THE HANGOVER: DRAFTSTARS WEEKLY WRAP

Hopefully you have finally recovered from your New Year hangover and 2019 is in full swing. With any luck, you are still on holidays. If not, at least you have been able to play Draftstars under your desk, or hidden behind a spreadsheet on your desktop. Despite the average Joe or Jane slowing down over the New Year’s break, sport all around the world did not desist.

Starting on the Australian doorstep, the cricket is going all guns blazing. The Sydney test just finished up, unfortunately leaving Australia in tatters. Meanwhile, the Big Bash kept flowing. As did the VIP passes to the Biggest Bash Live Final. Just 47 tickets remain, so do not miss your chance!

The Hurricanes looked likely finalists before the BBL started and they have been easily the best side to date. Over the week though, the Sixers staked their claim to the throne. While the Strikers won two games in a row and climbed up the ladder through Aussie hopeful Jake Weatherald.

Over in the states, the NBA returned to its bamboozling best in 2019. Players, coaches and even team presidents got the boot mid-season and the comically awful Brooklyn Nets continued their resurgence. James Harden kept up his superhuman feats, but his 40-point streak ended at five games as his side lost to the streaking Jusuf Nurkic and the Trailblazers.

While all that happened, the NFL neared its zenith as the post-season kicked off. The four wild-card (read elimination) games kicked off the playoffs over Sunday and Monday and crazy results ensued. Bears fans, Cody Parkey says, “sorry, please don’t cut me”. While Texans head-coach, Bill O’Brien, will be one of the most unpopular men in Houston after an 11-5 season ended in another week one exit.

BIG BASH CONTESTS

This Big Bash season is proving good players win games. The Hurricanes boast two of the top seven run scorers and have Ben McDermott and George Bailey floating around to help out. Bailey was at his best over the week scoring 170 DS points over two games. His outburst came as he spent some time in the middle and tonked 100 runs in those games.

The Strikers backed up the claim and went two from three over the week. They were sparked by batting performances from Colin Ingram (75 runs, 134.5 DS points) and Jake Weatherald (71 runs, 122.5 DS points) and typically insatiable bowling from Rashid Khan who has now taken 10 wickets while conceding just 4.92 runs per over.

Undoubtedly, however, the performance of the week went to Marcus Stoinis. His side won two games in a row after he was thrust in to opening the batting. In his first outing of the season at the top, he went off for 174.5 DS points on 78 runs, 2/26 and two catches.

NBA CONTESTS

Just before James Harden dropped below 40 points for the first time in six games, he played his best game of the whole bunch against the Warriors. He was unbelievable. Not only did he rack up ANOTHER 40-point triple double, he output an astonishing 90.5 DS points. But, most impressively, he won the Rockets an OT thriller.

Big boys Jusuf Nurkic and Julius Randle balled out over the week, too. Nurkic is in the midst of the best stretch of his career and is averaging 56 DS points over his last three games. Against the Kings, he put up 24 points, snatched 23 boards, dished seven assists and had five steals and blocks. That impressive box score translated to 81.5 DS points, his best of the year.

Julius Randle, meanwhile, thrived with Anthony Davis out of the line-up. He has scored over 30 DS points in his last six matches, two of those being scores of 49. Last start he flirted with a triple-double against the Cavs.

Talking value, Terry Rozier has been putting up numbers for those who have showed faith in him at $9k. Over his last three games he has averaged 32.5 DS points and has been dialled in from three.

NFL CONTESTS

The NFL has been a pleasure to watch all season, and week one of the post-season proved its excellence.

Two of the four games were decided by two points or under while the Chargers were not favoured in their six point win over Baltimore. And the final game provided the most remarkable outcome as the Colts crushed the Texans.

Receivers were the order of wild-card weekend as all of Tyler Lockett, Amari Cooper, Keke Coutee and Allen Robinson II went off for 100+ yards with the former racking up 143 yards and catching a TD to give the Bears a chance at victory.

However, their defence was only able to get to Nick Foles once (despite him coughing up two INT turnovers) as the Eagles O-line held firm.

In the Colts return to the playoffs it was Marlon Mack, in his first playoff, who won the game for his side. He rushed for 148 yards and a score as he continually moved the chains. Facing the Chiefs next week, who are ranked bottom of the remaining sides for run defence, Mack should again thrive.

Check in all week online or by the Draftstars app for an open slather of contests across the NBA, BBL and second week of playoffs in the NFL.

Written by Brin Duggan

By BBL, Latest, NBA, NFL