Fantasy NBA Daily Notes: Markieff among streamers making noise
A wild one in Washington highlighted another exciting Monday evening in the National Basketball Association.
James Harden (54) and Eric Gordon (36) combined for 90 points in an overtime loss to the Wizards, marking the second-most points by any starting backcourt since starts were first recorded in 1970-71, per Elias. The only backcourt with more in that span was the 2006 Lakers in Kobe Bryant's 81-point opus, when Smush Parker memorably added 13 points.
However, it wasn't enough, as they fell to John Wall, Bradley Beal and the Wizards, 135-131 in overtime. Wall and Beal combined for 68 points, meaning the two starting backcourts combined for 158 points, 18 more than any starting backcourt matchup since starts were first recorded, again per Elias.cheap nfl nike jerseys china
Prior to this game, the Wizards were 0-4 when their star backcourt combined for as many points. The Wizards shot a season-high 56.8 percent from the field -- while their previous high was 56.7 percent from just two days ago in their last game against the Pelicans -- signaling some needed positive regression is underway for Washington's offense. The Wizards are now 6-3 in their past nine games following a 2-9 start.
The Rockets, for their part, fall to 25th in defensive rating to 111.5 points allowed per 100 opponent possessions -- this after ranking fifth-best in defensive rating last season at 105.6.cheap nike nfl jerseys wholesale
One the more riveting, if admittedly hollow, bits of data from the drama-rich game in D.C. was that Harden dribbled 868 times, the most by any player in a game in the past three seasons, per Second Spectrum. The rest of the team combined for 269 dribbles. The showing marked Harden's 10th career 50-point game, while every other player in Rockets history has combined for eight such games. Harden also added 10 assists, good for his fifth career game with 50 points and 10 assists, extending his own NBA record, per Elias.
It's unlikely everything is now copacetic in Washington thanks to a rousing win over Houston, as luxury tax concerns still loom for a team battling for relevance in the weaker conference. I continue to believe almost any real NBA trade involving Otto Porter Jr. or Beal, and especially the latter, would prove beneficial statistically for all involved, given expected respective surges in usage and offensive freedom. The price point for all three, and especially Porter, has likely deflated by a good degree since the season started last month.
A truly affordable path to the resurgent Wizards might be free agent shares of Markieff Morris, who produced 22 points and a game-best plus-21 net rating last night and now has double-digits in scoring in four straight and is slashing for 16.3 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.5 SPG, and 2.3 3PG during the past four outings. Despite such recent success, Morris remains available in well over 90 percent of ESPN leagues as of Tuesday morning.
