You may already be a champion. If so, congratulations! Many fantasy leagues are finished, opting to avoid the zaniness that is part of every NBA season as it winds down, and figures to be worse than ever this year. Other leagues are just beginning the final “week” of their playoffs, which is actually 10 days. If you’re still playing, best of luck. You can expect stars to sit for no reason, injured guys to be shut down and unexpected big nights from near-unknowns. The Spin is here to help you keep track.
Sunday Stuff
MIA @ NYK: The new-and-improved Carmelo Anthony scored 42 points, but his teammates didn’t do enough to win this entertaining game. LeBron James (29 PTS, 10 REB) and Dwyane Wade (28 PTS, 9 REB, 4 AST) got plenty of support from Chris Bosh, whose 16 points and 14 boards was his first double-double in several weeks.
DAL @ LAL: A great effort by Dallas and Dirk Nowitzki (24 PTS, 14 REB) fell short in overtime. The Kobe-less Lakers got 23 & 16 from Andrew Bynum and a very nice game from Ramon Sessions (22 PTS, 5 AST) but the star was Pau Gasol (20 PTS, 10 REB, 5 AST) hitting not one 3-pointer but two in OT.
TOR @ ATL: Proving that you never know, an anonymous bunch of Raptors trounced the lethargic Hawks. Josh Smith scored 26, but the other four Atlanta starters combined for 12 points. Zaza Pachulia (foot) is out, and his replacement Ivan Johnson hit just 2 of 12 shots. DeMar DeRozan led Toronto with 23 and journeyman Alan Anderson — who has started seven straight games, averaging 11.3 points — added 16.
ORL @ CLE: Glen Davis, who had been filling in so capably for Dwight Howard, suffered a knee injury after just seven minutes, so rarely-seen Daniel Orton played 29 minutes. His 11 points, 4 rebounds and 5 steals helped the Magic win, and he will probably start for Big Baby tonight. Cleveland got 21 from Antawn Jamison in their third game in as many nights.
CHI @ DET: That was more like it from Derrick Rose: 24 PTS, 9 AST, 4 REB, 2 STL, 2 BLK, with only the 7 TO as an issue. Joakim Noah had 13 OREB and 4 DREB to go with 20 points as the Bulls needed overtime to win. Just as we had written off Rodney Stuckey with various nagging injuries, he exploded for 32 points to lead the Pistons.
POR @ SAC: Told you this game would be fantasy gold, I just didn’t see Wesley Matthews coming: his 31 points led all scorers. J.J. Hickson (10 PTS, 13 REB, 2 BLK) was OK, but I expected even more. The Kings won with DeMarcus Cousins (23 & 7) up front and Isaiah Thomas (18 PTS, 8 AST) handling the ball. Wing men Tyreke Evans and Marcus Thornton added 20 each.
BOS @ CHA: Doc Rivers chose to rest Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett in Boston’s third game in three days, but they won anyway. Rajon Rondo (20 PTS, 16 AST, 6 REB) led the way, with Avery Bradley chipping in 22 points. Greg Stiemsma scored just 8 PTS and grabbed 5 REB in his spot start, also stealing the ball four times and blocking SIX shots. Gerald Henderson led the woeful Bobcats with 22.
MEM @ NOH: Betting on individual games is the specialty of The Picker, but we would have had this result. Except for Rudy Gay (24) the Grizzlies were tired, shooting 35.7% as a team. Rested, relaxed and at home, the Hornets got 18 from Eric Gordon and double-doubles from two bigs. Jason Smith (14 & 11) and Carl Landry (16 & 11) helped them pull away in the fourth. Marc Gasol hurt his knee but we have no details yet.
HOU @ DEN: Predictions are not always easy. I loved Marcus Camby against the Denver centers; he played less than eight minutes and left with a sore back. Ty Lawson and Arron Afflalo led a balanced Nuggets attack with 20 each as they won with surprisingly little trouble. Wilson Chandler returned after missing seven games but did nothing in a brief stint.
Manic Monday
NOH @ CHA: There are 11 days left in the regular season and 11 games tonight. This is not one of the highlights. Derrick Brown (15 points last night) and D.J. White (13) are now starting for Charlotte. The Hornets are the better team, but who knows if they will be inspired for this meaningless contest?
ATL @ TOR: Among those not showing up in Atlanta last night were thousands of fans, Jeff Teague (2 PTS) and Joe Johnson (2-12 from the floor.) Whether they will muster a better effort on the road remains to be seen. Meanwhile, Ben Uzoh (10 PTS, 3 AST, 3 REB) will get another start at PG for Toronto as Jose Calderon (eye) is out.
PHI @ ORL: As mentioned above, Big Baby has a sore knee and until there’s an MRI we know nothing for sure. Ryan Anderson has been struggling to find his shooting touch, but figures to see big minutes. It’s a good opportunity for the Sixers, whose bench including Spencer Hawes, Louis Williams and Thaddeus Young often outperforms the starting five.
MIN @ IND: Right now, the Love-less Timberwolves are J.J. Barea’s team. Nikola Pekovic is courageously hobbling around on two bad ankles, leaving bench players Michael Beasley and Anthony Randolph to do the scoring. There is simply no way they can beat Indiana unless the Pacers beat themselves. Roy Hibbert and Danny Granger should be the main men and weare expecting George Hill to get another start for Darren Collison (groin.)
MIA @ NJN: After an emotional comeback in Manhattan yesterday, let’s hope the Heat didn’t celebrate too much and/or take this game too lightly. I expect the Big Three to do no more than necessary to win. Deron Williams is kind of a one-man team for the Nets, who are without Gerald Wallace (hamstring.)
DEN @ HOU: The second half of a home-and-home. I have no idea why Kyle Lowry played only 13 minutes last night; it was probably just rest. Samuel Dalembert might have to step up if Houston is going to salvage a split. The Nuggets can’t afford to be complacent; they are only one game ahead in the wild West playoff race and the Rockets are desperate.
WAS @ CHI: Luol Deng suffered a rib injury last night that may keep him out of this one; his 1-8 shooting night could also indicate fatigue. The Wizards, 6-24 on the road and with a lineup full of kids, are just showing up. You could use John Wall or Jordan Crawford, but I’m not.
DAL @ UTA: After a tough OT loss in L.A. yesterday, Dallas must regroup against a Jazz team desperate to revive its fading playoff chances. Devin Harris, the former Maverick, needs to play well and you can count on a big night from Al Jefferson. I also like Gordon Hayward, matched up against Delonte West.
POR @ PHO: Nicolas Batum (quad) is unlikely to play in this back-to-back and the Suns are fighting for their postseason lives. Steve Nash is 38 and has a sore back; Grant Hill is 39 and returning from knee surgery. Both will give it all they can but i’m looking for Marcin Gortat and Jared Dudley to produce.
OKC @ LAC: There’s no rest in sight for the superstars on these teams, despite being assured of playoff berths. The Clippers, at home tonight, are still trying to catch the Lakers for the division title. You can start Chris Paul and Blake Griffin with confidence; DeAndre Jordan has had a couple of big games recently and Mo Williams is finding his groove. Obviously, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are always must-starts.
SAS @ GSW: The Spurs launch a ridiculous 8-games-in-11-nights stretch with nothing to play for. They don’t care if they are first or second seed, making it very difficult to guess which players will get minutes. Without David Lee (groin) the Warriors have no chance, but Nate Robinson or Klay Thompson may go on a scoring binge.
The Spin is here every day before 8:00 EDT except for Sunday, when we post by noon. Follow me on Twitter in between.
DraftStreet Of Dreams
| Sure Things | Over $14,000 |
| Jo. Smith | $16,892 |
| L. James | $20,863 |
| C. Paul | $18,773 |
| A. Jefferson | $16,658 |
| Bargains | Under $9,000 |
| D. White | $5,789 |
| D. Orton | $5,151 |
| A. Anderson | $5,032 |
| B. Uzoh | $4,823 |
| Hunches | $9,000 to $14,000 |
| M. Gortat | $13,724 |
| J. Barea | $12,217 |
| G. Hayward | $11,458 |
| N. Robinson | $10,614 |
No luck yesterday as a couple of my picks got hurt. These things happen. In the just-completed Week 6, I made a profit of $101 and am now ahead exactly that much for this whole adventure, with three winning weeks and three losing weeks. Entering the maximum three teams in $2 and $5 Salary Cap leagues has become my preferred style. Week 7 begins tonight, and that’s my investment, a total of $21 from the $100 bankroll.
Note that in today’s chart there are some extreme “Bargains” — four guys who are probable starters, each for a salary under $6,000. Not suggesting you use all four, but one or two would leave you more money from the $100,000 cap to get an extra star.
Another format is Pick’Em, where you select one player from each of eight tiers. It’s great if you don’t follow the NBA as obsessively as some of us. You definitely don’t have to know who Ben Uzoh is; even Tier 8 has some starters and familiar sixth men.
I’ve had mixed success in Snake-Draft leagues. They are a lot of fun, especially if you enjoy live drafts, and they don’t take long. Often, I’ve joined a 6-team Snake with one or two entries that fills in a few minutes. Then there’s a 5-minute period in the draft room to queue your picks, and just a 45-second bid time. It can be all over in half an hour or less.
My only complaint is, draft order can change everything. There’s always an element of luck in fantasy sports, even the most challenging games. But on some nights, especially with six or fewer NBA games, where you draft is an advantage (or a handicap) that can decide the outcome. That skill-to-luck ratio is the main reason I keep going back to the Salary Cap format.
If you still haven’t tried Draft Street, it’s always free to join and you can get started by playing in free leagues. In six weeks, I’ve amassed 3840 “Street Creds,” which can be cashed in for rewards including entry vouchers.