Are you ready for some Foot… Sorry, force of habit.
Welcome, to the inaugural edition of The Gospel (Sunday NBA recap on the Razz). Chalk full of recapping goodness from the Sunday that was in the Association. Each week I’ll hope to give you guys a little something something for fantasy teams to take note on what transpired every Sunday. This weeks of course being dedicated to Minnesota’s modern day superhero Maple Jordan (MJ) – more on him later. Before we get started, a little about myself… I’m an avid sports fan from Canada, including all major North American sports (including my much beloved professional wrestling affliction – so expect a few anecdotes here and there). Been playing fantasy for about 15 or so years now and recently over the last 4 years have been doing DFS – with moderate success at that. Alright now onto the goods. We had a 3 game sched last night, that had a little bit of everything despite the light sched.
ATL VS BKN
First up on the docket, are 2 teams that will be struggling to swim in the dreadfully shallow Eastern conference pits.
Atlanta, presumably in the first year of a rebuild squared off against the perpetually rebuilding Nets at Barclays Center.
If you watched this game and are not from either city chances are you owned a few guys on your fantasy team. If not, then you really do need to find better things to do on a Sunday afternoon.
The Hawks gave us some reliable numbers from Schroeder (17 pts, 4 rebs, 8 asts, 2 stls) and their 6th man Marco Belinelli put up a serviceable 19 pts to go along with 2 rebs and 3 asts. Was great seeing draft day sleeper John Collins get some run, as he had a very encouraging 14 pts 13 rebs and 1 ast. He’ll have nights like this when he gets some run, but the trouble will be his consistency as a rook. Pick him up if you have room.
A low night for the Hawks, having lost to BKN, it further hurt my boy Taurean Prince’s stats. He disappointed in this one, registering only 9 pts 1 reb 1 ast and 1 stl. I’m a big fan going forward though and he’ll obviously have better days to come.
It’s a new dawn in Brooklyn as the Nets look to finally get things in order, handing the keys over to D’Angelo Russell.
After losing Jeremy Lin, this team’s fantasy goodies will primarily be coming from D-Russ this year and this game proved no different. He had a solid line of 16 pts ,7 rebs, 10 asts, and a steal. While he got some help from Demarre Carroll, Caris Levert, Trevor Booker, and Allen Crabbe. Of that group they (and Rondae Hollis Jefferson) should provide decent counting numbers for your fantasy teams all year. With Levert and RHJ being the most intriguing as potential breakout candidates.
MIN VS OKC
This was the marquee event Sunday and boy what a showdown it was.
Both teams featured new looks following a bustling off-season that they hope elevate their teams to the next level.
OKCs big 3 did what we thought and all had good fantasy lines. Russell Westbrook had a MVP worthy line, with surprising efficiency (31 pts, 5 rebs, 10 asts, and a blk). Notably, for the Thunder, Steven Adams had a good game with 17 pts, 13 rebs, 3 asts, 1 stl, and 2 blks.
Hoodie Melo (22 pts, 2 rebs, 2 asts, 2 stls) tightened the strings as he nailed a go ahead 3 with under 5 seconds to go, but alas they fell victim to new money aka Maple Jordan aka Andrew Wiggins (27 pts, 7 rebs, 4 asts, and 2 stls) as he banked home the game winner in dramatic fashion. Wiggins has continued to put up good stats to start the year, despite the new additions to the team.
Aside from Wiggins, KAT made his presence felt with 27 pts and 12 rebs while Taj Gibson (11 pts, 10 rebs) and Teague (19 pts, 6 rebs, 9asts, 1 stl) also had good lines respectively. The one negative takeaway from Minny this game was the continued lackluster performance put up by Jimmy Buckets (15 pts, 6 rebs, 6 asts). You had to expect a drop in production, but I don’t think most who were taking him on draft day expected this. Will be watching more closely in the next few games to see what course of action to take with Jimmy.
And, finally…
LAL VS NO
How crazy is it that the most (in)famous Ball in the NBA isn’t Lonzo, or Spalding, but instead Lonzo’s dad Lavar! Well, he’s earned his infamy, as the man is as entertaining as he is outlandish. And as such, for every Laker game I recap, I’ll be including a quote from Mr. Ball.
Lavar said this following the season opener for the Lakers where his son got shutdown by Patrick Beverley.
As polarizing an individual as Lavar is, I can’t get enough.
Anyways, onto the game.
Laker Land despite the heightened attention, is still in disarray. Luke Walton has us fantasy folk all guessing who will be playing what and as such the fantasy goodies are a bit sporadic early on. Lonzo had a nice outing with 8 pts, 8 rebs, 13 asts, and 1 stl, but on an uninspiring 3-for-13 from the field, along with 0-for-5 from 3 pt land. Starting guard KCP – in his first game back, preseason darling Kyle Kuzma and Jordan Clarkson, all contributed solid counting stats with 20, 20, and 24 pts respectively. Putting up duds once again were Randle and Ingram, which is much cause for concern for fantasy owners. Randle in particular as he continues to concede playing time to Nance and Kuzma.
As for the winning side of this matchup, the stats came from the reliable sources. Perennial top pick Anthony Davis put up a brow-like line of 27 pts, 17 rebs, 3 asts, 3 stls, and 3 blks – ho hum. DMC did his part with 22 pts, 11 rebs, 8 asts, and 2 blks. Jrue and E’twaun Moore did nicely in the guard spots putting up 14 and 19 pts respectively. E’twaun will continue to be a solid add while Rondo is out, so feel free to keep riding him.
And that’s it folks. First of many recaps to come. Let me know what you think or what you’d like to see going forward in the comments below.
Peace!
