NBA Blogcast: Monday Production Notes

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Published on November 5, 2012

Podcast Notes by Eric Caturia (@ETCat30), James Anderson (@RealJRAnderson), and Kyle McKeown (@RotoWireKyleNBA).

Before we get too deep into all the specifics of the games, we're going to go through some key items that you . . .
Need to know:

Brandon Rush will miss the rest of the season after tearing the ACL in his left knee Friday.
The Warriors are going to spread out his minutes to Jarret Jack, Harrison Barnes, and Richardson Jefferson.
Steve Nash could miss up to four weeks with the small fracture in his left leg.
Josh Smith (ankle, didn't travel with team Sunday). He sat out Sunday's game. We don't know the extent of the injury. The Hawks don't play until Wednesday, so I'm probably rolling with Smith in weekly leagues unless I have another very good bench option.
Anderson Varejao, playing a career-high 34 minutes per game and averaging 13.7 points, 15 rebs. Still not contributing more than 0.7 blocks, but who cares?
Andrew Bogut (ankle) will only play about 20 mpg for the first month and won't play in both games of a back-to-back set. This means he's going to be hard to own for the first month. Averaging 6 pt, 4 reb, and a block in 18 mpg right now.
Jason Richardson went down with a sprained ankle and is expected to miss a couple games. Nick Young will start while he's out.

Waiver Wire

Kevin Seraphin - Owned in 13|PERCENT| of Yahoo leagues. - Seraphin missed the Wizard's first game with a strained calf, but he came out Saturday and put up 19 points, seven rebounds, and a block in 29 minutes off the bench.
Nikola Vucevic owned in 40 percent of Yahoo leagues, had 18 points and 13 boards Sunday
Robin Lopez owned in 32 percent of Yahoo Leagues
Larry Sanders - Owned in only 7|PERCENT| of Yahoo leagues.
Aminu owned in 39 percent of Yahoo leagues
Austin Rivers - averaging 29 minutes per game, owned in 35 percent of Yahoo leagues
Dorrell Wright owned in 59 percent of Yahoo leagues, could be in line for a nice week with Jason Richardson banged up
Harrison Barnes owned in 57 percent of Yahoo leagues, hasn't played well so far, or seen many minutes, but should people grab him after the news about Rush?
Time to give up on Ben Gordon, Jeff Green, Derrick Williams, Rodney Stuckey, Wilson Chandler?

Planning for the Week Ahead

The Hornets and Knicks only play two games this week. It's going to be hard to play anyone from those rosters who isn't Carmelo Anthony with them only having two games.
4 game-teams: Players I'm sitting: Jason Richardson, Gerald Wallace (unless we get an update before game time Monday), Tristan Thompson (if I have a better option), Manu, Marvin Williams, Bogut, Stuckey (other guys).
3 game-teams: Players I'm sitting: Jonas Valanciunas, everyone on Washington, maybe sit Ersan Ilyasova, Jason Terry, Jeff Green, Gerald Henderson,

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday Games

Friday's Game Notes:

James Harden poured in 45 points on 14-of-19 from the field, including two from downtown, and 15-of-17 from the free-throw line in 40 minutes in Atlanta. While he grabbed seven boards and dished out two assists, versus five turnovers, his efficiency sticks out more than anything. Discuss.
Further, Omer Asik pulled down 19 boards in 35 minutes, adding an assist, a steal, and a block, while scoring no points on 0-for-7 from the floor.
Kemba Walker notched 30 points (10-21 FG, 1-1 3Pt, 9-10 FT), five rebounds, three dimes, one steal, and one block in 33 minutes versus Indiana. He got the better of George Hill (eight points, four rebounds, and one assist in 34 minutes).
Glen Davis tallied a double-double with 29 points (13-25 FG, 3-5 FT) and 10 rebounds in 34 minutes against Denver. He added two swats on the night. After Sunday's game, he's averaging 25.5 points (on 46.8 percent shooting), 9.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, one block, and one steal in 33.0 minutes per game.
Brandon Jennings had 21 points (9-17 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 2-3 FT), 13 assists, six steals, and two rebounds in 29 minutes at Boston. After hitting a game-winning trey Saturday, he's averaging 17 points (on 46.7 percent shooting), 13 dimes, four steals, and one three-pointer in 33 minutes per.
Carmelo Anthony drained four three-pointers en route to 30 points (10-28 FG, 6-7 FT), 10 boards, two assists, and two steals in 39 minutes versus Miami. Through two games, he's averaging 28.5 points, 7.5 boards, 2.5 treys, 1.5 steals, and one block in 39 minutes per contest.
Steve Novak scored 17 points off the bench, hitting 5-of-8 from three-point land, in 26 minutes against Miami. He's averaging 11.5 points and 3.5 treys in 25 minutes over two games.
Randy Foye racked up 20 points (8-16 FG) on the backs of four three-pointers in 27 reserve minutes in New Orleans. So far, in three contests, he's averaging 13.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, two treys, and 1.7 assists in 24.7 minutes.
Anthony Davis left Friday's game in the second quarter with a mild concussion after taking an elbow to the head from fellow rookie Austin Rivers. He will likely miss a handful of games as he goes through the NBA's concussion protocol. Consider him out indefinitely.
Al-Farouq Aminu posted 15 points (7-10 FG), eight rebounds, two assists, and two steals in 34 minutes versus Utah. Over three games, he's averaging 13.3 points (on 59.4 percent shooting), seven rebounds, two assists, two steals, and 1.7 blocks in 32.7 minutes.
Damian Lillard had 21 points and seven assists in 38 minutes at Oklahoma City. After three games, he joins Oscar Robertson as the only NBA rookies with 20-plus points and seven-plus assists in each of their first three contests. (Love me some Lillard!)
Kevin Durant pulled down 17 rebounds against Portland. He's really focusing on snagging all available boards this season, averaging 14.3 to go with 22.7 points, 6.7 assists, 1.7 steals, 1.3 blocks, and one three-pointer in 42 minutes over three contests.
Marcin Gortat recorded 16 points (7-13 FG, 2-2 FG) and 16 rebounds in 36 minutes versus Detroit. On the year, he's averaging 13.3 points, 12 rebounds, and four blocks in 35 minutes over three tilts.
Jamal Crawford has at least 20 points and two three-pointers made over three games this season. Overall, he's averaging 25.7 points, three treys, and 1.3 steals in 31 minutes per contest.
Kobe Bryant poured in 40 points (14-23 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 10-10 FT), six rebounds, and two steals in 43 minutes against the Clippers. In his other three games, he's just 8-of-9 total from the foul line. The only consistent part of his game to date is that he's shot 50 percent or better from the floor in each outing this season.
Mike Conley was superb Friday, posting 21 points (5-9 FG, 8-8 FT), seven assists, five steals, and three three-pointers in 34 minutes at Golden State. He's averaging 14 points, six assists, four steals, three rebounds, and two three-pointers in two games this season.
Stephen Curry drained 6-of-10 three-pointers en route to 26 points and seven assists against Memphis. On the year, he's averaging 18 points (on 36 percent shooting), 5.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 2.7 treys, and two steals in 38.7 minutes per game. (Surprised by minutes load!)

Saturday's Game Notes:

Jared Sullinger started at power forward Saturday. He put up four points, seven rebounds, a steal, and a block in 30 minutes.
Brandon Bass played 28 minutes off the bench.
Jason Terry is averaging just 22 minutes off the bench through three games. He played 25 minutes in two of those games, but he's seeing a reduced role from what he had in Dallas, and that's something we weren't necessarily expecting.
Jeff Green is averaging just 22 minutes through three games.
The Wizards are a fantasy mess right now, but Kevin Seraphin and Jordan Crawford are making their bids to be owned in all standard leagues.
Crawford put up 21 points, four rebounds, three assists, and two three-pointers in 25 minutes off the bench. He's averaging 16 pt, 3.5 reb, 4.0 ast, and 1.0 trey in 27 minutes per game.
Trevor Booker, who is currently starting at power forward had a nice bounceback game
Sacramento finally decided to give some of their primary players extended minutes Saturday. Tyreke Evans played 44 minutes, DeMarcus Cousins 42, and Marcus Thornton 42. Coach Keith Smart also gave Aaron Brooks 35 minutes and Chuck Hayes 34, but Brooks and Hayes came off the bench. I thought Smart did a pretty good job of managing the roster last season, but it seems all the ego pleasing is forcing him to run out a different rotation every game. This will not be good for fantasy. Some of the minutes from Saturday were due to the Kings playing a double overtime game with the Pacers.
Indiana is surprisingly providing some good fantasy value for standard leagues early this season.
Lance Stephenson is getting some late-game minutes over Gerald Green as the team tries to compensate for Danny Granger (knee) being out.
Jonas Valanciunas played just 12 minutes Saturday and 22 Sunday. He was limited by foul trouble Saturday.This is the frustration of owning a rookie, and it probably isn't going to get much better with Dwane Casey being in charge of his minutes. Some nights he'll be awesome, others he'll struggle and play low minutes.
Brook Lopez appears to be the anchor of the Nets' offense, but he had just five rebounds Saturday, and you'll need to make up that deficiency elsewhere. Might be good to pair him with Omer Asik.
Kenneth Faried started being the Manimal again Saturday, putting up 22 pts and 12 rebs in 36 minutes.
Probably the most interesting thing about this game is that George Karl ran an eight-man rotation with Wilson Chandler and Timofey Mozgov sidelined instead of getting the young bums run.
Chris Bosh had 40 points Saturday, and I immediately started shopping him for Stephen Curry and other underperforming players I'd rather have.
The Heat did a novel thing with Ray Allen. They've asked him to be a basketball player again, and he's straight ballin'. Obviously, he won't continue to shoot 63 percent from the field or 57 percent from 3-point land, but the Heat are going to get him lots of open looks to help bury teams from beyond the arc. Can he lead the league in 3-pointers this season at 37-years-old?
Rip Hamilton played just 18 minutes Saturday. I was throwing out this guy as a waiver target, but if they're going to needlessly limit his minutes some nights, then the value he provides won't be consistent enough to justify owning in some standard leagues.
Joakim Noah is averaging 38 mpg through three games. He'll put up career-high stats if he continues to get ran out there like a rented mule.
O.J. Mayo put up 30 points and a career-high seven threes. Only owned in 84|PERCENT| of Yahoo leagues. If anyone dropped him, grab him.
Darren Collison is averaging 17 and seven through three games, with 1.7 steals and 1.3 treys. Only owned in 83|PERCENT| of Yahoo leagues.
Marvin Williams and the mirage of opening night. He is who we thought he was.
Manu Ginobili returned to the Spurs' lineup Saturday. Played 16 minutes, put up 8 points, 2 reb, 2 ast.
Dion Waiters is averaging 12 points and 1.3 threes in 27 mpg. He's a deep league option right now, but if Byron Scott lets him get more minutes as the season goes on, he could become an option in even 10-team leagues. Currently owned in 67|PERCENT| of Yahoo leagues.
Be patient with Tristan Thompson. He's getting close to 30 mpg. If you want to take a flier on someone else, that's fine, just don't ditch him for someone that won't get consistent minutes like him.
I'm comfortable dropping Samuel Dalembert in most leagues. Currently owned in 58|PERCENT| of Yahoo leagues.
Carl Landry is averaging 20 points and 7.3 rebounds in 26 mpg. Shooting 66|PERCENT| from the field. That's fake, and he'll taper off the healthier Andrew Bogut gets.

Sunday's Game Notes:

Big Baby (22 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two steals) had a big night against the Suns
E'Twaun Moore continues to make a case to be a waiver pick up with 15 points, six assists, three 3s, and three steals and JJ Redick also had 24 points (3-4 3Pt) and six assists with Jameer Nelson (groin) out.
Jrue Holiday scores 27 points (5-6 3Pt) to go with seven dimes
J.R. Smith scored 20 points (4-5 3Pt) to go with nine rebounds and two steals in 35 minutes off the bench
AK47 leads Timberwolves in scoring, while attempting just seven shots, also grabs six boards with three blocks and a steal
Kyle Lowry had seven boards again, averaging over seven per game on the season to go with his other impressive numbers
Kevin Martin had 28 points, six three-pointers
Kevin Durant is the man, just missed a triple-double Sunday with 22 points, 12 boards, eight assists, three steals and two blocks
Steve Blake had five steals, played well in starting role. He will contribute in typical PG categories, won't score much, but will hit three-pointers.

Today's Lesson:
James Harden will be on League Pass a lot, because the Rockets probably only had a couple national games scheduled.