Hoops Habit
Fansided

Fantasy Basketball: Love For Everyone

By Bryan Gibberman

Dec 26, 2014; Orlando, FL, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) against the Orlando Magic during the second quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 26, 2014; Orlando, FL, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) against the Orlando Magic during the second quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Here’s a look back to Sunday night’s fantasy basketball trends.

Love for you. Love for me. Love for everyone: Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love

  • With LeBron James out in the short term, Kevin Love’s production has picked up as he, along with Kyrie Irving, have become the clear focal points of the offense. In the last two games Love has taken 21 and 15 shots plus six and 10 from the free throw line. On the season he’s averaging 13 and 5.3. Cleveland general manager David Griffin said James will be re-examined on Wednesday and didn’t rule out a return during the upcoming road trip. It will be interesting to watch if when James returns if there is an attempt to have Love be more involved in the offense. I think it would be a good development for the Cavs’ offense and obviously a welcome sight for his fantasy owners.

It’s not gonna keep up, but he’s scorching: Detroit Pistons guard Brandon Jennings

  • Since trading Josh Smith the Pistons have gone 5-0 and have become the best team in the NBA. All right, I’m exaggerating a tad, but they’ve really been better. It’s more a blip versus a sustainable trend, yet Brandon Jennings has been good enough that it needs to be mentioned. On Sunday he went off for 35 points on 14-21 shooting with seven assists and two steals. In the last five games, Jennings is averaging 21.6 points, 5.6 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game with shooting splits of 56/48/83. Those are elite fantasy basketball numbers. It won’t keep up, but he’s a better fantasy dude than real life basketball guy as I’ve mentioned before.

He’s not on the darkside he’s on the whiteside (runs home and never leaves basement): Heat center Hassan Whiteside

  • Do you remember Hassan Whiteside? Anyone????? No, ok.  Whiteside was a second round pick project out of Marshall by the Kings in 2010. He’s still only 25 years old and a massive 7’0″, 265 pounds. In the last two games for the Heat he’s played 27 and 20 minutes. He’s averaged 12.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.5 blocks on 73 percent shooting. That’s pretty damn good. Miami lacks depth at all spots on the roster and he’s worth an add in deeper leagues. In other leagues, keep monitoring to see if there’s consistency here.

Who in the world is this guy: Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant

  • When Kobe Bryant decides he wants to play basketball the right way, he’s more than capable. You’re getting less volume scoring since he returned from his three-game break and more efficiency. I prefer this version of Bryant, similar to how he played under Mike D’Antoni for about a two month stretch than the unabashed chucking Bryant. Kobe is averaging 17 points, 8.0 assists, 8.5 rebounds and 1.8 steals in 32 minutes. The shooting splits are a fantastic 47/53/82. Compare those to his shooting splits for the season of 38/30/81. Yep, much better.

Next: NBA: 50 Greatest Players Of All Time