Here are some fantasy basketball news and notes from Friday night’s action:
- New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony: Last two games Melo has snapped out of an early season shooting slump. Anthony compiled 73 points on 43 shots versus the Jazz and Magic. His value has been dinged this year — he’s taking fewer 3-pointers and not grabbing as many rebounds playing more on the perimeter defensively. Anthony is someone I’d probably try to move in a trade if I could get someone like Chris Bosh.
- Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward: Very very very very good is an apt way to describe Hayward’s performance this season. Actual on the court and fantasy production have been excellent–19.9 points, just about 50 percent shooting, 1.9 threes, six rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.2 steals. I was all in on Hayward last year and stayed away from him this season. Whoops.
- Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo: He returned to the lineup and immediately played 25 minutes off the bench. Elfrid Payton‘s minutes (22) were more dramatically cut than Evan Fournier‘s (36), but not sure how much that had do to with foul trouble. The rookie point guard had four fouls. Oladipo put up 13 points on 3-of-10 shooting with one 3, went 6-for-8 from the line, grabbed three rebounds and dished out two assists. Fire away on Dipo in the lineups.
- Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade: Welp that’s not what you were hoping for. Nine games into the season and Wade had to sit with a hamstring injury. Doesn’t sound extremely serious for the Heat shooting guard, but still you would rather not be dealing with this so early. In the first eight games Wade has been terrific. Mario Chalmers took advantage scoring 23 points with 11 assists getting 40 minutes off the bench.
- Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford: Al was that you on Friday? Oh it was, welcome back and stick around for a while. After scoring 26 points total the last three games, Horford put up 19 against the Heat. He added six rebounds, four assists and made 8-10 from the field. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come on a more consistent basis.
- Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love: Love seems close, but the shooting percentage isn’t where it needs to be yet. Through seven games he is shooting 37 percent and that’s with making 38 percent of his 3s on six attempts. Love is currently 2-for-15 in the paint this year, there’s no way that number is staying that low. I like him as a buy low candidate under the expectation that he finishes the season more in the 12-20th best range rather than top five to eight.
- Phildelphia 76ers guard Michael Carter Williams: Through two games it seems like it’s going to be much of the same from last year. Points, assists, rebounds and steals, but you get a side of turnovers and shitty field goal percentage. Him and Tony Wroten might be the most fascinating backcourt in the NBA.
- Detroit Pistons guard Brandon Jennings: Jennings is in the midst of one of those occasional streaks where he gets scorching hot. In his last two games Jennings is 21-for-37 from the field with eight 3s, eight rebounds, 15 assists, four steals and 61 points. Psssttttttt Brandon Jennings is shooting 47 percent from 3-point range this season. Lets pretend like that’s not a thing.