Fantasy Basketball: Six key storylines to follow, including Trae Young drama
By Alex Barutha, RotoWireSpecial to Yahoo SportsWe’re nearly at the one-third mark of the NBA season in fantasy. Injuries, drama and the looming trade deadline create plenty of storylines at this time of year, and all of it is worth considering for fantasy. He's somehow flying under the radar despite being the third-best fantasy player in per-game nine-category value since Nov. 16. Don't forget about trade deadline sleepersGiven the number of injuries and rest in the league already this season, we've seen extended glances at many teams' young players. Williamson takes so many free-throw attempts (7.5 per game this season) that every percentage point matters for fantasy managers.
wftv.comHot Takes We Might Actually Believe: NBA small markets did enough to be just not good enough
The 2022-23 NBA season is almost upon us, but Hot Take SZN is here, and at the end of another eventful offseason we will see how close to the sun we can fly and still stand the swelter of these viewpoints. And the New Orleans Pelicans will reintroduce oft-injured 2021 All-Star Zion Williamson to their revamped core. BetMGM gives the Cavaliers the best title chances of the group, and still their 30/1 odds rank 13th out of 30 NBA teams. McCollum is the Pelicans' best facilitator, but he might also be the best on the team at playing off the ball. Follow @brohrbachMore Hot Takes We Might Actually Believe:
wftv.comFor some, Game 2s in NBA playoffs provide bounce-back chance
Game 2s will give others a bounce-back chance. A trio of Game 2s are on Tuesday's NBA schedule — Atlanta at Miami, Minnesota at Memphis and New Orleans at Phoenix. “We have to be ready to play.”Adjustments will be made, as always, between Game 1 and Game 2. Veterans know Game 1s are never worth making snap judgments over, because series narratives can and often do change in Game 2s. — KEEP AN EYE ON: Even though Phoenix won Game 1, a 55-35 rebounding deficit will need to be addressed in Game 2.
wftv.comRobinson makes eight 3s, Heat top Hawks 115-91 in Game 1
Duncan Robinson set a Miami playoff record with eight 3-pointers, and the Miami Heat forced Trae Young into matching the worst-shooting game of his career on the way to a 115-91 win over the Atlanta Hawks in Game 1 of an Eastern Conference first-round series Sunday.
Young, Hunter lead Hawks to 132-103 play-in rout of Hornets
Hornets Hawks Basketball Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) drives to the basket past Charlotte Hornets forward P.J. Washington (25) during the first half of an NBA play-in basketball game Wednesday, April 13, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) (John Bazemore)ATLANTA — (AP) — Trae Young bounced back from a sluggish start to score 24 points and De'Andre Hunter led a third-quarter surge that carried the Atlanta Hawks to a 132-103 rout of the Charlotte Hornets in an Eastern Conference play-in game Wednesday night. The season is over for the Hornets, who were overwhelmed in the 9-10 play-in game for the second year in a row and haven't made the playoffs since 2016. The Hawks led by as many as 13 in the first half before settling for a 60-52 advantage at the break.
wftv.comDeRozan continues streak with 37 points, Bulls beat Hawks
Hawks Bulls Basketball Chicago Bulls' DeMar DeRozan scores past Atlanta Hawks' De'Andre Hunter (12) and Onyeka Okongwu during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) (Charles Rex Arbogast)CHICAGO — (AP) — DeMar DeRozan scored 37 points while extending an NBA-record streak and the Eastern Conference-leading Chicago Bulls squeezed by the Atlanta Hawks 112-108 on Thursday night. DeRozan pushed his league mark of scoring at least 35 points while shooting 50% or better to eight consecutive games. Zach LaVine scored 20 points after missing the final three games prior to the All-Star break because of his ailing left knee. Tristan Thompson provided a lift off the bench, scoring 11 points in his Bulls debut.
wftv.comHawks trade Cam Reddish to Knicks for 2022 first-round pick
Hawks Clippers Basketball Atlanta Hawks' Cam Reddish, left, is defended by Los Angeles Clippers' Eric Bledsoe during first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong)ATLANTA — (AP) — The struggling Atlanta Hawks have traded forward Cam Reddish to the New York Knicks for a protected 2022 first-round draft pick. The Hawks also are sending forward Solomon Hill and a 2025 second-round pick to the Knicks, and small forward Kevin Knox is heading to Atlanta in the deal. The trade comes as the Hawks (17-23) have lost three consecutive games and seven of their last nine. The Hawks agreed to trade Reddish one day after De'Andre Hunter scored 15 points in his return from wrist surgery.
wftv.comYoung leads Hawks' rally past Sixers with Embiid hurting
76ers Hawks Basketball Atlanta Hawks' Trae Young (11) reacts after he scores during the second half of Game 4 of a second-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday, June 14, 2021, in Atlanta. Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 22 points for the Hawks, and John Collins had 14 points and 12 rebounds. Tobias Harris scored 20 points for the Sixers, and Seth Curry had 17, missing a potential tying 3-pointer at the buzzer. Young missed his first five shots from the field and had his right shoulder wrapped when he sat on the bench early in the second quarter. Young's frustration showed when he complained after being called for a foul on Embiid in the second quarter, leading to a technical foul.
wftv.comSuns turn away late Hawks rally for a 117-110 victory
Atlanta Hawks forward Danilo Gallinari (8) fouls Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 30, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)PHOENIX – Devin Booker scored 21 points, Dario Saric added 20 and the Phoenix Suns held on in the final minutes to beat the Atlanta Hawks 117-110 on Tuesday night. The Suns have won six of their past seven games, while the Hawks have dropped four of five. “We got a rhythm, got some stops and got back into the game,” Hawks coach Nate McMillan said. Saric added a perfect baseline bounce pass to a cutting Torrey Craig, who dunked to put the Suns ahead 98-90 a few minutes later.
James jaws with Atlanta fans, leads Lakers past Hawks 107-99
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) is restrained by an official as he reacts to a fan in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks, Monday, Feb. 1, 2021, in Atlanta. Anthony Davis scored 25 points and James dominated down the stretch as the Lakers held off the Atlanta Hawks 107-99 on Monday night. There was a socially distanced crowd of 1,341 for the lone Atlanta visit by the reigning NBA champions. Atlanta appeared to be taking control, ripping off eight straight points late in the third for a 76-70 lead. AdCARUSO'S ROLECaruso again had the best plus-minus rating on the Lakers, who outscored Atlanta by 13 points while he was the court.
LaMelo Ball becomes youngest NBA player with triple-double
Atlanta Hawks center Clint Capela (15) fouls Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (2) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)CHARLOTTE, N.C. – LaMelo Ball isn't wasting any time making an impact in the NBA. “I live my life and I know what I’m capable of, so stuff like doesn’t move me like that," Ball said. “I know that's supposed to happen.”Ball replaced Markelle Fultz as the youngest NBA player to record a triple-double by 177 days. He became only the fifth rookie in NBA history to record a triple-double and the first Hornets player to do it coming off the bench.
Coaching can wait: Rondo plots future, but stays in present
For the first time in his long career, Rondo is the oldest guy on the team. “To be honest, I’ve been doing that for the last five or six years of my career,” Rondo said. I've been working to understand young talent, understand the (collective bargaining agreement). This is a young team with so much upside and versatility. ... We're on the the upswing for great things here in the city of Atlanta.”His future career can wait.