Saturday Dose: Dose: Joakim Noah's Nightmare
It’s hard not to feel bad for Joakim Noah, and it’s even tougher not to wonder if he’s played his last game in a Bulls jersey. Although Noah doesn’t have an official timetable after sustaining a dislocated left shoulder, this is going to be an absence measured in weeks—not day.
With how well he’s played since resting his plantar fasciitis, Damian Lillard should be pointing at his wrist all 24 hours in the day right now to let everybody know exactly what time it is.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is thriving, Andrew Wiggins is surging and Hassan Whiteside’s fascinating All-Star case continues to grow with intrigue.
Washington @ Indiana: Wizards 118, Pacers 104
John Wall is banged up, but you wouldn’t know it from how good he’s been since a bad November. With 28 points, seven boards, eight dimes and a steal on 12-of-21 shooting, he’s the latest opposing point guard to shred Indiana’s defense. Bradley Beal (22 points, 9-of-15 FG) had his best game since returning, and it should only be a matter of games until Beal replaces Garrett Temple—who left and then returned to this game with a right shoulder injury—in the starting five. It won’t happen on Saturday, because Beal (rest) is not expected to play vs. Boston. Marcin Gortat (knee) is improving, but his status is very much up in the air for Saturday, meaning Nene and DeJuan Blair would hold onto short-term relevance if The Polish Hammer misses more time. The lumbering twosome combined for 20 points, 14 rebounds and three steals in Gortat’s absence on Friday, while Kelly Oubre (seven points, four boards, two steals, 18 minutes) did a whole lot of nothing in his spot start for Otto Porter (hip).
It looked like Paul George was on his way to a big game after a monster first quarter, but he couldn’t find the range after that, finishing just 6-of-19 from the field for 21 points, five boards, seven dimes, three steals, a block and five turnovers. Maybe it’s because he was dealing with tightness behind his right knee, and it’s a situation that needs to be monitored closely with PG-13 reporting discomfort in between the calf and hamstring area of his right leg. It’s the same leg that he injured during the now infamous Team USA scrimmage.
Ian Mahinmi had come in on a nice little roll over his last six games, but he cooled off with just seven points and four boards in 20.5 minutes…Mahinmi is worth a roster spot in standard formats. Monta Ellis (17 points, three boards, three assists, one steal, one block, 7-of-14 FG) and George Hill (19 points, eight boards, two 3PM, 8-of-14 FG) were efficient, but the Pacers—like fantasy owners—can’t afford to have C.J. Miles (four points, 26.5 minutes) go cold.
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Minnesota @ Oklahoma City: Thunder 113, Timberwolves 93
In a game that was over before the fourth quarter began, both Kevin Durant (21 points, six rebounds, seven assists) and Russell Westbrook (12 points, 11 boards, 10 assists, two steals) were able to stuff the stat sheet in less than 30 minutes on the floor. Coming into Friday’s contest, Durant was the No. 2 player in standard 9-cat leagues over the last 30 days, and he’s a serious candidate to overtake Stephen Curry for the top spot way before the season concludes. Cameron Payne is an intriguing young rookie capable of producing across the stat sheet as his last two games (12.0 points, 4.0 assists, 3.5 steals, 1.5 3PM) suggest, but he’s only on the radar in deep formats when it comes to the re-draft circuit.
Friday’s game marked the fifth straight in which Andrew Wiggins has scored at least 20-plus points. During that stretch, the still 20-year-old Wiggins has averaged 26.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.2 steals, 1.0 3PM and 2.6 turnovers. When Wiggins can begin to connect on his 3-point shot consistently, it will elevate his fantasy appeal to an entirely new level…You can clearly see the potential. Despite Kevin Martin (illness) sitting this one out, Zach LaVine (13 points, six boards) didn’t make an impact in 24.5 minutes…Feel free to let someone else in your league wait for LaVine to “blossom.” Shabazz Muhammad has dropped 15 or more in four of his last five games, but he’s doing nothing else and is really only a points-league option. It’s not a good sign that Gorgui Dieng (two points, five boards, 15.5 minutes) puts up a dud when Karl-Anthony Towns (nine points, 12 rebounds, 4-of-13 FG) was ineffective from the field, and Dieng has now scored 15 total points in his last six games. If someone with Aaron Gordon-type upside is on your league’s waiver wire, I wouldn’t hesitate to make the switch.
Phoenix @ Boston: Celtics 117, Suns 103
Isaiah Thomas’ revenge game was limited to just 24 minutes because Marcus Smart went off for his first career triple-double with 10 points, 11 boards and 11 dimes to go along with two steals, two blocks and three turnovers. Smart is still struggling with his shot, but he has the ability to positively impact the box score in every other way. It’s hard to get too excited about Friday’s results because Boston had the game put away early, but Kelly Olynyk (21 points, nine boards, three steals, one block, four triples) showed why he is a VIP member of the All-Fantasy Frustration Team. As for Jae Crowder (17 points, six boards, five assists, three steals, two blocks, two triples), the Celtics should start calling him AU6 since he’s been pure gold.
To say the Suns are in flux would be an understatement, and Markieff Morris’ return to the starting lineup—given what has transpired between he and the franchise since the offseason—is all of the proof we need. Jon Leuer played just 13 minutes, and he doesn’t belong on rosters with Mirza Teletovic (22 points, four 3PM) ballin’ since 2016 arrived. Brandon Knight needed 15 shots to score 16 points and had as many assists as he did turnovers (four), while Devin Booker required nine shots for nine points as the Suns shot 39.3% as a team. More changes are going to be coming, and I’d expect T.J. Warren to get a lot more run in the season’s second half. As an aside, Ronnie Price (toe surgery) will be out for at least the next few weeks, meaning the door has swung wide open for Booker while the window has barely cracked open for Archie Goodwin.
Portland @ Brooklyn: Blazers 116, Nets 104
Damian Lillard’s mixtape isn’t the only thing that’s on fire, because his last five games have been straight flames: Averaging 29.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 9.6 assists, 1.8 steals, 0.8 blocks and 5.4 3-pointers, it’s been Lillard Time all of the time. It’s been a different story for C.J. McCollum during that same stretch, checking in with averages of 16.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 2.0 3PM on just 33% (33-of-99) shooting. McCollum is producing statistically, but his recent inefficiency shows the downside some were rightfully concerned about before the season began. Allen Crabbe (19 points, six boards, five 3PM) had another nice game, and he’s done enough to be worth sticking with in standard formats until further notice. Even when Mason Plumlee can’t get it going, Meyers Leonard remains an afterthought and that’s how you know the struggle is real.
The Nets got good but not great games from Thaddeus Young (11 points, eight rebounds, two steals, one block) and Brook Lopez (25 points, seven boards), but it was Donald Sloan (15 points, nine rebounds, nine assists) who turned in the best effort. The journeyman veteran continues to reduce Shane Larkin’s (two points, two blocks, three turnovers, 16 minutes) role, and it’s been a disappointing showing for Barry’s son and a validating moment for Phil Jackson’s ego. Larkin is worth holding if you’re in real need of point guard help, but his leash can only be so long.
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