News
- The Magic pulled out a win last night despite losing four players to a virus. Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson, J.J. Reddick and Mickael Pietrus all sat out sick last night. Clearly, Orlando doesn’t need any of these players to win. They proved it last night versus the Toronto powerhouse.
Game Notes
- Rajon Rondo had 19 assists last night. Can we agree that he would be the best player in the NBA if he had an average jump shot? I don’t need your agreement. It’s true.
- I haven’t been able to get a good feel for the OJ Mayo situation since he started struggling. At first glance, it would appear that he’s benefited from coming off the bench, but that conclusion might be based on faulty evidence. It seems much more likely that he started finding his stroke around the same time he was put in the sixth man role. Memphis’ underachievement looks like it will lead to unemployment for Lionel Collins. This team doesn’t seem to be moving forward like it needs to. Mayo is the kind of player that simply has to start on a team like Memphis. If Collins can’t figure out a way to get him going again, a change will be made.
- Kyle Lowry went off last night against the struggling Grizzlies scoring 28 points with 12 assists. Nothing in his previous numbers indicate anything close to this happening with any regularity, so don’t drop any player of value to pick him up.
- I would just like to offer my condolences to anyone who was forced to watch that Trailblazers vs. Wizards game last night. I think FEMA is being dispatched to deal with the aftermath. If you chose to watch this: you are one sick individual. That game made waterboarding seem like child’s play.
- Jordan Farmar has finally started to break out like many people predicted in the preseason. In his last three games, Farmar has scored 61 points with 23 assists. Those aren’t all-NBA numbers, but they’re beyond ownable. You can probably still get Farmar very cheap, so go after him. The small risk is easily outweighed by the reward.
- Vince Carter has played well since his return to the Magic lineup. Last night he scored 25 points and had nine assists. Now if only he could show up in the playoffs. If only.
- If Dwight Howard is knocked out of the Orlando lineup on a long term basis, Brandon Bass, who scored 27 last night while he filled in for the sick Dwight Howard, will become one of the most sought after pickups in the league. He’s proven he can score, but the Magic simply don’t need him on the floor with Howard all that often.
- Kevin Love: 25 points, 18 rebounds. Is that even news anymore?
- J.R. Smith has scored 71 points in his last three games. If you own Smith and you’re not confident a Carmelo trade will happen mid-season, sell high on him now. Smith can be a good scorer, but he’s just too inconsistent to trust.
