There’s another Freeroll tonight on DraftStreet. Even if you haven’t been following my daily adventures there (scroll to the bottom of this page) you should give it a try. Just click the link to enter. Bragging rights against Chris Sheridan are valuable enough, but there’s also $350 in cash prizes and it’s completely free to enter. You just have to pick eight players who fit under a $100,000 salary cap. The rules are easy; winning is a challenge.
Thursday Recap
LAC @ NOH: Sorry Clippers fans, your team is going nowhere, fast. With whispers of a coaching change soon to become a roar, they scored just 11 points as a team in the fourth quarter and lost again. Chris Paul had 16 & 9 in his return to New Orleans, and Blake Griffin added 21 & 11, but Nick Young has yet to be the answer and Randy Foye shot 1-14 off the bench. Chris Kaman led the comeback with 20 & 10 and surprise starter Jason Smith had 17 & 9, making Gustavo Ayon an afterthought again.
GSW @ HOU: The Warriors faded badly in the second half, hot rookie Klay Thompson cooled off a little and the Rockets got an easy home win. Chandler Parsons led a balanced attack with 20 PTS and 11 REB. Samuel Dalembert had a double-double (15 & 10) in less than 22 minutes, as Golden State is using rookie Jeremy Tyler at C. It’s not the Dubs’ players who are tanking — management has already heard how the fans feel.
BOS @ MIL: Credit the Celtics for a great effort. Another bunch of old guys, tired from a long road trip, could have mailed this one in. Paul Pierce (25) led all scorers, Rajon Rondo dished out 14 AST and Kevin Garnett (16 PTS, 10 REB, 6 AST) shut down Drew Gooden. Monta Ellis, still trying to fit in with his new team, was 6-18 from the floor and shot only one free throw.
MEM @ POR: Yesterday in this space, I wondered if the Blazers even care. Nicolas Batum (24) led a fourth-quarter comeback to answer that, and Wesley Matthews (18 PTS, 9 REB, 3 STL) continues to play well. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies are still working Zach Randolph back into their offense. Z-Bo had a quiet 12 & 6 in 27 minutes and Rudy Gay scored just 10 points.
IND @ WAS: Roy Hibbert scored 19 points and added 9 rebounds while playing solid D. After a strong Wizards debut the night before, Nene scored just six points.
UTA @ SAC: Big Al Jefferson scored 26, including a putback of an airball near the final buzzer, to lead the Jazz to their fifth straight win. Gordon Hayward had a nice line (18 PTS, 7 REB, 5 AST. 1 STL, 1 BLK) as the starting SG and Derrick Favors double-doubled (12 & 10) in 22 bench minutes. Tyreke Evans again came off the bench by his own request, but led the Kings with 25 and DeMarcus Cousins had 22 & 18. With very little fanfare, Jason Thompson (19 & 15) has double-doubled in his last five starts, but he tweaked an ankle last night.
Friday Night Lights
MIL @ CHA: Still smarting from last night’s defeat and in the middle of a back-to-back-to-back, the Bucks need to recover quickly. Charlotte hasn’t played since Monday and will have fresh legs. Boris Diaw was officially bought out of his Hornets contract and should resurface soon, possibly in San Antonio.
NYK @ TOR: It was no contest between these teams in New York on Tuesday but the resurgent Knicks will have to keep working hard. Andrea Bargnani has appeared tentative in his eight games since returning from a calf injury. One of these nights, he will rediscover his confidence.
PHO @ IND: This might not be a classic. The Suns, great at home recently to sneak back into the playoff hunt, are 0-2 so far on this very tough road trip. The Pacers played last night; David West dislocated a finger but did return to the game.
CLE @ ORL: I feel sorry for Tristan Thompson, the rookie PF starting at C for the Cavs, as he meets Dwight Howard up close and personal. Kyrie Irving will do his best, as always, but it probably won’t be enough.
NJN @ ATL: If Deron Williams is still frustrated at being ejected the other night and takes it out on the Hawks, this game may be closer than expected. But the Nets have no answers for Josh Smith and Joe Johnson, who should continue their recent heroics.
MIA @ DET: LeBron James is shaken up (elbow, neck) after two hard falls on Tuesday but will play. The Heat have a couple of other weapons. Ben Gordon figures to start again for Rodney Stuckey (toe) but will get special attention from the Miami D after his 45-point game in Denver.
MIN @ OKC: Earlier this year, I became fond of the T-Wolves and a huge fan of Nikola Pekovic, but Pek has two sore ankles and Anthony Tolliver, seeing extra run in his absence, is more of a finesse player. This smells like a rout.
BOS @ PHI: Though he stayed on the floor, Brandon Bass was hobbling last night and the Celtics are simply not as young or as deep as the Sixers. Boston will be out to atone for that humiliating loss in Philly earlier this month, I just don’t think their legs can match their will.
DAL @ SAS: The big news here concerns Tony Parker, whose sore hamstring may keep him sidelined. If Gary Neal has to fill in at PG, it will improve the Mavericks’ chances. Shawn Marion (knee) may return after missing three games, but Brendan Haywood remains out.
POR @ LAL: The new-look Lakers have Steve Blake starting at PG, doing very little, then giving way to Ramon Sessions, who seems to be improving with each game. Rested and back home after splitting two tough games in Texas, L.A. should have an easy time of it tonight.
DEN @ UTA: Maybe not all eyes, but quite a few, are on JaVale McGee, whose first game in a Nuggets jersey was memorable. Will he start? Can he ever become consistent? It’s almost worth staying up late to find out. You can cut Rudy Fernandez if you’re still holding him; he’s having back surgery. Wilson Chandler has gone from fantasy FA to must-own in a hurry.
The Spin is here six mornings a week, by 8:00 Eastern; we sleep in just a little on Sundays. Follow me on Twitter anytime.
DraftStreet of Dreams
| Sure Things | Over $14,000 |
| D. Howard | $21,059 |
| K. Durant | $19,404 |
| K. Bryant | $17,323 |
| Jo. Johnson | $14,292 |
| Bargains | Under $9,000 |
| G. Neal | $7,298 |
| E. Udoh | $7.648 |
| W. Matthews | $8,526 |
| L. Barbosa | $7,679 |
| Hunches | $9,000 to $14,000 |
| C. Bosh | $13,558 |
| T. Lawson | $13,323 |
| R. Anderson | $12,153 |
| T. Young | $11,276 |
As mentioned at the top, it’s Freeroll night, a great incentive to join DraftStreet (no charge, and no deposit required) to compete with me, Sheridan and others from this site for a $350 prize pool.
The salaries listed in the chart on the right will not be the same as you’ll see in the Freeroll. The DraftStreet computers make adjustments each day, and the Freeroll has been open for about 48 hours. I’m a regular in the $5 GPP Salary Cap league, where I have a win and a couple of other in-the-money finishes, and those are always the prices you see here.
For example, let’s say you agree with me that Chris Bosh might get a few of LeBron’s shots tonight and is a tough cover for Jason Maxiell. Bosh will cost a reasonable $13,558 in the $5 league, but is an even better “buy” in the Freeroll at just $12,508. It sure doesn’t make it any easier for me to win when I’m giving away such great tips, but that’s my job.
By the way, you don’t have to be a math wizard and do all those calculations in your head. Just plug players into your lineup and your total salary is automatically displayed. You can make unlimited changes right up until 7:00, if any late-breaking news affects your team.
As to my own learning curve, I lost $14 last night and am down $46 so far in Week 3, but still ahead of the game overall. No excuses, just poor picks. I’ll be in there fighting again tonight and here to tell you all about it tomorrow.
The link to the Freeroll isn’t working. Also wondering how I would’ve found the Freeroll 48 hours ago without a posted link.