Your Pick One entry is decidedly not a Perfect 10 this week.
There's a term that Real Sports Men use: "winning ugly." I can't say I'm a big fan of it -- either the term, or the thing it represents. I'll always prefer teams that play a fluid, passing-based game (see Phoenix or Utah) as compared to those that slow things to a halt and try and kill you on the boards (think any time Mike Fratello ever coached). I mean, if I were a player, I probably wouldn't care, but as a member of the viewing public, beauty always wins for me.
However, in the final days of the season, if there's one thing the Challenger is realizing, it's that he'll almost definitely have to win ugly. I can't speak for anyone's picks but my own, but what I can say is that I've picked both Corey Brewer and Ron Artest this week. Guess what sort of PRA those guys are averaging? I'll give you a hint: it's not over 20. That's not exactly like a sweet Steve Nash-type pass. No, it's more like the Pick One equivalent of Kurt Rambis: bespectacled, wearing short shorts, and grunting all over the place.
If you're lucky enough to have them still available, below are some players who have produced in the past week. Below that you'll find some recent injuries and, below that, this week's picks.
Good luck, fellow Challengers.
NOTABLE RECENT PERFORMANCES
(Note: Listed in order of Bullish-ness. Totals don't include Sunday games.)
Player: John Salmons - MIL
Season Average / Last Week (Games): 21.2 / 30.0 (5)
General Thoughts: Salmons has just been a different guy altogether since coming to Milwaukee from Chicago -- from a fantasy perspective, if nothing else. With Chicago he averaged 12.7 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 2.5 APG (18.6 PRA) in 33 MPG; with Milwaukee those numbers have shot up to 20.0/3.4/3.4 (26.8 PRA) in 38 MPG. That's the difference between a fringe versus a solid Pick One play.
Player: Manu Ginobili - SA
Season Average / Last Week (Games): 25.1 / 41.0 (3)
General Thoughts: That three-day average includes Ginobili's April 2nd effort versus Orlando, in which he PRA-ed to the tune of 43 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists. Ginobili is unlikely to repeat the sort of performance over the next week and a half. Of note, though, is the Argentines playing time: he's averaging about 28 MPG for the season, but has played over 31 minutes for seven straight games (not including the one he missed with back troubles).
Player: Terrence Williams - NJ
Season Average / Last Week (Games): 29.6 / 57.0 (4)
General Thoughts: Before the season began, a number of people who are paid to talk basketball suggested Williams could post interesting assist totals from a forward spot. That prognostication has taken some time to come to fruition -- Williams is only averaging 2.7 APG on the season -- but the young Net averaged 7 APG last week, culminating in a 14-assist performance against New Orleans. If he's available, he's a n'doy-type Pick One play.
Player: Anthony Morrow - GS
Season Average / Last Week (Games): 18.2 / 24.5 (4)
General Thoughts: The exceptional thing here is not the raw totals for Morrow, but the fact that he got some dependable minutes last week (33 MPG over the last two games). Unfortunately, some of that had to do with Monta Ellis's absence. The latter's return could suppress Morrow's playing time again. Maybe sneak him in early in the week, if you can.
Player: Mickael Pietrus - ORL
Season Average / Last Week (Games): 12.2 / 25.5 (2)
General Thoughts: This performance is notable because, despite Pietrus's excellence the past two games, it's unlikely he'll produce at the same level going forward. Why? Because the Orlando-er has shot a combined 14-for-17 over that period, including an 8-for-9 mark from behind the arc. That'd be hard to sustain against rec-league competitionl, let alone actual NBA players.
RECENT INJURIES
Player: Andrew Bogut - MIL
Injury: Arm
Return: Out for Season
Key Beneficiaries: Kurt Thomas
Player: Randy Foye - WAS
Injury: Wrist
Return: Out for Season
Key Beneficiaries: Shaun Livingston
Player: Jason Richardson
Injury: Back
Return: Day-to-Day
Key Beneficiaries: Leandro Barbosa, Goran Dragic
NOTHING BUT THE PICKS
Date: Tuesday, April 06, 2010
Player: Shaun Livingston - WAS
Opposition: vs Golden State
2009-2010 Averages: 4.9 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 2.9 APG (9.8 PRA)
General Thoughts: Not too long ago, Livingston was a fourth-overall selection in the NBA draft, a 6'7" player with the handle of a point guard but the ability to defend three positions. Well, things haven't worked so great. He started off his career with the Clippers -- a.k.a. a fate no one deserves -- and then injured his leg so badly in February of 2007 that it's really taken till now to recover. In any case, he's taken over starting duties with Randy Foye out. Big ups to you, Shaun Livingston.
Date: Wednesday, April 07, 2010
Player: Corey Brewer - MIN
Opposition: vs Golden State
2009-2010 Averages: 12.9 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.3 APG (18.8 PRA)
General Thoughts: There are a lot of half-intriguing picks tonight. I'd go with Ibaka versus Denver, but he's got Phoenix later in the week. Any from Corey Brewer, Ryan Gomes, or even Ramon Sessions against Golden State also isn't what you'd call "terrible" exactly. Finally, either Udonis Haslem versus Philly or Rebounding Roy Hibbert against the Knicks both resemble something like a decent play. Ultimately, for me, Brewer's the way to go, on account of the poor defense he's facing and his important role in the Minnesota offense.
Date: Thursday, April 08, 2010
Player: Ron Artest - LAL
Opposition: at Denver
2009-2010 Averages: 11.1 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 3.0 APG (18.5 PRA)
General Thoughts: I was very close to rearranging some picks, taking Eric Gordon versus Sacramento tonight, and playing Udonis Haslem against New York on Sunday. Only problem is, that'd leave James Harden un-picked with only two game left in the season. Anyway, why'm I telling you this? For two reasons. One, so you understand why I'm making such an underwhelming choice. And two, two illustrate the sort of decisions the Challenger must make as the season comes to a close.
Date: Friday, April 09, 2010
Player: Serge Ibaka - OKC
Opposition: at Phoenix
2009-2010 Averages: 5.8 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 0.2 APG (22.2 PRA)
General Thoughts: I was saving Ibaka for this exact circumstance. Oklahoma plays both Phoenix (tonight) and Golden State (Sunday) this week. Harden seems more appropriate for the guard-fest that is a Warriors game. Phoenix at least pretends to run a big man or two through their rotations, thus ensuring that Ibaka won't be substituted by coach Scott Brooks in favor of a smaller center.
Date: Saturday, April 10, 2010
Player: Eric Gordon - LAC
Opposition: vs Golden State
2009-2010 Averages: 16.9 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 3.0 APG (22.6 PRA)
General Thoughts: I don't know that Eric Gordon's what you'd call a "complete" basketball -- at least not yet. One thing you might say about Gordon -- especially if you're college basketball play-by-play man Gus Johnson -- is that Gordon "gets buckets." That's enough for tonight, against Golden State.
Date: Sunday, April 11, 2010
Player: James Harden - OKC
Opposition: at Golden State
2009-2010 Averages: 9.9 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 1.9 APG (30.2 PRA)
General Thoughts: If the Challenger were to look back at the picks the So-Called Expert (i.e. me) has made this week, he (i.e. the Challenger) would see only two players with a PRA average north of 20 and exactly zero players with PRAs of 23+. In some ways, as James Harden goes, so goes the fate my Pick One entry. Unfortunately, entering the week, he hadn't topped 20 minutes in either of his last to games. Regardless, he's easily the best pick tonight.
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