Mid-Season Look: Voltron

Short updates on how the season is going as we near almost midseason. Let’s start with Voltron over in the Russell Conference. [2016 Previews: Playoff Teams | Non-Playoff Teams]

High Riser (6-0-2)
Undefeated and bombing, passing, and blocking their way to victory in a weird mix of strengths and weaknesses, High Riser is well on their way to another Finals appearance. Although they shoot bad percentages and turn the ball over a lot, their high speed style has beat all comers so far. (Plus they are ranked first in roster moves, as expected.) Led by Damian Lillard, John Wall, Brandon Knight, and Hassan Whiteside, this team is tough to deal with. Knight has been balling out this year to the tune of 19.7 PTS, 5.0 AST, 4.0 REB, 2.3 3PT, and 1.5 STL. Plus, the quiet emergence of Julius Randle as a nightly double-double threat has rewarded Thien for his patience. High Riser is entering a tough month in the schedule so we’ll find out how they fare against top competition, but we're thinking they'll continue their winning ways.

Soup Dumplings (4-4)
Our newest owner is treading water quiet nicely, pairing two losses with two wins right afterwards so far. And they’ve lost all their games against 0.500 or better teams, while putting up tough fights across the board. Needless to say, Rookie of the Universe Kristaps Porzingis has been a revelation but let’s not overlook what Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Gorgui Dieng have been able to do. KCP is averaging 14.2 PTS, 1.4 3PT, and 1.7 STL while Dieng has been at 10.7 PTS, 7.6 REB, with 2.4 BLK/STL over the past month on 58.8 FG%. Now if only dispersal draft keeper Danny Green would step it up… As expected, Dumplings can’t shoot free throws or three pointers, don’t pass the ball effectively, and basically can’t score, but they are ranked #2 in REB, BLK, and TO. Nice start for a fantasy rookie Brandon!

MoRRie’s Pogiboys (3-4-1)
Wait, is Pogiboys regressing already after last year’s 14-5 breakthrough? How are they losing so much with Anthony Davis on this roster? While their season hasn’t been bad, playing sub-0.500 ball two months in wasn’t part of the plan for Alvin. The top six of Davis, Mike Conley, Victor Oladipo, Elfrid Payton, Brook Lopez, and Draymond Green hasn’t really had injuries either. I mean, if anything, this team should be taking it up a notch as Green has been averaging 14.3 PTS, 8.8 REB, 7.1 AST, 2.7 BLK/STL, with 1.4 3PT to boot, making him and Davis an outrageous all-around fantasy pair. Should GM Alvin be looking to make some changes or just wait it out? Can you rebuild after the rebuild?

So Buckets (1-7)
Well, the wheels have come completely off for this former division leader. After a WK1 win version a now still winless NJ All-Stars team, Josh’s squad hasn’t come close to winning another matchup, with only three categories won in any week since. They’re ranked middle of the pack in most things, aside from being third in BLK and first in TO. And then there’s their weaknesses: not being able to shoot 3PT or get STL. Not having Rudy Gobert for a month has hurt, as well as the missing Kyrie Irving, who is just making his return. But this team is looking old up top, with Tony Parker, Pau Gasol, Joe Johnson, and Marvin Williams logging big minutes. The good news? Um, DeMar DeRozan has been ripping it up to the tune of 22.6 PTS, 4.4 REB, 4.0 AST, 1.0 STL? Or maybe it’s time to hope, again, for Joel Embiid’s return...