Daily Fantasy Diagnosis: 12.17
Beast of the Night: Pau Gasol scored a season-high 26 points, grabbed a career-high 22 rebounds, and added 4 assists, 1 steal and 4 blocks. He shot 60 percent (9-15) from the field, 89 percent (8-9) from the line and had 3 turnovers. Gasol is now averaging 19.5 boards in his last four games and is on his way to averaging a double-double for the first time in his career.
Noteworthy Lines:
Gerald Wallace – 10-18 FG (56%), 9-13 FT (69%), 29 Pts, 12 Reb, 1 Ast, 4 Stl, 1 Blk, 5 TO; His gaudy rebounding this season is overshadowing his decline in assists, blocks, shooting percentages and his more frequent turnovers from last season, but Crash looks set to finish the 2009-10 as a top-25 fantasy stud, barring any injuries.
Troy Murphy – 10-13 FG (77%), 1-1 FT (100%), 5 3ptm, 26 Pts, 15 Reb, 3 Ast, 1 Blk; This was his third double-double in four games and Murphy’s been shouldering a bigger load since Danny Granger’s injury. Kudos to owners who bought low on him.
Samuel Dalembert – 0-4 FG (0%), 8 Reb, 1 Ast, 2 Blk, 2 TO; The ride is over. The (Dalem)beast has turned back into a mere human. The clock has struck midnight. However you want to say it, this is a stark reminder of his fragile value. This clunker was partly due to foul trouble and partly due to a more crowded frontcourt (see below).
Michael Redd – 11-24 FG (46%), 1-2 FT (50%), 2 3ptm, 25 Pts, 7 Reb, 4 Ast, 2 Stl, 1 TO; This was Redd’s finest line of the season. When he’s on the court and healthy, he stands to help any fantasy squad he’s on. But the chances of him avoiding another string of DNPs are unlikely. Sell high on him soon.
Ersan Ilyasova – 10-18 FG (56%), 1-3 FT (33%), 3 3ptm, 24 Pts, 5 Reb, 4 Ast, 1 Stl, 1 TO; He’s not ready to fade away just yet.
Dirk Nowitzki – 13-18 FG (72%), 7-8 FT (88%), 2 3ptm, 35 Pts, 11 Reb, 2 Ast, 2 Stl, 1 Blk, 3 TO; His team’s playing well, he bounced back from a dismal showing on Monday and the headband is back – all is good with the world of Diggler.
J.R. Smith – 9-14 FG (64%), 1-3 FT 933%), 2 3ptm, 21 Pts, 3 Reb, 3 Ast, 2 Stl, 2 TO; He’s heating up and should be ready to put up solid numbers for the rest of the season.
Waiver Wire Appeal:
Matt Barnes – 20 Pts, 2 3ptm, 6 Reb, 3 Ast, 1 Blk, 2 TO; He’s only worth considering in deeper leagues but when he notches enough minutes, he can fill up the stat sheet quite nicely.
Maurice Evans – 13 Pts, 3 3ptm, 2 Reb, 5 Ast, 2 Stl, 2 TO; Evans is averaging 3.5 threes in his last four games and has earned solid minutes in the Hawks’ rotation.
Marreese Speights – 14 Pts, 4 Reb, 1 Ast, 1 Stl, 3 TO; He’s back from a knee injury and played 22 minutes in his return. Dalembert and Elton Brand have some major competition for their minutes now.
Rasual Butler – 21 Pts, 5 3ptm, 2 Reb, 2 Blk, 2 TO; His value, which is mostly points and threes, will take a big hit when Blake Griffin returns, but owners in deep leagues can ride him out until that happens. (I demand that “When Griffin Returns” be the title of a major Hollywood action flick in 2010.)
James Harden – 12 Pts, 6 Reb, 1 Ast, 1 Stl, 3 TO; Inconsistent? Yes. Potential for some good value in deeper leagues down the stretch? Yes.
C.J. Watson – 11 Pts, 1 3ptm, 7 Reb, 4 Ast, 3 Stl, 2 TO; He started at small forward last night and looks ready to extend his nice little run a little while longer.
Injuries:
Chauncey Billups (groin): will have an MRI today, monitor the news; Ty Lawson should be on everyone’s radar
Mikki Moore (heel): will have surgery to remove bone spurs from his heel
Joakim Noah (shoulder): cortisone shot in left shoulder, should be OK for tonight
Tyrus Thomas (arm): could practice Friday
Richard Hamilton (hamstring): didn’t play last night, day-to-day
Rudy Gay (ankle): left in the third quarter last night, day-to-day
Quentin Richardson (hamstring): questionable tonight
Larry Hughes (groin): questionable tonight
Lou Williams (jaw): could practice today
Allen Iverson (knee): will have an MRI today
For Tonight:
Dwyane Wade is banged up right now but expect him to bounce back from a mediocre performance on Tuesday, as the Heat host the Magic.
See how the “Andre Miller Experiment” progresses (or somehow regresses) tonight as the Blazers host the Suns.
December 17th, 2009 at 11:18 am
Quedas says:
Come on, Dwight had 18 pts, 14 reb and 8 blocks – that’s not even noteworthy?
December 17th, 2009 at 11:26 am
SWAT says:
wht up doc?
trade ques for u…dalembert for JR smith? ur thoughts?
December 17th, 2009 at 11:37 am
srb says:
I wonder what percent of yahoo teams own mikki moore…..
December 17th, 2009 at 11:37 am
The Fantasy Doctor says:
@SWAT: Totally different stats, of course, but if you’re in need of threes and steals this is a good deal.
December 17th, 2009 at 11:39 am
The Fantasy Doctor says:
@srb: Just about 1 percent, but it’s worth mentioning because of the implications for the staring lineup and the fantasy values of other players (read: Anthony Randolph).
December 17th, 2009 at 11:40 am
Rizwan says:
hey FD. I dropped Barbosa and Hibbert for Speights and Ty Lawson. Good move?
December 17th, 2009 at 11:41 am
The Fantasy Doctor says:
@Rizwan: Yes, good swaps. Barbosa deserves monitoring though.
December 17th, 2009 at 11:51 am
SWAT says:
DOC-who has more upside though? i kno with speights and brand PT is hard to come by in philly
December 17th, 2009 at 11:53 am
Rare Air says:
Pau was awesome, simple as that. If that kind of production keeps taking place the Lakers are going to be tough to stop.
December 17th, 2009 at 11:57 am
The Fantasy Doctor says:
@SWAT: Smith has more upside, especially with Billups out, possibly for a while.
Speights might be steadier but as you mentioned, his minutes and production have set ceilings.
December 17th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
Sal says:
Hi Doc,
I own both Bynum and Gasol. Should I sell high on Pau?
You’ve been awesome this season, thanks.
December 17th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
mules says:
Doc, is it worth dropping Dahntay Jones to pick up Speights? I need help in boards and blocks until Griffin returns.
December 17th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
kmart says:
hey doc, what is a better trade? i need fg % and blocks. i give up arenas for amare or i give westbrook for nene? which is a better deal?
December 17th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
The Fantasy Doctor says:
@Sal: Gasol’s value is certainly at or near its highest right now but he’s definitely worth holding onto for the long haul. You can’t go wrong with either path. If you sell high, just make sure that you actually get a player who is usually better than Gasol, which will be hard to do.
December 17th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
The Fantasy Doctor says:
@mules: Not a bad idea if those are the stats you need.
December 17th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
The Fantasy Doctor says:
@kmart: Both are decent deals, but I’d rather give up Arenas for Stoudemire. However, Giving up Westbrook for Nene is a lower-risk trade, so I can’t blame you for leaning that way.
December 17th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
zippy says:
doc,
I’m thinking of picking up Perkins off the wire, but I would have to dump Landry or J Rich. Is that a bad move to make
thanks
Zippy
December 17th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
DoubleA says:
It’s never a good thing to check your daily fantasy news and find out that not one but two of your guards are having MRI’s that day…
December 17th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
BrickLayer says:
Hey Doc,
Would you take this trade:
I get rondo and Gallinari and i give up roy and diaw. its a head to head league and i am worried roy wont be playing many games in the playoffs.
December 17th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
BrickLayer says:
One more for you doc, if you could have 2 of these 3 who would you take:
pryzbilla
ben wallace
spreights
December 17th, 2009 at 8:39 pm
Love Sessions says:
hey doc,
I just got this trade offered to me:
Calderon(i give away) for Arenas
I’m leaning towards not going through with this trade.
I currently lead my league and my team consist of:
PGs- Jkidd, Calderon, Young Money
SGs- Jrich, JJ, Dwade,
SF- Melo, Jsmooth, Tough Juice
PF- Bosh, El Mago,
C- lil Gasol, Horford
What do you think should i do the trade or stick with my team as is
December 17th, 2009 at 8:40 pm
Love Sessions says:
ps im slipping in 3’s and steals
December 17th, 2009 at 11:10 pm
the truth says:
doc, I’m thinking of grabbing Omri Casspi from the wire. Problem is, I have no one to drop. I’m choosing between Gallo, Charlie V or JRich. And yes I’m basing this decision on Casspi’s upside and the fact that he’s starting now. I’m in a 10-team league and I’m wonderin, is this even a move I should consider doing right now?
thanks again for the gold.
December 18th, 2009 at 1:05 am
the lurker says:
Yo Doc,
Is it even worth keeping AI? I’m in real bad shape at the PG position with scraps to chose from. I’m in a 12 team keeper league and the two names that have popped up the past few days are Carlos Arroyo and Jerryd Bayless-thoughts???
Thanks!
December 18th, 2009 at 1:44 am
The Fantasy Doctor says:
@zippy: Maybe Landry, but J-Rich should return to being a three-point stud eventually. I still prefer Landry and Richardson over Perkins though.
December 18th, 2009 at 1:54 am
The Fantasy Doctor says:
@BrickLayer: That trade offer seems good to me, but Rondo will sit out a few games during fantasy playoffs if they continue to play well.
I’d take Speights and Przybilla.
December 18th, 2009 at 1:56 am
The Fantasy Doctor says:
@Love Sessions: I like the offer and I would take it.
December 18th, 2009 at 1:58 am
The Fantasy Doctor says:
@the truth: Casspi is appealing, but those three players have better long-term prospects than he does. Once Kevin Martin returns, Casspi will lose minutes and will be a lot less consistent.
If you’re still itching to take him on board, cloudy future and all, then consider dropping CV for him. But again, I wouldn’t do it.
December 18th, 2009 at 2:16 am
Bayless says:
sup doc,
what are the chances that trading rashard lewis,loul deng and billups for Steve Nash and Al Harrington will go well?
and is that even a good trade?
December 18th, 2009 at 9:49 am
The Fantasy Doctor says:
@Bayless: I think the Lewis/Deng/Billups side wins long-term, hands down. It’s not the best trade ever.
December 18th, 2009 at 10:11 am
The Fantasy Doctor says:
@the lurker: Yes, A.I. is worth holding, even if it’s just for the trade possibilities. I can’t blame you for going for Bayless right now though.