When Blake Griffin was traded to the Detroit Pistons there were a lot of concerns. In the interest of time I will stick to just those relevant to fantasy basketball. Ok, actually that only leaves one major concern: Would Andre Drummond continue to be the rebounding machine he was prior to the arrival of the Kia-jumping, oft-injured, polarizing, human-highlight film come-again Blake Griffin?
Yes, the answer is yes. The dude is a beast. He sucks in rebounds like black holes suck in matter. And while black holes spit out gamma rays, Andre Drummond spits out sick slash lines. Forget the 3-point shooting, point-forward, stretch-four big men we are calling unicorns. The true unicorns are the old-school low-post bangers like Drummond, who even Charles Oakley would agree, could hang during any era of NBA basketball.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 23 | 20 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 0/0 | 11/15 | 1/3 |
Here is what else I saw last night:
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Rudy has been hard at work in the lab. His latest creation? DAILY LINEUPS PAGE. So good. So smooth. So helpful. He decided to go with the Sonny Bono red tint, while I prefer the blue tint. What say you?
Pistons over Heat: 111-107
Blake Griffin:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 16 | 9 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1/6 | 6/19 | 3/4 |
As predicted on the Razzball Fantasy Basketball Podcast, Blake Griffin is seeing a nice boost in his assists numbers being in Detroit. So if (and that is a Kim Kardashian booty size IF) he can stay healthy, look for some super juicy slash lines.
Ish Smith:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 25 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1/1 | 11/14 | 2/2 |
Ok, didn’t see that coming. Ish should probably be owned in most leagues, at least until Reggie Jackson is back, but don’t get used to seeing just 1 turnover and perfect free throw shooting.
Stanley Johnson:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 13 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0/2 | 4/10 | 5/5 |
Turns out, instead of wanting Stan van Gundy to Free Boban, we should have been asking him to free his Johnson and we know SVG loves him some Johnson. The minutes will be there, but the shooting will be M.I.A. most nights. Tough to say who will be better to own for the rest of season between Stanley and Reggie Bullock:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 8 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2/5 | 3/7 | 0/0 |
Goran Dragic:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 33 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4/6 | 13/23 | 3/3 |
First of all, congratulations to The Dragon for making the All-Star team. It is definitely earned and the Heat deserved to be represented in the game. And B: this line is awesome. No turnovers, sick shooting, even added a block. Iron Fist would have no chance against this dragon.
Kelly Olynyk:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 19 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1/8 | 9/19 | 0/0 |
Eight 3-point attempts? Not everyone is meant to be a stretch-four, but Olynyk is definitely a guy to stream when Hassan Whiteside (illness) sits, even though Bam Adebayo was supposed to be the one to break out:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0/0 | 2/5 | 0/2 |
Josh Richardson:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 19 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3/6 | 8/13 | 0/0 |
This guy will just not let me forget that I waived him two months in after his painfully slow start. If J-Rich had started the season the way he has played the last couple of months, then he would be the one going to the All-Star and not Dragic
James Johnson:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 18 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3/6 | 7/12 | 1/1 |
Lots of questions this season about JJ and whether he should be dropped and/or picked up, and if you look back at all of my answers (you guys do that right?), you will see that I kept telling people to hang in there with him. These are the stat lines he is capable of on a regular basis, when he is healthy, and he finally seems to be there.
Pacers over 76ers: 100-92
Victor Oladipo:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 19 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0/5 | 7/17 | 5/6 |
Hit somewhat of a slump recently, but he is returning Round 1 value. This guy is going to be on a lot of championship teams this season.
Bojan Bogdanovic:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 19 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4/7 | 5/11 | 5/5 |
Look out BogBog, the race for the title of Best Bog is shifting back to Indiana. King of the THRAGNOF! this season, definitely worth owning in most leagues while he’s hot.
Domantas Sabonis:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 10 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0/0 | 2/5 | 6/7 |
Myles Turner got into early foul trouble and only played 15 minutes leaving the door open for The Dominator (good right?) to almost mess around. The Pacers are all over the two center lineup, so keep running The Dominator out there.
Lance Stephenson:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 14 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2/5 | 5/11 | 2/2 |
Stephenson is mostly just VO insurance this season, but he is capable of putting together really nice stat lines like this that make him so tempting to pick-up. And anyone who has blown in Lebron James’ ear and lived to tell about it is OK in my book.
Thaddeus Young:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 10 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0/0 | 5/9 | 0/2 |
I am putting Young in the recap because I am sure there are a lot of people out there who want to drop him. If it helps, I just dropped him in a 14-team league and it felt wonderful. He has a great ranking in most leagues because of his across the board production, but it has just been so uneven and there are a lot of good free agents sitting out there at the moment.
Joel Embiid:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 24 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 0/4 | 9/19 | 6/9 |
This loss had to hurt for the 76ers and they are definitely short a puzzle piece in being able to compete with the big boys. Perhaps Tyreke Evans is the answer if they can swing a deal, but I think it comes down to Embiid maturing a bit. He needs to cut down on the turnovers, stop shooting threes, and just get to the paint. He needs to take a page out of Ben Simmons’s book:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 10 | 11 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 4/13 | 2/6 |
So young, so steady, but he needs to be a more consistent scorer to help get the Sixers over the hump. His inconsistent scoring is the reason why they are going to overpay for a guy like Tyreke Evans, well that and Markelle Fultz’s brain cramp.
Timberwolves over Pelicans: 118-107
Jimmy Butler:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 30 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2/4 | 11/21 | 6/9 |
I have to admit, I doubted Butler early in the season, but man was I wrong. His turnaround after getting used to his new team is one of the most amazing stories in recent NBA memory. This guy must put in so much work, if only Andrew Wiggins would pay more attention:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 15 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1/3 | 7/14 | 0/0 |
If Wiggins could just find some aggression, maybe someone needs to send Jose Canseco over to the T-wolves bathroom stalls.
Karl-Anthony Towns:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 22 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3/3 | 8/16 | 3/4 |
I know that everyone is handing the Warriors the trophy, but the Timberwolves are one the teams out there that are making me really excited to see how it all plays out. KAT and Jimmy Butler are two first-round fantasy talents on the same team, with KAT arguably the overall first pick.
Anthony Davis:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 38 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1/4 | 16/30 | 5/5 |
30 shots?! Davis is awesome and all, but if the Pelicans want to win, they are going to need to get production from more than just The Brow.
Nikola Mirotic:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 18 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3/8 | 6/13 | 3/5 |
Mirotic has not skipped a beat and is giving the Pelicans exactly what they had hoped for and may turn out to be a steal at the price they paid. They lost this game because Jrue Holiday could not hit a shot:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 9 | 5 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0/3 | 3/13 | 3/3 |
Just a bad game, move on.
Cheick Diallo:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 10 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0/0 | 3/8 | 4/4 |
I don’t think this is anything to jump on, but anytime a guy has a double/double in just 14 minutes I want to mention it.
Jazz over Spurs: 120-111
Ricky Rubio:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 34 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3/4 | 11/14 | 9/10 |
I hope all those owners asking questions about whether or not they should drop Rubio decided to hang in there because he has been scorching lately. Personally, I think he keeps it up.
Rudy Gobert:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 11 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0/0 | 3/7 | 5/7 |
The Jazz have had the number 1 defense in the NBA since Gobert got back on the court and he is showing that a 7-footer does not have to shoot threes to be valuable.
Royce O’Neale:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 18 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 4/4 | 6/7 | 2/2 |
Who? O’Neale has been real-life good, but not quite fantasy good. This game was definitely fantasy good AND Rodney Hood was back. You can either grab him now, or take a chance and see if he can do it again.
LaMarcus Aldridge:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 31 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1/1 | 12/19 | 6/8 |
The only L.A. with anything positive going on right now.
Dejounte Murray:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 10 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0/0 | 5/12 | 0/0 |
It’s as if Rajon Rondo and Tony Parker went into the Smush Room on Jersey Shore and produced this little miracle.
Clippers over Bulls: 113-103
Tobias Harris:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 24 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3/6 | 10/19 | 1/2 |
It looks like everyone is a winner in the Blake Griffin trade. It takes a special kind of talent to have two practices and put up numbers like this. The Clippers won that deal.
Danilo Gallinari:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 24 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3/5 | 8/14 | 5/5 |
Yeah….Here comes the Rooster…Yeaaaaah…You know he ain’t gonna diiieeee…wait, what’s that? Another injury? Ok, gotcha, but you actually believed it for a second right? I have been stashing him all season, I’m a believer. Make sure somebody didn’t drop him.
DeAndre Jordan:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 3 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0/0 | 1/6 | 1/2 |
DJ finally has scorers around him again. I kind of hope the Clippers don’t trade him because I really like the make-up of their team, but then again…FREE BOBAN!! (DNP-CD)
Lou Williams:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 21 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0/7 | 5/16 | 11/11 |
A bad shooting night, but Sweet Lou still delivers with assists and free throws. Yes, he will take a hit with Gallo back and Bradley and Harris, but I still love him.
Montrezl Harrell:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 14 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0/0 | 7/11 | 0/2 |
Harrell continues to produce even with Jordan back. Harrell could be the guy standing in the way of a FREE BOBAN (DNP- CD)
Zach LaVine:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 21 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3/6 | 6/18 | 6/6 |
Here he comes, the man I predict will be an All-Star next season. Write it down and remember Brent told you.
Jerian Grant:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 14 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2/5 | 4/10 | 4/4 |
Every time I go to pick up Grant I remember that Kris Dunn will be back someday from his concussion. I wish I had known last week that Dunn would be out this many games.
Bobby Portis:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 10 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0/3 | 3/13 | 4/4 |
No threes and no blocks, what a punch to the face.
Paul Zipser:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 16 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4/6 | 6/10 | 0/0 |
Nothing to see here, I just like saying: Zipser.
Wizards over Magic: 115-98
Otto Porter:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 20 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3/8 | 7/15 | 3/4 |
Once again, as predicted by the Razzball Fantasy Basketball Podcast, the big winner from the John Wall (out 6-8 weeks) injury is Otto Porter. Duh.
Tomas Satoransky:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 19 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3/3 | 7/9 | 2/2 |
Everyone wants this guy to step up with Wall out and he did last night. I have my doubts that he can do this consistently enough to be worth owning.
Bradley Beal:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 18 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0/2 | 8/15 | 2/2 |
With Wall out Beal is going to see a big bump in his assists, which will make Son happy because Beal should regularly be almost messing around.
Elfrid Payton:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 14 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0/4 | 7/15 | 0/0 |
At least Payton tries to shoot from the outside. This comment is aimed at you Ben Simmons.
Mario Hezonja:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 15 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | ¾ | 4/10 | 4/4 |
Bold prediction: Hezonja will be flying off of waiver wires within 2 weeks.
Rockets over Cavaliers: 120-88
Ouch! No way the Cavs come out of the East this year. No way.
Chris Paul:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 22 | 8 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6/9 | 8/14 | 0/0 |
I know he missed a lot of games, but Paul should probably be an All-Star. The Rockets are scary and they were even missing Eric Gordon last night.
Ryan Anderson:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 21 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5/9 | 7/13 | 2/3 |
You know the Rockets won big when Ryan Anderson comes before James Harden in the recap. Also, remember when instead of saying a team needs a stretch-four we used to say that the team needs Ryan Anderson?
James Harden:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 16 | 6 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1/11 | 5/16 | 5/5 |
Harden will probably win the MVP this year. I don’t think he deserves it, but unless he gets hurt again it is probably his. That being said, this guy is awesome.
Gerald Green:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 17 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4/10 | 6/15 | 1/1 |
I know Eric Gordon didn’t play, but how can I leave this guy out on waivers? I need to have at least one guy on my team that would lead my other guys through the sewers into battle.
J.R. Smith:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 12 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3/9 | 4/12 | 1/2 |
Yeah, J.R. Smith was the Cavs’ leading scorer….LMAO!
Isaiah Thomas:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 12 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0/4 | 5/13 | 2/2 |
Every time the announcer says that Thomas is a liability on defense I take a drink. That is why I’m writing this recap from the emergency room.
Lebron James:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 11 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 2 | ½ | 3/10 | 4/4 |
Lebron’s worst game of the season and he still almost messed around. That is why HE is the MVP.
Mavericks over Kings: 106-99
Harrison Barnes:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 18 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4/8 | 7/14 | 0/0 |
The most boring fantasy starter there is. I had to pound a Red Bull just to finish typing the stat line.
Dwight Powell:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 17 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0/0 | 7/9 | 3/3 |
There is something here. I also stand by my prediction in an earlier recap where I said I think Powell will be the next NBA player to be with a Kardashian.
Dennis Smith Jr.:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 12 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0/6 | 4/15 | 4/7 |
Son’s boy!
De’Aaron Fox:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 15 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0/3 | 7/13 | 1/2 |
Has some growing up to do, but I love his outlook ROS.
Willie Cauley-Stein:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 14 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0/0 | 7/12 | 0/0 |
Just feels like WCS is right on the cusp of being a fantasy monster.
Nuggets over Warriors: 115-108
Will Barton:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 25 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3/5 | 4/4 | 9/17 |
The Nuggets almost seem like a fantasy team come to life and Will The Thrill has the skills to be the perfect fantasy player when given the chance.
Nikola Jokic:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 19 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2/3 | 7/16 | 3/3 |
As a lifetime Warriors fan, I watched this game (since I watch every Warriors’ game) and Jokic has one of those shots that never looks like it is going in as it leaves his hand, but then it hits the net perfectly. Both his threes were also super clutch.
Gary Harris:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 16 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2/6 | 4/13 | 6/7 |
My man, Gary Sexual Harrisment. Mr. Reliable.
Trey Lyles:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 15 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ¼ | 4/6 | 5/10 |
Really good looking game from Trey Smooth. I am a believer that he maintains value even after Paul Millsap comes back.
Kevin Durant:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 31 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0/2 | 12/16 | 7/9 |
Just a normal day at the office.
Stephen Curry:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 24 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 5/12 | 8/16 | 3/4 |
Curry got a little sloppy at the end of the game and is a big reason why they didn’t come away with a win. Steve Kerr says that Curry should be in the MVP conversation, but I would argue that Durant has been more valuable. Too bad they just cancel each other out.
Klay Thompson:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 16 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2/7 | 7/15 | 0/0 |
I would be interested to see what the Warriors’ record is when Klay gets to the free throw line more than twice a game versus when he gets there less. I would be willing to bet that an aggressive Klay means more wins.
Draymond Green:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 8 | 6 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0/4 | 4/12 | 0/2 |
Is there another player in the NBA like Green?
