Never forget to look at previous articles for players you should keeping on your own watch lists. At this point in the season, make sure you’re looking at short-term stats in regards to players. Beat the trend! By looking how a player has performed over the last two weeks will give you a strong indication that the player is heating up on a per-game basis. Always stay ahead of the game and make sure the players you’re picking up are getting close to 20 minutes per game.
Dillon Brooks SG, SF MEM-39% Ownership: It’s very confusing why Brooks isn’t owned in more leagues. Memphis doesn’t have a lot of consistent scoring options and Brooks continues to play heavy minutes. He’s hit the 30-minute mark in his last three games. Brooks will provide help with scoring and rebounding, and he also plays good defense right inside the arc. He’s blocked shots in three of his last four games. As for grabbing boards, Brooks has grabbed six-plus over his last three games. He will give owners a steady diet of threes and layups. He’ll take the lane or look to pull up at open spots right outside of the paint. Brooks also gets to facilitate the Grizzlies offense a bit as well. He’s scored at least 15 points in seven of his last eight games. He’ll take double-digit shots more often than not. He’s a better shooter than Jae Crowder .
Bobby Portis PF, C NY-17% Ownership: By getting in the Bobby Portis business, get ready to have a love-hate relationship with him, but he does have some value because of his shooting range. Last year on Washington, Portis showed a lot more in terms of physicality in the post, but the Knicks problems include having very few players that can hit three-pointers consistently. That forced Portis to spend more time at the arc for the early part of the season. Recently, he’s been hitting the post more. He has the moves inside and is a fighter for boards, but if he’s in the game with Mitchell Robinson , he’ll have to compliment Robinson by staying out of his way and that relegates him back to the arc. Portis has scored in double figures in two of his last three games. He’ll take full advantage when the Knicks are getting killed in games and with how things are looking thus far, the Knicks will get blown out a lot. Portis has also grabbed steals in the lane in two of his last three games. He’s also grabbed seven-plus boards and played over 20 minutes in his last three games. Proceed with caution.
Jalen Brunson PG DAL-36% Ownership: After seeing the Mavs for a few games without Luka Doncic , it looks as if Brunson has been one of the biggest beneficiaries when it comes to playing time and production. Brunson is not only seeing more games in which he plays into the 30’s, but he’s scored ten or more points in his last five games. He’s also recorded two double-digit assist games in his last four. For a guard that dishes 3.6 dimes per game, he’s dished at least seven in his last five games. He’ll hit shots from long-range, but he won’t be afraid to attack the lane. Brunson has also grabbed steals in three of his last four games. Doncic’s return is getting closer, but he may be restricted for a couple of games just to make sure he doesn’t get re-injured. Brunson is making a strong statement that he’s worthy of taking on more minutes even when Doncic is at full strength. He’s grabbed four or more boards in four of his last five games.
Derrick Jones Jr. F MIA-12% Ownership: Jones defense is definitely earning him more minutes in the Heat’s lineup. Jones is taking full advantage of the minutes left behind by Justise Winslow and he’s scored in double figures in four of his last five games. He can hit shots from downtown and he’s recorded three multi-steal games in his last five. Jones is especially beneficial when the Heat are on transition and he’s always able to make it down the court quickly ensuring that the Heat have numbers on the drive. Jones fits the Heat’s offensive scheme because of his speed. The Heat want to keep opposing teams moving at all times and Jones fits that model. Jones has grabbed at least six boards in his last two games. He also has solid leaping ability and has blocked shots in four of his last six games. He should be able to see consistent minutes in the late 20’s-early 30’s until Winslow is ready to return.
Chris Boucher PF, C-17% Ownership: The Raptors have suffered two big blows to their frontcourt depth losing Pascal Siakam and Marc Gasol for an undisclosed amount of time. Serge Ibaka can’t cover the paint by himself and more will be asked of Boucher until the others are ready to return. Boucher is more of a last resort long-range shooter, but he’ll have to play more in the paint and owners should expect a lot of production from him there. For Sunday’s game, Boucher was given 24 minutes of playing time and he was able to score 21 points and grab seven boards. He had to battle seven-footer Kristaps Porzingis for those boards and recently had two games in which he grabbed five boards in 13 minutes. The rebounding potential is definitely there. The Raptors are running out of healthy options. Norman Powell is also injured and OG Anunoby is needed more at small forward. Minutes are wide open for both Ibaka and Boucher. He doesn’t even have to worry about Rondae Hollis-Jefferson taking minutes from him because Boucher, Hollis-Jefferson and Ibaka are needed to fill three positions. Boucher grabbed two steals and blocked four shots on Sunday.
Royce O’Neale SF UT-4% Ownership: O’Neale may just be a short-term solution, but, with his ball-handling abilities and him being a match up problem for opposing guards, he has value with Mike Conley once again out of the lineup. Donovan Mitchell and Emmanuel Mudiay will help run the point as well, but expect cheap assists from O’Neale. He has hit the 30-minute mark in four of his last five games, and is very much part of the rotation and he’s scored in double figures in three of his last four games. He will take a lot of high-percentage three-pointers. O’Neale is an excellent mid-range defender and he will fight for steals in the lane. He’s grabbed steals in his last eight games and he’s recorded multi-steal games in his last two. He’s even blocked shots in two of his last three games. O’Neale has even been rebounding a bit better lately, grabbing at least five in three of his last five games.
Markieff Morris PF, C-13% Ownership: There’s clearly something wrong with Blake Griffin ’s Knee. He’s playing very timid, hardly attacking the rim like we’re used to seeing and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him sit more in the coming weeks so the Pistons can preserve his health. Christian Wood has also been banged up and Morris has taken full advantage of the open minutes. Morris has played 31-plus minutes in three of his last four games, and it has resulted in him scoring in double-digits in five of his last six games. He’s been taking advantage of slower defenders by popping out to the arc and draining three-pointers. He hit seven three-pointers in his most recent game. He’s also grabbed steals in three of his last five games. Morris will be needed to play more in the post until Wood at least comes back and that should help his rebounding numbers. Morris is grabbing just four boards per game, and with more minutes and time in the paint, his average should go up a bit over the next few weeks.
Derrick White G SAS-38% Ownership: The Spurs are a hard team to figure out, but White has been trending up and he’ll regularly hit 20 minutes per game. He’s scored in double figures in four of his last five games, and he won’t only stay at the arc and fire up long-range shots. He’ll attack lane and try to get inside. He’ll get open from the elbow area as well and he can spend time at both guard spots, which means there’s potential for more minutes, especially if an injury occurs. White has grabbed five-plus boards in two of his last three games. He will hustle on defense by fighting through screens on the perimeter and grabbing swipes. He’s compiled steals in three of his last five games. The Spurs have a lot of guards that are hungry for minutes, but White has been able to stick in the rotation and as long as he gets to that 20-minute mark, he’s a good end of bench option if you need a guard.
George Hill G MIL-25% Ownership: With no Eric Bledsoe for at least one more week, Hill should be able to get more shots and time with the ball in the Bucks offense. He’s playing a bit over 21 minutes per game for the season and he’s surpassed his average in five of his last six games. Hill is one of the best three-point shooters in the NBA, and he’ll get fed when he’s off the ball as well. Hill has scored in double figures in seven of his last eight games. He’s grabbed steals in three of his last five games and he’s even dished three dimes per game this season. Hill’s shooting alone makes him a regular rotation player, but his ceiling is a bit higher with Bledsoe out. Hill is a short-term solution if you need cheap scoring. He won’t hurt your percentages and he’s even grabbed 3.1 boards per game. Guards who grab at least three boards per game show a true commitment to rebounding.
WILDCARD PICK UP: Damion Lee SG GSW-2% Ownership: The Warriors rotation seems wide open because they can’t seem to figure out which starting lineup works best. Lee is making a strong case to start as he’s scored 12-plus in three of his last four games. He’s played at least 34 minutes in two of his last three games. He’ll set up at both the elbow and the arc. He’ll try attacking the rim when he’s on the ball. Lee is in a competition for minutes against Alec Burks and Glenn Robinson III. When Eric Paschall is healthy, Paschall will get more love in the rotation than Lee. However, Lee has grabbed at least five boards in his last three games. He’s playing over 23 minutes per game this season and he should be able to stick in the rotation as long as his shots are falling. Lee takes at least nine shots per game and he’s grabbed 4.1 boards per game and his defense at the elbow could earn him more minutes in the future.