Tip-In Points: Reading the Caron
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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Caron Butler, WAS Go ahead and name a stat. Any stat. No, not that one. But any other one. Seriously. Any other stat. I bet you Caron Butler is doing worse this year than he has in any of his last five. Points? 16.9 ppg, lowest since 2004-05. Assists? He’s averaging 2.4 fewer than last season. Also his lowest since 2004-05. Steals? Matched with his lowest since 2004-05. His percentages? Lowest since 2003-04. What’s the similarity? All of those previous lows led up to Butler being traded to a different team. Unhappiness = poor production = trade. Sadly for Butler owners who took him in the second or third round of their drafts, Butler ain’t happy. He hasn’t said he ain’t happy, but look at those eyes in the picture above. Those are unhappy eyes, man. Those are the eyes of a man who will continue moving at 3/4 energy until either he leaves D.C. or takes up swilling Mountain Dew again. Whichever comes first.
Scroll down for some others that either a) play basketball or b) have murdered someone within the last 12 hours.
Chris Paul, NO 11th career Triple-double. First since March 11, 2009.
Richard Jefferson, SA 24 points, 4 threes. And you said Richard Jefferson had nothing left in him. Oh that was me? Really? Well, then I stand by it.
Manu Ginobili, SA Man-u-War was a rebound away from a triple-double (14/9/10). That’s one way to look at it. Another way to look at it is that he totally nailed the 14/9/10 game he was aiming for.
DeJuan Blair, SA He’s taken over for the injured Matt Bonner. His minutes have increased 33 percent, but not his counting stats. Stay away until both increases are on par with one another.
Kevin Love, MIN Nine double-doubles in a row. He’s had a dozen in 14 games this season. It doesn’t matter how many he ends up with, I’m still going to imagine John C. Reilly’s character in “Boogie Nights” everytime I hear the name Kevin Love.
Roy Hibbert, IND Scored 13 of his 17 points in the second quarter when no one was paying attention. That sneaky, sneaky Hibbert.
Troy Murphy, IND Rolled an ankle on Brad Miller. Missed most of the second half. THUNK! That’s the sound of Indy’s last hope of a 2009-10 playoff berth dropping dead. It was a fun 2/5 of a season though, huh?
Tyler Hansbrough, IND DNP-CD. Inner ear infection. What caused it? Dunno. Probably corn or maybe fear.
Derrick Rose, CHI At least 24 points in four of his last five. “If no one else is going to score, I guess I’ll hafta be awesome all by myself you bastards!” – Derrick Rose. This will, of course, never be spoken above an audible mumble because this is Derrick Rose we’re talkin’ about.
Tyrus Thomas, CHI 14.5 pts/ 12 rbds/ 2.5 blks in 31.5 minutes since his return from injury. Imagine his output on a non-Del Negro team?
Will Bynum, DET Sat out with a pair of ankle injuries, but I’m pretty sure he was faking because he arrived to the stadium under his own power. No wheelchair or nuthin’. Faker!
David Lee, NY A career-high 30 points on the heels of tying his previous career high (28 points) in Sunday’s game. He’s also had a double-double in each of his last six games. And yet … and yet … his play is as memorable as his name.
Kevin Durant, OKC The Velvet Hoop had 35 points in his seventh double-double of the season. He’s also had five straight 30+ point games, making him the leader in players you wish you’d drafted instead of Danny Granger.
Russell Westbrook, OKC Double-doubled again. That’s two in a row. Shot under 36 percent from the floor again. That’s two in a row. This guy needs a new act.
Gilbert Arenas, WAS Hibachi was turned on high (24 pts/ 7 rbds/ 8 asts/ 3 stls/ 2 blks). Are hibachi grills low/med/high? Or is it 1/ 2/ 3? I wish more cooking machinery utilized adjectives to describe its settings like blenders. Hibachis could go from warm to burnt to Gilbert.
LeBron James, CLE The King’s 14 points rode on the back of his 6-for-20 (.300) shooting. With all the bumps, it must have been a camel’s back. It’s the 16th time in James’ career he’s has taken 20+ shots without even making 1/3 of them. He missed all five of his 3-point attempts on Tuesday, which had something (a lot!) to do with it. In the eight games James has shot .400 percent from the floor (or worse) this season, he has averaged .233 (7-for-30) from beyond the arc.
Mo Williams, CLE A nice little line in a nasty little game. The Cavs’ No. 2 man scored 20 points in his fifth straight game. He also coughed up the ball seven times. He hadn’t had more than five turnovers in a game all season.
Kobe Bryant, LAL Bryant had himself a game. Not only did he drop 44 on the Warriors to go along with a season-high 11 assists. He went a perfect 16-for-16 from the line. For all you “bean” counters out there (get it?), Kobe reached season highs in single-game free-throw attempts, points and assists.
Lamar Odom, LAL Filling in while Ron Artest heals himself, Odom’s counting stats have increased along with his minutes (duh). His percentages however, have all hit the skids. He went from shooting a poor .425 from the floor as a reserve to a poorer-er-er .403. And although I didn’t believe he could do worse than a .652 FT%, his 59 percent from the stripe as a starter proved that I don’knowdom.*
*Don't Know Odom
Andrew Bynum, LAL I’ve been told that there’s nothing wrong with Andrew Bynum. He averaged 18.3 pts/ 10.2 rbds through November and 11.6 pts/ 6.1 rbds in December in addition to playing nine fewer minutes per game. Is that all because Pau Gasol returned? I’m pretty sure it’s not all because Pau Gasol returned. Especially since Gasol returned 11 days before November ended and is averaging the lowest point total of his career.
Corey Maggette, GSW Maghetti with meatballs has averaged 21.5 pts/ 6.5 rbds/ 2.2 asts in 10 games as a starter this season, including his last seven. He’s available in about 70 percent of hoops leagues. The other 30 percent ought to wake up, ’cause lord knows Don Nelson isn’t going to do so anytime soon.
L I N E O F T H E N I G H T
David West, NO .600 FG%/.750 FT%/2 3ptm/ 44 pts/12 rbds/4 asts/ 2 stls/ 3 to. Chris Paul could have easily been considered the LotN, but David West hasn’t exactly set the league aflame this season. His point and rebound totals are the lowest they’ve been in four seasons. I mean, c’mon. Chris Paul’s had trip-dubs before. He’ll have ‘em again. West? He hit a career-high in points. He also doubled the amount of 3-pointers he’s made this season (2). So unless he makes four treys in his next game on his way to 45 points, consider this a nod to the David West that could exist more often, but hasn’t so far this season.
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Photos courtesy of Yahoo! Sports via Getty Images
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