Seth Vigdor
We’re just two weeks into the NBA season, but business has already picked up. Steph Curry, James Harden and Russell Westbrook are all in mid-season form. Andre Drummond is on pace to break all types of rebounding records this year, and it’s been fun as hell to watch. Let’s hit it.
Five takeaways from Week 2
1.) The Beard is back
After a slow start in the first week of the season, James Harden is back to his MVP ways. He’s been ballin’ outta control this last week. He’s now averaging 29.7 points, 5.7 assists and 5.9 rebounds per game in the early on. He’s got a little more sizzle in him and he’s just getting started.
From way downtown…
https://vine.co/v/eLL2vZZFEh5
He’s on fiiiiire, he’s burning up!
https://vine.co/v/eLlbFWYzdKY
Don’t ever doubt the man…
https://vine.co/v/eLOJ0leUrBi
And he has the fans going crazy!
2.) Warriors/Clippers rivalry
One of the best rivalries in the NBA today, if not the best rivalry is between Golden State and the LA Clippers. If you missed the game, shame on you, as it was a classic. Thanks to Steph Curry’s 31 points, including his go ahead 3 pointer, with just over a minute left in the game, the Warriors were able to pull out a win 112-108. These teams flat out don’t like each other and every time they get together, it’s an epic battle. I’m hoping that we’ll get another chance to see a seven game series between the two teams in the playoffs.
Here are the highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMqvBFHzX0U
And that’s just the start of it. Don’t miss out on the next battle.
3.) The King just being the King
On the season, James is averaging 23.7 points, 6.8 assists and 6.7 rebounds, all while averaging about 27 minutes played per game. He had a nice week and while his status for some games throughout the year will need to be monitored, as the Cavs try to keep him fresh for their playoff run, when playing, he’s going to continue to produce. He’s not quite on the level on Steph Curry, James Harden or Russell Westbrook for fantasy purposes, but since he contributes in most categories, he should continue to be an asset for your team.
Let’s take a look at a few of his most popular vines for him for the week.
Lebron James takes it to the rack with authority!
https://vine.co/v/eLFvibxz11u
LeBron James isn’t a happy guy with having to wear sleeved jerseys.
https://vine.co/v/eLMHZhV1Z9A
Lebron with the monster alley oop jam!
https://vine.co/v/e32QeB27znz
The King still has game, so please don’t sleep on him.
4.) The Putrid Pelicans
As of this writing, the Pelicans are 0-6. They have truly regressed from last year. So far, their leader Anthony Davis is averaging 25.2 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. A big reason for their early season issues is their defense. It’s a far cry from what they did last year and while it’s not time to panic yet, if they start the season at 0-10, things will no doubt get uglier.
5.) Brooklyn 911
Another team that has opened the season winless at 0-7 are the Brooklyn Nets. Unlike the Pelicans, there aren’t any glimmers of hope for them. Their General Manager, Billy King has stated that he has had some exploratory conversations with other teams about potential trades. King also acknowledged that should they keep losing, they’ll have to speed up the whole trade process. It’s only going to get worse for them this year, so they’ll have a chance to get the top pick in next year’s draft.
…
Your Team, Your Town, Your 76ers Weekly Update
And continuing with the losing theme we have your Philadelphia 76ers. They’ve started the season 0-7 as well, and you already know the drill. Last week they lost four games as indicated below.
11/2/15 vs. Cleveland – Lost 107-100
11/4/15 vs. Milwaukee – Lost 91-87
11/6/15 vs. Cleveland – Lost 108-102
11/7/15 vs. Orlando – Lost 105-97
Your team leaders:
Jahlil Okafor 19.9 PPG
Nerlens Noel – 9.8 RPG
T.J. McConnell – 7.6 APG
Nerlens Noel – 1.7 SPG
Nerlens Noel – 1.8 BPG
Nerlens Noel is dealing with sore wrists and when he’s not out there, they look lost on defense. He’s the defensive leader of this team, so hopefully the wrist injury doesn’t linger throughout the season. If you were hoping for a different outcome this season for the Sixers, I apologize now. Commence the tanking talk again, because this team is going nowhere this year and perhaps the next few years.
https://vine.co/v/eLYtEgu2Q2A
That sums up the week for the Sixers.
…
Waiver Wire Watch (*Keep an eye on, **Time to consider it, *** MUST Grab)
Each week, I will supply you with a list of players that you should consider adding from the waiver wire. Above, I listed the three tiers of players they are. So let’s take a look at the guys that you should be paying attention to. To qualify as a Waiver Wire guy, I’ll only consider those players that are owned in less than 60% of Yahoo! leagues at the time of this writing.
**T.J. McConnell – (PHI – PG) – 33% owned – Though he may find himself on the bench when Tony Wroten and Kendall Marshall return from injury, McConnell is playing great ball at the moment. He’s averaging close to 30 minutes a night at the moment and as long as that’s happening, he needs to be owned.
*Kelly Olynyk (BOS – C) – 6% owned – The Celtics’ front-court is crowded, so for the moment it’s tough for him to get regular playing time. However, with David Lee’s minutes monitored and a potential trade down the road of Jared Sullinger, Olynyk is a nice stash, since he can put up big numbers with the proper playing time.
*Ish Smith (NO – PG) – 6% owned – With Jrue Holiday not being cleared to play in both halves of back-to-back games, Smith is seeing plenty of plying time early on in the season as he’s averaging about 26.8 minutes per game. If you’re looking for a decent PG that can get you some assists, look no further than Smith.
*John Henson (MIL – PF/C) – 22% owned – Henson missed some time to start the season with an Achilles injury. The Bucks have been playing small ball as of late, but Henson can give you points and boards when he gets 25+ minutes a game.
*P.J. Tucker (PHO – SG/SF) – 35% owned – Tucker has gotten off to a slow start, but he should get it going soon. He can contribute in multiple categories, so keep an eye on him and be ready to pounce on him should a hot streak start.
*Nemanja Bjelica (MIN – PF) – 18% owned – The 17 year old rookie is playing very well for the T-Wolves. He contributes with points, rebounds and assists and he’s getting plenty of playing time. If you have room for him on your roster, grab him now before he goes in a slump.
…
casino.org
Daily Fantasy Sports
Each week I will give you my value picks that can be used for both FanDuel and DraftKings. Since NBA teams play more than one time a week, my five value plays will be plays that are recommended for the whole week based off of their salaries to start the week. While I won’t list their salary (as they may change multiple times during the week), I consider my value plays usually on, around or below $6,500 at the start of the week for both sites. Another thing to pay close attention to is injuries. Always make sure you check the status of the player prior to your official picks. Lastly, at the end of the day, the final decisions are yours to make, but I’m here to guide you through some value picks. Without further hesitation, let’s get into my DFS value picks.
Emmanuel Mudiay (DEN– PG – 4 games in week) – The Nuggets rookie is averaging 30 minutes a night, while averaging 12.7 points, 5.6 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game. He’s going to be up and down this year, but with 4 games this week and the fact that he contributes in all categories, it makes him a sneaky play at his salary.
Klay Thompson (GSW– SG – 4 games in week) – Due to his slow start, Klay Thompson is right around my value play salary and I’ll take advantage of that knowing that Klay can go off on any given night. He’s averaging 16.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists on the year. This is a no brainer to me.
Danilo Gallinari (DEN– SF – 4 games in week) – He’s one of the top scorers on this Nuggets team as he’s averaging 16.9 points and 4.9 rebounds on the year. He’s capable of putting up big numbers, so I’ll jump on him at his current value.
Dwight Powell (DAL – PF – 4 games in week) – Talk about a guy that came from nowhere, Dwight Powell is that guy. He’s averaging 11.3 points and 8 rebounds per game. He’s getting good playing time and at this value, I’m rolling with the hot hand.
Jonas Valanciunas (TOR – C- 4 games in week) – Unlike prior seasons, Valanciunas is getting off to a strong start this year. He’s averaging 14.9 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. I’m not sure how long he keeps this play up for, but I’m riding this out at his salary.
Here are few more parting gifts from me to you, until we meet again next week:
DeAndre Jordan is a bad MOFO…
https://vine.co/v/eLLPBdA5YPZ
Carmelo Anthony swats Lebron James…
https://vine.co/v/eLia9mD2duH
Speaking of big blocks, here’s Jeremy Evans rejecting Anthony Davis…
https://vine.co/v/eLLzL9lE0Ui
You can stay up to date with everything Fantasy Sports related by following me on Twitter (@ViggieSmalls765) and Instagram.