No, it’s not the title of some campy 1970’s Sci-Fi movie – Zubac really IS the savior of the world!
I don’t need to keep tooting my own horn – if I was a dog I would – but Ivica Zubac continues to impress, and I’m happy to have the big fellah leading the charge in my RCL playoff efforts! Getting his second consecutive start, the Zubes tore up the Nuggets for a career-high 25 points on a 25/11/1/0/1 line. Now, now, I know Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets in general have putrid interior defense, but I don’t care!
Post move O face! Look at how smooth he is! Well, despite the fact Jokic has no interest in playing defense, I concede that haha… Zubac is going to promote World Peace (not the Metta kind though!), figure out how everyone is going to get water, and we’ll be building statues of him by the 2050s. He shot 12-15 from the field, but weirdly only 1-4 FT as that is a little bit of an issue lately, despite profiling as more of an 80% FT shooter… So don’t let that bugga-ya-boo, I think that’ll improve. Just let our future defeater of invading aliens and our inventor of light-speed travel take you to the promised land. Here’s what else went down last night in fantasy basketball action:
Nikola Mirotic – What an ultimate middle finger to Hoiberg. After getting phased out with 18 minutes 4 games ago and 3 straight DNPs over a 5-game losing streak, gets back into the rotation and posts 24/11 with 5 treys on 8-16 shooting and a +13. And whatya know?! The Bulls snapped their losing streak! It’s almost like playing one of your better scorers and only real perimeter threat is helpful to your team! Ugh, Hoiberg is a dunce. I hesitantly recommend adding him (Miro, not Hoiberg lol) in 12ers, but it’s def risky. Something to consider for bye week teams though.
Rajon Rondo – Less optimistic here, but a good game from Rondo, going 20/7/6/1/0 with 3 treys (???) and 3 TO. Sure, the Bulls only beat the meh Hornets, but getting a much-needed win has to make you think they stick with a similar rotation. Cameron Payne was 0-6 in 11 minutes. Ugh, he really needs an offseason with the team. Great 2017-18 sleeper though!
Marvin Williams – Another crazy game on the glass – 13/18/5/0/1 with a trey. Even with Frank Kaminsky back (4/2/1/0/0 in 24 minutes off his shoulder issue), Marvin wasn’t starvin’ for minutes.
Jeremy Lamb – Stepping into the starting 5 for Nicolas Batum (migraine), Jeremy had a career-high lamb for 26/4/2/2/0 on 10-17 shooting with 3 treys. Potential has always been there, but a long, sustainable role hasn’t.
Wesley Matthews – What do you call a quiet baby heffer? A mild calf! That’s the description of his strain, and he left at halftime after 18 minutes. Absolutely no fear in cutting him if you need to win now.
Norman Powell – Second straight big minutes game with DeMarre Carroll out with a kankle, going 19/5/3 with no TO on 6-8 shooting with 2 treys and 5-5 FT. Here’s your WesMatt replacement! The Raps actually play Thur/Fri/Sun to round out this week, so he’s an especially useful add if Carroll keeps sitting. That said, Carroll went through shootaround yesterday, so maybe not…
Marcin Gortat – Mannnn, easing-off-minutes for the playoffs SUCK! Only 23 minutes of 7/4/0/0/1 while Ian Mahinmi soaked up 22 minutes off the bench. Mahinmi friggin’ fouled out with 4 turnovers too!
Ricky Rubio – The T’Wolves were just hitting on all cylinders last night beating the Wiz, with Rubio racking up a dimebag IN THE FIRST QUARTER! Stroking needles through the defense like this one!
Dayum! 22/5/19/3/0 in a massive line in 39 minutes. Everyone yells at me for my Rubio love, but suddenly his numbers are right at expected levels with a career-high in AST after this game. Damnnnnn, just read that unfortunately the make-up Wolves/Blazers game is going to be Monday April 3rd. Right after the playoffs end! Well goddammit…
Karl-Anthony Towns – Just unreal. 39/13/2/1/0 with 2 treys and no TO on 17-26 shooting. Where’s the swattage though?!
Nemanja Bjelica – Thibs running tight rotations now! Gorgui Dieng still was OK in 32 startling minutes, and B-a-Pizza got 28:31 of 16/10/2/1/0 with a trey and no TO. Wolves have won 3 of their last 4 and 7 of their last 10, so this uptick with Bjelica lately I would imagine should maintain. Definitely in the 12ers streaming class.
Dennis Schroder – Missed his treys (0-4), but otherwise was Das Great! 22/2/10/2/0 on 10-22 shooting and only 2 TO. Nice showing against the Spurs.
Kawhi Leonard – For as little emotion as he shows, he looked PISSED down the stretch after some no-calls and tough D from the Hawks, and had another great one – 31/5/4/0/1 with 3 treys. Did have 5 TO, but just good to see him out there after the hit to the head last week.
David Lee – Getting the start for LaMarcus Aldridge, went 14/6/4/0/1 in 20 minutes on 7-8 shooting. Glad I nabbed him where I needed a big!
Malcolm Brogdon – Returned last night for 15/2/8/1/1 with 3 treys in one of his better games. The Bucks lost big, but his strong play we can only hope will translate to consistent minutes. It is Kidd though…
Tony Snell – Another 10 points, 2 treys, 2 steal game with no TO. Love that Schnell!
Vince Carter – For the love of efficiency! Vinsanitefficiency! That’s a tongue twister… 24/5/2/3/0 on 8-8 shooting, 6-6 from deep, and 2-2 FT. Led the Grizz in scoring, crazy! Although how depressing is it that 65-year-old Vince Carter could do that, but ripe-young(ish) Chandler Parsons had to sit due to more pain in his knee…
Chris Paul – I def get fast-n-loose with dropping injured guys, but I didn’t understand why CP3 was getting cut in some leagues. You just handed opps the title at this rate! His classic elite line of 33/6/7/1/0 with 5 treys last night.
Blake Griffin – Shut down by dat Jazz D! Although Derrick Favors sat… Shut down by… Boris Diaw?!?! Hah, only a Kia-8/9/5 line when we need a Bentley this time of year!
Rudy Gobert – I call him Monsieur Elbow for a reason!
“Only” 11/10/3/0/1, but 5-6 from the field, and played 37 minutes despite coming in GTD. Awesome to see his elbows flailing out there!
Brandon Ingram – Lord help me, I actually added Ingram in an RCL. 14/1/2/1/0 on 7-12 shooting was decent enough in 27 starting minutes last night.
Jordan Clarkson – Interesting… Started over D’Angelo Russell, as the two guards flip-flopped roles. 19/2/3 with 3 treys for Clarkson, while Russell struggled for only 10/2/3/3/0 on 4-14 shooting and 0-2 FT. I’m not panicking with Russell just yet – Lakers got creamed – but it’s not great. 33 starting minutes for Clarkson is muy interesante though, if he’s available in shallowers.
Nikola Jokic – He may not play defense, but he can pass a basketball!
18/9/4/1/0 in only 24 minutes as the Nugs eased off a few of the starters.
Mason Plumlee – Well, they didn’t ease off Plumlee, who got an absurd 36 minutes in the starting 5, aided by Wilson Chandler sitting. 15/10/2/1/2 and thriving in Denver, which is odd as shit. So Jokic/Nurk can’t work, but Jokic/Plum does?! Ugh.
Jamal Murray – Getting more and more minutes next to Jameer Nelson, and just stroking the ball right now! Weird phrase… 22/2/3/2/1 with 5 treys. Now, this was against the Lakers and minutes still might not be consistent, but obviously I need to raise him up a little when considering him amongst pickups. Might be too late in most leagues… I always commented I LOVE him in dynasty, but didn’t expect his run to near 30 MPG for an extended stretch.
Will Barton – I begrudgingly held him through a rough week last week in RCLs, and my patience got rewarded with a much-needed 22/2/6/1/1 line with 4 treys. Again – the Lakers – and a little worried Wilson Chandler will squeeze out some wing minutes when he gets back… Wilson is dealing with a groin strain though, and we know those can linger. Even if his groin has all sorts of tats all over it.
Elfrid Payton – Another tripdub on the Shelfrid! 13/10/13/0/1 on 6-10 shooting in 34 minutes. Have the Magic shaken off their SKIIIIIIIILES residue yet?!
Nikola Vucevic – Rainbow alert! 23/9/4/2/2 hitting a very out-of-character 3 treys. If you played Vuc and lose by one or two treys, you’re gonna be pisssssssssssed. Hah, def thought his Achilles soreness would be a shutdown red flag, but he’s powering through! Heads down, power through!
Buddy Hield – Slim said on the pod this morning he’s taking the over on Buddy getting 30+ MPG rest of the way, which makes him an interesting ThrAGNOF wing for sure. 31 minutes last night with 2 treys on a 17/6/2/2/0 line.
Willie Cauley-Stein – Love my Willies! WCS, Hernangomez, Nelson, Wonka… Willies are all the best! 9-16 from the field for 18/7/1/0/0, Where’s the beef though, Willie?! We need the D stats, bruh!
I hope everyone had a strong start to the H2H playoffs and are looking towards a nice quarterfinals win! Drop by in the comments and lemme know how you’re doing, and be sure and fill out a Razzball March Madness bracket for a shot at a free prize!
