The three-ball has develop into arguably the staple of scoring within the NBA — so we figured we might take some pictures from method downtown, too. Right here, fantasy basketball analyst Dan Titus will break down three issues fantasy managers have to know every week. Or, he’ll break down a number of three-point items of recommendation, evaluation and extra — it simply is determined by how open he’s From Deep.
At present, I am breaking down three bizarre fantasy nuggets which have stood out to me as we cross the halfway level of Week 4.
The Golden State Warriors have zero gamers averaging over half-hour per night time
Many wrote off the Dubs earlier than the season acquired underway however the Warriors are off to a powerful 9-2 report to start the 12 months. A lot of their success is drawn from their deep roster, composed of youth and ignored vets who’ve seemingly purchased into Steve Kerr’s philosophy of getting fluid rotations so long as it is translating to wins.
And it’s!
However the bizarre half is, for a way nicely this crew is enjoying, Stephen Curry, Draymond Inexperienced, Jonathan Kuminga — nobody — is averaging over half-hour per sport. Even within the load administration period, having seven gamers common at the least 20 minutes per sport however none exceeding half-hour an evening is unprecedented. Draymond Inexperienced is a prime 100 participant in 27.5 minutes, whereas Curry and Buddy Hield make up two-thirds of the non-centers whose manufacturing below half-hour supplies fantasy managers with prime 40 or higher per-game worth. Given Curry’s age, it is in all probability greatest he is not enjoying minutes like Kevin Durant (36), who’s already on the shelf with a calf harm.
Curry’s enjoying the fewest variety of minutes since his third NBA season, but his effectivity and productiveness make him one of many prime 10 gamers in fantasy proper now. Whereas unconventional in at this time’s sport, Kerr’s introducing a novel wrinkle to his rotations, permitting his gamers sufficient enjoying time to be efficient. He may be organising for a doable commerce situation down the road.
Nonetheless the Warriors determine to maneuver, they are a well-oiled machine proper now that is getting contributions from practically everybody up and down the depth chart.
Hawks G/F Dyson Daniels is averaging 3.6 steals per sport
The league chief in steals is none aside from three-year professional, Dyson Daniels.
Daniels moved as much as the fifth-shortest odds within the Defensive Participant of the Yr race, based on BetMGM, when he wasn’t even on the listing of choices to start the 12 months. He is been a menace on protection, averaging an absurd 7.6 deflections per game on prime of changing these deflections into over 3.5 steals per sport.
Ought to Daniels sustain with this tempo for the remainder of the season, he’d be the third participant in NBA historical past to common at the least 3.5 steals per sport. He is amassed 23 steals over his final 4 contests, together with three consecutive performances with six or extra. Daniels is the fourth participant in NBA historical past to swipe six or more steals in three straight games.
He is good, however his size, depth and disruption have catapulted him into one of many prime perimeter defenders within the league.
Daniels went undrafted in 66% of Yahoo leagues and now, because of principally his protection, he is 78th in factors leagues and thirty fourth in per-game worth in 9-cat leagues. I do not wish to low cost what Daniels is doing offensively, although. He is elevated his scoring from six factors to 14 ppg this season and improved his FG share to 47% by means of Thursday. Nonetheless, Daniels’ leap in fantasy manufacturing is pushed by his present dominance in a repeatedly scarce class: steals.
Nuggets C Nikola Jokić is averaging 1.78 fantasy factors per minute
As if a three-time MVP, a Finals MVP and among the finest gamers ever had something extra to perform, by means of 10 video games, Jokić is on monitor to guide the NBA in rebounds and assists per sport. Nobody has completed that in league historical past since Wilt Chamberlain in 1967. When analyzing the Joker’s unreal begin to the 2024-2025 season, he is placing up one of the best numbers of his profession on a per-minute foundation. In truth, Jokić’s 1.78 fantasy factors per minute is the second-highest rate since 1977.
It is no shock that Jokić is the No. 1 total participant in factors leagues (67.73 fantasy factors per sport) and 9-cat codecs. The Nuggets’ dependency on Jokić is fantasy gold and regardless of lackluster play from Jamal Murray, Jokić’ is elevating the ground for Christian Braun, Michael Porter Jr. and others. Fantasy-wise, he is enjoying higher than Wemby, however it’s nonetheless very early, and I nonetheless imagine that Jokić and Wemby would be the prime two gamers in every format.
