Homan League: Week in Review 11/24 - 11/30

Credit: Geoff Burke - USA TODAY Sports

A review of action in the fantasy basketball league dubbed "Homan League".   May include free agent pick-ups, trades, DNP's because someone forgot to set their lineup for the early morning Pacific time game.  Also other shenanigans worth mentioning in the fantasy league.  All opinions are exactly that, opinions. So don't take them too personally, and they are mostly mine.

Concluding the 5th week of fantasy basketball, individual teams are starting to distinguish themselves so that although we haven't had any trades yet, perhaps some players will be swapped soon. Of the match-ups this week, all of the higher seeded teams kept the status quo in not losing their matchup, including some embarrassing defeats (Adam Silver v. Mark Cuban) and one split (Just Jrue It v. Sasquatch). 

Along with the Battle of the Belt mini-game that I've been posting about, I'll be talking with commissioner James about instituting a Battle of the Belt for within our league.  In short, the belt will start with a random team and that team will keep the belt so long as they win their matchups from week to week.  If they lose the belt, the team that defeats them now holds the belt and so on and so forth.  The team that holds the belt, regardless of how they actually finish in the standings) will also have that bragging right and possibly a Toys 'R Us Belt to show their friends and family.  Feel free to ask me if you have questions, but more details about this will be outlined on a later blog post.

On to the impact players for the week...

League Leaders

Deandre Jordan is top three in the NBA for total rebounds, total blocks, field goal percentage and 4th in defensive rebounds.  He's gotten himself these stats consistently throughout the season, but this past week was especially brilliant as he grabbed over 13 boards per game and even had a 9 block game against those handshake-hating Kings.  His free throws are still horrendous, but well worth it considering his dominance in the rebound/blocks/fg% categories. (TEAM: Clipper Nation)

Steph Curry has shown no effects of that concussion that sidelined him for a couple games as this week he averaged over 30 points, dished out around 9 assists and grabbed about 2 steals per game.  What has made him most valuable has been the 15 threes he knocked down in a 3 game stretch. (TEAM: Mark Cuban)

John Wall continued his hot streak from the end of last week into this week, registering another 30 point effort and grabbing over 3 steals per game.  His high scoring output is usually at the cost of his assist numbers, but with Bradley Beal injured, he'll be switching hats and being more of a scorer for at least a couple weeks. (TEAM: League Champion)

Serge Ibaka topped his season averages this week averaging about 16 points, 11 rebounds and 4 blocks per game.  Ibaka may well behind Anthony Davis and Roy Hibbert for DPOY consideration, but he's a reliable contributor in the typical big man categories while still shooting well from both the field and free throw line (TEAM: Pres(i)ton)

Goran Dragic had himself a really nice week averaging 10 assists, including a 36 FTM's and topping 20 points three different times.  Teammate Channing Frye has been filling the 3PTM niche by making over three 3's per while averaging around 7 rebounds and doing that at less than one turnover per game (TEAM(s): Adam Silver, Just Jrue It).

Not that its possible to completely ignore the MVP of the last two seasons, but it kinda feels like people aren't talking about how well Lebron has been playing.  For this week, Lebron shot 60% from the field, added in around 7 REB, 5 AST, 2 STL and a three-pointer while getting to the line a ridiculous 9 times per game.  Oh yeah, he also averaged over 30 pts per game, so start considering a 3peat MVP finish for him. (TEAM: Adam Silver)

Neat Pickups:

Jordan Farmar (TEAM: David Stern):  Picked up right before the Lakers played the Wizards, Farmar rewarded the investment made by James with a 22 point and 8 assist effort.  Farmar then followed up that game with a well-rounded 15 point, 2 steal and 2 block game against the Nets the next night.

Kosta Koufos (TEAM: Adam Silver): Replaced Marc Gasol in the starting lineup and had back to back games of 13 rebounds while also registering about 2 blocks per game.  Definitely won't get these minutes when Gasol comes back, but for now Koufos is a nice big man option.

Jared Sullinger (TEAM: Adam Silver): Two double-doubles this week (21 & 14 against the Bucks, and 23 & 12 against the Grizz).  The high number of minutes played in these games may make these games seem more of an outlier in the overall scheme of things, but Sullinger's insertion into the starting line-up and Brad Stevens dislike of his veteran big man options (e.g. Kris Humphries) seem to indicate Sullinger will be able to somewhat keep these numbers up or at a slightly less total output.  Although his three pointers aren't exactly the smoothest sight, Sullinger is making 'em (about 2 per game) and at a very reason percentage too (~40%).

More Freakin' Injuries:

Bradley Beal had been leading the league in minutes played and putting up really nice numbers with his points and 3 pointers made.  However, Bradley's going to be out for at least two weeks with the injury to his right leg, so John Wall, Trevor Ariza, Martell Webster will get the bulk of Beal's numbers and opportunities to contribute. (TEAM(s): Pres(i)ton, League Champion, Just Jrue It, Sasquatch)

Two of his highest impact guards in the league in Eric Bledsoe (46) and James Harden (3) have been out for the whole week, so it's surprising that Oliver has kept up with Ray's Swagger squad. (TEAM: League Champion)

Spencer Hawes has sat out two of the games this week with that sore knee, which wouldn't be so bad if Timon didn't also have Iguodala (hamstring), Marc Gasol (right knee), Deron Williams (glass ankles). Ryan's team still almost got bageled but the team he faced was missing some key contributors. (TEAM(s): S7venbyVII, kobeking)

Just when Jeremy Lin was starting to put together some really great statistical games, he sprains his knee in the middle of the week.  This could mean more opportunities for Patrick Beverly and currently fantasy free-agent, Aaron Brooks, but super bad-times for Jae as his team really need's Lin's production. (TEAM: Jae's Dazzling Team)

Missed out

Gabe had to make a decision this week between playing Tony Allen, or Jared Sullinger and he picked Sullinger.  That night, Sullinger put up 23 points and 12 rebounds on 2 threes.  Allen did have 3 steals, but Gabe definitely missed out on Big Jared's best game of the season. (TEAM: Adam Silver)

Nick Young's big scoring output against the Nets was with Young sitting on Ray's bench.  Ray had to bench Young due to the all the SG's and SF's he had playing on his roster (Monta Ellis, Lance Stephenson, Paul George, Luol Deng and Harrison Barnes).  Of that group, only Harrison Barnes produced less than Swaggy P, and even still, I think playing Barnes over Young was the right choice and you know how much I love me some Swaggy P. (TEAM: Swagger)