RADIO
Leonard Francis II highlights three fantasy basketball takeaways from the NBA's October 23rd slate. Featured players include Blake Griffin, Elfrid Payton, and Marvin Bagley III.
Welcome to the RotoBaller NBA Recap where we'll highlight three fantasy basketball takeaways from last night's three-game slate because a 1,000-word love letter to Blake Griffin would be frowned upon. (Although, merited to the utmost degree.)
More on Blake in a bit, but while we're here, sign me up for a first-round, 4-seed/5-seed playoff matchup between the Pistons and 76ers. As a matter of fact, cancel the rest of their schedules and just give us these two squads going at it for their remaining 79 games. (Even though that wouldn't work because Philly has played four games thus far. You get the point, though.) Anthony Davis dropped 34 points and 13 rebounds as the Pelicans topped the Clippers -- in another entertaining game -- to move to 3-0 on the season. Davis is beginning his MVP campaign early this season - he's my pick this year for what it's worth. And, while the nightcap was more of a visor, it did bless us with another impressive performance from Gary Harris (18 points and five assists) as the Nuggets cruised past the Kings in a game which wasn't nearly as close as the final score might suggest.
All told, a lot of action last night despite the scrimpy slate... Let's take a look at the biggest fantasy takeaways.
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Blake Griffin Puts the World on Notice - Not Only is He Still Blake Griffin but He May Be the Greatest He's Ever Been
Griffin put up 28 points (on 12-of-17 shooting), four rebounds, and added one assist... IN THE FIRST HALF! The man went on to finish the game with a career-high 50 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists while flipping the bird to any, and everyone who doubted him following an injury-plagued past few seasons.
After spending his first 7.5 years under the limelight of Hollywood, and enjoying the nightly globalization of his highlight reels that playing in the United States' second-largest media market granted him, Griffin was shipped to Detroit. Detroit. Now, I've never been, but I have seen 8 Mile and that deems me worthy to make this next statement, Detroit is not L.A. The relocation, combined with the various injuries, have made Blake Griffin an all but forgotten man outside of the state of Michigan (and the most devoted of hoop heads).
We appreciate the reminder.
But, his stat line is merely scratching the surface here... Dunkers don't drop 50. And, coming out of Oklahoma -- even his first few seasons in the league -- that's pretty much all he was. A walking highlight reel that punished the rim. Well, he's transformed his game to the point where I'd now argue he's more of a combo guard than a power forward - all the while still forcing you to jump off the sofa at least once a night as he victimizes yet another poor soul (looking at you, Joel Embiid). His ball-handling skills are much more refined, like on a string refined, and he's even added a jumper to boot. Griffin went five-of-ten from three last night -- in addition to filling up the box score with points, rebounds, and assists -- and now leads the league in points per game - averaging 36.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 5.7 assists through his first three games. It's still early, like 4 A.M. early, but he looks to be well on his way to crush his ADP this season.
Elfrid Payton Looks to be at Home... At Home
When Louisiana native Elfrid Payton inked his deal with the Pelicans this offseason, I literally thought nothing of it. He's ditched The Weeknd look, and honestly, at first glance, I thought the Pels had drafted some rookie who just so happened to look eerily similar to him - without the hair. I was wrong, it was him, and he looks as comfortable as he's ever been over the course of his young career.
Playing on a talented team tends to have that effect.
Payton showed flashes of brilliance over his three-plus years in Orlando, likewise in his 19 games with the Suns to close out the 2017 campaign. But, his inconsistencies have overshadowed his ability to this point - leading to endless frustration for his fantasy owners and anyone who's seen what he's actually capable of alike. Thing is, he went from playing on two lottery teams to playing on a playoff team with an MVP-caliber big in Anthony Davis, another bucket-getter in Jrue Holiday, and takes on the Rajon Rondo role in this offense - which is an ideal fit for his skill-set. Please, please don't misconstrue this, but at the respective stages of their careers, I feel he's a better version of the Rondo that the Pelicans rostered a season ago. Prime Rondo, though? No debate - just for clarity.
Anyway, Payton supplied 20 points (on 7-for-11 from the field), dropped nine assists, and pulled down six boards. Oh, and his plus/minus of +11 was third-highest on the team - behind only Davis and Holiday. He's averaging 13.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 7.3 assists through the Pels first three games and is one of just four players to have already recorded a triple-double on the season. He might have found his long-term home... At home.
Marvin Bagley III Looks GOOD
Full disclosure, I'm a North Carolina fan. I was raised that way and I graduated from the UNC system (UNC Charlotte - because I wasn't smart, or rich, enough for the Tarheel Blue). Why does this matter? Simple. Bagley went to that school in Durham. And, for that reason, I shunned anyone who tried to tell me how good he was, I downplayed the 21 points and 11 rebounds he put up as a 6'11" freshman, I wiped my... with his ACC Player of the Year award and used their Elite Eight loss as an affirmation of his overrated-ness.
... Again, I was wrong. The kid can play. And, that was on full display Tuesday night.
Bagley was one of -- if not the only -- bright spots for a Kings team that was outmatched from the jump. He lead the team in scoring with 20 (on 81.8% shooting) added nine rebounds, three assists, and five blocks (yes, five) while battling the Nuggets' bigs all night and showcasing a smoothness (and exerting a level of effort) which I couldn't help but applaud. The early returns on this year's rookie class have them among the best we've seen in a while, but if last night was any indication, Bagley will be among the best of the best of the class come season's end.
