Fantasy Basketball: The Return Of Kevin Durant
A look around Tuesday’s action with a fantasy basketball twist.
- The result wasn’t what the Thunder wanted, but it was still good to see Kevin Durant back playing in an NBA game for the first time this season. There was some real basketball rust issues to worry about — that’s a topic for another space though. In only 30 minutes Durant posted 27 points on 9-18 shooting with three from behind the arc, three rebounds and two assists. With Oklahoma City being 5-13 it will be interesting to see how long it takes Brooks to extend Durant’s minutes. An extremely encouraging sign for last year’s MVP to play at this level in his first game back.
- In his first two games back from injury Russell Westbrook has played 24 and 33 minutes. He wasn’t as productive in game one compared to game two, but that’s expected playing a competent Pelicans team versus an incompetent New York Knicks squad. Westbrook still had 21 points, seven assists and six rebounds, but the 6-of-20 shooting and seven turnovers weren’t too helpful. Much like Durant, still an encouraging start in his return to action.
- Reggie Jackson came off the bench with Oklahoma City’s two superstars back. More importantly than whether he starts or doesn’t was the fact Jackson still played 34 minutes. Jackson put up 17 points, four assists, two rebounds and made 7-of-14 attempts from the field. Jackson still has value despite the fact he won’t get the 17 shots per game or the almost 20 points, eight assists and five rebounds per game anymore. He’s an interesting trade target for the right price if a person panics about Durant and Westbrook.
- Rajon Rondo is being Rajon Rondo. The Celtics point guard posted a two-point, 19-assist, 12-rebound line in Boston’s loss to the Hawks. He has only scored in double figures once in the last six games and is averaging less than 10 points per game this season. His per game scoring numbers haven’t been this low since his rookie season when he only averaged 23.5 minutes. Rondo is currently at 32.6. He’s taking 9.2 shots per game compared to double digit numbers the last three seasons. His rebounding numbers are up currently at a career-high 7.4 per game and he’s also knocking down 35 percent of his threes, which is weird considering he’s shooting 30 percent from the free throw line.
- Jeff Green is showing off some consistency. He’s scored at least 10 points in every single game this season. Against the Hawks Green scored 25 points on 10-of-16 shooting. He’s putting up similar numbers to last year. He doesn’t bring a ton besides the points, but if you need those he has value.
- It’s only been two games since DeMar DeRozan has been out, but here’s a look at the relevant minutes distribution. Greivis Vasquez has played 30 and 34 minutes after averaging only 20 previously. Terrance Ross played 68 minutes combined and only had been averaging 26.6. Louis Williams played 26 and 19, but that might have something to do with shooting struggles in the two contest. Williams was a combined 6-of-26. Ross has stepped up, knocking down eight threes and scoring 20 points in each contest. I lean towards that just being a random hot streak and his production only sees a slight rise. Vasquez is the guy I’m rolling with to get the biggest boost. Through the two games Vasquez is averaging 15.5 points, six assists, two rebounds, one steal, 1.5 threes and shooting 50 percent from the field.
- Coincidence or not, Isaiah Thomas has missed the last three games and Eric Bledsoe and Goran Dragic have gone back to being themselves. Over the last three games Bledsoe has averaged 18.7 points on 41.7 percent shooting with 5.7 assists and 3.0 rebounds. Dragic comes in at 21 points, 3.3 assists and five boards on 53.8 percent shooting. They’re both averaging 33.3 minutes per game. That’s six points more per game for Dragic and two more rebounds; three more points per game for Bledsoe. How head coach Jeff Hornacek handles this tricky situation once Thomas comes back is going to be interesting to watch.