A look around Wednesday’s NBA action from a fantasy basketball perspective.
- I’m sorry this has absolutely nothing to do with fantasy basketball. I just wanted to write the words the Sixers win!!!!!!!! Moving on.
- The Nets came up with a surprising victory against the Spurs and center Brook Lopez has awakened. Lopez posted 16 points, 15 rebounds, three assists and two steals going up against Tim Duncan. He helped hold Duncan to 5-of-18 shooting, which doesn’t mean much in fantasy basketball, but will make head coach Lionel Hollins happy. Hollins hands out the minutes for Brooklyn so Brook giving Hollins reasons to smile can lead to more opportunities. To this point Lopez is only taking 13.1 shots per game his lowest total since his rookie season in 2008-09.
- Mirza Teletovic broke out of a three-game slump going off for 26 points and 15 rebounds with five threes. All three of those were a season high. In his three previous games. Teletovic shot 4-for-21 from the field. It was also only the third time this season he crossed the 20-point mark. He will be inconsistent, but I would think Teletovic has a nice run of games in him at some point this season.
- Keeping with the theme of players snapping out of slumps, that’s more like it Lance Stephenson. The professional ear-blower actually made 9-for-18 shots, that’s good for 50 percent. Lance had only shot 50 percent or better in three games before Wednesday night. Stephenson added in eight rebounds four assists and a steal. The Hornets spacing is all sorts of a mess due to their lack of shooters, but I still do believe in the former Pacers’ talent to get those shooting numbers up a little bit more consistently.
- Third game in the starting lineup for forward Cody Zeller and we’ve seen two good games and one bad. He actually played more off the bench leading up to his starting stint so be careful about caring too much about “starting.” Fifteen points and 14 boards last Friday against the Warriors and 12 points and eight boards last night versus the Bulls. Between those two, only four points and three boards on 0-for-6 shooting in a matchup with the Hawks. One big positive is he’s gotten to the free throw line 16 times during this three-game stretch (10 in the Warriors contest).
- Only a quick note here, forward Josh McRoberts was moved back into the starting lineup. He played 21 minutes to only 18 from Shawne Williams and 12 from Udonis Haslem. Numbers still not there, but as mentioned the other day worth an early add or to continue to monitor, especially with Luol Deng dealing with injuries. Someone besides Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh needs to put up stats here.
- If you have Marc Gasol do your lucky dance or whatever the thing you do is when you need something to go right. According to WHBQ 87.7, Gasol was dealing with knee pain during the loss. He’s getting an MRI today. For positive news it’s his right knee, last year’s injury was to his left knee. He won’t bring Gasol’s production, but Kosta Koufos is worth an add if you have Gasol.