The All-Star break is nearly one week away. We're at the point in the season where injured players will rest the next two weeks and coaches will increase their players' minutes because of the long layover.
INJURY NOTES
Noah Vonleh sprained his left ankle in the third quarter and didn't return. Ed Davis was the first sub off the bench, and Meyers Leonard led all reserves with 27 minutes. In the past, coach Stotts typically moved non-rotation players into the starting lineup when a starter couldn't play in order to keep the rotations similar. If that's the case, and I know Stotts prefers pairing Leonard and Davis together, there's a chance Al-Farouq Aminu moves up to power forward and someone like Maurice Harkless or Cliff Alexander starts for Vonleh in the interim. We'll find out Thursday. In the meantime, don't expect Leonard or Davis to play over 30 minutes. It'd be nice, but it's not a certainty.
TUESDAY NOTES
Avery Bradley missed all three three-point attempts and is shooting 26 percent on threes since Christmas, an 18-game slump. He's still contributing enough in standard leagues to garner a roster spot, and his 1.7 steals per game over the last 18 is his biggest fantasy offering.
Tyler Zeller led the Celtics' power forward and centers with a season-high 27 minutes to help matchup against the Knicks' frontcourt. Jared Sullinger and Amir Johnson played a combined 31 minutes, and Kelly Olynyk played 22 minutes off the bench. Zeller hadn't played more than 19 minutes at any other point this season, and he was primarily used to defend Robin Lopez. Perhaps this will cause coach Stevens to reassess the rotation, but the Celtics won five in a row before last night's win, so Zeller will likely return to obscurity.
Evan Turner continues to play well, adding 14 points, a team-high 10 rebounds, four assists, and three steals in 29 minutes. He rarely attempts three-pointers, but if you can ignore that category, Turner has proven himself as the Celtics' primary ball handler in the second unit. I'd call him an acquired taste, especially if you've soured on him over previous seasons. The Celtics play three more times this week should you find yourself looking for assists.
After playing less than 26 minutes in six straight games, Robin Lopez played 37 minutes and contributed 17 points, 13 rebounds, three blocks, and two assists. He almost led the team in scoring while pulling down 11 offensive rebounds. January was Lopez's best month, but he only played 27 minutes per game in those 17 games. The shortage of quality centers, mainly those shooting at least 50 percent from the field and 80 percent from the free-throw line, will keep Lopez a mainstay in rotisserie leagues, but the irregular minutes and wavering production will cause headaches in head-to-head leagues.
Arron Afflalo scored 11 of his team-high 18 points in the first quarter. Over the last seven games, Afflalo is shooting 34 percent from the field and 40.7 percent on three-pointers, tumbling back down to reality after a solid five-game stretch. I understand why people would want a 14.0-point-per-game scorer on their roster, especially when he's playing 33.5 minutes a night. He exhibits tunnel vision when posting up and always resorts to some terrible fadeaway jumpers out of the post that occasionally land. My disdain for him clouds my judgment, but you're better off streaming that spot on your roster.
Kristaps Porzingis is shooting 36.5 percent over the last seven games, sullied by an upper respiratory infection and his minute total exceeding last season's in Spain. He gets in trouble when posting up and isolating on the low block, a play the results in him flipping the ball up near the backboard without the desired result. It doesn't help that opponents are targeting him on boxouts, decreasing his ability tip back misses. Per stats.nba.com, Porzingis averages 0.68 points per post-up and shoots 33 percent on those plays, falling into the bottom 25 percent in the league. The shot chart below illustrates his struggles inside the arc. It's the exact opposite of the Myles Turner's shot chart used last week. Porzingis' blocks and rebounds are reason enough to keep him, but with the Knicks possessing one of the worst second-half schedules, it won't hurt to start shopping him and Carmelo Anthony in the weeks to come.
[caption id="attachment_11487" align="aligncenter" width="468"]
Kristaps Porzingis Shot Chart (Last Seven Games)[/caption]
Seven Heat players, including all five starters, scored between 11-17 points, led by Luol Deng. Amar'e Stoudemire recorded his second straight double-double in 24 minutes and added an assist. I believe Hassan Whiteside (hip) will return within the week, but if not, he'll only miss four more games before the All-Star break. That's not enticing me to snag Stoudemire, but the Heat actually have some easy matchups upcoming. Stoudemire's first hurdle arises tonight on the second leg of a back-to-back. If he can't go, Chris Bosh likely moves up a spot and Gerald Green will shift into the starting lineup. Try not to get too seduced by Stoudemire's resurgence is all I'm saying.
With Dwight Howard suspended one game and Clint Capela (thigh) injured, J.B. Bickerstaff started Josh Smith at center. Smith was limited to 21 minutes due to five fouls, but he scored a season-high 19 points and hit three three-pointers. Marcus Thorton chipped in 18 points, five rebounds, and three assists in 23 minutes, and Terrence Jones played 29 minutes after five straight games below 18. I hear Donatas Motiejunas played a D-League game and may return soon, quelling any Jones hype, especially while Corey Brewer starts ahead of him. Howard will return for Thursday's game, recalibrating the rotation.
Patrick Beverley is that guy who should be owned, but you're not the one who wants to own him. He's started 32 straight games and averaged 10.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.9 three-pointers over the past 15 games. He contributes minimally across the board, and his best categories, steals and three-pointers, don't jump off the page. You can lock Beverley in for 28 minutes a night and consistent production.
Rookie Norman Powell drew the start with James Johnson (ankle) ailing. The move kept the rotation intact, and Norman was scoreless in 15 minutes. Because the Suns downshifted their lineup, Jonas Valanciunas and Luis Scola were limited to 19 minutes each, and all four reserves played at least 26 minutes. Terrence Ross scored 16 points in 27 minutes, a number he hasn't breached in the last four contests, but he's hit a three-pointer in nine straight games and that's his main function on the Raptors. They play three more times before the All-Star break, and I'm eagerly awaiting the return of DeMarre Carroll (knee). In the meantime, you're better off rostering someone who'll benefit by an active trade deadline than rest your hopes on Ross.
Markieff Morris scored a season-high 30 points in a season-high 41 minutes and added season-highs of 11 rebounds, six assists, and two blocks. He started over Mirza Teletovic, who replaced Alex Len the game prior. Interim head coach Earl Watson said the following post-game:
"He is the main focus of our offense moving forward, we know that."
Watson is committed to playing through Morris, which could be a directive from management to boost his trade value. The Suns play five more times before the All-Star break and trade deadline. When you peruse the healthy players on the roster, Morris quickly emerges as an attractive offensive weapon. His 26 percent usage rate ranks behind injured guards Eric Bledsoe (knee) and Brandon Knight (groin). If given 35 minutes a night, you're looking at someone who can help in points and rebounds without being efficient. His brother's presence over the previous two seasons led to Markieff shooting 50 percent from the field, a number that dipped to 44 percent when Marcus was on the bench. Markieff has never been a decent three-point shooter, and he rarely blocks shots. Unless he vastly improved, Markieff will help boost your points, rebounds, and steals for as long as he remains a Sun, an hourglass that's quickly dissipating. You can add Markieff, but don't expect a repeat performance of last night's awakening. Temper expectation and you won't be surprised when he provides stats comparable to last season.
Devin Booker added 27 points, six three-pointers, five rebounds, and two steals in 37 minutes. Even though he's one-dimensional, his ability to score the ball is advanced and has already landed him on most fantasy rosters. Over the last nine games, he's scoring 19.7 points in 35.7 minutes per game while shooting 44.7 percent from the field as the youngest player in the NBA. I don't recall many 19-year-olds performing as well as Booker.
Archie Goodwin dished out a career-high 12 assists. His grasp on the starting point guard role depends on when Knight returns. I know that means Goodwin will continue to play over 30 minutes a night, but I view him more as a low-end option. You're not adding rookie Jordan Clarkson or Zach LaVine, both of whom put up stellar stats during last season's second half. Turnovers and inefficiency are Goodwin's bugaboos. If you can sustain the detrimental hit, Goodwin should be adequate until the All-Star break.
Alex Len accumulated three fouls in 11 minutes, finished the night at 16 minutes, and shot 1-of-5. Tyson Chandler started and played 18 minutes due to five fouls. The previous coach, Jeff Hornacek, routinely deployed a non-traditional center last season, namely Morris, for large chunks of minutes. It appears coach Watson plans to incorporate a similar tactic. P.J. Tucker will continue to play over 35 minutes a night as the utility defender until he's traded and offer similar value to previously mentioned Patrick Beverley. You won't get many points from Tucker, but the rest of the stat sheet will fill up.
Jerryd Bayless is positioning himself to supplant Michael Carter-Williams in the starting lineup, as I mentioned last time. Bayless is leading the Bucks in fourth-quarter minutes for the second straight season, a sign of trust among coaches. Carter-Williams flatlined with two points, six rebounds, and two assists in 26 minutes while Bayless contributed 16 points, five assists, and two three-pointers in 30 minutes. It was Bayless' best performance in over a month, and the Bucks play one more time this week, deflecting all attention from Bayless. The Bucks own a weak fantasy playoff schedule, and it's part of the reason I'd try to trade Carter-Williams. The other reason is Bayless.
Gerald Henderson scored 13 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter, grabbed a season-high nine rebounds, and led the team with 10 minutes in the final quarter. To my knowledge, the Blazers are actively shopping Henderson, leading to the increased playing time over the past two weeks.
Mason Plumlee didn't play in the fourth quarter for the ninth time in 18 games, a concerning pattern for such a fantasy-friendly center. On this occasion, five fouls limited his effectiveness. Plumlee's crunch time minutes usually go to the combination of Meyers Leonard and Ed Davis with Al-Farouq Aminu occasionally sliding up to power forward.
C.J. McCollum registered 30 points, six assists, four rebounds, two steals, two blocks, and three three-pointers in 34 minutes. It's as if no one guarded him. He didn't have much problem driving to the basket or firing off open shots. I was impressed by the nine free-throw attempts, one shy of a career-high.
Andrew Wiggins rose to the occasion, scoring 30 points on 13-of-20 shooting in 41 minutes in the loss. People may not know, but Wiggins is one of the best finishers around the basket, leading to 7.0 free-throw attempts per game. He's shimmied himself into a solid fantasy asset over the last month by increasing his efficiency and steals, but his bones are made in the scoring department. Most people will gravitate toward his 20.6 points per game and neglect the negative aspects of his statistical line. You can use that to your advantage when devising trades.
Ricky Rubio provided 15 assists, and Gorgui Dieng supplied 19 points, six rebounds, a career-high five assists, and one steal in 37 minutes, a new normal with Kevin Garnett (leg) and Nikola Pekovic (foot) sidelined.
Kobe Bryant scored a season-high 38 points and made seven three-pointers in 33 minutes, his highest minute total since December 31st. Bryant rested three games after his last time playing at least 33 minutes, but the Lakers begin a four-game road trip heading into the All-Star break. Additionally, he only competed in four fourth quarters during 11 January games. The end is closer than it appears.
Roy Hibbert didn't play in the 4th quarter for the 31st time this season. His 24.8 minutes per game is the lowest since his rookie season, yet he's still out there swatting away 1.6 shots per game, good for 10th best.