Yahoo Sports Fantasy Basketball

  • Poor shooting in season-ending loss
    Harden finished with 16 points (5-16 FG, 0-6 3Pt, 6-7 FT), seven rebounds, 13 assists, one block and two steals over 43 minutes during Friday's 114-101 loss to Dallas in Game 6 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

    Advice: Harden was one of the players the Clippers needed to step up with Kawhi Leonard (knee) sidelined, and the veteran guard couldn't come through when the team needed him the most. He was particularly woeful in the final two games of the series, where he went 7-for-28 from the field and 1-for-13 from three-point range. He averaged 21.2 points and 8.0 assists per game in the series, but the numbers don't tell the whole story here, as the Clippers needed -- and expected -- more out of him, but he couldn't deliver when called upon duty. Rotowire.com Today, 6:23 am
     
  • Russell Westbrook plays 9 minutes in Game 6 loss
    Russell Westbrook shot 2-of-7 from the field and 2-of-3 from the foul line in Friday’s loss to the Mavericks, scoring six points with one rebound, one assist, and one steal in nine minutes.

    Advice: In what could be his final game as a Clipper, Westbrook offered little value in Game 6. Tyronn Lue needed more scoring, especially with P.J. Tucker starting, which led to Los Angeles effectively going with a six-man rotation. Westbrook entered the season with a Yahoo ADP of 109.3, a generous placement for a veteran point guard whose role would be limited. Give Russ credit for willingly taking a step back after the Clippers added James Harden, but his days as a consistently relevant fantasy option may have ended. Westbrook has a player option for the 2024-25 season and will be, at best, a late-round pick in deep leagues. Rotoworld Yesterday, 10:16 pm
     
  • Norman Powell scores team-high 20 points in Game 6
    Norman Powell finished Friday’s 114-101 loss to the Mavericks with 20 points (6-of-14 FGs, 6-of-8 FTs), four rebounds, and two 3-pointers in 36 minutes.

    Advice: Powell played a series-high 36 minutes in Game 6, hitting the 20-point mark for the first time since he scored 21 in Game 3. The Clippers playing without Kawhi Leonard resulted in more opportunities for Norm, even if he remained in a reserve role. Powell was once again one of the NBA’s most productive bench scorers, but his fantasy value will remain capped as long as the Clippers have Paul George and Kawhi Leonard on the wings. Powell is under contract for two more seasons, and unless George were to opt out and leave, his place within the Clippers’ rotation is unlikely to change in 2024-25. He’s worth selecting with a late-round pick, but Powell is most valuable on nights when the Clippers are shorthanded on the perimeter. Rotoworld Yesterday, 10:13 pm
     
  • Ivica Zubac finishes with 17 points, 11 boards
    Ivica Zubac logged 37 minutes in Friday’s Game 6 loss to the Mavericks, accumulating 17 points (6-of-11 FGs, 5-of-8 FTs), 11 rebounds, and one assist.

    Advice: After recording double-doubles in the series’ first two games, Zubac did not get another until the finale on Friday. However, he did score in double figures in all six games, providing consistent production in that regard. While Zubac does not rank among the elite fantasy centers, he once again provided solid value in 2023-24. Exceeding his Yahoo ADP (120.2) in 8- and 9-cat formats, Big Zu finished the regular season as a top 100 player in the latter. Regardless of what happens with James Harden and Paul George this summer, Zubac will remain the unquestioned top option at the center position. Fantasy managers may not use a top-100 pick on him, but Zubac is good enough to approach that value by the season’s end. Rotoworld Yesterday, 10:05 pm
     
  • Paul George scores 18 points in Game 6 defeat
    Paul George shot 6-of-18 from the field and 4-of-4 from the foul line in Friday’s 114-101 loss to the Mavericks, amassing 18 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, one steal, one block, and two 3-pointers in 42 minutes.

    Advice: Facing elimination, the Clippers needed elite production from George and James Harden, and neither could come through. They also struggled in Game 5, making for a disappointing end to the season. Neither health nor production was an issue for George this season, as he appeared in 79 regular season games and provided top 20 per-game value in 8- and 9-cat formats. The production exceeded PG-13’s Yahoo ADP (31.4) by a considerable margin, but there are questions heading into the summer. George still can opt out of the final season of his deal, and even with the expectation that he’ll remain with the Clippers, there’s no shortage of potential suitors. Regardless of where he plays in 2024-25, George’s 2023-24 season should renew the faith of fantasy managers. Rotoworld Yesterday, 9:58 pm
     
  • James Harden drops 16 points, 13 assists Friday
    James Harden finished Friday’s 114-101 loss to the Mavericks with 16 points (5-of-16 FGs, 6-of-7 FTs), seven rebounds, 13 assists, two steals, and one blocked shot in 43 minutes.

    Advice: Harden may have dished out 13 assists while only committing one turnover in Game 6, but he struggled shooting the basketball in his final game of the season. The Beard did not play well in the series’ final two games, which was also the case for Paul George. Friday’s loss sends James into what could be another offseason of change. Harden’s season began with instability, as he made it clear that he wanted out of Philadelphia. The 76ers ultimately accommodated that desire, and after a slow start to his time with the Clippers, The Beard rounded into form. Harden’s Yahoo ADP (31.3) suffered due to the preseason questions, but he finished the year as a top 30 player in 8- and 9-cat formats. Harden will be a free agent this summer, and the Clippers could also have to negotiate a new deal with George. Look for his ADP to improve by a few spots if the Clippers keep the roster intact. Rotoworld Yesterday, 9:54 pm
     
  • PJ Washington hits four triples, scores 14 points
    P.J. Washington amassed 14 points (4-of-9 FGs, 2-of-4 FTs), five rebounds, two assists, two steals, and four 3-pointers in 35 minutes in Friday’s Game 6 win over the Clippers.

    Advice: Dallas bounced the Clippers in six games, with Washington providing solid supplementary contributions on Friday. Eight of his nine shot attempts came from beyond the arc, a byproduct of playing off Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Washington has been a good fit on both ends of the floor since the Mavericks acquired him at the trade deadline, even if the individual scoring numbers took a hit compared to his production in Charlotte. His rebound, steal, and blocked shot averages increased after the trade, which is what Dallas hoped would happen. Washington and the Mavericks open their second-round series with the Thunder on Tuesday in Oklahoma City. Rotoworld Yesterday, 9:50 pm
     
  • Daniel Gafford scores 13 points in Game 6 victory
    Daniel Gafford shot 5-of-8 from the field and 3-of-3 from the foul line in Friday’s win over the Clippers, amassing 13 points and six rebounds in 22 minutes.

    Advice: Gafford may not record gaudy stat lines, but his addition to the roster has been huge for the Mavericks. Between him and first-round pick Dereck Lively II, Dallas receives what would pass as quality production from the center position. Lively also scored in double figures in the series clincher, tallying 10 points with nine rebounds, three assists, and one steal in 24 minutes off the bench. Gafford and Lively will be critical moving forward, as Thunder rookie Chet Holmgren represents a far different challenge than Ivica Zubac. Oklahoma City will host Game 1 on Tuesday night. Rotoworld Yesterday, 9:41 pm
     
  • Kyrie Irving scores 28 second-half points Friday
    Kyrie Irving finished Friday’s 114-101 win over the Clippers with 30 points (11-of-19 FGs, 3-of-5 FTs), six rebounds, four assists, two steals, two blocks, and five 3-pointers in 42 minutes.

    Advice: Game 6 was a tale of two halves for Irving, whose increased focus on the defensive end of the floor may have limited his energy on offense. At various points in Friday’s win, he was responsible for guarding James Harden or Paul George. After missing both of his field goal attempts and scoring two points in the first half, Kyrie went off in the second. The 28 points tied a career playoff high for most in a half, and he combined with Luka Doncic to score 58 of Dallas’ 114 points. Irving must bring similar defensive energy to the table in the second round, as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder are up next. Game 1 of that series is on Tuesday. Rotoworld Yesterday, 9:34 pm