Zach LaVine is currently playing on a four-year, $78 million contract and becomes an unrestricted free agent after next season. So far this season, he’s averaging 26 points, 4.9 boards, 4.4 dimes, 1.4 steals, 0.7 blocks, and 2.6 tres. The points, boards, and blocks are all career-highs!
Niet you say? Let’s break it down. Last year was the first time he finished as a top 40 player on a per-game basis. Granted, two seasons were cut short due to injury but 61, 157, 62, 138, and 275 are not endearing numbers. You know what are, though?
PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
45 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 10/16 | 15/26 | 5/5 |
The 45 points weren’t even a career-high! For you inquiring minds, it’s 49. Pa rappa da rappa is in da house. So far this season, LaVine is garnering a usage rate of 31 and converting a career-high 49% of his 19.8 shot attempts. He’s finished above 46% only once so expect some regression. As a result, the top 25 projection likely won’t be sustainable, but finishing as a top 40 player should be a likely outcome.
Here’s what else I saw last night:
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The Celtics/Heat game was postponed due to Rona. The league should probably press pause on the season but $hey $on’t $ecause $f $$$$$.
PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
17 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3/5 | 6/9 | 2/2 |
Williams hasn’t been great for fantasy this year, as he’s a top 150 player but you know what? Most rookies aren’t great for fantasy their first year. With that said, he’s starting and, while he’s not doing anything spectacular, he’s contributing a little something something in every cat. I wrote a few weeks ago that I like Williams because the defensive contributions will be there but he has the ability to score from all three levels. He gonna be a good one.
PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
9 | 8 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0/4 | 4/11 | 1/2 |
In 43 minutes. White has really improved from his rookie year. He can get his shot, score, dish out dimes, and get his board on. For fantasy, though, he’s still only a top 150 player on the season, after being outside the top 200 last season. The low shooting percentage and lack of defensive stats will keep his overall value down, but at least he’s not Coby Blackhole.
PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
18 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3/4 | 7/8 | 1/1 |
Got the start and played 36 minutes because Otto Porter was out due to back spasms. I don’t go to Temple as I’m not Jewish but if I was then a Sunday would’ve been a good day as any. Especially since he was starting.
PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
35 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 7/9 | 14/22 | 0 |
Over the past six years, Kawhi has finished as the 4, 7, 23, 4, 2, and 6 player on a per-game basis. That 23 number was when he got injured and only played nine games.
PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
28 | 7 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5/8 | 8/19 | 7/9 |
PG is the number 10 player for fantasy right now. Fuck yeah! The Fantasy Blurbing Association just messaged me that they will be slapping this blurb with an R rating. Those mother #@#$!ers!
Marcus Morris Sr.
PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
11 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3/5 | 3/8 | 2/2 |
In his third game back, Morris played 25 minutes. He will provide points and tres. That’s about it. The interesting thing to note is that Nicolas Batum is still starting and getting plenty of run, as he played 28 minutes last night.
PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
5 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/1 | 2/4 | 1/2 |
Got the start and played 35 minutes because DeMar DeRozan did not play due to personal reasons. He played a total of 30 minutes the entire season before last night sooooooooo…….My momma always told me, “If you ain’t got something nice to say about someone, then don’t say anything at all.”
Lonnie Walker IV
PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
25 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3/7 | 9/19 | 4/6 |
Garnered a team-high 33.3 usage rate with DeRozan unable to go. The potential is sky-high for Walker at both ends of the floor. It will be fun to see if he can continue developing but the elephant in the room is what happens when Derrick White returns? Near the latter stages of this game, Walker grabbed his hammy and was thought to have suffered an injury, but it was later revealed that he was just cramping. Whew. Grounded Walker just doesn’t have the same ring as Sky Walker.
PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
27 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4/7 | 9/21 | 5/6 |
No KAT, no problem, as Russell had a 40.6 usage rate and led the Timberpuppies to a win. Unfortunately, he had a team-worst 103.1 defensive rating but whatever. “I get paid to get buckets” he pronounced to the group of reporters plastered on his monitor before he opened up a new tab and played some online poker.
PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
24 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3/6 | 8/16 | 3/3 |
Beasley has now scored over 20 points in back-to-back games. He’s gone over 20 points in five of 10 games. That’s nice and all but he doesn’t contribute much in anything else. I get it, though. He needs to save his energy for his extracurricular activities.
Karl-Anthony Towns did not play in this one due to it being a back-to-back. meow. Ed Davis got the start but only played 18 minutes while Naz Reid played 29 minutes off the bench and scored 11 points with seven boards.
PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0/2 | 0/8 | 0 |
In 18 minutes and his first back-to-back of the season. What? You didn’t do two-a-days in college?
PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
25 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2/4 | 9/19 | 5/9 |
He’s starting to heat up, as he’s been a top 50 player over the past four games, shooting 51% from the field. Now, the free throw shooting hasn’t been good and the defensive stats have been lacking but…..Shhhh, what’s that I hear? Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh. A voice whispers, P.S., he’s good.
PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
15 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 2/3 | 6/10 | 1/1 |
In 24 minutes off the bench. Just start him! Nurse did start with a small-ball lineup with Siakam, Anunoby, Lowry, Powell, and VanVleet. Start Boucher and have Powell lead the second unit.
Alex Len and Aron Baynes were DNP-CDs. I imagine they are not completely toast, as Nurse will likely play them against bruisers down low, but their fantasy prospects are not bright.
PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
10 | 9 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2/5 | 3/8 | 2/3 |
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalmost messed around. Draymond is a straight shooter but he’s messed around 34 times in his career. For fantasy, he’s outside the top 150 because he doesn’t shoot or block shots anymore. The shooting efficiency is worse than awful now as well. With that said, he provides boards, dimes, and steals, and as evidenced last night, still has the capacity to mess around.
Steph Curry
PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
11 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1/10 | 2/16 | 6/6 |
Caught the contagious Oubre flu that mixed with the Draymond strain that’s been going around.
PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
12 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1/6 | 5/14 | 1/1 |
Oubre is shooting 33% from the field. Yuck. He’s a career 42% shooter from the field so it’s going to get better. Right? Buehler?
The Lakers dispatched of the Rockets in relatively easy fashion, 120-102. As a result, Anthony Davis and LeBron James only played 30 minutes. Davis went for 27 points, four rebounds, one dime, and three blocks while James only scored 18 points but contributed seven boards, seven dimes, one steal, and one block. Yaaaaaaaawwwwnn.
PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
17 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2/3 | 7/8 | 1/1 |
In 21 minutes. We know what THT can do but getting the playing time is an issue. Wesley Matthews didn’t play last night due to a sore Achilles and the game was a blowout so extra run. In normal competitive games, the minutes won’t be there.
John Wall
PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
14 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2/4 | 5/14 | 2/2 |
Wall has slowed down a bit after his torrid start as the shot attempts and dimes have all decreased. Christian Wood, James Harden, and Wall are still figuring out how to play with each other. Houston sure is happy that Wall was brought into their community but what would fantasy managers consider a win? Top 75 production? Top 40? Because over the past four games, he’s been top 80.
PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
20 | 6 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 2/8 | 7/14 | 4/5 |
James used to get me Harden excited. Now? Not so much. Over the past four games, he’s been a top 50 player, averaging 17.8 points while shooting 40% on 14.5 attempts. The 11 dimes are nice, though, but the usage rate is a paltry 24. Remember when he used to garner a number closer to 40?
DeMarcus Cousins
PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
6 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2/4 | 2/5 | 0 |
Played eight minutes off the bench before getting ejected after a flagrant foul on LeBron and scuffle with Morris. Boogie nights off.
PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
22 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1/3 | 9/15 | 3/3 |
Only played 30 minutes because the Knicks suck? I thought they were good. I used to hear so many good things about Arvydas Sabonis back in the day. It’s too bad he came here after he was washed but I always think about him when I watch Jokic for some reason. Anyways, he’s the number four player for fantasy. The only thing preventing him from being number one is the blocks.
PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
9 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1/4 | 4/9 | 0 |
I used to enjoy stuffing my face with gum and blowing the biggest bubbles I could. I’d even do bubbles within a bubble, Inception-style. You always think you can go bigger or add one more but the end result is always the same. Pop! Now, Murray isn’t this bad, but he was over drafted due to the Bubble. Don’t forget that he was playing 40 minutes a game there.
JaMychal Green
PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2/2 | 4/5 | 0 |
In 23 minutes off the bench. He seems pretty locked into this 20-minute role off the bench. He can provide points, tres, and boards. If he starts to get an uptick in minutes or displaces Paul Millsap from the starting rotation, then I may have an interest. Not before then.
The game was such a blowout that Zeke Nnaji got four minutes of run.
Darius Bazley
PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
5 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1/4 | 2/6 | 0 |
Don’t worry. About a thing. Cause every little thing gonna be alright. Singing, don’t worry about a thing. Cause every little thing gonna be alright. The shooting efficiency will never be great but Bazley has a decent usage rate of 20 and is hoisting up over 10 shots a game. He will grab boards, drain tres, and contribute defensive stats. The only thing he doesn’t provide are dimes, but it takes the youth many years to learn about sharing is caring.
PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
22 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3/7 | 9/17 | 1/1 |
Momma, he still got it!!! He scored at least 2o points in seven games last season. He’s ahead of the pace! This is the Horford we know and love, as he can contribute across the board. He just doesn’t do it enough. So, where does Horford end up and how many 1s is Presti going to get for him?
PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
31 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2/4 | 11/16 | 7/8 |
Over the past four games, Shai has been a top 20 player, averaging 23.8 points, 2.3 tres, 5.8 boards, 6.8 dimes, 1.8 steals, and 0.5 blocks on 54% shooting from the field and 81% from the line. Only 2.3 turnovers as well. So freaking Gilgeous-Alexander.
Hamidou Diallo
PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
25 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1/4 | 10/14 | 4/4 |
In 24 minutes off the bench. That’s back-to-back games scoring over 20 points. Supposedly he was happy playing back in NYC. Will likely return to a pumpkin with no one searching for the foot that fits the glass slipper.
PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
36 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2/7 | 11/21 | 12/15 |
Returned from a three-game absence and….It was like he never left. I’m still amazed when I look at his past history. Over the past seven years, he’s finished in the top five in six of those years. He’s never finished outside the top 10 and been the number one player for fantasy three times. One of the greatest ballers I’ve ever seen.
PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
15 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 6/7 | 3/3 |
Nash went back to Jarrett! Woo hoo! Got the start and played 33 minutes. DeAndre Jordan only played 10 minutes.
PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
4 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1/5 | 2/6 |
The boards and blocks are belle and beau. The shooting? A besoin de plus de pratique.
PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
22 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2/4 | 8/13 | 4/4 |
Top 60 player on the year, but over the past four games, he’s been outside the top 100. The tres, dimes, and steals are there. Conley even chips in a decent amount of boards. It’s the shooting efficiency that kills him at times, shooting 40% from the floor.
Blake Griffin
PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
10 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1/7 | 4/12 | 1/3 |
Over/Under on when Ricky Lake Griffin blocks his next shot? January 27th for me.
PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
28 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3/9 | 9/19 | 7/8 |
Top 30 player on the season. Grant has to be the fantasy MVP so far, right? He was going outside the top 100 in drafts.
PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
6 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3/5 | 0 |
The Pistons really chose this over Wood?
Josh Jackson
PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0/3 | 0/5 | 2/2 |
Got the start but only played 14 minutes. He’s now played 14 and 18 minutes the past two games. It was only a few weeks ago that he was dropping 27 points in 28 minutes and stuffing the stat sheet. Life comes at us fast.