Saturday Dose: Dose: Dame's World
With a salary cap spike looming, the 2016 NBA trade deadline came and went in predictable fashion. We heard star names like Blake Griffin, Kevin Love and Al Horford in plenty of rumors, but when push came to shove we got a “meh” instead of a “bang” as the action prepared to get back underway. When Channing Frye was one of the biggest names on the move, that really says everything we need to know, doesn’t it?
Given there were 28 teams in action around the Association on our first Friday back after the All-Star Break, The Daily Dose’s wheels will spin in a slightly different direction. It’s crunch time for fantasy GMs to make the playoff push.
STUDS, DUDS & FANTASY SPIN
Dallas @ Orlando: Magic 110, Mavs 104 (OT)
Studs: Chandler Parsons, Zaza Pachulia, Deron Williams; Nikola Vucevic, Victor Oladipo, Aaron Gordon
Duds: Dirk Nowitzki, Wesley Matthews, Raymond Felton; Elfrid Payton, Mario Hezonja
Brandon Jennings and Ersan Ilyasova both came off the bench, but it’s clear that each is going to play a very real role in Scott Skiles’ rotation. Those with Elfrid Payton should be worried, especially after Jennings played down the stretch, but others with Aaron Gordon—who had a career-high six steals—should not. Both with stat-stuffing double-doubles in the win, Victor Oladipo and Nikola Vucevic have nothing to worry about with their minutes. The Magic need to evaluate Evan Fournier’s fit both now and into the future, so Mario Hezonja’s minutes shouldn’t prevent Champagne from popping the cork.
Although his return from a torn Achilles has been astounding from a medical perspective, Wesley Matthews just hasn’t been the same player this season on the offensive end. I think he’s overvalued in fantasy formats, and his performance is really limiting the ceiling of a Mavs team getting more than it could have ever expected from Zaza Pachulia. Chandler Parsons looks ready to be a second-half stud for those who had the patience—I did not—but Deron Williams is a strong sell-high candidate given his injury history. He’s not someone you want to rely on in the second half.
Detroit @ Washington: Wizards 98, Pistons 86
Studs: Tobias Harris; John Wall, Bradley Beal
Duds: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Stanley Johnson; Markieff Morris
An impermanent bench role didn’t stop Tobias Harris from a 21-point Pistons debut, and you can count me as a member of Detroit’s Team Tobias Party with his value trending up in his new home. Harris’ arrival means fewer minutes for Marcus Morris and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (groin), especially since Stanley Johnson is going to play on the wing, as well. I’m holding Johnson where I have him and wouldn’t be impatient.
Much like Bradley Beal, Markieff Morris’ bench role is expected to be temporary for a Wizards team playing three games in three nights. Beal has looked great since returning from his leg injury, while Morris coming to town will mean fewer minutes for Jared Dudley and less time for Otto Porter at the four. No matter what changes are going on in DC, John Wall and Marcin Gortat promise to hold steady the rest of the way.
New York @ Brooklyn: Nets 109, Knicks 98
Studs: Carmelo Anthony, Kristaps Porzingis; Brook Lopez, Donald Sloan
Duds: N/A
Maybe it was the Sean Marks Effect that got the Nets fired up, because it certainly wasn’t some phony New York rivalry. Led by Brook Lopez’s 33-point effort, Brooklyn had all five starters in double-digit scoring, and anyone who bought low on B-Lo after his foot scare took a good gamble to date. Thaddeus Young’s fantasy value won’t fluctuate given he’s staying in Brooklyn, but it’s a more uncertain future for Joe Johnson, who has played much better in 2016.
Carmelo Anthony (knee) and Kristaps Porzingis combined for 40 points, 15 boards, eight assists, four steals and four blocks, but the rest of the Knicks scored just 58 points on 51 shots. That includes Arron Afflalo, who continued his hot February with 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting, but AA will continue to be a volatile commodity and can’t be trusted to produce at this level consistently. The only players I’d want on my fantasy team are either Melo or Porzingis, especially since I’m not as worried about the Anthony shutdown risk as others may be.
Miami @ Atlanta: Heat 115, Hawks 111
Studs: Luol Deng, Goran Dragic, Josh McRoberts; Kyle Korver, Jeff Teague, Dennis Schroder
Duds: Kent Bazemore
With Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and Hassan Whiteside (suspension) all out, Miami went with Luol Deng at PF—which we’re going to see lot more of—and he responded with what could go down as his best line of the season: 30 points, 11 boards and four steals. Whiteside will be back in the next one, but Bosh is out indefinitely and Deng is going to play an important role. Meanwhile, Wade’s timetable is to be determined, meaning Dragic, who had 17 points, 10 dimes, five boards and four steals has a chance to get back on track.
The biggest surprise of the season came in the form of Josh McRoberts flirting with a triple-double while stuffing the stat sheet (19 pts, 6 reb, 10 ast), a feat nobody should expect to see again.
The Hawks held onto everyone through the chatter of the trade deadline, and on a night where Jeff Teague, Kyle Korver and Dennis Schroder all had it going, Paul Millsap, Kent Bazemore and Al Horford combined for just 33 points on 33 shots. I’m not worried about Millsap’s studly season or Horford’s steady star, but Bazemore is a different story after he’s really cooled off in February, shooting well under 40% from the field in the process. As for Korver, he’s now averaging 12.0 points, 3.8 boards, 2.4 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.6 blocks and 2.8 triples over his last five games. Pay attention.
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