Both the So-Called Expert and a handful of rookies are making their respective ways up the chart.
Four more weeks after this, people! It's imperative for Ye Olde Challenger to maximize his returns between here and the end of the season.
Also, I'm not sure anyone noticed, but The So-Called Expert (a.k.a. me) has made his way into the Top 1000, sitting at 896th as of publication. That's the 96th percentile!
I provide my picks below, but first, here are some of the past week's best performances.
NOTABLE RECENT PERFORMANCES
Player: Terrence Williams - NJ
Season Average / Last Week (Games): 26.3 / 51.5 (4)
General Thoughts: Williams has been getting about 30 minutes per game of late, compared to the 20 or so he's averaged on the season.
Player: Toney Douglas - NYK
Season Average / Last Week (Games): 18.6 / 39.5 (4)
General Thoughts: With newcomer Sergio Rodriguez doing little to secure the starting point guard role, Douglas has now been given an opportunity. In his first start (on Saturday, March 13), he put up a line of 21 points, 2 rebounds, and 8 assists -- good for a 64 PRA.
Player: James Johnson - CHI
Season Average / Last Week (Games): 11.4 / 38.7 (3)
General Thoughts: Johnson benefited this past week from an injury to Luol Deng, netting the rookie forward a start on Friday, March 12. In that game, Johnson played 43 minutes, recording 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 assist. Deng is likely out till late this week or even next weekm making Johnson a good play for a little bit here.
Player: Wayne Ellington - MIN
Season Average / Last Week (Games): 19.4 / 36.0 (3)
General Thoughts: Ellington has recently returned from an ankle injury but has played 30-plus minutes the last two games. In said games, Ellington has put up 42 PRAs in both games.
Player: Jordan Hill - HOU
Season Average / Last Week (Games): 14.6 / 34.0 (3)
General Thoughts: Hill has become a part of the big man mix in Houston of late. Outside of Luis Scola, no one else on the team has a strong claim on either center or power forward. As a result, Hill has played 20-plus minutes in three consecutive games entering the week.
AND ONE PLAYER WITHOUT A ROOKIE BONUS
Player: Jason Maxiell - DET
Season Average / Last Week (Games): 11.9 / 25.5 (4)
General Thoughts: Playing for the injured Ben Wallace, Maxiell has now posted three consecutive double-doubles and four consecutive double-digit rebounding games.
RECENT INJURIES
Player: Gerald Wallace - CHA
Injury: Ankle
Return: Day-to-Day
Key Beneficiaries: Stephen Jackson, Stephen Graham
Player: Luol Deng
Injury: Calf
Return: Day-to-Day
Key Beneficiaries: James Johnson (see above)
Player: Eric Gordon
Injury: Leg
Return: Day-to-Day
Key Beneficiaries: Travis Outlaw
And now here are the picks for the week:
Date: Monday, March 15, 2010
Player: Toney Douglas - NYK
Opposition: at Philadelphia
2009-2010 Averages: 6.6 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 1.3 APG (18.6 PRA)
General Thoughts: If I were ever going to pick Samuel Dalembert, this would be the game. Much like a delicious baked good, the Knicks are soft on the inside. Only problem is, instead of being a baked good, they're an NBA basketball team. As Dalembert's best skill is rebounding, it's a fit. For me, though, I'm not ready to settle for a 20 PRA night. As a result, I'm going with Toney Douglas, who Mike D'Antoni is giving a look with the starting unit.
Date: Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Player: James Johnson - CHI
Opposition: at Memphis
2009-2010 Averages: 3.5 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 0.5 APG (11.4 PRA)
General Thoughts: Wayne Ellington or James Johnson? James Johnson or Wayne Ellington? Both are rookies. Both are playing away against middling defenses (third-worst Phoenix for Ellington, eighth-worst Memphis for Johnson). So, they're pretty close. Here's the tie-breaker for me: Johnson's playing time is the result of an injury to another player (Luol Deng) who's set to come back soon; Ellington's is a result of the T-Wolves being kinda bad at basketball.
Date: Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Player: Reggie Williams - GS
Opposition: vs New Orleans
2009-2010 Averages: 12.7 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 2.3 APG (35.8 PRA)
General Thoughts: Who the who is Reggie Williams? His page at RotoWire suggests that he was recently promoted from the D-League's Sioux Falls SkyForce. I'm not sure I believe it. Rather, my guess is that Don Nelson has some sort of machine that produces replacement-level NBA players. I mean, come on: Anthony Tolliver, Cartier Martin, and now Reggie Williams? Whoever -- or whatever -- he is, he's scored in double figures in his last three games. Woot!
Date: Thursday, March 18, 2010
Player: Julian Wright - NOR
Opposition: at Denver
2009-2010 Averages: 8.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 1.5 APG (13.5 PRA)
General Thoughts: There're only two games tonight, and one of them -- Orlando at Miami -- features the third and sixth best defenses, respectively, in terms of points allowed. Unfortunately, I've used up almost all of my relevant players from the other games, which pits New Orleans at Denver. That said, Julian Wright appears to be getting upwards of 40 minutes per game recently. I don't know how good that is for winning basketball games. Either way, it's fine for the Challenger.
Date: Friday, March 19, 2010
Player: Richard Jefferson - SAS
Opposition: vs Golden State
2009-2010 Averages: 11.9 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 2.0 APG (18.1 PRA)
General Thoughts: I think I'm going with Richard Jefferson tonight. At least, there're a whole bunch of reasons to go with him. For one, there's the opponent, Golden State -- a.k.a. Friend of the Challenger. Also, there's Tony Parker's injury, which puts more offensive burden on Jefferson. If I do change my pick, it'll be to Bill Walker or whomever else Mike D'Antoni decided to roll out in his lineup.
Date: Saturday, March 20, 2010
Player: Rudy Gay - MEM
Opposition: vs Golden State
2009-2010 Averages: 19.9 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 1.9 APG (27.7 PRA)
General Thoughts: In a week full of semi-speculative picks, it's nice to have this one, at least. What's there to say about it? Gay averages about 28 PRA. Figure in the Golden State Factor -- which, due to the complexity of the formula, I won't bother you with the numbers -- and you get maybe a 32 PRA night out of Gay.
Date: Sunday, March 21, 2010
Player: Jordan Hill - HOU
Opposition: at New York
2009-2010 Averages: 4.1 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 0.3 APG (14.6 PRA)
General Thoughts: With Landry's departure, Luis Scola quickly became the only reliable front court option. Chuck Hayes, Jared Jeffries, and David Andersen are in the mix as well, but as of the end of last week (when I wrote these words), Hill was the first man off the bench. That, along with his rookie bonus, makes him a sweet play.
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