If you recall back to last week, I remember talking up Jon Leuer as an interesting deep league play. Loved the out-of-position threes, the boarding, the all-around production. I said I would probably go after him in REL, and then Slim tells me he’s probably not bidding on him this week. So I figure, I can dangle a few bucks and if someone beats me to him so be it. But it shouldn’t have been you Slim!! He Leuered me in with scoffing and brush-off ness. Slim, you want to repay me for this horrific slight of hand? Trade him to me! I guess I should talk more about Leuer than rant… Just over 27 minutes last night for 16/12 with a three on 7-14 shooting. This now marks five straight games of 23:30+ minutes, averaging nearly a double-double a game on top of almost a three a game with a few blocks. He’s not going to turn into some superstar, but he’s a great stretch the court center, which fits Mike Conley trying to drive and dish. Sorry Kosta Koufos, but your outside shots are labradoodles! That term needs to be added to the glossary… I see Leuer continuing his PT as a double double threat while Marc Gasol is out, with a handful of threes, steals and blocks to help out deeper leagues. Here’s what else I saw last night in fantasy hoops:
Quincy Pondexter – Nooooo, the Lone Ranger?! Just like studio exec’s expected returns for that movie, they only got 20% which is all Quincy P is gonna be able to play this year. That was a convulted stretch, no? Stress fracture in his foot that looks like it’ll cost him the rest of the season, and we wish him all the best.
Jerryd Bayless – 11/1/4/1/1 in 29 minutes as the starting 2 with Tony Allen out with a bad hip. The Grizzlies are dropping like flies. I like JB to get out of his shooting rut (can’t get much worse than 0-11!) and they have to play him. I included him in my Leuer offer Slim!
Kosta Koufos – Racked up the stats, 7/11 with three blocks, but shot only 3-10 and didn’t look comfy offensively. Plus only got 26:16 to Leuer’s 27:18. Kosta is still gonna start, but he had 30 minutes plus the six games prior, so a little cutback could be in order.
Andrew Nicholson – Nice game for St. Nich, going 19/11 with two threes and 4 blocks. Now, the Grizzlies big men just lobbed up some real softies up there, and I’m still not the biggest Nicholson fan with his funky shot. I mean, he’s no Michael Kidd-Gilchrist or Shawn Marion, but I don’t think he goes 8-12 that often. Plus Nikola Vucevic is close to back and Tobias Harris isn’t much further off. Not buying any Magic Fs.
Glen Davis – Could rival Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer as the most annoying guy who yells every single time he gets a putback opportunity. The worst! Bruised his knee last night but was able to return for 16/9 with a shocking 3 blocks. Well, not unless you saw how weak Koufos was Greek yogurting them up!
RainbOladipo – 10/6/3/3/0 for another nice multi-cat effort. Looks really good out there, even if his long ball (1-6 3PTM) didn’t look great. But he’ll for sure have some double rainbows coming his way the next few years.
Arron Afflalo – Was awful. As you’d expect. Yet still a 17/5/3 game in his 5-16 ice cold effort.
DeAnre Jordan – Owned Spencer Hawes. 11/21 last night on 5-7 “shooting”. I know at least one was a slamma jamma, probably all were. 12+ boards in 7 straight. With a 9 block game in there. Unfair.
Evan Turner – Was the only good Sixer last night for 25/8/5 on 11-23 shooting. He’s having a ridiculous dream season. Still can’t hit threes to save his life, but hitting everything else. Including my ego.
Tony Wroten – Got another start for the injured Michael Carter-Williams. MCW has some sort of knee infection that sounds all sorts of disgusting, so Wroten could see action in a few more games. While Wroten shot awful (2-12), he had yet another trip-dub flirt of 9/10/7.
Hollis Thompson – Getting more and more minutes with 39:06 in another start last night. James Anderson is like, “dude, remember me, I scored 38 once!” Thompson only went 8/5/1 with three steals on 1-7 while Anderson went 8/0/2/0/0 and 0-4 from deep off the bench.
Wilson Chandler – Willllssssoooonnnn! Nice to see you’re still alive… 17/8/1/0/2 shooting 7-10 and 3-6 from deep. Couldn’t miss inside the arc! Been a rough year for one of my breakouts, but standing tough.
Ty Lawson – Chandler apparently spread his bum hamstrings germ to Lawson, who missed last night. Then the Nuggets went out and scored 75 points. But they won! Nugs need their engine back.
Timofey Mozgov – As you’ll see in my REL recap this afternoon, damn that huge Mozgov run and it costing me three wins! 4/5 with a block and 4 TOs in 19 minutes. Typical he’d have a 17/20 against me…
J.J. Hickson – 9/8 and still quietly very consistent.
Trevor Booker – Dub-dub! I wish I knew his middle name, because if it started with T he would so be a Booker T playing for Washington… 12/12 with two blocks in 33 minutes, and with Nene still nursing injuries, worth deep league streamer looks. At least 8 boards and 25 minutes in 3 of the last 4.
Stephen Curry – This just in! He’s good. 43/6/9 but in a losing effort. Break up the Bobcats!
Harrison Barnes – Solid while Andre Iguodala is out. 14/9/3/2/0 in 40 minutes. Getting huge run and multi cat-callin’ it.
Kemba Walker – 31/5/5 in a huge second half. While he’s still playing great, Pts, Asts and Stls are all down. Got one pick somewhat right!
Anthony Tolliver – Got the start for the injured Jeffery Taylor, who had started for the injured MKG. So many SF injuries! Very boring 6/5/2. We need Taylor!
Josh McRoberts – Almost didn’t make the game because he thought there was a Pirate door. “No dude, that says Private! We’re going into the arena!” Flirted with a milk steak, er, triple double for 11/10/6. McRoberts keeps trying to prove us he’s not a dumpster baby!
Nicolas Batum – So many triple-double teases! It’s like that chick that only wants to use you for a ride and flirts with you, but then you get nothing out of it! Ok, so it’s not apropos since you got a ton out of Batum’s 3-5 FG night going 7/8/11.
Alec Burks – Plays awesome, plays terrible, now playing awesome again. 16+ in the past three with a 20/3 line last night on 8-11 (4-4 FT) but no other stats. Will give you a handful of everything but blocks albeit sporadic… Back on the 12-team stream radar. Give me consistency or give me death!
Enes Kanter – Gets benched, plays terrible on the bench, then injuries get him back in the starting line-up and he’s great again. The Jazz are such a headache… 19/5/2/2/1 in a near rainbow and 3 of the last 4 games have been great lines. Play the hot hand while you can.
Derrick Favors – A lot of Kanter’s value relies on when Favors can get back in there, nursing a sore back. Marvin Williams is also hurt with a bum heel the past 4 games. I don’t think Kanter is a long-term solution, but worth streaming and seeing.
Jeremy Evans – Go go gadget Evans didn’t shoot too well (3-9), but was a steal away from rainbowing in his first start going 6/8/2/1/2 and also encouraging was no turnovers in 38 minutes. Like Kanter, a lot of value depends on injuries and who can come back when, but worth a deep league look.
Derrick Williams – Break it out! Prison Break! Derrick Schofield went 12-16 for a career-high 31 Pts with 5 Rebs and 5 Stls. There’s the Williams breakout many were looking for! Too bad it’s the last 16 shot game he’ll get when Rudy Gay gets into town…
DeMarcus Cousins – Thinking the same thing with the ball hog comin’, for a huge 32/19/3/3/1 game, shooting 10-17 and 12-14 FT. Did have 9 TOs though. Asked why he lost the ball so much he answered because it’s still knocked in his stomach from that Dennis Schroder ball tap.
Isaiah Thomas – Welcome to the starting line-up! Didn’t shoot too hot at 7-16, but did hit 4-6 from deep for a 24/12 game. Love me some of that dime bag! IT2 is gonna be such a kind bud.
Jose Calderon – I think I said it two weeks ago, but to reiterate, he droppable. He was on tapas his game years ago and is now just a ThrAGNOF lurker. Don’t get Phoebe started on lurkers!
Dirk Nowitzki – Rainbow line! Love em. 18/6/7/2/2. But still a little shocking the Kings blew em out.
Tyreke Evans – Only supposed to miss 1-2 weeks with that really bad ankle sprain I saw last Friday. I think Tobias Harris was only supposed to miss 1-2 weeks. I scurred. Cuttable in shallows.
Jimmy Butler – Is reportedly 75-80% healthy. I am 75-80% unhealthy. I drank sooooo much egg nog over the weekend. Unfortunately, it made me equally as nauseous as my Panthers did… Still don’t think he’s a grab right now in shallow leagues, I need to see him play as effectively as we saw last year and pre-injury, hope he’s not limited even when back on the court.
Deron Williams – Playing tonight! Rejoice! And by rejoice, I mean ankle splint salesmen. About to get a very rich client again… But I keed I keed, I hope he can turn the Nets around and stay healthy.
Next Game: I’ve got MIL @ CHI tonight. For the Bucks, I am pumped to see Khris Middleton get some big run again and hoping Brandon Knight goes off. Hope your week started well and good luck tonight!
