𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐐𝐔𝐈𝐂𝐊 𝐇𝐈𝐓𝐒
🏀 RETURNING STARS / PLAYERS
✔ With KYRIE IRVING coming back at the end of this week, the Nets are back to full health and you can safely drop Edmond Sumner, Cam Thomas and even Seth Curry (in shallower leagues).
✔ BEN SIMMONS had a great game today, staying engaged on defense and had a vintage line of 15P 13R 7A and more importantly 32 big minutes. Is the old Ben back? I doubt he would go all the way back, but he'll be better from what he has shown so far- that's for sure. Think top 80 when punting FT%. It's time to sell if you want to get rid of him. ( p.s. I would definitely sell him)
✔ KAWHI LEONARD returned today but bombed with 6-5-4 line and no stocks in 24 minutes. The stats are secondary right now for me if I own him. I think he's still working his way back and whatever you can get out of him will be good already. Temper expectations with him, don't think of him as your 3rd round pick or whatever so you'd not get stressed out.
✔ DENNIS SCHRODER is available for the Lakers tomorrow and should be part of their rotation right away but I'd wait to see what exactly his role would be. With Pat Bev and Austin Reaves ahead of the rotation, he could be a 6th man taking over Kendrick Nunn's minutes. I'm not adding him in standard leagues yet.
🏀 GAME NOTES
BKN vs. POR
✔ YUTA WATANABE is shooting 51% from 3PTS range and has been playing a big role off the bench for the Nets. We mentioned him here before and I think deeper leagues can consider an add.
✔ A day after getting roasted by KD, ROYCE O'NEAL comes up with triple 11s (PTS-REBS-ASSTS) in the unlikeliest of triple doubles you'd see this season. He should continue to chug along with low end value this season and is still worth a roster spot for now but that could change when Kyrie returns.
✔ The NIC CLAXTON train has found a road block in Ben Simmons' emergence as his backup. He's still a top 50 guy for now on the back of his 1.3S 2.3B a game but minutes are trending down so I expect him to fall back into the 90-100 range eventually if the timeshare with Simmons continues.
♦ JERAMI GRANT finally cooled off as he had a hard time matching up with KD today. I expect him to bounce back in their next game but as we posted earlier- it's time to sell and sell fast.
♦ I was skeptical about ANFERNEE SIMONS this year due to the Lillard effect and his lack of assts/stocks but so far so good for him. He has been able to keep his scoring up (22 PPG) and has added enough 3s/assts to stay in the top 80 so far. He's someone you can target if you are tired of inefficient guards out there like Jalen Green, KPJ, DLo.
SAS vs. SAC
✔ The Spurs were back to their old tricks today, ruling out Keldon Johnson at the very last minute. I wouldn't be surprised if they do the same to Devin Vassell, Jakob Poeltl or Tre Jones tomorrow.
✔ With their 5 game week about to be over, it's safe to drop players like Josh Richardson and Charles Bassey, they were duds this week. It was KEITA BATES-DIOP who has been starting and performing well so far. He's still a stream for the last 2 Spurs games.
♦ MALIK MONK is on fire and should continue to be rostered but while he has hurt KEVIN HUERTER a bit, Huerter should be fine. The minutes are still there and he has been able to help in peripheral categories aside from PTS.
♦ Is DE'AARON FOX a sell high? I think he won't end the season as the 20th ranked player that he is now so yes. But I also think he's definitely a top 40 even possibly a top 30 guy this year if the FG% and FT% don't drop too low.
LAC vs. DET
✔ With Kawhi back, I'd monitor Marcus Morris and Norm Powell closely to see how their minutes will be in future games. The other Clippers are safe drops (except for PG and Zubac).
♦ JALEN DUREN played a solid first half as Marvin Bagley got 3 quick fouls in the first half. That resulted in a minutes split of 25-23 today. If Duren could just continue to get 22 minutes, he'd be a hold until Isaiah Stewart returns in 2-3 weeks from his toe sprain
♦ The percentages are brutal, but you can't complain about the 5 stocks KILLIAN HAYES contributed today. That's going to be the case as long as Cade's still out. Hopefully, he either makes some shots or not take a lot of them but he is still a must hold.
Comments