Quarterly Review

We have eclipsed the quarter mark of our 16 week regular season. There have been some good free agent adds, some trades, and injuries. Covid has mucked up the season as predicted, but for the most part it's working. MeMurray Lane may disagree... Let's take a look at how your teams are shaping up so far. If you're reading this while on the toilet, I hope you're running regular, if not, get that fiber in big guy. Try some grapes that always helps. 

1. Siakam Madique - The undefeated first place team narrowly beat the commish last week to maintain his perfection. This team is led by CJ McCollum and Anthony Davis, both of which are putting up first round value. McCollum is getting 33 minutes per game and making the most of it with 26.7 pts, 3.9 rebs, 5 ast, and 1.3 steals.  Richaun Holmes and SGA have also been upper tier contributors. LaMarcus Aldridge has been a disappointment to say the least. He's old and tired. Keldon Johnson has been a surprising bright spot, putting up mid round value on the season. SM remains undefeated in the points, blocks, and rebounding categories. He holds the title for second most add/drops, which may be contributing to his success. We'll see if Siakam Madique can keep it rolling this week against A Slice Called Quest.

2. Make it Rain - The second place squad has won 3/4 weeks and is coming off a yuge 8-1 beatdown on the last place garbage team. MiR remains undefeated in the 3pt and block categories. A bit of an odd pairing, but not unheard of these days. This team is being led by, Joel 'Trust the Process' Embiid. The big fella has put up 25 pts, 1.2 treys, 11.5 rebs, 1.4 stl and 1.5 blks across 11 games. His other upper tier contributors include Steph Curry, Julius Randle, and Fred VanVleet. All these cats are putting up 4th round value or better. His biggest disappointment this year has to be Buddy Hield so far. He's getting the minutes with 34 per game, but his fg% is in the toilet at 36%, over three standard deviations below the league average. yuck. I'd say hope for him to bounce back, but he plays in Sacramento. Pray for a trade. After bursting the league's trade cherry, MiR has remained quiet on the trade front. He continues his conquest in week 5 against his pal and third place contender I could Caris less.

3. I could Caris less - This squad was leading pack with three consecutive wins, but after an ugly 2-7 loss in week 4, he has dropped to 3rd place. No need to panic. This team's leader is Jayson Tatum who has put up 26.9 pts, 7.1 rebs, 3.8 ast, 1 stl, and 3.5 threes per game. The young Boston playmaker has been out lately with covid concerns, but he'll be back to balling soon. Tatum's supporting cast includes Middleton, Mitch Robinson, Mikal Bridges, and Brandon Ingram - all of which are putting up 4th round or better value. After being traded to Indiana, it was revealed Caris LeVert has a mass on his kidney. I think we are all on the same page wishing him a speedy recovery and hoping this isn't anything serious. His draft day disappointment so far is Wendell Carter Jr. He's putting up 10th round value, and even though he was drafted in the 8th round, I'm sure ICCL was hoping for more and the Bulls probably are too. ICCL attempts to climb back up in the standings by facing off with 2nd place Make it Rain this week.

4. A Slice Called Quest - The fourth place squad is sitting 4 games over .500 and is coming off a big 7-2 win week. This squad is led by the most athletic potato in the league. Nikola Jokic is currently the number 1 fella in fantasy with 25 pts, 11.5 rebs, 10.3 ast, 1.9 stls, and 1.3 treys. Jokic is supported by Myles Turner, Bam Adebayo, and Larry Nance Jr, all putting up top 50 value. Nance is leading the league in steals. I'll say that again. Larry Nance Jr is leading the NBA in steals through 13 games. Draymond and Lonzo have both been disappointing, kinda like getting a chicken tender from Safeway and it's all breadcrumbs. They're shit stix's. He remains undefeated in the fg%, rebounds and steal categories. Slice Called Quest has been stagnant in terms of player transactions. He has the second least add/drops with 7 and has made one modest trade. He's watching the world pass him by, but maybe it's working. Why fix what isn't broken. But being sub .500 is just 5 losses away... He faces a tough matchup against the first place team this week. 

5. Thicc n roll - After a rough start and a decent amount of self-loathing, Thicc n roll has bounced back with two consecutive win weeks to get back in the hunt. He's not undefeated in any categories, but is doing well in fg%, points, rebs, and assists. This team is led by steal of the draft, Jerami Grant. TNR drafted grant in the 8th round, but he's putting up 2nd round value with 24.8 pts, 6.2 rebs, 2.2 ast, 2.8 treys, 1 stl, and 1.3 blocks. He shows no signs of slowing down with no competition in Detroit. Keep lootin Jerami. His other upper tier contributors include Sabonis, Lebron, and Jarrett Allen - all in the top 50. Collins looks like he'll be joining them shortly as he sits just outside the top 50. His disappointment so far is obvious, Kelly Oubre Jr. He's currently sitting outside the top 200. I'm at a lost with this one; I genuinely though he was going to thrive in GS. It's only been 12 games, and you gotta hope he puts it together sooner than later. Thicc n roll is tied for the 4th least amount of player add/drops and has completed zero trades. He's practicing isolationism well, even George Washington would be proud. Thicc will look to continue climbing the standings as he faces off with 10th place Rimmy Tin Tin. 

6. Nocturnal Sunuva Gun - Rounding out the top 6 is NSG. He is the most active add/dropper with 18 moves and 1 trade under his belt. Adding players like trump hands out pardons (at least free agent adds are free). This team is a revolving door, but its good enough for a 19-17 record. He's won 3/4 weeks, but hasn't been able to fully climb up the leaderboards.  Kevin Durant is leading the way putting up top-3 overall value with 30.7 pts, 2.9 treys, 6.9 rebs, 6.8 ast,  and 1 steal. Anyone who doubted KD's ability to produce is an idiot. NSG is also getting top 50 help from Dame, LaVine, Jrue Holiday, and Jordan Clarkson. While not terrible, NSG would probably hope for Fox to be putting up more than 8th round value. His 43 point career high last night is hopefully a sign he's heading in the right direction. But again, it's Sacramento so good luck with that. NSG is undefeated in the points category and is strong in assists, steals, and threes. He faces his former dorm roommate who is currently in 9th place. 

7. Christian Wood 🕇╰⋃╯ Even with losing 3/4 weeks, CW remains just 2 games out of the playoffs. He remains active on the wire with 15 moves and actively sends trade offers - a model league member some may say. No undefeated categories for Wood, but he is 3-1 in rebounds, assists, and blocks.  Chris Boucher has claimed top spot so far for CW. Boucher has put up 15.7 pts, 1.8 treys, 6.8 rebs, 1 ast and 2.5 blocks - good for 15th best player so far. I'm sure CW would like to see Boucher's avg minutes go up from its current 23.5 I'm sure he'll be earning more time soon. Boucher is helped out by Christian Wood and Hayward both putting up top 50 in 9 cat. Trae has been a bit disappointing, putting up 11th round value, although when you remove his turnovers from the equation his value goes up to 8th round value. Not exactly sure what's going on with him, maybe defenses are playing him differently, but as I am writing this Trae just got his 5th foul with half the 4th quarter remaining. CW looks for a win this week against last place in-season sabbatical. 

8. Consider the Knicks - Started off hot with back-to-back wins, but then covid reared its head sidelining his top players for a bit. The commish is one of the more active members with 15 free agent moves and multiple trades. He recently acquired James Harden in a trade and shipped off his top guy Brad Beal. Time will tell if it works, but something tells me he's not done making moves (because I am him and I'm still trying to trade). His top guy would have been Beal, but now that honor falls to the former Fresno State Bulldog, Paul George. PG is the 7th overall player for the year with 24.8 pts, 4.1 treys, 6.2 rebs, 5.1 ast, and 1.2 steals. He's looking like the 2018/19 Paul George. He's supported by newly acquired James Harden, Jaylen Brown, and Antetokounmpo - all with top 40 value.  Coby White was a disappointment early on, but has slowly been playing better. He'll need more steals to stay relevant. He looks to get back on the winning track with a favorable matchup against injury depleted MeMurray Lane. 

9. Morantin' and Ravin - After three consecutive losses to start the season, MaR snapped the streak and picked up a win in week 4. No undefeated categories, but he's 3-1 in the assists, points, and three pointers categories. No wins in the block category yet, but this doesn't seem to be an area of focus for him. Malcom Brogdon is leading the way for this squad with 18th overall value with 22.2 pts, 3 treys, 3.9 rebs, 7.5 ast and 1.8 steals. Doncic, DeMar, and Morant all providing top 50 value on the season with Oladipo just outside the top 50. Westbrook, Bagley and Kevin Love have all been disappointing. I love you Love, but the 32 year old can't stay healthy anymore. Harrison Barnes providing extraordinary value (7th round) after being drafted in the last round of our draft. Somebody's gotta put the ball in the basket in Sacramento and I guess it's Harrison. MaR has only 8 add/drops and zero trades. Maybe he was waiting for Morant to return before making moves. Don't wait too long or the league will pass you by. He faces his former roommate, 6th place NSG in week 5. 

10. RimmyTinTin -  The 10th place team has lost 3/4 weeks including an 0-9 blowout in the opening week. His team is stagnant with only 8 add/drops and zero trades. He doesn't even entertain trade talks...sad. His top guy is Nikola Vucevic who has 22.8 pts, 2.7 treys, 10.8 rebs, 3.8 ast, and 1.4 steals, good for 11th overall. His only other top 40 player is Kawhi Leonard. Booker and Valanciunas are right outside the top 50. Although Siakam is putting up respectable 6th round value, I doubt that's what RimmyTinTin wanted when he drafted him in the 4th round, err well I guess what the autodraft wanted. No undefeated categories, but he is strong in fg% and turnovers. He may want to make some moves soon or be doomed to mediocrity, it's only 25% of the season done so far. He faces a potential winnable week against the 5th place team. 

11. MeMurray Lane - The 11th place squad has been visited by the Covid fairy. Similar to the commish, he stated out with back-to-back wins, but has since dropped two in a row. He seems to believe in a 'MeMurray Lane First!' philosophy as he holds the title for least add/drops (5) and zero trades. stagnation is the death of fantasy teams - consider yourself warned. He's undefeated in the ft% category and 3-1 in turnovers, otherwise not much to write home about. It's not for lack of trying, as he has 5 players with 8 games or less played, who also happen to be some of his studs (KAT, Butler, and Sexton). His lead guy should be KAT, but he only has 4 games played so far. That's not good from your first overall pick. Sexton is also putting up strong value, but with only 8 games. Tobias has 11 games played and is putting up 3rd round value with 19.1 pts, 2.1 treys, 7.1 rebs, 2.8 ast, 1.1 steals and 1 blk. Jamal Murray has been disappointing after an outstanding bubble playoff run, with meager 8th round value. Hopefully MeMurray has played his dues to the covid gods and can get healthy and make another winning streak happen. He faces off against the 8th place commish. 

12. In-season Sabbatical - The resident cellar dweller has yet to pick up a win this season. His squad was plagued by an uninterested Harden and the space travelling time lord Kyrie. He has remained active in the trad talks and has flipped Harden for 3 legit pieces. Hopefully this newly acquired depth will spur some movement up the leaderboards. His top player should be Kyrie if he was on planet earth, but this honor falls to his newly acquired Brad Beal. Beal has 7th overall value with an astounding 34.9 pts, 2.4 treys, 5.3 rebs, 5 ast, and 01.4 steals. Seth Curry (8 games played) and Rozier round out his top 40 players. Gobert is sitting just outside the top 50. Kyrie has been most disappointing by far. I'm hearing that they are trying to get his conditioning back in shape after missing 7 games, so hopefully that's a sign he's on his way back. I think ISS has some more moves to make before this season is done. Even though he's in last, he's only 8.5 games out of a playoff spot. The season is young. He faces off against 7th place Christian Wood in week 5. 

The Knicks would be in the 6th seed if the playoffs started today. Consider them. Good luck in week 5!