No NBA team boasts a longer winning streak than the Dallas Mavericks, and while they're still likely to end up a lottery team, the least they can do is aid fantasy managers along the way.
A few weeks ago we couldn't say that with confidence, as forward Harrison Barnes was basically the lone Maverick contributing consistent statistics, while rookie point guard Dennis Smith Jr. was frustrating many and those that drafted future Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki were regretting doing so. The Mavericks have beaten multiple playoff teams lately (Thunder, Raptors, perhaps the Pelicans) heading into Wednesday's game with the Warriors and fantasy managers are leaving numbers on the table.
Start with Smith, who sometimes looks like a future and immediate star, and other times feels a year or two away from safe fantasy relevance. He wants the basketball, that's for sure, and is eminently capable of making plays for himself and others, but remains so inconsistent. He shot 42 percent from the field in December, which is quite the improvement, and much of the gains came from the 3-point line, which is dangerous to project moving ahead. Smith shot 16-of-36 from long range during the abbreviated 10-game month and cut the turnovers to an excellent -- at least for a point guard -- 2.2 per game, with seven of the 22 coming in one game. Then again, eight other Mavericks were more valuable on the ESPN Player Rater for the month.
After delivering a triple-double in the seven-turnover game against New Orleans on Dec. 29, Smith is an obvious upside option and showing occasional signs of stardom, and I feel like he needs to be on more than six of 10 ESPN standard rosters just in case he becomes a 16-point, 7-assist guy that hits two 3-pointers a night. He took over in the fourth quarter against Oklahoma City on New Year's Eve, scoring 13 of his 19 points in the surprising win, and he went to the free throw line seven times, making six. He didn't even get to the line the previous two games. When I saw one of his games in October he both forcing 3-pointers and getting to the line. Now he's more judicious with the former, and more aggressive with the latter. Smith was an eighth-round pick in ESPN average live drafts, then cut by many impatient managers. It's time to reconsider his potential.
Nowitzki is obviously no longer close to a 20-and-10 guy, but his December was promising for several reasons, even with a mere 13.7 points and 5.4 boards per. For one, he's safe in the percentages. Nowitzki has shot better than 48 percent from the floor each of the past two months, and he's among the free throw percentage leaders this season. Nowitzki made 30-of-76 3-point attempts the first two months, then was 35-of-77 in December. What changed? Well, some of it is Nowitzki playing better, but backup point guard J.J. Barea has been so efficient in his limited minutes, opening the floor for everyone.
We don't often discuss backup point guards for standard fantasy formats, but once in a while they become relevant. Detroit Pistons reserve Ish Smith was doing so and now, with the Reggie Jackson injury, he is a starter and a valuable free agent addition in fantasy. Barea hasn't started a game but he plays roughly half the game, and averaged 12.1 points and 7.3 assists in December. He's not a big turnover guy, either. The Mavericks won half their 16 December games -- they were 5-17 entering the month -- because they shot better, took better care of the basketball and improved defensively. Barea was the unsung hero of the turnaround.
Meanwhile, Barnes is producing much like he did last season, there's Wesley Matthews and Yogi Ferrell contributing defense and 3-pointers and perhaps at some point Seth Curry and disappointing big man Nerlens Noel will return to relevance. This is not really a playoff team, but it's nice to just see them competing and Nowitzki deserves better than a 20-win team. Perhaps Smith can really emerge along the way.
Random thoughts:
-The off-court trouble and missed games for Los Angeles Lakers guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope shouldn't be a problem moving ahead, and this is an underrated fantasy option. It's nice to see Julius Randle finally starting -- and playing great! -- and the Lakers shouldn't be half-bad this month, even without Lonzo Ball and Brook Lopez.
-When Reggie Jackson hurt his ankle I had one open roster spot in a shallow league and chose Ish Smith over Bismack Biyombo. I think I'm already regretting it. Smith is performing fine, scoring and shooting nicely but his assists haven't gone up at all with extra minutes. It's a bit disappointing. Meanwhile, what Biyombo can do with the boards and blocks is more valuable.
-So frustrated in the Philadelphia 76ers and center Joel Embiid in a weekly league. The 76ers already play only one game next week, and it's in London, so Embiid is a sit there. And this current week they have two games, not consecutive, but Embiid is suddenly doubtful for Wednesday with a hand injury. It's always something and while the numbers are outstanding, it's not looking good for him playing 60 games.
-Don't even ask about Markelle Fultz. I hate to say I'm punting on his rookie campaign, but I just can't see him producing relevant numbers or even playing anytime soon. The team is so guarded with information.
-If someone tries to give away Chicago Bulls forward Justin Holiday in the coming weeks because it's obvious he'll lose much playing time to Zach LaVine, go get him. Yes, that day is likely coming, but it might not be in January. I'm disappointed in Holiday's field goal percentage, and there's little sign of improvement, but he's a helpful player.
-Eric Gordon is about to get 22 shots per night with James Harden on the shelf for a few weeks. Gordon does nothing in fantasy except hit 3-pointers, but he sure hit a lot of them early on after the Chris Paul injury. Watch Gordon score 25 a night at least. I wouldn't bother adding Gerald Green.