Sunday Daily Dose: Dose: Jabari Parker's Breakout

After seeing Damian Lillard, DeMarcus Cousins, Rajon Rondo, Nerlens Noel, Pau Gasol, James Harden and Russell Westbrook go off on a Friday night where stars stole the show around the NBA, I’d be remiss if I didn’t dedicate some digital ink to the man, the myth and the legend: Josh McRoberts—better known as The McBob. After shocking the world and flirting with a triple-double on Friday, McRoberts responded with a three by three—as in three points, three boards and three dimes—a vivid illustration of what kind of real value he offers to your fantasy team even with Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade in street clothes.  

We got it all like Monta Ellis on a 14-game Friday night, so the NBA decided to slow its roll, serving up a four-pack slate for Saturday’s main course. We watched Jabari Parker’s maturation continue, the Dennis Schroder crowd get live, Hassan Whiteside leave his enormous mark and Draymond Green serve as the major key to unlocking a new Warriors win streak.

Milwaukee @ Atlanta: Bucks 117, Hawks 109 (2OT)

Studs: Jabari Parker, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Greg Monroe, Michael Carter-Williams; Paul Millsap, Dennis Schroder, Al Horford

Duds: Khris Middleton, Kent Bazemore, Jeff Teague

Injuries: John Henson (DNP, back), Jerryd Bayless (DNP, ankle); Jeff Teague (wrist)

Atlanta’s uneven season hasn’t prevented Paul Millsap evolving into a full-fledged fantasy star, and like he’s done routinely, P-Money delivered another versatile, stat-stuffing line on Saturday with 27 points, 11 boards, six dimes, a steal, two blocks and two triples. Regardless of how the Hawks finish the season, Millsap’s elite fantasy standing isn’t at risk. The same can be said for Al Horford, who just missed a double-double with 17 points, nine boards, a steal and three blocks without turning the ball over. Kyle Korver’s mini-resurgence isn’t getting enough attention, and now that he’s found his shot again, Korver has averaged 13.2 points, 2.8 triples and 2.0 steals on 51% from the floor across his last five outings…He should be much better down the stretch compared to what we’ve previously seen from him this year.  

Jeff Teague has played much better of late, but a right wrist injury limited him to just 18 minutes in an underwhelming showing as he watched Dennis Schroder explode for 25 points, eight rebounds, 10 assists, a steal, a block and three triples (five turnovers) on 10-of-19 from the field. Schroder should be rostered in almost every format regardless of Teague’s health, and although the Wake Forest product insisted he was fine after the loss, Schroder would be a no-brainer must-own, must-start player if Teague misses time.

Jabari Parker’s evolution has been an underappreciated storyline in a disappointing Bucks season, but he’s going to start getting more national attention after a career-high 28 points. With averages of 22.7 points, 11.0 rebounds and 3.0 turnovers on 54.9% shooting over his last three contests, there is no doubt that Parker’s game is better suited for reality than fantasy, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t fun to watch.  Giannis Antetokounmpo had a big night with 19 points, 12 boards, three dimes and two blocks in just 38 minutes, but his evening could have been much grander if he didn’t foul out of the game before the first overtime even started.

Playing starter’s minutes off the bench, Michael Carter-Williams and Greg Monroe combined for 41 points, 21 rebounds, six assists and four blocks with just a single turnover, but MCW is an obvious sell-high guy. Although the Syracuse product actually started the second half, he’s still splitting minutes with O.J. Mayo (9 pts, 7 reb, 6 ast, 5 stl) with Jerryd Bayless (ankle) sidelined, and Jason Kidd has already shown a previous inclination to play Mayo and Bayless when all three guards are healthy. Khris Middleton’s shot has gone MIA, and I don’t mean that it took a trip to South Beach. Despite the current struggles, K-Midz is still producing across the box score and chipping in with key contributions from beyond the arc and on defense. Contemplating the idea of selling low is a loser’s mentality. We’re here to win.

Washington @ Miami: Heat 114, Wizards 94

Studs: Luol Deng, Goran Dragic, Hassan Whiteside

Duds: John Wall, Otto Porter; Gerald Green

Injuries: Alan Anderson (DNP, ankle), Gary Neal (DNP, leg); Chris Bosh (DNP, calf), Dwyane Wade (DNP, knee)

Playing their third game in three nights, it would be a lot easier to chalk Washington’s loss up to the schedule if a shorthanded Miami club wasn’t playing in the second of a back-to-back set sans Wade and Bosh.  

When Jared Dudley is the high scorer on your side, not a lot has gone right. Despite Dudley’s solid 16-point effort, he barely got more playing time than Markieff Morris, who battled foul trouble and was in just his second game with his new team. In other words: With a shrinking role and a capped long-term outlook, you should have already moved on from the veteran swingman. Marcin Gortat failed to record a block, but his consistency has been impressive and he had yet another double-double on Saturday with 14&13 on 50% from the field…He’s going to be on a lot of fantasy rosters that enjoy success down the stretch, and Gortat faces absolutely no challenge for his minutes.

After flirting with a triple-double in each of the last two nights, John Wall ran out of gas in the blowout loss with just 12 points on 5-of-17 from the field. He’s allowed to post a dud every once in a while given the load Washington asks him to carry, and there is nothing to worry about moving forward. Washington surprisingly allowed Bradley Beal (leg) to play in all three games this week, and those with The Panda need to track his health closely. The Wizards have two back-to-back sets in the next ten days, so Beal—whose value is on the rise—may be limited to a bench role through the end of February.

Simply stated, there is nobody else in the league like Hassan Whiteside. With 25 points and 23 rebounds in just 29.5 minutes off the bench in his return from a suspension, Whiteside is primed for a big finish to the season for a Heat team that needs him to be a dominant force every night. Playing for his next deal and auditioning for the rest of the NBA to see, Miami is going to lean on Whiteside with Bosh’s return uncertain.

No longer just waiver wire fodder, Luol Deng is responding to a bigger role in style. After an enormous 30&11 on Friday, Deng came right back with 27&10 on Saturday. Selling high makes sense with Wade (knee) only day-to-day, as Deng will lose touches when Flash, Whiteside and Goran Dragic share the court alongside him. It’s not a surprise nor coincidence that Dragic—who nearly triple-doubled with a season-high 24 points, seven boards and eight assists (no turnovers)—has thrived without Wade in the lineup, but selling high isn’t recommended given the realistic ROI paired with the Heat’s renewed commitment to breathing hot fire into The Dragon. 

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