RADIO
Welcome to the RotoBaller NBA Recap. In this feature, we highlight three fantasy basketball takeaways from last night's slate of NBA games.
Game-winning shots defined Thursday nights matchups. The two main west-coast games were filled with late-game action that excited anyone up late enough to enjoy them. Houston/Boston was just as exciting thanks to the matchup between James Harden and Kyrie Irving, however, this game was a bit more decided prior to the final minutes. Philadelphia and Milwaukee continued their dominance and laid further claim to their spots at the top of the East, while the Knicks established themselves as the worst team in the standings (a win in their book).
Anyway, let's take it away in the Thursday, December 27th recap with our fantasy highlights.
Editor's Note: Our incredible team of writers received five total writing awards and 13 award nominations by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association, tops in the industry! Congrats to all the award winners and nominees including NBA Writer of the Year, Best NFL Series, MLB Series, PGA Writer and Player Notes writer of the year. Be sure to follow their analysis, rankings and advice all year long, and win big with RotoBaller! Read More!
Bogdan Bogdanovic: BB8 or Bogdan Squared?
Not only did Bogdanovic score 23 off of the bench Thursday night, but he also hit the game-winner over Tyson Chandler to seal the Kings' fourth-quarter comeback. Bogie's counting stats weren't exactly stellar but he is being featured today just because of that magnificent last-second shot.
BB8 took over the game in the fourth with his threes, drives, and floaters in the paint. He looks to be fairly recovered from the offseason meniscus surgery that held him out for about a month. His shot is smooth and his fantasy production is much improved from last season. Although his percentages have taken a slight dip, Bogdanovic's counting stats are up a tick. His minutes are down but his usage is up. Coming off of the bench has suited his game. He can handle the ball a lot more and take over when he needs to. Bogdanovic is absolutely someone to buy because his production could spike in the second half as he gets healthier.
Young Lakers: Ingram, Ball, and Kuzma
Sans LeBron, the young Lakers put on a show in Sacramento. Kyle Kuzma led the core in scoring but Lonzo Ball's near triple-double and court presence were much more significant. The team was noticeably worse defensively and more stagnant on offense without Zo. He was all over the floor making plays on both ends and actually hitting some threes. Lonzo finished the day with 20 points, 12 assists (season high), nine rebounds, two steals, a block, and four threes. Unfortunately, Lonzo couldn't finish the game due to shin cramps.
Brandon Ingram posted 22 points, three rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and one three/steal. Kuzma scored 33 points, nine boards, four assists, two threes, but unfortunately turned it over six times. All three Lakers shined in LeBron's absence but it should also be noted that Rajon Rondo was also inactive Thursday as well.
Noah Vonleh: Is He Still Available in Your League?
In regards to the headline here, he shouldn't be. Vonleh has double-doubled in three straight games. He is playing as many minutes if not more than any other Knick and can provide the crucial threes, steals, and blocks that fantasy owners desire. Vonleh is coming into his own and is living up to his first-round draft position a few years back.
On Thursday night, Vonleh scored 15 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, blocked three shots, made two threes, and posted solid percentages. He is the ultimate end-of-bench boost fantasy owners need. His all-around stats and especially his rebounds should play well in almost any format.
He is available in over 90 percent of ESPN leagues, pick him up.
