Danny Granger is playing like he’s healthy for once
Jonathan Ebanks is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Jonathan, check out his archive and follow him @hogz4lyfe.
A faded star is regaining the light. Big Al and the King get taken down, as the Durantula rings in the new year. Rondo returned to Boston as a foe.
This Is The Week That Was.
Has The Old Granger Returned?
-This GIF was found on Fans.Heat.NBA.Com
Did anyone expect to see what we’ve seen from good ol’ Grange, because I know I sure as heck did not. Going into the season, it was apparent that Danny Granger would be a gamble at best, considering nine years of wear on his body along with the lengthy injury history of this guy (46 games in the last two seasons). Well guess who’s finally looking healthy now? Granger’s minutes have been rising on a nightly basis and over his last five games as of Jan. 3, 2015, he has averaged 13.6 points and four rebounds per game on 64 percent shooting from the floor and 62 percent from downtown. The above GIF comes from the Heat’s narrow loss to Orlando 102-101 on Monday, Dec. 29, a game in which Granger played for 32 minutes off the bench and went 7-of-10 from the floor to score a season-high 21 points! If Granger can keep those averages up moving forward, there is not a player coming off the bench in the entire league who would be able to match his efficiency. With a five-game road trip coming up soon against the likes of the Blazers, Clippers, and Warriors, the Heat will need all they can muster out of Granger. This is the healthiest Granger has been in about three years and if you don’t own him in your deep fantasy leagues, it’s about time you give him a look.
The Curios Case of Josh Smith
The Houston Rockets had the pleasure of earning Josh Smith’s services after Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy cut him loose. This move was thought to put them over-the-top in the West. Were they correct in that assumption?
Josh Smith's brief Rockets tenure in a nutshell… https://t.co/MjlCHEoXaz via @vine
— Jonathan Ebanks (@hogz4lyfe) January 4, 2015
-This Vine was uploaded by Jack Winter
I think you know the answer to that question. As of 4pm on January 4, Josh Smith has averaged 9.0 points on 39.3 percent shooting, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.0 turnovers in 25.5 minutes during his six games as a member of the Houston Rockets. If those numbers weren’t dismal enough for you, the once-feared Rockets are 3-3 since Smith suited up for them, including a horrendous 111-83 thrashing against the Pelicans on January 2. In that effort, Smith was 4-for-11 from the floor for eight points and had four turnovers and fouls in just 17 minutes.
Rondo Returns
-This GIF can be found on Shot Science Basketball’s Google+ page
Just a couple weeks after being traded by Boston to Dallas, Rajon Rondo returned to Boston as a foe and was treated with a moving tribute and standing ovation from the organization. It signaled a full closure to Celtics’ championship era with the final Celtic from that 2008 championship roster now playing against Boston. The Celtics have entered a full-blown rebuilding mode.
— Jonathan Ebanks (@hogz4lyfe) January 4, 2015
-This Vine was posted by Vinnyviner
There’s no denying that Celtics organization and fans are a total class act, which is much more than can be said about the Cavaliers. Let’s be honest, we all knew that the Rondo tribute would be coming, but no one expected just how thoroughly Rondo would destroy his former team with arguably his best game of the season.
— Jonathan Ebanks (@hogz4lyfe) January 4, 2015
-This Vine was posted by Vinnyviner
There’s no better way to show your old teammates love than by scoring your team’s first 10 points on them. Add in that he drained two shots from long range during that streak, which is uncharacteristic from a guy who averages less than one three-point attempt per game over his career. You know what else is uncharacteristic? Rondo hitting a career-high five shots from downtown in this game! When the dust had settled, he recorded a career-high 15 first-quarter points in his season-high 29 point effort. Rondo also added in six boards and five dimes to rub it in. Talk about one heck of a homecoming!
Golden State of Mind
On Jan. 2, the NBA featured an inter-conference clash of the titans with the top teams in the East and West duking it out. The (then) first-place Toronto Raptors took on the first-place Golden State Warriors in the heavily anticipated showdown. Basically this single game showcased everything about what makes the Warriors look like the best team in the league and how much further along the Best in West are as opposed to the Beasts of the East.
