Always be looking for opportunity when it comes to adding a player. Look to see who on the depth chart is hurt or struggling and losing minutes. By looking at the depth chart, you are seeing who is trending down in the eyes of the coach. Remember, just because a player is starting, it does not mean their coach is only committed to that player and that specific position. Looking at the trends constantly will keep you one step ahead of the rest.
Yogi Ferrell PG DAL-14% Ownership: The Mavs are having a Point Guard Battle Royal and the injuries keep piling up. Ferrell has been getting ample playing time in the high 30’s and has scored in double figures in two of the last three games and has been a big rebounds, assists and steals help as well. Two games ago he posted a four-steal game. The Mavs are clearly committed to him and he is quick and will take contact. He is also a long-range shooting threat. He has the J.J. Barea drive and aggressiveness with maybe even a bit better shooting range. Definitely look to add Ferrell.
Tim Hardaway Jr. SG/SF ATL-32% Ownership: Maybe the trade rumors lit a fire inside of him? Hardaway has not played under 20 minutes since January 18th and has scored in double figures in 5 straight games. The departure of Kyle Korver definitely helps Hardaway as he is a more aggressive player and will attack the basket and hit open three-pointers. Hardaway is effective on the pick n pop and frequently finds himself open. Hardaway has also grabbed at least four rebounds in four straight games and dished eight assists in one of those games. Go ahead and pick him up while the Hawks are still committed to him.
Shabazz Muhammad SG/SF MIN-7% Ownership: Bazz is back on the list and is once again trending upward and with his minutes being in the 20’s and 30’s in his last 6 games, the Wolves are once again committed. Muhammad has scored in double figures in five of his last six games and grabbed at least five rebounds in four of those games. In the games in which he scored in double figures, he hit two three-pointers in each game showing his range. Muhammad has been a major help on transition and is one of the few Wolves that follows shots and crashes the boards on offense. The Wolves are committed and you should be too, for now.
Isaiah Whitehead G BKN-2% Ownership: I am not a fan of Whitehead’s overall game and think he has major improvements to make, especially with his shot selection. He IS a fierce driver and the Nets Coaches cannot rave more about him. Whitehead may even spend more time in the paint than Brook Lopez. When Whitehead goes into shooting mode, he tries too much with the ball at guarded perimeter spots and becomes detrimental to his team. If he sticks to driving the Nets will throw him starts. Remember, the Nets are a land of opportunity, especially with Jeremy Lin out. Whitehead has played over 20 minutes in 7 of his last 8 games. He has scored in double digits in four of his last six games and will provide minor rebounding and assist help. Whitehead has dished at least three assists in four straight games.
Patrick Patterson PF/C TOR-14% Ownership: The Raptors truly go with a hot hand approach at Power Forward when it comes to minutes distribution. Patterson has the edge over teammate Lucas Nogueira because he starts and has more control of his own destiny from the start of the game. Patterson can shoot from the outside and has hit at least one three-pointer in each game since returning from injury. Patterson will utilize his strength in the paint and has grabbed at least seven rebounds in three of his last four games. Patterson has also scored in double figures in three of his last four games. Patterson has blocked a shot in three of his last four and will provide minor help in steals. He’s got the bigger build than Nogueira and the start, but there are certainly enough minutes to go around between the two.
Lucas Nogueira PF/C TOR-29% Ownership: While Patterson does have the bigger build, and is more controlled in the post. Nogueira’s style of play could change coverage inside. Nogueira provides a lot of help from right inside the perimeter and is a blocks machine. He has had many multi-block games and recently posted a four and five-block game. Nogueira does have a committed rotation spot as he has played over 20 minutes and has grabbed at least 5 rebounds in 6 of his last 7 games. Nogueira has proven to be a tough match up for most Power Forward’s in the league. His leaping ability is timed right and can stop drives. Both Nogueira and Patterson are good pick up options depending on what categories are a priority for you to fill at this time.
Brandon Jennings PG NY-25% Ownership: With Derrick Rose hurt (SHOCKER), Jennings has been a huge beneficiary and is taking full advantage of the playing time he is getting. He’s been playing in the 30’s and 40’s in games and he has 2 double-digit assist games in his last 3. Jennings has stolen the ball 10 times total in his last 3 games. Need more convincing for this short-term pick up? Jennings has grabbed at least three rebounds in four straight games. He is a quick driver and takes a ton of outside shots. When Rose comes back, Jennings minutes will be chopped in half, but at the end of the day, it’s Derrick Rose and injuries come often.
Marco Belinelli SG/SF CHA-9% Ownership: Belinelli has played in over 20 minutes in 9 straight games and even though he’s advertised as a three-point specialist, he has quick hands and plays good defense on the perimeter. Belinelli is excellent at anticipating the screen and moving his body around it when it comes. Belinelli has scored in double figures in five of his last seven games. He will provide minor rebounding and assist help and he has grabbed at least one or more steals in five of his last six games. Jeremy Lamb has been in and out of the lineup and there is not only limited depth at the position, but the Hornets frontcourt has been banged up and not a huge help offensively. Belinelli is a good short-term pick up.
Matthew Dellavedova G MIL-29% Ownership: After Malcolm Brogdon took his spot in the rotation; Dellavedova is back and is testing Brogdon for playing time dominance at the Point Guard spot in Milwaukee. Delly has not only scored in double figures in four of his last six games, but he dished five or more assists in five of those six games. Throughout that stretch, Delly has played games in the 20’s and 30’s showing the Bucks are once again committed. He can rotate to the Shooting Guard spot for a bit if needed, but it certainly isn’t ideal. The big thing that kills Delly is the turnover factor. If he can keep them down, he will stay in the rotation. He will provide minor rebounding and steals help as well. Delly has recorded at least one steal in his last four games.
Wild Card Pick Up: Davis Bertans F SAS-1% Ownership: The Spurs are a bit banged up as Pau Gasol has been out with the finger issue and now LaMarcus Aldridge is having knee issues. Bertans has been a nice scoring spark for the Spurs and has played in 20 minutes or more in 3 of his last 4 games. Bertans has scored in double figures in four of his last six games and hit five three-pointers in one of those games. Bertans has grabbed three or more rebounds in each of his last three games. He will provide blocks and steals help as well as he can defend in the paint. When the Spurs are eventually at full strength again, he is likely to be buried, but now is the time he can prove to be helpful on the court in multiple areas. He is clearly taking advantage of his opportunity.
Player News
Kristaps Porzingis (illness) said after Wednesday’s Game 2 loss to the Knicks that his current stamina issues may be related to the problem that sidelined him for eight games late in the regular season.
After an illness limited him to 13 first-half minutes in Boston’s series-opening defeat on Monday, Porzingis came off the bench in Game 2. Unfortunately, he could only give the Celtics 14 minutes. Following the game, Porzingis said his current problem may be related to the upper respiratory ailment that sidelined him for eight games late in the regular season. “Probably, probably,” Porzingis said. “I’ve had like ups and downs throughout until this point. Just now, had a big crash. Now, my energy, my everything, hasn’t been good, but who cares? Have to move forward and it will get better from this point.” While Boston’s shot selection was the focus following its two home defeats, Porzingis’ limited availability has also been a factor. He’ll hope to return to full health in time for Game 3 on Saturday afternoon.
Nikola Jokic finished with 17 points (6-of-16 FGs), eight rebounds, six assists, one steal, one block, two three-pointers and six turnovers in Game 2 against the Thunder on Wednesday.
This was Jokic’s worst performance of the postseason, and it came to an end in the third quarter. He fouled out with 1:17 left in the third, which brought his night to a close after he played 32 minutes. OKC was up 41 points when Jokic fouled out, so his night may have been close to over anyway. Jokic dominated Game 1, and the Thunder adjusted. Denver will need other players to step up if they want to have a chance of winning this series, but Jokic will also need to be better than he was in this game.
Michael Porter Jr. struggled on Wednesday and finished with just eight points (2-of-10 FGs), five rebounds, one steal and two three-pointers in Game 2 against the Thunder.
MPJ was slightly better in the second half, as all eight of his points came in the third quarter. However, the game was already out of hand at that point after a terrible first half for both Porter Jr. and the Nuggets. MPJ shot 1-of-8 in Game 1, and they’ll need him to be much better moving forward. The series will now shift back to Denver, and MPJ will look to get back on track during the two home games before the series heads back to Oklahoma City.
Russell Westbrook provided a boost off the bench with 19 points (5-of-11 FGs, 8-of-10 FTs), one rebound, five assists and one three-pointer in a 149-106 loss to the Thunder in Game 2 on Wednesday.
Despite an ugly first half for Denver, Westbrook was productive and entered the break with 15 points. He didn’t add much in the second half, though he sat the entire fourth quarter, still it was enough to lead the Nuggets in scoring. Russ has been awesome over Denver’s last five games, and his continued success will be key to the Nuggets winning this series. Though this game was ugly, they still have homecourt advantage in this series. They’ll look to keep it in Game 3 on Friday.
Chet Holmgren recorded a double-double on Wednesday with 15 points (3-of-8 FGs, 7-of-7 FTs), 11 rebounds, two assists, two steals, two blocks and two three-pointers in Game 2 against the Nuggets.
After struggling in Game 1, Holmgren bounced back and recorded the fourth postseason triple-double of his career, with three of those coming this season. Aside from Game 3 against Memphis, Holmgren has swatted at least two shots in every game during these playoffs, which was a trend that continued in this game despite him only playing 26 minutes. Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein (14/8/5/1/1) will look to continue to limit Nikola Jokic (17 points) in Game 3 on Friday.
Jalen Williams bounced back on Wednesday with 17 points (6-of-11 FGs), four rebounds, seven assists and two blocks in Game 2 against the Nuggets.
Williams was criticized for his poor performance in the Thunder’s Game 1 loss, but he responded well in OKC’s blowout victory. He was on pace for a bigger night, but he only played 26 minutes and sat the entire fourth quarter due to the lopsided score. He shot the ball much better after shooting 5-of-20 in Game 1, and he’ll need that success to carry over into Game 3 in Denver on Friday.