(Photo taken by David Liam Kyle/NBA/Getty)
Thursday Quick Hits
Finally, DARIUS GARLAND returned. The 42 minutes is good (it was an OT game) and the 29P-12A-3S line even better. Best case- Garland-Spida becomes East version of CP3-Booker. Everybody eats, everybody happy.
KRISTAPS PORZINGIS had a sublime game today. Peak Zinger right here. Key word 'peak'. Injury the big concern. He's 38th rank this season, if you can upsell to top 30 player, I'd consider it.
When JOEL EMBIID sits, TYRESE MAXEY feasts. In 3 games w/o Embiid, he has averaged 34-4-3 with good shooting. Helps that DE'ANTHONY MELTON sat this one out too.
KD is KD, but I'd rather have JAYSON TATUM this season and going forward over him. The FG will go down, he won't shoot 55% for the whole season but the rest of his stats are sustainable. He'll flirt with 30PPG this season.
Continues improvement for AL HORFORD, I'm not dropping a starting center with the skill set of Tito Al, no matter how past his prime he is already.
KEEGAN MURRAY hasn't really found his groove yet and this is a good chance to snap him if the owner's not sold on him. He's a solid buy low guy. I think he's a top 70 guy this year.
DOMANTAS SABONIS answered our call with a near triple double. Clearly Fox's absence will give him a boost so with KEVIN HUERTER. DAVION MITCHELL laid a stinker today, hold till Fox returns but expect up and down lines- there was a reason he was 2% owned before Fox got hurt.
Just as I was mentioned JIMMY BUTLER as a must sell player, he misses today's game with either rest or a real 'hip' soreness. He's going to annoy the hell out of owners as he always does. I'd always consider trading him if you own him.
TYLER HERRO's eyes are apparently better than Garland's. He didn't have to miss any time with his eye injury and hit the game winner today to cap off a big line. KYLE LOWRY's going to be top 70 after this game and continues to climb the rankings. Like Horford, they might be old, but there's still value.
There will be no bigger fluke stat in the NBA this year than IMMANUEL QUICKLEY getting 16 rebounds. But IQ's starting to get more minutes and is worth putting on your watchlists.
QUENTIN GRIMES returned and is another guy to monitor though it would take a long while for him to get into a rhythm and crack the rotation of Thibs.
Tough holding on to ONYEKA OKONGWU in shallow leagues but he is still worth a hold in deeper formats. With his minutes sticking at 19 a game, he needs Capela to go down to have standard league value.
DEJOUNTE MURRAY has lesser rebounds/assists this year but the rest of his stats has held from last season, resulting in 15th rank right now which is where I had him during the drafts. I think he is a top 20 guy easily.
GORDON HAYWARD left today with injury issues which could be the start of his injury woes this season. JALEN MCDANIELS is certainly not complaining, getting a whopping 18 FGA today- obviously hold him.
He is as low end as can be, but while Rozier and LaMelo are out and if Hayward misses time, MASON PLUMLEE has done enough to be rostered in 14T leagues. Out of position assists are valuable but mind the FT% hit.
ZACH LAVINE played when he was supposed to rest- as we said, hard to really predict these things. I doubt this means he'll play all B2Bs going forward though. Maybe try to use this to trade him now?
PATRICK WILLIAMS has been playing much better, scoring in double figures in 4 of his last 5 games. The stocks have also gone higher, he's an add while his playing well. Don't get too attached though, it's not sustainable.
JABARI SMITH hit rock bottom with 1/10 FG night. He didn't help in other stats either. He's going to be available for a song right now with the way he's playing. Buy Low but if remember you need to pack long bag of patience since he will take time- think Jalen Green last season.
All is good with ALPEREN SENGUN, as he's the starter now and playing really well. He reached the 30+ minutes mark for the first time this season and he'd be a regular double double machine with stocks moving forward. Don't mess with it Stephen Silas.
JALEN GREEN's struggling, shooting 36% FG this season which should increase. He is the 172nd ranked player this year which will clearly rise as he hits more shots. I do hope his steals rate increases too because if not, his upside is limited to top 100.
MARCUS MORRIS Jr. should continue to have some value as low end option or streamer for the rest of the week or until Kawhi returns.
Can't get much from Pistons-Bucks blowout as the Detroit stars got hit with a tough match-up. Cade should bounce back while SADDIQ BEY had a good game- again, I'd be looking to sell him as much as I can.
From missing everything to now making almost anything- it's the JRUE HOLIDAY story so far. GIANNIS also continues to cruise with another 7 stocks tonight. Bucks are undefeated and that's without Khris Middleton yet. Sadly, they're one of the worst teams to comb for streamers or underrated fantasy prospects.
Spurs' injury report will be interesting to see- they are down DEVIN VASSELL, KELDON JOHNSON and now TRE JONES hurt his shoulder so did Romeo Langford who started today, Today was a statement from them that they are very much in the running for Wemby.
Underneath all the rubble in San Antonio, watch out for MALAKI BRANHAM the rookie. He got 22 minutes and if Tre Jones needs to miss some time, there is some short term appeal for this guy. I'd also hold on to JOSH RICHARDSON despite the poor game today.
On the other hand, any time one of the Toronto 5 is out- keep in mind it's CHRIS BOUCHER time. This has been the case from last year and it continues this year. So pick him up and just drop him once the team gets healthy- we still don't know how long FVV's back will keep him out.
And how about OG ANNUNOBY? He won't score a ton, but 2.6 SPG, 1 BPG and 2 3PTM makes him a special fantasy player who was criminally undervalued in drafts this year.
Similar to Jalen Duren, Tari Eason (who had a good game today), WALKER KESSLER won't be an every game player yet. It's time to readjust expectations from the rookie as his minutes will not be consistent night in and night out.
Encouraging to see COLLIN SEXTON get 30 minutes off the bench, let's see if it holds up. JORDAN CLARKSON owners should hope he stays in Utah where his value will be highest this season. He is averaging 5.3 APG this year which is an added wrinkle to his fantasy game- pushing him into the top 120.
The Grizzlies' injury report cleared up with everybody except JJJ showing up to play so it's business as usual. That puts BRANDON CLARKE back to the garbage bin for now.
Meanwhile, another sell player is JERAMI GRANT while Dame Lillard is out. Grant is a little overrated in fantasy for his time in Detroit but he hasn't been racking up the stocks nor has he been efficient in Portland.
Thank God for MATT RYAN, as the Lakers pick up the improbable win. I'm keeping my mind open about RWB- if he behaves in his 6th Man role- there is potential for success there. While it still won't be a top 100 guy, at least it's somebody serviceable and worth owning.
LONNIE WALKER will have duds here and there but I think overall, he should be rostered in standard leagues. Just have to ride the waves with this guy until the team changes their rotation again
Could be a matchup thing, but JONAS VALANCIUNAS' minutes is something to monitor. He's at 26 minutes a game this year and has gotten 21 and 23 the last two. He is still giving his double double but upside is low if he gets low minutes.
On the other hand, LARRY NANCE has carved a role to the detriment of JVal. The Pels have gone small at times so Nance is getting the call at center. He's worth a hold in deeper leagues. Also as long as Brandon Ingram is out, I'd hold on to NAJI MARSHALL.
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