Dose: Markieff Morris Arrives
One quick glance at my rosters last night (4 FanDuels, 10 regulars) told me that guys we all counted on were incredibly bad, while several guys we’ve been waiting on finally broke through. It’s going to be tough to get this all into a Dose with a full slate of games on the table, so forgive me if I don’t mention your regular stud. Instead, I’m going to attempt to hit the unexpected studs and duds, including Mr. Markieff Morris. Coaching my kid’s basketball team has hurt my Twitter game, but I’ll get that fixed eventually. You can follow me by clicking here.
Dallas 107, Charlotte 80
Dallas didn’t have any standout performances, but Tyson Chandler hit 7-of-7shots for 14 points and nine boards, which limited Brandan Wright to 17 minutes, 10 points, three boards and a block. Devin Harris left with a leg injury and is day-to-day, and Jameer Nelson answered with 11 points and eight assists.
Gerald Henderson started for Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (foot) and had 18 points, five boards, three assists and a 3-pointer, while Al Jefferson was awful with six points, five rebounds, five assists and zero blocks on 3-of-12 shooting. His D on Chandler was pretty atrocious, but he’ll bounce back from this disaster. Henderson is worth keeping an eye on, but will likely fade once MKG is back.
Denver 106, Cleveland 97
I’m not sure how the Nuggets beat the Cavs, but it happened. Kenneth Faried was terrible again, with eight points, one rebound, a steal and two blocks before being benched again. Twenty-two minutes just aren’t enough, and something is going to have to give between him and coach Brian Shaw. His value is too low to trade him, so we’re just going to have to ride the storm out. Wilson Chandler remains a fantasy option with Danilo Gallinari so limited and had 12 points, nine boards and two 3-pointers, while Timofey Mozgov played a season-high 40 minutes and responded with 14 points, 11 boards, a steal and a block. Maybe Shaw is finally ready to let him play and, of course, he was on my bench in several leagues. Ty Lawson was great and Arron Afflalo’s slump is officially over after he scored a season-high 23 points with four 3-pointers.
Kevin Love, Kyrie Irving and LeBron James (played through an illness) were solid for the losers, while Anderson Varejao disappeared with zero points in 18 minutes. Dion Waiters was one of the surprises of the night and hit 9-of-16 shots and two 3-pointers for 20 points and two steals. He’s not yet trustworthy, but this was a step in the right direction.
Phoenix 118, Boston 114
Markieff Morris blew up for his best game of the season, hitting 14-of-21 shots and a 3-pointer for 30 points, seven boards, five assists and four steals. It’s about time! Meanwhile, Miles Plumlee was 0-for-2 and failed to do much of anything in 19 minutes, while Alex Len came off the bench and hit 8-of-10 shots for 19 points and seven rebounds. The changing of the guard could be happening and deep-leaguers desperate for a center should take notice. Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe both played very well, which means there wasn’t much left for Isaiah Thomas (1-of-8, five points, 21 minutes). As usual, figuring out which Phoenix guards are going to play well is next to impossible. Gerald Green was 3-of-12 in 20 minutes and had just seven points, which was another Dr. A disaster last night. P.J. Tucker was suspended for missing a team flight.
Jeff Green stayed hot with 28 points, three steals and two blocks, and looks like he might be becoming a very reliable starter. Jared Sullinger was nice again with 18 points, eight boards and a 3-pointer, and Rajon Rondo just missed a triple-double with 14 points, 10 rebounds and nine dimes. Avery Bradley is also a serviceable starter and had 16 points and two 3-pointers. On the flip side, Kelly Olynyk got into foul trouble and failed to score in just 13 minutes. It was Tyler Zeller who got hot off the bench, hitting 8-of-9 shots for 19 points, seven rebounds, a steal and a block. I think the starting C job is still Olynyk’s, but his streak of nice games is over. Just keep an eye on Zeller in case this turns out to be more than a one-game fluke.
Miami 95, Brooklyn 83
Shawne Williams disappeared tonight with five points, but also had six boards, four assists and a 3-pointer in 36 minutes. He should keep playing well as long as Josh McRoberts (toe) is out, but it wasn’t his night. Mario Chalmers is officially hot, going for 22 points, three boards, five assists, two steals and a 3-pointer. He also hit 11-of-13 free throws and is averaging 17.6 points, 5.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.2 3-pointers over his last five games. He’s helped by Dwyane Wade’s hamstring injury right now, but should be picked up in all leagues. Danny Granger started for Wade and had four points in 20 minutes. Need I say more?
Bojan Bogdanovic, who scared all of us off with his poor play recently, blew up for 22 points and four 3-pointers on 8-of-11 shooting, but I’d like to see him do it again before getting excited. Joe Johnson had an off night with six points on 2-of-9 shooting, Brook Lopez was even worse with five points and one rebound on 2-of-8 shooting, while Deron Williams posted a decent line despite missing 9-of-13 shots. Keep an eye on G Jarrett Jack. He had 15 points, four assists and a 3-pointer, and has played very well in three straight games.
Orlando 107, Detroit 93
Channing Frye showed up for the second straight game with 12 points, five boards, three assists and four 3-pointers, and all five Magic starters played well tonight. Tobias Harris was a beast with 24 points, five steals and three 3-pointers, Nikola Vucevic had 25 & 14, Evan Fournier stayed relevant with 14 points, eight dimes and three 3-pointers, and Victor Oladipo added 11 points, six rebounds, three assists, a block and a 3-pointer, despite shooting it just five times. All five Orlando starters should be owned, while the bench players, including Elfrid Payton, don’t have much business being on rosters.
Brandon Jennings stayed hot with 18 points, six assists, three steals and five 3-pointers and Andre Drummond showed signs of life with 12 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks. I guess we’ll have to live with baby steps from Drummond for now. Greg Monroe and Josh Smith both stunk it up last night, which is probably why Detroit lost. Caron Butler blew up for 20 points, six boards and three 3-pointers, but we’ve seen him do this before on Oct. 30. And after that game, he scored in double figures just once in his next eight games before this explosion.
Memphis 119, Houston 93
Memphis saw four bench players score in double digits, but I’m not exactly excited about Jon Leuer, Kosta Koufos, Beno Udrih or Quincy Pondexter, although QP is worth keeping an eye on. Marc Gasol had his worst game of the season with nine points, six rebounds, two steals and a block against Dwight Howard. Courtney Lee hit 6-of-7 shots and three 3-pointers for 15 points, and as we’ve been saying, should be owned.
James Harden’s owners are likely crying in their coffee this morning after his 1-of-8 shooting, six-point performance last night. He’s not hurt, but he played really poorly. Donatas Motiejunas started again, but had just six points and two rebounds in 18 minutes. Can the basketball gods please send Terrence Jones (leg) back to us now? Trevor Ariza, Dwight Howard and Patrick Beverley were the only Rockets to score at least 10 points in this one.
San Antonio 100, Philadelphia 75
What kind of night was it for some of us? Matt Bonner started and led the Spurs in scoring with 18 points and four 3-pointers on 7-of-10 shooting. Brutal. Tim Duncan had 10 points, Kawhi Leonard and Tony Parker each had five points, and no starter for the Spurs played more than 20 minutes, except for Danny Green (11 points). This was basically a night off for Gregg Popovich’s boys, and they still won by 25.
Tony Wroten started and played 30 minutes, but hit just 4-of-14 shots for eight points and three assists. He’s struggled since the return of Michael Carter-Williams, but I’m still intrigued by him as long as he’s starting. He can get it turned around. MCW led the Sixers with 16 points, five boards, four assists, two steals and a 3-pointer off the bench, while Luc Richard Mbah a Moute was the only other Sixer in double figures. There are plenty of interesting fantasy prospects in Philly, but you can’t really rely on any of them right now, except for MCW and maybe Wroten.
Portland 102, New Orleans 93
LaMarcus Aldridge played through his illness and had 22 points and nine rebounds in the win. Damian Lillard was great, as usual, and Wesley Matthews had a solid outing with 16 points and two 3-pointers. Allen Crabbe started for Nicolas Batum (knee) but scored just three points. I don’t know when Batum is coming back, but it does seem like it should be sooner than later. Chris Kaman did it again in 21 minutes off the bench, hitting 7-of-10 shots for 15 points and 10 boards. Pick him up.
The NBA’s version of Beast Mode, Anthony Davis, went off for 31 points, 11 rebounds, three steals and three blocks on 14-of-20 shooting. He’s as good as advertised this season and I just hope he can stay healthy and give us a full year. If it happens, he’s going to easily be the No. 1 player when it’s over. Tyreke Evans, Jrue Holiday and Eric Gordon all played well in starts, while Alexis Ajinca got the nod for Omer Asik, who was out with a back injury. Ryan Anderson had 12 points and two 3-pointers, and he’s become one of those all-or-nothing type plays this season. Tonight was more on the “nothing” side of things.
Chicago 105, LA Clippers 89
Taj Gibson started in place of Pau Gasol, who was a surprise DNP with a calf injury. Gasol was listed as probable, yet didn’t play, so his owners are likely seeing red this morning. Gasol is day-to-day, while Gibson went off for 20 points, five rebounds, six assists, a steal and a block on 9-of-13 shooting. Having Gibson on the bench is a big deal for the Bulls and they are playing as well as any team in the league right now, despite the Derrick Rose drama. They’re also 6-0 on the road. All five starters hit double figures, but it was Jimmy Butler who looked like a man against boys on the court. He had 22 points, six rebounds, eight assists, two steals and a 3-pointer in the win. He hit just 6-of-17 shots, but made 9-of-10 free throws, and currently looks like the steal of your fantasy draft. Mike Dunleavy scored 19 with seven rebounds and four 3-pointers, Joakim Noah had 11 points, 16 rebounds and six assists, and even Kirk Hinrich scored 14 with five assists, three steals and four 3-pointers. Aaron Brooks had just seven points and one assist off the bench, and the days of him being an automatic daily play when Rose is out are over. Hinrich looks more trustworthy these days and was great in this one.
The Clippers got 19 & 10 from Blake Griffin, 10 points, 17 rebounds and three blocks from DeAndre Jordan, and 24 points, five assists and a 3-pointer from Jamal Crawford off the bench. Chris Paul was quiet with 12 points and seven assists, but still added a steal, a block and a 3-pointer with just one turnover.
Tuesday’s Injury Report
Lakers @ Atlanta – Ryan Kelly is out for the Lakers for six weeks with a hamstring tear, while Nick Young should make his season debut after a thumb injury. If Young plays well, he’s going to be a hot pickup. For the Hawks, DeMarre Carroll is iffy with his lingering groin injury and the Hawks only play twice this week. Thabo Sefolosha or John Jenkins could draw the start if Carroll can’t go.
Knicks @ Bucks – Andrea Bargnani and Jose Calderon are out, and Iman Shumpert (hip) doesn’t sound very likely for this one, so J.R. Smith could be another fine daily play, especially if he starts for Shumpert. Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to start again for the Bucks and had 11 points, seven boards, three assists, two steals and five turnovers in his last start on Sunday.
Thunder @ Jazz – Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Andre Roberson are out, Perry Jones is doubtful and Steven Adams is questionable with a head injury. More Reggie Jackson and Lance Thomas, and maybe we’ll see bounce-backs for Jeremy Lamb and Anthony Morrow, who were awful on Sunday. Rodney Hood is out for the Jazz with a foot injury, but it sounds like Gordon Hayward (illness) will play.
Pelicans @ Kings – Omer Asik is questionable again with his back injury and Alexis Ajinca would likely start if he’s out. Rudy Gay is iffy with an Achilles injury and Omri Casspi could be a sneaky play if he’s out.
