Tough Decisions - 01/20/2010
BY Steve Alexander Waiver Wired, The Sequel
The sudden hot play by Robin Lopez, Kris Humphries and Carlos Delfino has caused my email and Twitter to blow up. Additionally, Tyrus Thomas, Erick Dampier and Yi Jianlian are being dropped like hotcakes due to their poor play. What is the right answer when looking at adding one of these hot free agents? I! 'm not sure I have the answer, but I'll attempt to make some sense of it.
I'm also sure I'll be answering plenty of questions regarding this situation in Wednesday's Live Season Pass NBA Chat at 3 p.m.
Lopez is now starting over Channing Frye, who has been terrible lately, and blew up for 19 points, seven rebounds, a steal and three blocks on MLK Day. He's averaging 15 points, five boards and four blocks over his last three games after not doing much the first half of the season. I have no idea if he's going to stay in the starting lineup for long or not, but if you need blocks, he might be your guy.
Lopez was taken with the 15th overall pick in the 2008 Draft and the Suns appear ready to use him. He's been great over these last three, but could easily disappe! ar again in the near future. While that doesn't seem likely, it is pos sible. But if you need a center and have someone to cut, he's an automatic pickup right now. You have to think that Frye and Jason Richardson (who has also been benched), are going to end up back in the starting lineup at some point. But until it happens, Lopez looks like nearly a sure bet to at least put up serviceable big-man numbers going forward.
Leandro Barbosa will start again over Richardson and also deserves a close look in all leagues. I just don't see J-Rich's move to the bench as permanent. At least not yet.
Humps had a career-high 21 points to go along with seven rebounds on MLK Day, and is averaging 15 points and eight rebounds in his three Jersey games. Now, do I unde! rstand why a team with just three wins and a bunch of youth is giving this guy heavy minutes? No way. If I was running the show in loserville, Terrence Williams, Courtney Lee and CDR would be getting all the touches, while Devin Harris and Brook Lopez would go through the motions while trying not to get hurt. Seriously Kiki, your team is 3-37 and you're all fired up about Humps? Weird. I have no idea how long it will last, but I had him in several lineups this week and am pretty happy about it. If you own Ersan Ilyas! ova or Omri Casspi, Humphries is a good-looking alternative.
Delfino is suddenly hot again, as Ilyasova has been disappearing every other game or so. Delfino has hit double digits in scoring in three straight, including MLK Day's double-double, and is averaging 17 points, seven rebounds, two steals and three 3-pointers over his last three games. Scott Skiles is very fickle and could shut him out again at any time, and Jerry Stackhouse is en route to Milwaukee, but I still think Delfino is a guy to grab right now. Just keep in mind that he's only hit double digits in scoring in consecutive games three or four times this season.
So, in summary, all three players are worth adding. It just depends on whom you're going to cut to get them. And I would not recommend cutting Frye or J-Rich, but get them on your bench until we see how this plays o! ut.
In most cases I'd also recommend holding onto guys like Tyrus Thomas and Yi Jianlian, but I don't have as much faith in Erick Dampier getting hot again. Other guys who are cuttable right now include Ilyasova, Casspi and Chris Duhon. There are plenty of other candidates out there who can be dropped, but you need to weigh your decision carefully. Lou Williams, Rafer Alston and Allen Iverson are three other players being dropped right now. I think I'm OK with dumping AI and Rafer, as the injury risk and lack of production are annoying and ever present. But with a new coach likely to arrive in Philly at some point, I'm not ready to give up on Sweet Lou yet.
I know that doesn't answer everyone's question, but at least gives you something to chew on when looking to make a move.
Tuesday's Games
There were only two games on the slate Tuesday night.
Heat Blast Pacers
The Heat crushed the Pacers on Tuesday, led by Dwyane Wade's 32 points, four 3-pointers, three assists, two steals and three blocks on 12-of-20 shooting - and he did all of that in just three quarters of the blowout. Wade is shooting 58 percent over his last five games, hitting 53-of-92 shots. He blames his wrist injury for him ! putting more arc on his shots, and if he needs to hit his wrist with a hammer every week or so to keep banging jumpers, I'm good with it.
Michael Beasley, who has been inconsistent all year, had 20 points and 10 boards, while Jermaine O'Neal added 10 points and six boards in the blowout. I still think Beasley is going to come on in the second half, so just stick with him.
For the Pacers, Danny Granger a big problem tonight, hitting just 2-of-16 shots for eight points. He's 6-of-29 in his last two, but is reportedly healthy. He'll get it turned around, but it could be too little, too late for owners this week, as the damage has been done.
Brandon Rush was solid with 17 ! points, 10 boards, a three and a block, and could be ready to turn it on - maybe. He's been highly disappointing all season, but maybe.Dahntay Jones is coming on again and had 13 points, Roy Hibbert scored 12 and Troy Murphy had 11 points. Jones can be used in very deep leagues, but there are better guys to pick up in regular-sized joints. And Hibbert is another guy I think should be held onto for the rest of the season.
Luther Head (ankle) and Tyler Hansbrough (ear) were out again for the Pacers, and Head will hurt the value of Dahntay Jones, and possibly Rush, upon his return.
Cavs Beat Raptors
The Cavaliers beat the Raps 108-100 Tuesday, led by LeBron James and his near triple-double. He finished with 28 points, nine boards, 11 assists, three, steals and three blocks, and hit 8-of-18 shots and 12-of-14 free throws. He's averaging career highs in field goal percentage (51), free throw percentage (78), 3-point percentage (37) and assists (7.7), and is showing no signs of slowing down. He shot nearly 82 percent from the line in 13 November games, and his free throw shooting is not nearly the issue it used to be, giving him the most fantasy value of his career.
Mo Williams left briefly with a left shoulder! injury but it doesn't appear to be serious. He had 22 points, four 3- pointers and 10 assists, marking just the third time this season he's had 10 dimes in a game. Oddly, he hasn't had a nine or 11-assist game yet, and has handed out eight of them just once this season.
Shaquille O'Neal hit 7-of-10 shots to score 16 points, becoming just the fifth player to score 28,000 points in his career. The other four are Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain. It's scary to think about how many points he would have scored had he not missed about 5,000 free throws in the last 15 years.
Shaq also made some waves late Tuesday by saying that he could get LeBron James into the Dunk Contest if Kobe Bryant and Vince Carter joined him, giving the prize money to Haitian relief. An interesting concept, but it's probably too late to make it happen for this year's All-Star Game. Then again, maybe it's not.
Hedo Turkoglu was useless for the Raptors, who came in hot, winning 10 of their previous 13 games. Turkoglu hit just 1-of-6 shots for three points, but did add three rebounds, three assists and two steals in the loss. He's really struggling right now, hitting just 14-of-50 shots in his last six games. I'm also getting questions as to whether or not he should be dropped. I guess owners can if they're so inclined, but he's a guy I'd rather see benched than flat-out dropped.
Jose Calderon cooled o ff, hitting just 2-of-9 shots for six points and six assists, while starter Jarrett Jack had 11 points and three dimes. Calderon's trade value is kaput, but at least he was playing fairly well coming into this one.
Andrea Bargnani continues to produce for Toronto and had 19 points, six boards, three 3-pointers and a block in the loss. I caught some heat for being so high on Bargnani coming into the season, but he's producing, just as I had hoped. He's ranked 18th in the league in blocks, 22nd in 3-pointers, 38th in scoring and 45th in rebounding this season, and his ability to score, block shots and hit from downtown give him exceptional value at center.
Quick Change
The Kings announced on Tuesday that Spencer Hawes and Omri Casspi will be benched in favor of Jon Brockman and Donte' Greene. If your waiver wire is bare, Greene is probably worth an add (cutting Ilyasova?), but don't cut another productive starter for him. Hawes is another guy I'd recommend benching over cutting, but if you've owned him all year, it might be time to let go. He's been as frustrating as anyone to own. Brockman's a solid rebounder, but it's hard to see him offering long-term value. We'll see.
Injury News
Will Bynum (ankles) is out again for the Pistons on Wednesday, Richard Hamilton (flu) and Chris Wilcox (back) are probable, and Ben Gordon (groin) is questionable. Charlie Villanueva says his foot injury is feeling much better thanks to a massage therapist. I have no idea if Gordon is going to play or not, but my guess would be 'not.'
Blazer Brandon Roy says he'll play through his hamstring injury on Wednesday, but he's still not a guarantee. It will come down to a game-time decision and the training staff, and keep in mind he thought he'd play on Monday, too. He even removed himself from the bench in the second half to avoid the urge to run out there. Having said all that, my gut says he'll play.
Rasheed Wallace has been dealing with a groin injury in addition to his foot problem, but is playing through it. He'll take a hit when Kevin Garnett returns on Friday. There's possibly an outside chance that KG will play on Wednesday after a good practice session on Tuesday, but the Celtics are saying he won't play until Friday at the earliest.
Kirk Hinrich should be good to go for the Bulls tonight after a bout with the flu, while John Salmons is now extremely iffy after not traveling with the team due to his own bug. If he sits it will be a shame after Monday's nice line.
Andrew Bynum missed Lakers' practice on Tue sday dealing with a gastro issue, which also limited him on Monday. Hopefully he's good to go against the Cavs on Thursday. The couple days off should mean he plays.
Kevin Love missed T-Wolves practice Tuesday with his strep throat and everyone is a little antsy after Ryan Hollins missed six games with the same illness. The Wolves host the Thunder tonight, and will need Love if he's able to go. Consider him a game-time decision.
Josh Smith (Achilles) and Joe Johnson (foot) are both on the injury report for the Hawks, who have managed to stay incredibly healthy this season. Joe says he won'! t miss any games with the foot problem, while Smoove doesn't sound in much jeopardy of missing this one, either.
Charlotte's Gerald Wallace missed practice with his sprained left ankle and it sounds like he'll be a game-time decision tonight against the Heat.
For the Warriors, Ronny Turiaf still doesn't know when he'll go through a full practice with his ankle injury, Anthony Morrow will miss 1-2 weeks with a knee injury, and Vladimir Radmanovic is doubtful for Wednesday with his Achilles injury. That means we'll see more Cartier Martin, who is expected to sign an other 10-day contract any day now, while Anthony Tolliver is probably questionable with his knee injury. The fact that Tolliver wasn't listed on the injury list is either because I'm the only person who knows he's playing for the Warriors, or because the injury isn't enough to keep him out tonight.
And while it's not an injury note, expect for Jerry Stackhouse to make his Bucks debut tonight. I'm not expecting much, but if you're in a deep league and need a warm body, think about grabbing him if he plays well. |
