Dose: Boogie Fever
Games Played for Week 2
4 Games: Celtics, Nets, Hornets, Bulls, Mavericks, Nuggets, Rockets, Pacers, Grizzlies, Heat, Bucks, Knicks, Thunder, Magic, Sixers, Suns, Blazers, Kings, Raptors, Jazz, Wizards
3 Games: Hawks, Cavs, Pistons, Warriors, Clippers, Wolves, Pelicans, Spurs
2 Games: Lakers
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Sunday Wrap Up
Kings Bounce Clippers 98-92
DeMarcus Cousins went crazy with 34 points, 17 rebounds, five dimes and three blocks on 15-of-23 shooting as the Kings shocked the Clippers on Sunday afternoon. I was very high on him prior to the season and think we'll see a lot more nights like this one this season. He's also been able to keep his cool with the officials thus far, but you have to think it may just be the calm before the storm for Boogie. Rudy Gay added 25 and a full stat line, while Darren Collison joined them as the only three Kings in double digits with 14 points and four assists, while hitting just 4-of-12 shots. A box score consisting of two studs and nine duds doesn’t usually equate to a win, but it did in this case.
The losing Clippers had a much more well-rounded box score, with five players hitting double figures in scoring. However, they shot just 37.5 percent as a team and were led by Blake Griffin and - wait for it - Spencer Hawes, who each scored 17 points. Chris Paul, who avoided disaster after tweaking his left foot in the first half, returned to finish with 16 points, 11 assists, four steals and two 3-pointers, while J.J. Redick scored 12 and Jordan Farmar had 10. Jamal Crawford sat this one out with a rib injury, and it’s clear they missed his presence on the bench. Hopefully we’ll have an injury update on him Monday afternoon before you have to set your lineup. DeAndre Jordan played 25 minutes, but had just four points. He also had nine rebounds, two steals and four blocks, making the lack of offense easier to swallow. Hawes played 23 minutes, hit 5-of-10 shots, a 3-pointer and 6-of-6 free throws for his 17 points, and also added four rebounds, a steal and a block. Put him on your radar, but I’d like to see him do this with Crawford healthy before getting too excited. And keep in mind he plays behind Jordan, and that’s going to make him an inconsistent player from night to night. Even without Crawford, Matt Barnes was a mess again, hitting 3-of-11 shots for seven points. I’m still thinking he’ll get this thing turned around, but if you need to move on and get a productive body in your lineup, do it.
Heat Beat Raptors 107-102
Chris Bosh’s fun season continued with 21 points, 11 boards and a 3-pointer as he led the Heat to a win over the Raptors. Dwyane Wade added 19 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists, a 3-pointer and two blocks, and Luol Deng finally got it going with 18 points and a relatively full stat line. The best news about Wade was that he played in a back-to-back set, which is a nice change from last year. Shawne Williams got another start and scored 16 points with three 3-pointers, a steal and a block, but keep in mind Josh McRoberts was back in action last night. He played just eight minutes and scored two points, but he’s eventually going to crush the potential value of Williams. McBob also might have aggravated his toe injury last night, so keep an eye out for an update later today. One of my favorite pickups from this week’s Waiver Wired, Norris Cole, was a dud with just five points and three assists on 2-of-5 shooting. The good news is that he played 29 minutes, and still looks like he has a strong hold on the starting PG job. Mario Chalmers came off the bench and hit 3-of-10 shots for 12 points, four rebounds, three assists and a 3-pointer in 25 minutes, while Shabazz Napier had eight points, two dimes, two steals and a 3-pointer in 17 minutes. For now, I’m sticking with Cole as though last night never happened.
The Raptors got a late scratch from Amir Johnson, who had been hot. He’s got a sore left ankle and is listed as day-to-day, but with four games, I’m guessing he’s still startable in weekly leagues. DeMar DeRozan led the way with 30 points and Kyle Lowry added 22, but also had just two rebounds and three assists. He’s off to a slow start, but that means you should look into trading for him before he gets hot. Patrick Patterson got the start in place of Johnson but failed to score, Jonas Valanciunas had 14 points, eight rebounds and two blocks, and Greivis Vasquez had 12 points and a couple threes off the bench. Terrence Ross played just 17 minutes and hit 2-of-7 shots to finish with six points. He’s not hurt, and should bounce back in his next one.
Knicks Beat Hornets 96-93
The Knicks got a season-high 28 points from Carmelo Anthony and held on to win a close one against the Hornets. Melo’s gotten better in each game this season and should continue to improve as he becomes more comfortable in the triangle offense. He also became the 40th NBA player to score 20,000 points. The rest of the Knicks starters were duds, as Quincy Acy had two points and three boards in 20 minutes. Samuel Dalembert missed both his shots and didn’t block any in 22 minutes, and Shane Larkin hit just 3-of-7 shots for nine points, five dimes, two steals and a 3-pointer. Iman Shumpert did have 15 points, four assists, a steal and two 3-pointers in 26 minutes to round out the starter’s totals. Amare Stoudemire turned in a vintage performance with 17 points and 10 rebounds, but didn’t have a block or a steal. Beggars can’t be choosers with Amare at this point, but this simply looks like a mirage to me. It’s hard to imagine him being healthy a month from now, but he at least belongs on our radar after this. He also started the second half, putting Sammy D on the bench. J.R. Smith played 27 minutes but hit just 3-of-7 shots for seven points. It’s pretty clear early that he doesn’t get along with the triangle, but he should get better as the season progresses.
As usual, the Hornets were led by Al Jefferson’s 21 points, but he only had four rebounds and zero blocks against the centerless Knicks. Am I concerned? Not at all. Gary Neal had 17 points, three boards, three assists and three 3-pointers, and started the second half in place of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who suffered a chest injury. Neal’s been playing well, the Hornets like him and he could be worth grabbing if MKG’s going to miss time. I wouldn’t have the guts to start MKG in a weekly league, especially since he’s getting a CT scan. Kemba Walker had 16 points and two 3-pointers on 5-of-9 shooting, but added just one assist. Lance Stephenson had his best game of the season with 14 points, nine rebounds, eight assists and three steals, and this is why you drafted him this season. Marvin Williams was a dud again with five points, five rebounds and a 3-pointer, as it’s really starting to look like his opening-night heroics were an evil tease. If he continues to struggle, look for guys like Cody Zeller and Gerald Henderson to start making some noise.
Warriors Take Blazers 95-90
Klay Thompson, who will likely be named the Western Conference Player of the Week, went off again for 29 points, three steals, a block and a three 3-pointers on 11-of-22 shooting, and Stephen Curry added 21 points, five boards, six assists, two steals and a 3-pointer on 6-of-18 shooting as the Warriors improved to 3-0 in a tough win over the Blazers. The game came down to the wire, but the Warriors got a favorable turnover call and were able to ice the game on Curry free throws. I invested a lot of high draft picks into those two guys this year, and so far it’s paying off. Harrison Barnes looked lost in another start, hitting 1-of-4 shots for three points, while Draymond Green was also a dud. Green hit 2-of-7 shots for five points, but did add six rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block in another start for David Lee. I’m not cutting Green yet, but I’m also not starting him if I have options. And the seas could get even rougher once Lee is back in action, which could happen on Wednesday. Andrew Bogut double-doubled with 11 points and 12 rebounds, a steal and two blocks, and Leandro Barbosa added 13 points off the bench in just 16 minutes. As long as Thompson and Curry are healthy, Barbosa’s not going to do much, but he is playing well. Andre Iguodala, who I did not invest in at all this year, had five points, six rebounds, five assists and a steal on 2-of-6 shooting off the bench. Even with Barnes’ potential apathy at SF, it doesn’t look like Iguodala is very close to stealing his job.
As usual, the Blazers’ production came almost solely from the starting five, although Nicolas Batum had a quiet night. LaMarcus Aldridge broke loose with 26 points, 13 rebounds, a steal and a block, Wesley Matthews had 18 points, two steals and three 3-pointers, Robin Lopez double-doubled with 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Damian Lillard hit just 4-of-18 shots and 1-of-7 3-pointers on his way to 11 points, six rebounds and five assists. Lillard’s off to a pretty rough start this season, but that should mean he’s got some big games coming up soon to help him get back on track. Buy low! As for Batum, he scored just five points, but also had nine rebounds, four assists, two steals and a 3-pointer. He’s fine.
Injury Notes
Thaddeus Young pass his concussion test during the game on Saturday, but was unable to finish. It also looked like he was knocked unconscious on the play, and I currently have him on the bench in my weekly lineups. So just like you, I’ll be watching the players news feed throughout the day to find out if I should play him or not. With only three games, I have a feeling I’m just going to be leaving him on the bench.
Derrick Rose took the day off on Saturday for his first missed game of the season, but it does sound like it was purely precautionary. Saturday was the second game of a back-to-back and I suppose owners should prepare themselves for one of these any time the Bulls sense he is pushing his knee too hard, especially when the schedule gets loaded up without many days off. The Bulls play four times this week with a back-to-back set on Tuesday and Wednesday, as well as Friday and Saturday. It would be surprising to see him play in all four games, but not impossible. If I had to guess, I’m going to assume he sits out again on Saturday, but owners also have to hope he plays on Wednesday at Milwaukee.
Brook Lopez practiced on Sunday and is now listed as probable for tonight’s game, which I’m still not sure I believe. This is great news for Bro-Lo and his owners, but I need to see him play in a couple games before throwing him into a lineup. Mason Plumlee will take a trip back to bench land now that Lopez is ready to go, but I’d keep him around for a few games until we see how Lopez is feeling a week from now.
Dwight Howard missed Sunday’s practice and is iffy for Monday night with a knee injury. I’m guessing he’ll play through some swelling in his knee, but it really depends on how he looks at shootaround. Stay tuned.
Patrick Beverley (ribs) practiced on Sunday and the Rockets will decide his status later today. He’s iffy for Monday night, but with four games this week for the Rockets, I’m guessing he plays in at least three of them.
Reggie Jackson traveled with the Thunder for tonight’s game against the Nets. Consider him a game-time decision with his sore ankle, and watch to see how he and Sebastian Telfair co-exist when he does return. Hopefully we’ll have an update prior to lineup deadlines.
Andrea Bargnani’s (hamstring) expected to be out until at least Nov. 12, so go get your Sharpie and circle that date on your calendar.
You can see the entire injury list for the NBA right here.
