4 More Moves

Though 'the bear awoke' only briefly, and he and both WozBros are back to their non-lineup-setting ways, other, more active teams have been making what we call 'Moves'. We promise some exciting analysis soon, as the dawn of Week 9 means we're nearing the end of the first Cycle, and are over 1/3 of the way through the regular season.

LES DIGITS DROP HILL FOR DezMase

George 'the Animal' Hill, IUPUI legend, was productive in his time filling in for T-Park, but since his return, his minutes and production have dwindled. He might be good for 8 (points) and 2 (other things) going forward.

It's remarkable, we think, that this is the first time we've had a Desmond Mason pickup this year, as, for many years previous, Mase has been the very definition of a marginally rosterable player. We were particularly amused that, in the year we expanded to 12 teams, DezMase was still dropped and picked up several times. In his good years, he was good for 12/4/2, with a steal and mediocre FG%. He's never been a 3pt shooter, and he often just loses his job suddenly. He's clawed his way into the murderer's row that is the OKC starting 5, displacing a similarly mediocre Damien Wilkins. In his 3 starts, he's managed only 2, 7, and 2 points, though he's pulling down some rebounds and getting plenty of minutes.

Judgment: Mason's shooting looks terrible, but he'll be given the opportunity to turn it around, and he just might. A good speculative pickup.

Hosens spurn the Birdman, pick up Joel Anthony

Chris 'The Birdman' Andersen is a delight to watch, and a remarkable 'energy' player. He's been OK on the boards and a monster shotblocker - he had 6 against POR on Sunday. He doesn't score many points, and we assume the Hosens wanted more line-filling production than the Birdman provides.

Enter Joel Anthony, the 2nd year C out of UNLV, who's recently been inserted into the MIA starting 5. He too has been impressive on the boards, averaging about 2 per game in his 11 games as a starter. He's not scoring much more than the Birdman (a mere 4 per game in those same 11 games), but he is getting good minutes, and his rebounding numbers are good. He's a bit more fouly than Birdz. Fun fact: he's from Quebec!

Judgment: This is close to a wash, but Anthony has more of an opportunity right now. Andersen is far more handsome.

Maxy Out; Mbah a Moute In for thenopp

Jason Maxiell has been rendered (even more) useless by the return of McDyess to DET. The promotion of R-Stuck to the starting lineup means fewer minutes for the other bench folk, especially Amir and Maxy. Also, because the Pistons aren't blowing people out this year, we're not seeing the 'garbage time' specials that he used to pad his stat line much of last year. Maxiell had 4 double digit games around Thanksgiving, but hasn't reached that plateau in December. More tellingly, he's only gotten 20 minutes once in that stretch.

Luc Richard Mbah a Moute has, somewhat surprisingly, returned to the MIL starting 5 and has started in 7 straight. He's played pretty well, too, putting up nice 15/9 type lines with fine PCTs on nights when C-Vill can't find the rim. He's probably destined to alternate good stretches with Charlie going forward, but that's not really such a bad place to be.

Judgment: A fine move for thenopp - we hadn't noticed Luc Richard's return to relevance, and Maxiell is not worth owning at all at this point.

Jack snapped up by thenopp, Dixon back in the FAP

We're certain we were not the only ones surprised by Jack's two game outburst (24/6/2 and 27/4/7) when he filled in for T.J. Ford last week. Of course, in the first game they were up against the Warriors, and in the second, he was also filling in for Granger, Dunleavy, and T-Murph, as the flu bug (and whatever is ailing Dunleavy) hit the Pacers hard. T.J. is back and Jack will surely go back to his 8/3/3 ways.

Which is still better than what Juan Dixon is putting up, as 'The Juices' has filled WAS's terrible outside shooting, non-passing PG role to perfection. (Also, 'The Juices' was on a very special episode of 'Supernanny' - I can't find the Ruben episode).

Judgment: Jack is no prize (we would recommend taking a look a Brandon Rush, Hibbert, or Rasho, if one needs a marginal Pacer), though his performances were eye-opening. Either way, getting rid of Dixon is clearly the right call.

Gordon joins the 3-team club!

Nor'easter drops Jack, picks up E-Gordon

We discussed Jack a while back, and, since Nor'Easter picked him up, he's been predictably, doing his 8/3/3 thing with extraordinary consistency. He's one T.J. Ford injury away from doing his 11/4/4 thing with starter's minutes.

E-Gord, discussed often, was impetuously dropped by the Spoonful, and was certainly (after his two breakout games) going to be picked up on waivers. He looks more or less locked into a starting gig, given the terrible-ness that is Ricky Buckets v.2008, and will be quite useful if his shot falls.

Judgment: The rich get richer! An excellent pickup for Nor'Easter - if E-Gord turns into a pumpkin, Jack or the equivalent will surely be available (and, honestly, and E-Gord-O-Lantern may be more productive than J.Jack anyway).

Homunculus Alert!

Nor'Easter drops Blatche, picks up Jack

We've discussed the Sad-Eyed Jack previously, and not much has changed for him - he's getting 27 MPG, and averaging 10/4/2.5 - nothing inspiring, but reliable production. This will likely continue

Andray Blatche showed real promise last year, and was a favorite sleeper of many coming into the year. With Haywood out for the duration, and Etan Thomas barely adequate, it seemed Blatche would garner a large number of minutes in the WAS frontcourt. Alas, it hasn't worked out that way.He's averaging only 18 MPG, and not really producing. Remarkably, he only has 1 block in his last 5 games, and hasn't reach double digit points in that span. Word is he's in the coach's 'doghouse'. That said, he's only just turned 22, and has showed that he can score, block, and steal. He's sure to improve, and get a real opportunity to produce, at some point this season. Fun fact - this can't possibly be true, but Wikipedia lists his middle name as 'Homunculus'.

Judgment: Apparently the Spoonful's cutting Amir Johnson has led to a 'reverse run' of dropping overhyped big men (Maxiell went next). This is an unobjectionable move, if not a proverbial 'gamechanger'. Nor'Easter has plenty of bigs, and solid, boring Jarrett Jack should help fill out the rest of the stat line (and T.J. could go down at any time, of course).

Fountain of Young?

Nor'Easter drops Jack for Young, hundreds rejoice

Jarrett Jack, the unexciting PG from Georgia Tech, has been dropped! Jack's the backup PG for IND, meaning that he's the probable beneficiary of any injury to TJ Ford. Even now, he's getting plenty of minutes (27pg), but not doing a lot with them (10/4/1.5). I assume that he's been playing at SG, and hence not getting much in the way of assists. Fewer minutes should be available when Dunleavy returns, but he may very well sustain his 10PPG pace.

Nick Young has a lot more upside, and perhaps even more opportunity, as WAS's backup PG/SG, while Arenas is out. An underperforming Antonio Daniels is his only real backcourt competition (aside from the eternal Juan Dixon). Young went off for 23 points on Saturday, including a remarkable 11-11 from the line (it's remarkable that he got to the line that much). He's surprisingly unassisty, while still being turnovrious, but he could get up to 13PTs.

Judgment: This is basically a trade of a few assists for a few points, and consistency for upside. Joel seems to have the magic touch for upside this year, so I'll go with it. Sadly, I was hoping to pick up Young soon.