Tip-In Points: Delonte’s Inferno
Anyone can suggest adds and drops for the NBA fantasy fans out there, but few make those suggestions from the gut. We’ve also sprinkled in tons of helpful stats for all fantasy formats too. Because that’s the kind of fantasy help you deserve.
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Delonte West, CLE Cleveland’s rootin’-est, tootin’-est, firearm shootin’-est Cavalier scored 12 points in his first 5:51 off the bench on Sunday. He took nine free throws and made ‘em all. He took nine shots, made six. Stole the ball twice, blocked a shot, assisted on three. This is what the Cavs are missing when Delonte goes Cuckoo’s Nest on his team. And sadly, that’s been more often than not this season. Wild, Wild West has played more than 24 minutes in four games this season. When it happens, he’s averaged 11.5 pts. / 3 reb. / 5 ast. / 1.25 to / .421 FG%. Don’t pick him up yet. Play hard-to-get. See if he comes around.
Scroll down for a few more fellas that come around when you play hard-to-get.
Chris Duhon, NY Seriously, Chris Duhon? D’Antoni’s parading you out there for 34 minutes a game and you can’t make more than a 8 pts / 3 reb / 6 ast dent? You can’t make even a third of your shots? Your career FG% is .391 and you’re shooting way under that this year. UNDER it. You were on the court almost 39 minutes against the Nets (Nets!) on Sunday and you shot 2-of-12 with five assists. That’s it. I can’t even look at you. New York can’t look at you either. And that’s saying something because it chooses to look at Times Square every day. Chris Duhon, your game is uglier than Times Square.
Nate Robinson, NY Received a “DNP-CD” for his third game in a row. On a related note, Danilo Gallinari returned after missing Friday’s game. I guess that would make it a “P-CD.”
Al Harrington, NY Weird stat, true stat: Sir Harrington is averaging 20.1 pts / 4.9 drb / 1.6 ast / 0.3 blks a game this season. His averages from last season? 20.1 pts / 4.9 drb / 1.4 ast / 0.3 blk. He’s like a Stepford Wife that plays horrific defense and only shows up against soft frontcourts.
Courtney Lee, NJ Just four points in 39 minutes. This, after his 27-point outburst on Friday. Well, now I’m just confused.
Antawn Jamison, WAS 13 points off 14 shots. It’s the third game in his last five in which he shot worse than .300.
Earl Boykins, WAS Oingo Boykins has scored at least 13 points and dished at least four assists in each of his last four games from the bench. I can hear Flip Saunders now: That’s it. Boykins! You’re going in for Jamison! “But, I’m 5-foot-nothin’, sir. I won’t be effectiv-” Boykins! I’m not here to pussyfoot with you about the game of basketball. My efficiency guy ain’t being efficient. So you’re my new efficiency guy. “But I’m 15 inches shorter than Antaw- “ Boykins! You know I hate excuses. Now go out there and d’fense the hell out of Jason Maxiell. And Ben Wallace too, what the hell!”
And that’s the story of how Jason Maxiell and Ben Wallace went a combined 1-for-9 with 2 points on Sunday.
Charlie Villanueva, DET Chuckles Newhome played in his second game since breaking his nose. He took the opportunity to shoot eight threes despite describing the feeling of wearing his protective mask as if he “constantly had a hand in [his] face.” So the question is, why did he shoot so many threes with a hand in his face?
Austin Daye, DET Pistons coach John Kuester mistook the 6’11″ Daye for a shooting guard on Sunday and the kid went 5-for-5 in the second half. I often mistake Austin Daye for Tayshaun Prince. I also mistake him for Austin Peay University in Tennessee, which makes for some confusing conversations.
Ben Gordon, DET Gordon played only 12 minutes on Sunday because of an ankle sprain. Despite missing time and games this week, he’s hoping to give Allen Iverson a chance to break ‘dem ankles for good on Wednesday. Keep hope alive, kids.
Rodney Stuckey, DET I think getting rid of Iverson in order to give Stuckey the full burn at PG was a great call. There’s just no room for players to drop 25 points without distributing the ball to anyone else. What’s that you say? He had 25 points and two assists on Sunday, eh? What did I tell you about embarrassing me in front of company?
Greg Oden, POR Oden’s done for the season, bringing his grand total of games played in his first three seasons up to 82. On the bright side of things, David Robinson only played 82 games in his first three seasons in the league and look how he turned out. Back to the darker side of things, Robinson missed the first two seasons due to military obligations and not because he’s actually a 53-year-old man.
Shaquille O’Neal, CLE Not convinced that O’Neal is done? How do you explain a man the size of a grain silo on the court for more than 15 minutes and grabbing only one rebound? Don’t you give Andrew Bogut credit. Don’t you dare.
Brandon Jennings, MIL Jennings had his first 20-point performance since November 21. That also happened to be the last time he’d shot better than .400 from the field. It just proves my theory: very rarely can you count on a guy named Brandon. That being said, never EVER count on a guy named Brendan. Ever.
Tyreke Evans, SAC In the last week, Evans has outshot (51% – 36%), outscored (25.7 – 17.8), outrebounded (5.0 – 3.3), outstolen (1.7 – 0.8) and nearly matched Brandon Jennings’ assist totals (5.7 – 6.8). Consider this a final call to board the Tyrookie of Year bandwagon.
Donte’ Greene, SAC Greene (21 pts) came within three points of his career-high on Sunday against the Heat. He shoulda borrowed, like, five of Charlie Villanueva’s three-point attempts.
Jermaine O’Neal, MIA O’Neal’s still visiting his sick uncle. The Heat don’t play until Friday. He should be back by then.
Amar’e Stoudamire, PHO I said on November 20 that “Stoudemire just doesn’t rebound anymore. Blame his eyes. Blame his knees. Blame his patchy beard. He played almost 43 minutes and grabbed five boards. Channing Frye played 15 fewer minutes and grabbed five more.” At the time of that post he was averaging 7.5 rebounds. Since the first of the month, he’s averaging 11.5 rebounds. He grabbed eight boards in just three quarters of play on Sunday. Now that I know my words carry motivational powers, I’d now like to remind Allen Iverson that he hasn’t played for the Sixers in almost three years and should take steps to change that. We’ll see how that goes in the coming days.
Channing Frye, PHO He’s made a three-pointer in 21 consecutive games. Dirk Nowitzki (30) and Troy Murphy (29) are the only other 6’11″ dudes to carry on with such a streak.
Ron Artest, LAL Sometimes Ron-Ron has bad games where his stats look awful. Other times he has bad games where his stats look solid. Yesterday was one of the latter games. You’ll take it, but you’ll have to chase it with some cognac. You see what I did there? I referred to current headlines.
LINE OF THE NIGHT
Dwyane Wade, MIA D’Wade double-doubled for the third time this season on Sunday, also the third time in four games. 34 pts / 5 reb / 10 ast / 1 stl / 4 blk / 2 to / .625 / .875 It’s the seventh time the reigning scoring leader droped at least 30 points this season. After his first 20 games last season, he’d done so nine times. He’d also had six double-doubles.
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Photo courtesy of Yahoo! Sports via Getty Images
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