Highlight Performance:
Jeremy Lin, NYK– If anybody foresaw what Lin is doing right now, please, come forward. The undrafted Harvard graduate has drawn more hype then the Tim Tebow story, taking New York by storm. After watching him dissect the Lakers last night, I must admit, I’m on the bandwagon and I’m unsure if I’ll ever get off. The guy can ball, he knows the game very well, and he as unique as they come. Facing against Kobe Bryant and the Lakers, Lin, without Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire, led the Knicks to an impressive victory. He scored 38 points, had 7 assists, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals. He hit 3’s, mid-range jumpers, drove to the rack, hit his free throws; the guy put up points all over the court. I must admit, for the time being, I’m all in on him, however I’m curious to see how he plays with the return of Amare and Carmelo. But his short-term value is undeniable, and I’d have no problem over-paying for the potential lottery ticket.
Performance to Forget:
Andrew Bynum, LAL– Sticking to the Knick’s game, Andrew Bynum struggled considerably against Tyson Chandler, scoring just 3 points on 1-8 shooting. The Knicks brought a double team every time Bynum touched the ball, and Bynum seemed to have no answer. He did have 13 rebounds, but that is about all he has been doing as of late. Bynum is a huge body and can grab a rebound over anybody, but if he continues to struggle from the field, his value becomes similar to Marcus Camby (rebounding machine, not much else to offer). I don’t think Bynum’s scoring woes are permanent, but I’d like to see a few more solid scoring outings out of him before I trust him again.
Player to Watch:
Ramon Sessions, CLE– With Kyrie Irving out with concussive symptoms, Sessions stepped in as the starting point guard, playing a staggering 45 minutes. He produced accordingly, dishing out an impressive 16 assists, scoring 12 points and grabbing 5 rebounds. He is not the only Cavalier to see a value bump with Irving out, as Antawn Jamison scored 34 points along with 12 boards and 3 assists. Jamison and Tristan Thompson should also see a significant value boost following Anderson Varejao’s fractured wrist, so owners and DraftStreet players should adjust accordingly.
Injuries:
Derrick Rose, CHI– Back, Day-to-day
Anderson Varejao, CLE– Fractured Wrist, 4-6 weeks
Chris Kaman, NOH– Sprained Ankle, Day-to-day
Jarrett Jack, NOH– Knee, One week
Jerryd Bayless, TOR– Ankle, Unlikely to play Sunday