I could almost spend the entire Breakdown talking about the crazy lines that went down the Cavaliers-Pelicans game, but then I'd miss out on Kawhi Leonard's resurgent game, Chris Paul's almost trip-dub, and Roy Hibbert's offensive explosion. Instead, let's just do what you came here for - here's today's Box Score Breakdown.
ADD ME! ADD ME!
Enes Kanter was a guy whom I held high hopes for coming into this season, and last season as a matter of fact. But when he started out slow, and coach Quin Snyder was running Rudy Gobert and Trevor Booker extended minutes off the bench, things went looking good for the native of Turkey. But recently, Kanter has picked up his play in a big way. In the loss to the Pacers, Kanter scored a season high 18 points (7-8 FG, 3-3 FT), adding three rebounds and two blocks in 25 minutes, coming off a double-double Sunday. He's owned in just 32 percent of ESPN leagues and 52 percent of Yahoo leagues at the present time, so he's around in a number of 10 and 12 team leagues. Kanter is a nice option to bump your scoring and rebounds off the wire, so if your team is lacking there, give the Jazz big man a look.
M.I.A.
These guys all sat out Monday's action, for one reason or another.
- Cavaliers
- Matthew Dellavedova (knee)
- Dion Waiters (back)
- Jazz
- Rodney Hood (foot)
- Pacers
- David West (ankle)
- George Hill (knee)
- C.J. Watson (foot)
- C.J. Miles (migraine)
- Rodney Stuckey (foot)
- Hawks
- Kent Bazemore (DNP-CD)
- Knicks
- Quincy Acy (DNP-CD)
- Jose Calderon (calf)
- Andrea Bargnani (hamstring)
- Pistons
- Jodie Meeks (back)
- Spurs
- Tiago Splitter (calf/back)
- Marco Belinelli (groin)
CASUALTY WARD
Let's all rejoice that Monday none of our fantasy stars limped their way off the court. Yay!
FANTASY LINE OF THE NIGHT
With such an array of delicious fantasy lines to devour, the decision on the fantasy line of the night was not one I undertook lightly. In the end, it was the Brow, Anthony Davis, who got the honors in a tight contest over LeBron James. Davis was simply incredible yet again, as was James, scoring 27 points (12-21 FG, 3-4 FT) with 14 rebounds, four assists, four steals, and three blocks in 40 minutes of action. He is currently putting up numbers worthy of the MVP award, averaging 24.8 points, 13.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.5 steals, and 4.2 blocks per game and fantasy owners who took the plunge on Davis in the first three picks would be very smugly rubbing their hands together right about now. A ridiculous stat about Davis. In the past three games, Davis has blocked a total of 12 shots. That number actually brought DOWN his season average. Think about that for a minute.
ROOKIE OF THE NIGHT
When the best fantasy performance for a rookie comes via Nikola Mirotic's one steal and one block line, you know it was a poor night for the first-year players. There'll be better times ahead for the talented group of youngsters this season, that is for sure.
TRIPLE-DOUBLE WATCH
LeBron James was always going to have a triple-double and it only took two weeks for him to achieve the revered statistical benchmark. LeBron led the Cavs to the victory over the pesky Pelicans with 32 points (9-17 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 13-17 FT), 12 rebounds, 10 assists, one steal, and one block in 40 minutes. After a slow start to the season, LeBron has fired back, right into the top five fantasy players where he belongs, with the real standouts being his percentages. He is shooting a much improved 85 percent from the line, up from 75 percent last season, but his field goal percentage has gone the other way, hitting just 44 percent compared with 57 percent last season. That feels like it's only a matter of time before it corrects itself and it's clear LeBron will be just fine back home.
Carmelo Anthony had his bes game for new coach Derek Fisher, going close to a triple double with 25 points (11-25 FG, 0-5 3Pt, 3-5 FT), nine rebounds and seven assists. Melo was a nice buy-low candidate, but it's doubtful you'll be able to execute that sort of maneuver after he posted a big line like that.
Chris Paul almost became the first player with two triple-doubles, ending just one assist shy in the Clippers nail-biting loss to the Spurs. Paul's contribution was of the low-end variety, scoring 12 points (6-13 FG, 0-3 3Pt), 10 rebounds and nine assists, but it's still not something you;d be complaining about.
BOX SCORE HIGHLIGHTS AND ODDITIES
Aside from the Davis and James craziness, there were lots of big lines in the Cavs and Pels matchup. Ryan Anderson had his best night of the season, scoring 32 points (11-19 FG, 8-12 3Pt, 2-2 FT) with five rebounds, three assists, and one steal in 34 minutes. I still maintain Anderson's value will be shaky this season, as his minutes will fluctuate and if you can sell high off the back of this, I would.
Tyreke Evans had an off shooting nigh, hitting 2-of-14 shots for six points, but added 10 assists, and Eric Gordon was just off in general with 10 points (3-11 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 1-3 FT) and three rebounds in 32 minutes. If you dropped him in a 10 or 12 team league, I wouldn't blame you.
Kevin Love, Kyrie Irving and James combined for 86 points, 11 three-pointers, 22 rebounds, and 21 assists, unleashing the full potential of what they will be able to do this season. If you drafted any of the Cavs' big three, Monday's showing would have given you great hope for the remainder of the season.
Joe Harris played 20 minutes with Dion Waiters missing, but scored just five points (2-6 FG, 1-4 3Pt) and isn't even worth a look with Dellavedova and Waiters sidelined.
Gordon Hayward continued his impressive season, scoring 30 points (11-15 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 6-6 FT) with eight rebounds and five assists. He's missed just one free thro for the season and would have to be one of the more surprising players currently ranked in the top 10 fantasy players. The thing is, I feel his form is highly sustainable.
Trey Burke shot abysmally, going 2-of-12 for five points, but did add eight assists and two steals, while backup Dante Exum played only 19 minutes for three points and four rebounds. Burke is hitting just 30 percent of his shots, which will have to improve soon, so I wouldn't be cutting bait on the second-year guard just yet.
Roy Hibbert shook off a knee bruise to put up his best offensive performance of the season with 29 points (11-21 FG, 7-7 FT), adding five rebounds, one steal, and one block in 33 minutes. We knew someone would need to perform for the Pacers and Hibbert has been one of those guys this season and it's great to see him shake off the mental issues that were plaguing his game late last season.
Lavoy Allen had a key double-double off the bench, scoring 12 points (6-12 FG) with 15 rebounds, one steal and one block and got all of the backup minutes ahead of Ian Mahinmi, who played just 10 minutes. If you need to own a Pacers' backup big man, Allen is the guy.
Recent signee A.J. Price exploded for 22 points (8-12 FG, 3-4 3Pt, 3-4 FT), but added just a solitary rebound and assist in 25 minutes behind Donald Sloan. Sloan is still the guy you want to own and that won't change unless Price can replicate this sort of performance a few times.
Jeff Teague suffered through his worst performance of the season with only three points (0-4 FG, 0-3 3Pt, 3-4 FT) and six assists, and was even benched down the stretch. Dennis Schroder performed admirably in his stead, scoring 14 points (4-8 FG, 6-6 FT), with four rebounds and four assists in 28 minutes. Schroder has clearly overtaken Shelvin Mack as the backup with Mack not even getting into the game Monday. Schroder is a guy to add in 14 team leagues, perhaps even 12 teamers even you are in desperate need of a point guard.
Andre Drummond's baffling struggles continues Monday, missing all five of his shots to register just two points in 36 minutes. He fouled out in those 36 minutes and added 12 rebounds, but he is definitely not giving owners the return they expected, with Greg Monroe looking the better frontcourt option at the moment, surprisingly. It's not time to give up on Drummond yet though.
Derrick Rose returned and lifted the Bulls to the victory over the Pistons, scoring 24 points (9-20 FG, 2-5 3Pt, two rebounds, seven assists, and one steal in 32 minutes. It's the best he's looked all season so if you could move him, now would be the time to attempt it. The uncertainty of Rose is something I don't want to deal with on my roster.
The Kawhi Leonard many people were expecting showed up Monday, scoring 26 points (10-18 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 5-5 FT) with 10 rebounds, three assists, three steals and one block in 37 minutes. Not only was he key to the Spurs' victory, he would've helped countless fantasy teams with that sort of efficient and well-rounded line. Let's hope for more of that from Kawhi in the future. I wouldn't be selling high as I think this sort of night will be more the norm than some of the pedestrian showings we've had so far.
Jamal Crawford remained in the starting lineup for the Clippers, but struggled, scoring just 10 points (3-13 FG, 1-7 3Pt, 3-3) with three assists, and one steal. Still, it's better than anything Matt Barnes has dished up this season.
NIGHTLY LEADERS
Points
- LeBron James, F, CLE, 32 points
- Kyrie Irving, G, CLE, 32 points
- Ryan Anderson, F, NOP, 32 points
Rebounds
- Pau Gasol, F, CHI, 15 rebounds
- Lavoy Allen, F, IND, 15 rebounds
- Anthony Davis, F, NOP, 14 rebounds
- Joakim Noah, C, CHI, 14 rebounds
Assists
- LeBron James, F, CLE, 10 assists
- Tyreke Evans, G, NOP, 10 assists
- Kyrie Irving, G, CLE, 9 assists
- Chris Paul, G, LAC, 9 assists
Steals
- Anthony Davis, F, NOP, 4 steals
- Kawhi Leonard, F, SAS, 3 steals
- Paul Millsap, F, ATL, 3 steals
- Boris Diaw, F, SAS, 3 steals
- Shane Larkin, G, NYK, 3 steals
Blocks
- DeAndre Jordan, C, LAC, 5 blocks
- Pau Gasol, F, CHI, 4 blocks
- Anthony Davis, F, NOP, 3 blocks
- Josh Smith, F, DET, 3 blocks
Three-Pointers
- Ryan Anderson, F, NOP, 8-12 3Pt
- Kevin Love, F, CLE, 6-9 3Pt
- Kyrie Irving, G, CLE, 4-7 3Pt
- Jimmy Butler, G, CHI, 4-7 3Pt
Minutes
- Jimmy Butler, G, CHI, 43 minutes
- Carmelo Anthony, F, NYK, 42 minutes
- Kyrie Irving, G, CLE, 41 minutes