For the past week, I've compiled notable stat lines to check out top fantasy performers for the week. The purpose of these past week reviews is to help you determine which players you may consider to trade for if you need help in areas they may be contributing significantly in. I also included matchups, so that you'd see which opponents allowed such big games to happen, just to give you an idea what you'd expect when your players meet these teams.
Top Weekly Points Total - 37
Awardees: Kevin Durant (at PHI), Carmelo Anthony (vs NOH), Paul George (vs NOH)
Would you look at that, three players reaching the same score in the same week. Durant and Melo have been on a scoring tear this week, and Paul George having a career night against New Orleans.
Honorable Mentions: Kevin Love (34 vs DEN), Ryan Anderson (34 at PHX), Andrea Bargniani (34 at DET), James Harden (33 at NYK)
Top Weekly Rebounds Total - 19
Awardees: Carlos Boozer (at MIL), Anderson Varejao (vs PHI), David Lee (vs DAL)
Boozer's 19 boards came with 22 points, and that has been the highlight of his week, posting pedestrian numbers for someone of his caliber. Varejao had double digit rebounds in each of his three games this week, which is expected from such a high energy guy like him. Lee seems to be picking up his game, going back to his old double-double self.
Honorable Mentions: Chris Bosh (18 vs MIL), John Henson (18 at MIA)
Top Weekly Assist Total -16
Awardee: Rajon Rondo (vs OKC and at ORL)
Rondo is on a double-digit assist tear as of late, as he already tied John Stockton for most consecutive games with double digit assists at 17. When his streak looked in peril, he was put in a lost game possibly to pad his stats. It probably isn't a crime to aim for a record, so I think Rondo may be forgiven. It's not as if he's intentionally shooting bricks to rebound the ball to get a triple double.
Honorable Mention: Greivis Vasquez (14 at PHX)
Top Weekly Steals Total - 7
Awardee: Chris Paul (at ATL)
If there's one thing to be taken positively out of Atlanta's demolition of the Clippers, it probably is CP3's lineof 19 points five rebounds, seven assists and seven steals. It was a quiet seven steals that the announcers didn't even notice until Paul sat down for good with little time left in the fourth.
Honorable Mention: Byron Mullens (6 vs ATL)
Top Weekly Blocks Total - 11
Awardee: Roy Hibbert (vs NOH)
This was Roy Hibbert's triple-double game, as he finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds as well. This was after blocking four shots the previous game against Washington. He's a good source of blocks, but he's doing it against weaker teams. At least he's not that foul prone anymore.
Honorable Mentions: Mike Dunleavy (4 at CHA), Dwight Howard (4 vs BKN), Robin Lope (4 at IND and DEN), Josh Smith (4 vs WAS), David West (4 vs WAS), Deron Williams (4 vs POR)
Top Weekly Three Points Made - 9
Awardee: Paul George (vs NOH)
Paul George makes his second appearance in this week's highlights, as he torched the Hornets on his way to a career-high 37 points. Needless to say, this was his highlight for the week. We expect more from George especially with Danny Granger still sidelined.
Honorable Mentions: Ryan Anderson (8 of 13 at PHX), Carmelo Anthony (7 of 12 in HOU)
Fantasy Line of the Week
Kevin Durant
37 pts 8 rebs 5 asts 4 stls 3blks 2 tos 10-for-22 FG 2-for-6 three pointers 15-for-17 free throws in PHI
No one in the NBA filled the stat sheet better than Durant in that game against Philly. He did pretty much everything while shooting almost 50% from the field, and committing only two turnovers. He also had a pretty good week in the scoring department, and he's increased his three point shooting attempts, after taking less of it to start the year. I don't imagine owners letting him go, so this highlight does nothing more to us non-owners but salivate at his fantasy production.
That's It? Line of the Week
Elton Brand
0 pts 4 rebs 1ast 1 blk 1 to vs LAL
Brand must have had the worst fantasy week for a marquee name. His line against the Lakers was his worst for the week, and the others weren't that much better. For a guy you expect to carry a huge responsibility with Dirk Nowitzki out, Brand has been a disappointment to the point that owners might even consider dropping him. Brand owners shouldn't be offended if they are given low ball offers for him, because he's not helping himself out.
Redemption Player of the Week
James Harden
6 pts 2 rebs 3ast 1-for-6 FG 1 three pointer at UTA
since: 30.5 pts 4.0 rebs 6.0 asts 3.5 stls 0.5 blks 52% FG, 6 for 12 three pointers, vs NYK and CHI
Harden was a hot fantasy player starting the season off with a bang. He slowed down for a bit, and had his worst outing in a regular season game for Houston in Utah as he had his dud line. However, he bounced back nicely in their wins against New York and Chicago to defend their homecourt.
Weekly Notables:
- Gerald Wallace had 7 points 5 rebounds 2 assists 5 steals and 3 rebounds against the Lakers. These aren't eye-popping stats, but he filled out the stat sheet nicely. Nice glue guy to have on the team.
- Speaking of non-eye popping stats, how about Jason Kidd making 17 points by shooting 5 threes, grabbing 6 boards, dishing 5 assists, and having 5 steals in his homecoming in Dallas? He's been pretty consistent, with across the board stats in limited minutes.
- On the consistency note, Metta World Peace is holding his own in that loaded Lakers lineup. He's shooting the ball well, is making a lot of threes, and has scored in double digits in every game except his first this season.
- David West is stepping up for the under-performing Roy Hibbert and Paul George, going for 30 points, 8 rebound, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 4 blocks against Washington. You know he can score and probably grab some boards, so the blocks turned out to be bonuses for owners. He was also 10-for-10 at the line, which you love for a big man.
- Anderson Varejao is doing to rebounds what Kevin Durant is doing in the points category. He had 19, 17 and 15 last week, which he does almost all the time that you're just used to seeing him grab double digit rebounds every game.
- For assists, Rajon Rondo is doing that thing Varejao and Durant are doing. He's now had 37 consecutive games with at least 10 assists.
- Zaza Pachulia had a big game against the Clippers, with 19 points on 7-for-9 shooting with 12 rebounds. With the lineup of Zaza in the middle, Horford at PF and Josh Smith at SF working so well against the Clippers, maybe they'd try that combination more often. If that's the case, Zaza could be a nice addition to your roster in need of rebounds.
- Rookie Jonas Valanciunas of Toronto had a pretty solid week, grabbing boards, blocking shots, and shooting the ball well. If he keeps this up, he just might hold off Amir Johnson and Ed Davis for the starting gig. He needs to stay off foul trouble though.
- Deron Williams had four blocks in Dallas. I don't think it'll be a norm though.
- Ditto John Henson's 18 rebounds. As a fellow fantasy player said, "nobody understands Milwaukee's rotation".
- Chandler Parsons had a pretty nice week, playing James Harden's sidekick in Houston. His best effort came at the expense of the Knicks as he finished with 31 points, 5 rebounds 4 assists, 4 steals, one block, 13-for-17 from the field and 4-of-7 from three. All these happening while "Linsanity" is riding the bench in 4th quarters for Houston.
- Byron Mullens was like a diesel engine last week, starting off a bit slow the first two games (but grabbing 9 and 8 rebounds) before taking six steals in their game against Atlanta, and going for 27 points on 5-for-10 three point shooting with 8 rebounds in a double OT game against Toronto.
- Kevin Love is the anti-Mullens for the week. He had a big comeback performance going 34 and 14 (2 threes) against Denver, 24-13 (3 steals) in Portland, and 15 and 15 in Golden State. Moving forward, there's the hope that he doesn't continue this "downward" trend.
- Luis Scola is riding the Phoenix bench in favor of Markieff Morris. Needless to say, he had a pretty bad fantasy week. Hopefully, he picks up his game this week.
- Ersan Ilyasova is struggling as a starter. A move back to the bench might be helpful for him. If today's game is any indication, the second statement might be accurate, as he led the Bucks' second unit to a victory in arguably his best game of the season.
- Andrea Bargniani had a pretty nice scoring week, until the Spurs visited and held him to four points on 2-of-19 shooting.
- Jose Calderon's numbers are fluctuating. But that was an expected risk when the Raptors acquired Kyle Lowry in the offseason. Owners could only wish Lowry gets shelved again.
- How badly does teamwork need to work for Cleveland without their franchise player? Eight of nine players fielded by Cleveland scored at least 10 points to almost win the game against Miami. That's why they're a good team to look at when acquiring under-the-radar players.
- There was a Lamar Odom sighting for the Clippers against Oklahoma. Odom finished with four points and eight rebounds in 14 minutes of play. Maybe he's earning a spot in the rotation? With Matt Barnes and Caron Butler alternating at the SF spot, he'd only get increased playing time if Blake Griffin learns how to defend better. Otherwise, DeAndre Jordan needs to stay on the floor to anchor the defense.
- The backcourt rotation of Ramon Sessions, Kemba Walker, and Jeff Taylor have been a productive bunch for Charlotte, similar to Festus Ezeli and Carl Landry holding their own down low while Andrew Bogut is still out.
- David Lee is returning to double-double machine form. It'll be interesting to see if he could keep it up when Bogut returns.
No comments:
Post a Comment