Basketball Daily Dose: Dose: The Final Saturday
The last regular season Saturday Rotoworld Dose of 2016 has arrived. We’ve made it, and congratulations are in order to anyone still playing.
For everyone else: It’s all about getting a taste of what the next go-around could look like, and Giannis Antetokounmpo sure appears to be a top-12 fantasy selection. We’ve got guys in Philly giving shouts to Sam Hinkie, John Wall on shutdown watch, Cole Aldrich doing his best DeAndre Jordan and the Motor City revving its engine for the first time since 2009.
Off the court, Brandon Knight’s campaign ended early for the second straight year in Phoenix, and the Suns are going to have to make some tough calls this summer with Eric Bledsoe, Devin Booker and Knight all currently in the mix.
Miami @ Orlando: Magic 112, Heat 109
Studs: Hassan Whiteside; Evan Fournier, Nikola Vucevic, Elfrid Payton
Duds: Andrew Nicholson
The Biggest Takeaway(s): It would be an upset if Josh Richardson, the 2015 version of Jordan Clarkson, didn’t make an All-Rookie roster. Evan Fournier, Nikola Vucevic and Elfrid Payton all went big in a game Victor Oladipo (concussion) was knocked out of, and Andrew Nicholson was a DNP-CD in a game sans Aaron Gordon (concussion) because Scott Skiles reads Rotoworld and wants to torture us all. Both Oladipo and Gordon are on shutdown watch with three games left on the schedule, and their absence would benefit the aforementioned triplet of players as well as potentially Mario Hezonja. Hey, at least C.J. Watson and Ersan Ilyasova played a combined 53 minutes, right?
New York @ Philadelphia: Knicks 109, Sixers 102
Studs: Robin Lopez, Sasha Vujacic, Jerian Grant; Robert Covington, Nerlens Noel, Ish Smith
Duds: Arron Afflalo, Langston Galloway; Hollis Thompson
The Biggest Takeaway(s): Robin Lopez did everything except make his free throws, and he’s now swatted away a game-changing 15 shots over the last seven days. Maybe he’s trying to carry the family name with brother Brook done for the season; whatever the explanation, we’ll gladly take it. With no upside and plenty of potential downside to the situation, I’d be surprised to see Kristaps Porzingis (shoulder) again this year, which means Derrick Williams should stay plenty relevant. Don’t look now, but Sasha Vujacic is averaging 17.7 points, 4.0 boards, 3.0 dimes, 1.3 steals and 3.7 treys on 61.3% shooting in his last three games, while Arron Afflalo continues to be an absolute non-factor. Jerian Grant had arguably his best game as a pro tying his career high with 16 points, and as mentioned last week, I prefer him to Langston Galloway both in reality and in fantasy.
It’s only appropriate that Sam Hinkie’s prized (free agent) pupil in Robert Covington stood out in the game after his resignation, dropping a career-high 30 points (seven triples, 11 rebounds) as a tribute to his former boss. Nerlens Noel also chipped in a stat-stuffing double-double as an ode to the man who drafted him, while the consistently inconsistent Nik Stauskas tipped his hat to the man who traded for him by producing a favorable line and should get one last opportunity to sauce his plate with Isaiah Canaan’s (torn labrum) campaign over. Despite his surprisingly good play, Carl Landry (back) isn’t worth holstering through any DNPs.
Brooklyn @ Charlotte: Hornets 113, Nets 99
Studs: Thomas Robinson, Wayne Ellington; Kemba Walker, Troy Daniels
Duds: Bojan Bogdanovic, Shane Larkin; Courtney Lee
The Biggest Takeaway(s): T-Rob (16&17) is looking like T-Rex with six straight double-doubles, averaging 15.3 points, 13.0 rebounds and 1.1 steals over that stretch. The downside: He’s Andre Drummond at the FT line, going 12-for-35 (34.3%) in his last six. Intriguing rookie Chris McCullough is worth a look if you’re chasing steals, racking up eight of them in the last two games.
Milwaukee @ Boston: Celtics 124, Bucks 109
Studs: Giannis Antetokounmpo; Tyler Zeller, Kelly Olynyk
Duds: Greg Monroe; Amir Johnson, Jae Crowder
The Biggest Takeaway(s): That’s now two straight games of 40-plus minutes for Rashad Vaughn, whose development is a clear priority for a Bucks team going nowhere. Launching 29 shots (17 3PA) during that stretch, the first-round pick is averaging 11.0 points, 2.5 steals, 2.0 3PM and a block on 31% shooting. Even though Khris Middleton “might” play on Sunday, I can’t afford to wait on a maybe when I’m trying to go to the dance. For what it’s worth: It’s hard to see how a marginalized Greg Monroe will desire a return to Milwaukee next season. No Boston starter played more than 25 minutes, clearing the way for Tyler Zeller to go off for a career-high 26 points and four blocks while Kelly Olynyk posted a surprisingly productive line, but neither is a recommended pickup with the Celtics at full strength. Evan Turner (eye) returned with four points, four boards, nine dimes, a steal and a block over 31.5 minutes in a matchup where Jae Crowder picked up three fouls in the first quarter and played 14 minutes as a result. Expect New England’s Soup Man to be better on Saturday vs. Atlanta.
Washington @ Detroit: Pistons 112, Wizards 99
Studs: Markieff Morris; Reggie Jackson
Duds: Otto Porter, Marcin Gortat; Andre Drummond
The Biggest Takeaway(s): John Wall (knee) carried the Wizards as far as he could, but expect him to be shut down now that Washington has been eliminated from the playoffs. Ramon Sessions (12 points, six dimes) would benefit if Wall sits, but I can’t say enough about Wall—a bona fide superstar and first-round fantasy pick—who doesn’t get the national credit he deserves. Reggie Jackson—whom I’ve been (rightfully) very critical of lately—picked a good time to have his best game in a month, finishing with 39 points, nine dimes and four triples on 14-of-20 shooting. It’s the first time Jackson has connected on at least half of his shots since March 12, the first time he’s made at least four threes since February 21 and the first time the Pistons are going to the playoffs since 2009.
