Daily Dose: Curry Conundrum - 02/23/2012
BY Aaron Bruski Wednesday night marked the last big slate of games before the All Star break, with just four games on the docket tonight. There are a couple of doozies, though, with Jeremy Lin taking Linsanity to South Beach and the Lakers going to Oklahoma City to wrap up the night. Last night’s action was a mix of players mailing it in, and some guys heading into pit row on nothing but fumes, but the Dose has a full tank of gas and is ready to go. For breaking injury news and fantasy analysis in real-time, click here to follow me on Twitter. HAND DOWN MAN DOWN Perhaps the worst news of the night came for Stephen Curry’s owners, who added ‘plantar fasciitis’ to their list of concerns after a 10-minute performance last night. He is diagnosed with a strained tibialis posterior tendon in his right foot, which is Latin for ‘beer me,’ but the doctors aren’t sure if it’s PF or not. He’ll get until Tuesday to rest up and he’s out of the skills competition in all likelihood, and Nate Robinson and Brandon Rush will be guys to look at if bad news hits the wire. Ekpe Udoh was a recommended pickup in 12-team leagues for those needing a big man, though I cautioned owners about his knee heading into last night’s game, which ended up becoming a problem after he knocked knees again. I’m not really sure how much that factored into his zero-point, four-rebound, and one-block effort in 22 minutes. Surely it isn’t a step in the right direction, but the focus should have been after the All Star break, with the hope that the position battle swings in his favor. Let’s downgrade him to risky, speculative add, rather than ‘recommended,’ especially since Mark Jackson looked more erratic with his rotation than he normally does. Andris Bied! rins (flu) held his starting job, as many expected, and he was predictably bad with two points and three boards in 18 minutes. The Warriors went up big on the Suns and then let them get back in the game as Jackson played David Lee at center for stretches, allowing Marcin Gortat and Channing Frye to have their way down low. Monta Ellis bailed him out, though, draining a tough last-second game-winner to finish with 26 points and six assists. If Curry’s injury is serious than he could be in for a big second half. Dorell Wright went off for 23 points on 7-of-11 shooting (including three triples) with seven rebounds and a block, and needs to be added if he was droppe! d. Interestingly but not surprisingly, he found himself on the bench late despite playing one his best games of the year, while Robinson (4-of-13 FGs, three treys, five assists, three steals) offset any benefits he brought with all the negatives he’s known for. TENDON TALK PART II Joe Johnson’s knee MRI came back clean, and what doctors were looking for there was a tear, slight or not, of the patella tendon. This confirms that the issue is simple tendinitis, which means that we’re not looking at a long-term absence on this go-around. Surely the situation could worsen, but the All Star break is a godsend for owners and it could easily be all he needs to get right. Producing at just a late-round value in 8- and 9-cat leagues over the past month, owners probably aren’t going to get much in return with knee concerns lingering, so the play is to hold. Willie Green started for Johnson (patella tendon) last night and put up 16 points, four rebounds, four assists, a steal, and a three. He has been a pleasant surprise over the last week or so and is well worth a look as a spot-starter tonight. Jeff Teague continued to befuddle owners with 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting (including two threes), but no assists to go with his three steals and one block. I’ve fielded more drop questions about him than I thought would be possible after his reasonably strong start to the year, and like Doc said blurbing last night I think he should be held through the break. YOU SIR, ARE NO KOBE BRYANT Drew Gooden revealed that he has a slightly torn ligament in his shooting wrist, and he compared the injury to Kobe’s wrist, but owners can listen to that professional diagnosis at their own risk. What I do believe, though, is that the stability of his wrist is not a big problem right now and that the tear is indeed minor. The issue, similarly to Eric Gordon and Deron Williams, is how he’s going to handle the daily pounding. If you own Gooden, this article is a must-read as it illustrates the trouble he has been having, which hasn’t exactly been a walk in the park. As I said yesterday, m! y take is a pragmatic one, if he can’t return to a full set of minutes after the All Star break I’m ready to walk, assuming he doesn’t blow it up in limited time. Even with Gooden’s risks, I’m selling the Bucks frontcourt right now. Larry Sanders followed up his big night with a four-point, two-block yawner in just 21 minutes of action, and starter Jon Leuer scored 14 points with four boards, a steal, and a block. While we’re selling unreliable Bucks assets, the same goes for Mike Dunleavy (18 minutes, two points), who is neither guaranteed playing time nor guaranteed to do anything with it if he gets it. Carlos Delfino (38 minutes, seven points, 3-of-12 FGs, otherwise normal line) is worth owning while he’s getting burn, but if you’re counting on that to ! be a long-term thing you’re being optimistic. Stephen Jackson was ruled out for last night’s game due to a hamstring injury, which is code for ‘fight with coach.’ PANIC AT THE DISCO As I settled into my seat for last night’s games, I opened my email to enough Isaiah Thomas panic to send me into a frenzy. I scurried to turn on the Kings/Wizards game and he had grabbed two quick fouls, and in moments he had the ball literally taken out of his hands while he wasn’t looking. Ugly. I had some business to attend to, and returned to see that he blew up again for 18 points, six assists, and a steal on 9-of-19 shooting. He and Marcus Thornton (22 points, full stat line) brought the Kings back after assistant Bobby Jackson said at halftime that the team had checked out for All Star weekend, in what was a candidate for ugliest game of the year. Tyreke Evans’ early fourth foul was crucial here for both guys, as it gave them the ramp to get going. Ultimately, Evans (22 points, 8-of-10 FGs, full line) and DeMarcus Cousins (16 points, 16 rebounds, 6-of-20 FGs, multiple missed tip-ins) both stayed on the bench down the stretch. They said after the game that Thomas, Thornton, and Chuck Hayes (21 minutes, 6-2-3 line, two steals) deserved to take the Kings to the finish. Normally this would be cause for concern, but the Kings are actually gelling and playing for one another. Thornton couldn’t stop gushing about Thomas after the game, and even when Thomas was struggling Keith Smart was seen laughing and smiling with him. It&rsquo! ;s a pretty amazing story for the No. 60 pick, and it looks like the Kings have found a keeper. My guess is that Thomas will disappear a few times with all the ball-handling scorers around him, but barring a face-plant it looks like owners got a steal. IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE? John Wall nearly missed a triple-double last night with 21 points, nine boards, 11 assists, three steals, and two blocks, and is offering first- and fourth-round value in 8- and 9-cat leagues, respectively. Congratulations if you bought low after a bumpy start, though I don’t blame you if the Wizards’ awful attitudes have you on edge. Nick Young’s (6-of-23 FGs, 17 points, four threes) shot selection barely qualifies as news in the nation’s capitol. Jordan Crawford’s shot selection is twice as bad, as the duo feeds the ego-driven nonsense with each ill-advised shot. Crawford posted 32 points on 12-of-19 shooting with three triples, two rebounds, four assists, and one steal l! ast night, and is a strong-add in 8-cat leagues, but in nine-cat leagues he barely has late-round value over the last two weeks (including last night’s big effort). When head-case Andray Blatche returns, though, there’s little chance that Crawford can stay consistent without an injury to one of the team’s Foolish Five. None of them compare to the fifth member of the boy band, JaVale McGee, who added yet another submission to the Darwin Awards last night. Yes, the talent and production are there, and in fantasy leagues he’s a must-start player with everything an owner wants. But, hot damn, he took a shot attempt that had been gliding down toward the hoop for at least a full second and spiked it seven rows deep, in a close game, to the bewilderment of all. Randy Whitman, who I pray for every night, understandably yelled at McGee, who could have cared less about the score. McGee then openly disrespected him, ignoring Whitman the entire time, and finally took a seat on the bench. The only solace that Wizards fans can take is that somewhere out there, Doctor J is smiling. BANG THE DRUM Bismack Biyombo opened owners’ eyes with nine points, 10 boards, and six blocks in 33 minutes last night, and I feel kind of stupid for the 2-3 week period earlier in the year that I wasn’t banging the drum. I have him stashed in about half of my leagues and when I’m done writing I’m going to make sure he’s not available in 8- and 9-cat formats. The Bobcats are awful, he’s a specimen, and the frontcourt has nobody for him to contend with. The roller coaster ride will slowly trend up as the year goes on. D.J. Augustin (15 points, 4-of-12 FGs, three treys, three assists, 31 minutes) took over starting duties for Kemba Walker (14 points, 4-of-11 FGs, two treys, five assists, two steals, 29 minutes), and both should be owned in all 12-team formats. Walker is undoubtedly going to take a hit coming off the bench, and also when Gerald Henderson (hamstring) returns in the near-future. But, as I mentioned a few weeks back, this upcoming 2-3 week period of instability will be followed up by an unfettered run of minutes down the stretch, particularly in fantasy crunch time. Drop him if you must when he slows down, but you do so at your own risk. BAGELS AND JUICE Rodney Stuckey nearly bageled the box score in 18 minutes, and Ben Gordon scored just six points in 18 minutes, in what appeared to be an early night off in advance of the break. I have yet to learn who was the brainchild of that, and if it was a Lawrence Frank-sanctioned activity. Either way, it’s not a big deal as both are expected to resume their roles after the break. Greg Monroe kept owners on the juice, scoring a season-high 30 points with 14 rebounds, a steal, and two blocks. NO COMMENT James Harden (ankle) returned from his one-game absence and got right back on track with 17 points, four rebounds, and seven assists, and teammates Kevin Durant (28-9-6 line) and Russell Westbrook (31-5-6) were their normal dynamic selves. Of course, nothing comes easy for Serge Ibaka’s owners, as the Celtics sported a small lineup featuring Paul Pierce at power forward. And since Kendrick Perkins had a good game in his last contest, in addition to a date! with his former mates, there was no way Sam Presti and Scott Brooks were going to sit him for this one. And while Ibaka is more than capable of covering Pierce, Brooks decided not to exploit the small lineup. It’s hard to argue with his decision since the Thunder won, but a win over the Celtics with their entire frontcourt busted up isn’t anything to write home about. There were some nice lines in this laugher of a game, as Ray Allen had 21 points, seven assists, and three triples, Avery Bradley pitched in with 12 points, five assists, and a nice dunk on KD, Kevin Garnett (personal) started at center and scored 23 points with 13 rebounds and a full line, Mickael Pietrus had 16 points, seven boards, two threes, and a block, and Paul Pierce put up 23 points, five rebounds, eight assists, and a 12-of-16 mark from the foul line. On the other side, Perkins was serviceable with eight points, 10 boards, and a block, and Daequan Cook scored 17 points with five rebounds and three triples. Nick Collison (quad) did not play, further angering Ibaka owners, who sad to say will likely deal with this crap all year. The Oklahoman had no comment on Ibaka’s lack of minutes, either, highlighting how comfortable they are with Brooks sitting one of the league’s best defensive players. TODAY IN TORONTO Jose Calderon (six points, eight boards, 15 assists) owners are on red-alert notice, though opinions vary around here, but my preference is to move the potential trade candidate before he gets sent to an uncertain situation. Then there’s the Jerryd Bayless issue. Bayless (ankle) returned to action and came off the bench for 21 minutes, scoring seven points on 2-of-6 shooting (including a three) with two rebounds, four assists, and a block. He’s a better defender than Calderon by leaps and bounds, and while some have tried to stick up for Calderon, all the tape I’ve seen shows a guy who looks like he’s on stilts. Bayless isn’t the pure point guard that Calderon is, and the margin is significant, but he’s not a slouch, either. Calderon is pl! aying well offensively and is the glue that keeps this team together right now, particularly with Bayless’ ankle still iffy, but if I had to bet money I’d bet that Bayless would win the job outright by the end of the year. James Johnson played over 40 minutes last night and was recently pumped up by Dwane Casey, who said he’s almost a “core player,” and with the minutes and his 15 points, three rebounds, one steal, and three blocks he shouldn’t be available in any 8- or 9-cat, 12-team formats. His upside is tremendous. Amir Johnson scored 11 points with four rebounds and two blocks in 25 minutes, and he has been posting mid-round value over the past two weeks on the strength of 8.2 points, 7.3 boards, 0.5 steals, 1.8 blocks, and near-70 percent shooting from the field. Any owner with a need for a big man should have rostered him by this point, despite the bumpy start. It’s possible he learned whatever lesson Casey was teaching. MUCHO GUSTAVO Greivis Vasquez held his starting job last night, which may or may not be a sign of things to come, and scored 13 points on 5-of-11 shooting (including a three) with five assists, six turnovers, and a steal in 38 minutes. Jarrett Jack played 30 minutes and scored 16 points on a matching 5-of-11 shooting line with seven rebounds and three assists. There’s not much to say that I haven’t already, and if the two keep going like this it won’t really matter – they’ll both be worth owning. Marco Belinelli kept his foot on the gas with 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting, so we’ll forgive him for hitting just one three. He’s also worth owning while he’s hot if y! our format values 3-point shooting. Chris Kaman continued to be a volume shooter, with 21 points on 10-of-25 attempts, adding 13 rebounds, three assists, a steal, and two blocks. He’s a sell-high guy with the chance he lands in a less-rosy situation after being traded. Trevor Ariza played just 20 minutes and missed all six of his field goal attempts, but he did grab six boards with three assists and two blocks. We’ll be on injury-alert over here, but after being ridden hard by Monty Williams it’s likely he just got some rest on the tail-end of a triple-set of games. Gustavo Ayon, who I told owners to hang onto in case he fared well last ! night, did me right by grabbing 17 rebounds to go with his nine points, four assists, two steals, and one block. Last night will go a long way toward securing minutes when Emeka Okafor (knee) returns after the All Star break. That said, Jason Smith (concussion) is said to be returning after the break, so Ayon will have his work cut out for him. MAGIC TRICKS Jameer Nelson kept things moving with 10 points and seven assists last night, and should be owned in 12-team formats right now. Hedo Turkoglu gave it go despite a viral infection, and put up a modest 10 points, three assists, and two rebounds, but owners would be wise not to put too much stock into this particular game. Half the league checked out early tonight and he was sick. RIPPING THE NETS MarShon Brooks scored a career-high 24 points with five rebounds, four treys, and two assists, and I have no idea why he was so available three weeks back. But he was, and I own him a bunch, so I guess I’m not complaining. Brook Lopez played 27 minutes and scored 15 points with four rebounds and two blocks, so in other words he’s right on track. Anthony Morrow continued to struggle, scoring just four points on 2-of-7 shooting, but I’m not giving up in 12-team, 8/9 cat formats. The break, along with the 3-point shooting competition, is coming at just the right time. Shawne Williams had foot! surgery, ending his season before it ever began. EYE TO EYE Tristan Thompson finally showed some of that promise he’s been short on lately, scoring 10 points with 10 rebounds and a steal in just 16 minutes. He was removed because of his faulty foul shooting late, though, highlighting a problem he’ll have going forward. He’s a fine stash right now and could end up being a monster down the stretch. Semih Erden (eight minutes) was specifically called out for his lack of effort by Byron Scott last night, and here’s guessing that the two don’t see eye to eye. That’s enough to keep him on the waiver wire outside of deep formats. Daniel Gibson (1-of-9 FGs) struggled, as did Kyrie Irving (2-of-13 FGs, six points, 11 assists), and the Cavs looked like they flamed out after a tight win on Tuesday. LIN-LASH Jeremy Lin didn’t stop last night with 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting, nine assists, two steals, and a three in 33 minutes before getting an early night’s rest, as the Knicks easily dispatched the Hawks. Carmelo Anthony scored 15 points on 7-of-16 shooting with four rebounds, three assists, two steals, a block, and a three in 27 minutes, and Amare Stoudemire scored seven points on 3-of-8 shooting with 10 rebounds and a block in just 24 minutes. With the All Star break and a game against the Heat looming, I’m backing off any hard analysis of this lightly contested game. Steve Novak hit five 3-pointers for 17 points, and call me crazy, but I like his chances of being a viable 3-point shooter in 12-team leagues. J.R. Smith scored 12 points with five steals and a three, and we regrettably hyped him due to a miscommunication with one |
