NBA Stock Watch: Jeff Teague is rising while Derrick Rose continues to fall
STOCK UP
Jeff Teague: He’s been on fire of late, averaging 23.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 8.2 assists, 2.6 steals and 1.4 3pt while shooting 52.1 percent from the field over the past five games. Teague has improved his PER in all six years he’s been in the NBA, including a 22.31 mark this season that ranks No. 16 in the league. That’s a trend going in the right direction, as his True Shooting Percentage (59.5) is a career high as well. The point guard has helped lead the Hawks to an impressive 26-8 record, as Teague has been a top-20 fantasy player over the past two weeks, and there’s little reason to sell high here.
[Join FanDuel's $2M Divisional Round fantasy league: $25 to enter; top 17,475 teams paid]
Tyson Chandler: Over the last 10 games, he’s averaged 11.3 points, 13.1 rebounds and 1.0 blocks while shooting 62.9 percent from the floor and 79.6 percent from the line. At age 32, Chandler’s 12.1 rpg this season are the second most of his career, while his 1.2 apg are a career high. His 67.3 FG% is the second best in the NBA, and it helps playing for a Dallas team that has the best Offensive Efficiency (112.7) in the league. Despite an extremely modest Usage Rate (12.5), Chandler has been the No. 21 ranked player over the past two weeks.
Zaza Pachulia: He’s averaged 12.9 points, 10.5 rebounds and 1.2 steals while shooting 55.5 percent from the field over the past six games. Pachulia has moved into Milwaukee’s starting lineup, and it could last for the foreseeable future, as Larry Sanders’ status is up in the air. Pachulia isn’t much of a shot blocker, but he’s a decent free throw shooter and an above average passer for a center. As long as he’s starting, he’s worth owning in fantasy leagues.
Tim Hardaway Jr.: He’s hardly been the most efficient 9-cat player, to say the least, but those in need of scoring and/or three-pointers should look toward Hardaway, who’s attempted a whopping 6.6 3pt per game over his past 11 contests, a mark right in line with what James Harden, Klay Thompson and Ryan Anderson have on the year. With Carmelo Anthony (knee) a serious candidate to be shut down for the season, and the Knicks shipping away J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert, Hardaway’s volume is likely to go up even further moving forward.
Kenneth Faried: After finishing as a top-60 player in each of the past two seasons, including a monster second half last year when he got 18.8 ppg and 10.1 rpg, the 25-year-old Faried was expected to take yet another leap in 2014/15. Instead, he was one of the bigger disappointments early on (he averaged 10.7 points and 6.5 boards in November). But Faried has really turned it on of late, averaging 16.1 points and 14.4 rebounds while shooting 55.5 percent from the floor over the previous seven contests. Faried has been the No. 31 ranked player over the past two weeks and any window to buy low has likely passed.
This alley oop by Klay Thompson was nice, but his dunk on Kevin Durant in the same game was even better.
This alley oop by Jimmy Butler was nice, but his block on James Harden in the same game was even better.
Here are the best bloopers from December, if you’re into that sort of thing.
STOCK DOWN
Derrick Rose: This isn’t the first time Rose has appeared as a downgrade here, but the criticism isn’t even about his durability this time. Rose is owned in 99 percent of Yahoo leagues, yet he’s been the No. 215 ranked player (on a per-game basis!) over the last two months. Over the past five games, the former MVP has shot an ugly 26.3 percent from the field (25-of-95), including a 4-of-23 mark from behind the arc. Rose’s Usage Rate (31.0) is the second highest of his career, while his Assist Ratio (19.1) is the second lowest of his career. Forget all the injuries, his performance when on the court has been even more troubling.
Dion Waiters: As a former top-five overall pick entering his third year in the league, Waiters appeared to be a breakout candidate, although it wasn’t exactly surprising to see him take a step back in scoring with LeBron James and Kevin Love joining him in Cleveland. Waiters’ Usage Rate (22.9) actually hasn’t taken a major hit, but his ability to shoot has, despite the fact defenses have been focusing on stopping his teammates. He’s shot 12-of-35 over the past two games and 2-of-18 from downtown over the past seven contests. In an effort to improve a defense that ranks No. 23 in efficiency this season, the Cavaliers traded Waiters to the Thunder, where he’ll join a team that has two players who rank in the top-five in Usage Rate. There’s still plenty of time for the 23-year-old to improve, but the move to Oklahoma City is a lateral one at best when it comes to his short-term fantasy value.
Josh Smith: Already in the midst of the worst fantasy season of his career, Smith’s value has taken an even bigger hit since getting traded to Houston, where he’s averaged a paltry 9.0 ppg while somehow posting a 1.8/3.0 AST/TO ratio (the only other time he’s gotten more turnovers than assists was his rookie year). Smith has been the No. 230 ranked player over the past month, so it’s perplexing he’s still owned in 82 percent of Yahoo fantasy leagues.
Jose Calderon: He’s just one season removed from averaging 7.4 apg (with just 1.7 tpg), but despite averaging three-plus more minutes per game this season compared to then, Calderon has gotten just 4.3 apg while shooting a career worst 40.1 percent from the floor. Here are his fantasy ranks over the past four years, respectively: 81, 60, 50 and 69. He’s currently ranked No. 137, including being No. 199 over the past two weeks. It doesn’t help playing for a dysfunctional Knicks team that has the second lowest PACE (92.4) in the NBA this season.
Reggie Jackson: He’s been a top-90 player over the past two months and is owned in 80 percent of Yahoo leagues, but Jackson has been in a big shooting slump of late, as he’s sporting a 36.6 FG% (26-of-71) over the past six games. Moreover, not only has his fantasy value taken a hit with both Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook now finally healthy together, but also with the addition of another wing shooter in Dion Waiters, Jackson’s Usage Rate should continue to fall.
Follow Dalton Del Don on Twitter.
More NBA coverage from Yahoo Sports
