AST, 2, BLK, 5 TO, 17 PTS. It was a rough start for Suggs, and he will have trouble with his shot here and there, but the future is still bright in my eyes.
Patty Mills – 33 MIN, 8-12 FG, 7-10 3PT, 1 REB, 2 AST, 23 PTS. Patty Mills can shoot, no doubt. He’s now low-key 61/121 (50.4%) shooting threes in just 19 games. Imagine in this scenario if anyone else could be on this team. Yikes…
James Harden – 36 MIN, 4-13 FG, 4-9 3PT, 7 REB, 11 AST, 2 STL, 3 TO, 20 PTS. This dude has gotta be the best at garbage performances that end up looking “okay” on the stat sheet.
Lonzo Ball – 37 MIN, 7-11 FG, 5-7 3PT, 5 REB, 5 AST, 2 STL, 2 BLK, 3 TO, 19 PTS. Wasn’t sure what happened here, Ball was 5-6 for 3PT in the first half and then just stopped shooting the rest of the game. Guess if you play down and the Rockets play up, you don’t need to do a Billy Donovan fourth-quarter tank.
Precious Achiuwa – 28 MIN, 7-11 FG, 3-3 3PT, 4 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL, 17 PTS. He has the body of LeBron James, the shot judgment of Russell Westbrook, and has the basketball IQ of J.R. Smith, prove me wrong.
Gary Trent Jr. – 39 MIN, 8-17 FG, 4-7 3PT, 1 REB, 4 AST, 1 STL, 1 TO, 26 PTS. Everyone’s talking about Precious Achiuwa’s third quarter, but what about Gary Trent Jr.’s fourth? Also, Gary Trent is the next Devin Booker, discuss:
Bobby Portis – 31 MIN, 10-14 FG, 6-7 3PT, 10 REB, 1 AST, 1 TO, 28 PTS. So during his four double-double games in-a-row, he has shot 17-25 from three-point land. I get the sneaking suspicion that Bobby Portis is just Kevin Durant without Kevin Durant’s ankles.
Jrue Holiday – 34 MIN, 8-16 FG, 3-7 3PT, 8 REB, 6 AST, 3 TTO, 22 PTS. Pretty nice to see Holiday near +30 on 50% shooting, he’s been struggling lately, and I guess early too.
Jarred Vanderbilt – 24 MIN, 2-3 FG, 15 REB, 3 AST, 4 STL, 1 TO, 8 PTS. Vanderbilt is such a beast in and around the rim. Sexual innuendo aside, I see some great things for this player.
Josh Hart – 32 MIN, 5-8 FG, 1-2 3PT, 7 REB, 4 AST, 2 STL, 16 PTS. Underrated both in the NBA and fantasy. Don’t let him be underrated to you.
Bradley Beal – 28 MIN, 11-20 FG, 0-4 3PT, 5 REB, 1 AST, 3 TO, 23 PTS. I for one am looking forward to the Wizards going full collapse and trading everyone away at the trade deadline. This is the way.
Donovon Mitchell – 36 MIN, 6-16 FG, 1-7 3PT, 3 REB, 5 AST, 1 TO, 13 PTS. I’m not sure Mitchell has had a good game the entire season, but at least he still shows up in the clutch, even against the man named Dort.
Trae Young – 30 MIN, 14-22 FG, 2-6 3PT, 7 REB, 11 AST, 2 STL, 31 PTS. Trae Young status: VALID.
Marvin Bagley III – 19 MIN, 4-6 FG, 2-3 3PT, 8 REB, 2 TO, 10 PTS. Marvin Bagley was the reason that the Kings won. That felt so weird to type. I mean, don’t get me wrong, he’s not terrible, he’s just missing the entire defensive-side of the game. Though I guess technically he’s gone from defensive liability to playable against Tony Snell, so there’s that I guess…
Jay is a longtime Razzball everything who consumes an egregious amount of Makers Mark as a vehicle to gain wisdom and augment his natural glow. Living in the D.C. area, he also likes spending time visiting the local parks and feeding lettuce to any turtles he encounters, including Mitch McConnell. You can follow him on Twitter @jaywrong.
