LeBron James(notes) and Kevin Durant(notes) are both in fantasy’s top tier, although there are some striking differences between the two.
• LeBron James’ numbers during the Cavs’ current 12-game winning
streak include the following: 30.8 points on 50-percent shooting, 2.3
threes, 6.5 boards, 9.8 assists, 3.9 turnovers, 1.8 steals, and 1
block. The one downer: while averaging 12.1 free throws per game, his
conversion rate is slightly down (to 76 percent) over that stretch.
• Kevin Durant is just a shade behind James and Chris
Paul(notes) in terms of per-game impact since the first of the year (and the trio is comfortably ahead of the rest of the pack). Over his
past 19 games, Durant has averaged 31.9 points on 50-percent shooting,
1.7 threes, 91-percent foul shooting (11.2 FTA), 8.2 boards, 1.2
steals, and 0.8 blocks. He’d have the top tier all to himself if he
could improve on that assist-to-turnover ratio (2.6:3.9).
• Nicolas Batum(notes) got the start for the Blazers because of his defensive prowess,
but it was offense that doomed Portland in their 89-77 loss to the
Thunder. Martell Webster(notes), Steve Blake(notes), Rudy Fernandez(notes), and Jerryd
Bayless(notes) combined for 8 points on 3-of-22 shooting in 79 minutes. Batum
himself turned in a useful fantasy line (36 minutes, 12 points, 1
three, 4 boards, 1 steal, 1 block) and should be on a few more fantasy
radars in the event that Nate McMillan sticks with him as the starter
after Brandon Roy(notes) returns.
• Jarvis Hayes(notes) had another reasonable game for the Nets (41 minutes, 19 points, 3 treys, 1 steal) and should get a look from deep-leaguers. Over the past six games, he’s averaged 13 points on 53-percent shooting, 2 threes, 4.3 boards, and 1 steal in 32 minutes. Chris Douglas-Roberts(notes) has fallen far enough in the rotation that he was a DNP-CD Tuesday.
• Devin Harris(notes) (shoulder) missed his second consecutive game Tuesday. While he hopes to play Wednesday, the Nets won’t play him if he’s at risk of aggravating his injuries.
• Some positives (33 minutes, 7 assists, 0 turnovers) and
negatives (5 points, 2-of-9 shooting) for Randy Foye(notes) Tuesday. The
numbers have been down overall over the past eight games (29 minutes,
10.1 points, 40% FG, 0.6 threes, 4.1 assists, 1.8 turnovers, 0.4
steals) and the Wizards are a complete trainwreck. The trade deadline
could provide a major shakeup here, but either way I expect Foye to
come out the other side with a major role. Don’t make a drop here if
it’s not for a player with long-term prospects.
• Tyson Chandler(notes) returned to the lineup for the Bobcats
Tuesday (10 minutes, 5 points, 5 boards), his first game action since
December 22. He won’t be rushed back
into heavy minutes, however, particularly with Nazr Mohammed(notes) showing
some signs of late (10.9 points, 8.3 boards over the past 11 games), so
it’s hard to see him being much more than a marginal option for boards
and blocks in standard leagues.
• Tyrus Thomas(notes) was effective following his one-game suspension for a verbal tirade addressed at Vinny Del Negro. He scored nine points on 4-of-5 shooting, grabbed seven boards, blocked a shot, and had a steal in 28 minutes. What uniform he’ll be wearing 10 days from now remains to be seen.
• Don’t look now, but the 76ers have won five in a row, four of which have come with Allen Iverson(notes) away from the team for personal reasons. Andre Iguodala(notes) has been huge while Iverson has been away, averaging 19.3 points on 48-percent shooting, 1.5 threes, 7.8 boards, 6.8 assists, 2.3 turnovers, 2 steals, and 0.5 blocks in 42 minutes. Thaddeus Young(notes) has had three straight solid games off the bench (28 minutes, 17 points on 72-percent shooting, 6.3 boards, 2 steals), and Louis Williams(notes) had an unusually productive game Tuesday (26 minutes, 16 points, 1 three, 7 assists, 1 turnover, 3 steals) in the blowout of the T-Wolves.
• Kevin Martin(notes) came off the bench for the Kings Tuesday after missing teh team’s shoot-around because of a migraine. He posted another sub-par line in his 31 minutes (17 points, 1 three, 2-of-4 FT, 4 boards, 1 steal) … Spencer Hawes(notes) played just six minutes in the overtime win (0 points, 1 board) before being benched for a lack of defensive effort.
• You certainly won’t be blamed for taking a chance on Donte Greene(notes), who continues to show flashes (by way of averaging 22.7 points on 57-percent shooting, 2.7 threes, and 6.7 boards in 34 minutes over the past three games). The matchups couldn’t have been much better (PHO, @TOR, @NYK), he’s just as likely to score four points in the next game as he is to score 24, and the Kings’ rotation remains in a constant state of flux, but his across-the-board potential is hard to ignore.
• Mike D’Antoni kept the Knicks’ rotation to eight players Tuesday, despite the matchup with the Kings going to overtime. His "true" point guard Chris Duhon(notes) played 37 minutes (7 points, 2-of-10 FG, 0-of-6 3PT, 9 assists, 1 turnover), while Nate Robinson(notes) garnered 27 minutes off the bench (11 points, 4-of-15 FG, 1-of-6 3PT, 4 assists, 3 turnovers).
• Houston shot an atrocious 30 percent from the floor en route to just 66 points against the Heat. As you might imagine, there were nothing but lowlights. Trevor Ariza(notes) missed the game with a hip pointer and was replaced in the starting five by Carl Landry(notes) (26 minutes, 11 points, 6 boards). The Heat went deep into their rotation in the easy win, although Dwyane Wade(notes) was able to pack production into his 29 minutes (17 points, 4 boards, 7 assists, 2 turnovers, 5 steals, 1 block).
• While it seems like some of the other Pistons are starting to come around, Charlie Villanueva(notes) is once again playing through pain, and his Tuesday line reflected that fact pretty clearly (19 minutes, 0 points, 0-of-5 FG).
• Charlie Bell(notes) has been monopolizing the minutes at shooting guard for the Bucks, rendering Luke Ridnour(notes) nearly useless for fantasy and putting up a few numbers of his own. In 35 minutes over the past seven games, Bell has averaged 13 points on 47-percent shooting and 2 threes, but he remains a long shot to make an impact in anything but deep leagues.
• Another big game for Andrew Bogut(notes) Tuesday (17 points, 18 boards, 3 blocks) pushed his averages over the past 20 games to 16.8 points on 56-percent shooting, 11 boards, and 2.4 blocks.
• Denver’s crushing 127-91 defeat of the Mavericks had both coaches going to the bench early and often and led to the fantasy pie being cut into a lot of pieces. Notable performers in the game included Chauncey Billups(notes) (16 points, 3 treys, 6 assists, 2 turnovers, 3 steals), Nene Hilario(notes) (21 points, 8 boards, 1 steal), Chris Andersen(notes) (14 points, 10 boards, 2 steals, 1 block), and James Singleton(notes) (11 points, 1 three, 5 boards, 2 steals) … Carmelo Anthony(notes) played 31 minutes (19 points, 3 threes, 4 boards, 6 assists, 3 turnovers) in his return from an ankle injury.
• Carlos Boozer(notes) returned for the Jazz Tuesday, turned in a big performance (38 minutes, 34 points, 14 boards, 4 steals), and had the anticipated ripple affect. Paul Millsap(notes) was back to his reserve role (21 minutes, 8 points, 4 boards) and Mehmet Okur(notes) was an afterthought (31 minutes, 8 points, 4 boards).
• Yes, it’s time to cut Ronnie Brewer(notes) loose. Since Andrei Kirilenko(notes) re-entered the Jazz’s starting five 13 games ago, Brewer’s averages have included 8.1 points and 0.8 steals in 27 minutes per game. With AK locking up the small forward spot and once again playing passing lanes like a maniac, Brewer is losing minutes and has few opportunities to contribute fantasy numbers.
• Kobe Bryant’s(notes) severely sprained left ankle
has been slow to respond to treatment and he still can’t push off on
it. That’s why he’s sat out the past two games, is questionable for
Wednesday, and may even be forced to sit out the All-Star game.
"I’m not
an idiot. I’m not going to run through a wall just to run through a
wall. Injury-wise, if I feel I can play through it, I will. If it can
heal while I’m playing, I’ll play. But if it’s the type of injury that playing will make it worse, I won’t play.”
Bryant will travel with the team to Utah and is officially listed as
a game-time decision … Andrew Bynum(notes) (hip) will also travel to Utah
butis not expected to play. Lamar Odom(notes) (foot) is listed as a game-time decision but is expected to play.
• An MRI on Monta Ellis’(notes) left knee revealed a mild sprain,
mild enough that he could be back in the lineup Wednesday. This is
probably a relevant time to note that Ellis is second in the league in
minutes per game (41.8) and has averaged a league-high 43 per game
since November 17, a span of 39 games … Corey Maggette(notes) will miss Wednesday’s game
because of a dislocated finger on his left hand, meaning Anthony Morrow(notes)
(45 minutes, 33 points, 5 threes, 11 boards on Monday) should be in
line for another start.
• Paul Pierce(notes) (foot) practiced briefly Tuesday and is questionable for Wednesday’s game. Here’s what Doc Rivers had to say:
"Paul didn’t do a lot, we actually pulled him out early. He wasn’t moving around very well. I think he’s going to play, but
right now we’ll wait and see."
• Some links that deal with the most recent trade deadline chatter: link1, link2, link3, link4, link5, link6, link7, and link8.
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