Highlight Performance:
Kevin Love MIN– There is simply nothing this man cannot do from a basketball standpoint. Standing at a relatively small 6”10, the All-Star power forward is an absolute rebound machine, as well as a deadly scorer from every spot on the court. Last night was a perfect example, as he scored 32 points, and ripped down 21 rebounds. He became the franchise leader with his 6th 30-20 game of the season, passing Kevin Garnett. When Love is on, he’s debatably the best player in fantasy, and thats no small acknowledgment. The key with Love is his 3-point shooting, as he is no slouch, averaging 1.7 a game. His numbers, other than blocks, may end up being as good as Dwight Howard, and I have no problem with anyone willing to name him the best fantasy player out there.
Performance to Forget:
Tyreke Evans, SAC– I love Evans as both a real-life and fantasy player. He is a key component to the young, talented Kings team, and I see a very bright future ahead of him. In term’s of fantasy, I like to consider him a poor man’s LeBron James. He always puts up solid totals in the rebound and assist column, and although his scoring is a bit inconsistent, the numbers are usually there in the end. However, he put up a dud last night, scoring just 4 points on 1-9 shooting. He did have 5 assists and 6 rebounds, but it was a poor performance nevertheless. I am not changing my stance with Evans with one mediocre outing, but his consistency has been lacking all season, which may start to hurt his value in the long run.
Player to Watch:
Jason Richardson, ORL– It seems to me that when the high-flying dunkers (Richard Jefferson, Vince Carter, ect.) get old, they develop their jump shots to stay productive. Jason Richardson was once known as one of the best dunkers in the league, but as his career progressed, he has become a relatively solid sharp-shooter. On Saturday, J-Rich played out of his mind, scoring 31 points, hitting 9-11 shots from 3 point range. He shot almost 90% from long range, an impressive night for the veteran shooting guard. He’s been on a tear of late, and if he’s floating around on any waiver wires, grab him before it’s too late.
Injuries:
Brandon Bass, BOS– Knee, 7-10 Days
Nene Hilario, DEN– Strained Calf, “Few Games”