Booms, Busts, Battlestar Galactica: NBA Week 8
Feb 18 | 2021
From left to right: Kyle Anderson and Andre Drummond
USA Today, Getty Images
If you tried to ask our someone without a mask on Valentine’s Day or played fantasy basketball this past week, congratulations: You probably had your heart (and maybe your nose) broken.
Thankfully, you have us for waiver advance whether you’re a stud or dud. Here are some of the hottest and coldest NBA players in Week 8 of the season.
Booms
Kyle Anderson Guard/Forward Memphis Grizzlies
They call him Slow Mo, but speed has nothing to do with Kyle Anderson’s game. The former UCLA star has methodically had a career year and is contributing to all categories, averaging 16.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, four rebounds, two steals, one block and 2.5 threes in the last four games while shooting 54.5 percent from the field.
Kyle Anderson (20 PTS, 5 STL) and the @memgrizz win at home! Jonas Valanciunas: 22 PTS, 12 REB Grayson Allen: 22 P… https://t.co/kAdMIfDj3D— NBA (@NBA) 1613623310.0
Only 65 percent of fantasy teams on Yahoo have the seven-year stud, so If you need a solid overall contributor, he is probably available in your league.
Lou Williams Guard Los Angeles Clippers
Lemon Pepper Lou is back! The sixth man extraordinaire has had a rough year for sure, but he started warming up this past week, averaging 24.7 points, 6.3 assists and one steal on 56 percent shooting from the field in the last three contests.
Lou Williams tonight: 30 points 10 assists 10/22 FG 8/8 FT Always solid ✊ https://t.co/aa7HiryP1f— NBA Central (@NBA Central) 1613366721.0
Williams is relatively available on waiver wires with only 67 percent of Yahoo teams rostering him and his streaky shooting. If you can stomach the lows (and potential Magic City trips), he is worth the pickup.
Jakob Poeltl Center San Antonio Spurs
An international big man quietly flourishing in San Antonio? What a shocker. Poeltl was a throw-in addition to the trade that netted the Spurs DeMar DeRozen, but he has proven to be a solid presence in the middle for Gregg Popovich, averaging 10 points, 10 rebounds, one steal and 3.3(!) blocks while 70.4 percent in the last four games.
If you need a boost in your center slot, look no further than the Big Austrian.
Saddiq Bey Small Forward Detroit Pistons
Everyone has their eyes on LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards, but Saddiq Bey is starting to make an impact in his rookie year. He was named NBA Player of the Week, only the second rookie Piston ever to earn the honor, averaging 17.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and four made three-pointers while shooting a ridiculous 69.6 percent from three and 71.4 percent from the field last week.
With Pistons deciding to sit Griffin while deciding his future with the team, Bey is in line to be fed a huge helping of minutes. And with only 28 percent of Yahoo teams rostering him, you may have a pretty good shot at getting the former Villanova forward.
Busts
Ja Morant Point Guard Memphis Grizzlies
Morant exploded onto the scene last season, but teams are now better prepared for his skill set and it’s showing in his numbers. He was particularly cold this past week, shooting 37.3 percent from the field and only hitting one three-pointer per game.
“I’m not a stat chaser, I’m just trying to win games.” – @JaMorant https://t.co/gb9rWvlrGm— FOX Sports Grizzlies (@FOX Sports Grizzlies) 1613370861.0
He still averaged 10 assists this past week and scored nearly 17.8 points, but his efficiency and lack of production in the other categories (0.5 steals and 2.3 rebounds the last four games) is making it hard to trust him right now.
Eric Bledsoe Guard New Orleans Pelicans
After a hot end of January, Bledsoe may be on the chopping block with the Pelicans and fantasy managers. With Kira Lewis Jr. starting to cut into his minutes, the former Kentucky guard has seen a drop in his production, averaging 9.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists on 35.5 percent shooting.
As far as fading assets go, Bledsoe might be disappearing faster than Marty McFly’s brother and sister in “Back to the Future.”
Andre Drummond Center Cleveland Cavaliers
When NBC Sports Edge uses “uninterested” to describe what your play over the last week, things aren’t going well for you. Then again, things haven’t been going well for Drummond most of the season, but last week he averaged nine points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists while shooting 42.9 percent from the field.
“He can get you 30-20 and have no impact on the game.” -NBA Scout on Andre Drummond (via @SmithRaps) https://t.co/aJClQam9Im— Hoop Central (@Hoop Central) 1613417837.0
He was also kept out of Sunday’s game for “rest” AKA keeping him healthy so he can be traded. His days with Cavs appear to be over, but he’s worth holding to see what situation he gets shipped to.
Harrison Barnes Forward Sacramento Kings
We were singing his praises a couple of weeks ago, but Barnes is on our busts list this week. In three games last week, Barnes only managed to score 9.7 points and 0.7 made threes while shooting 37.5 percent from the field. His 5.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game also left a lot to be desired especially while he was averaging 33.2 minutes in that same stretch.
Barnes tends to run hot and cold, but he is having a career year. Managers might be looking at this stretch as a short lull before he heats up.
string(16417) ""If you tried to ask our someone without a mask on Valentine's Day or played fantasy basketball this past week, congratulations: You probably had your heart (and maybe your nose) broken.
Thankfully, you have us for waiver advance whether you're a stud or dud. Here are some of the hottest and coldest NBA players in Week 8 of the season.
Booms
Kyle Anderson Guard/Forward Memphis Grizzlies
They call him Slow Mo, but speed has nothing to do with Kyle Anderson's game. The former UCLA star has methodically had a career year and is contributing to all categories, averaging 16.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, four rebounds, two steals, one block and 2.5 threes in the last four games while shooting 54.5 percent from the field.
Kyle Anderson (20 PTS, 5 STL) and the @memgrizz win at home! Jonas Valanciunas: 22 PTS, 12 REB Grayson Allen: 22 P… https://t.co/kAdMIfDj3D— NBA (@NBA) 1613623310.0Only 65 percent of fantasy teams on Yahoo have the seven-year stud, so If you need a solid overall contributor, he is probably available in your league.
Lou Williams Guard Los Angeles Clippers
Lemon Pepper Lou is back! The sixth man extraordinaire has had a rough year for sure, but he started warming up this past week, averaging 24.7 points, 6.3 assists and one steal on 56 percent shooting from the field in the last three contests.
Lou Williams tonight: 30 points 10 assists 10/22 FG 8/8 FT Always solid ✊ https://t.co/aa7HiryP1f— NBA Central (@NBA Central) 1613366721.0Williams is relatively available on waiver wires with only 67 percent of Yahoo teams rostering him and his streaky shooting. If you can stomach the lows (and potential Magic City trips), he is worth the pickup.
Jakob Poeltl Center San Antonio Spurs
An international big man quietly flourishing in San Antonio? What a shocker. Poeltl was a throw-in addition to the trade that netted the Spurs DeMar DeRozen, but he has proven to be a solid presence in the middle for Gregg Popovich, averaging 10 points, 10 rebounds, one steal and 3.3(!) blocks while 70.4 percent in the last four games.
If you need a boost in your center slot, look no further than the Big Austrian.
Saddiq Bey Small Forward Detroit Pistons
Everyone has their eyes on LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards, but Saddiq Bey is starting to make an impact in his rookie year. He was named NBA Player of the Week, only the second rookie Piston ever to earn the honor, averaging 17.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and four made three-pointers while shooting a ridiculous 69.6 percent from three and 71.4 percent from the field last week.
With Pistons deciding to sit Griffin while deciding his future with the team, Bey is in line to be fed a huge helping of minutes. And with only 28 percent of Yahoo teams rostering him, you may have a pretty good shot at getting the former Villanova forward.
Busts
Ja Morant Point Guard Memphis Grizzlies
Morant exploded onto the scene last season, but teams are now better prepared for his skill set and it's showing in his numbers. He was particularly cold this past week, shooting 37.3 percent from the field and only hitting one three-pointer per game.
"I'm not a stat chaser, I'm just trying to win games." - @JaMorant https://t.co/gb9rWvlrGm— FOX Sports Grizzlies (@FOX Sports Grizzlies) 1613370861.0He still averaged 10 assists this past week and scored nearly 17.8 points, but his efficiency and lack of production in the other categories (0.5 steals and 2.3 rebounds the last four games) is making it hard to trust him right now.
Eric Bledsoe Guard New Orleans Pelicans
After a hot end of January, Bledsoe may be on the chopping block with the Pelicans and fantasy managers. With Kira Lewis Jr. starting to cut into his minutes, the former Kentucky guard has seen a drop in his production, averaging 9.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists on 35.5 percent shooting.
As far as fading assets go, Bledsoe might be disappearing faster than Marty McFly's brother and sister in "Back to the Future."
Andre Drummond Center Cleveland Cavaliers
When NBC Sports Edge uses "uninterested" to describe what your play over the last week, things aren't going well for you. Then again, things haven't been going well for Drummond most of the season, but last week he averaged nine points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists while shooting 42.9 percent from the field.
“He can get you 30-20 and have no impact on the game.” -NBA Scout on Andre Drummond (via @SmithRaps) https://t.co/aJClQam9Im— Hoop Central (@Hoop Central) 1613417837.0He was also kept out of Sunday's game for "rest" AKA keeping him healthy so he can be traded. His days with Cavs appear to be over, but he's worth holding to see what situation he gets shipped to.
Harrison Barnes Forward Sacramento Kings
We were singing his praises a couple of weeks ago, but Barnes is on our busts list this week. In three games last week, Barnes only managed to score 9.7 points and 0.7 made threes while shooting 37.5 percent from the field. His 5.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game also left a lot to be desired especially while he was averaging 33.2 minutes in that same stretch.
Barnes tends to run hot and cold, but he is having a career year. Managers might be looking at this stretch as a short lull before he heats up.
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