Masonry is difficult work. It requires technical savvy, can be physically taxing, and is dirty work. Bricks, concrete blocks, and natural stones are all used to build fences, walls, and walkways. To become a Freemason is just as difficult but from a different perspective. It is more mentally taxing than physical and requires three degrees, which is equivalent to an undergraduate college course. So it was surprising to see Mason Plumlee run free on Tuesday night and build a stat line that was good enough to be today’s lede.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 14 | 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 7/10 | 0 |
How bad are the Nets? Geez. They are 14-12 on the season but just got smoked by the 6-18 Pistons. Brooklyn is now 25th in defensive efficiency and boost the fantasy points per minute to opposing centers by 10.84% above league average. So, while we should celebrate Mason’s line, it was more due to the giving nature of the Nets. Alright, enough of the Nets. I’m disgusted. Let’s get back to Mason. Over the past seven games, he’s been a top 55 player, averaging 29.9 minutes, 13.6 points, 9.4 boards, 3.1 dimes, 0.7 steals, and 1.1 blocks while shooting 69% from the field and 78% from the line. The free-throw shooting is the biggest surprise as he’s often languished in the low-to-mid 50s. Expect regression in that department. He’s also played 38 and 48 minutes the last two games. Prior to that, he was playing in the mid-20s. If he continues to get heavy run, then that obviously boosts his value but I have my doubts it continues. Something to monitor.
Here’s what else I saw last night:
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With no Kevin Durant, the Nets lost to the Pistons, 111-122. Uh….
Kyrie Irving
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 27 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2/9 | 12/28 | 1/1 |
Kyrie has provided much glie for his owners, as he’s the number nine player on the year. Over the last two games, though, he’s been sort of crappie but I foresie that it’s just a blip. We can all agrie that he will return to going on fantasy scoring spries.
James Harden
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 24 | 6 | 12 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 1/4 | 8/14 | 7/7 |
James Mutombo? The five blocks were a career-high. Even without KD on the court, Harden, uh I mean Mutombo, garnered a usage rate of only 27.7. Since arriving in BK, Harden has dished out at least 10 dimes in 11 of 12 games, with the lone single-digit game eight dimes. Sharing is caring. He’s scored over 30 points on three times, though, and gone under 20 in three games. That does not get my Harden excited.
Bruce Brown
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 8 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0/2 | 3/8 | 2/2 |
In 26 minutes off the bench. Brown has been a part of the rotation but he’s only averaging around 20 minutes over the last 16 games. He’s primarily a rebounds guy but will get his 211 on from time to time. Doodoo is brown. Need I say more?
Jerami Grant
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 32 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4/8 | 11/19 | 6/7 |
That’s now back-to-back games with 32 points. Against the Nets isn’t so impressive, as they are the NBA’s version of the slutty girl in high school. 32 against the Lakers, though, is no joke. Grant has now scored at least 30 points five times this season. He’s a top 25 player averaging 36.3 minutes, 24.3 points, 2.6 tres, 5.5 boards, three dimes, 0.8 steals, and 1.1 blocks while shooting 45% from the field and 87% from the line. Despite garnering a 26.8 usage rate, he’s only turning the ball over 1.4 times per game. Very impressive stuff. He’s the no doubt fantasy MVP so far as he was being selected in the 10th round range.
Delon Wright
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 22 | 4 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0/3 | 7/16 | 8/12 |
Over the past 16 games, there’s been nothing wrong with Wright, as he’s been a top 60 player. Fine, not all is good as he’s shooting only 42% from the field but the turnovers are low and he’s contributing tres, boards, dimes, and steals. He has gone back-to-back games now scoring 22 points. Wait, is there a glitch in the Matrix regarding the Pistons? He’s scored in single digits 15 of 24 games so don’t expect points on the regular.
Josh Jackson
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 13 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 2/4 | 5/10 | 1/1 |
In 29 minutes off the bench. Over the last four games, JJ has played 29, 37, 25, and 30 minutes. Holla! The usage rate has been 24, 30, 24, and 31 and he’s hoisted 10, 20, 10, and 15 shots. There’s value in knowing what to expect from someone, good or bad. In this case, the efficiency is volatile but I know that a professional hucker and chucker like Jackson will at least always go for his. The intriguing aspect of his game is that he also contributes in the defensive cats.
Draymond Green
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 6 | 7 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3/4 | 0 |
Over the last four games, Dray has dished out 11, 10, 15, and 15 dimes. Dayam. He also notched six steals and four blocks in one of those contests while scoring only two points. Crazy. Such a unique player. Maybe the most unique in the history of the game. Dray has been a top 40 player over the last four games despite shooting 40% from the field. L. O. L. Take off the damn backpack, Dray. Boards, dimes, steals, and blocks are what Dray provides. Anything else is gravy on top of gravy.
Steph Curry
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 32 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4/10 | 11/20 | 6/8 |
Only 32 points? Pffff. He’s gone back-to-back games with 32. Whatever. Seriously, the glitch in the Matrix was strong on Tuesday. Deja vu all over the place. Wake me up when Steph goes for 50 again as he did three games ago. The number six player for fantasy on a per-game basis. We often talk of the 50/40/90 shooting as the Holy Trinity. Well, how about 5 tres, 5 boards, and 5 dimes? I’d like to present that to the Holy Trinity tribunal. On the season, Curry is averaging 4.8 tres, 5.4 boards, and 5.9 dimes. It’s only happened twice in the history of the NBA: 2015 and 2018. By? Yup, Curry.
Kelly Oubre Jr.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 12 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2/5 | 4/14 | 2/2 |
You know when you walk through the lobby of a Vegas hotel and see the roulette table with the board that shows the number and color? Red. Black. Red. Red. Black. Black. That’s Oubre’s fantasy season. One day he’ll shoot 28%, the next day 56%, then 31%, and then 66%. If he can get more consistent with his efficiency then fantasy goodness can come because he’s providing a little something something in every cat except for dimes.
The Spurs got smoked by the Warriors, 91-114. No stat boxes for you! DeMar DeRozan scored 12 points while Dejounte Murray was held to eight points. It got so bad that Trey Lyles played 26 minutes.
DeMarcus Cousins
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 7 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1/6 | 1/8 | 4/6 |
In 22 minutes. Just 10 games ago, Cousins provided 28 points, four tres, 17 boards, and five dimes in 30 minutes. Life comes at us fast as, though, as Cousins has scored 12, nine, and seven points in his last three starts with Christian Wood out of action. He’s grabbed 11, nine, and seven boards but hasn’t dished out more than two dimes in any game. He looks to be a false prophet who will go back to playing in the teens when Wood rises again.
John Wall
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 25 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2/8 | 11/23 | 1/6 |
Yuck. John Westbrook? On the season, Wall is just outside the top 100. Citizens of Texas clamored for a Wall. Not sure this is what they had in mind.
Eric Gordon
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 23 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4/10 | 8/19 | 3/5 |
Got the start because Victor Oladipo was resting. In his last four games, three of which have been starts, Gordon has averaged 32.6 minutes, 22.8 points, 3.3 tres, four boards, 2.8 dimes, 0.8 steals, and 0.5 blocks while shooting 47% from the field and 80% from the line. When he comes off the bench, he gets around 26 minutes of run.
Danuel House Jr.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 13 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1/7 | 4/13 | 4/4 |
In 34 minutes off the bench. Since returning from a 13-game absence, House has seen his minutes slowly get ramped up from 14 to the 34 last night. He’s benefitted from some injuries but somewhere in the mid-20s should be his playing time when everyone is healthy. House is shooting 38% from the field on the season, so yuck. He can provide some tres, boards, and occasional defensive stats.
Zion WilliamSON
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 20 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6/10 | 8/10 |
Only played 21 minutes due to foul trouble and the fact that the Pelicans spanked the Rockets, 130-101. Damn, imagine if he got full run. Anyways, over the last eight games, Zion has been a top 35 player. He’s shooting 73% from the line and blocking 1.4 shots per game. Those are the two things that made me bearish on his prospects this season. I’m a stupid, stupid man. The last frontier is the tres but I don’t think it’s a necessity or something we see develop.
Willy Hernangomez
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 14 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5/8 | 4/4 |
When Willy plays 25 minutes and gets busy, you know that you done f#@ked up. Now, after playing 7, 3, and 2 minutes in three of the first 15 games, Willy has carved out a role for himself. He’s played 29, 19, 18, 19, and 25 minutes the last five games. He’s dub-dubbed in two of those games and notched a steal and block in four contests. Now, he’s scored six, two, and four points in the other three games so he’s no sure thing. The consistent playing time is nice to see though. #FreeWilly.
Josh Hart
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 20 | 17 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3/9 | 8/16 | 1/2 |
The boards are why people roster him, as he’s averaging 7.9 on the season, but 17? Crazy. It was a career-high for you inquiring minds but he’s grabbed at least 15 boards multiple times before. The 20 points were a season-high but keep in mind that he scored one point in the prior game.
James Ennis III
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 16 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3/5 | 5/9 | 3/5 |
Ennis has played 18 games this season and last night was only the third time he’s scored in double figures. One encouraging thing is that he’s played 35, 29, and 23 minutes the last three games after receiving a tick under 20 for most of the season.
Nikola Vucevic
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 27 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2/7 | 10/21 | 5/9 |
In a whopping 41 minutes, the third time he’s surpassed the 40 minute threshold this season. Vuc is the number 14 player on the season. The only blemish is the 0.6 blocks, which sucks from the center position but you’ll take it because the rest is magnifique.
Cole Anthony
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0/2 | 2/7 | 0 |
Only played 14 minutes due to a shoulder injury. As a result…
Frank Mason
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 11 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1/3 | 4/10 | 2/3 |
….played 33 minutes. If Anthony misses time, Mason could see a ton of playing time but he’s a low-efficiency shooter so you’re looking at some dimes and boards with crappy field goal percentage.
Terrence Ross
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 22 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2/7 | 9/18 | 2/2 |
In 31 minutes off the bench. If you don’t know the Ross experience, then you aren’t man enough to roster him. He’s scored at least 20 points in seven games but gone for single digits in eight.
Robert Covington
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 5 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1/5 | 2/6 | 0 |
Our Lord has risen! Over the past six games, he’s been a top 35 player, which is where we expect him to be. The shooting efficiency is still a concern but 42% is waaaaaaay better than the 34% he was posting for much of the season. The steals have ticked up and so have the boards. Hallelujah!
Damian Lillard
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 36 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5/10 | 9/22 | 13/13 |
Lillard is seventh in free throw attempts, fourth in makes, and fourth in percentage. He’s also fifth in scoring and ninth in dimes. Any wonder why he’s the number seven player for fantasy? What time is it?
Carmelo Anthony
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 23 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 5/9 | 7/16 | 4/5 |
In 27 minutes off the bench. Over the last four games, Melo has played 27, 17, 31, and 26 minutes while scoring 23, 2, 22, and 21 points. Shrug. Curiously, he’s blocked 3, 2, and 2 shots the last three games. Was Mutombo’s spirit flying around, entering everyone’s body last night? If you need points, Melo can help but there’s no telling how many minutes he’s going to play.
Tobias Harris
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 22 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2/5 | 8/15 | 4/4 |
In a team-high 41 minutes. He’s a top 35 player on the season. The biggest improvements have been in the block, steal, and field goal categories. For the first time in his career, he could join the elusive 1/1/1 club, as he’s 0.1 shy in both blocks and steals. As for the field goal percentage, he’s shooting 51%. He had never shot better than 48% in his career. Doc for president!
Joel Embiid
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 25 | 17 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0/2 | 6/15 | 13/14 |
Yawn. Wake me up when he doesn’t do something.
Seth Curry
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 22 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4/6 | 7/13 | 4/4 |
Prior to missing seven games, Curry had scored double figures in seven of eight games, with three over 20. When he returned, he scored single digits in five of nine games with two bagels. Is this when we cue up the NBA Jams, “He’s heating up!”?
De’Aaron Fox
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 34 | 6 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3/10 | 13/30 | 5/8 |
In 39 minutes. The 68% free-throw shooting is the only thing holding him down.
Buddy Hield
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 21 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6/16 | 7/20 | 1/1 |
Talk about threeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeecola. Our Buddy is fourth in tres attempts and fourth in makes. 10 of his 14 shot attempts are from downtown. Our Buddy stays in his lane. Gotta respect that.
Jaylen Brown
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 33 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3/6 | 12/20 | 6/8 |
Returned after a two-game absence and played 37 minutes. Brown has now scored at least 30 points in six games, with two being 40-burgers. He’s a top 25 player on the season, although he’s been more like top 50 over the past 10 games. The main culprit has been the lack of steals.
Joe Ingles
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 24 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5/11 | 5/12 | 9/10 |
Made his second straight start due to Mike Conley being out. In four starts this season, Ingles has averaged 31.3 minutes, 15.5 points, 3.8 tres, five boards, and 5.3 dimes while shooting 45% from the field and 90% from the line. Coming off the bench, he averages 24.7 minutes.
Rudy Gobert
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 18 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 8/9 | 2/3 |
Talk about staying in one’s lane. Gobert is usually a boards, blocks, and butchering free-throw percentage, but last night, he decided to swerve with some dimes and good percentages.
Donovan Mitchell
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 36 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6/13 | 12/23 | 6/7 |
With Conley out, the usage rate has spiked to 35. Normally, it’s in the 31 range. The dimes have spiked up by two and the shooting efficiency has been a tick better. As a result, he’s been a top 20 player, a marked improvement from the top 60 level he usually settles at.
Elfrid Payton
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 18 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1/2 | 8/16 | 1/1 |
Immanuel Quickley
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 7 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1/4 | 2/9 | 2/2 |
Derrick Rose
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 14 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2/3 | 5/9 | 2/2 |
Payton got the start and played 27 minutes. Quickley and Rose came off the bench, playing 21 and 20 minutes respectively. It looks like Thibs wants Payton’s defense and will bring in either Rose or Quickley for offense. My thinking is that Rose carves out a more significant role as time goes on but we will have to see how Thibs plays it.
Kelly Olynyk
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 20 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6/8 | 7/10 | 0/2 |
There was a stretch of five games in which Olynyk scored in single digits. Over the past six games, he’s gone for at least 10 points in five of six games and contributed tres and boards. He will even chip in some defensive stats from time to time. As with the Big O for many women, you never know when or if it will come.
Jimmy Butler
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 26 | 8 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1/2 | 6/15 | 13/15 |
When Jimmy is on, he is so damn good. Don’t believe me? He’s a top 20 player despite not contributing much in tres. And with how much he handles the rock (usage rate of 26.5), he only turns the ball over 1.8 times per game.
Duncan Robinson
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0/5 | 0/7 | 4/4 |
Has started every game this season. Despite playing three more minutes than last season, every stat has decreased. He’s still shooting 40% from downtown, but that’s down from 44% last season.
