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RotoBaller NBA Recap: Giannis and Harden, Again!

Not to get too existential here, but is there ever going to be a time when I open up RotoBaller, head to the "new post" section on a Monday night, and don't end up forced to write about how James Harden and Giannis Antetokounmpo are insanely talented basketball players who exist in a plane above the rest of the league? Harden went for 44 points, eight rebounds, and six assists, while Giannis dropped 30 points, 15 rebounds, and nine assists against the Nets. (He was also playing really late into the fourth of a huge win -- chasing that triple-double, perhaps?)

Anyway, welcome to the RotoBaller Recap for Monday, February 4th. You'll find three key takeaways from last night's NBA games here, and today none of those three things will revolve around Giannis or Harden. I promise.

There were six games around the NBA, headlined by a Kings/Spurs clash that in previous years would have been a completely forgettable, unwatchable affair, but now takes on some meaning as both teams try to sneak into the tail end of the Western Conference playoffs. The Bucks/Nets game was the only other game between above .500 teams. What did we learn on Monday? Let's get to our main takeaways.

Upgrade To VIP: Win more with our NBA and DFS Premium Pass, get expert tools and advice from proven winners! Jamie Calandro and Dan Palyo lead the RotoBaller team in 2024-25 with exclusive DFS picks, Prop picks and more. Gain VIP access to our Lineup Optimizer, Research Station, DFS Cheat Sheets and VIP Chat Rooms. Go Premium, Win More!

 

Reminder: Kenneth Faried Is The Perfect Fit For The Rockets

I watch a lot of Nets basketball, and before the season started I was really excited about Brooklyn's addition of Kenneth Faried, as he's the kind of fast-breaking, rim-running big who could have provided some Clint Capela-esque production off the Nets bench.

That didn't happen, and for a long time, I wondered how I got things so wrong. It turns out, though, that Faried could only become an approximation of Capela if he was literally filling in for an injured Clint Capela.

Faried scored 17 points on 8-for-11 shooting on Monday and also grabbed 14 rebounds. He's started seven games for the Rockets and finished with a double-double in five of them. He's used his ability to finish as a roll man and in transition to give him a double-figure scoring output in all eight of his Rockets games. Faried is perfect for an offense run by James Harden.

Faried's aggression on the offensive glass -- he grabbed seven offensive rebounds and scored on four tip-ins on Monday -- is a big key to his success:

As long as Faried maintains his current role with the Rockets -- and he should for most, if not all, of February with Capela still out, he'll be a hugely beneficial fantasy play for anyone lucky enough to have the foresight to grab him off waivers. I'd be worried about what he'll do when Capela is back, but at this point, I'm sure 100 percent of fantasy basketball players share that concern, so you're not going to be able to flip Faried for long term help.

 

The Pistons Dominate Denver: Does It Matter?

The big shock of the night was Denver losing 129-103 to the Detroit Pistons. Detroit got some good production from some unexpected sources, so let's play a quick game of buy or sell this game being indicative of good things for them.

Stanley Johnson: 21 points on 7-for-10 shooting off the bench for Johnson, who was 4-for-5 from three and grabbed seven rebounds. The last he reached or exceeded those numbers? Points: November 27th. Threes: December 17th. Rebounds: December 5th. This was the classic oh, Stanley Johnson exists game and it'll mean nothing in the grand scheme of things. SELL.

Luke Kennard: Kennard had 14 points, four rebounds, and four assists off the Pistons bench, but the second-year guard reached double-digit points for just the second time over the last seven games. Still, Kennard has shown promise, including a four-game stretch in January where he averaged 16.3 points and shot over 55 percent from the field and from three. There's maybe something there for Kennard, though it would be tough to trust that something down the fantasy stretch. SELL, FOR NOW.

Langston Galloway: Really, it's the same story for Galloway (who scored 18 points) as it is for the others. Inconsistent production lately, a floor that's far too low for him to be a nightly fantasy option, and a Pistons team that isn't going to have these explosive nights too often. This whole game feels incredibly fluky. SELL.

 

Keep Taking Jah Seriously

I definitely talk about Jahlil Okafor too much, but Monday he continued to show why he's a great fantasy option right now, finishing with 25 points on 11-for-16 shooting and grabbing 13 rebounds.

The Pelicans built a team that was designed to score through its big men, but none of those three big men (Anthony Davis, Nikola Mirotic, Julius Randle) are currently healthy, and Davis and Mirotic are both prime candidates to not play for the Pelicans again this year, whether through trade or through being sat to preserve trade value in Davis's case. That leaves Okafor playing an oversized role on a team that suddenly finds itself tanking.

Okafor is a great tank commander -- he puts up stats that look good, but he finishes as a net negative when he's on the floor more often than not. Plus/minus isn't a fantasy stat, though, so you can rest easy in knowing that Okafor is set to produce in points, rebounds, and field goal percentage for you.

More Fantasy Basketball Analysis




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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

KaVontae Turpin

Arrested on Two Charges
Cole Ragans

to Begin Throwing on Monday
Theo Johnson

Prioritizing his Health this Offseason
Andrés Giménez

Andres Gimenez Hits 10-Day Injured List
Jermaine Burton

Continues to Show Growth
NHL

Hendrix Lapierre Signs One-Year Deal with Capitals
Carson Hocevar

Should DFS Players Consider Carson Hocevar for Chicago Lineups?
Tye Kartye

Kraken Re-Sign Tye Kartye for Two Years
Ross Chastain

May be A Decent DFS Option for Chicago Lineups
Dmitri Voronkov

Signs Two-Year, $8.35 Million Extension with Blue Jackets
Ryan Preece

Should DFS Players Roster Ryan Preece at Chicago?
Austin Dillon

Is Too Great of A Risk to Add to Chicago Lineups
Zane Smith

Is A Value Play Worth Rostering At Chicago
Austin Hill

is A Favorable Value Option for Chicago DFS Lineups
Ty Dillon

Is Ty Dillon A Decent Driver to Add For NASCAR DFS At Chicago?
William Byron

Qualifying Crash Makes William Byron a Likely DFS Must-Have
Alex Bowman

Should Finish Well, but Probably Costs Too Much for Serious DFS Consideration
Joey Logano

Has Been Relatively Mediocre on Road Courses Lately
Ryan Blaney

Doesn't Really Fit Neatly into Optimal DFS Lineups
Austin Cindric

Remains an Overrated Road Racer
Brad Keselowski

Likely to Brush Past Chicago Street Course to Focus on Daytona
NASCAR

John H. Nemechek One of the Best Underdog Options After Strong Runs at Mexico City and Last Year
Cole Custer

Strong Mexico City Run and Xfinity Series Chicago Win Make Him a Solid DFS Option
Erik Jones

Likely Not Good Enough on Road Courses for DFS Consideration Despite Poor Qualifying Result
Noah Gragson

May Be Better Than Other Cheap DFS Options
Riley Herbst

Despite Decent Mexico City Run, Don't Expect Riley Herbst to Contend at Chicago
Cody Ware

Is a Road Course Veteran, but It's Rarely Helped Him in NASCAR
Shane Van Gisbergen

Shane van Gisbergen Is The Heavy Favorite to Win at Chicago Street Course
Christopher Bell

Should Be Strong Despite Practice Struggles at Chicago Street Course
Cam Ward

"Not Expecting" to be handed Starting Job
Chase Claypool

Eager to Get Back on the Field
Wyatt Langford

Activated, Playing on Saturday
Jay Huff

on the Move to Indiana
Cam Whitmore

Wizards Acquire Cam Whitmore from the Rockets
LaJohntay Wester

Stands out on Special Teams
Clarke Schmidt

Likely to Undergo Tommy John Surgery
Nolan Arenado

Scratched from Saturday's Lineup
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Starting on Saturday
Corbin Carroll

Activated from 10-Day Injured List
Cincinnati Bengals

Shemar Stewart, Bengals Continue Contract Talks, No Progress Made
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Potential Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade may not Happen Until "August, September"
Ha-Seong Kim

Removed Early During Season Debut
ARI

Christian Fischer Retires From NHL at 28
NHL

Spencer Martin Moves to Russia
WAS

Anthony Beauvillier Re-Signs With Capitals for Two Years
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Sitting Out With Foot Issue
Isaiah Neyor

Impresses at Minicamp
Houston Rockets

Jock Landale Waived by Rockets
Bo Bichette

Back in Blue Jays Lineup
Jonas Valančiūnas

Jonas Valanciunas Considering Returning to Europe
Miles Sanders

Works With Starters During Mandatory Minicamp
Jabari Walker

Signs Two-Way Deal With Sixers
Chimere Dike

Titans Could Move Chimere Dike Inside
Keandre Lambert-Smith

KeAndre Lambert-Smith not Guaranteed Roster Spot
Anthony Bradford

Working Hard to Win Back Starting Job
Byron Young

Still Improving?
Cody Simon

Jonathan Gannon has Been Impressed With Cody Simon
SirVocea Dennis

has Impressive Offseason
Trevor Penning

Could Still Have a Role in New Orleans
Jonathan Kuminga

Warriors Decline Recent Offer for Jonathan Kuminga
Orlando Magic

Moritz Wagner, Magic Agree to One-Year Deal
Clarke Schmidt

Placed on Injured List
José Soriano

Jose Soriano Throws Gem Against Braves
Robbie Ray

Earns Ninth Win in Complete Game
T.J. Watt

Likely to Reset the Edge-Rush Market
George Springer

Blasts Two Homers, Drives in Four
James Wood

Goes Yard in Five-Hit Night
Bradley Beal

Suns Discussing Potential Buyout
Los Angeles Lakers

Jaxson Hayes Staying with the Lakers
NBA

Damian Lillard "Open" to Signing With a Team This Offseason
Max Muncy

Out at Least Six Weeks
Clarke Schmidt

Leaves Start with Forearm Tightness
Colson Montgomery

Promoted to the Major Leagues
Pittsburgh Steelers

Omar Khan, Steelers Agree to Three-Year Contract
Max Muncy

Goes on Injured List With Knee Bruise
Max Muncy

Out of Thursday's Lineup
James Wood

Joining Home Run Derby
SJ

Sharks Claim Nick Leddy Off Waivers
SJ

Sharks Sign Dmitry Orlov to Two-Year, $13 Million Contract
CAR

Nikolaj Ehlers Joins Hurricanes on Six-Year Contract
Chau Smith-Wade

Having Stellar Offseason
Ace Bailey

Inks Rookie Contract With Jazz
Divine Deablo

Could be the Quarterback of the Defense
Isaiah Rodgers

a Likely Starter for the Vikings
Boston Celtics

Josh Minott Inks Deal With Celtics
Sandro Mamukelashvili

Heading to Toronto
Jared McCain

Not on 76ers Summer League Roster
Dylan Harper

Unavailable for California Classic
COL

Brent Burns Inks One-Year Deal with Avalanche
STL

Blues Land Pius Suter on Two-Year Deal
Morgan Frost

Agrees to Two-Year Extension with Flames
WPG

Gustav Nyquist Moves to Winnipeg
Cody Glass

Devils Re-Sign Cody Glass to Two-Year Deal
PIT

Anthony Mantha Joins Penguins
Cleveland Cavaliers

Larry Nance Jr. Headed Back to Cavaliers
Eric Gordon

Remaining with 76ers
Los Angeles Lakers

Deandre Ayton Joining Lakers
Emil Heineman

Signs Two-Year Deal with Islanders
Simon Holmstrom

Re-Signs with Islanders for Two Years
UTA

Nate Schmidt Signs Three-Year Deal with Mammoth
UTA

Brandon Tanev Moves to Utah on Three-Year Contract
NJ

Evgenii Dadonov Joins Devils on One-Year Deal
BUF

Sabres Snap Up Alex Lyon on Two-Year Contract
Dallas Mavericks

Dante Exum Returning to Dallas
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Has Surgery to Repair a Turf Toe Injury
Bud Cauley

in Great Form Ahead of John Deere Classic
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

a Player to Avoid at John Deere Classic
Jake Knapp

Riding Momentum Ahead of John Deere Classic
PGA

Sungjae Im Looking for Consistency at John Deere Classic
Ryan Gerard

a Solid Option at John Deere Classic
Rickie Fowler

Looking to Rebound at John Deere Classic
Cameron Champ

a Volatile Option at John Deere Classic
Jackson Suber

Staying Below 70 is Key to Success for Jackson Suber
Kevin Roy

Playing Better Heading into John Deere Classic
Justin Lower

Hoping for Something Positive in Illinois
Ben Kohles

a Long Shot at John Deere Classic
Stephan Jaeger

Attempts to Stop Roller-Coaster Ride
Beau Hossler

Needs a Challenge in Illinois
Harry Higgs

Has Potential at John Deere Classic
Nick Dunlap

Keeps Plugging Through Tough 2025 Season
Kevin Yu

a Near Must-Play at TPC Deere Run
PGA

J.T. Poston Returns to John Deere Classic Looking for Another High Finish
Thriston Lawrence

a Decent Fit For John Deere Classic
Tom Kim

Not Finding Much to be Happy About Ahead of John Deere Classic
Si Woo Kim

is a Prohibitive Fade at John Deere Classic
Ben Griffin

is the Appropriate Favorite at TPC Deere Run
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF