Well, it’s New York, and it’s Derrick Rose. Mo’ drama! After attending shootaround and everything seeming about status quo, Rose just flat out didn’t show up for last night’s game against the Pelicans. Didn’t tell anyone, didn’t shoot someone a text… He had no problem sending all sorts of horrible texts to that ex-girlfriend… The AWOL was so abrupt, that apparently the Knicks sent team representatives to his apartment and his teammates were praying for him! Yikes. According to reports, he’s fine and it was a “family issue” in Chicago, but this is redonk! I can’t remember a starting player just “not showing up” for a game, much less a former MVP! Things have gotten super sour in NY… Then the actual game last night happened! …which was an absolute shitshow. At least Brandon Jennings played well, as he’s been given a golden opportunity to start and show what he can do again (20/5/4/2/0 with 4 treys and 2 TO in 29 minutes – I would probably give him a spec add in 12ers based on this drama). But nothing but downhill from there. Carmelo Anthony got ejected for arguing, probably because the Knicks were down 20 and his knees hurt. “My fingers hurt!” “Well now your back is gonna hurt, because you just pulled landscaping duty!” Then our favorite Irishman Kyle O’Quinn apparently hit the Jameson too hard on the bench watching the Knicks implode, and fouled the crap outta Anthony Davis, causing the brittle 7 footer to fly into the stands and exit with a hip injury.
I’m sure that’s exactly what all Brow owners wanted to see, in a game with NO up 22 in the late 3rd… See, calling him KOQ makes all sorts of sense now! We call that defensive play a “KOQ block”. The Knicks ended up losing at home to the Pelicans, have lost 8 of 9, and have fallen to 17-21 (I erroneously on the Podcast thought there were still .500, man this fell apart quick!). Yup. The Poppycockers ladies and gents! Here’s what else went down last night in fantasy basketball action:
Anthony Davis – Before exiting, was going bazonkers on the PoppyCs for 40/18/2/0/3 with no TO on 14-22 FG (1-1 3PTM 11-2 FT). Best big of the night, on a night of awesome bigs! That sentence sounds like a weird riddle… Anyway, he was able to take his flagrant FTs, then left immediately afterwards with a hip injury. X-rays were negative and the Pels are off until Thursday, so hopefully it’s just a bruise. Just a deep burn.
Donatas Motiejunas – 16 minutes in his follow-up, for 3/4/3/2/0 with a trey. Did have 2 TO which is annoying, but if Brow should miss Thursday, DMo would be a fun streamer. Terrence Jones got 14 minutes and looked good as well (11/3/0/1/1), so maybe both get added run.
Solomon Hill – In the box score it says he started at center… “Solomon Hill C”. I just find that funny.
Tyreke Evans – I’ve been pretty anti-Reke when he’s compared with others in comments, and he was an OK 12/2/4 last night with 2 treys. No D stats though and 3 TO?! Bleh.
Ron Baker – Doofy haircut is back! Led the Poppycockers bench with 25 minutes of 6/7/4/1/0. He’s your new backup PG while Rose is out! Hah.
Kristaps Porzingis – Rough game from The Goose, going 9/4/1/0/2. He was coming off that Achilles soreness before returning this weekend, and this was his 3rd game back in 4 days. At least he actually showed up for the game and didn’t get ejected… So gets a little bit of a pass.
Russell Westbrook – Yeah, you had a career-high in 3s the other day, but stop taking so many! 21/9/14/1/0 on 9-18 shooting in his typical line, but 1-7 3PTM?! Could’ve been a mad efficient line!
Steven Adams – Dude could’ve been just as successful as a TE in the NFL. Russell goes breakneck speed down the court, and 2/3 of the time he’s dropping these little dumpoffs to Adams while the D collapses, and Adams gets an easy floater, or layup, or dunk… It’s awesome. 22/5/2/0/1 on 11-4 FG.
Enes Kanter – While the fantasy output isn’t huge, Kanter for 20/11/3/1/0 on 9-11 shooting jumped off the screen again while watching this game. He just plows through 3 defenders for post baskets; these two OKC bigs are playing some unreal ball right now…
Jimmy Butler – See Slim, this is what happens when you start pounding your chest too early. All excited about his 5-game week from his Bulls against me in the JB vs. Slim RCL, Slim got a sick Jimmy Buckets go a measly 0-6 FG 1-2 FT for 1/2/7/0/0 with a TO. Took some putrid shots, and the illness definitely seemed to be to blame – Bulls have already ruled him out for tonight. Looking like only 3 games worth of production now for Buckets, Slim!
Nikola Mirotic – Only 16 minutes of 3/1/0/1/0 for Slim’s other Bull, with 4 TO. Boom! Although with Dwyane Wade also getting rested tonight, it should be a big Miro game…
Michael Carter-Williams – For the other team that Rose abandoned, MCW keeps looking pretty decent out there to me… The line wasn’t huge, but 15/1/2/0/0 on 6-11 shooting with only 1 TO and 3-3 FT is pretty anti-MCW. I’d be sure he’s owned in 12ers – tonight without Buckets or Wade might be a little breakout.
Cristiano Felicio – So many vowels in his name! 5-6 FG in 24 minutes, going 11/11/1/3/0 and making Robin Lopez‘s life pretty annoying. 3/4/0/0/1 for Rolo in 26 minutes, and it’s becoming really tough to own the worst player in basketball…
Dirk Nowitzki – Mighta been the lead if not for super NBA drama! Dirk is back everyone! Well, kinda. 26/5/4/0/0 with 5 treys, but if he takes a few less treys and misses a few more, it’s a pretty pedestrian ThrAGNOF line from a big man. I mean, is he really that different than a rich man’s Marreese Speights?! Dirk burn! Plus you won’t get back-to-backs and who knows if he’s contributing by the fantasy playoffs. I ain’t fast-n-holding.
Wesley Matthews – 2 points. Two! Gave up the triples to Dirk I guess, only shooting 1-7 … Single-digit scoring in 3 straight now. He was playing pretty decent before this bottoming-out, and he’s still getting the minutes. If you need 3s in a league where it’s tough to ThrAGNOF, I might shoot a buy low.
Harrison Barnes – Another reason WesMatt didn’t do much – Barnes for 30/2/1/0/0 in his best Wiggins impression…
Seth Curry – Even in 30 minutes, did pretty much nothing. Just like the entire Mavs bench… 8/2/0/1/1 with 2 treys for Curry, with 3 TO. No sous chef here!
Karl-Anthony Towns – Full KAT attack! 34/11/4/1/3 on a mad hot 15-19 FG (2-3 3PTM 2-2 FT), scoring the first 20 points of that in the first quarter. C’mon Thibodeau, play him all 48 and get him to 80 points!
Andrew Wiggins – Ew, comparing him to that Barnes line was generous! 13/4/0/0/0 with 3 TO and 3-6 FT. Yeesh.
Zach LaVine – You kidding me?! Also left last night with a hip contusion. He’s like a mini-Brow out there! 5/6/5/1/0 in his 29 minutes before exiting late, but it sounds pretty minor.
Ricky Rubio – Mi amooooooor, slicky Ricky! 13/5/15/5/0 in a fantastic line, hitting 7-7 FT. Certainly having his ups and downs and looks like he-is-about-what-he-is at this point in his career, but it’s still usable!
I hope everyone had a great Monday night and got a nice piece of the light slate of action. I’ll catch up with you again Thursday morning with the Pod and the Notes! Shoot your comments below!
