Everyone saw it coming. Everyone had it circled on their calendar. The epic in-state rivalry of the NBA’s best team going for their 16th straight win playing at home against… the second-worst team in the NBA. Of course it would be a nail-biter! The Heat went up big, but the Magic went on a 46-21 run and kept it tight until LeBron James’ game-winning layup. Good thing Nikola Vucevic had fouled out so there were no shot blockers left. The Magic certainly didn’t put a spell on the refs, racking up 30 fouls and two foul-outs to the Heat’s 17. Conspiracy! The Magic fouls were illusions! You don’t have time for my illusions! Tricks are what whores do for money. Or cocaine. LeBron better get some nice wedding presents from those home refs. You think Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert got invited? Be funny if Lebron sent him an invite with a -1. This is a fantasy basketball blog right? Hah, let’s get into the numbers from last night’s games:
Tobias Harris – 16 Pts (6-15 FG) 1 3PTM 7 Reb 1 Ast 1 Stl 1 Blk. Just a little bit of everything. Like a brownie sundae. Or a Paul Verhoeven movie.
Moe Harkless – Didn’t exactly put up huge stats, but had two big dunks and two three-pointers, ending with 12 Pts 3 Rebs 3 Stls and 2 Blks. Liking the rook’s game more and more. Still out there in a lot of leagues, I think he could be a good contributor down the stretch.
Nikola Vucevic – Goromotaro! Going to be one of my new terms in a revamp of the glossary which I’ll do in the offseason. Named for a blend of two Mortal Kombat characters with Joakim Noah’s head, it’s when a player goes 20 20 (25 21 for Vuc last night).
Jameer Nelson – A fantastic night only his second game back from injury (minus FG%) going 6-18 3 3PTM 14 Asts and 3 Stls. A fantasy blog that talks about four straight Magic players? I challenge you to find another this in-depth!
Mo Williams – Another guy returning from injury, Mo went 8 Pts and 6 Asts with 2 threes in his first game in two-and-a-half months. As reported, got the start and got 27 minutes. Pick him up if available.
Byron Mullens – Here’s a guy you could drop from Mo. Played only 13 minutes, scored 4 Pts and didn’t log a single rebound. Doug Collins shout out! That’s another new vocab term when your big man gets either 0 or 1 boards.
Enes Kanter – Logged his third straight big game in only 21 minutes last night, going 8-11 FG for 17 Pts and 7 Rebs 1 Ast and 1 Blk. If you have the roster space I would still give him a look even though Al Jefferson should be back soon. I think Kanter has played himself into 20 minutes a night and if he can go 17 7, it’s a fantasy worthy 20 minutes. Don’t let me tell you what I do in a fantasy 20 minutes, but let’s just say I don’t usually need it all.
Evan Turner – Told ya I wasn’t a fan of his game! 1-7 FG 2 Pts 3 Rebs and 4 Asts last night. Yikes!
Dorrell Wright – Three 3s last night and multi-3PTM in his last six. TAGNOF! Or should it be ThrAGNOF? I almost like the second one better for “three’s ain’t got no face.” If you’re confused, you don’t read Grey enough on baseball!
Jeff Teague – As I exclaimed when I took over the reigns, Teague will be someone I’ll be in love with heading into drafts last year. A huge 27 11 night supplemented with 3 threes, 2 Rebs 1 Stl and 1 Blk. The second best Hawk behind any of the Blackhawks.
Anthony Tolliver – 5 3PTM last night, and 8 in his last two. Been wildly inconsistent in the rotation, but has played 63 minutes in the last two and if you need a few triples in deeper leagues, could be worth a flier.
Raymond Felton – His best game in a while going 10-15 FG (4-5 3PTM) 6 Rebs 4 Asts 1 Stl and 1 Blk. #IScoreMoreWithoutCarmeloPlaying.
Jose Calderon – 16 dimes. Or 1 Euro and 6 dimes. Been an assist machine.
Steve Nash – Thought he was finally settling in, then a paltry 5-4-1 line in 35 minutes. #StandingAroundLikeKeanuReevesInTheWatcher.
Kobe Bryant – 42-7-11. Nasty.
Jodie Meeks – 5 3s and 19 points. Wildly inconsistent off the bench. Not a ThrAGNOF I would want.
Al-Farouq Aminu – Crazy efficient 4-7 FG (4-4 FT) 12 Pts 16 Rebs 1 Ast 2 Stls and 3 Blks. Smother me in that roto gravy!
Trevor Ariza – Been boasting his goodness to you loyal readers, and he delivered with a 16-7-6 line last night. Boom ya naysayers! OK so there wasn’t really any naysayers. Love you guys.
Shawn Marion – Playing like it’s 2005. 22 Pts (12 in the first quarter) 3 Rebs 4 Asts and 3 Stls. Still available in some leagues. I like him to finish strong.
Marco Belinelli – Two straight 20 Pt games. I hate Belinelli though. He’ll go 1-10 and score 4 points if you pick him up.
Manu Ginobili – 18-9 off the bench in 26 minutes. Still got that value!
Andrea Bargnani – Only 24 minutes (played 36 Monday night) and went 9 Pts 1 3PTM and 5 Rebs. I think he bounces back closer to what we saw Monday. Sheesh, how many NBA players have their last names end in I’s?
Brandon Jennings – Third straight double-double. I love me my BJ. And not like that, but because I’m a JB.
Matt Barnes – 6 3s and 20 points last night. Fills up some peripheral stats, but still not a ThrAGNOF you can trust.
DeMarcus Cousins – Followed up 1-10 Tuesday night with 2-10 last night. Someone’s gonna get punched soon.
Jarrett Jack – Really falling off a cliff. Wahhhhhh I’m Jarrett Jack! 3-14 12 Pts 3 Asts and 3 Stls. Still usable, but like the Duke Brothers in Trading Places – “Sell! Sell! Sell!”
Next Game: I’ve got highlights for Memphis @ Cleveland on Friday Night so I’ll be watching for the much-publicized matchup of Marreese Speights and Wayne Ellington against their old team. OK, so I’m stretching for a headline. As always post your questions and comments below!
