The Daily Dose: Dose: Rudy Gobert is back!
It was a quick four-game night, but there was plenty of news floating around. Would Rudy Gobert play? Was Rajon Rondo’s “back injury” OK? Is Kelly Olynyk someone I should add? Is Kobe Bryant still a stud? Dose takes a look at all of it. Enjoy. Follow me on Twitter by clicking here!
Hawks 126, Sixers 98 – Kent Bazemore, of all people, led the Hawks over the Sixers with 22 points, six boards, four assists, two steals, a block and three 3-pointers in just 25 minutes. Bazemore has been feeling it and should be owned in all leagues. Paul Millsap and Al Horford each scored 18 points with nice stat lines, and Jeff Teague continued to struggle, hitting 3-of-7 shots for seven points and four assists in 22 minutes. Look, I know Teague has been struggling, but he’s still the point guard for the Hawks and will bounce out of this funk sooner than later. Yes, Dennis Schroder played 19 minutes and had 14 points, four boards, six assists, two steals and two 3-pointers, but he played just 19 minutes. He’s completely unreliable as long as Teague is healthy. The same goes for Thabo Sefolosha, who had six points, five boards, four assists and three steals in 22 minutes. This game was a blowout, and coach Bud comes from the Spurs’ school of resting guys – Don’t play them if you don’t have to – Kyle Korver played 21 minutes and had five points and a 3-pointer. If I own him, I’m so ready to pluck that hot free agent off the wire in his place, as he just doesn’t seem to have it anymore. Al Horford was money with 18 points, nine boards, three steals and three blocks, while Mike Scott came off the bench for 11 points. Schroder and Scott are worth a watchful eye, but as long as the starters are healthy, I just don’t see the point.
The Sixers got nice lines from both Nerlens Noel (9 points, 13 boards, 2 steals, 1 block) and Jahlil Okafor (21 points, 7 rebounds), while Ish Smith was decent with 12 points and seven assists. These are the three guys you want to own on the Sixers. Nik Stauskas started again, but hit just 3-of-7 shots for nine points and two 3-pointers, and JaKarr Sampson had just four points on 0-of-4 shooting in a starting gig. Robert Covington played just 13 minutes off the bench and had eight points and two 3-pointers on 3-of-9 shooting, and I see no reason to hold him right now. The rest of the Sixers’ bench was a mess, and the only players you want to own on this team are Noel, Okafor and Smith, until further notice. Elton Brand didn’t play for Philly, but there’s no fantasy reason that he should ever get a second look from you, even when he does show up, great shape or not.
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Bulls 101, Celtics 92 – Jimmy Butler led the way with 19 points, five boards and 10 assists, Derrick Rose had 18 points, seven boards, and three assists, and Pau Gasol had 17 points, 18 rebounds and a block in the win. Taj Gibson had just 10 points and five boards, and Nikola Mirotic hit just 3-of-10 shots and two 3-pointers for 11 points, eight boards, a steal and a block. Mirotic looks like a must-own player at this point, despite last night’s struggles, while Gibson is a drop candidate with Joakim Noah due back sooner than later. Bobby Portis continues to be a luxury hold, as he had just four points, eight rebounds and two blocks in 24 minutes. Once Noah is back, it’s going to be tough to rely on Portis, as he’s struggling for consistency without Noah to clutter things up right now. Maybe the Bulls will trade a big man and open things up.
The Celtics got double-digit scoring from all five of their starters, which included Amir Johnson, Jae Crowder, Kelly Olynyk, Isaiah Thomas and Evan Turner, while Jared Sullinger had the only double-double off the bench with 13 points, 11 boards and a block. Marcus Smart scored 10 with five rebounds and two assists off the bench. Sullinger makes for a nice stash, especially if he’s going to fight to get his job back from Olynyk. Olynyk looks like the Celtics’ center to own right now, but Sullinger has more talent, and Crowder is quietly one of the better forwards in the league. Once Avery Bradley is back from his hip injury, Turner’s going to take a big hit. Smart played 30 minutes, but hit just 3-of-10 shots. The minutes make him a strong hold candidate, but he’s yet to respond for those of you hanging in there with him. I just don’t trust him under Stevens’ rein. Especially with Thomas ballin’.
Rockets 103, Jazz 94 – The Rockets got 33 points and a fun stat line from James Harden, although he hit just 13-of-25 shots and was 0-for-7 from downtown. If he ever gets hot, look out. Starters Clint Capela, Trevor Ariza and Patrick Beverley were disappointing, as usual, while Terrence Jones somehow got loose for 14 points and eight boards in 32 minutes and a start. Keep in mind that Dwight Howard sat this one out with a sore lower back, or Jones probably wouldn’t have done much. I’m not in Jones’ court right now, and your money can be spent elsewhere, like on the waiver wire. Marcus Thornton scored 12 points in 18 minutes with a 3-pointer and Jason Terry had 12 points and two 3-pointers, but their minutes are just too iffy to rely upon. As for Jones, I don’t trust him as long as Howard is healthy. Don’t feel bad if you recently dropped Jones – this is fluky.
Yes, Rudy Gobert finally played, but got just 15 minutes and finished with six points and three boards off the bench. He missed his huge five-game week opportunity, just like the Suns’ Eric Bledsoe, but this is a good sign that he’s ready to come back and help your team. Trey Lyles started again and had nine points, nine boards, two steals and two blocks, but will take a big hit once Derrick Favors is finally back. Gordon Hayward was quiet with 15 points on 6-of-13 shooting, and Hayward was a DFS killer last night. He’ll bounce back quickly. Jeff Withey’s swan song produced just eight points and four rebounds in 17 minutes, and if you picked him up for the five-game week, it’s time to let go. Gobert is finally back and Favors should be right behind him. Rodney Hood was disappointing with 10 points on 2-of-7 shooting in 22 minutes, but I have faith in him. However, he sprained an ankle last night, so check back for news on that front. The Jazz bench saw major minutes in this loss, with Trevor Booker, Chris Johnson and Trey Burke all hitting double figures in scoring. I was surprised that Burke was so quiet with 10 points and three dimes, but the defensive prowess of Beverley had a lot to do with that. I love the idea of holding Burke with Alec Burks out indefinitely, and Booker’s 12 points and nine boards are a case of too little, too late.
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