Browsing: excels

The NBA docket is a bit less busy this week, with the NBA In-Season Tournament on the horizon. Players wonâ€t be on the floor quite as much this week, which makes for a good time to pinpoint some guys that are trending in either direction.

NBA: Preseason-Sacramento Kings at Los Angeles Lakers

Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Time to add Maxime “Mad Max†Raynaud

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Raynaud has emerged as a legitimate backup big, and he should remain in the starting lineup until Domantas Sabonis returns.

STOCK UP

Derrick White — PG/SG, Celtics

Small sample size here, but Whiteâ€s been outstanding to begin December — in four games, his 24.5 points per game on 51.4/ 40.8/ 80.0 shooting splits have been significantly better than his lower-scoring, inefficient-shooting October and November. Whatâ€s stood out most is Whiteâ€s 12.3 three-point attempts per game! With him hitting threes at a high rate, the production from beyond the arc has brought incredible value from a fantasy basketball perspective, as have his recent bumps in rebounds and assists. Hopefully, this type of production is here to stay, now that White may be adjusting well to his role as one of the Celtics†go-to scorers. Stock way up!

Kevin Porter Jr. — PG/SG, Bucks

Between the Game 1 injury and Ryan Rollins†immediate ascension that followed, itâ€s likely that Porter Jr. became an afterthought to many folks from a fantasy basketball perspective. Well, heâ€s been back for a bit more than one week and has already become Milwaukeeâ€s most productive player. In the five games since his return, KPJ is averaging 24.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 2.4 steals on 55.6/ 61.3/ 88.0 shooting splits, which includes a couple of 30-point outings with at least five three-pointers made. Whatever questions fantasy managers may have had about Porter Jr.â€s reintegration and fit alongside Rollins, they should now have answers.

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Dylan Harper — PG/SG, Spurs

It took a couple of games for Harper to find his rhythm, as well as his fit off the bench, in his return from an early-season calf injury. Heâ€s been productive in the five games since, however, tallying at least 15 points in four of those five contests, while logging five assists or more in four consecutive games. The rookie guard most recently amassed a career-high 22 points against the Pelicans and dropped in a smooth-looking game-winning layup with his off hand to end the night. Whether it be his minutes, production, or confidence, everything seems to be trending in a positive direction for Harper, whoâ€ll likely improve with more reps under his belt. Like many of the Spurs†players, his ceiling is high.

STOCK DOWN

Myles Turner — C, Bucks

Itâ€s been a rough go for the Bucks, who are struggling to find an identity or put together wins with or without their star player, Giannis Antetokounmpo. Regardless of the former Finals MVPâ€s availability, the supporting cast has been inconsistent lately — specifically, Turner. The prized offseason addition hasnâ€t secured more than three rebounds in a game since November 26 against the Heat, and has scored more than 12 points just once over that period. Heâ€s also playing fewer than 24.0 minutes per game since the start of December and finds himself in an unpredictable spot just over a quarter of the way through his debut season in Milwaukee. Things could always get better as the season progresses, but vibes arenâ€t currently high, and neither is Turnerâ€s productivity.

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Deâ€Andre Hunter — SF/PF, Cavaliers

Hunterâ€s gone cold of late as the Cavaliers have rotated wins and losses over their last five games. Heâ€s failed to score in double figures in two of those five games, with his high being 13 points. The seventh-year forward has also tallied exactly three rebounds in each of the past five games and totaled nine assists over that time, leading to minimal fantasy production recently. Hunter could use a big game in the near future to get him back on track, but until he does, his stock will remain down.

Reed Sheppard — PG/SG, Rockets

There was a 10-game stretch not long ago in which Sheppard averaged 17.1 points and 3.0 threes per game, including a 31-point masterpiece to carry the Rockets to a road win over the Warriors that marked the moment of his young career thus far. And just when it looked as though the second-year guard was about to take off, Kevin Durant returned from injury to reclaim his high production and make Sheppardâ€s contributions less necessary in the five games since. As a result, Sheppard is down to 9.0 points per game and has played fewer minutes than Aaron Holiday, the current backup point guard, in three of the last five games. Sheppardâ€s still having a nice sophomore season, but itâ€s tough to say whether heâ€ll reach those early-season heights again anytime soon.

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There is still hope for England. After four sessions of the first Test, they were 99 runs ahead with nine second-innings wickets remaining.

The capitulation that happened from that point will leave a sour taste in everyone’s mouths, none more so than the players.

However, given the pink ball seems harder to see and the faster you bowl it, seemingly the more effective you are, it leaves England well placed to make the most of the talent at their disposal.

England’s quickest bowler, Mark Wood, played one pink-ball Test on the last Ashes tour four years ago and took nine wickets in the match, proving a menace throughout.

He isn’t available this week, but England will still have Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse – all capable of bowling over 90mph – in their XI, while captain Ben Stokes can exceed 85mph.

The eye-catching display in Australia’s first innings was the most sustained spell of ‘fast’ bowling I’ve seen from an England attack.

There were former Australia internationals remarking how impressed they were by England’s bowling, and writers sharpening their knives for an evisceration of the home team.

If the England bowlers can find the same hostility, pace and skill in Brisbane, there is no doubt they can cause Australia big problems.

Can England go toe-to-toe with Starc? If he recaptures the rhythm and confidence he showed in Perth, he could be Australia’s match-winner once again.

He must go to bed dreaming of bowling with a pink ball.

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