fBasketballBlog

Love is good at this. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

[Read the full post at DimeMag.com]

Beast of the Night: Kevin Love busted out some magic of his own against the Wizards last night, finishing with 35 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and five three-pointers. He shot 72 percent (13-18) from the field, 100 percent (4-4) from the line and had just one turnover. The man hasn’t blocked a damn shot since Dec. 11, but he still manages to put up top-five averages.

Lines for Discussion:
Rashard Lewis: 8-13 FG (62%), 3 threes, 19 Pts, 5 Reb, 2 Ast, 1 Stl, 4 TO

Darko Milicic: 7-16 FG (44%), 14 Pts, 11 Reb, 2 Ast, 2 Blk, 4 TO (continue reading…)

Guess who got his starting job back? This guy. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

Game watch:
4 games: ATL, CHI, CLE, DEN, DET, IND, LAC, LAL, MIA, MIN, NY, OKC, ORL, POR, TOR, UTA
3 games: BOS, CHA, DAL, GS, HOU, MEM, MIL, NJ, NO, PHI, PHO, SAC, SA, WAS

Waiver-wire watch:

• Josh McRoberts: putting up solid numbers across the board lately, playing minutes at center
• Shane Battier: has blocked at least one shot in 15 straight games, playing well lately
• Marvin Williams: worth a look so long as Joe Johnson is out
• Larry Sanders: worth a look if you need blocks in a deep league
• Glen Davis: has been solid for most of the season (continue reading…)

Westbrook's excited. Are you? (ARIS MESSINIS/AFP/Getty Images)

Depth chart:
PG: Russell Westbrook, Eric Maynor, Royal Ivey
SG: Thabo Sefolosha, James Harden, Daequan Cook
SF: Kevin Durant, Morris Peterson
PF: Jeff Green, Nick Collison, D.J. White, Ryan Reid
C: Nenad Krstic, Serge Ibaka, Cole Aldrich, Byron Mullens

Relevant fantasy players and projected draft positions/per-game stats:
Kevin Durant – SF (Rd. 1): 31 Pts, 1.5 threes, 8 Reb, 3 Ast, 1.5 Stl, 1 Blk
Russell Westbrook – PG (Rd. 2-5): 16.5 Pts, 5 Reb, 8.5 Ast, 1.5 Stl
Jeff Green – F (Rd. 5-6): 16 Pts, 1 three, 6.5 Reb, 1 Stl, 1 Blk
James Harden – SG (Rd. 10-11): 11 Pts, 1 three, 3 Reb, 1 Stl
Serge Ibaka – C (Rd. 13+): 7 Pts, 6.5 Reb, 1.5 Blk (continue reading…)

You didn't think you'd escape the wrath of Darko, did you? (Jim Mone/AP)

I can hardly bring myself to believe or face the sad, heavy fact that this mock-drafting partnership is finally on its last leg. It’s been a wild ride and the end result is a list of 12 teams that make me feel like everyone from Laurence Fishburne to this guy’s mom.

While part of me is tempted to loosen my belt and indulge the desire in me to cruise through this round (and irritate the hell out of Henry by picking T-Mac), there’s still enough talent at this end of the draft to keep me on my toes. When I got all the way down to No. 156, I found myself having an incredibly difficult time choosing between six or seven players.

It’s also interesting to look at this draft after the big four-team deal that went down a few days ago. Obviously, guys like Troy Murphy and Darren Collison would’ve been picked elsewhere, but that’s a dose of reality for you.

Before the draft goes Kaiser Soze on us, I’d just like to tip my hat to Henry at Weakside Help again for getting this shindig started. It’s been an educational and entertaining venture, and I look forward to reading his retrospection on our draft.

If, by some exceedingly evil reason, you are just joining us, I’ll offer my forgiveness if you catch up with round one, round two, round three, round four, round five, round six, round seven, round eight, round nine, round 10, round 11 and round 12.

Without further ado, I present to you lucky round 13: (continue reading…)

Blatche has already lived up to expectations for a depleted Wizards roster. (Getty Images/Jim McIsaac)

Game watch:
5 games: MIL
4 games: ATL, CHI, DAL, DET, IND, LAC, LAL, MEM, MIN, NO, NY, OKC, PHO, POR, UTA, WAS
3 games: BOS, CHA, CLE, DEN, GS, HOU, MIA, NJ, ORL, PHI, SAC, SA, TOR

Waiver wire watch:

• Eddie House: might have found new life in New York
• Sergio Rodriguez: seems set to displace the futile Chris Duhon for the Knicks
• C.J. Watson: like Hansel, he’s so hot right now
• James Harden: continues to put up solid overall numbers
• JaVale McGee: new starting center in D.C., could find consistency soon
• Rasual Butler: with Al Thornton out of town, he has good value for now (continue reading…)