Game Notes: 11/25

Hey guys, I will be out of commission until Saturday due to travel accommodations. If I find a surprise internet connection I may do an abridged version of these notes, but as of now I think it is looking more like I will be without internet until Saturday. Early happy Thanksgiving to those of you in the states (*insert Sean May fat joke*), and early happy November 27th to everyone else (*insert more Sean May fat jokes*).

Golden State – 100 at Washington – 124

Lots of garbage time in this one. Jamal Crawford’s debut was a little less than spectacular, but I am sure he will be fine once he gets full PT. Jackson and Maggette each had nice lines considering their low minutes, Biedrins kind of sucked turning it over 5 times and going 5/9 from the line but still had a night that I would hesitate to coin “awful”, Anthony Morrow started but was yanked very early in the first quarter in favor of Kelenna Azubuike and did not return until the game was well out of hand. Caron and Antawn each saw close to full PT and both performed admirably. JaVale McGee finally got off a little, enjoying a night where he did not have to defend a conventional post player. Much the same can be said for Andray Blatche, who either do to the coaching change or matchups, saw 30 minutes and returned a huge 25-12-5-2-5 with 1 three, on 1 TO, 11/18 FG, and 2/2 FT. If you have a scrub, Blatche is worth a flier. If not I would wait to see if he gets 25+ minutes against a more conventional team.

*Cleveland – 119 at New York – 101

The score makes this game look a lot closer than it was, as the Knicks were down by 31 at the half and did not begin to close that gap until all of the Cavs starters were out in the fourth. Thanks to the blowout, the only thing worthy of note on Cleveland’s side is that LeBron is STILL hitting his FT’s, sitting just under 79% on the season after tonight. Al Harrington and Tim Thomas came off the bench and looked absolutely TERRIBLE while they were on the floor for New York. Unfortunately, the eventual distribution of PT is still impossible to predict as Nate left the game in the second quarter (and did not return) with a strained groin, and Cuttino has yet to suit up. D-Lee and Q were the only guys who put up decent stats for the Knicks. On the nights when this team is off they are almost as unwatchable as the Thunder.

Phoenix – 99 at Oklahoma City – 98

Shaq truly is an innovator. Totally throwing a wrench into the Deron Williams sissy logic behind predicting his own absence in the second night of all back to backs, Shaq took things a step further (for the second time this season) and assumed that were he to play this game he would be too worn down to play tomorrow night… so why not just sit this game out? If only he would extrapolate this logic and talk himself into retirement… Anyway, a Shaq-less Phoenix squad started Robin Lopez and struggled to put down the worst team in the league. Nash had one of his better lines of the season if you look past the 7 TO’s, Amare had nice numbers but for some reason was unable to get off the chain for any more than 13 FGA’s, Matt Barnes put up 16 points but outside of 3ptm did not contribute anywhere else. Earl Watson and Kevin Durant led the way for OKC, with Watson getting all of the boards and dimes, and Durant getting all of the points (on healthy %’s). Jeff Green had one of his weak FG%/TO nights, but was otherwise competent, while Russell Westbrook and Chris Wilcox both made strong contributions from the bench.

Things to watch: Damien Wilkins started and got decent PT again, tonight returning decent steal and 3ptm numbers. As long as OKC keeps a short bench he should have ownable value in deep leagues.

Indiana – 106 at Dallas – 109

Marquis put up a double double against the team that notoriously traded him for Austin Croshere as punishment for Avery Johnson not liking him what seems like eons ago. TJ Ford was solid but quiet, Rasho continued his crazy assist trend, Danny Granger was decent but weighed down by a low FG%, while Troy Murphy personified this game as his own “#8 Notre Dame @ #6 Texas” (a game that would eventually see Texas guard AJ Abrams hoist an incomprehensible 17 three point attempts) and performed justly posting a line of 21-14-2-1-0 with 3 threes, on 2 TO’s, 8/16 FG, and 2/2 FT. The Mavs trailed for most of this game, but a late surge sparked by Jasons Kidd and Terry allowed them to edge out the Pacers at the end. Kidd finally got his turnovers under control and had a nice night. Dirk had a poor FG%, but was good to great everywhere else. Jason Terry surrounded 29 points with 4 boards and 5 assists to finish with a strong overall line, and in Josh Howard’s absence James Singleton made the strongest run at Jarron Collins season high “Collins Line” of 11 minutes, with 9 minutes and 38 seconds of producing absolutely nothing.

I would not advise picking up: Antione Wright. He is terrible. I wish I had seen the game tonight because I honestly cannot figure out how he scored 24. He is the kind of guy who looks like he should be making all kinds of athletic plays and slashing to the basket, but he actually has a game more like a slower, dumber Wally Szczerbiak… who is terrible at shooting and averse to contact. Even if you have “good feelings” about Antione, once Gerald Green and Josh Howard are healthy (should be soon?) all of his minutes will go away.

New Jersey – 93 at LA Lakers – 120

Devin Harris had a bit of an off night, only shooting 5/16 from the field. Vince Carter was decent but only played 32 minutes so his volume is understandably low. Brook Lopez also had a rough shooting night, but in 38 minutes was able to pile up a nice 17-10-2-1-3, and for lack of a better term, Yi and Bobby Simmons were decent in short minutes as well. All the Laker starters saw short minutes. Kobe struggled from the field (5/17) but had healthy rebound and assist contributions. Pau had an impressive line outside of 4 TO’s. Farmar and Ariza made the best contributions among the Laker bench players.

Moving up in the world: I didn’t watch this game, but the box score makes it look like things didn’t get REALLY ugly until the fourth (18 point lead grew to 27 point lead). Still, a decent amount of garbage time was available… and Trevor Ariza only played 20 minutes! Maybe other forces were at work, but it reads to me as Ariza being too important to burn in garbage time (I knew there was a reason they gave Luke Walton a contract extension).