NBA Fantasy Basketball News 2008-2009

[Hache Man]

Ford shifts into third gear
Welcome to The Week Ahead. The information below is relevant for Week Three in the NBA—Monday, November 17th through Sunday the 23rd. Teams are listed in order of games played, starting with the lowest. That is particularly helpful for leagues with weekly lineups...for everyone else there are quick hits galore. Read on!

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Three-game teams:

Bobcats
Jason Richardson had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee last Wednesday and should be out about a week. He is doubtful for Sunday's game, so use him with caution in the upcoming period. Matt Carroll is expected to start in his place, though Adam Morrison will also play extra minutes off the bench. Neither guy is a great fantasy option, but I like Morrison more, seeing as how Carroll--a three-point specialist--has yet to make a three-pointer this season. The Raymond Felton vs. D.J. Augustin position battle appears frozen in time, so their production shouldn't fluctuate much this week. Jared Dudley continues to start without impressing anyone, and should only be owned in deep leagues. Emeka Okafor appears to be over the flu and the trade rumors around Gerald Wallace have quieted down, so use each of them as you normally would. With J-Rich potentially missing a game, or at least getting a scaled-back workload, Wallace might be asked to do more on offense.


Cavaliers
Zydrunas Ilgauskas is using his shooting range to spread the court for Mo Williams and LeBron James to penetrate, resulting in a slight dip in rebounding totals. He is still blocking shots and knocking down shots at a high percentage, so keep him active. Delonte West cooled off lately but is still playing in a high level, while Wally Szczerbiak and Sasha Pavlovic flounder in limited minutes off the bench. Daniel Gibson has a nice game here and there, but is too inconsistent for regular use. Ben Wallace will still get some rebounds, steals and blocks but is otherwise useless. Anderson Varejao is shooting 66% with a handful of boards and blocks, but is tough to start in average leagues.

Mavericks
In his last two games, Erick Dampier is averaging 13.5 points, 17 rebounds and three blocks. Those numbers won't last long, but this mini-resurgence is enough to land him on a roster in most leagues. Use him before his production inevitably regresses. Brandon Bass has been disappointing to his owners and probably won't be much better while Dirk Nowitzki and Dampier are healthy. Josh Howard's wrist is healthy enough for him to resume playing...I don't like the recurring, semi-mysterious nature of the injury, but there aren't any dire reports out there, so I'll assume he's healthy. His return ends Gerald Green's brief, unexpected run of fantasy glory. Jason Terry appears to have won the starting SG job outright, killing the playing time of Jerry Stackhouse and now-forgotten Antoine Wright.

Pistons
Tayshaun Prince is on pace for a career year, knocking down 1.4 three-pointers a game, grabbing 8.8 rebounds and scoring 17.6 points per game. His new role as the team's point-forward only adds to his value, so congratulations if you snagged him on draft day. Amir Johnson's value has officially bottomed-out...he wasn't playing great to begin with (the reduced blocks are the biggest mystery) and has now been moved to the bench in favor of Kwame Brown. The Pistons need Brown's size to battle other teams' big centers, but I doubt he'll be worth owning, let alone starting, at any point this season. Jason Maxiell's minutes are too limited...Rasheed Wallace is actually the only member of Detroit's frontcourt who is reliable enough to start for your team. Rodney Stuckey will play on Friday and should therefore be ready to go next week. Unfortunately, his poor FG%, combined with a lack of steals and threes, make him a better longterm prospect than anything.

Warriors
The Warriors started Stephen Jackson at power forward on Thursday, one indication that Brandan Wright isn't ready to handle starting PF duties on a nightly basis. Wright's blocks and FG% are steady and he's a valuable sleeper in most formats, but shouldn't be starting for many teams right now. The unknown status of Al Harrington is also a concern, since Wright's production will take a hit if either A) Harrington returns, or B) the Warriors trade Harrington for another power forward. Corey Maggette has returned from his hamstring injuries and should be active for all his teams. Let's just hope he doesn't come up lame again. Monta Ellis has reportedly "conquered" the treadmill and elliptical machine in his rehab from ankle injury, but don't get too excited -- he still needs to have screws removed from his ankle and isn't expected back until January at the earliest. C.J. Watson had a nice game on Thursday (17 points, six rebounds, two steals) and is the best of a bad bunch at PG for the Warriors.

Pacers
T.J. Ford continues to flirt with triple-doubles and is looking like a great value pick this season. Marquis Daniels is averaging 15 points and 1.5 steals filling in for Mike Dunleavy, though his 92% free throws could be an illusion (he is a career 74% FT shooter). Jeff Foster had decent value last week, but the return of Rasho Nesterovic will likely render him useless. Troy Murphy is out with the flu right now, but I imagine he'll be recovered in time for next week's games. Danny Granger is expected to return on Friday after missing Wednesday's game with muscle cramps. No word on the Jamaal Tinsley situation, and he's not worth owning unless you are in a particularly deep league and have no better use for that spot on your bench.

Grizzlies
Marc Gasol's 27 point, 16 rebound, three block performance on November 3rd is starting to look like a fluke. He hasn't hit double-digit rebounds, 20 points or more than one block in any of the five games since. Darrell Arthur continues to start at PF and is a decent option by virtue of his 7.2 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.6 blocks per game. If nothing else, Arthur is ensuring that Hakim Warrick will fulfull his annual duty of frustrating fantasy owners and being among the league leaders in add/drops. O.J. Mayo is looking like an All-Star and there is talk of his taking over primary ball-handling duties for Memphis. That is partially due to the struggles of starting PG Mike Conley, who is averaging an abysmal 5.3 points on 32% shooting. He also has just 3.8 assists vs. 1.6 turnovers in 24 minutes per game. Kyle Lowry has been somewhat more impressive off the bench, but is too inconsistent to use in most leagues. Rudy Gay (41% from the field, 20% from downtown) hasn't found his rhythm yet and makes a wonderful buy-low target.

Heat
Dwyane Wade continues his inspired play, averaging 28 points on 49% shooting, 5.9 rebounds, 7.6 assists, 2.8 steals and 1.8 blocks per game. He is also turning the ball over an alarming 4.3 times per game, but that's nothing new for Wade. Shawn Marion's owners just have to hope that his lingering injuries (groin, finger, nose) are the reason for his slow start. He will be re-evaluated on Sunday, so check his status soon...the groin injury is of greatest concern, and he won't even have to wear his uncomfortable facemask after Sunday. Udonis Haslem might be the most boring double-double machine in fantasy basketball...he has zero blocks all year. Chris Quinn is shooting lights-out from downtown recently, resulting in more playing time. That has negatively effected Mario Chalmers, whose own dreadful 39% field goals and 57% free throws haven't endeared him to his owners.

Timberwolves
Having dropped to 1-6 on the season, Minnesota is looking for answers. Randy Foye is coming off the bench, but it won't last long if he continues to score in double-figures with solid assist totals. Sebastian Telfair is as inconsistent as ever, and should be stashed on your bench for the time being. Kevin Love's move into the starting lineup began well (20 points and eight rebounds), but he's looked like a rookie in the two games since, going 3-of-13 from the field with zero steals or blocks. Then there is a host of lesser talent vying for minutes, guys like Corey Brewer, Ryan Gomes, Craig Smith, Rashad McCants. Use them with caution, or not at all.

Nets
Devin Harris' 38-point breakout was more impressive because he did it on a bad ankle. He is due back on Friday and should be a safe play next week. Josh Boone is exceedingly inconsistent and his 27% free throw shooting is ridiculously bad. Bobby Simmons continues to struggle, shooting 34% from the field, though paradoxically he is shooting 42% from downtown. One bright spot in NJ is the play of Yi Jianlian, whose newfound three-point range (1.7 per game on 55% shooting) and rebounding (8.1 per game) give him new life in fantasy leagues.

Hornets
Chris Paul is already setting all-time NBA records with his incredible streak of 20 point, 10 assist games. The Hornets need a productive backup PG, however, and intend to replace Mike James with Devin Brown on the depth chart. Peja Stojakovic is shooting an identical 38% from the field and from three-point range, though it's not a huge surprise considering 7.8 of his 13 attempts have been threes. Morris Peterson is dealing with a hyper-extended knee and as usual we're half-expecting him to be replaced in the starting lineup before long.

Knicks
Jamal Crawford survived a disastrous preseason and has been the Knicks best player early on, averaging 21 points on 46% shooting, 3.4 three-pointers and 4.1 assists. Zach Randolph is posting 19 points and 11.5 rebounds...but the most remarkable element of his strong play is the 0.6 three-pointers and 1.5 steals per game. Let's see if he can keep it up. Chris Duhon is steady but unspectacular...fortunately the D'Antoni system is a good fit and he's posting enough threes (1.3), assists (6.8) and steals (1.5) to be starting in most formats. Wilson Chandler exploded for 27 points on 11-of-12 shooting last Wednesday and it doesn't look like he'll leave the starting lineup anytime soon. That is bad news for David Lee, whose owners have to be hoping that he gets traded. Nate Robinson is everywhere right now, and seems perfectly suited to Mike D'Antoni's exlosive gameplan. His averages say it all: 14.5 points, 2.1 three-pointers, 4.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.4 steals.

Magic
Dwight Howard's atypical triple-double (30 points,19 rebounds, 10 blocks) is a fantasy goldmine, and if he could only make some more free throws (52% on 12.4 attempts per game) he'd be challenging for the #1 spot in most fantasy leagues. Hedo Turkoglu is reportedly not in great condition, reflected in his 38% shooting, but will get it going before long. Rashard Lewis is also struggling, shooting just 39%, and should be viewed as a buy-low target. J.J. Redick has fallen completely out of the rotation, leaving Keith Bogans as the team's sixth-man.

76ers
The Sixers are devoting entire practices to finding ways to make Elton Brand comfortable, so expect him to break out of his mini-slump before long. Same goes for Andre Iguodala, who is shooting 39% and still figuring out how to co-exist with E.B. Thaddeus Young has cooled off after his impressive start to the season, but will remain a valuable fantasy player all season long...especially if he keeps knocking down 1.5 threes per game. Kareem Rush and Willie Green are cutting into Lou Williams' production off the bench, and none of them are reliable options right now.

Suns
Grant Hill has not scored in the past two games, and his fantasy value isn't likely to recover as long as Matt Barnes is healthy. Barnes is facing a possible suspension from the league, however, giving Hill another chance to prove he can be a fantasy force. Leandro Barbosa is showing signs of increased productivity, but his mother just passed away in Brazil so a few DNPs should be forthcoming. Keep him sidelined this week. Boris Diaw has played 30 minutes just one time season, and doesn't have more than six rebounds in a game. Shaquille O'Neal might miss Monday's game, since it's the second of a back-to-back, potentially leaving him with a shortened two-game period. He's playing well, so the frequent DNPs are a real disappointment for his owners.

Spurs
Where to begin? Tim Duncan is carrying the team with 25.3 points on 56% shooting, 10.3 rebounds, three assists and one block per game. Hopefully the block total will increase, but you have to live with his 68% free throw shooting. With Tony Parker (ankle) expected out at least another three weeks, rookie George Hill will continue to start at point guard. Hill has short-term value, but keep your expectations low. Jacque Vaughn appears to be an afterthought, even with Parker out. Roger Mason is the team's third-leading scorer with 13.9 points per game. His fantasy line is balanced, with 2.3 three-pointers, 4.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.3 turnovers. Keep him active and hope that the return of Manu Ginobili doesn't damage his value too much. The latest on Ginobili is that he's travelling with the Spurs but not yet practicing. He has, however, participated in drills and can run and cut without discomfort. By all indications, he will return before the original mid-December date...possibly as early as the last week of November, though that's speculation. Ime Udoka has moved into the starting lineup, shifting Bruce Bowen to the bench for the first time since the year 2000...it's trading apples for apples, from a fantasy perspective.

Four-game teams:

Hawks
The no-longer-undefeated Hawks are riding the brilliant play of Joe Johnson. J.J. is averaging 24.4 points on 46% field goals and 82% free throws, 1.9 three pointers, a 4.7 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.6 steals and 2.4 turnovers. Mike Bibby is making a career-high 2.4 three-pointers per game, to go along with 5.1 assists and 1.3 steals. Josh Smith (ankle) is out for a few more weeks, giving Marvin Williams time to get himself together after missing time with a suspension early in the season. Al Horford's 27-17-6 explosion last week was followed by a mere five points, three rebounds and two blocks as he battled foul trouble on Wednesday. Solomon Jones and Zaza Pachulia are both playing increased minutes with Smith sidelined, though neither has value in regular leagues.

Celtics
Paul Pierce's fourth-quarter wizardry has masked his 41% shooting, though his value is bouyed by 1.9 three-pointers, 7.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.0 steals per game. Tony Allen isn't a reliable sixth-man, for fantasy purposes, and should only be used in a pinch...even in a four-game week. Rajon Rondo is playing very well, but his 51% shooting is tanking his fantasy appeal...Kendrick Perkins' free throw form appears to be affecting Rondo by osmosis. Perkins should only be used for blocks and rebounds...if you're in a two-category league, and those are your categories, by all means consider him a stud.

Bulls
Derrick Rose has opened my eyes...I wasn't very high on his prospects as a rookie, but he's currently leading the team with 38 minutes per game, 18.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.0 steals. Kirk Hinrich's thumb surgery means Ben Gordon will get a ton of playing time, and he's cashing in...on Thursday he dropped 35 points on 12-of-21 shooting, and he should be active in all formats. Larry Hughes is back from his shoulder injury but shouldn't be starting for your team this week. Let's see how they work him into the rotation before jumping on that sinking ship. If you want to give up on Tyrus Thomas (29% shooting, 6.4 rebounds, 2.1 blocks) and/or Joakim Noah, be my guest.

Nuggets
Carmelo Anthony looks like a more versatile player this season, not to mention more active on defense. He is averaging 4.0 turnovers, but that should decrease now that Chauncey Billups is in charge of the offense. Expect a career season from Carmelo, as he makes up for the departure of Marcus Camby and Allen Iverson. Nene has also been very impressive early on, shooting 65% from the field with eight rebounds, 1.4 steals and 2.0 blocks per game. His healthy is always a concern, making him an intriguing sell-high candidate. J.R. Smith has struggled since the Allen Iverson trade, but made 7-of-11 field goals on Thursday and actually attacked the basket a few times, rather than settling for contested 30-foot three-pointers. Anthony Carter has been playing great, but his minutes will slowly decline and he's no longer a reliable option.

Rockets
Tracy McGrady has been hit or miss all season, as his 41% shooting suggests. Ron Artest leads the team with nearly 40 minutes per game, but is shooting just 31% from the field. Amazingly, he's still making 2.1 three-pointers on 39% shooting, so maybe he should just launch shots from downtown all game. Aaron Brooks continues to shine off the Rockets bench, now averaging 11.9 points on 48% field goals and 92% free throws in just 20 minutes per game. There aren't any signs that he'll replace Rafer Alston (8.5 points on 35% shooting, 4.1 assists, 1.1 steals) in the starting lineup, but it's increasingly hard to find anything positive about Rafer's fantasy prospects.

Clippers
Second-year forward Al Thornton leads the Clippers with 16.4 points per game. He is also blocking 0.9 shots per game, but it would be nice to see him improve his 4.8 rebounds. Baron Davis is healthy, though his numbers (15 points on 37% field goals and 67% free throws, 7.6 assists) hardly show it. Marcus Camby is back up to playing 30 minutes per game, and the elite rebounding and block totals should come rolling in. Rookie guard Eric Gordon is getting more minutes off the bench, but with Cuttino Mobley and Ricky Davis both healthy, there just aren't enough minutes to go around.

Lakers
The Lakers success and team depth hasn't translated into fantasy glory. No player is averaging 35 minutes per game, and starters Derek Fisher, Andrew Bynum and Vladimir Radmanovic aren't even getting 30 minutes a game. Lamar Odom could be the most disappointing Laker to own. He is coming off the bench for nine points on 42% shooting, 6.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.9 blocks and 2.6 turnovers in 27 minutes per game. Jordan Farmar has been solid but unimpressive, shooting just 43% field and 69% from the free throw line, and should be benched (or dropped) until further notice.

Bucks
Finally, Andrew Bogut showed signs of life. I have been pushing him hard as a buy-low candidate, and he justified my faith by grabbing 17 rebounds on Wednesday. Of course, Erick Dampier did the same thing, so we'll see whether Bogut can sustain his play for the rest of the season. Maybe he is motivated by a recent blog post reportedly written by Shaq, which called Bogut "Erick Dampier with a beard." Maybe they do have a lot in common. Michael Redd is still sidelined by an ankle injury, and should remain on your bench until we have a positive update. Richard Jefferson is averaging 18.4 points per game…down from 22.7 last season, but at least he's making 1.6 three-pointers. Charlie Villanueva was demoted to the bench and then hurt his hamstring, so keep him benched and hope that he turns his season around soon. The man who replaced him in the starting lineup, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, is worth owning for modest points at a high percentage, rebounds, steals and blocks.

Thunder
Kevin Durant is averaging 22 points, but more importantly he is shooting 45% from the field. Hopefully he can keep it up. Neither Russell Westbrook nor Earl Watson have been particularly impressive. Westbrook his shooting 29% from the field—Watson is shooting 34%. Pick your poison. The frontcourt rotation in Oklahoma City is a mess for fantasy owners. Nobody is averaging 30 minutes per game, and only Nick Collison can even be considered as a fantasy starter at this point.

Trail Blazers
Brandon Roy (21 points, four rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.0 steals) and LaMarcus Aldridge (18.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.1 steals, 1.5 blocks) continue to shine as the Blazers centerpieces. But Rudy Fernandez has really wowed fantasy owners with his averages of 15.4 points on 48% field goals and 93% free throws, 2.6 three pointers, 2.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.3 steals. Despite coming off the bench, those numbers have him in the top-25 most productive fantasy players in most formats. Nicolas Batum isn't worth owning despite starting, and the same can be said for Joel Przybilla and his disappointing 0.6 blocks per game. Greg Oden is coming off the bench and will continue to do so for some time...start him if you must, but I'd recommend waiting a week or two.

Kings
With Kevin Martin (ankle) sidelined, Beno Udrih scored 30 points last Wednesday and came flying off waiver wires everywhere. Hopefully you didn't cut him after his slow start. Brad Miller is playing well, Spencer Hawes is very productive despite limited minutes off the bench, and rookie Jason Thompson currently starting at small forward. Thompson's run as a starter will end once Kevin Martin gets back, though there's always the chance he'll displace Mikki Moore at power forward. If you own Thompson, this is the week to use him.

Raptors
Chris Bosh is on pace for another All-Star berth, averaging 24.9 points on 54% shooting, 10.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 0.8 blocks in eight team high 42 minutes per game. Jermaine O'Neal is struggling to adjust to his new team, but at least he's (apparently) healthy. The Raptors are reportedly interested in upgrading their wing positions, but for the moment Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon will continue to start. Moon splits time with Jason Kapono (and Joey Graham to a lesser extent), making both guys risky starts on a nightly basis.

Jazz
Andrei Kirilenko (finger) is questionable for Friday's game, so check his status before using him this week. The latest news on Mehmet Okur is that he will remain in Turkey with his ailing father for an indefinite amount of time. In his absence, Kosta Koufos and Kyrylo Fesenko will pick up extra minutes, though it is Paul Millsap who should benefit the most in fantasy leagues. Deron Williams is playing but continues to be day-to-day with his ankle injury...I don't expect he will actually miss any more games, so keep him active. Ronnie Brewer had a mini-breakout game last week, putting up 16 points, six rebounds, nine assists and four steals last Tuesday. He has double-digit points in five straight games and is always a reliable source of steals.

Wizards
JaVale McGee is coming on strong and deserves a look in most leagues. He has played 27+ minutes in two of last three games, averaging 12.5 points on 69% shooting, 10.5 rebounds, one steal and 2.5 blocks. His 52% free throw shooting is cause for concern, and he has zero assists all season, but watch him closely. Etan Thomas and Anday Blatche haven't impressed, so 30 minutes a game could be within McGee's reach. Antonio Daniels (knee) is back, negating whatever value Juan Dixon had in his absence. Nick Young should be owned in most leagues by now...he is averaging 15.5 points on 52% field goals and 92% free throws, to go along with 0.7 steals and 0.8 blocks.

[Hache Man]

Go West, young man
Welcome to the fourth edition of Position Battles. This week features a waxing Moon, a boring Bowen, a borderline Brooks, a wet-behind-the-ears Westbrook and a struggling Smith. Read on!

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Raptors small forward-- Andrea Bargnani vs. Jamario Moon

With Bargnani's ascension into the starting lineup, many Raptors fans (and fantasy owners') wishes were fulfilled. The former #1 overall pick has struggled to be consistent in his two years in the league, but hopefully this will jumpstart him. Another criticism frequently leveled at Bargnani is that he's a poor defender, especially against quicker small forwards. This is true, but the defensive presence of Jermaine O'Neal and Chris Bosh should somewhat offset his tendency to get beat off the dribble, and he is long enough to bother jumpshooters without being chest-to-chest. Bargnani's owners should be just as aware of his weaknesses (rebounds, FG%) as his strengths (3-pointers, blocks, FT%). Although this season he is shooting 53% from the field, he is a 41% shooter for his career. He also hasn't averaged four rebounds in a season, despite being 6'10". The Raptors aren't likely to shuffle their lineup too often, giving Bargnani plenty of time to prove that he belongs in the starting five. If Sunday is any indication (12 points, four rebounds, three assists, one steal), he'll soon be a fixture.

Jamario Moon was demoted to the bench, but that doesn't mean he won't have any value. His fantasy value has been of the understated, multi-category variety...he'll rank in the top-80 without playing 30 minutes per game or averaging 10 points. Moon is relied on for energy, plain and simple. He's perfectly suited to be a reserve, and could actually thrive in a sixth-man role. What concerns me is his reduced playing time...with Jason Kapono (and Joey Graham, to a lesser extent) also requiring minutes at small forward, Moon might be lucky to average 25 minutes per game. He is capable of giving you a steal and a block even in such limited minutes, but it's not the sort of gamble most owners want to make with their lineups. Consider trading him, if you can get decent value in return.

Spurs small forward: Bruce Bowen vs. Ime Udoka vs. Michael Finley

Call this the battle of Mt. Who-Cares-Anymore. Bruce Bowen had his incredible streak of 550 consecutive starts snapped last week, when Udoka was plugged into the starting lineup. Incredible, because Bowen has never averaged more than 8.2 points, 3.9 rebounds or 1.6 assists in his career. Since 1997-1998 when he was with Boston, he's also never averaged more than 1.1 steals...his brand of defensive excellence does not include gambling for steals. The point is that Bowen hasn't been a productive fantasy player even when averaging over 30 minutes as a starter, so there's no reason you should own him while he's coming off the bench.

Ime Udoka, in a three-game span, went from a reserve to a starter to a DNP-Coach's Decision. Gregg Popovich is looking for any lineup that will spark his decimated team to a victory, and Udoka obviously isn't central to that plan. His numbers are paltry (4.6 points on 33% shooting, three rebounds in 18 minutes) and he should only be considered in the deepest leagues.

Michael Finley has bounced in and out the starting lineup, and is clinging to fantasy value by virtue of his 1.7 three-pointers per game. Otherwise, his stats are pedestrian—-10.8 points on 42% shooting, 3.3 rebounds and two assists in 30 minutes. The Spurs need his production with Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili sidelined, so squeeze whatever you can out of him in the next few weeks and then dump his shriveled husk onto the waiver wire.

Rockets point guard-- Rafer Alston vs. Aaron Brooks

Rafer Alston is notorious in fantasy leagues for his low FG%. A career 39% shooter (and that's rounding up), Alston has sunk to 37% this season, and 26% on three-point attempts. That's pure poison in leagues that count percentages. Even if you're league dispenses with percentages, Alston simply hasn't been productive. He's playing 31 minutes per game but averaging just nine points, 1.1 three-pointers, 2.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.6 turnovers. The threes and steals are enough to justify owning him in some leagues, but just barely. I think he'll continue to start all season (see below), but don't expect his production to increase much...an extra assist per game, maybe, and that's it.

Aaron Brooks is so fast that his own teammates occasionally can't get out of his way as he slices toward the basket. He has improved his shooting range this season (making 1.3 three-pointers on 41% shooting), but still doesn't have the natural play-making instincts necessary to overtake Alston for the starting job. That became clear enough during Alston's two-game suspension. Brooks moved into the starting five, only to average 10 points on 30% shooting, five rebounds, 2.5 assists and 0.5 steals. The rebounds were only so high because he grabbed eight on November 14th, doubling his previous career-high. Now, Brooks has a chance for increased playing time if Tracy McGrady's knee injury shuts him down for an extended period, which by all indications is exactly what will happen. He's worth hanging onto, and can be started depending upon the depth of your league, but don't expect him to suddenly become a high-percentage scorer with a knack for racking up assists.

Thunder point guard-- Earl Watson vs. Russell Westbrook

This is a classic case of bringing in some new blood, and let's face it -- the Thunder are in desperate need of a transfusion. Earl Watson continues to start at point guard for Oklahoma City, but the team has fallen 1-10 and there's nothing to gain by keeping a thoroughly mediocre veteran in the starting five. As Watson's owners know too well, he is averaging a mere 7.4 points on 34% field goals and an abysmal 57% free throws. His 5.6 assists are offset by 2.7 turnovers, and 0.7 steals aren't winning him any admirers. OKC's problems go much deeper than Watson, and Westbrook hasn't looked like a starting PG either (see below), but they have to develop for the future and that means starting Westbrook. If not this month, at least by the All-Star break.

Russell Westbrook can be forgiven many things, as a rookie point guard. What won't get it done in fantasy leagues, however, is his 31% shooting and his 3.0 assists vs. 2.6 turnovers. Assuming he starts at some point (or at least averages 30+ minutes per game), the following line should roughly approximate his statistical ceiling: 16 points on 40% field goals and 85% free throws, 1.0 three-pointers, four rebounds, five assists, 2.0 steals, 0.8 blocks and 3.2 turnovers. Not too shabby for a rookie PG, if you can ignore the FG% and TOs...but then again, there are no guarantees.

Nuggets shooting guard-- Dahntay Jones vs. J.R. Smith

I explored this battle two weeks ago, in the wake of the Billups-for-A.I. trade, and admittedly I might have been too high on Smith at that point. It is baffling that he has actually regressed since the Nuggets landed Billups, but Denver's sudden emphasis on playing defense probably has a lot to do with it. George Karl also chastised Smith for playing too much one-on-one on offense, rather than moving without the ball or (gasp!) passing to open teammates. We've heard this all before, which is no comfort for his disappointed owners.

My only recommendation is to stay patient. Jones is a better defensive player than Smith (easy) and a more unselfish offensive player (even easier), but he's not a worthwhile fantasy option. The Nuggets explicitly cited Smith's growth as one reason for the Billups trade, so give it time. Remember that last season Smith was an entirely different player after the All-Star break, eventually averaging 2.6 three-pointers in just 22 minutes per game. Numbers like that can't be dismissed easily, so hang in there.

Anything can create or alter a position battle...injuries, lineup changes, a coach's whim, matchups...so check back next week for another look at the most hotly contested positions in the NBA. Enjoy your week!

[Hache Man]

Three not Magic # for Rockets
Three Is Not the Magic Number

Three is a magic number,
Yes it is, it's a magic number.
Somewhere in the ancient, mystic trinity
You get three as a magic number.

The past and the present and the future.
Faith and Hope and Charity,
The Yao and the Ron-Ron and the T-Mac
Give you three as a magic number.

I altered the famous School House Rock song above (which was also covered by Blind Melon and (sort of) De La Soul) to include the "mystic trinity" in Houston. Three might be the magic number, but not for the Rockets thus far. They saw their version of the "Big 3" all go down in the same game on Monday. Here's what we know…

Tracy McGrady said his knee now feels like it felt before he had offseason surgery and that he's going to "shut it down" until he gets healthy. Keep in mind that he hasn't had his MRI yet, so this outlook simply came from a bummed out T-Mac after last night's game. We've been recommending selling high on T-Mac and he's had a gloom-and-doom sense about him all season. If you own him, just hang onto him for now - unless a fellow owner wants to give you something worthwhile for him. And no, I would not recommend moving T-Mac for Anthony Morrow or Luc Richard Mbah a Moute right now. But unless McGrady was being overdramatic last night, he could miss several weeks while he lets his shoulder and knee heal. Now we just have to hope he doesn't need more surgery.

Ron Artest rolled his ankle on another player's foot just before the buzzer. He hobbled into the locker room and said after the game that it "isn't broken" and that he'll be ready to play in the next game. But we'll have to let doctors have a look at it and see what kind of swelling he suffered after the game before penciling him in for the next one. It's very possible he suffered a high sprain and could miss some time, or he could play in his next game. Obviously, Artest owners will want to watch for updates.

The good news is he actually made it through a game last night without killing your field goal percentage, hitting 7-of-15 shots and posting a double-double. If T-Mac is out with his knee injury, Artest should fare better going forward.

Yao Ming didn't make it out of this one in one piece either, although his foot injury seems to be the least of the Rockets' concerns. My guess is that had his injury occurred on a night the team didn't also lose the other two stars, it would be a much bigger story. Anyway, Yao tweaked his left foot – yep, the same one he had surgery on last year – last night and did not return to the game. He said later that he knows how to take care of his body and that the injury isn't serious. Again, we'll let the doctors be the judge of that, but of the three injuries, Yao's seems least significant.

Shane Battier will practice today and could return by the end of the week, barring any setbacks to his surgically repaired ankle. Battier is an obvious pickup and could move right into the starting five. In addition, it's possible that Rafer Alston could slide over to shooting guard, allowing Aaron Brooks to spend much of each game at point guard. Luther Head could also emerge with some value here as well. The only sure thing is that Battier will produce if he's healthy and one of the three big names is out. But Brooks has been a popular sleeper all year, and this is just another reason to consider picking him up. And Luis Scola bounced back last night with 23 points and nine boards, and would also see a big bump if Artest or Yao are out.

Live Chats

Join Matt Stroup on Wednesday at 3 p.m. for a live chat. I'll also be hosting my weekly Season Pass Live Chat at 1 p.m. on Friday for subscribers. See you there.

The Return

The following players returned to action on Monday.

Andrei Kirilenko – AK-47 came back from a finger injury and played well as the Jazz broke a three-game losing streak by beating the Suns. He had 19 points, seven boards and two blocks, so get him back in your lineup.

Matt Barnes – Barnes was back from his two-game suspension for his incident with Rafer Alston and also played well, hitting 8-of-13 shots and a couple threes on his way to 19 points and five rebounds. He's been bad luck for his fantasy owners thus far, but clearly looks like the best of the Suns many wing players to own. I benched him in most leagues with just three games, but am looking forward to getting a full week out of him in the next one.

Rafer Alston – Skip also came back from his suspension and had 13 points and three assists in the win. As I stated earlier, his value could be on the rise – especially if he could hit 6-of-13 shots every night, as he did on Monday.

Marcus Camby – Camby wasn't out, but didn't start in his last game. He was back in the starting five last night and had seven points, nine boards and six blocks. That's about all we can expect from him until he's 100 percent healthy and figures out the Clippers' system. Speaking of which, they lost again to fall to 1-9. Baron Davis is getting angry, but at least the team is showing signs of life. Cuttino Mobley (18 points) and Chris Kaman (17-13-3) both had big games last night and they battled San Antonio to the wire.

Chris Wilcox – Wilcox didn't come back last night, but is said to be ready to return to action in the Thunder's next game. He's been out for five with a knee injury and could be worth owning if he gets involved in the OKC offense. Nick Collison hasn't really been much to write home about, so keep your eye on Wilcox this week.

Big Numbers

Tim Duncan had 20 points, 15 rebounds and six blocks last night as he continues to be the fantasy rock he always is.

Roger Mason Jr. hit three treys, including the game-winner, and scored 20 points in last night's win. He didn't have an assist, but that's OK. Teammate George Hill scored just two points, but had five boards and eight assists, while ageless Michael Finley had 19 points and three treys on the night. I've been talking about picking him up a lot, and he got his week off to a great start last night.

Kevin Durant finally showed the OKC faithful what he can do last night, hitting 13-of-23 shots and a three for 29 points, seven boards, four assists and four steals. He's starting to come on, so hang in there if you drafted him.

Teammate Russell Westbrook had another poor shooting night (5-of-14) but posted 14 points and five steals. I'm not sure why, but I love this kid. His field goal shooting is atrocious and it's killing me and the rest of his owners, but I can't stop putting him in my lineup. Hopefully he gets to the point that he has two good games and one bad one per week. But if the Sonics play four times, he's going to be in my lineup – FGP be damned.

Amare Stoudemire had 30 points, but just eight boards and one block. Shaquille O'Neal played 32 minutes and Barnes was rebounding, but Amare just can't seem to put up the numbers we are accustomed to unless Shaq is playing limited minutes. Diesel hit just 3-of-11 shots last night, while Steve Nash was quiet with 14 points and eight assists.

Sidebar on Nash: The good news is that he's turning the ball over a lot less in the slowed down offense this season. But the bad news is that he kind of looks more like Andre Miller (with threes) than he does Steve Nash. If you own Nash you have to think about trading him before the other owners in your league get a sense of what you are going through. Unless Terry Porter pulls the plug on his half-court plan, Nash's numbers are likely to come in lower than we were expecting. Keep in mind he got off to a hot start, and is still one of the better point guards in fantasy hoops. He's just not at the elite level he used to be.

C.J. Miles caught fire for the Jazz and scored 21, also killing Ronnie Brewer's production in the process. I don't see Miles having value, so just continue to ignore him unless you see him do this again in the near future.

The Missing

Word out of Milwaukee today is that Charlie Villanueva isn't due back anytime soon from his hamstring injury, so owners of Luc Richard Mbah a Moute should see continued run out of your find. And even when CV returns, it looks like the starting job belongs to the rookie.

Michael Redd is also doubtful for Tuesday and Wednesday with his sprained ankle. Ouch. What looked like a one- or two-game thing has been lingering for a full two weeks now and he's still not back. If you owned Redd over the past couple seasons, you'll remember dealing with similar problems later in the year. And I'm guessing you learned your lesson and stayed away this time around. Charlie Bell will continue to start, and Ramon Sessions will continue to get more minutes than normal with Redd out.

Deron Williams (ankle) and Mehmet Okur (personal) were both out again last night for the Jazz. Williams' return this week is still iffy, although he keeps saying he wants to play. It would probably be best for the Jazz to just leave him benched until next week and let him heal. But my guess is he'll play this weekend, if not sooner. Okur is back from watching over his ill father and shouldn't miss any more games – at least for now.

Leandro Barbosa is also on his way back from losing his mother and hopes to play on Thursday.

Housecleaning

Dwyane Wade says he's playing tonight through a sprained ankle, Brevin Knight tweaked a groin yesterday, Samuel Dalembert (knee) missed a practice and Desmond Mason will miss a couple weeks for the Thunder, not that he should have been owned in the first place.

Mikki Moore could miss all week for the Kings and if things go well for rookie Jason Thompson, he could steal Moore's job while he's out. Kevin Martin should return by the end of the week, but I benched him where I could for this scoring period. With Moore out, Quincy Douby may start at shooting guard this week.

And did you notice Spencer Hawes' bad line from the other night? Not saying he won't bounce back, but the window for you to trade him for a ridiculous prize in return has probably closed.

Trading Oden

I was finally able to move Greg Oden yesterday in what will probably be viewed as a controversial trade. I sent Luke Ridnour and Oden to owner Doug M. in exchange for T.J. Ford and Nene. On paper, I obviously win this trade. Ford's numbers are better than Ridnour's and Nene's are better than Oden's (although we only have a few games to work with concerning the rookie). However, this trade should not be judged on what has happened up to this point, because it's meaningless.

The bottom line is that three of the most injury-prone players in the NBA were included in this deal. If everyone stays healthy, I probably come out the big winner, although if Oden is healthy all year, he's going to put up some sick board and block numbers. But if Ford takes one bad fall, his career could be over. And Nene has been so quietly healthy it was probably the perfect time to sell high on him. And it was time for me to sell high on Oden before he gets hurt again. Doug wanted Oden on his team (Portland based league) and had to pay to get him after he posted those two big lines over the weekend. But had he acted when Oden was in a walking boot, my asking price would have probably been much lower. It will be interesting to see which one of those players goes down first and how this trade works out for us. Pleasure doin' business with you, Doug. Maybe.

[Hache Man]

Houston, We Have A False Alarm
It seemed to me that there were several things happening on Tuesday night that deserve attention and most of them have to do with guys we consider "stars."

I'll use the word "star" pretty loosely here, as I'm pretty sure that it could be argued that Kevin Garnett and Brandan Wright are stars, but clearly on two different levels. Anyway, let's get to it.
www.bostonceltics.ws
Missing Stars – Part 1

Kevin Garnett, Jose Calderon, Al Horford, Jason Richardson, Michael Redd, Mike Dunleavy, Mickael Pietrus, Kevin Martin

These guys were all out on Tuesday, and while some of them give owners nothing to worry about, some of them are becoming big concerns.

Garnett was out with a one-game suspension, so cross him off the list. He's fine, except for the fact that his numbers aren't quite where we hoped they would be this season. Calderon missed last night's game, but his hamstring injury doesn't really sound too serious and he should be back soon. Hopefully, tonight in Miami, although he's listed as a game-time decision. Pietrus has a rib injury but is not expected to miss any more time and Kevin Martin is due back by the end of the week with his ankle injury.
www.sacramentokings.ws
That leaves Horford, Richardson, Redd and Dunleavy. Horford left last night's game after spraining his ankle just after tip off. He walked off under his own power and has yet to miss an NBA game in his short career. But if he's out, both the Hawks and most of my fantasy teams are in trouble. The Hawks will turn to Zaza Pachulia, Solomon Jones, Mo Evans and Othello Hunter to help stop the bleeding, but if you saw what Rasho Nesterovic and Troy Murphy did to the Hawks' interior last night, things are in dire straits without Horford and Josh Smith around. Hopefully Horford is able to go tonight against the Wizards.

Richardson's knee is in pain but he's still not expected to miss much time. I don't expect to see him this week and he's probably not a great play for the next one either, but he should be back on the court before too long. Redd should return by the end of the weekend, but remains day-to-day with his high ankle sprain. Hopefully you can count on him for next week.

And that leaves us with Dunleavy, who for all I know may not even still live in this country. I don't know if or when he'll play this season. I don't know if he's going to have knee surgery. I don't know if he's going to be any good when he does finally return to work. And I'm guessing the reason there's hardly any information coming out of Indy is that no one there knows either. But if you own him and have been holding on this long, it doesn't make much sense to cut bait now. That would be like spending two hours in line at the crack of dawn the day after Thanksgiving to get a cheap iPod and then bailing out five minutes before the doors open because you got cold. I know it's pretty painful stuff, but just hang in there. Update: I hear we actually have something on Dunleavy this morning. Two straight days of workouts, draining 3-pointers at will. Maybe we're getting close?

Missing Stars – Part 2

T.J. Ford, Emeka Okafor and four teammates, Andrew Bogut, Jason Kidd, Shawn Marion, Jamal Crawford, Carmelo Anthony, J.R. Smith, Luol Deng, LaMarcus Aldridge, Brad Miller, Spencer Hawes

The previous list of Missing Stars was guys who didn't play. This list is of guys who played, but you might not be able to tell from the box score because they were so bad.

Ford, Crawford, Deng (guarding Kobe Bryant) and Brad Miller all had an off night and I have no real concerns at this point. However, we just learned that Ford was bothered by a neck injury and dizziness after contact with Derrick Rose on Saturday. Ford played, which is good news, but given Ford's history with his neck, this is pretty disturbing news. Keep your fingers crossed if you own him.

We already know that Marion's numbers are consistently down, so his 12 points and nine boards is probably a good thing. Kidd's scoring is going to be down and he's going to be inconsistent this season, but still no real long-term concerns.

But the Bobcats starting five scored a whopping total of 26 points last night. Okafor has been one of the most disappointing players of the season and I'm sure he's partly to blame. But Larry Brown has a serious hand in this one as well. My guess is that Okafor's nothing more than a defensive stopper in Larry's mind. Okafor played solid D on Dwight Howard last night, but he's a much better player than we're getting to see this season. I don't know if he'll get it turned around as long as Larry's there, but he is under contract and you have to think Michael Jordan would like to see him emerge as a star. I'm not giving up all hope, but Larry's fantasy impact is being felt by anyone who owns a Bobcat – but especially by Okafor's owners. If he goes on a tear, sell high on him.

Bogut somehow picked up four fouls and four turnovers in just 16 minutes, but it's OK because he was matched up against…wait, Nene? I had no idea that Nene was such a defensive stopper and presence – and that's probably because he's not. Bogut was showing signs of turning it around but obviously didn't come to play last night. Hopefully, it was just a fluke. And if you're like me and own both Okafor and Bogut on the same team, I feel your pain. If you're looking for a reason that your team is not getting it done, you probably don't need to look any farther than your starting centers. I'm keeping the faith on Bogut, but am not so sure about Okafor.

That leaves us with Carmelo Anthony, J.R. Smith, LaMarcus Aldridge and Spencer Hawes. Melo and Smith have not taken over the Nuggets' offense as they were expected to do at the start of the season. In fact, the numbers say Melo is worth nothing more than a sixth-round pick thus far, and the fact he took just 10 shots last night is disturbing. I find it humorous that Allen Iverson gets all this grief for being such a ball hog, yet Melo and Smith clearly were more effective (and open) with AI around. Melo will turn it around and be fine. He just has to. And Smith? He could be that guy this season – the one who goes off when he's on your bench and turns invisible when he's in your lineup. I will eventually be ready to admit defeat and give up on Smith, but that day is probably still several weeks out.

Aldridge has not looked good ever since Mr. Oden showed up. And things looked really bad last night, as LA fouled out in just 20 minutes after missing 5-of-7 shots. And that was against the worst defense in the league. Aldridge may have to learn how to play with Oden, but he's clearly better than this. If you want to trade him, I don't think it's a bad idea, but wait until he looks like he knows how to play again before moving him. And Hawes? Not sure what gives there. He hit 7-of-7 shots for 14 points, but played just 19 minutes. He was in some foul trouble, but after being very consistent to start the year, he has been up and down in his last four. I like him and he still has fantasy value, but I hope you sold high when you had the chance.

Missing (sort of) Stars – Part 3

Andrea Bargnani, JaVale McGee, Brandan Wright, Michael Beasley, Darrell Arthur

OK. These guys are clearly not "stars." But if you read Rotoworld, you might think they should be. The numbers on all these guys were pretty disappointing yesterday but three of them are fine.

Don Nelson is probably going to bounce Wright in and out of the rotation all season and I think he should be dropped if you're holding him. He's going to have some nice games, but Nellie clearly doesn't think he's ready. And Arthur is starting, but it's Hakim Warrick getting the production and major minutes at PF for Memphis. Arthur can also be dropped if you want to pick someone up.

Beasley just had an off night and will struggle occasionally, as most rookies do. Bargnani and McGee are the two lightning rods here, as I've been talking them up like they're the next Bird and Kareem. They probably aren't that, but Bargnani got in some foul trouble last night and struggled. The key is that Jamario Moon is clearly out of the rotation (for now) and saw just 13 minutes. Give Bargnani at least a week or so to see how this goes. If he fails, my guess is Jason Kapono is next in line for the SF job, but Sam Mitchell says he wants to give Bargnani time to get it going. And while McGee's numbers weren't very good last night, he played 28 minutes and there's talk this morning of him becoming a starter. He should feast on a depleted Hawks' front line tonight, so I'll be disappointed if he doesn't. I'm not dropping either Bargnani or McGee in any leagues right now. Keep the faith.

Surprising Stars

Anthony Morrow, Lamar Odom, D.J. Augustin, Rasho Nesterovic, Mario Chalmers, Brook Lopez, Hakim Warrick, Charlie Bell, Austin Croshere, Ramon Sessions, Dahntay Jones, Linas Kleiza, Tyrus Thomas, Greg Oden, Wilson Chandler

Every player above had a pretty big fantasy line last night. Morrow looks like the real deal after two games, although I guarantee that Nellie will back off him out of the blue at some point. Odom had a fantastic line, but keep in mind he did it in just 22 minutes before fouling out. Maybe he'll get it turned around, but I still don't trust him. If he's sitting on the waiver wire though? Why not grab him? I actually started Augustin in a couple leagues this week, but his value will drop when Richardson is healthy. Nesterovic blistered the Hawks and could be a valuable center if he stays healthy. Chalmers and Lopez look like they're on the upswing again and are available in many leagues. Josh Boone may have lost his starting job to Lopez, so give both rookies a look.

Bell, Jones and Kleiza all appeared to be flukes last night. Keep your eye on them, but don't rush out to pick them up. Sessions continues to perform off the bench for Scott Skiles, but if Skiles hasn't made him the starter yet, I'm still not sure he will. But you have to think we might be heading in that direction.

Ty Thomas played well last night, but I'm convinced it's going to be a very inconsistent season for him. I've still got him in several leagues, but have also let go where I need to. Weigh your options carefully and know that you might not be able to start him with confidence at all this season. Oden and Chandler were huge and should be owned/starting in every league.

Overly Dramatic Stars

Tracy McGrady, Yao Ming, Ron Artest

Oh, the drama. About 15 hours after declaring that he was "shutting it down," with a knee injury, T-Mac ran through a practice Tuesday, waved off an MRI and said he might play tonight. McGrady has been setting us up for the letdown all season, yet continues to play through the nagging injuries he can't seem to stop talking about. I don't know about you all, but I could do without the drama. Either you're hurt and you shut it down to get healthy, or you go out there and play the best that you can and not make excuses. Artest and Yao's injuries don't sound too serious either, so hopefully we'll see all three players on the court tonight. If I owned T-Mac in any league, I'd be selling high the next time he goes off.

Hopeful Stars

Deron Williams, Mehmet Okur, Chris Wilcox
www.utahjazz.ws
All three of these players could return from their injuries tonight, but we're still not sure. If I had to guess, I'd say Okur and Wilcox will play, while Williams will give his ankle one more day of rest.

Join Matt Stroup today at 3 p.m. for a live chat. I'll also be hosting my weekly Season Pass Live Chat at 1 p.m. on Friday for subscribers. See you there.

[Hache Man]

A Martian Sighting in Atlanta
In case you hadn't noticed, the Hawks were somewhat desperate for a win last night. After starting the season 6-0, they narrowly lost to Boston, then were flambéed twice by New Jersey and once by Indiana – not exactly the Eastern Conference's finest.

And in an urgent situation against a 1-7 Wizards team, something notable happened: Marvin Williams awakened.

Apparently, at some point prior to last night's game, someone reminded the promising fourth-year pro that you're supposed to play hard instead of just drifting around the perimeter. The result? 21 points, 14 boards, four assists, two steals, a block and a three.

Williams has frustrated a lot of fantasy owners this year, largely because everyone is aware of his yet-to-be fully harnessed talent. With Josh Smith and Al Horford sidelined by ankle injuries Wednesday, Williams harnessed it, and he's now up to 13.8 ppg, 6.0 rpg and 1.3 threes per game on the year. That's not bad, but when everyone is waiting for your breakout, not bad is not good enough.

With hopes that Marvin can summon that aggression in the weeks and months to come, here's a game-by-game look at all the action from Wednesday night:

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Wizards at Hawks
Speaking of statistical eruptions, Mike Bibby scored 25 in vintage Kings-era form… And, hours after he finished reading an old, weathered copy of Kate Chopin's The Awakening, Hawks backup center Zaza Pachulia rumbled onto the court and pulled down 18 rebounds. Keep in mind that the Georgia native (not in that sense) is not a long-term solution, and will have no value once Horford comes back… JaVale McGee started for Washington, but didn't do much against a porous Hawks D (five points, five boards). Give him a chance before you get hasty and drop him – there's a lot of potential here... Caron Butler (32 points, four threes, three steals) has now posted 27 or more points in four of his last seven.

Raptors at Heat
Jose Calderon (eight points, seven assists) has returned from Hamstringville… Jermaine O'Neal (16 points, 17 boards) has been more or less on fire. You should be, more or less, trying to deal him before he purchases a one-way ticket to Grointown… One night after he showed us "Bad Andrea," Raptors small forward Andrea Bargnani unleashed "Good Andrea" to the tune of 25 points, three treys and two blocks. He's close to putting it all together, but is still a threat for infuriating inconsistency… Speaking of inconsistency, Heat rookie PG Mario Chalmers has been doing a little "good game, stinky game" routine of his own. Last night it was time for stinky, but stick with him as long as he's getting minutes… Meanwhile, the world's premier fantasy player, Dwyane Wade (yes, I said it), scored 40 points with 11 assists and five blocks… Michael Beasley (seven points, four boards) got into foul trouble… And it was a memorable night for Shawn Marion, who proved that his injured groin and his flagging mojo are both functioning properly with a line of 20 points and 14 boards.

Pistons at Cavs
Rasheed Wallace apparently has no issue playing with Allen Iverson. He's now averaging 14.2 ppg after a 21-point, 15-board night on Wednesday… The same can't be said for Richard Hamilton (a quiet 15 points), but he should eventually break out… Tayshaun Prince has now scored 10 and nine points in the past two games, without hitting a three. He's still well worth owning, but his value may have already peaked… For Cleveland, Mo Williams' encouraging scoring burst continued (25 points), and his season average is now up to a Williams-esque 16.7 ppg.

Sixers at T-Wolves
Every part of Andre Iguodala's game looks good (17 points, nine boards, six assists), except for his shooting stroke – he hit just 1-of-6 threes and 4-of-9 free throws. He should "fix the glitch" eventually, at which point we'll finally see some trademark Iguodala… Elton Brand (19 points, 13 boards) is quietly close to being the player we expect him to be… Randy Foye got his starting job back, posting an understated 10 points, six assists and two blocks in 35 minutes. He was deferring a lot in this one, but should be more aggressive most nights.

Clippers at Thunder
Can Chris Kaman (25 points, 14 boards, six assists, four blocks) coexist with Marcus Camby (14 points, nine boards, four assists, two blocks)? Check… 20 points, seven boards and two threes for Al Thornton, who is showing subtle signs of diversifying his game to be more than just a scorer… Cuttino Mobley went for 23 points and seven steals, the sort of thing that happens when you play a terribly disheveled Thunder team… Speaking of the Thunder, it was rather ghastly all around. Kevin Durant (18 points, two threes) and Russell Westbrook (10 points, five boards, four assists) salvaged some production, while Jeff Green (nine points) struggled. Don't read into it – this was just a bad night for a young team.

Kings at Hornets
John Salmons (29 points, six assists), Beno Udrih (14 points, seven assists) and Brad Miller (14 points, eight boards, two steals and a three) are all locked into the lineup and getting it done just about every night. As for Salmons, I'm not concerned about the returns of Kevin Martin and Francisco Garcia affecting his value significantly. He's a big part of this offense no matter what… Spencer Hawes produced nine points, six boards, a three and a block in 28 minutes, and I remain confident that he'll continue to post useful numbers off the bench… For New Orleans, Peja Stojakovic's recent skid continued (seven points in 28 minutes). We've seen him go through isolated ugly stretches before, so he should break out of it soon.

Mavs at Rockets
With Josh Howard sidelined (he's day-to-day with an ankle injury), Jason Terry came up with 31 points and three steals off the bench, and is now up to 18.3 ppg and 1.8 steals on the year… For Houston, Yao Ming (foot) sat, while Tracy McGrady gutted it out through what was either significant or completely inconsequential knee discomfort for a less-than-extraordinary 16 points, one board, one assist, one steal and one block… Ron Artest played through an ankle sprain and was productive (14 points, 13 boards, two steals, two blocks), but hit just 3-of-8 from the line… And in a delightful development for Rafer Alston supporters everywhere, the struggling point guard had his best line of the year: 16 points, five boards, eight assists and no turnovers. Is he finally back? Maybe. Possibly. (Hopefully.)

Nuggets at Spurs
Chauncey Billups, Carmelo Anthony, Kenyon Martin and Nene were all good; J.R. Smith (five points, four assists in 25 minutes) was not. Owners are losing patience, but Smith deserves a few more games (on your bench) to figure it out… It was not a memorable night for San Antonio. I know this because rookie point guard George Hill led the Spurs with 20 points, and I've already forgotten that I wrote those words. Hill has been inconsistent in Tony Parker's absence, and should only be a consideration in deep leagues.

Bulls at Blazers
We shouldn't read too much into a 42-point Blazers win, but Greg Oden looked strong again (11 points, 10 boards, three blocks in just 17 minutes), while most other players' stats were adversely affected by the obscenely lopsided nature of this game… For instance, Rudy Fernandez (five points in 18 minutes) had a disappointing line, but the Blazers went deep into their bench and didn't need Fernandez to produce. You can safely discard most of the Blazers' performances… The same can also be said for the Bulls. Example: Derrick Rose (six points and one assist on 1-of-8 shooting) failed to hit double figures for the first time in his young career, while 37-year-old Lindsey Hunter played 18 minutes off the bench. Enough said.

Bucks at Jazz
If you ask me, this whole Andrew Bogut "slump" has been overblown. He's had a handful of bad lines this year, but he's mostly played at a high level, and last night (16 points, 20 boards) was his fourth big game in his last five. It's true that he's shooting a rotten free throw percentage, and his scoring, blocks and assists are slightly down from last year, but Bogut is still averaging 10.8 points, 10.5 boards and 1.2 blocks… Luke Ridnour (eight points, six assists) and Ramon Sessions (15 points, three assists) both did something, but not enough. These two are technically worth owning, but I'm not particularly eager to have any stake in this platoon right now… For the Jazz, Carlos Boozer had his fifth double-double in seven games, but also hurt his quad. We should have MRI results later today, and in the meantime, Paul Millsap (eight points, seven boards, five blocks) is mandatory insurance… Mehmet Okur struggled in his return, but should be fine… Andrei Kirilenko was terrific (16 points, seven steals, five steals, four blocks), and apparently someone gave C.J. Miles an increased dose of energy drink – the 21-year-old scored 25 points, giving him an average of 16.0 ppg over his last five. I still don't see Miles offering long-term value, and he's really only worth a flier in deep leagues. But if we could somehow determine what prompted his eruption (and that of Marvin Williams on Wednesday), then we'd really be onto something.

Tonight
Just two games on the docket this evening, with the Pistons in Boston, where Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince attempt to break out of small-scale slumps against one of the league's best D's, as Rajon Rondo looks to build on what was his best game of the year Tuesday night. In the late game, the Lakers are at Phoenix, and while the Kobe-Shaq feud is terribly played out, it will be fun to see what the semi-rejuvenated Big Cactus can do against his old team. At the same time, Lamar Odom observers everywhere will be engaging in the semi-torturous exercise of hoping that the embattled, second-string Laker can gather that always elusive quantity known as momentum.

[Hache Man]

Harrington's Homecoming?
There are plenty of big stories to talk about this morning, so let's dive right in. I'll be chatting live at 1 p.m. today right here with Season Pass subscribers. See you there.

Trade Winds Blowing Through the Garden

Golden State's Al Harrington, who is from Orange, New Jersey and was drafted by Donnie Walsh in Indy, appears to be heading to the Knicks, but there are varying reports about how he'll get there. It could be straight up for Malik Rose or Jamal Crawford, but the more likely scenario has him going to New York in a three-team deal that includes the Clippers. My guess would be that Zach Randolph would go the Warriors, Harrington, Tim Thomas and Cuttino Mobley would go to the Knicks and Jamal Crawford and Mardy Collins would go the Clippers. Update: But just after posting this, the Post's Marc Berman is suggesting that Randolph will go to the Clippers, which gives them a big logjam up front with Chris Kaman and Marcus Camby. Crawford appears to be heading to the Warriors, where he could hurt the value of guys like Anthony Morrow and Kelenna Azubuike, or start at point guard. Stay tuned.

Harrington to the Knicks is a perfect scenario if you own him, especially if Randolph is included in the deal. He would start at power forward for a very potent Mike D'Antoni offense. Z-Bo's value shouldn't change too much in Golden State, except that he would be playing for Nellie, which not the best news for his owners. And whether Crawford goes to L.A. or Oakland, he's still going to score and get minutes. Obviously, there will be a full dissection of the trade when it actually happens, but for now this is all we know. Bottom line: If Harrington was dropped in your league, pick him up immediately.

And on a non-fantasy related note, this move is big salary-wise for the Knicks, in that Harrington's contract expires before the summer of 2010, when LeBron and D-Wade become free agents.

This trade could also have some immediate (and negative) fantasy impacts if you own any of those players. The Clippers are at Philly, the Knicks are in Milwaukee and the Warriors host the Bulls on Friday. None of the traded players would play tonight, and the Clippers have a game on Saturday, too. I also read a report in Newsday that Harrington's back injury is a complete fabrication and was floated simply to justify getting him away from the team. If you own any of the aforementioned players, be prepared to bench them in daily leagues over the next few days if and when the trade becomes official.

Not Too Jazzed in Utah

The Jazz play the Spurs tonight, but it sounds like they'll do so without Deron Williams (ankle) and Carlos Boozer (quad) again. And given the fact the team has to turn right around and play again on Saturday, I wouldn't count on either of them for that one, either. I know that it's frustrating owning Williams right now, especially since he seemed like such a sure bet to be healthy all season. You really can't do anything with him right now other than sit him on your bench. If you do get a strong trade offer, consider moving him. But I am not sure it's possible to get fair value for him right now. One thing has become very clear though, and that's that he came back to early the first time. C.J. Miles, Ronnie Price, Andrei Kirilenko, Kosta Koufos and Paul Millsap should continue to play above their heads while these guys sit. As far as I know, Mehmet Okur will play, but he's obviously not at 100 percent, either. www.utahjazz.ws

Arenas Wants to Play Lottery

Gilbert Arenas is targeting a January return…sort of. Agent Zero is talking a big line about hitting the court in January and playing 40 minutes a night, although he's also said that if the playoffs were happening right now he could play. But he also hinted that he may not even bother if the Wizards are out of the playoff race in January or February, implying that he'd rather let the Wizards finish with a poor record and get a good draft pick then return and win a few meaningless games. This could just be a case of Gilbert being Gilbert, but this does nothing to restore my faith in Arenas being a fantasy option this season. I had no interest in drafting him (even in the 10th round) and I have no interest in obtaining him this season. Next year will be a different story, but the way things have gone for Agent Zero over the past 12 months, I will be surprised to see him play before the All-Star Break (which is in mid-February), and I'm not going to waste a valuable roster spot on him.

You Can't Go Home

Kevin Garnett will return to Minnesota for his first game since being traded to the Celtics. He was injured when the C's played the Wolves last season, but he'll be out there tonight. If he is inspired to beat Glen Taylor down a little further, KG could post a big line tonight. And as a KG owner, that would be a nice change, wouldn't it? Maybe he'll post a triple-double and we can use it to our advantage in moving him for a more productive player. At least he's healthy and consistent, but the C's have become somewhat of a fantasy nightmare between all the timesharing, ball sharing, winning by large margins, and only turning it on when they feel they need to. Oh well. www.bostonceltics.ws

Injury Notes

Atlanta's Al Horford is iffy for tonight's game against the Bobcats with a sprained ankle. Hopefully we'll have some news before that game starts. Jason Richardson is out for Charlotte and it looks like D.J. Augustin will start over Matt Carroll tonight. In addition, little-known big man Alexis Ajinca should start over Sean May. Don't rush out to pick Ajinca up, but keep your eye on him. I actually started Augustin in one league this week and will probably hold onto him. But he'll be a risky play once JR is back.

Yao Ming should play against the Wizards tonight, but how many minutes is anyone's guess. Speaking of this game, I'm still waiting for a full-blown JaVale McGee breakout, but I doubt it happens tonight against Yao. And the fact it didn't happen against the center-less Hawks on Wednesday does make me wonder if it will happen at all. But he's getting the minutes and is very fun to watch. You have to believe the numbers will follow at some point.

Kelenna Azubuike has missed two straight practices with a sprained ankle leaving his availability for tonight's game against the Bulls up in the air. My guess is the Bulls will be without Luol Deng again, as he recovers from a groin injury, but we should know more later today.

Mickael Pietrus is expected to play against the Pacers tonight after missing his last game with a rib injury.

Josh Howard got good news on his wrist injury but still may not be able to go tonight against the Grizzlies. Gerald Green has been starting in his place but hasn't exactly been tearing it up. www.dallasmavericks.ws

Mikki Moore is out for the Kings and it sounds like Donte Greene could get another start tonight. Kevin Martin's comeback sounds delayed by another week and it's unclear when he'll be back. Just keep him reserved if you own him. Jason Thompson and Spencer Hawes will still have inflated value for as long as Kev-Mart and Moore are out. www.sacramentokings.ws

Thursday Duds

What looked like a couple of stellar matchups on Thursday turned out to be some pretty boring hoops. Maybe you chose to watch my boy Big Ben and the Steelers instead – that is if you could find a place with the NFL Network. And Big Ben is not really my boy, but he posted a nice fantasy line for one of my football teams.

Anyway, the Celtics are clearly rolling right now and stopped the Pistons dead in their tracks in a yawner. This game was a fantasy disaster as only four Pistons hit double figures in scoring, while Paul Pierce managed just nine points for the C's. Rajon Rondo had a nice line, but other than that, there wasn't much here to be excited about. www.bostonceltics.ws

The Lakers took out the Suns with Kobe Bryant leading the way. Pau Gasol scored just four points but added nine boards and nine dimes, while Vladimir Radmanovic hit all five of his 3-pointers in the win. Lamar Odom had 13 points and nine boards and is coming on a little bit lately. But a little bit of LO is just not enough for fantasy owners. I'm not sure he's cuttable, but he's definitely in David Lee territory, meaning he's a very risky play from day to day.

Steve Nash got just nine shots last night, hitting three of them, for eight points and 10 assists. Who would have thought that drafting Nash, Deron or Kidd would be such a painful experience this season? At least Kidd's producing in most categories and Nash is playing. If you own Nash, shop him and see what kind of value he'll bring back. But my guess is that you won't get much good news on that front and it might just be easier to hold onto him. Maybe he'll eventually talk Terry Porter into running, but that's doubtful. You also have to wonder how long it will take Amare Stoudemire to start voicing his displeasure with the new system.

Enjoy the games tonight and good luck with the Harrington trade fallout. It should be an interesting weekend.

[Hache Man]

Bombs Away!
Welcome to The Week Ahead. The information below is relevant for Week Five in the NBA—Monday, November 24th through Sunday the 30th. Teams are listed in order of games played, starting with the lowest. That is particularly helpful for leagues with weekly lineups...for everyone else there are quick hits galore. Read on!

Also...if you haven't subscribed to Rotoworld's NBA Season Pass, what are you waiting for! It is chock-full of exclusive columns, updated rankings, customizable roster reports, schedule grids and everything else you need to dominate your league.

Three-game teams: Hawks, Celtics, Bulls, Mavericks, Pistons, Clippers, Lakers, Timberwolves, Hornets, Knicks, Raptors, Wizards

Four-game teams: Bobcats, Cavaliers, Nuggets, Warriors, Rockets, Pacers, Grizzlies, Heat, Bucks, Nets, Thunder, Magic, 76ers, Suns, Trail Blazers, Spurs, Kings, Jazz


Three-game teams:

Knicks
The most important factor for the Knicks this week is the fallout from the Jamal Crawford-for-Al Harrington trade. Right now it's hard to predict exactly what will happen because all the pieces are not yet in place. Zach Randolph might still be traded (to the Mavericks or, more likely, to the Clippers), which would probably mean Harrington starts right away. His back injury is widely believed to be a sham designed to plausibly keep him inactive, so hopefully he'll be active as soon as the deal is finalized. Nate Robinson seems like a big winner in this trade so far --already posting solid stats, he could concievably move into the starting lineup at shooting guard. The problem there is A) that gives NY a small backcourt, B) Robinson has been very effective off the bench, and C) it's possible that Cuttino Mobley (or another shooting guard) will be acquired in a deal for Randolph. Wilson Chandler could move to small forward, shifting Quentin Richardson to shooting guard or to the bench...again, there are so many variables that it's best to just stay glued to RW for breaking news on the trades and their fallout.

Hawks
After a high-flying start to the season, injuries have clipped the Hawks' wings. Josh Smith's sprained ankle has improved and he is now listed as day-to-day...great news for his owners, but he's still a very risky start this week. Al Horford is a game-time decision on Friday, so check his status again this weekend before making any final determinations. Unfortunately, even with Smith and Horford both sidelined, the Hawks aren't offering any substitute big men with reliable value. Zaza Pachulia blew up for 18 rebounds and four assists on Wednesday, but scored just four points on 1-of-4 shooting...he's a risky start on Friday, and with Smith and Horford on the verge of returning, I'd avoid him in a three-game Week 5. Marvin Williams' had a breakout game on Wednesday (21 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, two steals and one block) and should be steady all season -- just don't expect huge lines once Smith and Horford are both back. One bonus stat...Williams is shooting an unbelievable 57% from downtown, and has scored in double figures in nine consecutive games.

Celtics
The Celtics are pretty much maintaining the status quo, sitting atop the Atlantic division with a tidy 11-2 record. The starting five still has consistent value, but the bench is tough to rely on in fantasy leagues. Kendrick Perkins is averaging 2.1 blocks per game, but just 7.5 rebounds and 46% free throw shooting (fortunately he only attempts 1.7 per game). Tony Allen is averaging under 20 minutes per game and won't have value in average leagues while Paul Pierce and Ray Allen are both healthy. www.bostonceltics.ws

Bulls
The Bulls suffered an embarrasing loss to the Trail Blazers on Thursday, getting into garbage time early and posting one of the worst team-wide fantasy nights of the season. Fortunately, there is much to be optimistic about. Ben Gordon has been great since entering the starting lineup, outside of a few rough shooting nights, and neither Thabo Sefolosha nor Larry Hughes are legitimately challenging him for the starting gig. Hughes recently complained about his playing time (just under 19 minutes per game) and most owners probably wish he had never returned from his shoulder injury. Avoid him and Sefolosha, if at all possible. Keep a close eye on Andres Nocioni -- his points fluctuate, but he's getting a steady 25 minutes per game and hits enough three-pointers to keep around in most leagues. The Bulls frontcourt rotation is still a tired old carousel, spinning faster and faster without going anywhere, huge men climbing on only to jump off moments later, carnival music blaring and maniacal horses laughing as they bob up and down on their worn brass poles. Actually that's just a recurring nightmare I used to have, but you get the point (maybe). Drew Gooden is mediocrity incarnate (his sub-30 minutes aren't helping), Tyrus Thomas has been plain awful (impressive steals and blocks notwithstanding...he's shooting 29% from the field) and Joakim Noah hasn't scored in double-figures all season. Aaron Gray has played 20+ minutes in two straight games, but is hardly worth mentioning. Also keep in mind Luol Deng is battling a groin injury and isn't a sure thing for next week...hopefully he'll play on Friday and give us more confidence.

Mavericks
The Mavs are rumored to be involved in the Zach Randolph sweepstakes, but it doesn't sound likely that he'll end up in Dallas. Josh Howard's injured wrist has healed, only to be followed by an injured ankle. X-rays showed no structural damage, so he is day-to-day and should be used with caution this week...check back soon for an update. Gerald Green is dealing with a sore back, but even when starting he's not getting enough minutes to be worth owning in average leagues. Jason Terry continues to alternate between starting and coming off the bench, but is producing almost equally in both roles. Jason Kidd has been putting up impressive numbers everywhere but the scoring column...unfortunately his 45% shooting and 2.5 steals per game are probably too good to be true. www.dallasmavericks.ws

Pistons
The Pistons are still adjusting to the presence of Allen Iverson and the new offensive mentality he brings...not to mention Tayshaun Prince's transistion to a point-forward. Prince should have increased fantasy value for the rest of the season, though Rip Hamilton has taken a step backwards on offense without Billups delivering the ball exactly where Rip likes it as he motors his way around the court. He'll get back on track, but will have fewer 20-point nights than in the past. Amir Johnson's run as a sleeper has officially ended, while Kwame Brown's move into the starting lineup makes him an intriguing, but dubious, source of rebounds and blocks. Brown is not playing anywhere near 30 minutes a game, so feel free to ignore him unless you're in a deep league. Rodney Stuckey continues to struggle and is safe to cut...he's shooting 38% from the field and has made one three-pointer all season.

Clippers
The Clippers' bid to acquire Zach Randolph could change things in a hurry. The proposed deal would be Randolph for Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas. Such a deal would immediately improve the prospects of Ricky Davis and Eric Gordon, so keep an eye on both. It would also complicate the frontcourt rotation. Would Randolph start, moving Marcus Camby to the bench? That seems like the most likely result, as Camby is capable of filling in at both power forward and center. One interesting aside (disclaimer: this is purely speculation) is that this gives L.A. more freedom to explore trades involving Chris Kaman. If, for instance, they moved Kaman to the Bobcats (who covet him, as they desperately need a true center) for Gerald Wallace, they would still have a reliable frontcourt. But that's all speculation, as I said. For now...Baron Davis is struggling (36% shooting, 1.8 steals per game) and has to be getting more frustrated by the day...hopefully he'll continue to play like the playoffs are a realistic possibility. UPDATE: The Randolph trade is official.

Lakers
The Lakers depth appears to be hurting their fantasy value...let's start with Kobe Bryant. Compared to last season, Kobe is averaging fewer minutes (from 39 to 34), points (28 to 24), three-pointers (1.8 to 1.0), FT attempts (9.1 to 7.2), rebounds (6.3 to 5.1) and assists (5.4 to 3.9). That's obviously a big concern for his owners, and with the Lakers record at 9-1, there's no reason to think it will change any time soon. Pau Gaol is averaging a team-high 35 minutes per game and has been one of the Lakers steadiest fantasy players. Andrew Bynum's 2.8 blocks per game are anchoring his value, but owners need more than 10.7 points and 8.7 rebounds in 29 minutes. He shot 64% from the field in an abbreviated season last year, and I'm anticipating a huge second half of the season for Bynum. Lamar Odom is showing signs of life as he adjusts to his bench role, but will remain inconsistent while coming off the bench. Derek Fisher and Vladimir Radmanovic are deep-league specials, both contibuting little more than solid three-point totals.

Timberwolves
The Timberwolves are a pretty thin team from a fantasy perspective. Al Jefferson has been rock solid, as expected, averaging 22.6 points on 52% shooting, 10.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.7 blocks. Mike Miller has been efficient (52% field goals, 43% from downtown) but a few more field goal attempts wouldn't hurt (averaging 9.4 per game). Randy Foye has resumed starting, so hopefully you didn't cut him for (forgettable) Sebastian Telfair. Foye's 36% shooting hasn't won him many admirers, but he'll pick it up before long -- in the meantime, his 3.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists allow him to eke out some value. Beyond that the T-Wolves are a fantasy grab-bag...Ryan Gomes, Kevin Love and Corey Brewer are the only other players averaging more than 20 minutes, and none of them are scoring 10 points per game. Hang onto Love if you want to, but I'm unconvinced that he'll surface with much more value than he's shown thus far.

Hornets
Chris Paul is still justifying all those owners who picked him number one overall, averaging a ridiculous 20.7 points on 50% field goals and 86% free throws, 5.0 rebounds, 11.9 assists and 3.1 steals. The scary part is that those numbers could actually improve once the Hornets offense kicks into high gear, which it hasn't yet (reflected in their disappointing 5-5 record). David West's rebounds and blocks are both down from last season, making him a decent buy-low candidate. Peja Stojakovic is shooting a career low 37% from the field...he'll get better as the season wears on, but his lack of versatility and history of injuries is enough to keep me away. James Posey started the season on fire but has since cooled off -- consider him a bottom-rung option suitable for threes, a few steals and not much else.

Raptors
Chris Bosh's season averages say more than I ever could -- 26 points per game on 54% field goals and 81% free throws, 11 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.9 blocks per game. He won't need a goofy YouTube video to earn him an All-Star appearance this season. Jermaine O'Neal has been rebounding and blocking shots at a high level, but clearly isn't the offensive player he once was. He lacks explosion around the rim, and Raptors fans lament the fact that he seems to be constantly having his shot blocked by more athletic big men. Jose Calderon is back from his hamstring injury...maybe not 100% healthy, but as long as he's starting for the Raptors he should be starting for your team. Andrea Bargnani's move into the starting five gives him obvious fantasy value, though beware his relentless inconsistency. There's also a rumor that the Raptors offered Bargnani to the Warriors for Al Harrington, so a trade isn't outside the realm of possibility. Jamario Moon's value was crushed by his demotion to the bench -- I was optimistic that he could sustain value as a reserve, but he's not the sixth-man and should be cut in most leagues at this point.

Wizards
The Wizards two veterans, Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison, are as steady as their owners can ask for...unfortunately for Washington, that's about the only thing they've got going right now. Even coach Eddie Jordan seems to admit that his team doesn't have the talent to compete right now. He recently shifted rookie center JaVale McGee into the starting lineup, hoping for some sort of spark. McGee had five points, five rebounds and zero blocks in his first start, but has enough potential to be worth stashing on your bench. Etan Thomas didn't have value in the first place, so go ahead and forget about him. Nick Young is solid but limited off the bench...there's really not much to talk about in Washington right now. Oh yeah, Gilbert Arenas said recently that he will return in early January, and should be ready to play 40 minutes per game. Uh huh, sure.

Four-game teams:
Warriors
Hello, three-pointers! The Warriors just traded for the highest-volume three-point shooter in the NBA, so get ready. What this means for Golden State's rotation isn't quite clear...though Anthony Morrow moving to the bench is the most likely result. Expect Crawford and Stephen Jackson to split duties at point guard, with Andris Biedrins continuing his domination as the Warriors only legitimate big man. Kelenna Azubuike is battling in mildly sprained knee—he is questionable for Friday's game, so double-check his status before using him next week.

Bobcats
Simply put, the Bobcats are a mess. Leading scorer Jason Richardson is still out following "minor" exploratory knee surgery. He should be back sometime next week, but there are no guarantees, so keep him sidelined. Neither Adam Morrison nor Matt Carroll had done much in J-Rich's absence, so don't expect them to have any value once he gets back. D.J. Augustin has been promoted to the starting lineup, though I imagine that once Richardson returns Augustin will go back to the bench. Nevertheless, he's worth watching very closely as he's obviously a favorite of coach Larry Brown. Alexis Ajinca has also been named a starter, but it's too soon to make any declarations about his value, or lack thereof. Sean May isn't in shape, and won't be any time soon...hopefully he's not owned in many, or any, leagues right now. One intriguing possibility is the Bobcats trading for a center (as I write this, the Clippers trade for Zach Randolph has become official…could deal for Chris Kaman be far behind?), which would move Emeka Okafor to power forward. Stay tuned.

Cavaliers
As usual, it's the LeBron show in Cleveland...though nowadays every amazing performance is followed by a round of questions about his future free agency. All owners need to know is that LeBron the shooting a career-high 77% from the free throw line…everything else is automatic. Mo Williams is starting to get comfortable—though still sporting a lousy assist-to-turnover ratio (4.7-to-2.9), he's made 96.8% of his free throws and is averaging 2.0 three pointers per game. Delonte West continues to be solid at shooting guard, making Sasha Pavlovic and Wally Szczerbiak irrelevant in the process. Ben Wallace is fine if all you need is a few rebounds (7.2), steals (1.1) and blocks (1.7).

Nuggets
Though unsurprising, Chauncey Billups' production has barely changed since joining the Nuggets. His assists are down slightly but should improve as he becomes comfortable in the system. What is surprising is Denver's sudden emphasis on defense. It is negatively impacting J.R. Smith, as Smith's aggravated owners are well aware...Dahntay Jones is a superior defender and is unlikely to surrender his starting job to the spotty defense of Smith any time soon. Hang in there if you can, since Smith didn't get hot until the second half of last season, but if you have to cut him loose it's understandable. Linas Kleiza posted a big line last Tuesday (25 points on 5-of-9 field goals and 13-of-15 free throws), but is too unreliable for use in most leagues.

Rockets
The 'Great Injury Scare of Week 4' has passed without incident, though Yao Ming missed a game and Tracy McGrady's owners were reminded why they were able to land him in the sixth round. There aren't too many unknowns in Houston—Rafer Alston is still the starting point guard and Aaron Brooks is too poor a play-maker to replace him. Luis Scola and Carl Landry continue to trade off decent nights, though Scola clearly has the edge in production. Ron Artest is shooting a horrendous 34% from the field, bound to improve (if only slightly). T-Mac recently complained about not getting enough touches on offense...this just a few days after claiming his knee was "back to square one" and that he needed to "shut it down" until further notice. Yeah, give that guy an increased workload.

Pacers
T.J. Ford posted his worst line of the season on Tuesday, shooting 3-of-10 from the field with two rebounds and two assists. It was revealed later that he was recovering from dizziness after being hit in the head by Derrick Rose, causing his neck to snap back. That's very scary for Ford's owners, who are acquainted with his medical condition that causes a narrowing of the spine. Fortunately, it sounds like he'll be fine going forward. Big news on the Mike Dunleavy front -- we finally got word that he has been working out and looks healthy, with plenty of lift when he jumps. Hopefully that knee injury won't linger throughout the season, but his owners would be thrilled just to see him on the court. The Pacers have toned down their small-ball approach, running the offense through the big men at times, resulting in some nice lines for Rasho Nesterovic, Troy Murphy and Jeff Foster...expect each of those guys to have big nights followed by duds. www.indianapacers.ws

Grizzlies
Rudy Gay is starting to rediscover his jumpshot, which is terrific news for his owners. It looks like he's figuring out how to co-exist with fellow scorer O.J. Mayo. Marc Gasol is steady but, as I said last week, his monster line from early in the season looks like a fluke. Hakim Warrick had his first 20 & 10 game of the season last week, but beware his notorious inconsistency. I think he'll overtake rookie Darrell Arthur for the starting job before long, but could be wrong. Arthur is averaging just 6.6 points on 38% shooting, but is getting it done in the hustle department, racking up 6.6 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.5 blocks in just 23 minutes per game. Neither Mike Conley nor Kyle Lowry has stepped up to command 30+ minutes at point guard, leaving owners to grasp at straws and hope that Conley figures out how to be aggressive (or at least how to make more than 1/3 of his shots).

Heat
Mario Chalmers has started to fade, thanks largely to the strong play of Chris Quinn off the bench. Quinn is shooting 53% from downtown, making 1.8 treys per game in just 22 minutes...useful as a specialist, especially in deeper leagues. Shawn Marion has shown signs of increased productivity, mainly on the offensive end. It looks like Miami is making a concentrated effort to involve him more, great news for his owners. Michael Beasley's production has dropped dramatically in the past few games, and his owners have real cause for concern—not only is he getting into foul trouble, coach Eric Spoelstra has routinely benched him in the fourth quarter because Beasley, simply put, is not a good defender. It might be too late to sell-high, but it's worth a shot.

Bucks
Michael Redd seems like he's been day-to-day with an ankle injury for the past month. Yes, he is still day-to-day...and no, I don't know if that means he'll actually play this week. Charlie Villanueva (hamstring) is also day-to-day, giving Luc Richard Mbah a Moute another chance to be a strong contributor. The Prince has struggled with his FG% lately, shooting a miserable 20-of-59 in the last six games. For a while he was leading all rookies in FG%, so I'm not convinced that he's a chronic brick-layer just yet. Charlie Bell and Ramon Sessions have each posted nice lines in the past few weeks, but are stepping on each others' toes when it comes to playing time...the return of Redd will only make it that much worse, so don't rely on either guy in the long-term.

Nets
If Josh Boone doesn't return from his ankle injury soon, rookie Brook Lopez may very well supplant him as the every-day starter. Boone was inconsistent and a horrible FT shooter to begin with, so don't hesitate to cut him loose. There isn't much to get excited about in NJ...Vince Carter and Devin Harris are keeping the team competitive, Yi Jianlian plays well in spurts and Jarvis Hayes and Bobby Simmons are essentially worthless in fantasy leagues. Ryan Andersen has been efficient (1.3 three pointers on 63% from downtown) and should be watched very closely...any increase in playing time could give him value in average leagues.

Thunder
Wednesday's 20-point blowout loss to the Clippers showed just how bad the Thunder really are, and no help is on the way. It's almost depressing seeing the supportive, enthusiastic OKC crowds quieted by their own team's ineptitude. Kevin Durant hasn't (yet) blossomed into the roto-stud many were predicting, and Jeff Green is still walking the fine line between versatile contributor and inconsistent headache. The frontcourt is still a mess of minute-shares, and we're biding our time until Russell Westbrook takes over full-time for Earl Watson. Hopefully it'll happen sooner rather than later.

Magic
If you want to buy-low on Hedo Turkoglu or Rashard Lewis, it's not too late. Both guys are still shooting under 40%, a trend bound to reverse itself before long. Mickael Pietrus has been productive in just 27 minutes per game (14.5 points, 1.9 three pointers, 3.8 rebounds), but he won't continue to make 89% of his free throws or 50% of his field goals over the course of a season. Orlando's backup shooting guard continues to be irrelevant, whether it's Keith Bogans, Courtney Lee or J.J. Redick.

76ers
Not much new in Philadelphia, though they are at least starting to win some games. Samuel Dalembert's owners had a scare recently when Mo Cheeks severely reduced his playing time for a lack of effort, but Sammy bounced back with a strong 13 point, 16 rebound effort and looks to have righted the ship. Keep a close eye on his health, however, as he's been battling swelling and soreness in his knee since training camp. Lou Williams is struggling this season. He claims to have never experienced a shooting slump before, but he's definitely in one now—shooting just 36% from the field 26% from downtown in 18 minutes per game. Keep an eye on him in deep leagues, because he's a better shooter than that and the Sixers consider him a key to having a successful season.

Suns
Shaq has had occasional dominant games, balanced out by nights of abysmal FT shooting and sudden DNPs. Amare hasn't come close to recapturing the glory of his 49-point exposion. Steve Nash is having a sub-par season and is now dealing with back pain...keep a close eye on his status over the weekend. Matt Barnes is solid but needs closer to 32 minutes per game to be a great option. Grant Hill is clearly on the decline, and only has occasional flashes of value, mostly when Barnes was sidelined. Leandro Barbosa has missed the past four games after the death of his mother...he had just begun to heat up, so don't cut him yet.

Blazers
Greg Oden has finally emerged with a few big games, giving his owners what they were hoping for on draft day...rebounds, blocks and lots of entertainment in the process. His return partially explains the struggles of LaMarcus Aldridge, but not entirely. Aldridge is a career 48% shooter but he's shooting below 44% this season. He is a career 74% free throw shooter, but his shooting just 63% this season. His points have dipped as a consequence, as have his rebounds, despite playing the same amount of minutes. He's far too talented for these struggles to persist, so target him as a buy-low option while the opportunity still exists.

Spurs
Manu is back! Well, almost...he has resumed practicing and hopes to return as soon as Monday. Check RW this weekend for the latest updates. George Hill has had a few nice games with Tony Parker sidelined, but Jacque Vaughn is a threat to his minutes and neither guy is a sure bet, even in a four-game week. The Spurs continue to juggle their starting lineup, but regardless of who starts, Bruce Bowen and Ime Udoka don't have value in average leagues. Michael Finley can be used in a pinch, but only if you're getting desperate.

Kings
The Kings are another team with the fluid starting lineup, thanks to Kevin Martin's ankle injury. Donte Greene played well in his first NBA start, and is expected to start again on Friday. Just don't think that he'll have long-term value...Kevin Martin is day-to-day and will displace him immediately upon his return. Jason Thompson has been a revelation in the starting five, and could very well keep his starting gig even after Mikki Moore returns from his ankle injury. Spencer Hawes is playing great in limited minutes off the bench, but should only resume starting if Brad Miller gets hurt or traded. A trade isn't out of the question later in the season (once the Kings' have lost enough games to rule out the playoffs), so don't give up on Hawes. www.sacramentokings.ws

Jazz
If you're staying afloat despite Deron Williams' lingering ankle injury, congratulations. He is day-to-day, but it's hard to say when exactly he'll be able to return. Keep him sidelined next week unless some positive news breaks this weekend. Carlos Boozer is the latest injured player, and he is also day-to-day with a quad injury. Mehmet Okur put up a dud in his first game back from a personal leave, but it's safe to plug him into your lineups for the week ahead...I guarantee he won't go 0-of-3 in 20 minutes again. Finally there is the emergence of Andrei Kirilenko, whose pesky defense earned the Jazz a win over the Bucks last week. I'm leery of what happens to his value once Deron Williams returns, but for now he's playing like the AK-47 of old. www.utahjazz.ws

Phew...that's all I've got for now! Check RW this weekend, because late-breaking injuries and trades can drastically change the fantasy landscape overnight, as we all know too well. Good luck this week!

[Hache Man]

All About Bargnani!
I've gotten some feedback that some of you liked the old format of Waiver Wired from last year, so I'm going that way this week. We'll see how it goes and try to come up with something that works for everyone. The new one was a "blast" approach that hit on almost any possible free agent out there, and ranked in order. The old approach hits less players, but provides some detailed analysis, which is how we're going to do this today.

Most of these players have been featured as the Pickup of the Day in the Season Pass, so check it out if you haven't already.

Guards

D.J. Augustin, Bobcats

The secret may already be out of the bag on Augustin after he drained seven 3-pointers on Friday night. But just because he's being picked up in every league right now, doesn't mean he won't be available again at some point in the future. Jason Richardson is coming back at some point from knee surgery and Raymond Felton is still, at least for now, the starting point guard. Add in the fact that Larry Brown is his coach, and Augustin remains quite a mystery going forward. But we do know the talent is there and we also know that Richardson's not recovering from his scope as quickly as he'd hoped. While it's still hard to believe the Bobcats took Augustin over Brook Lopez in the draft (as they still don't have an acceptable starting center), it now looks like they picked a great player. If he's available in your league, grab him and hope that he eventually replaces Felton as the starting point guard. But don't expect him to put up great numbers on a nightly basis once Richardson returns.

Larry Hughes, Bulls

Hughes got off to a hot start on Friday and went off, hitting five treys on his way to 26 points, four boards, four assists, a steal and a block in a win at Golden State. Like Augustin, Hughes benefited from the absence of a starter as Luol Deng sat out with a hamstring injury. The difference is that coach Vinny Del Negro was already talking about starting Hughes at shooting guard. It's still unknown if Hughes will actually start or not, and I vaguely remember mentioning that I would never own him again after his inconsistent campaign last year. But Hughes deserves attention and a pick up if you need a guard. Especially if he's going to be starting alongside Derrick Rose all year.

Russell Westbrook, Thunder

I love this kid and the news we posted around 3:30 a.m. on Saturday morning about his coach (P.J. Carlesimo) being fired is pretty interesting for Westbrook. I have no idea if Scott Brooks has any interest in starting the rookie, nor do I know if he's been instructed by ownership to start him. But there is a chance that one or both are true. Westbrook has the potential to kill your team's field goal percentage, but he does everything else pretty well. He's got triple-double potential, hits threes and steals the ball, and should be picked up in all leagues. At least until we find out what his role will be under the new regime.

Ramon Sessions, Bucks

Sessions got 40 minutes on Saturday when Luke Ridnour went down with a knee injury and has clearly been outplaying Ridnour all season, despite coming off the bench. With Ridnour going down, Sessions could be ready to go on a serious run, although it can be argued that he's already been on one. I'm still not sure Scott Skiles is ready to make Sessions his starter when Luke is healthy, but it would seem to make sense. Any way you slice it, Sessions should be owned in all leagues, especially with Ridnour iffy for the upcoming week. And it should also be noted that he's seen some extra minutes with Michael Redd out, but Redd's not coming back in the near future, so Sessions looks like an excellent start for the upcoming week.

Eric Gordon, Clippers

With Cuttino Mobley being shipped off to the Knicks, the shooting guard position is up for grabs in L.A. Ricky Davis, who I am not recommending be picked up, started at the 2 on Friday night, but played just 18 minutes, hit 1-of-5 shots and scored two points. Meanwhile Gordon, the rookie, played 28 minutes. And while he struggled with his shot (1-of-5), he finished with eight points, two boards, two assists, two steals and a three. The Clippers have just two wins on the season, three big men to play two positions and a point guard who has already had trouble seeing eye to eye with his coach. There's no reason to think the Clips aren't going to throw Gordon out there for a ton of minutes and prepare for the future. He should be a good source of points, threes and steals once he gets in a groove.

Others to consider:

Roger Mason, Spurs – Should maintain some value when Manu Ginobili returns, but will take a hit. Scored 29, hit seven treys on Friday.
George Hill, Spurs – Will start at PG until Tony Parker returns and scored career-high 23 Friday.
Anthony Morrow, Warriors – Should start at SG after Jamal Crawford trade and hold value. Kelenna Azubuike is apparently the big loser here.

Forwards

Andrea Bargnani, Raptors

I really started to jump on the Bargnani bandwagon a week ago when I mentioned him as a great pickup because it appeared that he was heading into the starting lineup. I even started him over Rudy Gay this week in one league, for the extra game and because Gay hasn't exactly been tearing it up. Then AB came out and threw down for five points and three boards on 2-of-9 shooting in 22 minutes in Game 1. My initial reaction was to call myself an idiot and to enter some sort of rehab program that would teach me to give myself the same advice I would give a reader. I would not have told a reader to start Bargnani over Gay this week.

Then something strange happened. No, Gay didn't suddenly start playing like a god. But Bargnani did! Over the last two games he's at 27 points, seven boards, 1.5 blocks and four 3-pointers per game. This has "sell high" written all over it, but I'm riding Bargnani until he breaks. The bad news is that he might be temporarily switching to center if Jermaine O'Neal's knee keeps him out for a few games, but at least that means he's still in the starting five. Just like with Tyrus Thomas, this could be another false alarm, but it sure doesn't feel like it. And in case you're scoring at home, I think I wrote that "sure doesn't feel like it" line in regards to Thomas just before he fell off the face of the earth a month ago. Sam Mitchell says he's committed to sticking with Bargnani and so am I.

Jason Thompson, Kings

This rookie has seen a big boost this in the absence of Kevin Martin, Francisco Garcia and Mikki Moore. When everyone is health, Thompson could rejoin his buddy Spencer Hawes on the bench. But there's also a chance that he could become the full-time starting power forward. Why Mikki Moore was still starting in the first place is beyond me and the fact that one of the Maloof boys is calling out Reggie Theus to get things turned around sooner than later could work in JT's favor. He could be a double-double machine with minutes and has started seven straight games, hitting double digits in scoring in two of them and posting a pair of double-doubles. He doesn't block shots, hit threes or free throws, but does have seven steals in his last four games. I picked him up in a couple leagues, but ended up dumping him quickly because I've got guard issues and didn't need him. Enjoy him for now, but expect him to take a hit when his three injured teammates are back in action.

Michael Finley, G/F, Spurs

Finley has been scoring and hitting threes over the past two weeks, scoring 13 or more points is six of his last seven games. He's also hit 13 treys over that stretch but isn't doing much else. A smattering of rebounds and assists, but he is shooting it well. He should still be a 3-point specialist for the Spurs when Manu Ginobili returns, but he's a one-trick pony. If you need threes, give Finley and Daequan Cook a look, but don't count on either player for much else.

C.J. Miles, Jazz

Miles has been very surprising recently, scoring in double figures in five of his last six games and averaging 20 ppg over his last four. He's hit a 3-pointer in seven straight games and even had a double-double with 10 rebounds and 16 points in his last game. Miles should be nothing more than a short-term add for the injury-depleted Jazz. Deron Williams, Carlos Boozer, Mehmet Okur, Brevin Knight, Matt Harpring and Jarron Collins have all been out, and Boozer and Williams could continue to miss games. If you're in a deep league and need an injury replacement, give Miles a look.

Quentin Richardson, G/F, Knicks

Q-Rich blew up for 34 points, 12 boards and seven threes on 11-of-20 shooting in Saturday's win over the Wizards. The Knicks didn't have many players to choose from, but this certainly makes Richardson worth a flier in most leagues. It's still unknown what his role will be for the new-look Knicks, as he could start at SF or SG, or come off the bench depending on whether or not Mike D'Antoni is planning on starting Jared Jeffries, Al Harrington or David Lee at center. Q-Rich will be battling Cuttino Mobley, Nate Robinson, Tim Thomas and Wilson Chandler for minutes eventually, so don't expect these types of games all the time. However, he's worth grabbing and using until we see which direction the team decides to go after acquiring Harrington and Mobley, and the return of Jeffries from his injury.

Centers

Rasho Nesterovic, Pacers

Rasho is starting for the Pacers and has emerged and a hot pickup in fantasy leagues. He's averaging about 11 points, 6.5 boards and 1.5 blocks per game and has value because he's starting. He certainly has limited upside and will have to battle Jeff Foster and Roy Hibbert for playing time, but chances are he's performing better than many centers who are owned in fantasy leagues.

David Lee, Knicks

Lee has started the last couple games for the Knicks and played very well, double-doubling in his two starts at center. There are several questions we still need answers for before deciding what Lee's worth is going to be. Will Jared Jeffries or Al Harrington start at center? If it's Jeffries, Lee will probably be the sixth man. If it's Harrington, Jeffries is likely the sixth man and Lee would start at power forward. The bottom line is that Lee should be owned in all leagues until we see which direction the Knicks decide to take.

Brook Lopez, Nets

Lopez has been getting it done ever since Josh Boone went down with a sprained ankle and might have stolen the job in the process. He's hit double digits in scoring in four of his last five with strong rebounding numbers and two double-doubles. Go ahead and grab him if he's available, but beware that his numbers could take a hit when Boone comes back. But given his strong play of late, it looks like he might remain the starter the rest of the way.

Kevin Love, Timberwolves

Love's minutes have been weird for the Timberwolves, but then again, what hasn't been weird in Minnesota this year. The team appears to be going no where and they almost have no choice but to put Love in the starting five and let him learn the NBA. He hasn't hit double digits in points or rebounds in his last six games, but you have to think it's coming. Grab him and stash him if you're lacking center depth. The numbers should follow.

[Hache Man]

I Double-Dog Deron Ya'!
Monday Morning Medicine

Jason Richardson – knee – Might play late in week. Bench him.
Luke Ridnour – knee – Questionable, but struggling anyway. Bench.
Michael Redd – ankle – Out another week – Sessions looking good.
Luol Deng – hamstring – Should be ready for return, but risky.
Kirk Hinrich – thumb – Still months away.
Josh Smith – ankle – Targeting return next week.
Joe Johnson – toe – Struggled through it Saturday, should be OK.
Shawn Marion – healthy – Out Wednesday for funeral.
Jamaal Magloire – hand – Returning this week, could hurt Haslem.
Devin Brown – ankle – Iffy, but no fantasy value anyway.
Morris Peterson – knee – Has missed three straight, keep benched.
Kyle Korver – wrist – Missed Saturday, Out Monday.
Carlos Boozer – quad – Will miss entire week, Millsap starting.
Deron Williams – ankle – Hoping for Wednesday, time to start him.
Jarron Collins – elbow – Out Monday, no value.
Mikki Moore – ankle – Missed another game Sunday, but close.
Kevin Martin – ankle – Should miss another week – at least.
Francisco Garcia – calf – Getting close, but wait until he plays.
Al Harrington – back – Was never hurt, 3 games w/ Knicks.
Jared Jeffries – leg – Practice this week, starts at center next week.
Hedo Turkoglu – flu – Missed Saturday, should play Monday.
Josh Howard – ankle – Has missed 3 straight. Start at own risk.
Gerald Green – back – Left last game, not producing anyway.
Josh Boone – ankle – Returns sometime this week, hurts B. Lopez.
Chris Douglas-Roberts – ankle – Should return this week.
Stromile Swift – back – Close to return, but no value.
Carmelo Anthony - elbow - X-rays negative, should be OK.
Chris Andersen – ribs – Targeting Nov. 30. Bench him.
Mike Dunleavy – knee – Saga continues, no timetable set for return.
Danny Granger – ankle – Played through it Saturday. Should be OK.
Jermaine O'Neal – knee – Surprisingly says he's a go for Weds. Risky.
Shane Battier – ankle – Returning this week, bench for now.
Tony Parker – ankle – Out at least another week or two.
Manu Ginobili – ankle – Ready, but it's in Pop's hands. Risky start.
Leandro Barbosa – personal – Should play Tuesday.
Matt Barnes – back – Missed Sunday's practice – should be OK.
Robert Swift – back – Missed last one, inconsistent and risky.
Desmond Mason – elbow – Should return this week. Bench him.
Rashad McCants – back – Missed Sunday, day-to-day, risky play.
Martell Webster – foot – Targeting Dec. 5 return.
Monta Ellis – ankle – Not close yet.
Antonio Daniels – knee – Knee hasn't been right in a long time.
Gilbert Arenas – knee – January? February? Next year?

10 Things You Might Have Missed

Let's make it 11 things, as Wizards coach Eddie Jordan has been fired this morning. Tough to know if there are fantasy ramifications until we find out whom the new coach is, but I doubt much changes. At least we know that Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison's roles won't change, so go ahead and start any Wizards you would have started before the coach was let go this morning.

P.J. Carlesimo Fired

Is it a coincidence that Russell Westbrook had 11 assists in the first game after P.J. Carlesimo was fired? I don't know, but I have grabbed Westbrook wherever I have been able to and can't wait to see what he's doing a month from now. Kevin Durant and Jeff Green also played well in that game and I'm guessing things will be better (at least fantasy-wise) going forward under Scott Brooks. I'm reluctantly starting Nick Collison in one league this week, but Johan Petro, Robert Swift and Chris Wilcox will probably negate the good things Collison is capable of.

Al Harrington's Back Was Never Hurt

Harrington's "back injury" and the accompanying MRI were fabrications dreamed up by the Warriors to get Harrington away from Don Nelson. That means he's fine and should be ready to play three games for the Knicks this week. Don't expect any miracles and don't play him over a safer option. But if you want to take a flier on him this week, he could produce right off the bat for Mike D'Antoni.

The new-look Knicks, according to Newsday's Alan Hahn, are likely to start a lineup of PG Chris Duhon, SG Cuttino Mobley, SF Harrington, PF Wilson Chandler and C Jared Jeffries once JJ is recovered from his broken leg. This is pretty frustrating news, as it means David Lee, Nate Robinson and Quentin Richardson will come off the bench, but there's no reason to panic. First of all, that lineup is just speculative. Secondly, Jared Jeffries is still Jared Jeffries. He might not stay healthy, and he might not even be able to play center in the NBA. We shall see. But unless the predicted lineup is wrong, Mobley looks like a guy you'll want to consider picking up. And I don't understand why Harrington's not the PF and Chandler the SF, but I also don't understand why D'Antoni thinks Jeffries is the answer at center.

Clippers' Front Line Mess

After the "big trade" the Clippers now have Marcus Camby, Chris Kaman and Zach Randolph to fight for minutes in the power positions. I'm guessing Camby will now be a reserve and that Randolph could hurt all of their numbers. Al Thornton could also be impacted, but I'm not too worried about him. In fact, I'm not really that worried about any of these guys. Camby should still be an effective shot blocker and rebounder off the bench, and while the Clippers aren't talking trade right now, you have to think they will eventually. Just hang in there for now if you own these players. And in the back court, Ricky Davis is starting in place of departed Cuttino Mobley, but it's quite possible that Eric Gordon could be the big beneficiary there. I don't think I'd feel great about starting Gordon right now, but I have him stashed in a few leagues. Oh, and I'm using him for a desperation start in a league where I own Deron Williams, Josh Smith and Jason Richardson. As you can probably guess, that team's not doing so well.

Warriors' Rotation

Jamal Crawford is set to take over the point guard duties for the Warriors and my guess is he sticks. His value should not change after being traded from D'Antoni to Nellie. Speculation is that Anthony Morrow will start at shooting guard, but with Nellie, that only guarantees he has a job for one more game. There was a reason that Morrow wasn't drafted and he probably just got hot for a week. He has been awful in his last two games, but people in Oakland are still pretty stoked about his game. I'm keeping him around for another week to see how this plays out. Initially, Kelenna Azubuike will take the biggest hit as he heads back to the bench, with Stephen Jackson, Corey Maggette and Andris Biedrins rounding out the front line. My guess is that there will be weeks you'll want to own Morrow, other weeks you'll want to own Buike and even some other ones where C.J. Watson is the man. And I wish us all a lot of luck in trying to figure out which ones those will be.

Return of the Matrix – Out Wednesday

Shawn Marion is back! He's playing very well right now and could be on the verge of redeeming himself with his fantasy owners. But his upcoming four-game week is now a three-gamer because he'll miss Wednesday's game due to a funeral. I'm still starting him where I own him.

Bucks Fill-ins

Michael Redd's ankle injury will keep him out another week and Luke Ridnour is now gimpy. Ramon Sessions is a great start this week, and has arguably been a great start for most of the season. Charlie Villanueva is back and playing well off the bench, but I expect him to be as inconsistent as ever, while Charlie Bell should have his moments this week with Redd out. And I don't know what got into Andrew Bogut, but it was nice to see the big man come around next week. Now if we could just give some of what he's drinking to Tyson Chandler…

Manu's Return

Manu Ginobili would like to play Monday night, but my guess is that Gregg Popovich will hold him out for one more game. Either way, you have to think Manu's return is very close. When he does come back, it should hurt the values of George Hill, Roger Mason and Michael Finley, but not enough that any of them should be dumped just yet. Hill will continue to start at the point until Tony Parker comes back, and Mason could have value all season, although his best games are probably behind him. They play four games this week, and I don't think it's a bad idea to take a flier on Hill, Mason or Finley.

Kev-Mart, Dunleavy Hurting

Kevin Martin isn't likely to be back this week and from the sounds of it, next week is even iffy. He has swelling in his Achilles' tendon, which is obviously a concern. Kev-Mart is a little bit injury prone to begin with, so owners have to be concerned about the bad news this early in the season. Jason Thompson and Spencer Hawes both started last game and it will be interesting to see how this plays out. Mikki Moore is also hurting, and may have lost his job to JT or Hawes. Francisco Garcia is probably close to returning and his immediate outlook is positive with Martin not available. Thompson and Hawes look like fairly safe starts this week, but I would just sit back and evaluate how things go once Garcia and Moore are back in the mix.

Mike Dunleavy's knee injury is about the most frustrating thing any of us has had to deal with this year, unless you own Deron Williams. But Dunleavy still has not timetable for his return and is starting to be dumped by frustrated owners. He might play next week or he might have surgery and shut it down for the year. But if you can grab him without cutting a good player, think about it. In the meantime, Marquis Daniels has become a must-start in most leagues.

Rise of Bargnani, Fall of O'Neal

My main man Andrea Bargnani struggled with foul trouble on Sunday, but still produced. I'm riding him like he's a Volvo with 200,000 miles on it. No need to start shopping for a new one yet…Just drive it until it finally won't go anymore. That said, he is on my bench in League Freak this week with just three games. As for Jermaine O'Neal, he's tweaked his fragile left knee in two straight games, yet says he's going to play on Wednesday. I'm telling you…Let him throw up a couple good lines in a row and ship him out of your fantasy town. I am still not 100 percent convinced he'll play Wednesday, but that's what he says. We'll see.

Jazz Singers

Deron Williams will return on Wednesday and wasn't supposed to play unless he's near 100 percent. Since he's playing, we have to assume that's where he is. Hopefully there are no setbacks this week and he will be safe play the rest of the season, but that ankle is going to be tender and he could easily aggravate the injury. Play him and think only positive thoughts if you own him. Carlos Boozer is expected to miss the entire week, making Paul Millsap a decent option. Andrei Kirilenko and Mehmet Okur should be solid plays, while Ronnie Brewer and C.J. Miles should also remain effective this week.

Season Pass

You didn't think I was going to forget did you? Check out the Season Pass. If you're in a weekly lineup league, the Schedule Grid and Schedule Breakdown information is worth the price of admission alone.

My Teams

I haven't talked much about my teams, as I'm sure a lot of you don't care. But…

I was the top scorer in the UBC, my oldest industry league, and that was with Josh Smith out again. I'm 3-1 in that one and like my team.

I won my League Freak (Rick Kamla's private league) game this week, which counts each category as a win. I sit at 18-14-0 and two games out of first.

In the Rotoworld Rotisserie Industry League I have 60.5 points and am just two points out of first.

I won both of my games in 30-deep last week and sit at 5-3. Kamla is winning my division at 7-1, but I love my team. I need Al Horford to pick it up in that one and my team could do some real damage. In a 30-team league, starting Mike Bibby, Marquis Daniels, Thaddeus Young, Shawn Marion, Horford and Matt Barnes should be a pretty tough team to beat. I get the feeling my team is better than its 5-3 record, but it is what it is. Also, props to Sergio Gonzalez who is 8-0 on the CBS side of things.

In the Ode to Trinkle league, the one I started back in 1992, I'm at 17-14-1, just three games back. And that's not bad since I gambled on most of my picks in that league.

In my Rock and Roll Fantasy Hoops league I received a serious beat down from Sonia Grover, who runs the First Avenue club in Minneapolis (think Prince, Replacements, Husker Du, Hold Steady, etc). But I got a late steal and block to at least make the score respectable. I sit in third place, but am a full eight games behind Amy S., who has been rolling people early.

In my other Rock and Roll league, I'm in third place at 19-16-1 and four games out of first. I still can't believe I was invited into this league and it's quickly become my favorite. I'll spare the name dropping here, but feel free to email me if you want to talk some music. I have Shawn Marion and Kevin Garnett, so we got off to a slow start, but I am hoping to go on a run here.

Lastly, I'm in a couple Yahoo! Industry leagues and am just not faring well at all. Bad luck, a shaky draft and some stiff competition are not helping me. Having Deron, Josh Smith and Jason Richardson is a big problem in one of them, but hopefully the ship will be righted next week. I am not sure why, but I never seem to play very well in Yahoo! Leagues. I'm just not as good at managing teams in that format, but I seem to be in the minority there.

Good luck this week!

[Hache Man]

St. Augustin!
Trade Talk: The Heart of the Matter

Cuttino Mobley's existing heart condition appears to be the reason that many Zach Randolph owners are furious this morning. Z-Bo was set to make his debut with the Clippers last night but was in street clothes because Mobley's physical has still not been signed off on by the Knicks. They want more information about Mobley's ticker, although his heart issue is apparently well known and has not caused him problems in the past. We will know one way or another by 6:30 ET tonight, as that's the deadline for the Knicks to accept or reject the deal. My guess is the trade is finalized and that we'll see Mobley and Tim Thomas debut for the Knicks tonight, while Randolph and Mardy Collins will be in uniform on Wednesday. However, if the Knicks don't like what they hear after Mobley meets with a specialist today, they could cancel or change the trade. And while many fantasy owners wouldn't mind seeing Randolph back in New York (which would free up the big-man logjam in L.A.), that would probably cause further delays for all of these players to return to the court. We'll have the site updated as soon as the information becomes available today. Randolph has not played in a game since last Tuesday.

Hello, Goodbye Matrix

Shawn Marion has been a pleasant surprise over the past two weeks but will not be in uniform on Wednesday due to a relative's funeral. Get him on your bench until Friday.

Dunleavy Drama

The Miami Heat's television announcer said during last week's Pacer-Heat game that Mike Dunleavy's knee injury was possibly career-ending. However, Dunleavy and the Pacers dispute that to be the case and were shocked that the comments were made. There's no doubt that the injury is serious and the longer he's out, the better the chances are that he will need surgery. Dunleavy has been one of the most frustrating fantasy players to own this season. If hanging onto him is hurting your team, you have a decision to make. The lack of details and information out of Indy has been disappointing, but it's also a bad sign for Dunleavy's owners. Weigh the pros and cons of owning or dropping him, and make a decision you can live with over the next month or two. Dunleavy is starting to pop up on waiver wires, but the possibility exists that you could cut him and he could make his season debut a day or two later. Bottom line: if you feel like you need to cut bait, do it. And if you want to pick him up off waivers, I would not recommend dropping a valuable player to do it. Good luck.

J.C. in the House

Jamal Crawford is set to make his debut for the Warriors tonight against the struggling Wizards. There's only one ball to go around between JC, Stephen Jackson, Corey Maggette, Andris Biedrins, Anthony Morrow and Kelenna Azubuike, so several players are going to take a hit. Morrow and Azubuike are the biggest fantasy concerns at this point, while the other guys should still get plenty of shots. But maybe not as much as they were getting before JC arrived.

Dinged Up

Chris Andersen should return from a broken rib on Saturday, Matt Barnes is planning on playing tonight despite a toe and back injury, and Deron Williams is set to return to action on Wednesday. It's going to be very interesting to see if he plays in both Friday and Saturday's games. They're talking about putting him on the "Harpring plan," which means he could sit out the second of back-to-back games. But if he feels OK after the first one, you would think he'll play in both. Joe Johnson skipped yesterday's practice with a sore foot. It's a concern, especially after his terrible line on Saturday, but it sounds like he may skip practices and play in games for now.

Monday's Action

Chris Paul posted his second straight triple-double with 14 points, 10 rebounds and 17 assists as the Hornets beat the Clippers last night. Eric Gordon started for the Clippers and then erupted for 25 points on 9-of-18 shooting with three assists, four threes, four steals and a block after spraining his ankle in the first quarter. He played 36 minutes and looked fantastic. Hopefully the ankle doesn't swell. Ricky Davis was apparently a DNP-CD, although that doesn't make a ton of sense. But even if Buckets is healthy, Gordon is going to continue to get minutes and continue to have more fantasy value as the season progresses. I own EG in most leagues, but had been very tempted to cut him in the last 48 hours. At this point, I'm glad I held on. Grab him if he's available, but don't expect him to look this good on most nights. At least for now.

Jason Thompson started again in the Kings' loss to the Blazers, but failed to score in just 18 minutes. Spencer Hawes also started again and had 15 points, three steals and three 3-pointers in the loss to Portland. Mikki Moore returned from an injury but came off the bench. Moore could end up back in the starting five once he's fully healthy, but he really doesn't have much of a fantasy outlook. Beno Udrih was better, going for 17 points and eight assists. In the rush to pick up guys like D.J. Augustin and Russell Westbrook lately, I've had a lot of emails from guys who want to cut Udrih to make it happen. I'm not fully supportive of cutting a guy locked into the starting point guard job to pick up a young one who will be inconsistent, but in some cases it makes sense.

Rudy Fernandez has really been struggling and it continued last night when he scored just two points. That makes four of his last six games that he's scored five or less points and he's going to be hitting the waiver wire very soon. He should remain an excellent source of threes and will bounce back from this slump soon. There is still some concern about what will happen when Martell Webster returns, and after Rudy's bad stretch it's a valid question. Point guards are more valuable than SGs (in general) and cutting Rudy for a guy like Augustin or Westbrook might be the way to go. The Blazers held on for a one-point win over the Kings, but without much help from new starter Greg Oden.

I actually got an email yesterday from someone willing to trade Caron Butler straight up for Oden. Let's not get carried away here. Oden is intriguing, but is still a huge injury risk and hasn't proven anything to this point. He's going to get boards and blocks, but there is no reason to give up one of your better players in order to acquire Oden in a trade. And last night's three-point, six-board, zero-block, four-turnover line is further evidence that Oden is still a rookie with questionable value. Yes, he should be owned, but not at any cost. LaMarcus Aldridge's shot wasn't falling (again) last night, but he at least managed a double-double. He's in a super-slump, but should be on the verge of breaking out of it. Joel Przybilla, who came off the bench behind Oden, had 10 points, 12 boards, two steals and two blocks. He's not a must-own, but he has more value than most owners give him credit for.

Paul Millsap started for the Jazz and had 21 points, 10 boards, two steals and a block in the loss to the Bulls. He started for Carlos Boozer and we were high on him coming into the week. Hopefully you have him in your lineup. Mehmet Okur is back to his old self and had 26 points and nine boards, and should also really flourish without Boozer around this week. For the Bulls, Derrick Rose had another nice game with 25 points and nine assists, while Larry Hughes hit the game-winner to finish with 16 points. Luol Deng came off the bench due to his hamstring injury and had just two points in 14 minutes. He's been very frustrating over the past four games with his injury, and owners have to hope he's not in the midst of lost week. I think Larry will stay in the starting five when everyone is healthy, but we'll have to see what happens.

Darko Milicic was a surprise starter for the Grizzlies and had 11 points, 11 boards, two steals and two blocks in a loss to the Spurs. I feel bad because I told football writer Evan Silva to bench Darko in 30-Deep. Sorry, man! Darrell Arthur came off the bench, along with Hakim Warrick, so we'll have to keep an eye on this situation. Darko, much like Tyrus Thomas, has never really come through for fantasy owners, so I'm not going to get too excited about last night. However, if you're in a deep league, need a big man and the waiver wire is light, go for it. Roger Mason had 18 points and five 3-pointers last night, while Manu Ginobili made his season debut with 12 points and four boards in 11 minutes. Go ahead and get Manu in your lineup, as his minutes will start to increase with each game he plays. George Hill came off the bench for 20 points, three assists, three rebounds and two threes, and should remain in effect for at least two more weeks. That's the timetable Gregg Popovich is putting on Tony Parker's return from his sprained ankle.

The Heat's Mario Chalmers was benched by owners world wide just in time to blow up for a season high of 23 points on 7-of-13, and added five treys, four rebounds, six assists, four steals not a single turnover to his line. Wow. He's still going to be inconsistent and may not put up another line like this in the next two weeks, but the potential is there. The Rockets beat the Heat behind 28 points and 12 boards from Yao Ming, who hit 9-of-15 shots. Yao is starting to come on, which is nice. Tracy McGrady had six points, five boards, four assists and hit just 2-of-7 shots last night. Seriously. T-Mac needs to suck it up and play, or shut it down. Pick a path and go, man. He's a ticking time bomb and you know that "McGrady to shut it down with knee injury" blurb headline is going to happen at some point in the near future. Hope for a good line or two and move him for as much as you can get.

Charlie Villanueva had 17 points and nine rebounds in 25 minutes of last night's loss to the Magic, while Luc Richard Mbah a Moute added 11 points, eight boards, two steals and a block in another start. Scott Skiles has suggested that Charlie V could start again, but for now the job is still M&M's. Especially since CV seems to be more effective off the bench anyway. Luke Ridnour missed the game with a bruised knee, allowing Ramon Sessions to start. Sessions hit just 3-of-14 shots, but had seven points, six boards, eight assists and two steals, and should shoot better in the next one. My sleeper pick of Charlie Bell was highly disappointing, going 0-for-5 from downtown to finish with six points and two steals. Without Redd and Ridnour around, I was expecting a lot more. We have three more games this week for it to happen. Andrew Bogut suffered a knee injury last night and didn't return to the game. He said afterwards he'll be "OK," giving us hope he will play on Wednesday.

Rashard Lewis and Jameer Nelson were also injured last night, although it sounds like Lewis is fine. He left with a leg injury, but returned a short time later to finish with 22 points, four boards; two threes and two steals in the win over the Bucks. Nelson's groin injury is much more concerning. Groin injuries and NBA players are not a good mix and Nelson had been on fire coming into last night's game. He's listed as questionable for Wednesday and had been dealing with groin pain over the past 10 days. If he's out, Anthony Johnson will start, and is actually worth a look in deeper leagues if Nelson's out for multiple games. Dwight Howard bounced back from a couple down lines with 24 points, 13 rebounds, six blocks, six turnovers and 10-of-20 shooting from the foul line. He was in foul trouble again early last night, but didn't let it stop him from going big.
Hedo Turkoglu returned from the flu for 22 points, nine boards and two threes in the win.

Charlotte surprised the Sixers behind huge lines from the starting backcourt. Raymond Felton had 23 points, seven boards, five assists and two threes on 8-of-11 shooting, while rookie phenom D.J. Augustin had 25 points, five rebounds, 11 assists, two threes and two steals, also hitting 8-of-11 shots. Wow. It's a good thing Jason Richardson is such a good player, or his job could be in jeopardy as he remains out with a knee injury. But what we may see happen is for Larry Brown to adjust his lineup. How about leaving Felton and Augustin as the starting backcourt, running JR out at small forward, sliding Gerald Wallace over the power forward (even though he was told he wouldn't have to play there this season) and putting Okafor at center? The way the Cats' backcourt has been playing without Richardson, this move makes complete sense to me. Now we'll have to see if LB agrees with me (which would be a first).

Thaddeus Young hit just 2-of-10 shots for six points in the loss and there was nothing exciting about the Philly box score, although Lou Williams scored 14 points.

It's a light five-game night in the Association this evening, highlighted by LeBron James' return to New York. Get ready for the non-stop "are you coming to New York?" chatter, which actually started a couple days ago. And let's see how one of yesterday's Season Pass Pickups of the Day fares tonight when the Thunder take on the Phoenix Suns.

[Hache Man]

Blatche's Big Bash
Medic Check

Jason Richardson (knee), Deron Williams (ankle) and Zach Randolph (trade) could all return to the court on Wednesday night. JR is still iffy with his knee injury, Deron is supposedly ready to play through his severely sprained ankle, although that's still not set in stone, and Randolph is locked and loaded for the Clippers tonight after all of Monday and Tuesday's trade drama. Stay tuned to the Rotoworld blurbs today if you have JR or Deron in your lineup tonight.

In the bad news department, Shawn Marion is out tonight for a relative's funeral, Jameer Nelson (hip flexor) and Andrew Bogut (bone bruise left knee) are both out for at least the next week to 10 days, while Nate Robinson suffered a groin injury of his own last night. While we still haven't heard the severity of the injury, go ahead and scratch Nate for a few games in your mind. I'm guessing that Daequan Cook or Yakhouba Diawara will start in place of Marion tonight, as the Heat have some injury issues of their own with Dorell Wright and James Jones.

Josh Howard remained out last night with a wrist injury, but sounds like he's getting closer, while Kevin Martin and Francisco Garcia could make their returns for the Kings later this week. Cuttino Mobley won't play Wednesday or Saturday, and with Nate hurting, Quentin Richardson remains a good option for the next week or so. In addition, Jermaine O'Neal is questionable for the Raptors with a sprained ankle.

Mighty (Trade) Wind

Speaking of Richardson and trades, rumors are swirling that the Bobcats and Clippers are talking about a Richardson for Chris Kaman swap. As far as trades go, that would be a fantasy juggernaut. It would free up minutes for Marcus Camby and Randolph, would get Richardson out from under Larry Brown and into a world where Mike Dunleavy is desperate for a shooting guard, while Kaman would give the Bobcats the center they always wanted. In addition, it would allow for D.J. Augustin to stay in the starting lineup for the Cats. We don't spend a lot of time addressing rumors here, but this one has some pretty exciting potential and would seem to make sense for everyone involved.

Tuesday's Action

Andray Blatche exploded for 25 points on 11-of-18 shooting, adding 12 rebounds, five assists, two steals, five blocks and a 3-pointer in last night's easy win over the Warriors. I was watching this game from the beginning and noticed that Blatche looked much more comfortable early, and was shooting it more like a small forward than a big man. He was fantastic in every aspect and I went and picked him up in every league possible when he buried the 3-pointer cleanly. He could easily go the way of Tyrus Thomas, but I'm willing to hold onto him and see where this goes. The Ed Tapscott era started well for Blatche, and I recommend grabbing him if you can.

Caron Butler scored a season-high 35, while my man JaVale McGee had 14 points, five rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block in 20 minutes. He was in some early foul trouble, but also looked like a beast in the first few minutes of the game. He started things off with a lob jam off the tip, then blocked a shot near the top of the key and drove the rest of the way for a power jam from just inside the free throw line. The kid has some crazy athleticism and the future is also looking bright for him under Tapscott. I'd love to see him slide Butler over to shooting guard and Antawn Jamison to small forward so he could start the two big guys up front, but I doubt that happens. In any case, I still think both Blatche and McGee are worth stashing for the next three games until we get a feel for whether what we saw last night was real, or just a nice dream. Maybe the most telling sign that this may not happen again is the fact they were playing the Warriors, but I can't wait to see what happens on Thursday against Dwight Howard and the Magic.

Anthony Morrow started for the Warriors, but had just six points and six boards in 15 minutes. Kelenna Azubuike came off the bench for 15 points and five boards on 6-of-9 shooting, while Jamal Crawford had nine points on 4-of-10 shooting to go along with seven dimes. Stephen Jackson had just 16 points, but added eight assists, four blocks and two threes on the night. Yes, Morrow started, but Nellie stuck with Azubuike in his lineup for much of the evening. My guess is he uses both guys differently depending on matchups and that both will be fairly unreliable going forward. And don't be discouraged by Crawford's debut. It's going to take him a couple games to figure it out.

Al Harrington had 13 points on 5-of-16 shooting with nine boards and three assists in his Knicks' debut, while new teammate Tim Thomas added 16 points, six boards, four assists and four treys in 24 minutes. Quentin Richardson started and hit 8-of-19 shots for 22 points, four boards and four 3-pointers in the loss, while David Lee double-doubled.

Now things are going to get interesting for the Knicks and their owners. Cuttino Mobley still hasn't been cleared because of concerns about his heart, but he should be in lineup once he's cleared. The biggest question mark is Lee, who is likely headed for a role off the bench as Jared Jeffries, Wilson Chandler and Harrington start on the front line. Let's just hang onto all these guys (and consider picking up Jeffries and Thomas) until we see how this all shakes out over the next two weeks. Check out Ryan Knaus's Position Battles column for the Knicks breakdown.The Cavaliers, with seven players in doubled figures, crushed the Knicks last night, as LeBron watched most of the fourth quarter from the bench.

Steve Nash had 20 points (8-of-14), two threes, eight boards and 15 assists as the Suns beat the Thunder in OKC. Yeah, Nash also had seven turnovers, but owners have to be thrilled that he finally looked like the old Nash again. Of course, this was against the Thunder, so take it with a grain of salt. Shaquille O'Neal sat out, allowing Robin Lopez to get another start and post 11 points, five boards, two steals and three blocks. Matt Barnes hit the game-winning 3-pointer to finish with 16 points, three boards, two assists, a block and four treys on the night, and could finally be ready to get into a groove after the suspension and personal problems wrecked his mojo over the past few weeks. Leandro Barbosa returned from his personal absence and had four points on 1-of-6 shooting.

For the Thunder, Kevin Durant started at small forward and hit 9-of-19 shots and three treys for 29 points, but a lack of other production has become a concern. The start at forward served him well and should be a good thing for his owners, but we need more than four boards and one assist. He also had a steal and a block, so maybe the rest of the mega-numbers everyone was predicting prior to the season are getting ready to come. It's important to note that it took him a couple months to get going last season, so there's no need to panic.

Earl Watson handed out 13 assists to go along with six boards and three steals, but scored just two points in the loss. Russell Westbrook came off the bench, as usual, and had 15 points, five boards, five assists and three steals on 6-of-11 shooting. Watson and Westbrook were on the court together for much of the game and it's still possible one of them could end up starting at shooting guard. But last night it was Damien Wilkins' job and he finished with 10 points and two threes on 3-of-11 shooting. As a Westbrook owner in at least five leagues, the party's at my house when he finally gets into the starting five.

The center position for the Thunder is a little messy right now, just as it has been since Jack Sikma played for Sonics. Nick Collison started to finish with seven points, five boards and a block, while Chris Wilcox came off the bench for a season-high 18 points and six boards on 8-of-15 shooting. Robert Swift and Johan Petro were DNP-CDs and it will be interesting to see how much the true centers play for interim coach Scott Brooks. He's decided to go small (for now) so Swift and Petro could be on the outside looking in. And while that probably doesn't matter to most of you, I have Petro as a back up center in the 30-Deep league, so it's a little concerning. That said, they probably would have played had Shaq been out there.

Antoine Wright scored a career-high 24 points on 10-of-18 shooting for the Mavs on Tuesday, but grabbed just four rebounds. The Mavs have had a tough time figuring out who their starting shooting guard is and Gerald Green didn't even play last night, partly because of a back injury, but mostly because Rick Carlisle chose not to play him. Josh Howard is out with an ankle injury and you can expect Wright and Green to become somewhat irrelevant when he's back in action. Jason Terry and Dirk Nowitzki had their standard big games while Jason Kidd double-doubled with 11 points and 13 assists in the tight win over the Pacers.

Troy Murphy had 21 points, 14 boards and three 3-pointers in Indiana's loss while Brandon Rush scored a career-high 18 points off the bench. I'm not sure why it took Rush so long to get going, but he could become a factor with Mike Dunleavy sidelined. As for Murphy, he's having a really nice season and I was expecting him to play well at his natural power forward position this year. But if you want to sell high, now's probably the time.

Brook Lopez had 17 points, 10 boards and three blocks in a Nets loss to the Lakers. Josh Boone is still out with an ankle injury, but it sure feels like Lopez has won the starting job the rest of the way. Grab him if he's available.

Kobe Bryant struggled with his shot all night, finishing with 12 points on 5-of-17 shooting, and added six boards and four assists to his line. But Pau Gasol was fantastic, hitting 9-of-12 shots and 8-of-8 free throws for 26 points, eight boards and three dimes in 31 minutes. The Lakers look unstoppable right now, but it's early.

[Hache Man]

Are You Kidding Me, J.R.?
Despite the fact that most of you aren't looking for a reason to be distracted at work today, I will be having a Season Pass Subscriber Chat at 1 p.m. eastern. I'm sure that there will be plenty of chatter about Allen Iverson, Stephon Marbury, Andray Blatche, J.R. Smith and Andrew Bynum today. Find out why in the Black Friday edition of the Daily Dose.

J.R. Smith's Cruel and Unusual Punishment

I don't claim to be a prophet, but I predicted the future around 10:25 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning. Twenty five minutes into this 30-minute podcast yesterday morning, the subject of J.R. Smith came up after his mysterious DNP-CD on Wednesday night. Of course, we said that it was finally time to let him go after he had failed to produce after the first week of the season. Then I said something like:

"Here's what's going to happen with J.R. Smith. He is going to be cut by nearly all his owners and as soon as that happens, he'll catch fire and become the hottest pick up in the league."

I mentioned something about that happening by Dec. 5, but little did I know it was going to happen a mere 12 hours after I said it. As you probably know by now, Smith was not benched "just because" on Wednesday. He was being disciplined for being "extremely late" to Monday's practice. Like, he was walking into the building as everyone else was walking out. And then, with perfect timing, he came into last night's game against the Hornets and simply took over. He is not a fan of Byron Scott or the Hornets (his former team), so that probably had something to do with his 32 points, five rebounds, four assists, two steals, five 3-pointers and 13-of-21 shooting. So of course, during halftime of last night's game, I scrambled to get him back in two of my leagues, but he's going through the waivers process in the other ones and will never make it back to me (which is not necessarily a bad thing).

I said yesterday that it felt like a black cloud had been lifted when I cut the cord with J.R., and it's true. But seeing him look unstoppable last night was a bit disappointing. Smith is likely to be hot and cold all year, but there's still a pretty decent chance that he could end up being a solid fantasy producer. If he was cut in your league, feel free to grab him. If you recently cut him and want some more, go back and get him. But don't expect him to play like that every night. And don't expect Wednesday's benching to be the last time he's in George Karl's doghouse this year, either.

Marbury Suspended

I'm tired of the drama. Stephon Marbury's run with the Knicks appears to be nearing a close and news of a one-game suspension broke just as I was ready to hit the "submit" button on this column. He will appeal the suspension because he believes he never had a long enough discussion with Mike D'Antoni to refuse to play. His version is that D'Antoni said something like "I've got 30 minutes for you tonight," and Marbury replied "But you said you were going in a different direction." And at that point, D'Antoni said something like "fine" and walked away.

Regardless of how it went down, Marbury and his story are once again bigger than the team - just as Larry Brown and Isiah Thomas were over the past three or four years. Marbury will probably either be bought out, released or sent home, Jamaal Tinsley style, in the near future. And if he is released, you've got about a 3-in-30 chance he lands with a team that needs his help. Hold him if you want to, but I am d-o-n-e.

Speaking of the Knicks, Quentin Richardson, who blasted Marbury after Wednesday's game, has a right arm injury that is barely allowing him to shoot right now, while Chris Duhon is said to have a bad back and ankle. Meanwhile, the Knicks are not sure when Cuttino Mobley is going to play again with his heart condition, and may make him sign a waiver to do so. Larry is gone. Isiah is gone. The circus is still in town.

Practice? You Talkin' 'Bout Practice

OK, sorry for the lame headline there. Surely I could have come up with something more original, but I'm kind of in a stupor after all the food yesterday. Despite some issues with some bad potatoes, some overcooked mushrooms and a black lab foaming at the mouth while watching the turkey on the grill for four hours yesterday, we had an amazing meal. And just about in the middle of that meal the news came across the wire: "Iverson a no-show for practice." Yep, Allen Iverson was heard grumbling about the fact the Pistons were going to practice on Thanksgiving after Wednesday's win and probably made up his mind right then and there that he was not going to be around. And this comes on the heels of Iverson saying that all he needed was a little more practice with the Pistons and everything would come together.

Know that Michael Curry is furious with Iverson right now, but also know that he will have to tread carefully with this to avoid doing any long term damage. Rodney Stuckey will start tonight and it remains to be seen if Iverson will even play. I'd recommend starting Stuckey if you can, and weigh your options carefully with AI tonight. I am guessing Curry's mad enough that Iverson may not even get off the bench.

Revenge is Sweet

There are plenty of interesting match-up story lines brewing right now. The Raptors will be looking for some revenge against the Hawks Friday after Atlanta gave them an early-season beat down. The Heat and Suns square off tonight, meaning Shaquille O'Neal and Shawn Marion will have some extra motivation against their former teams. Marion returns from a one-game absence due to a funeral and both players are must-starts tonight. And then Saturday, the Warriors visit the Knicks. Al Harrington is going to be highly motivated to light up Don Nelson, while Jamal Crawford should tear it up against his former team as well.

Bad News Bynum

Lost in all the hoopla surrounding Iverson and Marbury was the fact that Andrew Bynum is now day-to-day with a bone spurs in his foot. That may explain some of his pedestrian lines thus far. Details are few and far between, but the L.A. Times is promising an update before tonight's game against the Mavericks. Hopefully he's fine and will play, but there's a chance he could miss some time. Stay tuned.

Nellie, My Pal

I'm not going to say much here about Don Nelson and his benching of Anthony Morrow, or the misuse of Kelenna Azubuike on Wednesday, as I don't want to do that to my blood pressure. Al Harrington said recently that "If you're not one of his dudes, you ain't never going to be one of his dudes. And that's the truth." I don't know if Morrow and Azubuike were ever really his dudes or not. And all I do know is that Jamal Crawford, Andris Biedrins, Stephen Jackson and Corey Maggette are his dudes. And they're the only guys in Warriors' uniforms you should trust this season. And as for Nellie and I? He's not one of my dudes. Not even close.

Tidbits

Stuckey says a wrist injury is the reason for his slow start to the season but that it's healed and he's ready to go now. If his 13-point, 11-assist double-double from Wednesday night is any indication, it might be time to pick him up again.

Jermaine O'Neal is hoping to play tonight against the Hawks and my guess is that he does. He's still day-to-day and a game-time decision for tonight, but he supposedly looked good in Thursday's practice.

Jamaal Magloire (hand) could play for the Heat tonight. This is not a big news story, but if there is a lack of centers on your league's waiver wire, keep an eye on him.

Francisco Garcia is set to return from a calf injury tonight and is worth a pick up in most leagues. He's going to have some conditioning issues and is not a lock to be worth starting every night out for your team, but he is at least worthy of a roster spot for now. Kevin Martin is out tonight, but maybe he'll play on Saturday? www.sacramentokings.ws

Turkey Day Action

Dwight Howard took JaVale McGee and Andray Blatche to school last night, putting both big men in foul trouble before they ever knew what hit them, and dominating Washington in the process. As you probably know, I own McGee and Blatche in a lot of leagues and I'm looking forward to Saturday's matchup with the center-less Hawks. But if things go poorly there, I may have some wire work to do at 3 a.m Sunday morning.

The Magic are one of the best teams in the league and are clicking on all cylinders. Boston is the favorite in the East, but no one is going to want to face the Magic in the playoffs. Anthony Johnson, filling in for Jameer Nelson, handed out 12 assists and is probably worth a short-term pick up if you're desperate.

Outside of the J.R. Smith story line last night, there wasn't much else going on as the Hornets held on to beat the Nuggets in a good game last night. Chris Paul bounced back from a quiet first half to score 20 in the second and finish with another outstanding line, while Hilton Armstrong was a surprise start at center for the Hornets when Tyson Chandler skipped the game to be with his newborn son. And speaking of Armstrong, you would have thought Nene and Kenyon Martin would have feasted without Chandler in the middle, but it was hard for them to get anything going when Smith, Chauncey Billups and Carmelo Anthony combined to take 46 of Denver's 74 shots. The Hornets are hopeful that Chandler will be back tonight at Portland.

I hope you are all having a great holiday! Enjoy tonight's 11 games, and then get ready for 11 more on Saturday. I'll be around to cover all of it, so go out and have a good time. And since yesterday's poll was a success, here's another one. And I just realized I forgot to put Eric Gordon in there. Oh well.

[Hache Man]

Is Kaman OK?
Welcome to The Week Ahead. The information below is relevant for Week Six in the NBA—Monday, December 1st through Sunday the 7th. Teams are listed in order of games played, starting with the lowest. That is particularly helpful for leagues with weekly lineups...for everyone else there are quick hits galore. Read on!

Also...if you haven't subscribed toRotoworld's NBA Season Pass, what are you waiting for! It is chock-full of exclusive columns, updated rankings, customizable roster reports, schedule grids and everything else you need to dominate your league.

Two-game teams: Rockets, Hornets, Kings

Three-game teams: Hawks, Bulls, Cavaliers, Mavericks, Nuggets, Pistons, Warriors, Grizzlies, Heat, Bucks, Nets, Thunder, Magic, Suns, Spurs, Raptors

Four-game teams: Celtics, Bobcats, Pacers, Clippers, Lakers, Timberwolves, Knicks, 76ers, Trail Blazers, Jazz, Wizards

Two-game teams:

Rockets -- Tracy McGrady's knee will haunt his owners all season long...he is going to determine his own status on Saturday and Sunday, and the foresable future. Be prepared for unpredictable big nights, quiet nights and DNPs. At this point I'd actually prefer him to just shut it down until he's actually ready to contribute on a consistent basis. The return of Shane Battier provides a nice insurance policy for the ailing T-Mac. Battier's sprained ankle(s) aren't going to keep him out of Saturday's game but he's still a risky play next week. He played 30 minutes in his first game back, but T-Mac was out and Rick Adelman said he regretted using Battier so much. Ron Artest is still shooting poorly...his most recent struggles can be attributed --at least partially--to his sprained ankle. It continues to heal and won't keep him out of any games, so keep him active and trust that he'll eventually start making some jumpshots.

Hornets
The Hornets aren't looking like the Western Conference contenders many predicted. Chris Paul continues to amaze, with his back-to-back triple-doubles promising huge things this season. David West is still scoring at a high percentage, but his 6.6 rebounds per game will have to improve. He is handing out 2.1 assists per game, but that number would be considerably higher if he learned how to effectively pass out of a double-team. Tyson Chander is having a miserable stretch lately, as his 7.9 rebounds per game will attest. He missed a game recently because of the birth of his son, but will be back for the Hornets next game.

Kings
www.sacramentokings.ws
Kevin Martin has experienced inflammation in a tendon near his Achilles, but is now close to returning to the lineup (he could return as soon as Saturday). Francisco Garcia is offically back...he played just 12 minutes on Friday, so wait a while before plugging him back into your lineups. John Salmons is shooting 51% from the field...he might lose a few shot attempts once Kev-Mart and Garcia are integrated back into the rotation, but his production should remain steady throughout the year. Jason Thompson could be the odd man out once everyone is healthy, though I doubt that Donte' Greene will continue to command 20 minutes per game.

Three-game teams:

Hawks

After beginning the season on fire from the field, Joe Johnson has managed just 12.3 points on 29% shooting over his last three games. It's a temporary lull, making it a nice opportunity to try and trade for him below his actual value. Josh Smith is still working his way back from a high ankle sprain...he won't play on Saturday but is targeting Wednesday's game against the Grizzlies. You'll have to shelve him again in weekly leagues, but at least this should be the last time.

Bulls

Joakim Noah has been criticized lately for his poor conditioning...regardless of the cause, he's been too inconsistent to use in most leagues. Tyrus Thomas has fallen from an exciting sleeper pick to a flat-out bust. He might bounce back at some point, but I'm not holding my breath (or wasting a roster spot on him). Luol Deng continues to come off the bench, but the Bulls didn't sign him to a massive extension so that he could be a reserve player. Expect him to displace Ben Gordon or Larry Hughes before too long...based on Gordon's recent production and growing repoire with Derrick Rose, my money is on Hughes returning to the bench (where he belongs).

Cavaliers
Fans and the media might be distracted by the LeBron James' 2010 free agency drama, but the Cavaliers sure aren't. They have won four consecutive games by 14 or more points for the first time since March 1990. They have also won 12 of 13 games for the first time since the 1993-94 season. LeBron is averaging 28 points, seven rebounds, six assists, 1.9 steals, 1.1 three-pointers and a career-high 78% free throw shooting...the only thing his owners have to worry about is limited minutes in blowout wins. Delonte West also continues to shine as the starting shooting guard, and it's hard to remember how fierce the position battle at SG once was. Sasha who?

Mavericks
www.dallasmavericks.ws
The Mavericks just aren't as deep as they have been in recent years. Erick Dampier and DeSagana Diop are as unimpressive a duo as you'll find west of Miami. Jerry Stackhouse is racking up DNPs so that Antoine Wright and Gerald Green can trade off inconsistent performances (though in fairness Stack's heel sounds like a legitimate injury...unlike, say, Al Harrington's back injury). Brandon Bass is averaging worse statistics in every single category (including TOs) while playing fewer minutes per game. Meanwhile, Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd have developed a nice chemistry and have lived up to our expectations in fantasy-land. Jason Terry continues to come off the bench but it hasn't diminished his production one iota. Josh Howard has missed four consecutive games with his sprained ankle...he's been listed as day-to-day and won't return until he is able to run and cut.

Nuggets

Stanley Kroenke, Mark Warkentien and Rex Chapman don't look so silly all of the sudden. The acquisition of Chauncey Billups has transformed the Nuggets into a half-court proficient, defensively able basketball team, as is particularly evident at the end of games. Billups has lost none of his fantasy value in Denver. Carmelo Anthony has increased his rebound (8.6) and assist (4.2) totals, and if he rediscovers his jumpshot (40% shooting) he'll be a steal in fantasy leagues. Perhaps the biggest key for Denver is the health of Nene and Kenyon Martin, who have missed two games combined. I'm not sure it'll last, but it's hard to argue with either guys production...sell-high or stay the course as you see fit.

Pistons

Allen Iverson's went from giving thanks to making apologies after his Turkey Day DNP at practice. He came off the bench on Friday but was reasonably productive and should be fine going forward. I think this is a decent time to buy-low on Pistons players...they're still figuring out how to gel with Iverson's dominating presence of offense. One result is decreased FG% for Tayshaun Prince, Rip Hamilton and Rasheed Wallace. They are too good to struggle for long, so scoop them up while you can. Rodney Stuckey has had a few very nice games lately (averaging 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 2.5 steals in his last two games).

Warriors

The Anthony Morrow's best days are gone, as he's basically fallen off the map with the arrival of Jamal Crawford. Congratulations if you parlayed his hot streak into a favorable trade. Personally I think that Kelenna Azubuike will have value all season, but nowhere near his production early in the season...simply because he's going to average 25-30 minutes instead of 40. Stephen Jackson is surprising nobody with his 40% shooting, but his 3.9 turnovers are hideous to behold in eight- and nine-category leagues. Crawford has been average in his three games for Golden State, but I expect him to light it up before long, especially from downtown. Just don't think he'll top his numbers from last season, when nearly every play started and/or ended in his hands.

Grizzlies

Marc Gasol hasn't lived up to his early-season promise, but he's still producing to the tune of 7.2 rebounds, 0.9 blocks and 12 points per game on 57% shooting. Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo are the team's undiputed offensive weapons and will be rock-solid all season. Mike Conley has been disappointing, and a proposed trade to Portland wouldn't help his value one bit. The power forward situation is still a mess, both in real life and fantasy leagues. Darko Milicic recently replaced Darrell Arthur in the starting five for matchup purposes, while Hakim Warrick followed up a few nice games with a series of duds. Steer clear of all Grizzly PFs, if at all possible. Also, keep a very close eye on Kyle Lowry in case Conley is indeed traded for Travis Outlaw (or any other non-PG).


Heat

Dwyane Wade's resurgent season couldn't be going any better: he's averaging 28 points on 49% shooting, 4.8 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 2.4 steals and 1.7 blocks. Jamaal Magloire returned on Friday but is unlikely to have value in average leagues, despite Miami's lack of frontcourt depth. Joel Anthony recently started at center, sparing Udonis Haslem the abuse of facing the league's centers on a nightly basis. The frontcourt rotation will probably be determined on a matchup-basis, but it's worth watching to see if Anthony develops consistent value. The move also shifted Michael Beasley to the bench where he posted his first scoreless game of the season. He's hit a very rough patch lately --even for a rookie-- and all you can do is bench him until he turns it around.

Bucks

Michael Redd is back! Well, almost...Scott Skiles is calling Redd probable for Saturday's game. Whether he'll be too rusty to use next week is tough to call, but at least we should have one game to judge him by. Expect Ramon Sessions and Charlie Bell to take a hit, though Sessions should be less affected. Andrew Bogut is still out but neither Francisco Elson nor Dan Gadzuric have any value outside of the deepest leagues. Charlie Villanueva left Friday's game with a tweaked hamstring...he's been playing well but it's tough to trust him as long as he's getting inconsistent minutes off the bench. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute's minutes have also been fluctuating lately, and his lack of offensive production is starting to look like a trend rather than a fluke.

Nets

Josh Boone's bruised foot might be more serious than originally believed. He's not healing very quickly and has an MRI scheduled for Monday, which isn't a good sign. Since Boone went down, Brook Lopez has averaged 15.7 points and nine rebounds in seven consecutive starts. Hopefully you didn't give up on him while he was splitting minutes early in the season. Outside of Devin Harris and Vince Carter, the Nets are struggling to find reliable scoring...Yi Jianlian is averaging 10.9 points on 39% shooting and hasn't made the breakthrough we were hoping (with little confidence) to see.



Thunder

The Thunder are testing the patience of even their most rabid fans, dropping to 1-16 on the season. It's hard to know where to turn for value in OKC, though the promotion of Scott Brooks has at cleared things up somewhat. Nick Collison is starting at center and is worth picking up in case things start clicking. Chris Wilcox is also starting get more regular minutes backing up the frontcourt...though he's pretty uninspiring because of his lack of blocks. Jeff Green has moved to power forward, Kevin Durant to small forward and Damien Wilkins is the starting shooting guard (for now, at least). Is Wilkins worth owning? Well, he scored five points combined in the last two games, so use your judgement.

Magic

News broke at noon on Saturday that Mickael Pietrus will miss three-to-five weeks with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his thumb. Bad news for Pietrus is good news for J.J. Redick, who will start on Saturday and could retain the job for as long as Pietrus is out. Orlando will also need Keith Bogans and Courtney Lee to step up, especially while Jameer Nelson remains out with a hip injury. Bogans is an uninspiring fantasy player and Lee is an unknown commodity...Redick isn't much better, but his starting gig and potential for threes are probably enough to make him worth a pickup in deep leagues. Dwight Howard continues to fulfill his promise of leading the league in rebounds and blocked shots...not to mention missed free throws.

Suns

Amare Stoudemire is starting to get vocal about his displeasure with his role in the Phoenix offense. He can become a free agent in 2010, so I expect the Suns to make getting him more touches one of their top priorities. Establishing Shaq as a physical post presence is all well and good, but not if it disrupts flow of the entire offense. Steve Nash's owners can either trade him now while his value is depressed or wait until he strings together a few nice games...you can hang onto him all season, but it doesn't seem likely that he'll recapture his D'Antoni-era mojo. Leandro Barbosa also had his first good game since returning from Brazil on Friday, and if someone dropped him in your league don't hesitate to pick him up.

Spurs

The return of Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili will obviously alter the Spurs lineup, likely ending George Hill's run of value (at least in average leagues) and damaging Roger Mason's stellar production. Parker is ready to move into the starting lineup and should get heavy minutes soon, but Ginobili is coming back from a more severe injury and it might take another week or two before he's logging his usual 30+ minutes.

Raptors

Jermaine O'Neal's injury has delayed Andrea Bargnani's emergence by moving him over to center where he hasn't been as productive. Fortunately, J.O.'s brace prevented what he described as a potentially season-ending injury and he is considered day-to-day. Jamario Moon's value is officially bottoming out, as he hasn't even produced while starting at small forward in recent games. Anthony Parker gets enough steals and threes to be worth starting, but his too-frequent off-nights are tough to swallow. Chris Bosh, simply put, is dominating.

Four-game teams:

Celtics
www.bostonceltics.ws
The Celtics are too good for their fantasy owners' good, as frequent blowouts have led to limited playing time and poor stats. To wit, Paul Pierce is averaging 11.8 points over the last five games. Rajon Rondo, however, has been terrific despite averaging just over 30 minutes per game. He's averaging 4.2 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 2.2 steals, and his 59% free throw shooting is bound to rise in the near future.

Bobcats

Jason Richardson played 40+ minutes and scored 21 points in his return from a somewhat mysterious knee injury, and is safe to rush back into starting lineups. Raymond Felton has been playing great basketball -- accepting whatever role Larry Brown gives him, contributing in most categories and dropping 31 points in an overtime win on Friday. Emeka Okafor also grabbed 20 rebounds in the same game, and is now averaging 14.4 boards in his last five games. D.J. Augustin is definitely worth hanging onto despite Richardson's return...especially since the Bobcats are rumored to be shopping J-Rich.

Pacers
www.indianapacers.ws
Mike Dunleavy's return isn't imminent, giving Marquis Daniels substantial value indefinitely. T.J. Ford has had a few quiet games lately but rebounded with 20 points, eight rebounds and six assists on Friday. Rasho Nesterovic has had two bad games following a very productive streak in the past few weeks, and that's about what to expect...streaky production from a typically lower-tier fantasy center.

Clippers

Eric Gordon is the fantasy star of Clipperland right now, while Chris Kaman is the biggest concern. Gordon doesn't have to worry about competition from lackluster Ricky Davis, so barring a trade (which seems less likely now that Kaman's plantar fasciitis is damaging his value) he should be a fine starter for the rest of the season. Kaman's strained foot is now being called plantar fasciitis, which occasionally lingers for a long time. Zach Randolph and Marcus Camby are the obvious beneficiaries if Kaman does miss any time, or if he is eventually traded.

Lakers

Everything is pretty much the same in LakerLand. Andrew Bynum's bone spur is painful but won't keep him out of any games, and the pain is expected to subside within a few weeks. Trevor Ariza would be a great option if he worked his way into the starting lineup, but even off the bench he's a viable starter in average leagues. Lamar Odom is still a huge disappointment, and I don't see any reason that would change.

Timberwolves

Kevin Love isn't producing the way his owners envisioned, and it might take an injury to Ryan Gomes or Al Jefferson for him to ascend to the starting lineup. The presence of Jason Collins at center has allowed Jefferson to slide to PF where he is more comfortable...we could easily see an improvement on his already impressive 22.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.


Knicks

Ahh, the Knicks. I'm not even going to try and pin down their starting lineup, as any number of factors --most notably the return of Jared Jeffries in the next few weeks-- could change the entire rotation. Quentin Richardson has a bruised forearm but is playing through it, Chris Duhon has a bad back but is playing through it...Nate Robinson has a sore groin and is unlikely to play on Saturday but should return early next week. That leaves NY thin and hurting in the backcourt, and Cuttino Mobley (heart) might not be able to help them if he doesn't get medical clearance.

76ers

The Sixers are still floundering, unable to become the sum of their pieces. I have confidence that each player will figure out how to compliment one another, but it's taking far longer than I imagined. Thaddeus Young is averaging 7.6 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.0 assists in his last three games but I imagine it's a temporary lull...he has been producing at a high level without any plays being called for him, so a few uninspired nights should be expected.

Blazers

The Blazers are considering a trade for Grizzlies PG Mike Conley, potentially sending Travis Outlaw in exchange. That would instantly clear out more minutes for Martell Webster, Nicolas Batum and Rudy Fernandez, so keep a close eye on this situation. LaMarcus Aldridge finally rediscovered his shooting touch this weekend, sweet relief for his increasingly frustrated owners. Hopefully he'll keep it going, and throw in a few extra rebounds to boot.

Jazz
www.utahjazz.ws
The Jazz have Deron Williams back...and he's dropped 30 dimes in his first two games, despite playing on a bad ankle. His status for the second of back-to-back games is still unknown, so beware a sudden DNP on Saturday. Carlos Boozer's strained quad is improving but he won't return until next week and possibly later, giving Paul Millsap a few more games of solid production.

Wizards

Andray Blatche's monster game last week was eye-opening, but he can't possibly sustain it (as evidenced on Friday when he fouled out with five points and five rebounds in 12 minutes). He and JaVale McGee are both worth owning, as new coach Ed Tapscott mines the Wizards roster for any help he can get. Along those lines, the Wizards are trying to get more scoring out of their starting guards, which could mean more shots for Antonio Daniels (if he can stay healthy), DeShawn Stevenson (if he starts hitting more than 32% of his shots) and Nick Young.

[Hache Man]

Run Russell, Run!
Let's take a look at some free agents who should be available on most waiver wires and why you should think about picking them up. Of course, it all depends on the size of your league, so don't drop a good player to pick one up who might be inconsistent.

Guards

Russell Westbrook, PG, Thunder

Westbrook is now the starting point guard for the Thunder (woo hoo!) and should be an excellent source of points, assists and steals, while also chipping in his fair share of threes, rebounds and the occasional block. His shooting is slowly getting better and there's no reason he should still be available in any leagues. Yet he still is.

Oh, and I was told that I said 'the party's at my house' once Westbrook was named the starter, so I'll have to figure out a date and time that works for my wife.

Find out where Westbrook ranks on our Top 200 list in the Season Pass.

Delonte West, G, Cavaliers

West is quietly having a nice season. He's not particularly great at anything, but is competent in most categories. He's capable of scoring, hitting threes, rebounds, steals and even blocks. He's averaging more than 11 points, three boards, three assists, a steal and nearly two 3-pointers per game, while hitting 51% from the floor, 43% from downtown and 75% from the line. He's not glamorous, but he is an effective guard in almost all leagues. Especially with that gaudy 51 percent shooting.

Luther Head, SG, Magic

Tracy McGrady is going to see Dr. James Andrews about his knee on Monday. I doubt he's shut down for the season, but it's a possibility. In any case, he's likely to miss a lot of games this season and has currently missed three straight. Luther Head came out of nowhere in his last game with 21 points, five boards, four assists and two threes after barely playing this season. If T-Mac's going to miss much time, Head and Shane Battier should see plenty of minutes. Head should have another decent game on Sunday and if he does, look into picking him up in deeper leagues.

Anthony Johnson, PG, Magic

Johnson is not a guy you want to consider for the long haul, but if you need a short-term fill in for the upcoming week, when the Magic play three games, he's worth a look. Jameer Nelson could miss all three games with a hip injury and Johnson has been effective in his absence. In his three starts for Nelson he's averaging 10 points, seven assists, four boards, two 3-pointers and just over one turnover. If you do decide to grab him, be prepared to cut him when Nelson returns.

Deep League Alert: Mike Conley Jr., PG, Grizzlies

Conley is still underperforming, but is showing signs of coming on. He's scored 13 or more in three of his last six games and is averaging four assists on the season. He's also hit five treys in his last four games, and while he's not a guy I'd necessarily want in my lineup right now, he could be a few weeks from now. In addition, he's rumored in trade talks and could end up in Portland, which would probably be a good thing as well.

Forwards

C.J. Miles, SF, Jazz
www.utahjazz.ws
Miles plays four games this week and I've picked him up as an injury replacement in a few leagues. He's hit double figures in nine of his last 11 games and is averaging 15 ppg in his last four. He's also been knocking down a 3-pointer or two in most of his games and is shooting 48 percent on the season. He had 10 rebounds in one game and five assists in several, and while he's going to possibly take a hit when the Jazz are back at full strength, he looks good right now. And I'm confident he'll post at least two strong lines in his four games this week. If you need a SG/SF for the upcoming week, he looks like a solid option.

Tim Thomas, F, Knicks

With only seven healthy bodies in New York, Thomas is going to get run. In that Globetrotters vs. Generals-like bonanza on Saturday in New York he had 15 points, nine boards and a three. He should hit more threes going forward and be a decent source of production off the Knicks bench. He's not a guy you'll want to plan on using for the entire season, but he's another solid four-game option for this week.

Trevor Ariza, SF, Lakers

Ariza has quietly turned into a quality fantasy player in deep leagues this season, despite coming off the bench for the Lakers. He's been pretty consistent, scoring between 10 and 15 points in 10 of his 14 games this season and scored a season-high 15 in his last game. He's averaging nearly 10 points, five rebounds and two steals on the season and plays four times in the upcoming week. He's not a guy you'll want to add in 10-team leagues, but might be useful in 12-teamers, and is a great pick up in 14-team and larger leagues.

Francisco Garcia, SF, Kings
www.sacramentokings.ws
Garcia has been back from a calf injury for two games and hasn't done much at all. The Kings are bringing him along slowly but he's eventually going to be worth owning in most leagues. He averaged 17 points, two steals and a three per game over the final month of the season last year and should help in those categories once he's fully back in a groove. Pick him up and stash him if you have a player you've been wanting to cut. But also beware that he'll have to compete with both Kevin Martin and John Salmons for minutes, which means he should be in a reserve role as long as those guys are healthy.

Deep League Alert: Maurice Evans, SF, Hawks
Deep League Alert 2: Shane Battier, SF, Rockets

Evans has been on a tear while Flip Murray has cooled off for the Hawks. Outside of a three-point dud against the Bucks recently, he's scored 19, 17 and 21 points in his last three games. He's drained 14 threes in his last five games and has also had totals of nine and 10 rebounds in two of his last five games. He might take a hit with Josh Smith on the verge of a return, but will still be productive off the bench on most nights.

Battier is still gimpy with his injury and won't play on Sunday night as he recovers from ankle surgery. But he's on the verge of getting some run and could be very solid if Tracy McGrady misses many games. Battier is another guy who isn't great at anything, but does everything well. If you're in a roto league and need a solid contributor across the board for the bottom of your lineup, look into grabbing him.

Centers

Chris Wilcox, F/C, Thunder

Wilcox was awful in his first start at center for the Thunder this season on Saturday but he was in foul trouble. That was just one game, and as long as he hangs onto the job, he should be a serviceable center. Like Drew Gooden and Udonis Haslem, he's a power forward starting at center, and won't block many shots. However, he could post a lot of double-doubles so give him a look if you're desperate for a center.

Andray Blatche, F/C, Wizards

Blatche had the game of his life last Tuesday against the – ahem – Warriors with 25 points, 12 boards and five blocks, and may never put up a line like that again. But he's been outplaying starter JaVale McGee ever since and could end up replacing him in the starting five at some point. And even if he doesn't, I'm going to cut McGee and hang onto Blatche for a couple weeks until we see what happens.

Kendrick Perkins, C, Celtics
www.bostonceltics.ws
Perkins is unowned in many leagues because he doesn't do much scoring. He broke out the other night for 15 points and 12 boards against the Bobcats for his first double-double of the year. He's only averaging seven points per game, but serves a fantasy purpose with the two blocks and nearly eight boards per game. If you need a center and have scoring under control, he's a sneaky option.

Jason Maxiell, F/C, Pistons

I'm not convinced Maxiell is quite worth owning in 12-team leagues just yet, but he's worth keeping an eye on. He played just 10 minutes on Sunday for four points and three steals, but had scored in double figures in his four previous games. He averaged 7.5 rebounds in those four and blocked nine shots, including six in one game. He's only an option in very deep leagues, and none of his teammates did much on Sunday. Expect him to average around 10 points, six boards and two blocks in the upcoming week.

Deep League Alert: Jared Jeffries, F/C, Knicks

I will not be picking up Jeffries because I still can't imagine him playing center in the NBA. But Mike D'Antoni can and if the experiment works out, Jeffries could actually do a little damage in that system. He's always an injury risk and is known as a defensive specialist, but it's quickly becoming trendy to collect New York Knicks. Jeffries isn't due back from his broken leg for about a week, but keep your eye on him when he emerges.

If you missed the Turkey Day podcast I did with Hector from RotoExperts.com, click here to listen. And to hear a pretty cool interview with former star Doug Christie, click here.

Many of you have mentioned that you miss the music chatter from me. It's mainly an issue of time, as I always seem to be under the gun these days and am just happy to meet all my deadlines. The Season Pass has basically become my fifth child. Anyway, I am not abandoning the music chatter and will see what I can do to throw some stuff out there soon. Have a great week and I hope all the lineup decisions you make are the right ones.

[Hache Man]

Monday Morning Doctor's Report
Take Me Down to the Infirmary

In the past this list has been somewhat random, with players being organized alphabetically by their team's nickname (Hawks, Jazz, Lakers), which is the way our Injury Report Page breaks them down (click the link if you've never been there). I am going to list players alphabetically by their city name, which should make more sense and bring some order to the list.

I do this list in the morning, while most of the injury news hits in the afternoon once teams practice and go through shootaround. In other words, take this information for what it's worth and check back throughout the day for new info in the news blurbs. Here we go.

Josh Smith – ankle – Looking good for Weds, I have him in lineups.
Zaza Pachulia – shoulder – Loses starting gig with Josh back.
Kirk Hinrich – thumb – Out a couple more months.
Antoine Wright – groin – Not likely for Tuesday, bench.
Josh Howard – ankle – Missed five straight, I'm benching him.
Carmelo Anthony – elbow – Not good news, bench for now.
Stephen Jackson – hand – Not serious, but very painful. I'm benching.
Monta Ellis – ankle – Still rehabbing, but return date unknown.
Tracy McGrady – knee – Scary trip to Dr. Andrews. Bench for now.
Brent Barry – calf – Iffy for next one, irrelevant due to Luther Head.
Shane Battier – ankle – Two-game week, still rehabbing. Bench.
Mike Dunleavy – knee – Saw him on a milk carton yesterday.
Eric Gordon – thigh – Early reports promising, OK in deep leagues.
Chris Kaman – foot – Not likely for this week. Bench him
Marcus Camby – foot – Returned to last game, should be OK.
Ricky Davis – knee – Had dream he played this week, but don't start.
Chris Mihm – ankle – Day-to-day, but why would you play him?
Quinton Ross – foot – No value in Memphis, or anywhere else.
Andrew Bogut – knee – Could play this week, but I'm benching him.
Charlie Villanueva – hamstring – Limited in last game, but should play.
Eduardo Najera – neck – No value either way.
Josh Boone – ankle – Setback Saturday, MRI Monday. Bench.
Chris Douglas-Roberts – knee – Likely for the week, not much value.
Morris Peterson – knee – Hopes to play tonight, very little value.
Cuttino Mobley – heart – Career in jeopardy. Bench.
Nate Robinson – groin – Day-to-day. NY media too busy w/ Marbury to care.
Stephon Marbury – exiled – End is near, feel free to grab him if desperate.
Eddy Curry – knee – Still not ready, but we had actually forgotten about him.
Jared Jeffries – leg – Should practice this week, play next week.
Robert Swift – back – Hasn't played for awhile, no value.
Tony Battie – ankle – Getting MRI, bench for now.
Mickael Pietrus – thumb – Out for the month.
Jameer Nelson – hip – Should be getting close, but risky play.
Martell Webster – foot – Bench, but getting closer to return.
John Salmons – thigh – Iffy for his two-game week. Bench him.
Kevin Martin – ankle – Will practice Monday, risky, but should play.
Jermaine O'Neal – ankle – Sounds close but surprise DNP for last two.
Carlos Boozer – quad – Has missed six, still iffy to return this week.
Deron Williams – ankle – Two sets of back-to-backs a concern.
Andrei Kirilenko – ankle – Day-to-day. Risky play, consider benching.
Brevin Knight – finger – Doubtful, no value with Deron healthy.
Matt Harpring – back – Day-to-day but no fantasy value.
Gilbert Arenas – knee – Still a month away, but who knows what he'll do?

Injury notes – Which turned out much longer than I had hoped

Josh Smith is not guaranteed for Wednesday, but I'm starting him, as he says he's ready to go.

Antoine Wright was close to locking down the starting shooting guard job in Dallas but is now on the shelf with a groin injury. As the Dallas Morning News said on Sunday, "it's back to musical shooting guards."

Josh Howard has missed five games and owners are getting furious with him. Reading the latest blurb about him walking off the court abruptly prior to his last game, I'm still scared to start him. Maybe we'll get some good news today, but that's another thing to love about Mr. Carlisle. No injury updates to the media, so we likely won't know much until game time on Tuesday. My gut says he'll play in that one, but my gut also told me the Georgia Bulldogs would beat Georgia Tech at home. Seriously?

Carmelo Anthony's right elbow injury is a little scary if you read the updated blurb on him. He couldn't shoot, dribble a ball or pick up his little kid and the injury has apparently gotten progressively worse since training camp. The fact he's been playing in this kind of pain in his shooting elbow probably has a lot to do with his – wait for it - poor shooting this season, as well as his overall poor play. I assume he'll have another X-ray and an MRI, but I've got him on the bench for the upcoming week. Could be wrong and he could suck it up and play in three games this week, but I'm not that brave.

Update: From our brand new blurb at 9:30 a.m. - ."I'll be OK," he said. "I'll get through it. It's just something I couldn't (get through Sunday)," he said. Melo also says he's planning on playing Tuesday, so feel free to get him in your lineup if you believe him. I'm going to have to think about it.

Stephen Jackson's left hand/wrist/thumb injury is not thought to be serious, as in a long-term injury. However, he's wearing a brace, experiencing significant swelling in the hand and is day-to-day. I own Jackson in about every league and it pains me to say this, but I'm benching him unless I get some positive information tonight. He missed Saturday's game and is likely to also miss Monday's if the swelling doesn't improve. They don't play again until Friday and it sounds realistic he should be back for that one. If you are OK with just getting two games out of that lineup spot, go for it. Oh, and just how painful is iit for us owners that he didn't get to take part in the Saturday dunk contest against the Knicks? He might have scored 100 points that night.

Monta Ellis is still rehabbing from his ankle injury, and my buddy Widespread Perkins thought it would be nice to get an update on the progress of his comeback, and I agree. I have not been in Monta's corner yet this season. My initial understanding was that the injury he suffered was about as severe an ankle injury as you will see and that he might not return to full speed this season. And a guy as fast as Ellis will not be nearly as effective if he loses a step, just like we saw with Marvin Harrison this season for the Colts. That said, Ellis is said to be making solid progress in his recovery and still fully intends to be on the court this season. And just like Mr. Widespread Perkins, every time I see Ellis sitting there on the wire I instinctively react and move the mouse in his direction. I've yet to click on it though and will probably not pick him up in any leagues. I saw too many guys wait on Gilbert Arenas all season last year and get nothing in return. I'm not saying that's what will happen with Ellis, but I don't think he's going to be the savior that many others do. If you disagree with me and want to secure him for the second half of the season, I'd wait until we finally get an update of when he plans on playing again and then make your move. We've heard January, but I suspect we should get a new update in the next two weeks.

Tracy McGrady is going to see Dr. Andrews today, which is not a good thing. Houston doctors have told him the best thing for his knee is to get out there and play on it. However, T-Mac's not happy with that advice and wants another opinion. I'm guessing he would like someone to tell him to shut it down for a few weeks, as his organization simply wants him to play through it. I get the sense that there is some growing tension between him and the team, and that he doesn't feel like he should be forced to be playing if he's hurt. But he's trying to be a good soldier and going out there in an attempt to pacify the situation. And that conflict is probably at the root of so many of his injury-related and bizarre comments this season. I doubt the real Dr. A tells him he needs more surgery, but T-Mac might be able to persuade him to tell the Rockets to shut him down for a couple weeks.

Mike Dunleavy is reportedly still alive and living in Indiana. Other than that, I have no idea on what his status is, other than 'out indefinitely.' He's being dropped in many leagues now and will continue to be until something gives. I don't own him so I haven't had to make that decision. But I am a very impatient fantasy owner and would probably have let go by now, not that I'm recommending that route for everyone.

Eric Gordon's hamstring injury doesn't sound too bad. He plays four games this week, so you have to think he's good for three of them, but just beware that he's due to cool down, just like he did in his last game. I'm starting in my 30-team league, but benching him elsewhere. Ricky Davis is still out with a knee injury (and should miss most of this week), although I had a dream last night that he was in the lineup for Tuesday's game. And if that's not a sign that I am too wrapped up in this job, I don't know what is.

Chris Kaman's plantar fasciitis is not good news and there's almost no way he'll play this week, so Marcus Camby, who left and then returned to his last game with a foot injury, should have a big week.

Andrew Bogut should be close to returning from his knee injury, but, as usual, all is quiet out of Milwaukee. The team apparently took yesterday off and Bogut's knee will be re-evaluated today. But whether we're ever told about those results is another issue altogether.

Charlie Villanueva played just 16 minutes in his last game through a hamstring injury, and he, along with Michael Redd (ankle), will be evaluated further today as well.

Cuttino Mobley's heart is a very serious concern and it's starting to sound like he may never play again. Drop him for Tim Thomas if you can.

Nate Robinson's groin injury is an ongoing concern, but I'm not counting on getting much information on it today as the entire media contingent in NYC will be on Marbury alert. Marbury's buyout should happen today and he's targeting Miami as a destination. However, the Knicks are talking about putting a clause in the buyout plan that would not allow him to be signed by Pat Riley (I'm not kidding and it's just another reason I don't own Marbury in any leagues). I'm pretty sick and tired of the Marbury saga at this point, and continuously get crap from Knicks fans for my smart aleck attitude about the franchise, but come on. I have much more important things to do than sit around and wait for the next round of the "he said, she said" circus that has been coming out of the Garden for the last five years. Like…a Jared Jeffries update!

Jared Jeffries should practice this week and then play in the following one. Mike D'Antoni still has designs on playing Jeffries at center despite David Lee's 37 points and 21 rebounds in Saturday's YMCA Special. In fact, D'Antoni even ripped on Lee for not doing more, if you can believe it. "He should've had 50," D'Antoni said. "He should've had 50 and 28." Whatever. That was the first 30-20 game for a Knick since Patrick Ewing did it 1994 and Lee now has five straight double-doubles and is averaging 20 & 14 since Zach Randolph left. If that's not good enough to start at center for D'Antoni, I don't know what is. Anyway, Jeffries should be back sometime next week and at least deserves consideration at this point. But in the meantime, Free Lee.

John Salmons suffered a thigh injury the other night that, as far as I know, was only reported by NBA TV and us. I didn't see anything about it in the Sacramento papers on Sunday, but it has been verified this morning. He's day-to-day and doesn't sound thrilled about his chances for Tuesday, which hurts with the Kings only playing twice this week to begin with.

Kevin Martin will practice today and could play on Tuesday. I'm reserving him this week, but will be ready to roll with him in the next one.

Jermaine O'Neal has now missed three straight with his ankle injury, although it sounded like he would play in the last two until just before game time. Consider him a game-time decision again for Tuesday, although my guess is that he plays. I can't wait for him to come back so Andrea Bargnani can go back to the small forward slot, which is where all that crazy production came from last week.

Carlos Boozer could miss this week after sitting out the previous six with a quad injury, so I'd get him benched. The Jazz have a pair of back-to-back matchups this week, which has to be concerning if you own Deron Williams. He made it through the last set he had to deal with, so maybe he can do it two more times this week. I think you have to start him if you own him. Andrei Kirilenko's ankle injury sounds a bit on the serious side and I'll be surprised if he doesn't miss a couple games, but then again, I'm not a real doctor. I'm benching him, but you can read the news and decide for yourself.

J.R. Smith Update

J.R Smith has been something else lately. Let's take a look back at his last six games. Nov. 21 he had 18 points, six rebounds and three 3-pointers, causing him to be picked up in many leagues. Nov. 23 he had eight points on 2-of-9 shooting. Nov. 26 he was a DNP-CD as punishment for being late to a practice, causing him to be dropped in many leagues. Nov. 27 he blew up for 32 points, five rebounds, four assists, two steals and five threes (picked up). Nov. 29 he played seven minutes and failed to score (dropped). Nov. 30 he played 30 minutes for 19 points and five threes (picked up).

What a mess. News came out on Monday that he and Karl never speak, although it sounds like Smith would like to. "We never talk," he said. "You never want to not even talk to your coach." Karl didn't talk to him after Wednesday's benching or when he played him just seven minutes. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it tough to learn from your mistakes if you don't know what they are? Smith has a history of being tough to coach/manage, but Karl's probably not the best match for Smith, either. In fact, Smith's bad rap with coaches has come from three very tough ones: Scott Skiles, Byron Scott and Karl. I'd like to see him go play for less of a disciplinarian and see what happens. Any way, I still own Smith in a couple leagues, but am too scared to start him right now. We've seen this happen before with Karl and Smith, so no matter how good things might look one day, you can almost be sure they're going to look bad again soon.

[Hache Man]

Go Away, We Don't Want Any!

Hello again. Hopefully you made it through Monday's Dose. It was a big one and I'm curious if you all prefer a quick-hit version, or a longer column with more "stuff" and analysis. The thought is that you might not want to read the super long posts, and with the attention span/time crunch of the average user, quick hits are more effective than in-depth breakdowns. Let me know your thoughts, although I'm not ready to post a poll on that one just yet. Here's the breakdown from Monday's news and games.

Stephon Marbury met with Donnie Walsh for just 15 minutes, while his lawyer lasted for 35 minutes. As I suggested in one of yesterday's blurbs before the decision came down, Walsh simply sent Marbury home, with pay, to stay away from the team. No practice, no games, no nothing. I don't think he even has a parking pass anymore. This is not surprising to me, although the New York Post's Marc Berman is not happy about it. Walsh didn't want to buy him out and by not letting Marbury go play for someone else, it does serve as some form of punishment – albeit an expensive one. I have advised against holding Marbury all along. Not to say I told you so, but…

Tracy McGrady's meeting with the real Dr. A went about as I expected and he's going to be shut down for "at least a week." And when he comes back, it sounds like his minutes will be monitored closely. Hopefully you moved T-Mac before he was shut down, as it will be very tough to do so now. But maybe a month from today he'll be back in full effect. We'll see. Meanwhile, Luther Head sure looks like a nice pickup right now, as he should take up a bulk of his minutes. Shane Battier is also a decent option while T-Mac is out.

Injury Updates

Nate Robinson is doubtful for tonight vs. Portland, while Chris Duhon is probable. Both guys spent Monday's practice on stationary bikes and it would be surprising to see Nate go tonight.

Martell Webster is getting close to a return, but he's going to be out of shape and has almost no shot at joining the starting lineup any time soon. Portland's pretty deep, so Webster will struggle to offer much value in the near future. Let's just say I'm not rushing out to pick him up. However, his return will likely hurt Rudy Fernandez at some point. Speaking of Rudy, I think he'll be a good play this week vs. the Knicks tonight and Washington on Wednesday. They finish up at Utah and at Boston, so bench him in those if you can.

Andrei Kirilenko (ankle) and Carlos Boozer (quad) both traveled with the team to Sacramento, but both players are listed as doubtful for tonight. It would be surprising to see them play. Deron Williams, on the other hand, says he wants to play in all four games this week, despite a pair of back-to-backs. Hopefully you played him.

Josh Howard (ankle) practiced on Monday and it sounds like he'll play tonight against the Clippers, but it all depends on how the ankle responds this morning.

Carmelo Anthony says he'll try to play through his elbow injury against Toronto tonight, so feel free to throw him in your lineup if you're feeling lucky. He took Monday off, which probably helped.

Josh Smith is set to return to action Wednesday at home vs. Memphis. I will be there, and am pretty fired up about his return.

John Salmons (thigh) and Kevin Martin (ankle) are game-time decisions tonight vs. the Jazz. Even if they play, they're both going to come off the bench. More on that later.

Brent Barry will miss a couple weeks with a tear in his calf. Hopefully this has no impact in your league.

Marcus Camby (ankle) and Eric Gordon (hamstring) both skipped most of Monday's practice and are game-time decisions for Tuesday @ Dallas. My guess is they play, but I didn't start Gordon this week. He's going to be inconsistent even when he's fully healthy. Camby should have been started in most leagues, but now we just have to hope he plays tonight.

Steve Nash and Shaquille O'Neal sat out Monday's practice for rest, but should be fine to play on Wednesday vs. New Orleans.

Don Nelson spoke at length about Monta Ellis on Monday, and here's what he said, courtesy of the Contra Costa Times.

"Monta, he's the wild card," Nelson said. "I really don't know. I don't know when he's coming back. I don't know how long he's going to take. ... But once he gets on the court, that doesn't mean he's going to be Monta of a year ago. It's still probably going to be a month or more before he can get up to speed. So that's another setback, really, for the team. Not necessarily a positive as he comes along. It's another adjustment for our team."

Take that for what it's worth, but I'm not rushing out to pick up Ellis any time soon.

Sticky Situations

Tayshaun Prince was benched on Sunday, while Allen Iverson isn't exactly clicking with new coach Michael Curry. Neither guy is too happy with his role right now, but Curry doesn't seem to care. Rodney Stuckey could be the big beneficiary here, so consider picking him up (again).

Amare Stoudemire is already talking about becoming the big dog in 2010 as the Suns appear to be very unhappy working for Terry Porter. Amare and Steve Nash are underperforming and things might get worse before they get better. Amare's technical-fueled ejection likely cost the Suns a win on Sunday, which doesn't help matters. Nash and Amare remain interesting buy-low guys, but there's no guarantee they ever get it going under Porter.

The Sixers are an absolute mess. Samuel Dalembert is having his minutes yanked around by Mo Cheeks. Cheeks says it's a matter of foul trouble, but Sammy's not buying it. I still think he'll come around, but he should be on benches until he figures it out. Elton Brand's shooting isn't great, but at least he's producing, while Andre Iguodala simply hasn't figured out how to co-exist with Elton Brand. Maybe he will, or maybe he won't.

The Kings will be using a starting five of Beno Udrih, Bobby Jackson, Francisco Garcia, Spencer Hawes and Brad Miller on Tuesday. That means that Salmons and Martin (if they play), Mikki Moore and Jason Thompson will all come off the bench. This is fantastic news for Hawes, who has a real chance of sticking in the starting five the rest of the way, while I can't imagine Martin and Salmons not starting when healthy. Keep an eye on this situation tonight and act accordingly. I would not do anything drastic with Martin or Salmons based on this info, but keep your fingers crossed that they return to the starting unit when healthy. And if Hawes is available in your league, grab him right now. Moore didn't have much value to begin with, and may not start another game this season.
Monday's Action

Wolves lose to Bobcats

With Corey Brewer lost for the season with a torn ACL, look for Ryan Gomes to see a big boost. He was awesome on Monday, going for 16 points, six boards, two blocks and four threes, and should be added in most leagues. Rashad McCants didn't do much last night, but he will also see a boost in value with the loss of Brewer. Gomes and McCants are the Pickups of the Day in the Season Pass on Tuesday.

Utah's C.J. Miles was Monday's Pickups of the Day, and I'm excited to see what he does tonight and in his four-game week.

Al Jefferson had a career-high six blocks, but managed just eight points and nine boards while being dominated by Emeka Okafor. Randy Foye and Mike Miller (19 points, 10 boards, five assists, five treys) also played very well in another loss, this time @ Charlotte.

The Cats were led by Jason Richardson's 25 points and three 3-pointers, but also got 14 points and 14 assists from Raymond Felton, and 24 points, 10 boards and five blocks from Okafor in his best line of the season. Okafor is heating up and even hit all six free throws last night.

Despite having Michael Jordan in the house, there couldn't have been more than 5,000 people at the Bobcats game last night. My wife asked me why I was watching a college game when she saw all the empty seats. Ouch.

Celtics Romp Over Magic

The Celtics rolled to another easy win on Monday, waxing the Magic. Rajon Rondo had 16 points and 12 assists, which is nice. The "should I drop Rondo" emails have thankfully stopped now. Kendrick Perkins had 13 boards and a block, and looks like a decent play in deep leagues right now. Tony Allen sprained an ankle, but played through it after leaving briefly.

Kevin Garnett had just 15 points, nine boards, one assist, zero steals and zero blocks. He's very frustrating to own right now. 15 & 8 is fine if he goes 5-2-2 to go along with it. But 2-1-1 is just unacceptable. Owners better get used to it as long as the Celtics continue to go unchallenged.

Rashard Lewis hit two threes and 11-of-23 shots for a season-high 30 points in the loss.

Heat Beat Warriors in OT

Dwyane Wade, Shawn Marion, Udonis Haslem, Mario Chalmers and Michael Beasley were all solid in Monday's win, but take it with a grain of salt. I could pick up four of you and we could score points against the Warriors. Wade is playing better than anyone in the league and you're probably winning your league if you own him. Right?

Anthony Morrow was benched on Monday (cut him right now), while Kelenna Azubuike sat out with a foot injury. There was no mention of that injury until game time, so hopefully you didn't get stuck with him in your lineup. Stephen Jackson surprisingly played a ton of minutes despite his hand injury. He didn't shoot well (2-of-11) or score (8 points), but did hand out 11 dimes. I benched him, but don't feel too bad given the lack of stats outside of assists. Corey Maggette scored 29 and hit 17-of-18 free throws, but didn't do much else. He tweaked an ankle in overtime, but did return to finish the game. I suspect he'll be fine, but it could swell up on him in the morning.

Brandan Wright started in place of Azubuike and had 15 points, four boards and two blocks, but will be very inconsistent for Nellie. Jamal Crawford had 40 points and four threes, hitting 11-of-22 shots and 14-of-16 free throws in his home debut. Obviously, he's going to be fine under Nellie, as he's apparently "one of his dudes."

Andris Biedrins had most of his 17 points, 15 boards, two steals and a block in the second half, but he appears to be headed for some inconsistency as well. I'm advising to sell high after this line, but only if you have other options at center. He's going to have some huge games going forward, but there will also be nights when Nellie goes away from him. C.J. Watson also played well, but got most of his minutes off the bench in the second half, finishing with eight points, four boards, three assists and four steals. He's probably worth owning, but good luck in figuring out when to play him.

[Hache Man]

Is that Thunder...or snoring
Welcome to another edition of Position Battles. We're going bargain hunting this week, and that means examining the likes of Nick Collison, Amir Johnson and Rashad McCants. (Skepticism required.)

Rotoworld's, NBA Season Pass is still available, if you haven't already subscribed. It has updated rankings, customizable rosters, schedule grids, exclusive articles and much, much more... check it out!

Thunder center -- Chris Wilcox vs. Nick Collison vs. some other scrubs

The Thunder have shifted toward a smaller lineup, featuring Kevin Durant at small forward and Jeff Green at power forward, pinching the minutes for their under-talented big men. Johan Petro has appeared in one out of the past five games, Mouhamed Sene has played 23 minutes all season and Robert Swift is a big-time bust after being taken 12th overall in the 2004 draft. The Thunder are now employing Chris Wilcox as their undersized starting center, backed up primarily by Nick Collison and Joe Smith.

Collison's numbers are nearly all off his career averages. He has slipped in points (6.4), FG% (45%), rebounds (5.9), blocks (0.6) and minutes (25).

Wilcox is having a similarly disappointing season, down in points (9.2), FG% (50%), rebounds (5.7), assists (0.9), steals (0.3), blocks (0.1) and minutes (22).

By the way, that's not a typo...Wilcox has one blocked shot in 14 games this season, pathetic even by his own low standards.

The biggest difference between these two guys right now is that Wilcox is starting and Collison is coming off the bench. Of course, that comes with the mutual disclaimers that Oklahoma City's rotations could change at any moment and Wilcox can't play 30+ minutes at center on a regular basis. In fact, in his first start of the season Wilcox racked up three field goals, three rebounds and four fouls in 15 minutes.

Collison can be counted on to fill in at both power forward and center, but he's not a great fantasy player. He played seven minutes in the Thunder's last game. Head coach Scott Brooks attributed it to an unfavorable matchup (vs. Memphis) and promised that Collison is still a part of the rotation, but that's not too comforting. Rely on him for solid percentages in deep leagues, but otherwise Collison is best avoided right now. He's barely averaging more playing time than solid veteran Joe Smith.

Bobcats point guard -- Raymond Felton vs. D.J. Augustin

Felton's shortcomings include being a lousy shooter (career 40% field goals), especially from downtown (0.6 this season on 29% shooting), and an erratic point guard -- this season he is averaging 5.8 assists and 2.5 turnovers per game.

Augustin's numbers aren't much better until you isolate the games he has started (while Jason Richardson was rehabbing from his knee surgery). In five starts, he averaged 19 points on 49% shooting, 3.0 three-pointers, 2.5 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 3.5 turnovers and 0.8 steals.

Those numbers are probably unrealistically high, but it's the reason his owners are still hanging onto him and praying the Bobcats trade a wingman for a center.

Yes, the inexhaustible trade mill has been churning out rumors for a few weeks now. First Gerald Wallace and Jason Richardson were reportedly being shopped to L.A. for Chris Kaman, but that has quieted down following Kaman's foot injury and worries about Marcus Camby's durability. The Timberwolves have apparently offered Jason Collins, Rashad McCants and a draft pick for Raymond Felton, but that's a trade so bad even Michael Jordan couldn't go for it (I hope).

The real point of rehashing these now-defunct rumors is to highlight that the Bobcats are serious about shopping Wallace, Richardson and Felton in order to land a quality big man. Such a move would guarantee more available minutes in the backcourt, and Augustin would be a lock for a starting job. (It's worth repeating that Larry Brown was vocal in the decision to pass over Brook Lopez in favor of the "pure" point guard stylings of D.J.) Reflect back on his numbers as a starter and tell me you aren't jealous of the owner who scooped him off the free agent pile.

The bottom line here is that Augustin will surface with significant value before the season is over...at least by the trade deadline. It's possible that the only reason Felton is still starting is because it keeps his trade value high -- his "tweener" status makes him more suited to support a starting backcourt of Augustin and J-Rich. Of course that's just more idle speculation...for now Augustin is still stuck with a 20-30 minute role off the bench, while Felton's owners should keep him active and enjoy the production. At the end of the week, whether or not he's being showcased is of secondary concern.

Pistons frontcourt -- Kwame Brown vs. Amir Johnson vs. Jason Maxiell

I should begin by mentioning that Rasheed Wallace --the Pistons solid, all-purpose big man-- is 34 years old. He has plenty of mileage and isn't exactly reknown for his conditioning, perhaps one explanation for his up-and-down play...such as Sunday's loss to Portland in which he managed one rebound in 39 minutes.

What can you say about Kwame Brown that hasn't been muttered, interlaced with curse words, a million times before? He simply isn't worth owning outside of the deepest leagues. His starting gig comes and goes depending upon matchups, and even as a starter his numbers are worthless. 4.8 points, 50% free throw shooting, 4.2 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 0.7 steals? Next, please.

Next up is Amir Johnson. This 21-year-old shot-blocking phenom is pure pogo goodness, as long as he's getting enough minutes. He has posted his two best rebounding games within the past week, and finally seems to be adjusting to his variable role -- off the bench against bigger teams, back in the starting five against small-ballers. He also has six blocks in the last three games, a great sign after a lackluster start to the season. The Pistons have every intention of resting their veterans and starters (see: Rasheed Wallace above), giving Johnson a legitimate chance of sustaining value (and a 25-minute role) as the season progresses.

Jason Maxiell is pure energy on the court, earning his spot in the rotation by chasing down loose balls, grabbing 4.3 rebounds and blocking 1.1 shots in just 18 minutes per game. He blocked six shots in a game last Friday, a career-high, but generally his lines are more understated.

Unfortunately, if you want to use either Johnson or Maxiell you better do it quickly. They are each providing decent value right now, but once Antonio McDyess re-signs with the team minutes won't be so easy to come by. Wring whatever you can out of them --with the understanding that a few dud games are par for the course-- and get ready to cut them. If Rasheed Wallace, Brown or McDyess ever get hurt, you can always pick up their young understudies again.

Timberwolves small forward -- Rashad McCants vs. Rodney Carney

I know, I know...it's hard to care. But Corey Brewer was playing 21 minutes per game and those minutes could go to good use somewhere, right?

First things first...starting small forward Ryan Gomes will probably absorb some of Brewer's vacant playing time. Gomes is currently averaging 11 points on 47% shooting, 1.3 three-pointers on 44% from downtown, 4.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 0.6 steals in 29 minutes per game. In other words, his owners should be very pleased...he should get bumped up to around 32-35 minutes per game, with a corresponding boost to his statistics.

Rashad McCants is a likely candidate to pick up more minutes also. His playing time is down 10 minutes per game from last season (from 27 to just 17), due in part to his increasingly erratic shot selection. The poor decision making has hit his percentages hard, as he's averaging 37% from the field and 24% from downtown. Right now he'd be lucky to recapture last season's numbers, and I don't see him making any great improvements during the season. Pick him up if you have an available spot, but don't expect a breakout from Shady McCants.

Rodney Carney is another regressing role player for the Wolves. His points, FG percentages, 3PT percentages and minutes have all declined since his rookie season. So that's not a good sign. He has bottomed out at 36% shooting this season, adding 0.9 rebounds in six minutes per game. Translation: even in deep leagues he's not worth considering.

A quick word on Kevin Love...I'm still not high on him. He has averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds in his last two games, but consistency is a major issue. So is conditioning. The T-Wolves broadcasters stated that Love has hit a "mini-wall" recently, thanks to the intense NBA schedule. If he feels that way now, imagine what he'll be saying in February. If he posts a few consecutive double-doubles, don't waste any time before selling high.

[Hache Man]

Time To Pickup Monta?
Matt Stroup will be hosting a live chat today at 3 eastern time. Click here to check it out.

Tuesday Tidbits

Andrew Bogut is 50-50 to play tonight through a knee injury, so check back later in the afternoon for an update (hopefully). Charlie Villanueva sounds good to go through his hamstring injury and my guess is that he will start for the Bucks tonight. He's tempting, but tends to always disappoint.

Shaquille O'Neal is iffy for tonight's game because it's the first of a back-to-back. He has also been taking practices off, which you would think might be enough, but he's going to sit out a lot of games in hopes of saving him for the playoffs. Anyway, it's possible that Shaq could play on both Wednesday and Thursday, but not likely.

Kelenna Azubuike is undergoing an MRI on his foot and we should know the results tonight. If healthy, he will start some games, likely alternating with Brandan Wright, for now. Then again, he could get buried in the rotation in favor of Anthony Morrow and Rob Kurz for all we know. And don't feel bad if you've never heard the name Rob Kurz. He's played 11 minutes this season.

Jameer Nelson might play tonight through his hip injury but the team is waiting to see how he feels at shootaround.

News came out Tuesday while I was doing some Christmas shopping that Tracy McGrady is now saying he'll be out three weeks. Good luck trying to trade him right now. Much like the Knicks and Eddy Curry, you may have to package him with David Lee to get him off your team. Shane Battier sounds like he'll return to action tonight and we'll get another look at Luther Head starting over Tracy McGrady. If Head's still available in your league, watch him closely tonight. Ron Artest should also see a boost in performance with T-Mac in street clothes for the next three weeks.

A report surfaced last night that Steve Nash could have the ball in his hands more going forward. My question is, why is Terry Porter just now figuring this out? But if you think Nash's turnovers are going to go down as a result, I'm not buying it. His turnover averages over the last five seasons? 3.3, 3.5, 3.8, 3.6 and 3.8 this year.

Yesterday's Pickup of the Day in the Season Pass was Ryan Gomes, who should see a boost with Corey Brewer's season ending early. Check out Wednesday's Pickup of the Day in the Season Pass.

Tuesday's Game Action

The Good

Rasho Nesterovic double-doubled in the absence of Jeff Foster (back) and the Pacers beat the Lakers on Troy Murphy's last-second heroics. Murphy had 16 points and 17 boards, and continues to be a fantasy stud. Danny Granger scored 32 and did a bunch of other stuff, while T.J. Ford had 21 points, eight assists and three steals in the win. Kobe Bryant had 28 points in the loss.

Chris Duhon's amazing run continued on Tuesday with a season-high 23 points and 13 assists. I guess anyone can be Steve Nash under Mike D'Antoni, huh? Actually, that's not fair and Duhon has been outstanding. I've never given him much credit, but he deserves some props after this run – especially given the fact he's hurting. David Lee had another double-double and Tim Thomas had 14 points and three 3-pointers as the Knicks fell to the Blazers. Nate Robinson missed his third straight game, but it sounds like he and Jared Jeffries will play on Friday. It's probably time to stash Jeffries just in case, as anything seems possible under D'Antoni.

Steve Blake had 15 points, four boards, six assists, a steal and four 3-pointers in last night's win. I started him in one league this week over Chris Paul (2 games to 4) which I would not have advised most people to do. It was a pretty big gamble, but with last night vs. the Knicks and tonight vs. the Wizards, I felt it was worth a shot. Rudy Fernandez, who had 18 points and four threes last night, should also be a good play vs. the Wiz. Joel Przybilla added eight points, 14 boards and a couple blocks, but has been too inconsistent to be owned by most of you, let alone starting. He picked up a certain big man's off night, which you can read about in "The Bad" and "Ugly" section.

Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison both scored 22, but Butler suffered a knee injury. I think it's minor, but it's worth mentioning. DeShawn Stevenson finally broke out of his season-long slump with 21 points, five assists and five 3-pointers and I grabbed him in a couple leagues just in case he's ready to start playing. The Wizards actually beat the Nets last night and it's worth noting that Dee Brown started his seventh straight game at point guard and had eight points, seven assists and two steals. Antonio Daniels is still slowed by a bum knee, so keep an eye on Brown. That was his best line in seven starts.

Carmelo Anthony sucked it up and played well through his bum elbow with 23 points, six boards, three assists, a steal and two blocks on 9-of-19 shooting. He was on my bench, but I hope you were smarter than me this week. He's going to break out and start getting it done soon, as long as the elbow is not serious. J.R. Smith hit four threes for 14 points, four boards and two steals, and is averaging 16.5 points and 4.5 threes over his last two. And as soon as you put him in your lineup, he'll probably get benched by George Karl. Doug Smith of the Toronto Star said the following in his blog last night about Mr. Smith.

"You know, I would perhaps be mildly impressed and entertained by J.R. Smith's preening and prancing and "look at me" crap after he makes a shot if he'd done anything of any consequence at all in his career," Smith wrote. "Really, you've got to earn the right to look like an ass; he hasn't. The story this week that he and George Karl aren't talking makes me feel a bit better about George." Good stuff.

Chauncey Billups went for 24 points and 14 assists as the revival in Denver continued, while his counterpart can be found in the "Bad" section.

I guess Jermaine O'Neal deserves some props here for getting back on the court, but the 12 points and two boards in 19 minutes leaves plenty to be desired.

Kevin Martin returned from a 12-game absence and had 22 points and three 3-pointers, so get him back in your lineups. Francisco Garcia started and had 11 points, six boards, three assists, a steal and zero turnovers, but was out at the end with an ice pack on his recovering calf. John Salmons was out with his thigh injury, but will hopefully still be a starter when he returns. Spencer Hawes made the most of a start at PF with 14 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals. OK, so maybe I was wrong about the whole "sell high" thing a couple weeks ago. Especially if he continues to start. And did you see that sweet behind-the-back pass? Wow. Brad Miller added 18 points, nine board and four blocks in the disheartening loss to the Jazz, which proves the two bigs can play together.

Kyle Korver had 15 points and a 3-pointer, effectively killing my man C.J. Miles, but more on him later. Deron Williams was effective again and I bet he plays in all four this week, while Carlos Boozer (quad/knee) and Andrei Kirilenko (ankle) were out.

Marcus Camby had six points, 15 boards, four assists and two blocks despite a foot injury, while Eric Gordon had 13 points, two rebounds, three assists, two steals, three blocks and two threes. That is impressive given he was iffy coming in with a hamstring injury. Zach Randolph had 27 points and 10 boards in the loss and Al Thornton had 23 points, nine boards and three assists. Z-Bo looks great thus far for the Clips, while Thornton has kept it going as well. Dirk Nowitzki had 29 points and 10 boards in the win, Jason Terry added 26 and five treys, while Brandon Bass finished with 14 points and seven boards on 6-of-8 shooting in the two-point win.

Tayshaun Prince broke out of a slump with 15 points, 12 boards and five assists, notching his first double-double since Nov. 13, while Rodney Stuckey had 10 points, seven assists and two steals in a win over the Spurs. Stuckey is getting hot. Rip Hamilton scored 16 points, but contributed almost nothing else in the win. Manu Ginobili replaced Roger Mason in the starting lineup, which could be permanent, and had 13 points and two threes. Matt Bonner quietly started at center and is averaging 11.5 points, seven rebounds and two threes in his last two games. Keep an eye on him (I can't believe I just wrote that).

And finally, Andre Miller scored a season-high 28 points to go along with four boards and four assists to lead the Sixers over the Bulls in overtime. Andre Iguodala scored a season-high 25 points on 11-of-19 shooting to go along with nine boards, five assists, a steal and a block, so maybe he's about to pay off those of you who bought low on him recently. Sixers' center Marreese Speights hit 5-of-9 shots for 11 points and eight rebounds, and is currently a better center option in Philly than Sammy D. Speights had 6 & 7, 12 & 6 and 12 & 3 in his previous three games, so keep an eye on him.

Derrick Rose was nice again for the Bulls, while Tyrus Thomas came out of nowhere for 14 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks. I should have my head examined for picking him up in a couple leagues (again). If any of you can offer some psychoanalysis on how the human mind works in regards to why I would set myself up for more punishment from this guy after he has constantly beat me down over the last two years, I'm all ears.

The Bad and Ugly

Trevor Ariza stayed very consistent with 13 points, five boards, three assists and a steal, but did commit a season-high four turnovers. He has just 18 turnovers on the season, but nine of them have come in his last three games – yikes.

Jose Calderon had nine points and seven assists, while Andrea Bargnani got into early foul trouble to finish with nine points, two boards, two blocks and a three. The Raptors were decimated by the Nuggets, so I'm just chalking this up to a bad night. But am I starting to get worried about Bargnani? Yes.

Greg Oden had just two points, seven boards and two blocks, which has to be driving his owners crazy. I traded high on him after a couple decent games and you should probably look into doing the same.

Andray Blatche had just three points, three boards and two blocks in 14 minutes. Sorry for recommending you grab him recently. His good games will probably be overshadowed by a buncha bad ones going forward, so I'm jumping ship on him for now. JaVale McGee had eight points, five boards and three blocks, as he continues to show glimpses of greatness. He's just not doing enough consistently to be held in most leagues. For the Nets, Devin Harris scored 18 points, but added just two rebounds, two assists, one three and zero steals. He hit 7-of-14 shots and committed just one turnover. Am I worried about Harris? No way.

Jason Kidd didn't score on 0-of-6 shooting, but did add seven boards, eight assists and four steals in the win. J.J. Barea added 15 points and six assists, so just put him on your radar. Kidd owners know they're going to have to take the good with the bad, so just stay the course. Josh Howard (ankle) didn't play AGAIN! That makes six straight games, and something tells me he's not going to make Kamla's "Warrior" list in the fantasy show any time soon.

With Manu starting, Anthony Mason Jr. went back to the bench for just six points. I bet he emerges again at some point this season, but the hot run is definitely over for now. Feel free to cut him if you want to (Monta Ellis, anyone?).

C.J. Miles, who I picked up in most leagues for the four-game week, had just eight points, two boards and one 3-pointer in 19 minutes. Of course, just after I told the world to pick him up (and did so myself) he posted his worst line since Nov. 14. I still don't feel bad about the move, as he had hit double digits in scoring in eight of his last nine games and Kirilenko and Boozer were out. Oh well. He has three games to redeem himself, right?

Thaddeus Young hit just 1-of-9 shots for four points, but did at least snag five steals. He could move to a sixth-man role, but don't give up on him. Meanwhile, look for Samuel Dalembert to hit your waiver wire today after last night's zero points, three boards and two blocks in just 12 minutes. I'm not ready to cut him, as he has to get it turned around at some point, but he's not close to entering my starting lineup right now. Speights is playing better, which is scary. And for the Bulls, Drew Gooden had just nine points, five boards and six turnovers last night. He'll bounce back.

Wednesday's Action

There are 11 games tonight and I will be in Atlanta for their matchup with the Grizzlies to welcome Josh Smith back to action after a 12-game absence with a sprained ankle. His minutes are going to be monitored, but hopefully he gets enough run to produce.

Other things to watch for tonight include:

Can Emeka Okafor's strong play continue against the Thunder, and can Russell Westbrook and Chris Wilcox take advantage of their starting gigs?

Can the Cavaliers slow down Duhon and the Knicks in Cleveland?

Can the Sixers hang with the angry Lakers? The Sixers won in OT last night, while the Lakers lost to the Pacers.

Can the Pacers win at Boston after knocking off the Lakers last night? I doubt it, but they will get some serious respect if they pull it off.

Will Luther Head live up to the hype against the Clippers in L.A.?

Can Shawn Marion stay hot against the Jazz tonight, and can Deron Williams really handle another back-to-back? Just got word that Deron suffered a hip strain last night, but plans on playing through it. And Kirilenko sounds doubtful again since he'll likely need another cortisone shot and is now talking about the need for offseason ankle surgery.

More Monta

I received the following well-written email this morning. Guy makes some great points and has me re-thinking my disinterest in Monta Ellis, but I still argue that clogging up a valuable roster spot with such a big question mark is risky, but maybe it's something we should all be looking into. The fact that the author is sitting on both Monta and Arenas is interesting, and I know there's no way I could do that in most of my leagues. I would be getting killed. And I'm still not convinced that Monta will return by February or offer that much value if and when he does show. Yes, if I had a choice between owning Anthony Morrow or Mickael Pietrus, I would rather be sitting on Ellis. But if I could pick up a guy each week that would help me instead, I'd rather go that route. Check out his take, think back to what we went through waiting on Gilbert Arenas last season, and then take the poll.

The Email: I admire your work and value your opinions, but I cannot believe you continue to advocate not picking up Monta Ellis. All available information had his initial prognosis at 3-4 months of rehab following surgery which coincided nicely with his 30-game suspension, giving him a likely return to game action at around mid-December. Clearly he won't be at close to full strength initially, and he may not get back to the player he was last year. However, even if you believe that, to advocate not picking him up is just plain bad advice. This guy averaged 20 pts, 4 dimes, 5 boards, and 1.5 swipes a game last year. I would imagine that most people who read your column play in competitive leagues (i.e. at least 10-12 teams) and carry rosters of at least 12-15 players. Do you honestly believe that Monta Ellis, even at 65-75%, is not better than the 12th or 15th man on most people's teams? That's basically what you are saying when you advise against picking him up. I have both Ellis and Arenas on my team in a 10 team league - 15 man roster, and I have received multiple trade offers for both from savvy owners who recognize that either guy could be the key to winning a league title in April. Better advice would be to advise owners to take a flyer on Ellis or Arenas if they are sitting with a Pietrus, Morrow, Landry, Fernandez type of player on the end of their bench who will more than likely not be the difference maker Ellis or Arenas may be for their team. I think most agree he's roster worthy (he's owned 83% at ESPN), but I'd be curious to hear your thinking aside from the "Arenas burned owners last year" angle. Thanks, and keep up the good work.

[Hache Man]

A Modest List of Requests I received confirmation of an important fact this past Friday, when I saw a woman pushing a shopping cart containing a large box containing a space ship from one of the new Star Wars sequels that I opted not to see because I felt that one more nanosecond of exposure to Jar Jar Binks would push me over the brink of complete insanity.

Holiday shopping season has officially begun.

Being a Hall of Fame procrastinator when it comes to things such as purchasing gifts, I am nowhere close to initiating the actual shopping process myself. But I have begun to build the all-important list of gifts that I would like to receive, and in the spirit of greedily asking for things, I present to you some key requests from my lengthy wish list for fantasy basketball:

I wish that the old K.G. would come back.
To clarify, when I say "the old K.G.," I'm not so naïve to hope for the 22-point, 12-rebound, four-assist, 1.5-block Kevin Garnett from Minnesota. All I'm asking for is the 18.8-point, 9.2-board, 3.3-assist K.G. of a year ago. For the record, I don't have K.G. on any of my rosters; I just find his current numbers (16.0 ppg, 8.5 rpg and 2.2 apg) rather depressing. And frankly, it's just not fun for anyone when certain teams are so dominant that they not only shut down opposing players with their defense, but also limit their own players' production due to so many blowout wins. One statistical nuance that could breed some hope: Garnett is averaging 32 minutes and 47 seconds per game this year, precisely the same number he averaged last year. This suggests that the opportunity for last year's stats still exists, and if Garnett would start attacking the rim more (his free throw attempts have dropped from 4.7 per game in 2007-08 to 2.4 per game in 2008-09), he could once again become the less-than-dominant but eminently solid K.G. of a season ago.

A reminder: For exclusive stat projections, player rankings and more, check out Rotoworld's Season Pass.

I wish we could all stop complaining about Kobe.
There's been a similar perception that the Lakers' dominance this year is crippling Kobe's stats just as the Celtics dominance does to K.G. But is that really true? Yes, Kobe's minutes are down (from 39 per game last year to 34 so far this year), but his field goal attempts (19.6) are just one below his MVP season of a year ago, and his scoring average (24.6) is only 4.1 ppg off Dwyane Wade's league lead. Fantasy owners have every right to be frustrated about his lack of threes – Kobe has made an average of just 0.8 treys on 2.9 attempts per game so far – but he hoisted five in Tuesday's game (making zero), and should be casting away regularly from deep before too long. Even better news: The Lakers aren't blowing out everyone. On Friday, they beat Dallas by just seven points (with Kobe scoring 35), and then lost to Indiana by one (with Kobe scoring 28) on Tuesday night.

I wish it meant something when Tyrus Thomas went for 14 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks.
But it doesn't. He's still the same maddening player with tons of upside who has no idea how to consistently reach it.

I wish I could bring myself to trade Nene.
I drafted the Nuggets big man in a 30-team league after most of the top centers were off the board, only to have him emerge as a top center himself. This development theoretically sounds a blaring alarm that I should trade Nene immediately before a tendon or a ligament or an entire limb self-destructs. But here's the thing: I don't think this production is going to stop. Nene is quicker than most other centers, has explosive leaping ability and has developed a nice outside shot. 15.2 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 1.3 spg and 1.6 bpg? He's more than capable of maintaining those numbers. I know the injury risk is sizable, and the window is there to trade him right now, but personally, I'm banking on a full season of production. Is it the craziest notion you've ever heard that a player could return to full health and durability at age 26?

I wish I could tell you exactly what's wrong with Samuel Dalembert.
Alas, I cannot. But I would like to offer some perspective: Yes, Dalembert has had three wretched games in a row (most recently going scoreless with three boards and two blocks in 12 minutes Tuesday night). Yes, he's losing minutes to rookie Mareese Speights. Yes, this is exceedingly frustrating. But you should not drop this man from your roster. It was just a week and a half ago that Dalembert went for eight points, 16 boards and two blocks. He is in a slump and it is disconcerting that he's losing minutes, but you have to be patient. Earlier this week, Maurice Cheeks said to phillyBurbs.com of Dalembert's troubles, "I don't know what to say." Me neither, Maurice. But wait, Cheeks said more: "If Sam rebounds the ball, blocks a shot and runs the floor, that will get Sam back in it." At this point, that's probably the best way to envision it – Dalembert is in a funk and needs to get himself going (he also needs his coach to give him more minutes, but hopefully that'll work itself out soon). The bottom line: It's way too soon for this man to appear on waiver wires, and if he ends up being cast aside in your league, scoop him up.

I wish that Luol Deng would quit this tomfoolery and start SCORING MORE POINTS.
I actually don't have him on any of my teams, but I'm guessing that the above sentence has crossed your mind (minus the use of the archaic word "tomfoolery") if Deng is on your squad. Kind of like Dalembert, there's no definitive explanation as to why Deng isn't producing, but unlike Dalembert, Deng's playing time is right there (he played 37 minutes on Tuesday, scoring 10 points with two boards, a steal and a block). The Bulls broadcast team said on Tuesday that Deng is finally adjusting to playing with Derrick Rose, and learning where Rose can get him the ball on the floor. But considering that Deng had averaged 16.7 ppg in the seven games prior to sitting out three games with hamstring troubles, I would argue that the more plausible explanation is that he's still rounding back into form after missing time. Deng has been irritating, no doubt, but should soon emerge as a solid source of points, boards, steals and field goal percentage.

I wish we didn't place so much of our faith in the J.R. Smiths of the world, who will inevitably let us down.
This is probably self-explanatory, but I would just like to say that Smith was on his way to a rather pedestrian and meaningless line on Tuesday night before he added three late garbage time treys in Denver's enormous blowout win over Toronto. During Episode Four, Season One of The Wire, Bubbles says, "It's a thin line between heaven and here." He obviously wasn't referring to fantasy basketball, but it is indeed a thin line between heaven (the nights Smith has it going) and here (the look on your face after J.R. drops a grenade on your squad's box score). The fact is, had the Nuggets not blown that game open, Smith would have posted an ugly line (possibly only three points), and you'd once again be facing the prospect of dropping him. Instead he saved himself (for now) with 14 points and four threes, but there comes a time for any sensible owner that you have to ask yourself if the agony of banking on these wildly erratic performances is truly worth it.

And on that note, I shall now purchase some poorly-made toys that will inevitably break within hours of me presenting them to my nieces and nephews. Wait a second, I don't have any nieces and nephews. I'm blaming J.R. Smith.

[Hache Man]

Shot Heard Rondo the World
It's funny how quickly perceptions can change in the world of fantasy hoops. Just a few weeks ago, some exacerbated owners were wondering what to do with Rajon Rondo and his repeated single-digit scoring outings, even using "The D Word" (drop) in some instances.
www.bostonceltics.ws
On Wednesday, Rondo dropped the hammer of Thor on the Pacers with a line of 16 points, 13 boards, 17 assists and three steals, highlighting a tremendous recent run (13.9 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 9.0 apg and 2.3 spg on 56.8 percent shooting over his past nine games) and squelching any talk about what to do with the Celtics point guard. (In case it's still unclear, what you should do with Rondo is get him in your lineup, and leave him there.)

Now, a look at all the key happenings from an 11-game Wednesday in the NBA:

For exclusive stat projections, player rankings and more, check out Rotoworld's Season Pass.

The Good News
www.bostonceltics.ws
Kevin Garnett: A season-high 26 points with 14 boards and four blocks. The man clearly has no shortage of intensity, so is it really too much to ask for him to take over on offense more often?

Ray Allen: A scoring and threes specialist these days, but no complaints about 22.7 ppg and 3.8 treys per game over his last six.

Kendrick Perkins: Having a career year and should be universally owned. Last six games: 11.3 ppg, 9.7 rpg and 1.7 bpg.

Josh Smith: He's back after 12 games, and posted 14 points, six boards, five assists, two steals and a block in his return. Big numbers coming soon.

Marvin Williams: Some concern about what he'd do after Smith's return, but so far, no complaints: 16 points, four rebounds, five assists and two threes.

Kevin Love: Second double-double (16 points, 12 boards) in his last three, and he played just 27 minutes. Note to Randy Wittman: Turn him loose.

Rashard Lewis: Has now hit 28 treys over his past seven games.

Dwight Howard: 23 points, 14 rebounds, three steals, six blocks, five turnovers. And if you're shocked by that, you are an easily excitable person.

Courtney Lee: 19 points, four boards, three assists, three treys, three steals. A breakout line, but remember that Mickael Pietrus is out and Keith Bogans is due back soon. Nevertheless, Lee is an intriguing short-term prospect, especially in deep leagues.

Steve Blake: You look up from your bowl of Mueslix and suddenly he's having a career year: 11.5 ppg, 4.2 apg and 2.0 threes per game. The definition of a serviceable PG option.

Greg Oden: 13 points, 10 boards and a block. His wildly inconsistent scoring of late has something to do with the fact that his primary weapon is the "dunk shot" (don't you love it when the play-by-play reads, "so and so makes dunk shot"? That's always enjoyable). In any case, we can't count on regular scoring from Oden until he hones his low post game, but at least he's averaging 9.6 boards and 1.6 blocks in his last five.

Rudy Fernandez: 13 points, two threes, three steals and a block. The slump is over.

Kevin Durant: 24 points, but more importantly, solid production in threes (three), steals (two) and blocks (one). He's now averaging 24.7 ppg over his last six.

Jeff Green: Quietly solid numbers that should become commonplace: 18 points, six boards, three assists, two treys, a steal and a block. He's averaged 20.7 ppg in the last three games.

Emeka Okafor: 25 points and 13 boards, giving him 17.6 ppg and 12.8 rpg over his last five. Thank you for your patience.

Gerald Wallace: 21 points, four assists, three steals and a block, giving him 20+ points in three of his last five. Scoring touch has been the only thing missing; now all he has to do is keep it up.

Sean May: Season-highs in minutes (27), points (10) and rebounds (11). A small but encouraging sign that early-season conditioning woes are behind him.

David Lee: Meet Andris Biedrins, sans blocks. After 16 and 16 night on Wednesday, Lee is now averaging 19.4 ppg, 14.4 rpg (and 0.3 bpg) in seven straight double-doubles.

Al Harrington: Five games as a Knick: 22.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg and 2.4 threes.

LeBron James: 21 points, five rebounds, six assists, five steals and a block in just 28 minutes of a blowout win, but more importantly, a 10-for-10 night from the line puts him at a career-best 78.7 percent. So much for that Achilles' heel.

Daniel Gibson: 13 points, five assists, three steals, a block and a three. His season stats aren't much (8.7 ppg, 1.1 treys), but he's getting plenty of run and is worth a look in deeper leagues.

Kobe Bryant: After dropping 32 points on Philly, is now averaging 29.5 ppg over his last four. That looks more like first-round pick Kobe. As for the threes? He's cold right now (26 percent on the season), but they're coming.

Pau Gasol: 22 points, 13 boards, three blocks (emphasis on the three blocks). Owners have to hope that six blocks in the past four games isn't an isolated blip – Pau's averaging just 0.9 rejections on the year.

Andre Iguodala: 19 points, five boards, five assists, two steals. The threes still aren't there, but he could finally be ready to go on a tear.



More Good News

Samuel Dalembert: 11 points and eight boards in 30 minutes. You may now step off the ledge.

Thaddeus Young: 17 points, eight boards, two threes. You, sir, may now step off the ledge as well.

Andre Miller: 26 points, eight rebounds, five assists. It's never quite clear how he gets it done, but he does.

Luol Deng: See that ledge right there? Could you kindly step away from it? 21 points, six boards, two steals, two blocks and a three.

Luke Ridnour: 12 points, 10 assists and four steals in 41 minutes. Because it would just be too simple if Ramon Sessions (two points, nine assists in 22 minutes) out-produced Ridnour every night. For the record, Sessions still looks like the better long-term option.

Charlie Villanueva: 23 points, 10 boards, two steals and a three in 30 minutes. Yes, he's hard to trust, but he still belongs on your roster. Despite his trouble finding a groove, he's still averaging 12.7 ppg and 7.1 ppg on the year.

Grant Hill: 17 points, six boards, six assists, two steals and a block in a starting role. You could consider rousing the old man off waivers, but the Arizona Republic aptly points out that can't regularly handle the 40 minutes he played on Wednesday.

Matt Barnes: Came off the bench for 13 points, seven boards and three treys, and will be fine as long as he can get 30 minutes.

Leandro Barbosa: 19 points, four boards and three assists in 39 minutes filling in for Nash. Maybe this will convince Terry Porter to increase his minutes – he's at just 22 per game on the year.

Chris Paul: 24 points, 15 assists, three steals. You've probably seen something like this before.

Tyson Chandler: 14 points, nine boards, three blocks. You haven't seen something like this in a while.

Peja Stojakovic: 24 points, six boards, five threes. He slumpeth no more.

David West: First double-double (23 points, 14 boards) since November 15. More rebounds, please.

Zach Randolph (23 points, 11 rebounds) and Marcus Camby (11 points, 11 boards, six blocks): Frontcourt is rolling with Chris Kaman out.

Al Thornton: 24 points, nine rebounds, two steals, two blocks. He's not hitting threes, but all-around production looks great.

Rafer Alston: 21 points, eight boards, seven assists, five threes. Early-season struggles seem like an increasingly distant nightmare.

Yao Ming: 24 points, 10 boards and two blocks is good, but eight field goal attempts is not. Yao needs more if he's going to top 20 ppg consistently.

Paul Millsap: 20 points, 13 rebounds and three steals in 44 minutes. This man is greatly enjoying Carlos Boozer's absence.

The Bad News

Mike Miller: Sprained his ankle, and is due for an MRI on Thursday.

Elton Brand: Strained his hamstring just when he was starting to heat up. More news should be available later today.

Chris Duhon: His first useless game in a long time (six points, four assists, six turnovers on 1-of-9 shooting) serves as an important reminder that while Mike D'Antoni's offense has made him a great fantasy option, it still hasn't turned him into the Green Lantern. Try to forget this line and move on.

Lamar Odom: Nine points and three boards in 30 minutes. Phil Jackson is giving him enough minutes to produce off the bench. Now it's on Odom to start asserting himself.

Rasho Nesterovic: Eight points and two boards in 15 minutes. Yes, it was the Celtics, but the early-season sensation is on the brink of waiver wire banishment.

Andrew Bogut: His return from a knee injury wasn't pretty (five points, four rebounds in 27 minutes before leaving with a migraine), but he was heating up before the injury and should get going again in short order.

Drew Gooden: Two points and nine boards on 1-of-11 shooting. That's two gruesome games in a row, but he had been on fire so we'll cut him some slack for the moment.

Luther Head: Scored just seven off the bench in 20 minutes, and may not be the answer Tracy McGrady owners were looking for.

Tyrus Thomas: Seven points and two boards in 22 minutes one night after a double-double. Don't waste your time.

Luc Richard Mbah a Moute: Four points and five rebounds in just 16 minutes off the bench. Time to start considering other options.

C.J. Miles: Just when he convinced you to put him into your lineup for a four-game week, he goes and makes a pair of stinkies back-to-back. You have two games left this week, C.J. There is still time for redemption. Now, if you would, please GET IT TOGETHER.

Tonight
Phoenix is taking on Dallas, and the people of Planet Fantasy Hoops are eagerly waiting to see if Steve Nash can post his fourth straight 20-plus point game (against his old team, no less). And in the late game, the Spurs are in Denver, where we could see the first big game from Manu Ginobili since his return from ankle surgery. I'll also be performing my nightly ritual of praying to the merciful basketball gods that the wildly productive chandelier known as Nene does not suffer a tendon strain, ligament tear or troublesome ouchie of any kind. As a way of saying thanks for their protection of Nene, I offer the basketball gods a Donyell Marshall T-Wolves jersey circa 1994, purchased at a thrift store in Santa Cruz, California for seven dollars. It's the best I could do on short notice

[Hache Man]

J.J. was Dy-No-Mite!
Talk about showing my age...The fact I immediately thought of Jimmy Walker for today's headline is simply disturbing. Once I overcome that trauma, I will be hosting the Season Pass Subscriber Chat @ 2 p.m. today. Sorry for the time change, but 1 p.m. was cutting it too close to some other stuff. You ever try to watch a one-year-old kid and host a chat at the same time?

Let's get right to the goods. The Suns lost their fourth straight game Thursday thanks to a great 39-point performance by Dirk Nowitzki for the Mavericks. That tied his season high, although he only scored two points in the fourth quarter. Dirk added a couple threes, a block and nine boards. People were treating him like the plague during fantasy drafts, but Dirk is currently ranked at No. 6 for overall production in eight-category leagues by Basketballmonster.com.

Jose Juan Barea started at shooting guard and played very well, finishing with 18 points, four assists and a three on 6-of-14 shooting. I'm sure that resulted in him being picked up in many leagues, as the kid is averaging 12 points and six assists over his last four games, scoring in double figures in three of them, and knocking down three 3-pointers. Is Barea worth a flier? Sure, if you have someone to cut. But it smells like a one-hit wonder to me. Once Josh Howard returns (or should I say 'if?') and Antoine Wright is over his groin injury, I would be very surprised to see J.J. continue to start and produce like this, but it certainly worked out last night. Just don't expect any miracles unless Jason Kidd goes down.

Howard missed his seventh straight game and owners are near the end of their rope with him. But the worst is over and he should be back on Saturday or Tuesday. I still can't believe he's been out this long and it still sounds like he may not even play on Saturday. Just know that if you trade him right now, it's the ultimate sell-low move. I have an offer of Eric Gordon for Howard out there and I'll feel like a thief if the owner (who is reading this) pulls the trigger. But Howard owners may be to the point that they just want him off their team. Not the smartest strategy, but I certainly wouldn't mind getting Howard for a semi-hot rookie if I can do it.

The Suns were led by Amare Stoudemire's 28 points and five boards, but he picked up his fifth foul in the third and, like Dirk, was a non-factor in the fourth quarter. Steve Nash returned from a bout with the flu and had 20 points, 10 assists and three 3-pointers on 7-of-11 shooting. He lost several pounds with the illness so owners have to be thankful he was out there and played well.

Shaquille O'Neal returned from another day of rest (seriously?) and had four points, five boards and a block on 1-of-6 shooting (seriously?). Nice job, Shaq. 'Ericka' Dampier may not be so easy to make fun of today, huh? Someone might want to tell the Suns that saving Nash and Shaq for the playoffs is only a good idea if they're actually going to make the playoffs. They're 11-9 and have lost four straight games, which has to be a serious concern to Steve Kerr and company.

Matt Barnes started over Grant Hill and had eight points, six boards and two threes. Not quite enough to make his owners happy, but at least he hasn't lost his job. Hill had just four points and five boards, and probably isn't worth owning as long as he's getting just 20 minutes off the bench.

Leandro Barbosa moved back to the bench and hit just 2-of-7 shots for four points, no threes and three turnovers. Yuck. He's been highly inconsistent thus far and seems to be struggling for a role under Terry Porter. The Suns are a bit of a mess and I still get the feeling we're going to see a revolt against Porter soon, led by Nash and Amare.

The Spurs easily beat the Nuggets and not surprisingly, were led by Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan, who combined for a cool 64 points. Matt Bonner is the new story in San Antonio though, starting again at center last night and going for 14 points, eight boards and two threes. I see no reason not to pick him up. If he continues to start he'll board and hit threes, and the occasional scoring outbursts should be fun. In his last three games he's averaging 12 points, seven boards and two 3-pointers per.

Roger Mason and George Hill each scored 11 off the bench and Mason played almost 30 minutes. He still has a little value if you need threes, but he's going to be inconsistent.

The Nuggets were led by Carmelo Anthony's 16 points. He added six boards, three assists and three steals, but didn't hit a three and committed seven turnovers, as he continues to fight through a sore elbow.

J.R. Smith had a double-double off the bench with 15 points and 10 boards, and also hit a couple treys. He's currently out of George Karl's doghouse, probably because I finally dropped him in every league. You're welcome.

Chauncey Billups played 40 minutes but hit just 5-of-13 shots for 12 points and four assists. Now that the Spurs are back at full strength they're a strong defensive team again.

News and Notes

Andrei Kirilenko (irritated right ankle), Matt Harpring (strained lower back) and Kyrylo Fesenko (back) all are listed as game-time decisions for tonight against the Raptors. Carlos Boozer is doubtful and not likely to play again until next week with a quad strain, while Paul Millsap is expected to start in his place again, despite a big toe injury.

Nate Robinson is not likely again for Friday due to his groin injury and this will mark his fourth straight miss. Jared Jeffries is expected to make his season debut tonight in Atlanta, but it will come off the bench. He should play about 15-20 minutes and the talk of him starting at center has died down. However, because he plays for the Knicks and Mike D'Antoni is comparing him to Boris Diaw, he's still probably worth stashing in deeper leagues. Al Harrington avoided suspension for his flagrant foul on LeBron James Wednesday, so roll him out there against the Hawks. He's got the "former team" angle on his side tonight, so expect a huge line from him.

Hopefully there will be more people at this game than there were on Wednesday night. I was there and am guessing there were only 4,000 people on hand for what seemed like an AAU game. And after watching the Grizzlies and Marc Iavaroni run the offense through Darrell Arthur and Hakim Warrick, I'm guessing he could be the next coach to lose his job. They've won just four times and have lost 12-of-14 games recently.

Kelenna Azubuike practiced on Thursday for about 15 minutes but his return date is still unknown. He's dealing with a foot injury and the Warriors visit the Rockets tonight and Spurs on Saturday.

Rudy Fernandez is dealing with a sore back but is expected to play through it tonight at Boston. He looked great against the Knicks and Wizards, but will probably not have the same success against the Celtics tonight, and Raptors on Sunday. Joel Przybilla is dealing with a sprained ankle, but is also expected to play through it.

Ron Artest missed a practice with a sore right ankle but is expected to go against the Warriors tonight. Could be a huge line for Ron-Ron, who is shooting just 34 percent thus far. I'm hopeful Luther Head looks better tonight, or I might have to go fishing again. Then again, who hasn't looked good against the Warriors?

Elton Brand is out tonight against the Pistons and doesn't sound likely for Saturday vs. New Jersey, either. Hopefully he's back next week from his hamstring injury.

Mike Miller's MRI on his ankle yielded positive results, but he'll be questionable for a couple games, including tonight against the Nets. I'd recommend getting him benched until you see him play again.

John Salmons is hoping to return from his thigh injury on Saturday. The starting five in Sacto remains a mystery, so we'll have to see which direction Reggie Theus goes with Salmons, Francisco Garcia, Spencer Hawes, Kevin Martin and the rest of his crew. My hope is that the starting five is Beno Udrih, Kev-Mart, Salmons, Hawes and Brad Miller once everyone is healthy, but I'm not sure. And there was a column in the Sacramento Bee recently where all the players were offering their support for Theus and taking the blame for their slow start, which is a sure sign that Theus' days are numbered.

Mike Dunleavy made some headlines yesterday when the following news blurb was posted on Rotoworld:

Mike Dunleavy is expected to test his injured knee in the next seven to 10 days to see if he's ready to start practicing.

Does that line really excite you? Maybe if you're a desperate Dunleavy owner the fact he might test his knee in the next two weeks to see if he's even fit to practice is great news. Not to me. I am fine if you want to cut Dunleavy at this point, although if you've hung on this long, you might as well give it another couple weeks to see what the diagnosis is. You guys know I'm not a real doctor, but this thing has surgery written all over it, at least to me.

Andrew Bogut is expected to start tonight after leaving his last game with a migraine. Charlie Villanueva's hamstring injury also appears to be healing and he's hot right now. I have no problems with telling you to pick him up again, but just be prepared to be disappointed. Regardless of what's going on with him, he's just not a "Skiles guy."

Caron Butler's expected to play through a sore knee tonight against the Lakers.

I can't wait to see what Andrea Bargnani does tonight @ Utah with his new coach. I traded David Lee for him back when Lee wasn't doing much, but am starting to get worried. Hopefully AB breaks out of the funk tonight and makes me feel better.

Monta – Round 3

Here are my final thoughts on Monta Ellis after all the discussion here over the last few days.

Fact: He's the future face of the franchise and is coming off a devastating ankle injury, one that could still end up being career-ending, although that's not likely.

Fact: Don Nelson has already said his team has no chance of making the playoffs this season.

Fact: He's probably right, as their record is 5-13 and there's not much hope in sight.

Fact: Nellie said recently he has no idea when Monta's coming back and I still have not seen it in writing anywhere that he is even close, although some folks seem to be sure he'll return in December. I can't help but thinking "no way" on that one.

Fact: Ellis is the best player on the team, but it doesn't make any sense to rush him back if they're out of it anyway.

Fact: Ellis has already proven himself, so unlike a guy like Russell Westbrook, it makes no sense to just run him out there to prepare for next season.

Conclusion: I am guessing Monta might be ready to play around the All-Star break, but I still have no idea what Nellie's motivation would be to run him out there just to prove that he can still run and play basketball. I could be completely wrong here, but I believe that you are clogging up a valuable roster spot for a complete mystery if you're holding him. Of course, if you're team is doing very well and you have the bench spot available, or if your league uses an injured reserve, or if you're in a very deep league and there's nothing else available on the wire, it makes perfect sense to have him. But in a standard league I want the roster flexibility and would recommend trading him for what you can get. Yes, he could return and help your team win a championship, but the odds are not in your favor on that one. At least in my opinion.

Strategy Poll – Players you like, or numbers that will win your league?

I was having an email conversation with my buddy Doug who mentioned that he turned down a great trade offer because he didn't want to take on a guy he didn't like (Baron Davis) for a guy he has some serious man-love for (Greg Oden). The deal wasn't BD for GO straight up, or I think he would have probably done it, but it was still a great offer for Oden. I came back with something like "it's more fun to play fantasy hoops having guys on your team you can pull for every night, although it's probably not the best strategy for winning." I thought this might make for an interesting poll, although it's not exactly going to help you make a lineup decision this weekend.

It's been said and written many times that you win fantasy sports by thinking with your head and not your heart, and I'm certain that it's true. But there's also not a worse feeling than having a bad team that happens to be full of guys you can't even root for. So today's poll is about how you draft players and put a team together. I imagine the answer depends on your competitive nature. If you're a "win at all costs" person who can't sleep at night if your team isn't winning, I imagine you draft simply by numbers and don't care whose name is attached to them. If you play fantasy hoops to be social, get some good-natured competitive juices flowing without having to get off the couch, are a fan of certain teams and players, and like to root for "your guys," I'm guessing you simply draft the guys you like in order of value, regardless of where you have to take them in your draft or who you have to pass over to get them.

If you've been playing fantasy hoops for a long time, you automatically have a list of "don't draft at any cost" players in your head. Like my buddy and Josh Howard above…I can guarantee you he'll never draft him again. The easiest answer (and my own view) is that I draft using a combination of the two ideas. I took Derrick Rose at least a round, if not two rounds, higher than I should have in one league. It wasn't because I was a huge Rose fan, but because I loved the upside and thought he might be better than the projections were saying. But because I threw logic out the window, went with my gut and reached much farther than the cheat sheet suggested, I still fall into the "draft guys I like" category, I guess. But it's a different kind of 'like' than simply taking a guy because you're one of his fans. Enjoy the poll and your weekend. See you at 2 p.m.

[Hache Man]

Around the League in 30 Blurbs

The Week Ahead is back with another look at all 30 teams and a few angles that might impact their fortunes in Week Seven, from Monday, December 8th through Sunday the 14th.. Actually, only 29 teams are included this week...see if you can tell which team is MIA.

Two-game teams -- Celtics, Nuggets
www.bostonceltics.ws
Three-game teams -- Bulls, Mavericks, Pistons, Pacers, Clippers, Heat, Bucks, Nets, Hornets, Knicks, 76ers, Suns, Trail Blazers, Kings, Jazz, Wizards

Four-game teams -- Hawks, Bobcats, Cavaliers, Warriors, Rockets, Lakers, Grizzlies, Timberwolves, Thunder, Magic, Spurs, Raptors


Celtics
www.bostonceltics.ws
Rajon Rondo! 16 points, 13 rebounds, 17 assists and three steals! He even made 6-of-7 free throws, raising his season average to 63% from the line. The kid is playing incredible basketball right now, using his quickness and relentless aggression to break down defenses at will. He is averaging 12.5 assists and 6.8 rebounds over the past four games, so it wasn't a fluke. This isn't a bad time to sell high, but I feel like Rondo will provide serious value all season, so don't give him up easily. Paul Pierce is averaging 0.5 three-pointers and 2.5 assists in his last eight games. He's also sporting a 1:1 assist-to-turnover ratio during that stretch. Kendrick Perkins is the epitome of a bottom-rung fantasy center, mopping up 7.6 points on 57% field goals and 56% free throws, 8.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.9 blocks. Nothing glamorous there, but guys like Perkins can tip the balance in any given week (just not Week Seven, because the Celtics only play twice).

Nuggets

The new-look Nuggets have looked very impressive, but I'm not ready to move them (as ESPN's Marc Stein has in his all-powerful power rankings) into my top-5. They still have no depth in the middle (apologies to the Birdman) and rely on streaky guys like J.R. Smith and Linas Kleiza off the bench. Carmelo Anthony's sore elbow is the likely cause of his career-worst 40% shooting. It isn't anything serious, however, so expect him to bounce back in the coming weeks. Nene's 64% shooting is anchoring his impressive value, and he has missed more than half of his shots just two times this season. Kenyon Martin has been terrific this season, but I'm always half-expecting him to get injured. Call me pessimistic, but he's playing the most minutes since 2003-2004 and to my mind that's just more opportunities to blow a tendon. (Thrice burned, shy for life.)

Bobcats

First of all, I sympathize with Bobcats fans. The franchise is in pre-rebuilding mode, which is just a horrible place to be. Michael Jordan has been inept as a GM...he responded to criticism that he doesn't spend enough time around the team by...offering (or threatening) to buy the team? Whatever. There is only so much a Hall of Fame coach can do with a crappy roster, so don't expect Larry Brown to lead this group into the playoffs. Emeka Okafor is probably the team's fourth- or fifth-option on offense, partially because the team is perimeter-oriented and partially because he's not very good (on offense). On the plus side, the Bobcats are apparently realizing that you need to at least try and establish a post presence to win in the NBA, and Okafor has posted two consecutive 20-point games...his first two of the season, no less. Just hope that he doesn't start shooting more than 4.4 free throws per game, as his 60% accuracy will do you no favors. D.J. Augustin has been pedestrian since Jason Richardson returned. He is still knocking down three-pointers, but his owners have to hope Raymond Felton, Gerald Wallace or Richardson get traded sometime soon.

Don't forget...Rotoworld's NBA Season Pass is still available, if you haven't already subscribed. It has updated rankings, customizable rosters, schedule grids, exclusive articles and much, much more... check it out!

Cavaliers

How awesome is Zydrunas Ilgauskas? The 7'3" Lithuanian center played all 82 games in his rookie season in 1997-1998. He was then hobbled by foot injuries and missed 155 games over the next three seasons, but was able to recuperate and miss just 23 total games in the six seasons since. A few of those recent DNPs were due to insomnia, spoon-feeding one of the easiest, worst puns imaginable (I wasn't above it). He can usually be relied upon for 15 points on 50% field goals and 80% free throws, eight rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 blocks per game. This season his blocks have dipped to 1.1 per game, and his rebounds are down to 7.6 because his offensive range makes him valuable on the perimeter, drawing out the opposing center and clearing the paint for LeBron. He's scoring 15.5 points on a career-high 54% shooting, despite averaging just over 26 minutes per game. At the very least, that pace should keep him fresh throughout the season. Clearly I am fond of Big Z, and this is one reason why (I always root for the underdogs): he is the longest-tenured active player with one team to have never won a Championship, recently overtaking Paul Pierce.

Hawks

The return of Josh Smith has given many fantasy owners renewed hope for their season...even if you're dead last in blocks, all you need is Smoov and you'll be sailing up the leader board. He played well on Wednesday (excluding his 2-of-5 free throws, but that's expected), so make sure he's active. Joe Johnson has hit a bit of a lull, averaging 13.8 points on 32% shooting in final five games of November. Fortunately he bounced back with a 10-of-15 shooting performance on Wednesday, and the return of Smith should prevent defenses from loading up on him. If you have been using Zaza Pachulia or Solomon Jones, it's time to find a new donkey to ride until they drop.

Bucks

Michael Redd's owners have a belated reason to give thanks, as their sharp-shooter has returned to the starting lineup...he played only 26 minutes in his last game, but that's to be expected in his second game back after missing 14 consecutive games with a high ankle sprain. What is slightly more concerning is that he sat out a significant portion of the fourth quarter, even though it was a close game. We know he is frequently criticized for slouching on defense, and Scott Skiles is a defense-first coach, but I seriously doubt there is anything to worry about. He's their best offensive player (without him they ranked toward the bottom in most offensive categories), an adequate defender and is the highest-paid player on the team. Even in the age of Marbury, that's worth something, isn't it?

Thunder

Russell Westbrook's ascension to the starting five has lifted his playing time into the 35-minute range, more than enough for him to pile up points, steals and assists. You always have to worry about his awful 34% field goal shooting, however, and I think he's a great sell-high candidate. Despite starting, Damien Wilkins is rather useless. He sporadically hits a few threes or gets a few steals, but his lack of assists (1.0) and rebounds (1.6), couple with his 32% shooting, make him difficult to use in average leagues. Robert Swift and Johan Petro can both be forgotten about, though Swift will probably be picked up and dropped a few times before the season is over. Nick Collison is coming off the bench right now, while Chris Wilcox is starting at center. If you read Buy Low, Sell High last week you'll know that I don't like either guy (I'm probably too harsh on them because I'm still bitter about the Sonics move to Oklahoma City).

Lakers -- Trevor Ariza has developed into a solid role player for L.A., averaging career-highs in minutes (24), points (9.9), three-pointers (0.5), rebounds (5.4), assists (2.5) and steals (1.8). Unfortunately he shoots 67% from the free throw line, but if Vladimir Radmanovic or Lamar Odom ever get injured, Ariza is going to have tremendous value. As far as Ariza moving into the starting lineup...Phil Jackson thinks Vlad Rad's ability to spread the court for the first unit is too important, and he's probably right. It gives Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum more room to operate, while punishing defense who collapse when Kobe attacks the paint. Odom, meanwhile, isn't likely to improve as long as he's coming off the bench. His 26 minutes per game are eight fewer than his previous career-low...if he weren't somehow stealing the ball a career-high 1.5 times per game, he might be getting cut.

Kings -- www.sacramentokings.ws Francisco Garcia should not be available in your league, but if he is you need to pick him up. I was able to pick him clean off the waiver wire about a week ago, as obviously some owners have forgotten about his multi-stat talents and importance to the Kings. He has only played three games this season, so I'll refresh your memory about what he did in 2007-2008. In 27 minutes per game, Cisco managed 12.3 points on 46% field goals and 78% free throws, 1.4 three-pointers, 3.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.6 blocks and 1.6 turnovers. Now that Ron Artest is gone Garcia should average 30 minutes with ease, even if he doesn't start of a regular basis. He is starting right now, but John Salmons (currently out w/ a strained thigh) has been playing extremely well (and is probably less willing to come off the bench), while Kevin Martin is a lock for the starting five once he's fully healthy. Spencer Hawes is starting and should be a roto-stud for the rest of the season, Mikki Moore is buried on the bench and should be cut in most leagues, and Quincy Douby is officially one of the least-clutch players in the NBA. Sorry Quincy, but it's true.

Blazers

Greg Oden is coming along slowly, and his inconsistency isn't helping matters. He has three double-doubles in his last five games, but sandwiched between them were games of one point/eight rebounds and two points/seven rebounds. Joel Przybilla's stellar play has been one cause of Oden's slow progression, as the Vanilla Gorilla is shooting an unreal 83% from the field, while racking up eight rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 23 minutes per game. He's a deseration pickup in most leagues, a decent option in deep leagues, and a sure thing if Oden ever gets injured. Rudy Fernandez has at least one three-pointer in every game this season and is shooting 95% from the free throw line. Those two facts are enough to give him value in most leagues, particularly roto-leagues.

Nets

Enough about Devin Harris and Vince Carter. Let's go somewhere else this week. Rookie center Brook Lopez will be almost impossible for Josh Boone to displace in the starting lineup now, even if he were 100% healthy. Since moving into the starting lineup 10 games ago, Lopez is averaging 13.4 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.2 blocks. That's pretty much all there is to it...the kid is producing. He is the Nets most reliable third option on offense, and the fact that he's an interior player is even more inviting. Meanwhile, the search for production on the wings continues. Bobby Simmons plays well sporadically but overall he's been a mild disappointment. Perhaps my expectations were too high. Chris Douglas-Roberts has returned to the lineup but isn't likely to establish any value this season -- he doesn't have a single rebound in 45 minutes of play this season. Keyon Dooling is also back, which is huge for the Nets. He doesn't do much from a fantasy perspective (0.8 threes, 3.1 assists), but averages 25 minutes per game, is a versatile defender and a competent point guard.

Knicks

The Knicks have unabashedly mortgaged the next two seasons for a chance to sign LeBron James (or Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, etc..) in 2010. It's pretty justifiable, in that the Knicks weren't going to compete for a Championship anyway, and it sometimes seems like half of the team is in constant rebuilding mode. But we've heard enough about LeBron and Stephon to last us a lifetime, so I'll move on. David Lee is defying my expectations...his slow start had me fooled, but it now looks like he's a lock to start for the Knicks for the rest of the season. He has seven straight double-doubles and has made at least 50% of his shots in 12 consecutive games. Do I think Jared Jeffries will replace him in the starting lineup? Absolutely not. How could D'Antoni justify removing that type of production? Jeffries is versatile enough that I see him filling a Boris Diaw role for the Knicks, playing everything from small forward to center. Cuttino Mobley is reportedly considering an early retirement because of his heart condition, though Newsday's reliable beat writer Alan Hahn says that no announcement is imminent. That doesn't mean it won't happen, and it's more likely than not that Mobley will never play a game for the Knicks. That of course gives Nate Robinson a great shot at winning the starting SG spot, or at least piling up 30+ minutes as the team's sixth-man.

76ers

Paging Elton Brand...your fantasy owners need you to start scoring more, stat. EB's 16.7 points and 45% shooting would both be career-lows. He is day-to-day with a strained hamstring right now, and I can't help but think this is a great time to trade for him, as his value won't get lower all season (I hope). After a great start to the season, Thaddeus Young has apparently lulled himself to sleep. He isn't shooting as confidently or hitting nearly as many three-pointers as he was to start the season, probably because defenders are figuring out his tendencies. He also settles for too many jumpshots, resulting in a mere three free throw attempts in his past five games. Samuel Dalembert is in Mo Cheek's doghouse, but I think his poor production is being blown out of proportion. The Sixers need him to be a legitimate threat for the Finals, and it sounds like effort is the only thing keeping him on the bench. He'll get it sorted out before long, so don't be afraid to buy (very) low.

Raptors

Jermaine O'Neal is still doing a bad imitation of himself, but owners can at least be thankful that he's playing. Andrea Bargnani is showing that inconsistency that is the reason I've never owned him in any leagues, though getting jerked between small forward and center can't help. As long as J.O. is playing it looks like Bargnani will remain the starting SF, so roll with him and hopefully he'll settle into a groove. His value is always buoyed by his three-point shooting and shot-blocking. What is up with Jason Kapono? Well, he's averaging 0.9 rebounds and 0.7 three-pointers in his past 10 games. What is up with Anthony Parker? Well, he's shooting a career-worst 39% from the field, a career-best 46% from downtown, 2.2 assists and 1.6 steals. Unusual numbers, all of which should inch toward his career averages as the season progresses.

Magic

Rashard Lewis is starting to heat up, raising his FG% to 42%, and his 2.6 threes per game is rock solid. The only thing that disappoints me is how every offseason he professes to be working on attacking the basket, developing post moves, etc...and it never translates to the regular season. This year he is shooting 4.1 free throws per game, 0.9 higher than last season, and I give him some slack because Dwight Howard dominates the paint in a way few big men can. Jameer Nelson is expected to play on Friday, so I'm guessing he'll be a safe start next week. Orlando sure hopes he comes back healthy, since without him they split PG duties between Anthony Johnson, Courtney Lee and Hedo Turkoglu. If you picked up Old Head Johnson for temporary value, it's time to let go.

Spurs

Manu Ginobili is back in the starting lineup, and this time it's forever! For a month! For a week? It probably all depends how the team performs and how well Roger Mason adjusts to the bench. Ginobili's owners shouldn't be overly concerned, since he has proven he can be an elite fantasy player off the bench. Mason's owners, on the other hand, should be alarmed about the reduction in his playing time. He might play 30 minutes a game, if he's lucky, but his 11.1 shot attempts are sure to fall. Ditto for his 51% three-point shooting. It wasn't easy to sell him high, since Ginobili's return was bound to damage his value, but hopefully you at least gave it a try. George Hill can be dropped now that Tony Parker is healthy, but he has opened our eyes...if Parker gets injured again, make a beeline for the waiver wire and add this kid to your squad.

Bulls

Luol Deng can still be had cheaply, but maybe not for long. He tied his season-high on Wednesday with 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting, and he won't be leaving the starting lineup unless he's injured. Drew Gooden is 1-of-16 from the field in his past two games, and hasn't blocked a shot in four games (he has had one multi-block game all season). Andres Nocioni's role has fluctuated this season, but currently he's unusable. For such a physical player, it's surprising he doesn't attack the basket more often on offense -- he has attempted 63 three-pointers this season, compared to 42 free throws.

Pistons

Kwame Brown...oh forget it. Rodney Stuckey is playing as well has he has all season, averaging 12.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, seven assists and two steals in the past four games. The steals are particularly encouraging, and he's worth stashing on your bench in case he can sustain it. Rasheed Wallace does a little in every category, making him a formidable fantasy player...but the criticism of his fluctuating energy level still exists. In the past four games he has grabbed five, five, one and five rebounds. He has blocked one, zero, one and zero shots. Every player goes through lulls, but watching Sheed it is obvious that sometimes he's just going through the motions. For a guy making untold millions of dollars, 'going through the motions' should be illegal -- or at least condemned by the Catholic church.

Pacers
www.indianapacers.ws
I don't give Troy Murphy much credit, but he is on a tear lately. He has extended his streak of double-digit rebounds to 10 games, racking up seven double-doubles. Oddly for a 6'11" power forward, he is a much better source of three-pointers (27 this season) than blocks (eight). Jeff Foster missed one game last week with a back injury, but he returned the next game and should be fine going forward. Brandon Rush is quietly having a nice rookie season, helping to fill in for Mike Dunleavy (knee). Rush is shooting just 42% from the field and 74% from the line, but he has 0.5 steals and 0.5 blocks in 23 minutes per game.

Heat

Dwyane Wade is still vaulting past any obstacle in his path. A new head coach? Migraine headaches? Triple-teams? They are nothing to Wade, who is averaging 28 points on 49% shooting, 4.9 rebounds, 7.7 assists, 2.4 steals and 1.7 blocks. Speaking of Wade overcoming obstacles...how many times must NBA TV air the Converse commercial with the tagline "Wade's belief is stronger than your doubt"? I swear sometimes they air it back-to-back-to-back, and just this morning I woke up and found five pairs of Wade 4's in my closet, still in their boxes. Subliminal be damned!

Wizards

Gilbert Arenas has already hinted that if the playoffs aren't realistic his return from knee surgery might come along a little bit slower (wink), thus guaranteeing his health and giving the Wizards a shot at the draft lottery. On the other hand, he said (I'm paraphrasing) that on January 1st he'll magically be able to play 100 minutes a night, so it's hard to know what to believe. My instincts tell me to stay far, far away from Arenas this season...put out a bunch of slightly unrealistic trade offers and see who bites -- a desperate owner might be willing to take a big risk. DeShawn Stevenson shot better than 50% for the first time this season last Tuesday when he made 7-of-13 shots against the Nets. He is an intriguing source of three-pointers, but so far he hasn't produced even with the Wizards clearly desperate for backcourt scoring.

Timberwolves

Randy Foye is struggling with consistency, but at least there is no longer any danger of his going to the bench in favor of Sebastian Telfair. The season-ending injury to Corey Brewer has opened up more minutes for Ryan Gomes, Rashad McCants, Rodney Carney and maybe a few other guys. Despite the fact that Brewer averaged over 20 minutes per game, there is no clear winner in his absence.

Rockets

Ron Artest simpy has to improve his 34% shooting...I've been saying this for weeks, but he's a great buy-low target, especially with Tracy McGrady shut down for a few weeks. Rafer Alston is reminding owners why they drafted him, knocking down 10 three-pointers in his last three games and handing out enough assists to keep us happy. Shane Battier will be playing heavy minutes with T-Mac sidelined...the early returns aren't impressive, but he's returning from a serious layoff and should be back to his solid, understated ways before long. Just don't hesitate to trade him before McGrady returns.

Jazz
www.utahjazz.ws
Andrei Kirilenko is day-to-day with a sore ankle, but there is some scary news attached to that prognosis. He has had cortisone shots recently and said that he'll undergo arthroscopic surgery after the season. Many players have such procedures to clear out debris, but there is always a chance that "after the season" will become "February" if the problem doesn't go away. The recovery time is just a few weeks (3-to-5, I believe), making in-season surgery a realistic option (but I stress that that is just speculative chatter, as right now he's simply day-to-day). Carlos Boozer might return this week, but is best kept on your bench unless we get a more definite update. If he still sounds a week away, Paul Millsap is a strong start. Mehmet Okur's shot is off lately (8-of-32 in the past three games) but it's just a temporary lull.

Suns

I don't want to put too much emphasis on an offhand comment, but Steve Nash's owners have to be pleased with coach Terry Porter's recent declaration that the Suns offense will run through Nash more than it has. "It's easier to control turnovers from one guy than 12," Porter said, alluding to his team's alarmingly high turnover differential. This will theoretically improve Nash's assist totals, which shouldn't be very hard -- he's averaging just 8.1 per game, his lowest since 2002-2003. Matt Barnes is still a safe start on a weekly basis, Grant Hill is still shaky, Shaq is still prone to random DNPs (the Suns do not play any back-to-backs this week) and Leandro Barbosa followed up a 21-point game (without Nash) with four points, zero assists and three turnovers (with Nash).

Clippers

Eric Gordon's owners shouldn't worry about his job security, as the rookie has been thoroughly impressive and coach Mike Dunleavy is sold on his abilities. He has unlimited shooting range, the ability to drive past over-zealous defenders and decent passing abilities. He is also a pesky defender who should easly average more than a steal per game. Barring a trade, I think he'll surface as a dependable option in average leagues. Marcus Camby isn't blocking quite as many shots as he did last season (though he swatted six on Wednesday), but his FG% (50%) and FT% (78%) are both up. The absence of Chris Kaman is obviously helping his numbers, and his recent ankle injury doesn't appear to be a problem. Zach Randolph is fitting in nicely in L.A. -- he won't grab quite as many rebounds with Camby (and eventually Kaman) around, but his offensive production isn't likely to dip.

Warriors

The Warriors three leading scorers --Jamal Crawford, Stephen Jackson and Corey Maggette-- are shooting 39%, 39% and 42% this season, respectively. That's not a recipe for winning many games, even for a perimeter-oriented team. Kelenna Azubuike's recent MRI revealed a bone bruise. He is listed as day-to-day, but should be kept on your bench until we see where he fits into the Warriors rotation. Don't be shocked if his role changes on a nightly basis.

Mavericks
www.dallasmavericks.ws
Jason Kidd is providing major value without raising any eyebrows, since people primarily notice and are impressed by high point totals. Kidd is scoring 9.6 points per game but also averages 1.8 threes, 7.2 rebounds, 8.5 assists and 2.5 steals, giving him top-20 value in most formats. The Mavericks have won three straight, four of their last five, and finally look like a playoff team (albeit not a very good one). Josh Howard's ankle injury is giving me Michael Redd flashbacks, as abuse of the day-to-day listing has reached new heights. The Mavericks continue to use unorthodox combinations at shooting guard, as Rick Carlisle apparently won't consent to starting Jason Kidd and Jason Terry --the two obvious choices-- alongside one another. It's poor from a defensive standpoint, but really who are the Mavs kidding by throwing Gerald Green out there for a few minutes to start the game?

Grizzlies

Unfortunately, there isn't much to report from Memphis. O.J. Mayo continues to rock my world and challenge for Rookie of the Year honors. Rudy Gay continues to struggle as defenses swarm him. Marc Gasol continues his quiet but effective rookie campaign. Hakim Warrick continues to post the occasional nice line, followed by a week of nonsense. Mike Conley continues to tease owners with borderlline-decent play. Whatever happened to Marko Jaric?

[Hache Man]

Bonner? Really, Matt Bonner?
Since I'm swamped on this busy fantasy football playoffs/Season Pass Sunday this is going to be the "quick hits" edition of Waiver Wired.

Guards

Russell Westbrook, PG, Thunder

If reading me rant about him 24 hours a day for the last month hasn't been enough to convince you to pick him up, maybe his 30 points, seven boards and two steals on Saturday night did the trick. If it didn't, I don't know what else to tell you.

Rodney Stuckey, G, Pistons

Late word on Sunday night is that Stuckey might be ready to start for the Pistons. As someone who touted him as a super-sleeper the entire month of October, I couldn't be happier. Of course, I no longer own him after drafting him in almost every league, but the fact he might start soon makes me happy.

Larry Hughes, G, Bulls

Hughes isn't starting, but has gotten hot from downtown in a couple games and is showing all kinds of potential again. He's averaging 18.5 points and four threes over his last two games and should continue to get minutes.

Jose Juan Barea, G, Mavericks
www.dallasmavericks.ws
J.J. has been ON FIRE lately. He scored 16 points in the third quarter against the Hawks and finished with 22 on 9-of-18 shooting on Saturday. He's hit double digits in four of his last five games while racking up solid rebounding numbers and respectable assists and threes. He might have won the starting shooting guard job with his strong play, or has at least earned 20 minutes per game off the bench. The return of Josh Howard isn't going to be great for J.J.'s minutes and outlook, but he's worth a roll of the dice if you have someone you're comfortable with cutting.

Rasual Butler, SG, Hornets

He's taken over for Morris Peterson as the starting shooting guard in New Orleans, and while he's not knocking anyone's socks off just yet, he should be watched closely. He's hitting double figures in about every other game and hitting some threes.

Keith Bogans, SG, Magic

Could be a sneaky play over the next three weeks while Mickael Pietrus is out. J.J. Redick has been starting, but Bogans and Courtney Lee both have more value. If Bogans ends up starting this week and in you're in a deep league, grab him for some short-term value.

Forwards

Antonio McDyess, PF, Pistons

McDyess should be back for the Pistons on Tuesday, although he won't be in the starting lineup. But with Jason Maxiell and Amir Johnson struggling for a team that is struggling, McDyess could get some serious run from Michael Curry. I don't think McDyess is a must-own guy, but he's someone who can probably help many fantasy teams with shallow depth on the front line.

Trevor Ariza, G/F, Lakers

Ariza is averaging 10 points, five boards, 2.5 assists, two steals and nearly a half 3-pointer and block per game. His field goal shooting is nice and he's going to see more playing time going forward, although he may not ever start. He also averages just one turnover a game in 24 minutes, making him a solid guy to stash at the end of your starting lineup on a fairly regular basis.

Hakim Warrick, PF, Grizzlies

The Grizzlies are a mess and Warrick is coming off the bench, but he's stayed hot, hitting double figures in three straight games. He doesn't crash the boards or block shots, but the shooting percentage is nice and he can score. Consider him in deep leagues.

Tim Thomas, F, Knicks

Thomas struggled on Sunday but the fact of the matter is that the Knicks are only able to play seven or eight guys right now, meaning Thomas is going to get minutes and shots. He's probably very tired from Mike D'Antoni's offense and has hit single digits in three straight games, but once he gets his wind, he should be a nice source of points and threes, while also grabbing his share of boards, and handing out some assists and getting some steals. Before the slump he had scored between 12 and 16 points with 10 threes in four games.

Tyrus Thomas, PF, Bulls

For those of you who are on the verge of cutting TT, or if you already have, this could be bad news for you. The Bulls take on the Knicks (who can't score in that game?), the Grizzlies (ditto) and Nets this week, and even Thomas could have a couple big games if Vinny Del Negro decides to roll the dice on him. I'm not saying you should start him this week, but depending on your lineup, he might be worth a gamble.

Center

Matt Bonner, C, Spurs

He's been starting for the Spurs and has posted the following lines recently.

14 points, six boards, one 3-pointer, one steal
14 points, eight boards, two 3-pointers, two blocks
5 points, nine boards, one 3-pointer
17 points, five boards, three 3-pointers and two steals

I don't know about you, but I'm willing to take a four-game flier on Bonner this week. The boards and threes should be there with a possibility of points and steals, and maybe even blocks. He's still Bonner, which makes him risky, but the potential is there.

Darko Milicic, C, Grizzlies

He's not good. He's not consistent and until recently, he hadn't been getting enough minutes to warrant consideration. But he's getting spot starts and is worth a look if you need blocks, boards and steals. The Grizzlies are terrible and Marc Iavaroni is clearly on the hot seat, but he's starting Darko right now.

Kevin Love, F/C, Timberwolves

Love only counts as a forward in some leagues, but I'm putting him here anyway. Guy is getting hot and has three double-doubles in his last five games. If nothing else, it's time to pick him up and at least stash him on your bench. If Iavaroni's on a hot seat, Randy Wittman's pants are on fire. The Wolves have absolutely nothing to play for, other than getting ready for next year. I think Love should be grabbed in all leagues right now.

Andray Blatche, F/C, Wizards

Blatche didn't live up to the hype after his monster line back on Nov. 25 (25 points, 12 boards, five assists, two steals, five blocks, one 3-pointer) but has been all right lately. He's hit double digits in scoring in his last three games, has hit a 3-pointer in two straight and posted a double-double, but hasn't blocked a shot in four straight games. If you're desperate at center, he's worth a roster spot. That's all I'm saying.

RotoExperts RotoRadio

I'm co-hosting a weekly podcast with Hector Castro of RotoExperts each Saturday. It's a good time and you should check it out if you can. NBA TV's Rick Kamla is the scheduled guest for this Saturday. You can listen live and ask questions on Saturdays at 3 p.m., or check it out after the fact. Here's the link: Dr. A on RotoRadio

[Hache Man]

I Hurt Myself Today...
I Hurt Myself Today,

To see if I still feel…

Al Horford – ankle – Doesn't look serious, start at own risk.
Josh Smith – ankle – Good to go.
Joe Johnson – toe- Good to go.
Gerald Wallace – grandmother's death – Out Monday, iffy for week.
Sean May – knee – Will play through tendonitis.
Kirk Hinrich – thumb – Not even close.
Josh Howard – ankle – Eight is enough, right? Risky, but should play.
Antoine Wright – groin – Risky play, especially with J.J. Barea en fuego.
Kenyon Martin – wrist – Missed last game, more info in afternoon.
Antonio McDyess – waived – Should return for Pistons on Tuesday.
Stephen Jackson – hand – Severe pain, MRI and he's very worried. I'm benching.
Anthony Randolph – hand – Day-to-day, no fantasy value right now anyway.
Monta Ellis – ankle – Some say he's back in December, I say February or March.
Corey Maggette – hamstring – Missing practice, playing in games.
Tracy McGrady – knee – Dr. T-Mac declared himself out for 3 weeks. Bench.
Brent Barry – calf – Out this week.
Shane Battier – ankle – Played in last game, worth a flier w/ no T-Mac.
Mike Dunleavy – knee – He's almost dead to me and on waivers.
Travis Diener – foot – You know you're in a deep league if he's owned.
Jamaal Tinsley – at home – All quiet in Atlanta, which is where he's chillin'.
Chris Kaman – foot – Not likely for this week.
Ricky Davis – knee – Could remain out, which would be good news for EG.
Luke Walton – resp. infection – Not worth owning in most leagues anyway.
Michael Beasley – eye – Blurred vision could make him even worse. Bench.
Chris Quinn – ankle – Worth a look in deeeeeep leagues. Should play tonight.
Malik Allen – ribs – Day-to-day, risky fantasy play with Bucks healthy.
Charlie Bell – ankle - Hurting and dropped from the rotation. No value.
Mike Miller – ankle – Hoping for Tuesday, my guess is he's playing.
Eduardo Najera – neck/back – No fantasy value.
Josh Boone – ankle – Will practice this week, do not play him.
Nate Robinson – groin – Day-to-day, risky play this week. Weigh options.
Cuttino Mobley – heart – I will be shocked if he doesn't retire.
Stephon Marbury – at home – World waiting to see where he lands. I'm not.
Chris Duhon – back – Scary to think how he'd look if healthy. Play him.
Quentin Richardson – arm – Played through forearm injury. Play him.
Jared Jeffries – leg – Playing, needs a week for conditioning purposes.
Eddy Curry – knee – Yeah, I forgot about him too.
Mickael Pietrus – thumb – Out this week, Bogans, Lee benefit.
Robert Swift – back – He's textbook definition of a "walking injury."
Elton Brand – hamstring – Says he'll be back on Wednesday.
Shaquille O'Neal – old – Suns back-to-back Tues/Weds makes him iffy.
Martell Webster – foot – Got five minutes Sunday. No value right now.
Kevin Martin – ankle – Left Saturday w/ injury. Start at own risk.
Kris Humphries – knee – Only worth a look in 20-team leagues. Day-to-day.
Carlos Boozer – quad/knee – Has missed 10 straight, but on verge of return.
Brevin Knight – throat – No value when Deron is healthy.
Kyrylo Fesenko – back – No fantasy value.
Jarron Collins – elbow – Out indefinitely.
Deron Williams – ankle – Gimpy, but working his way back. Start him.
Gilbert Arenas – knee – Will play sometime in the next three months.

Hello everyone. Be sure to stop by the Waiver Wired column and take the poll if you haven't already. Not surprisingly, everyone's favorite fantasy coach, Nellie, is leading the way.

Speaking of coaches, Randy Wittman was just fired and Kevin McHale will take his place. McHale's already had one stint as the coach of the Wolves and he can't be thrilled about another go at it. Wolves fans that are still bothering to go to games are going to rip him apart every night, but I guess Glen Taylor's like "you built this beast, now you go ride it." I just hope this means Kevin Love is going to start from here on out. We'll see.

Injuries of concern this week: Stephen Jackson, Elton Brand, Al Horford, Gerald Wallace, Josh Howard, Kenyon Martin, Corey Maggette, Tracy McGrady, Chris Kaman, Michael Beasley, Nate Robinson, Shaquille O'Neal, Kevin Martin and Carlos Boozer.

I'll put them in three categories.

1. I would probably start them if I owned them: Elton Brand, Al Horford, Corey Maggette, Michael Beasley, Carlos Boozer.

2. I would probably not start them if I owned them: Stephen Jackson, Gerald Wallace, Josh Howard, Kenyon Martin, Nate Robinson, Shaquille O'Neal, Kevin Martin.

3. I would definitely bench them if I owned them: Tracy McGrady, Chris Kaman.

Brand says he's playing Wednesday and will have had plenty of rest by then. Horford was a surprise scratch on Saturday and played through the injury Friday night, so I like his chances. Although I am benching him in small leagues because I think I have better options. Maggette has been playing in games and should be fine again this week, although his reputation about being a ball hog and several recent stories of other players openly mocking him (Kevin Garnett, Jamal Crawford, Elton Brand) makes me a little concerned for his owners. If you own Maggette, think about moving him. If the constant injuries aren't enough to scare you, the fact his teammates seem to genuinely dislike playing with him should be.

And since we didn't report most of them, here's what I've seen lately. KG said something like "At least you got your numbers" as he was leaving the court after beating the Warriors. Maggette took 20 shots and scored 32 in that game, while KG had his best outing of the year, possibly motivated by going against Maggette. New teammate Crawford was said to have "rolled his eyes" and look at the bench hopelessly after watching Maggette fire up a couple quick and ill-advised shots recently. And while I haven't heard Brand say it, he supposedly wanted out of Clipperland in part because he didn't want to further damage his close, personal relationship with the fellow Duke Blue Devil. He simply couldn't stand playing with Maggette any longer.

Beasley's eye injury doesn't sound serious, but he's planted firmly on my bench in the one league I own him in. And he'll probably stay there until Shawn Marion gets traded. Boozer sounds like he's very close to returning and I think 10 games is enough.

On the probably-not list, Jackson's hand injury makes me pretty nervous. I don't get the sense that it's a season-ender, but he's in some serious pain. You should check out this piece and then make your own decision. Although the MRI results should be out later today with more information. One thing about Jackson though…He's tough and will play through injuries if he can.

Wallace is out tonight and iffy for the rest of the week due to the death of his grandmother. If he does return for the next one, that's still a three-game week - but he could miss a couple of those and the team is not stating when he's expected to return. Howard has missed eight straight with his ankle injury that sure didn't sound this serious when it happened. Odds are he plays, but I'm not expecting much this week even if he does go. Plus I'm nervous about him aggravating it since he's been out so long. We just don't know much about Kenyon Martin's condition. I would think about benching him for now, but keep your eyes peeled for an update later today.

Nate's groin injury makes me very nervous. He came back to early and tweaked it on Friday and then sat out on Sunday. I'd bench him. The back-to-backs in Phoenix make me nervous on Shaq. I haven't read that he'll be benched for one of them, but that's been the trend thus far. Plus he's not really playing well enough to be starting for most of you anyway. And Kevin Martin remains beat up with his ankle. I would think about playing him, but if you have a safer option, look into it. Thankfully, I traded him for Rashard Lewis a couple weeks ago.

I can't imagine anyone starting T-Mac or Kaman this week, unless you're in a "no bench" league. Which sounds painful.

Lastly, it's nice to know that Rodney Stuckey is starting for the Pistons and that I am going to probably end up being right about him by the time this is all said and done. But unfortunately, I have cut him in most of my leagues so other people are going to get to enjoy him the rest of the way.

And I'm pretty sure many of you want to cut Andrea Bargnani right now. I do too, but I'm just going to stick it out for a few more weeks. I'd suggest you do the same.

[Hache Man]

A Wolf in a Caraceni Suit
This week's Position Battles takes a moment to consider Randy Wittman's firing in Minnesota and how it might impact fantasy values.

Timberwolves entire roster: Kevin McHale vs. the world

Randy Wittman's firing isn't a huge surprise and it shouldn't have dramatic fantasy implications, but it's worth considering how Kevin McHale's tenure will affect fantasy values. Not every coaching change has a significant fantasy impact --Andray Blatche has been better since Eddie Jordan left Washington and Russell Westbrook is suddenly a must-own player under Scott Brooks, but those are the exceptions and none of the Raptors' values have changed much. But there are indications that changes are coming in Minnesota. For one thing, McHale's reputation could either be salvaged or damaged beyond repair based upon how this team develops. McHale (nicknamed 'McFail' by his detractors) has taken full responsibility for the Wolves' success or failure over the duration of the season...after all, he helped acquire every player on the roster. I therefore expect him to throw everything he's got at these final 60 or so games...and that includes testing Kevin Love in the starting lineup.

Wittman has tried the same trick, with limited success -- in five games as a starter, Love averaged 8.4 points on 40% shooting, 6.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists and zero blocks in 27 minutes per game.

I am forced to speculate, since McHale has yet to coach a game this season, but Love seems like a lock to have increased value in the months ahead. We know McHale loves his frontcourt, having traded KG for Al Jefferson, and O.J. Mayo for Mike Miller and Love.

Current starter Ryan Gomes is averaging 11.1 points on 44% shooting, 4.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.5 blocks. Those numbers aren't overwhelming, and Gomes has also proven he can produce off the bench. He is also capable of playing small forward, and with Corey Brewer out for the season that could be where he ends up playing, whether as a starter or a reserve.

Another player whose role will likely change is Jason Collins. Randy Wittman had been starting Collins in order to keep Al Jefferson at power forward, where he is more comfortable. Collins is solid defensively, but his mobility is limited and his offensive game is non-existent. He is averaging 12 minutes per game (14 as a starter), so why make him a token starter at the cost of developing chemistry between players who are actually part of the Wolves future? Collins will slide to the bench and continue to post unimpressive numbers in 10-15 minutes per game. At least that's my perspective.

Al Jefferson also seems due for a slight bump in production, not that he needs it -- his current averages (21.3 points on 50% shooting, 10.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.6 steals, 1.9 blocks) have him ranked in the top-15 in nearly all formats. But one of McHale's first acts upon assuming coaching duties was to seek out Big Al and, in Jefferson's words, "He was telling me how excited he was, making sure I was on the same page with him. I was."

Mark Madsen, who is the only player remaining from the team that McHale coached in 2004-2005, said that McHale likes to exploit mismatches. "If you can beat your man one-on-one he'll give you the ball," Madsen said. "Go to work." Obviously that bodes well for Jefferson's production, as he's one of the most dominant low-post players in the NBA, and virtually unstoppable against single coverage.

In the final analysis, McHale himself might not even know what changes will be made to the Wolves' rotations until he has tinkered for a few games, or weeks. Will Sebastian Telfair continue to play off the bench, will he fall out of the rotation, or will he (once again) be tested as the starting PG, sliding Randy Foye to shooting guard and Mike Miller to small forward? Considering the way Foye is playing, and how much McHale has at stake in his development, I'd say the first scenario is more likely -- it's pretty obvious at this point that Telfair won't ever be a top-tier starting point guard.

My prediction is that the Wolves starting lineup will eventually settle into Al Jefferson (C), Kevin Love (PF), Ryan Gomes (SF), Mike Miller (SG) and Randy Foye (PG). It is possible that Jefferson and Love will alternate center and power forward, but right now I don't think Love is ready to start at center on a regular basis. Telfair, McCants, Collins and Craig Smith will be the primary reserves.
McCants will play a bigger role (not hard, as he's currently averaging 18 minutes per game) since the Wolves could use his offense, but as long as Mike Miller is healthy McCants shouldn't be worth owning. Ryan Gomes should sustain the tepid production he has had all season, even if he's moved to the bench. Do any of you have insights into the mind of Kevin McHale, for better or worse? Any educated guesses as to what the fantasy fallout of this move might be? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Naturally, no sooner had I written this than McHale announced that Craig Smith will start at power forward. I don't think Smith will have great value...he doesn't get many blocks and is a lousy FT shooter, but he'll grab boards and score at a high percentage. If you need a low-level forward in a deep league, he's worth a shot.

Bulls frontcourt: Drew Gooden vs. a stack of sweet potato pancakes

Maybe it's not fair to lump Aaron Gray, Joakim Noah and Tyrus Thomas together and label them 'a stack of sweet potato pancakes'. But they are just as easy for opposing big men to gobble up, sometimes topped with powdered sugar or syrup and then rolled up together like a multi-layered crepe.

Aaron Gray -- Four starts, averaging 2.0 points on 25% shooting, 5.8 rebounds, 0.0 steals and 0.3 blocks.

Joakim Noah -- 10 starts, averaging 2.7 points on 36% shooting, 5.7 rebounds, 0.5 steals and 1.0 blocks.

Tyrus Thomas -- Seven starts, averaging 6.7 points on 24% shooting, 6.1 rebounds, 0.9 steals and 2.1 blocks.

Drew Gooden -- 18 starts, averaging 12.4 points on 44% shooting, 8.8 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 0.4 blocks.

While you shouldn't own any of these guys besides Gooden, Thomas clearly has the most upside. His steal and block totals are impressive, and if he figures out how to make a jumpshot he could be a very solid player. Most owners were probably ecstatic to land him in the final rounds of their draft, thinking they just scored a big-time sleeper candidate. They were right, at the time, but sleepers are available that late for a reason. Some (Nate Robinson, Marc Gasol) pan out, more or less, while others (Mike Conley, Amir Johnson) simply never take off. In a standard 12- or even 14-team league, you can safely drop Thomas and Noah...they'll either be there to pick up later, or they'll become another owner's headache. If you're lucky, that owner will claim them off waivers and your ex-scrub will have given you a tactical advantage, however slight.

Suns small forward: Matt Barnes vs. Grant Hill

Will Terry Porter please make up his mind? At one point he preferred Grant Hill off the bench, where he can play fewer minutes and therefore be rested for (presumably) the playoffs and avoid injuries. Now Hill is starting, which is great news for his owners while it lasts.

When coming off the bench, Matt Barnes is actually averaging more points (+1.5), rebounds (+1.3), assists (+0.1), steals (+0.4), blocks (+0.1) and minutes (+2). Admittedly the sample size is tiny (he has 14 starts vs. just two games as a sub), but it bodes well for Barnes' production -- the Suns need him to play well in order to win, and Porter isn't shy about plugging him in at multiple positions. It's hard to imagine that being a reserve will benefit him in the long run, however, and his owners should be hoping for another role reversal despite the optimistic numbers.

Part of the reason Terry Porter is sticking with Hill in the starting five is that the Suns are 5-2 with that lineup. The reasons for that vary widely, and I'm pretty sure it's circumstantial more than anything else, but Hill is playing well (11.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.6 steals, 1.0 blocks) in his seven starts. Barnes' owners can wait until the Suns lose a few in a row and Porter shakes up the lineup, or you can just wait until Hill inevitably tweaks a hamstring (or groin, ankle, knee, finger...take your pick). Either way I don't expect Hill to last all season as a starter, so consider trading him while his value is peaking.

Blazers small forward: Nicolas Batum vs. Martell Webster vs. Travis Outlaw

Should Travis Outlaw be owned in your league now that Martell Webster is back? It's not a guarantee, but my impression is that his value won't take too big of a hit. Early returns are meaningless, since we've had just one look at Webster in the lineup, when he played five scoreless minutes on Sunday. Outlaw is a solid, versatile player with a knack for coming up big in the clutch. On the other hand, Portland almost traded him for Mike Conley, which tells you how dispensible he has become now that the Blazers are stacked with young talent. Don't rely on him to improve as the season wears on, but if he's been helping your squad there is no reason to cut him just yet.

Will Webster be worth owning? Don't count on it. He is trying to carve out a consistent spot in the rotation, so let's take things one step at a time. He won't lead the Blazers in three-point shooting like he did last season -- that honor will go to rookie Rudy Fernandez, who is averaging 2.2 three-pointers per game on 43% shooting from downtown. Webster also doesn't get many rebounds (3.0 career average), asissts (0.8) or steals (0.5), so any hit to his offensive production is a deal-breaker.

Fantasy owners probably wish Nicolas Batum wasn't even on the Blazers -- despite starting and playing 17 minutes per game, his averages of 5.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists are simply unuseable. He currently fills the same defensive-stopper role perfected by guys like Bruce Bowen and Keith Bogans, two historically bad fantasy players on a per-minute basis. There is a fundamental difference, however, in that he averages 0.9 three-pointers, 0.7 steals and 0.6 blocks in 17 minutes per game. Keep that in mind for future seasons when his role might increase, but leave him alone for 2008-2009.

[Hache Man]

Standing on Superman's cape
SnapDraft is now available for NBA action as well as the NFL. You get a free $5 to start with and the options are endless on how you can use that free cash. Click on the link above and check it out today. And for more information on just what SnapDraft is, this link will give you the lowdown on the NFL side of things.

And for the last house cleaning item, Matt Stroup will be chatting right here today at 3 p.m.

Sebadoh has a great song that starts "I'd like to be Superman but you're standing on my cape," which reminds me of what happened to Dwight Howard last night in Portland. Howard failed to block a shot for the first time this season and tied his season low with seven rebounds. Greg Oden wasn't the problem, as he played just 11 minutes to finish with two points, one rebound and zero blocks, but LaMarcus Aldridge went off in 41 minutes. Aldridge appears to have been the ultimate buy-low candidate a month ago while he was struggling, but is really coming on. He had 25 points, 13 boards, two steals and two blocks on 12-of-17 shooting. I didn't see the game, so I'm not exactly sure what Howard's problem was, but the guy was clearly due for an off night after his back-to-back 20-20 lines.

In other center news, Shaquille O'Neal went off for a season-high 35 points, eight boards and three blocks, but isn't supposed to play in his next two games due to a death in the family, so get him on your bench. Chris Bosh and the Raptors were terrible (again) in a loss to the Cavaliers. Bosh scored just 11 points, while Jermaine O'Neal had just eight. They're at Indy tonight and will try to break a five-game losing streak. New coach Jay Triano isn't working out all that well and I'm mildly concerned for Bosh, although he should come around. Andrea Bargnani, another guy who qualifies at center, has been awful for two weeks and had just eight points, three boards, one 3-pointer and no blocks. I've been sticking with him, but it's starting to become very painful. I'm giving him until the end of the week, and I'm still shocked Sam Mitchell was fired before some of these other guys.

Corey Maggette (hamstring), Stephen Jackson (hand), Josh Howard (ankle), Chris Kaman (foot), Ricky Davis (knee) and Martell Webster (foot) remain out indefinitely. Maggette, Jackson and Howard should all be back sometime in the next week or so, but Kaman is still at least a couple weeks away, Davis will be out until after Christmas and Webster was just shut down for another month. In addition, Daniel Gibson will miss a couple weeks with a toe injury, making Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West intriguing options right now.

Monta Ellis was at the Warriors facility yesterday but simply rode a bike. As I've said all along, there's no way he plays in December and I'm still envisioning a February return, if he comes back at all. The Warriors are 6-15 right now and could be 15-50 when he's ready to play. Would you bother rushing him out there? The situation in Golden State also has me concerned for Maggette and Jackson, who aren't going to run through any walls for Don Nelson or that organization if there's no hope for the playoffs. It's impossible to sell high when they're hurt, but you might want to look into it.

Gerald Wallace is doubtful for the next two Bobcats games due to the death of his grandmother. The Bobcats are on the verge of signing Juwan Howard and he's expected to be in uniform on Friday. I can't imagine Howard being relevant, but he could easily start for the Cats. Give him a look if Sean May is owned in your league.

Carlos Boozer won't play on Thursday now and is questionable for Saturday's game with his lingering quad/knee problem. Hopefully it's not going to be one of those seasons for Boozer, but it's not off to a great start.

Ron Artest has partially torn ligaments in his ankle but fought through it for 19 points, nine boards, five assists, two steals and two threes in last night's win over the Hawks. He's going to miss some games, but there will be no way of telling when those DNPs are coming. The Hawks blew this game, mostly because of the fact Josh Smith lost his mind on four straight possessions with the game on the line. Smith's incredible fantasy line (13 points, 11 boards, four assists, three steals, five blocks and a three) was a great example of a guy who was terrible in reality and great in fantasy.

Denver's Kenyon Martin is now doubtful for tonight's game against Minnesota with a wrist injury, while the Wolves' Mike Miller is a game-time decision with a sprained ankle. It was reported that Miller was cleared to play last night, but he was a late scratch. Hopefully he's a go for tonight. Kevin Love had eight points and 15 boards off the Wolves' bench while Craig Smith had 15 points, five boards and two steals in a start. Both guys should be hot pickups – Smith because he's starting, and Love because he should start getting consistent minutes.

Elton Brand is expected back tonight from his hamstring injury, so get him in your lineup.

Nate Robinson has missed six of his last seven games after sitting out last night's loss to the Bulls with a groin injury. He could sit out a couple more as they'll want to fully let him heal this time. Chris Duhon had 15 points, nine rebounds and 14 assists on the night and looks like the second coming of Steve Nash. And speaking of that, the fact that Duhon can be this productive under Mike D'Antoni takes some of the luster off of Nash's MVP accomplishments, at least in my book. Apparently, anyone can be an all-star if they're running the point for D'Antoni. Maybe I'm just bitter that I traded Duhon for a ham sandwich early in the year.

Rodney Stuckey had 10 points and 11 assists and Rip Hamilton scored 29 for the new-look Pistons last night. Sadly, I no longer own Stuckey in almost any leagues, but it's nice to see him have a chance to live up to all the hype I gave him in October and November.

Rashard Lewis hit six 3-pointers last night, while Brandon Roy had a season-high 30 points. Lewis continues to be one of the most underrated fantasy players out there.

Kobe Bryant had 28 points, four boards and three assists in a loss to Kings. I didn't see this game either, but I still find the outcome shocking. And I still think Kobe owners should look into selling him for a couple solid players. The production just isn't there, but his name still has tremendous value. John Salmons and Francisco Garcia each scored 21 for the Kings, as Kevin Martin remains out with his ankle injury. I bet Martin misses all week and might still be iffy for the next scoring period.

Matt Barnes had just five points and five assists in 21 minutes and is going to be tough to start for your fantasy team if he's not starting for the Suns. Terry Porter is not making any fans from his players, Suns fans or fantasy owners at this point and it could be a long year in Phoenix. That said, they had no problems with the Bucks last night.

Tyrus Thomas was a DNP-CD against the Knicks, which really hurts. I started him in my 30-team league and the Bulls had good matchups this week. Thomas has been useless again this season, just like last year, and the Bulls are officially kicking themselves as Aldridge dominates in Portland.

Dirk Nowitzki had 35 points, 10 boards and a block in last night's double-OT loss to the Spurs. Dirk was being treated like the plague in fantasy draft this year but is quietly having one of his best seasons ever. If you took him between the 10th and 15th picks in your draft, he might be the steal that leads you to a championship. Jose Juan Barea 21 points and five assists, and was proudly in a several of my lineups last night. He should be picked up in most leagues, although he's probably already gone. Jason Kidd had a spectacular line of 24 points, eight boards and 12 assists on 10-of-15 shooting and three 3-pointers. He may end up being the best point guard value taken in your draft this year – well, behind Duhon and Devin Harris. And Matt Bonner was 5-of-5 and 3-of-3 from downtown for 13 points and four rebounds in almost 30 minutes. I really think he's going to get some nice run the rest of the way from Gregg Popovich and he qualifies at center. Tim Duncan had 32 points and 14 rebounds, while Tony Parker had 29 points and 10 assists in the win.

Javaris Crittenton has been traded to the Wizards and could start at point guard until (or should I say 'if') Gilbert Arenas returns. I am not expecting big numbers out of JC, but if you're desperate for a point guard, give him a look.

[Hache Man]

Must... Stay... Focused
I have recently become convinced that everyone on the planet under the age of 91 has developed something ranging from a mild to exceedingly crippling case of ADD.

The other day, I was having a reasonably engaging conversation with a friend, when in mid-sentence I saw his brain crawl out of his ear and run up the street to check out a display in a nearby storefront window (it returned after chatting with the sales clerk for a few minutes).

With anywhere from two to 13 NBA games taking place on any given night, it can be similarly difficult to get your mind to consistently focus on one particular fantasy basketball-related topic. So with wandering craniums in mind, I will now impart seven random (but presumably useful) observations on fantasy hoops:

(By the way, if you're wondering why I chose the number seven, it's because that's how many grams of Riboflavin are listed in a single serving size on the back of this granola bar wrapper that I picked up and started reading while I was writing this.)

A reminder: For exclusive stat projections, player rankings and more, check out Rotoworld's Season Pass.

Kevin Love is an absolute manimal on the glass.
You can obviously make your own conclusion that Love is rebounding well based on the fact that he's averaged 11.2 rpg over his past six games. But seeing him in action tells the story far more vividly. These are not just uncontested boards that are falling to him while everyone else gets out of the way – these are rebounds that Love is fighting for like a crazed maniac. On Tuesday night, eight of his 15 boards were of the offensive variety, marking the second time in five games that he's had eight offensive rebounds. Once he improves his ability to finish over NBA power forwards and centers (he's shooting just 41.6 percent on the year), those offensive rebounds are going to translate to a significant number of points. In the meantime, you can start the T-Wolves rookie with confidence right now, regardless of the fact that he's coming off the bench. When you're that ferocious on the glass, limited playing time isn't necessarily a detriment – in his last six games, Love is averaging 11.8 points and 11.2 boards in just 27 minutes a night.

Rodney Stuckey (6-5, 205 lbs.) would most likely have the edge on Rajon Rondo (6-1, 171 lbs.) in a bare knuckles boxing match, but for fantasy purposes, Stuckey should be considered "Rondo Lite."
To be clear, there's nothing wrong with being classified as a less-caloric version of the Celtics point guard these days, but for those who see Stuckey as something of a wild card, Rondo Lite is a realistic label for his current fantasy outlook. Like Rondo, Stuckey doesn't hit threes (just 2-of-9 on the season), and while he may have a bit more scoring potential than Rondo, his assist and steal numbers are both likely to be less explosive than those of his hypothetical pugilistic counterpart. For the record (and on a completely inconsequential note), I'm taking the over on Stuckey's listed playing weight. He looks like he eats his morning omelet while hammering out a few extra reps on the Soloflex machine.

Mike Bibby continues to look like a Sacramento-era version of himself.
Sure, he put up zero assists on Tuesday and is averaging just 4.8 assists on the year, but you can't truly fault him for relatively low totals in that category when Mike Woodson's offense has a tendency to be as stagnant as tepid, watery bacon grease sitting in a frying pan in your sink (incidentally, this is not the same pan that Rodney Stuckey uses to make his omelets). What's important beyond the assists is that Bibby's three-point stroke is absolutely locked in, and he has the green light to gun whenever he wants (he's averaging 2.6 makes on 5.8 attempts for 44.4 percent this year). Sure, that percentage and the 2.6 could come down a little bit, but it should definitely stay above 2.0, and for the owners who have wondered if it's time to sell high on Bibby, there's absolutely no reason to think he can't keep this up all year.

I'm convinced that Jason Richardson is on the cusp of a three-point binge.
Three-point percentage before knee surgery: 39.3 percent (11-for-28). Three-point percentage after knee surgery: 51.6 percent (16-for-31). He may not have the same carte blanche to fire away as he had last year (when he averaged an obscene 3.0 makes on 7.3 attempts), but Richardson is clearly finding his stroke, and his current average of 1.9 three-point makes should be on the rise. If your team needs threes, a slightly discounted version of J-Rich makes a terrific trade target.

Eric Gordon's jump shot is broken at the moment, but that does not mean he should end up on waivers.
Gordon has hit just one of his last 11 threes, and several of his attempts during his 1-for-5 three-point shooting game against Orlando on Tuesday were not particularly close. That, as they say, is the bad news. The good news (unless you're Ricky Davis) is that Ricky Davis' knee is not in good shape. A Los Angeles Daily News report has Davis out until after Christmas, and frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if he's out until another important holiday: Old Rock Day (an opportunity to appreciate old rocks, celebrated every year on January 7). With Davis out, Gordon is playing a ton of minutes (35 per game over his last five), and once his outside shots start falling, the rest of his peripheral stats (1.4 blocks per game in his last five) will look that much better.

I am in support of your efforts to buy low on David West.
West is averaging exactly two less rebounds than he did last year (6.9 versus 8.9), and his blocks (0.8 versus 1.3) and points (19.9 versus 20.6) are down as well. However (and I do mean however), it's important to examine his last two games. On December 3, he posted a vintage David West line of 23 points, 14 boards, a steal and a block against Phoenix. Then, on December 6, he seemingly reverted to the 2008-09 edition with a performance of 19 points, four rebounds and a block against Memphis. The caveat is that West only played 27 minutes in that game and sat out the entire fourth quarter as the Hornets blew out the Grizzlies. With an additional quarter's worth of stats, we were looking at a significantly better line. And with or without that missing quarter, I believe (despite the small sample size) that we're looking at an upward trend.

If Al Harrington's on your team, I think you would be wise to explore what you can get for him in a trade.
Why? Because at first glance, he looks like a high-octane Rashard Lewis in Mike D'Antoni's offense: 22.9 ppg, 7.4 rpg and 2.6 threes on 45.6 percent shooting in eight games as a Knick. But here's the thing: As strong as those numbers are, Harrington has been dismal in assists (1.5) and steals (0.6), is not going to help you in blocks (0.5 as a Knick this season, 0.3 for his career) and is likely to cool off slightly from his current torrid clip. Maybe your fellow league members have noticed his flaws as well, but it's quite possible they've been blinded by the brilliance of his points, rebounds and threes. If that's the case, punch them in the gut and steal their wallet (figuratively speaking) while they're still stunned. This is not to say you have to unload Harrington if he's on your team. I'm plenty convinced he can average 18-20 ppg with some boards and a lot of threes, but I think he's reached a point right now where you might be able to get someone else to overpay.

And that, as they say, is just about all the time we have. But before I go, I would like to add –

Wait a second, what was I about to say?

[Hache Man]

D.J. Makes Some Noise

Yesterday was among the more sly and sneaky NBA Wednesdays you will ever encounter. For most of the day, this particular Wednesday sat back in the weeds, surveying the landscape, pondering its next move (i.e., nothing particularly compelling was happening around the league). Then, at 6 p.m., when we had collectively been lulled to sleep expecting nothing to happen, Wednesday pounced. Let's get right to the crux of what went down:

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The Trades
The Important Trade (which struck virtually out of nowhere at 6 p.m.): Jason Richardson, Jared Dudley and a second-round pick go from Charlotte to Phoenix for Boris Diaw, Raja Bell and Sean Singletary. Here are the key takeaways:

1) Richardson's value, while not getting an astronomical spike, can only benefit from playing alongside Steve Nash.

2) Meanwhile, Diaw could quietly be the deal's big winner. Considering Sean May's struggles, it's likely that Diaw will seize the starting power forward job in Charlotte, where he's capable of double-figure scoring while also contributing in rebounds, assists and possibly blocks. For sanity's sake, don't expect a return to 2005-06 numbers (13.3 ppg, 6,9 rpg, 6.2 apg and 1.1 bpg), but Diaw's value still gets a nice boost and he should be added in most leagues.

3) Raja Bell: Though he'll probably start at SG in Charlotte, his season averages in Phoenix (9.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.3 apg and 2.0 threes) were altogether ghastly (save for the threes), and I wouldn't expect any major change with the move East. Bell belongs on waivers unless you're a deep league owner who needs threes.

4) D.J. Augustin: He wasn't involved in the trade, but warrants a close look in its aftermath. With Bell not yet active, Augustin got the start at SG Wednesday and posted 28 points, seven assists, four steals and four threes, giving him averages of 20.8 ppg and 6.4 apg in five starts this season. Given Larry Brown's appreciation of gritty defensive players, odds are that Bell will take over the starting SG role, with Augustin returning to his reasonably productive but somewhat inconsistent 20-something minutes off the bench. However, it's also my belief that one way or another – via trade or an eventual lineup move – Augustin will get a chance to be a full-time starter at some point this year. Even if Bell does force him out of the starting role right now, Augustin should absolutely be owned in all leagues.

The Less Important Trade: A three-team hodgepodge that ends with Mike James and Javaris Crittenton on the Wizards, Antonio Daniels on the Hornets and a first-round pick going to the Grizzlies. The upshot is that either Crittenton or James should start at point guard for the Wiz following the release of Dee Brown. My guess is that with a youth movement of sorts happening in Washington, the better pickup (at least until Gilbert Arenas returns) will be Crittenton, the 2007 first-round draft pick who posted a handful of strong lines on the occasions he got significant minutes for the Grizzlies last year.

Now, onto the key happenings from Wednesday's games:

Positive Developments
Troy Murphy: My sympathies if you're facing him in head-to-head. He's now averaging 11.8 ppg, 11.1 rpg and 1.8 threes after a 20-point, 20-board, six-assist, four-three game.

Jamario Moon: Replaced Andrea Bargnani in the starting lineup and flashed back to his memorable rookie year: 17 points, eight boards, two steals, three blocks and a three. Grab him if you've got an open spot and hope this is the start of something. (More on Bargnani later.)

Jason Kapono: Started for Anthony Parker (ankle sprain), posting 25 points, eight boards and three treys. Owners in 14-team leagues should take a look.

Al Harrington: 39 points, 13 boards, two treys, two steals, 15-of-16 from the line. He's a bona fide fantasy beast in Mike D'Antoni's system, but if you like to play the market, his trade value may never be higher.

Wilson Chandler: 24 points, nine boards, one steal, one block and one three on 10-of-12 shooting. Something useful just about every game.

Devin Harris: Just when he seemed to be cooling off, he posts 27 and 32 points in consecutive games. Again, if you're the market-playing type, 24.8 ppg from Harris has to be exceeding your wildest expectations, and it's not a bad idea to see what type of return you can get.

Tyson Chandler: 13 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks. The agony may nearly be over.

Rudy Gay: 22 points, six rebounds, two threes, four steals and two blocks. Disciplinary benching may have been the final kick-start he needed.

O.J. Mayo: Inexplicably left on the bench down the stretch by Marc Iavaroni, but don't read anything into that bizarre coaching choice. More notable that Mayo is starting to distribute – he's averaging just 2.6 apg on the year, but 3.8 in his last five games.

Kevin Durant: 28 points, five boards, three assists, two threes, two blocks. He torched Golden State and Memphis. Now let's see if he can light up Dallas, in Dallas, on Saturday.

Nick Collison: I still don't trust Collison, but he is averaging 13.0 ppg, 8.7 rpg and 1.3 bpg in his last three, and with Chris Wilcox dislocating his finger, he could get some extended run. (More on Wilcox's injury should be available on Thursday.)

Mo Williams: Logged his highest minute-total in December (37) and finished with 27 points, six boards, four assists and two threes. Still a solid fantasy starter despite a slight dip from last year.

Ben Wallace: Last five games: 3.8 ppg and 2.8 bpg. Yogi Stewart would be proud.

Andre Iguodala: Last five games: 21.0 ppg, 8.4 rpg and 4.6 apg. He's back.

Lou Williams: Worth a look in deeper leagues after scoring 22 points in 28 minutes, but I'm waiting to see some more consistent playing time before making a move.

Al Horford: Eight points, seven rebounds and four blocks. Despite some owners' frustration, his numbers (11.2 ppg, 8.1 rpg and 1.6 bpg) are exceedingly solid, and there's plenty of room for him to improve his scoring and rebounding as the season goes on.

Manu Ginobili: 27 points, five threes in 28 minutes. As a starter, off the bench, in the library with the candlestick – it doesn't matter. He's gonna put up numbers.



More Positive Developments

Matt Bonner: Nine points, 13 boards, a steal, a block and a three. All aboard the hot streak.

Randy Foye: 26-point night gives him averages of 19.6 ppg and 5.0 apg in his last seven games. Times are good.

Kevin Love: Fourth double-double (14 points, 14 rebounds) in his last six games. A couple more blocks would be nice, but don't give up in that department yet.

Chauncey Billups: He likes Denver (exactly 24 points in three of his last four games).

Carmelo Anthony: 33-point third quarter eruption leads to 45 points, 11 boards, four threes and four steals. So much for that elbow injury (presumably).

Matt Barnes/Grant Hill: Both had huge lines against a dubious Lakers D, but someone's taking a hit when J-Rich arrives. If you're holding Barnes or Hill, watch closely to see how the minutes get divvied up.

Leandro Barbosa: 19.3 ppg in his last three. Hopefully Diaw's departure clears him for minutes consistently in the high-20's off the bench.

Lamar Odom: Six points, nine rebounds, seven assists, two steals and a block. More points would be nice, but if Odom stays this aggressive, all will be well.

Luke Walton: Started over Vladimir Radmanovic and had eight points, six assists and two steals. Worth a look in deeper leagues.

Charlie Villanueva: Nine points, 11 boards and four blocks off the bench. Nothing has changed: Wildly consistent, but his big nights will help your squad.

C.J. Watson: Had a strong game, but it won't happen with any consistency under Don Nelson's watch.

Anthony Morrow: Had 16 points in a starting role, and is a decent short-term, deep league option.

Kelenna Azubuike: Productive (13 points, eight boards) despite only 23 minutes. Have we mentioned that Don Nelson is unpredictable?

Marco Belinelli: 15 points in 14 minutes (and two dazzling assists). He could produce if given an extended look, but [insert Don Nelson line here].

Ronny Turiaf: Minutes are spotty, but he has averaged 2.6 blocks over his last five.

Andris Biedrins: 18 points, 14 boards, four blocks. Dare I say it? He's Nelson-proof.

Stephen Jackson: The good news: He surprisingly played, and had 21 points, five rebounds, eight assists and four steals. The bad news: His ill-advised 7-for-23 shooting was bad enough to make you dry heave. Furthermore, the hand is clearly still bothering him. Considering the shooting, the turnovers and the injury, it would be wise to shop S-Jax around. If you can flip him for Hedo Turkoglu (also struggling with his shot but more likely to turn it around), I see that as a win.

Negative Developments
Rasho Nesterovic – Zero points in 16 minutes. See that plug? Pull it.

Andrea Bargnani – Zero points in 23 minutes off the bench. Pull the plug if you must, but I'd suggest giving him a few more games to work it out under a new coach.

T.J. Ford – Fizzled in his Toronto revenge game and has been bad in his last three, but should be fine long-term.

David Lee – Double-double streak ended at 10, and he bruised his back. Assuming the injury isn't serious, a new streak should commence soon.

Raymond Felton/Emeka Okafor: Aside from D.J. Augustin, it was ugly all-around for the short-handed Bobcats. Don't dwell on it.

Marc Gasol: He's been inconsistent in December, but don't give up yet.

Hakim Warrick: Waiver-wire pickup sabotaged by Iavaroni – 35 minutes one game, 19 the next. Too inconsistent to trust right now.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas: Ankle sprain doesn't sound serious, but an MRI is coming Thursday. Anderson Varejao (15 points, eight rebounds on Wednesday) awaits the results on waivers.

Wally Szczerbiak – Did pick up minutes (24) in Daniel Gibson's absence, but didn't pick up points (he scored just two). Still could have value with Gibson out over the next couple of weeks.

Samuel Dalembert: Try to be patient. Try to forget that he's on your roster. Just don't look at him for the next week or two. Whatever you have to do. Unless he's hiding an injury, he should eventually turn it around.

Elton Brand: First game back mixed bad (3-for-11, seven turnovers) and good (10 boards, two blocks). Buy low now if you can.

Steve Nash: Great shooter simply had an off night (2-of-12 overall and and 2-of-9 on threes).

Jamal Crawford: Disappointing numbers (2-for-8, four points, seven assists) and has been dealing with an ankle sprain, but looked perfectly healthy while breaking Luke Ridnour's ankles three times on the same play.

Kobe Bryant: Only scored 18, his first game under 20 points since November 25. The good news is that he's starting to hoist threes (5-of-13 in his last two games) and is going to need to score a lot for the defensively-challenged Lakers going forward.

Tony Parker: Gregg Popovich told the San Antonio Express-News, "He just had a tough night. That's allowed." Okay, we'll allow it.

Josh Smith/Marvin Williams: A combined 2-for-11 for eight points. They got Spur'd.

J.R. Smith: Nine points in 18 minutes. He got J.R.'d.

Tonight
www.bostonceltics.ws
The Celtics make their first appearance of a two-game week in Washington, while New-look Charlotte is in Dallas, but may not have Raja Bell and Boris Diaw available (which would be great news for D.J. Augustin owners). In the late game, Portland is taking on Utah, and the streaking Paul Millsap looks for his tenth straight double-double while most likely providing the Utah training staff with monetary and/or candy-related bribes to make Carlos Boozer's quad injury linger as long as is humanly possible.

[Hache Man]

What's the deal with Sammy D?
I don't know if it was Matt Stroup's Daily Dose on Thursday, or just the fact that Samuel Dalembert is the worst fantasy player of all time (at least for the moment), but I was inundated by emails about Sammy and D.J. Augustin on Thursday. I answered some, but didn't have time to get to all of them on my day off. And if you sent me one of those emails where you copied and pasted your entire team, wrote four paragraphs about why you drafted the team the way you did, asked what I thought of a trade you pulled off two weeks ago and ended by asking, in general, what moves would I suggest making to improve your team? Well, I am guessing I didn't get past the first sentence once I saw how long it was, and once I saw how vague it was.

As you can probably guess, short, to the point emails have the best chance of being answered…Just like short, to the point questions also tend to work well in a live chat. Speaking of which, join me here today at 2 p.m. so I can help talk you off the ledge if you own Sammy D. It's a Season Pass subscriber-only chat.

Whether you're at today's chat or not, here are my thoughts on Sammy D and D.J. Augustin.

Sammy has been terrible this season. In fact, he's been about as disappointing as any player in the NBA. But the difference between him and other disappointing guys like Tyrus Thomas and JaVale McGee, is that Sammy at least has a track record. Some proven history, if you will. I read this morning that Mo Cheeks doesn't plan on benching Sammy, and you have to think he'll get it turned around at some point. I still own him in the league I drafted him in, and have simply put him on my bench until further notice. His trade value should be a rock bottom, so I wouldn't suggest moving him right now (although someone in one of my leagues just shipped him out for Drew Gooden), and you'll be kicking yourself when he finally gets it going if you drop him. That said, if you're in a 10-team league and are fine at center, I have no problems with sending him packing.

A popular question is "should I cut Dalembert to pick up Matt Bonner?" I might do it, but it all depends on your league, your team and what kind of an owner you are as to whether it makes sense or not. But generically speaking, he should simply be benched for now.

As for Augustin, I am a huge fan and I want him to start at point guard over Raymond Felton now that Jason Richardson is gone. But…Larry Brown is in charge of that decision and I'm not convinced that he's ready to just kick Felton to the curb. Raja Bell will start at shooting guard (at least for now) and Boris Diaw will likely play power forward, with Gerald Wallace at SF and Emeka Okafor at C. And since Felton was already starting at point guard over Augustin before the trade, I'm not sure why so many folks are jumping to the conclusion that Augustin will suddenly be the starter. That said, Augustin has proven he needs minutes and the fact the Cats picked up Sean Singletary in the trade makes Felton completely expendable. So I would expect that Felton starts at point guard initially and will then either be traded or challenged by Augustin for his job all year. But it really doesn't matter. Augustin should be owned in every single league, and started in many of those – even if he's coming off the bench.

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In addition, you can check me and Hector out on RotoRadio again this Saturday live at 3 p.m. with special guest, NBA TV's Rick Kamla. Mark your calendar.

Injury odds and ends

Shaquille O'Neal is doubtful for Friday due to the death of his great grandmother. In addition, we don't know if Jason Richardson or Jared Dudley will be ready to go tonight as all five players involved in the trade still have to complete and pass their physicals. In addition, Richardson needs an MRI on his surgically repaired knee, but my guess is that he's fine.

Thaddeus Young has been benched by the Sixers in favor of Willie Green. Tough break for Young and his owners, as he was tearing it up over the first two weeks for Philly. He still has some value, but is someone who could be dropped in order to pick up a hot young point guard (Augustin, Russell Westbrook).

Kevin Martin is doubtful for Monday with his lingering foot/ankle problem and it looks like owners in weekly leagues are probably going to have to bench him again.

Yao Ming missed yesterday's practice with the flu but is expected to play tonight against the Warriors. Tracy McGrady is also a possibility for tonight, but if he does play, he will see limited minutes. Ron Artest has already been ruled out for tonight.

Kevin Garnett was limping around in last night's AAU win over the Wizards with a sore right knee, but it sounds like everything is fine and that it's a minor bruise.

Luke Walton is now starting over Vladimir Radmanovic for the Lakers at small forward. Phil Jackson says it's to improve ball movement, but I say it's because Vlad-Rad had no business starting in the first place. This move could also be significant if Radmanovic falls out of the rotation, as Lamar Odom could finally see a surge in minutes. And wouldn't that be nice?

Carlos Boozer is still unsure of a return date from his quad/knee problem, but there's a chance he'll play tomorrow. He's been out for 12 straight games thus far, which has been music to the ears of Paul Millsap owners. Millsap has double-doubled in 10 straight games after Thursday's win over the Blazers. Ronnie Brewer will miss Saturday's game due to a death in the family.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas is out with an ankle injury, so look for Anderson Varejao to start in his place tonight. Big Z could miss several games.

Kenyon Martin is due back from his wrist injury on Saturday, which will send Renaldo Balkman back to the bench.

Monta Ellis spoke at length yesterday, but really didn't say a single thing that will make his fantasy owners feel better or worse. Reminds me of that Replacements song: When you comin' back? I don't know. How is rehab going? I don't know. What will your role be when you return? I don't know. Do you have any regrets? I don't know. He did say he was in no hurry to rush back ahead of "schedule" (whatever that is) but that when he does return, "I will recover 100 percent and be the same player I was before I left, or even stronger." Strong words and it's nice to know he feels that way. In all seriousness, reports are that his rehab is going well, but he's basically been ruled out for a December return and I'm still sticking with my original guess of February.

Chris Wilcox will be out for a couple weeks with a dislocated finger after missing a lot of time last year with a pinkie injury. For such and big and scary-looking dude, he sure does have some finger issues. Don't be surprised if Nick Collison isn't one of the hottest pick ups in your league next week.

Jarvis Hayes is out for the Nets tonight with a hamstring injury and could miss several games because of it. Should mean a small boost for Bobby Simmons.

Game Action

Paul Millsap had his 10th straight double-double in last night's win over the Blazers, while Mehmet Okur scored a season-high 27 on 9-of-14 shooting. Memo added 10 boards and two threes in the win, while Brandon Roy tied a career high with 33 points on 12-of-22 shooting to go along with eight boards and two threes in the loss.

J.J. Barea started again for the Mavs but had just eight points on 3-of-7 shooting. The night wasn't a total loss, as he added five boards and five assists, but he was due to cool off. Now new owners just have to hope he can keep it going if and when Josh Howard (ankle) ever decides to play again. Emeka Okafor had season highs in points (27) and boards (17) for Charlotte, and added three blocks in the loss, while D.J. Augustin hit just 3-of-16 shots for just nine points. However, he did manage to hand out 10 dimes on the night, making it tough to be mad at him.

JaVale McGee showed signs of life with 11 points, six boards and three blocks for the Wizards, but his team looks like the land of the walking dead right now. And as for McGee? I'm not biting this time. DeShawn Stevenson failed to score and has been unbelievably bad this season despite still starting, while underappreciated Juan Dixon started and had 17 points, seven assists and four steals. New arrivals Mike James and Javaris Crittenton played, but failed to score, and I think the guard situation in Washington will remain a cluster-you-know-what going forward. If Antonio Daniels and Stevenson couldn't do anything while starting this season, I'm not sure that Dixon, James or Crittenton will either. But at least over the next few games, Dixon looks like the best bet.

Kevin Garnett had 11 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists, two steals and a block while limping around with a sore right knee in the Celtics' romp and they improved to 21-2 on the season. That's the best start in franchise history, which is really saying something when you're talking about such a storied franchise.

Classic "Moroccan Christmas" episode of The Office last night. You can get the highlights here, but I would like to see an episode of nothing but Andy and Dwight battling it out for 30 minutes. They've clearly become the two most interesting characters on the show. Last night will go down as a great one though, although it probably can't touch the oven mitt/iPod Christmas party from a couple years ago. Than again, what can?

[Hache Man]

Bynum's Big Complaint
The Week Ahead examines all 30 NBA teams, focusing on information that could affect player performance from Monday, December 15th through Sunday the 21st. This week's edition is brimming with quotes and statistics, a slight modification that I hope you enjoy. It is also lengthy, and I promise to trim it down for next week (for my own sanity, if not yours).

Two-game teams: Grizzlies, Trail Blazers

Three-game teams: Cavaliers, Pistons, Rockets, Lakers, Heat, Timberwolves, Hornets, Thunder, Magic, 76ers, Suns, Spurs

Four-game teams: Hawks, Celtics, Bobcats, Bulls, Mavericks, Nuggets, Warriors, Pacers, Clippers, Bucks, Nets, Knicks, Kings, Raptors, Jazz, Wizards

Two-game teams:

Grizzlies

Mike Conley nearly had a triple-double on Friday, finishing with nine points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. While that's an extremely positive sign, it's tough to get behind Conley until he's more consistent. On the positive side, he has scored double-digit points in four of the last six games and has at least one three-pointer in eight straight. On the negative side, he has just four steals in his last 12 games, and averaged 1.3 assists in the three games before Friday.

Coach Marc Iavaroni intends to keep Kyle Lowry in the starting lineup for defensive purposes, but it's anyone's guess how long that will last. The starting job is within Conley's reach, so hang on to him and hope that he earns closer to 30 minutes a game.

Meanwhile, O.J. Mayo continues to amaze. He is averaging 20.8 points per game, the highest scoring average for a rookie since Carmelo Anthony in 2003-2004. He has also scored double-digits in 20 consecutive games, the longest such stretch to begin an NBA career since Magic Johnson.

Marc Gasol has been benched in favor of Darko Milicic, which Iavaroni said will help the team defensively. Gasol took that personally, saying , "I guess it means I'm not a good defender." He was back in the starting five on Friday, at power forward alongside Milicic, but finished with 11 points, three rebounds and one block in 32 minutes. I still like his potential, but until he settles into a productive role he's no better than a backup fantasy center.

One last note on the Griz...Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial-Appeal is adamant that all the talk of Marc Iavaroni's imminent firing is just that...talk. No decisions, his "relevant sources" insist, will be made until January. So there you have it.

Trail Blazers

The Blazers have had a very rough schedule to start the season. They have played 16 games against teams over .500 and no team has played more road games (or fewer home games). Beat writer/commentator/blogger Mike Barrett calculates that the team has traveled more than 21,500 miles in the past 45 days. That is rough on all the players, but Shavlik Randolph gets it the worst -- his fear of flying is so intense that he sometimes ends up laying flat on the floor (how that helps I do not know).

Travis Outlaw missed Friday's game because of a bruised tailbone. He is listed as day-to-day. Shavlik Randolph took his place on the active roster, but didn't play. Jerryd Bayless scored three points in six minutes. The real beneficiary was Rudy Fernandez -- his shot wasn't falling (2-of-11) but he played a season-high 38 minutes in the loss. Keep that in mind if the Blazers ever pull a trade involving Outlaw.

Three-game teams:

Cavaliers

LeBron James is averaging more than five fewer minutes this season, and here are a few statistics that help explain why:

The Cavaliers began their current 11-game winning streak with eight victories of 12 points or more, tying the NBA record for consecutive victories by at least 12 points (most recently accomplished by the Rockets in 2007-2008).

The Cavs lead the league with a +13.3 point differential, and their combined +266 points after 20 games is the sixth-highest in league history. Four of the five teams ahead of them in that category went on to win the championship.

As those numbers suggest, Cleveland is getting it done at both ends of the court. They are first in the NBA in defensive field-goal percentage (.415) and points allowed (90.2), second in the league in field-goal percentage (.483) and fourth in blocks (6.5) and scoring (103.5).

Zydrunas Ilgauskas become the Cavs all-time leading rebounder last week, only to sprain his ankle in the next game. He has so much metal in his surgically reconstructed foot that they weren't able to take an MRI, but he is expected to miss "a couple games". That gives Anderson Varejao "a couple games" worth of solid production, so run him out there if you own him. (LeBron James is also expected to occasionally slide over to power forward when teams go to a small lineup.)

With Daniel Gibson (sprained toe) out approximately two weeks, Delonte West will get all the playing time he can handle. Sasha Pavlovic and Wally Szczerbiak could also see increased action, but neither will have any value.

Pistons

The Pistons recent lineup shuffle has given Rodney Stuckey a jolt of fantasy value, and it paid off on Friday to the tune of 21 points on 7-of-8 shooting, four three-pointers, four rebounds, eight assists and three steals. Head coach Michael Curry said the starting lineup could change depending on matchups, meaning Stuckey could occasionally shift to the bench in favor of Kwame Brown, so keep an eye out just in case.

Michael Curry gave a recent interview in which he diagnosed the adjustments that Rip Hamilton and Allen Iverson have had to make. "As Rip is learning to play and share the scoring with another scorer, like Allen, he's kind of been frustrated," Curry said. "We're asking guys to share the load and do something different than they've done through their careers. At the same time, we're asking them to play less minutes than they've played." Let's see...frustration because of dimishing shot attempts and minutes? That's the foundation for any disappointing fantasy season.

Speaking of disappointment, Iverson has failed to score 20 points in any of the past 10 games. I can't imagine A.I. will average 17.3 points on 40% shooting all season, making him a decent buy-low target, but his production has definitely taken a hit since joining the Pistons.

Rockets

I never thought I'd devote multiple paragraphs to discussing someone's knee, but here goes. Tracy McGrady returned for the Rockets in style on Friday, finishing with 24 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. Rick Adelman apparently left him in the game --which wasn't close-- to chase a triple-double, earning scorn and disbelief from Rockets fans.

T-Mac, who missed seven straight games to strengthen his left leg and allow the pain to subside, recently shrugged off critics who question his toughness. "They don't know what I went through just to make it through the season last year," McGrady said. "My knee was jacked up, very jacked up." He said he should never have returned as early as he did, but wanted to get his team off to a good start despite their tough schedule to open the season. How does he feel after a few weeks of rest? "I'm not 100 percent, but I feel a lot better. I feel like I can go out there and be myself." He missed a triple-double by one assist, so obviously there is truth to that...on the other hand, I'm skeptical about his ability to sustain this level of play for weeks, let alone months, and think he's a great sell-high candidate.

Ron Artest, meanwhile, is slated to miss another game as he rests his troublesome ankle -- a recent MRI revealed two partially torn ligaments. The injury was pre-existing (speculation was that the original injury was caused by years of playing on concrete) and was aggravated by swelling from a recent ankle sprain. He has been missing an unusually high number of jumpshots, but even layups haven't been automatic for Artest this season. Hopefully when he comes back he'll have his explosion back...in the meantime, check our player news for updates on his status for next week.

Lakers

Lamar Odom was sick with the flu on Friday, but finished with nine points and four rebounds in 28 minutes. I would say he's 'safe' to start next week, except that he has been unusable in many leagues to this point. How about...use him as you normally would.

Andrew Bynum is unhappy about being on the bench late in fourth quarters. He has missed the final five minutes of the Lakers' past eight games, despite averaging 16 points and nine rebounds during that stretch.

"I don't understand why I'm not in at the end of the game," Bynum said on Thursday. "I haven't been in foul trouble the last couple of games, so I have no idea."

Phil Jackson wasted no time (or words) identifying Bynum's weakness. "When he shows the ability to play defense appropriately, he'll probably be there," Jackson said.

I think Bynum will eventually be a late-game staple for the Lakers, anchoring their defense with his intimidating shot-blocking ability. Right now, however, the Lakers record gives them enough breathing room to bring along slowly, emphasizing pick-and-roll defense and proper rotations.

Luke Walton has become a surprise starter, replacing Vladimir Radmanovic. The move was intended to improve ball movement --never one of Radmanovic's strengths-- and should last at least through next week. Radmanovic has two consecutive DNPs, while Walton has averaged six points in 24 minutes in his first two starts.

Heat

Michael Beasley missed Friday's game with the flu. The Heat are optimistic that he'll be available on Sunday, and he should be fine for next week. He has all sorts of upside, but right now his minutes are too inconsistent for use in most leagues.

Jamaal Magloire played 13 minutes off the bench on Friday, three days after getting eight stitches in his right elbow. He said recently, "I'm in the best condition of my life." That might have been convincing in 2004-2005, but shouldn't fool anyone at this point. The expected return of Alonzo Mourning is another compelling reason to avoid Magloire.

Dorell Wright is hoping to return from knee surgery in about two weeks. His first return was cut short, and with Yakhouba Diawara playing well it's unlikely Wright will make much of a dent in the rotation.

Wolves

Al Jefferson could benefit from the coaching change in Minnesota, as Kevin McHale is commited to attacking mismatches on offense, and Jefferson demands automatic double-teams. But Big Al wasn't ready to blame the Wolves early struggles on ex-coach Randy Wittman. "They could have Jesus Christ himself come and coach us," Jefferson said, "but if we don't go out there and play hard and play together it won't mean nothing."

Mike Miller played on Friday after missing four games with a sprained right ankle, but attempted just one shot in the first half and finished with three points in 33 minutes. The Wolves didn't trade for Miller to use him as a defensive specialist or a decoy on the perimeter, so expect his shot attempts to increase soon.

On a socially-conscious note, the Target Center's main roof is scheduled to be torn off and replaced with a 'green roof': a sandwich of new layers designed to prevent leaks, absorb rainfall and promote vegetative growth.

The roof needs to be tended initially, but soon becomes a more or less self-sustaining mat of vegetation. It protects and prolongs the lives of the underlying roofing, keeps the building cool in the summer and insulated in the winter. It also reduces stormwater runoff which lessens the burden on cities sewage systems.

I have seen houses in Portland, Oregon with green roofs, but never imagined it could --or would-- be used on a structure as huge as the Target Center. The estimated cost is $5.3 million and the roof is expected to last over 40 years -- a loud vote of confidence for the future of the franchise.

Hornets

Tyson Chandler missed Friday's game because of neck spasms. He said his neck began to get stiff on Thursday, and by Friday there was swelling. He is considered day-to-day, so check back this weekend before determining his status for next week. Hilton Armstrong had eight points and four rebounds on Friday, and shouldn't be picked up.

James Posey is apparently dealing with a sore hamstring, but his minutes haven't changed and he's not expected to miss any time. After a hot start to the season, Posey's numbers have leveled off. He's a decent source of threes, but doesn't offer much else beyond a few rebounds and the occasional steal.

Thunder

Chris Wilcox will miss up to two weeks after dislocating his left ring finger Wednesday night against Memphis. His finger was popped into place and will not require surgery, but feel free to drop him if you're on the fence. He is averaging 8.7 points and 5.3 rebounds in 18 games this season, including six starts.

Nick Collison should become the immediate beneficiary of Wilcox's injury. Whether or not he starts when Wilcox comes back, I think his superior rebounding and shot blocking make him a (slightly) more valuable fantasy player...just keep your expectations low.

Magic

Dwight Howard left Friday's game with a knee injury, though it isn't believed to be serious. We should know more about his status later on Saturday. He has said before that he's had occasional swelling in his knee since high school, but that there is nothing structurally wrong. He is also dealing with an oblique (abdomen) injury, so keep a close eye on his status.

One bright spot for Orlando...the first round of All-Star voting is in, and Dwight Howard's 775,933 votes make him #1 in the league. That's right, more than Yao, LeBron and Kobe. More than fan favorite Adonal Foyle, even.

76ers

Samuel Dalembert has started all 21 games for Philadelphia, but is averaging 6.0 points and 8.2 rebounds in 25.7 minutes. "It's not like he doesn't go out and try," coach Mo Cheeks said. "For the most part, I like his effort when he goes on the floor." Unfortunately, that hasn't stopped Cheeks from increasing the minutes of veteran Theo Ratliff and rookie Marreese Speights.

Part of the problem could be Sammy's sore knee, which is frequently wrapped in ice during halftime and has forced him to skip a few practices. "I know it's bothering him," Cheeks said.

Lou Williams missed Friday's game with food poisoning...considering his spotty production off the bench, he is best avoided this week.

Suns

Some insight into the Suns, in their own words:

Steve Nash: "We've got to a better place, spacing and tempo-wise, where I can...get in the paint and make plays and break the defense down. Those are obviously strengths of mine, so the more I get to that the better I'm going to feel." The acquisition of Jason Richardson should improve Nash's sagging assist totals.

Ex-Sun Boris Diaw taking a parting shot at his old team: "We went from a winning team (under Mike D'Antoni) that was the most exciting team in the league to a half-winning team that wasn't exciting at all." Ironically, the trade that brought in J-Rich should correct that.

Matt Barnes: "We really need to get Grant Hill going. I've got no problem coming off the bench. I've done it before. Very comfortable with it." Barnes is producing regardless of where he starts the game, but his production could take a small hit with Richardson in town.

Suns center, philosopher and witticist Shaquille O'Neal (collected entries in his Twitter feed):

"Id like people to think of me as someone who cares about them Princess diana" - December 8th.

"The best way to secure happiness is 2 b az happy as u can everyday Shaquille oneal" - December 8th

"Whatthe hell is wrong wit da suns" - December 4th

With Jason Richardson dominating the minutes at shooting guard, coach Terry Porter said that Leandro Barbosa might start playing more point guard. "We're in the laboratory on that one," Porter said about how to get LB sufficient playing time.

Spurs

Matt Bonner has scored double-digits in four of the past five games, averaging a shade under 2.0 threes during that stretch.

Gregg Popovich said recently that Bonner, Roger Mason and George Hill will all play steady minutes for the foreseeable future. Of course, he also said Manu Ginobili was going to start "in perpetuity". Bonner and Mason have solid value while starting, and we know that Ginobili's value doesn't change regardless of where he starts the game. Hill is a tough sell in average leagues as long as Tony Parker is healthy.

Four-game teams:

Hawks

Josh Smith is taking some heat for his play since returning from an ankle injury, particularly for poor shot selection. "We're not telling him he can't shoot 3-pointers," said coach Mike Woodson, "but if you miss four or five jump shots, something has to go off in his head that says, 'I have to do something else.' In order for us to win, Josh has to be more of a complete player."

"After being out with an injury, it does take some time to get your timing back," Smith said recently. Despite his poor shooting, his fantasy owners can't be too upset -- he nearly recorded a rare 5x5 this week.

Celtics
www.bostonceltics.ws
The Celtics are off to a historic, franchise-best 22-2 start this season, tying the fourth-best start in NBA history for a team with two losses.

The only other Celtics teams to start a season 20-2 (1963-1964 and 2007-2008) both went on to win the championship. They are also riding a 14-game winning streak, the Celtics' longest since 1985-86 (when they also won a championship). Basically, things are looking very good for the Celts right now.

Kevin Garnett has a bruised right leg, but isn't expected to miss any time. He scored 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting in Friday's game, so keep him active.

Bobcats

Boris Diaw, Raja Bell and Sean Singletary should each have improved fantasy prospects now that they have been traded to the Bobcats.

Diaw's stock should go way up, as the Bobcats are so desperate for a power forward that Sean May --who simply is not in game shape-- has been starting. Diaw's greatest fantasy virtue is his versatility, and he publicly ripped the Suns for failing to use him except as a straight power forward. Expect him to be active offensively, occasionally running things out of the high post.

Bobcats beat writer Rick Bonnell writes that "the Bobcats aren't done searching for ways to change the roster before the trade deadline." I swear, however, that that is edited...originally it said that the Bobcats will eventually trade Gerald Wallace for a center, thus freeing Emeka Okafor to play his natural position of center. Obviously it's not a guarantee, but it sounds like another trade (or two) is very likely.

Mavericks
www.dallasmavericks.ws
Erick Dampier is averaging 17 rebounds per 48 minutes, but unfortunately he's only averaging 22 minutes.

Jason Kidd hasn't been scoring the ball much this season, but he's averaging 9.7 points, 8.7 assists and 7.1 rebounds, while ranking second in the NBA with 2.7 steals per game.

J.J. Barea is averaging 19 points in his past four games and appears locked into the starting shooting guard spot. Another encouraging trend is the Mavs use of three small guards --Kidd, Terry and Barea-- at the end of games. Coach Rick Carlisle said he's simply keeping his best playmakers on the court.

Jason Terry is averaging a career-high 20.2 points and has scored in double figures in 15 consecutive games.

Gerald Green isn't going to help your team this season. Even when he started five consecutive games, he never played more than 14 minutes.

Bulls

Tyrus Thomas was publicly criticized by coach Vinny Del Negro last week. ''I can handle mistakes, but I can't handle lack of effort and I can't handle lack of commitment to the team,'' Del Negro said after giving Thomas his first DNP of the season. He played seven minutes on Friday and should be cut in most leagues.

In case anyone cares...Michael Ruffin (sprained ankle) practiced on Wednesday.

Nuggets

As you know, Carmelo Anthony tied an NBA record with 33 points in a single quarter this week. He had scored 30 points just once in his previous 19 games, so hopefully it's a sign of things to come.

Anthony said his right elbow still hurts, but does not plan on taking any time off to heal. "As long as I keep hitting and bumping it I don't really think it can get any better," Anthony said. "The only thing I can do is keep getting treatment and hope it gets better."

Kenyon Martin is hopeful to play on Saturday, so check his status before committing to him next week.

From the curiosity file...Denver is 9-1 when Dahntay Jones plays 20 minutes or more.

Warriors

Marco Belinelli told an Italian newspaper last week, "I can't trust (coach Don Nelson) any more...The things he told me haven't come to pass." Belinelli has frequently been Nellie's flavor-of-the-week but it never lasts.

For instance, Nelson is currently insistent that ball movement is the key to the Warriors success, which theoretically favors Belinelli (especially with Corey Maggette sidelined and Stephen Jackson slowed by a hand injury). "The ball basically was stopping too much, and that's got to change," Nelson said. "And it's gonna change."
Corey Maggette is out indefinitely with a slight tear in his hamstring. The injury has plagued him all season, so I expect he'll be shut down for a significant amount of time...even Don Nelson admits his team has no realistic shot at the playoffs, so rushing Maggette back makes no sense at all.

Pacers
www.indianapacers.ws
The Pacers have have the highest strength of schedule, according to ESPN.com, ranking .586 (Toronto is second at .554).

Danny Granger scored a career-high 42 points on Friday, a great sign after he started to slump in the face of increased attention from opposing defenses. T.J. Ford has been maddeningly inconsistent, following up near triple-doubles with duds. I think he'll eventually thrive in the Pacers up-tempo system, but it's definitely taking longer than expected.

Clippers

Chris Kaman's strained arch is becoming a real problem...which is good news for owners of Zach Randolph and Marcus Camby. "Hopefully in a couple more weeks I'll start playing," Kaman said on Tuesday.

"[Ricky Davis'] injury is really bad," coach Mike Dunleavy said. "When we did the MRI, his (ankle) tendon was three times the size of a normal one so it's going to take a while. He may be out until after Christmas." That leaves the door wide open for rookie Eric Gordon, who has been earning rave reviews from his coach.

"The one thing [Gordon] has been very consistent in, which I'm ecstatic about, is every night defensively he's been good," Dunleavy said. Gordon has the potential for healthy amounts of steals and three-pointers every night, making him a decent fantasy option while starting.

Bucks

Charlie Bell has missed five consecutive games with an ankle injury, but he might play on Saturday. "I'm not really limping as much, and I'm able to jump off it a little better," Bell said. Not limping "as much"? That doesn't sound great, does it?

Bell also described himself as "not the greatest defensive player in the world", a rare bit of honesty that won't get him far under coach Scott Skiles.

Andrew Bogut sat Friday's practice with a sore right ankle, an injury initially sustained on December 3rd. He expects to play on Saturday, but double-check his status to be sure.

Nets

Stromile Swift (sprained right ankle) and Jarvis Hayes (strained right hamstring) are not expected to play for the Nets on Saturday. Neither player has much value, though Hayes could be worth a look in deep leagues.

Josh Boone (ankle) played on Friday for the first time in 14 games. He had four points in 15 minutes off the bench and won't have significant value as long as Brook Lopez is healthy.

Knicks

Nate Robinson is expected to return from his groin injury on Saturday, so it should be safe to activate him next week. His return will ease the burden on Chris Duhon, whose limitless playing time has earned him the nickname '48'.

David Lee is also expected to play despite a bruised back. He has been gobbling up rebounds (10 consecutive double-doubles before the injury), and his fantasy value is guaranteed by stellar rebounds and FG%.

Kings
www.sacramentokings.ws
The Kings are ranked 29th in the league in defensive rebounding percentage (70.4%)...not exactly a great sign for Brad Miller, Spencer Hawes and Sacramento's other big men. It also doesn't help Reggie Theus' job security, though no coaching change is imminent in Sacramento -- this week's stirring win over the Lakers has likely bought him a few weeks at least.

Kevin Martin described himself as "very frustrated" with the progress of his ankle injury. "It has its moments, sometimes it doesn't," Martin said. He has already been ruled out for Saturday and Monday...keep him benched and hopefully we'll get some good news this week.

Raptors

Kris Humphries (right knee tendinitis) and Anthony Parker (sprained left ankle) have been sidelined recently but are both a possibility for Saturday's game.

Jason Kapono and Jamario Moon have both played very well since being inserted into the starting five, but coach Jay Triano couldn't guarantee that they will stick. "Really it's out of necessity more than anything else," Triano said. "With Kris [Humphries] out I've really only got three bigs, and while I'd like to be able to play all three at the same time, it doesn't make much sense to start the game that way." Hence Andrea Bargnani has been moved to the bench, with Jamario Moon starting. If Anthony Parker comes off the bench it could be a fantasy disaster...his value will sink, while Kapono may not get enough minutes to produce. Again, watch closely to see how this all plays out.

Jazz
www.utahjazz.ws
The Jazz don't anticipate having Carlos Boozer available on Saturday. Currently it is a bruised kneecap, not his strained quad, that is keeping him sidelined. It's hard to get a read on his status for next week, making both him and Paul Millsap riskier options in weekly leagues.

Wizards

DeShawn Stevenson is shooting a career-low 31% percent from the field and is just 28% from downtown. Despite the struggles (and because he has no alternatives), head coach Ed Tapscott is going to roll with the punches. "[Stevenson] plays hard, he defends, so if his shooting's off, I'll live with that," Tapscott said. "You can't define a player simply by his shooting." Unfortunately you can define a player simply by his shooting, if you happen to own Stevenson in a fantasy league.

That is all I can manage this week...check back next weekend for another trip around the league, and good luck

[Hache Man]

Dwight Howard iffy for Monday
At Every Occasion I'll Be Ready For A Funeral

Eddie House – personal – Out tonight due to a funeral. Return date unknown.
Gerald Wallace – personal - Should play Mon, iffy for Tuesday w/ another funeral.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas – foot – Could miss the week. Anderson Varejao looking good.
Daniel Gibson – toe – Out at least another week.
Josh Howard – ankle – How many more can he miss? I'm still benching him.
Kenyon Martin – wrist – played in last game, but still iffy with wrist.
Ronny Turiaf – flu – Has missed two, should be close to a return.
Brandan Wright – flu – Ditto.
Corey Maggette – hamstring – Out indefinitely means bench indefinitely.
Stephen Jackson – hand – playing through it but can't hit the ocean right now.
Monta Ellis – ankle – Still not close. Warriors are 7-17. Do the math.
Rafer Alston – hamstring – Doubtful Tuesday means it's Aaron Brooks time.
Ron Artest – ankle – Probable for Tuesday means get him back in lineup.
Brent Barry – calf – No fantasy implications if he not playing.
Travis Diener – foot – Ford and Jack splitting minutes, no room for Diener.
Mike Dunleavy – knee – Report hopefully coming soon, almost time to cut him.
Chris Kaman – foot – Out until at least Christmas.
Ricky Davis – knee – Ditto.
Andrew Bynum – foot – Floating bone spur not a problem right now.
Darius Miles – knee – I still can't believe Memphis signed him. Suspended.
Udonis Haslem – personal – Missed Sunday with funeral, but should be back.
Dorell Wright – knee – Returning in near future, but no value.
James Jones – wrist – Still a few weeks away.
Malik Allen – ribs – Not worthy of roster spot when healthy.
Jarvis Hayes – hamstring – Due back, but Bobby Simmons is hot.
Stromile Swift – ankle – Is due for a good game, but don't bite.
Eduardo Najera – neck – Ready to play, but too rusty to consider.
Tyson Chandler – neck – He simply has a stiff neck, but has missed two. Risky.
Chris Wilcox – finger – Out another week with dislocation.
Robert Swift – back – Most injured player ever?
Dwight Howard – knee – Game-time decision. Could sit vs. sorry Warriors.
Mickael Pietrus – thumb – Out at least another week.
Shaquille O'Neal – personal – Another funeral victim may play in all 3 this week.
Brandon Roy – finger – He's tough and will play through it.
Travis Outlaw – tailbone – Missed Friday's game, bench for now.
Martell Webster – foot – Back on the shelf. No value this year.
Kevin Martin – ankle – Will play again, but who knows when?
Kris Humphries – knee – On verge of return, but not much fantasy value.
Ronnie Brewer – personal – Yet another funeral victim but is back. Play him.
Kyrylo Fesenko – back – D-Leaguer, no fantasy value.
Carlos Boozer – quad – Ruled out for Monday. Déjà vu all over again.
Gilbert Arenas – knee – Wiz are 4-17. Will he even bother playing this year?

Reggie Theus was fired this morning, along with assistant Chuck Person, replaced by Kenny Natt. I know absolutely nothing about Natt or his plans, but my guess is that he'll do whatever the Maloofs tell him to do. Probably means more run for the young guys (Spencer Hawes, Jason Thompson) but who knows? I think Hawes should be owned in all leagues and is now a great buy-low target because Brad Miller is one of the surest bets in the league to be traded by February. And I'm thinking it happens sooner than later.

Carlos Boozer's injury is very reminiscent of the one that limited him to just 33 games in 2005-06. After tonight's street-clothes appearance, he'll be at 14 straight misses. Hopefully he's just getting fully healthy, but owners have got to be shaking. Unless you were lucky enough to get your hands on Paul Millsap.

Josh Howard has to be one of the best buy-low candidates of all time. I failed to get my buddy to take Eric Gordon for him, but he cannot trade him for any value at all. The latest offer he received was Kevin Love and Lamar Odom for Howard, which is not really a good one. He was also turned down when he offered Howard straight up for D.J. Augustin. Bottom line is that once Howard returns, he's going to be a solid fantasy player. He's not LeBron James or anything, but he can help you win a championship if he's healthy.

Dwight Howard's knee injury is basically my worst nightmare. I own the big man in two leagues and have got him in one lineup and out of the other. I'm hoping we get some information prior to tonight's game, but my thinking in the league I'm benching him in is that the Magic play the Warriors tonight. The Warriors are currently doing nothing more than serving as "warm up" games for good teams starting tough West Coast road trips, so it would not surprise me one bit if the Magic sit Howard tonight because they probably won't need him. If so, that leaves just two games on the schedule for him the rest of the week. Two games from Howard are still worth a boatload, but the remaining schedule is not great: Spurs and Lakers. I'm not going to tell anyone to bench Howard this week, but it's something to take a look at. And it remains to be seen if I really have the stones to sit him. We'll know at 7 p.m.

Corey Maggette, Chris Kaman and Kevin Martin are both out indefinitely and I have no idea when they're coming back. Bench them until further notice. Bench Rafer Alston since he's doubtful. With no back-to-backs this week it might actually be safe to put Shaquille O'Neal into your lineup. It sounds like you're rolling the dice if you play Gerald Wallace, Kenyon Martin or Zydrunas Ilgauskas in weekly leagues. Wallace might not miss a game, but it sounds like there's a decent chance he won't be in Tuesday's lineup because of yet another funeral.

And I've caught a lot of heat for being so down on Monta Ellis this year, but it's getting to the point where I would not be surprised if he doesn't play a single game this season. Same can be said for Gilbert Arenas. The Wizards and Warriors are two of the worst teams in the entire NBA and not even Agent Zero or Monta can save them from missing the playoffs. Why not let your franchise players fully heal and come back good as new next year instead of rushing them out there in a lost season? Hopefully I'm wrong, but I also hope that you aren't counting on these guys to come back and take your team through the fantasy playoffs. It's possible, but seems more unlikely with every loss their teams throw up.

Have you checked out SnapDraft yet? If not, get on it. You get a free five bucks to play with when you sign up and it is a great way to feed your love of fantasy sports if you can't get enough.

The NBA Season Pass is still available and if you play in a weekly league, there's a great combo of a weekly schedule grid along with an in-depth break down of each team's schedule, hitting their first-half, second-half and fantasy playoff schedules. And in addition to the schedule info, there's a ton of other goodies to help you win your league. Get some. The Hornets are heavily loaded with games in the second half and planning out the games-played schedule in a weekly lineup league is a no-brainer if you're serious about winning your league.

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Darko Milicic is getting CRUSHED in the Waiver Wired poll I posted. Let's see how this one does.

[Hache Man]

Shoot to Chill
I am taking my 13-year-old son to see AC DC tonight after scoring some sweet tickets (thanks, Jamie). His first cd was Back in Black and his first concert was R.E.M. and Radiohead in 1996, and while he probably doesn't remember either event, I will take credit for making sure he topped my two firsts; Billy Joel's 52nd Street and the Romantics opening for Adam Ant. Could have been worse I suppose, but could have been a whole lot better.

I originally kind of laughed off the prospect of seeing AC DC again when my son put in his request. It's been 23 years and some change since I saw them in Market Square Arena in Indy on September 27 of 1985 with my high school buddy Scott Linn. I will spare you the details of our adventures that night, but I'm sure John Hughes could have made a funny movie about it. But every person I've talked to who knows anything about what's going on in the music world has said the same thing; "I hear they are just killin' it live right now." Anyway, in honor of my reunion with AC DC tonight and some bonding time with my son, here is an attempt at an AC DC rendition of the Daily Dose. It's got a pretty decent chance of being stupid, but then again, you can't help but enjoy starting it off with…

Back in Blatche

Andray Blatche made his way into the starting lineup last night and scored 19 points. He had just two rebounds and one block, but that's not the point. The fact he started automatically makes him a viable pickup even though the last time we got excited about a starting Washington center, JaVale McGee was never heard from again. I am guessing Blatche was already picked up in your league, which may save you a few headaches down the line. But if he's available and you need a center, might as well grab him and see what happens.

For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)

Another head coach bit the dust yesterday as Reggie Theus was replaced by Kenny Natt in Sacramento. I have no idea what that means fantasy wise, but I do know that the song ends with the word "Fire!"

Shoot to Thrill/She's Got the Jack

Stephen Jackson is playing so poorly right now he gets two song credits. There is nothing thrilling about his shooting but he keeps jacking them up with his good right hand. I'm sure the fact he's hit just 13-of-64 shots in his last four games is somehow related to his sore left hand, but he may continue to play through the painful injury. It's interesting to me that Don Nelson has a quick trigger with almost any player struggling with his shot, turnovers or defense, yet he's left Jax out there to struggle on his way to, again, 13-of-64 shooting in four games. I benched him where I could this week, but had him in plenty of lineups last night for that 3-of-14, four-turnover gem. Now we just have to hope that A. He breaks out of the slump soon, and B. He isn't shut down in order to make it happen.

Hell's Bells

Marco Belinelli had 19 points, four rebounds, six assists and two threes in 31 minutes off the Nellie's bench Monday, while Rob Kurz, who starred in the previous game, didn't even play. Belinelli's played well in a few games now and has gotten minutes from his coach. But there's no telling how long this will last and you have to think he'll get a DNP the minute you pick him up and put him in your lineup.

Raja Bell played an unproductive 28 minutes on Monday, finishing with two points, three rebounds and two assists on 1-of-6 shooting. The Bell experiment hasn't worked out in Charlotte yet, but Boris Diaw looks like the real deal again. He scored 25 points to go along with three rebounds, three assists, a three and a steal on 11-of-23 shooting in Monday's loss to the Hawks. He looks like the big winner in "the trade" and should not still be available in your league.

Charlie Bell is back in Scott Skiles' rotation. After sitting out seven straight games he got 20 minutes last night and 14 in the previous game. I'm not saying he'll have fantasy value, but he's worth keeping an eye on in deeper leagues.

Thunderstruck

Paul Pierce went down with a knee injury late in last night's win but the injury is not thought to be serious. Consider him day-to-day, but I'll be surprised if he misses any time.

T.J. Ford left last night's game after tweaking his groin. This is pretty sad news for those of us who own him because he was starting to turn it on. He says he just tweaked it and the injury doesn't sound serious, but it's rare that groin injuries don't result in DNPs. Brace yourself for him to possibly sit on Wednesday.

Dwight Howard missed his second straight game last night with a sore knee. Hopefully he's back for Thursday's TNT game vs. the Spurs. Marcin Gortat filled in for him with 16 points, 13 boards and three blocks. I actually picked him up on Sunday in 30-deep, but didn't have the sense to play him. If Howard's injury is ever ruled to be serious, Gortat will be worth a pick up. But for now, Howard should be back much sooner than later.

Kenyon Martin's wrist injury may linger all season, according to George Karl. That means he's going to be the dreaded "day-to-day" or "game-time decision" for the foreseeable future. It's probably not a bad idea to try to move him if you can.

Andrei Kirilenko has a strained back and might miss Wednesday's game at New Jersey. He's listed as a game-time decision.

Flick of the Switch

Jason Kapono's switch has been flipped with a recent move into the starting lineup. He was solid again on Monday, finishing with 17 points and five threes in another start at shooting guard for the Raptors. As long as he keeps the job over Anthony Parker (and it looks like he will) he should be grabbed in most leagues. He's kind of like a poor man's Peja Stojakovic, but should offer immediate help in 3-point shooting.

Heat Seeker

Francisco Garcia had 21 points, five assists, three treys, a steal and two blocks in 25 minutes on Monday. He has been playing well and is suddenly a shot-blocking machine, with seven of them in his last three games. His strong game also rendered Beno Udrih useless last night, although my guess is that Udrih bounces back. The bottom line on Garcia is that he is a must-start for as long as Kevin Martin's out. Once Martin is back, Garcia will still have fantasy value, but probably won't be posting lines like the one above on such a regular basis.

Back in Black

Shaquille O'Neal returned on Monday after missing the Suns last two games due to his great-grandmother's funeral, finishing with 23 points, 12 rebounds and four assists on 6-of-12 shooting from the field and 11-of-18 from the line. No back-to-backs for Shaq this week, meaning he might actually give you a full week of production for once.

Josh Howard returned to action on Monday after missing 11 games with a sprained ankle, finishing with seven points, two rebounds and two assists in 14 minutes off the bench. OK, step one of your mission to trade him is complete. But again, selling him right now would be like trying to sell a car that's been sitting under a tree for a year with three flat tires and an empty gas tank. Take that thing out, get it a wash and wax job, put some air in the tires and some gas in the tank and then list it for sale. In other words, just hold onto him until you're almost convinced that you no longer want to trade him because he's actually putting up some nice numbers. Then you'll know the time is right.

Udonis Haslem returned to action on Monday after missing one game to attend his grandmother's funeral, but played just eight minutes. Still no word on what the deal was, so just assume that he's fine for now.

Safe in New York City

Nate Robinson is still not back in the starting five, but had a huge night in Monday's loss to Phoenix, finishing with 27 points on 12-of-27 shooting with nine rebounds, five assists, three steals and zero turnovers in 36 minutes off the bench. Imagine how good that line would have looked had he not missed 9-of-10 from downtown. He may not start again against the Lakers, but he's close. Regardless of where he is when games start, he is a must-own and must-start player in Mike D'Antoni's offense.

Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap

J.J. Barea started at shooting guard again on Monday, finishing with 12 points, four rebounds, nine assists, two threes and two steals on 5-of-16 shooting. I very stupidly benched or cut him in many leagues because it felt like his run was coming to an end. I went back and got him where I cut him and will have him back in the lineup when I can this week. It also helps that Dallas plays four games next week, when many teams play just twice. Barea came on the cheap this year, as you scooped him up off the wire, but has really been delivering. The common theory is that he'll be useless once Josh Howard returns, and that seems to hold water. But it's really too early to tell and you should just hang on to him until further notice.

T.N.T.

J.R. Smith scored 25 points on 11-of-17 shooting with five rebounds and two threes in 24 minutes on Monday. He's explosive all right, as is his relationship with coach George Karl. He's back in good graces for the time being, but who knows what will happen in his next game, week or month.

Money Talks

As if I don't have enough weird stories (most of which I don't share here, fortunately for you), my wife was actually in the Money Talks video that was filmed at the Spectrum in Philadelphia. You can clearly see her and her friend Susan rocking out briefly in the middle of the video. And she brought home about 50 of these AC DC bucks, which we still have in our collection of rock and roll crap. A collection that includes about 30 signed set lists (from R.E.M. to Jane's Addiction to the Breeders to Wilco), signed license plates and lots of those limited edition cds). In other words, crap your wife would probably throw away if given the chance. Anyway, a couple Bucks' notes.

Charlie Villanueva had another big game off the bench on Monday, scoring 20 points with six rebounds, five assists and a three on 8-of-19 shooting. I really don't trust him, but he's on fire again and I was pretty high on him prior to the season starting, before I fully realized Scott Skiles was his coach. But just like Angus and Malcolm, CV is killin' it right now

Andrew Bogut had 20 points and 11 rebounds on 10-of-12 shooting for his second straight double-double on Monday. I get emails from people talking about cutting Bogut, which I never quite understand. His free throw shooting is terrible, but he's getting in a groove and looks like he might be good to go the rest of the way.

Luke Ridnour, who I had in several lineups last night, was awful. He played 20 minutes but did almost nothing. He'd been playing well so you just have to hope he bounces back in the next one. My buddy Brian, who owns Ramon Sessions, was wishing ill will on Ridnour the other day in one of my leagues and it may have done the trick. But as we all know, karma will take care of him for that one. Or maybe it already has because Sessions is not starting as long as Ridnour can walk.

You Shook Me All Night Long

I'm not sure this song works here, but you can't have an AC DC fest without mentioning it. I was 12 years old and visiting my cousin in beautiful Lebanon, Indiana when I was introduced to this song. He was a DJ and had a pretty amazing stereo system, and I just remember sitting in front of the speakers feeling like that dude in the Maxell tape marketing campaign – where his hair is blowing back from the power of the rock. Rajon Rondo had 25 points, nine boards, eight assists and three more steals last night and is suddenly looking like one of the best fantasy point guards in the league. It's hard to believe, but some of you were actually thinking about dropping him a month ago, so I'm just hoping you held on. He's headed for the All-Star Team as a coach's selection unless he starts struggling between now and then.

Nervous Shakedown

Paul Millsap had a career-high 32 points to go along with 10 boards as Carlos Boozer missed his 14th straight game with a quad injury. Coach Jerry Sloan praised Millsap's hard work and is probably his favorite player at this point. Millsap owners have to be obviously nervous about Boozer's return, but do not cut Millsap until you're fully convinced Boozer is healthy. We've seen him miss a ton of games with lingering injuries in the past and it makes sense to hang onto Millsap for insurance purposes even after Boozer is back in action.

Jail Break

Ryan Anderson had his breakout game last night, going for 21 points, nine boards and three 3-pointers. He'll probably alternate good lines with Yi Jianlian the rest of the way, but would be an automatic pick up if he were to replace Yi in the starting five. Speaking of Yi, have we ever seen a more inconsistent player? He either starts hot and hits his first few shots on his way to 25 points or misses his first four and finishes the night with three points in 14 minutes. Good luck figuring that one out.

Highway to Hell

Beware if you own any Phoenix Suns in a weekly league. They play just one game next week, while many other teams go four times. Ouch. And if that news caught you by surprise, it probably wouldn't have if you were dialed into the Season Pass.Check it out, as we're only ¼ of the way through the season.

[Hache Man]

There Can Be Only One
Welcome to another edition of Position Battles. The Highlander-influenced title is a bit misleading...if you were expecting decapitations and an appearance from Sean Connery, check back next week. For now, Craig Smith and Kevin Love are toiling for the right to start for the Wolves...a dubious honor at best. We also have two Raptors shooting guards struggling against the tide of irrelevancy, two Jazzy studs trying to co-exist in Utah and two young forwards trying to make a living in New Jersey.

Oh, before we begin...our Season Pass --updated, customizable and chock full of exclusive fantasy content-- is still available. Check it out.

Timberwolves power forward: Craig Smith vs. Kevin Love

The Kevin McHale coaching experiment is underway, and so far it hasn't been pretty. The Wolves losing streak has extended to a robust 10 games. The most recent loss was to the Kings, a team who had lost 10 of their last 11 games and whose coach was fired earlier in the day. McHale (who seems to be aging years in between games) is going to seriously regret taking responsibility for the performance of the team he assembled as a front-office executive. But on to the position battle.

Craig Smith has started all five games during the McHale era, averaging 15 points on 59% shooting over the span. While that is mildly impressive, you should remember that he has serious statistical limitations. Even if Smith averages 30 minutes a game --which he isn't, and probably won't-- he's not going to get you more than 15 points, seven rebounds, 0.7 steals and 0.5 blocks. He consistently shoots sub-70% from the line and usually averages more turnovers than assists. Considering his conditioning is often an issue, and his starting job is far from guaranteed, I recommend avoiding him outside of deep leagues.

Kevin Love, meanwhile, has piled up double-digit rebounds in six consecutive games. During that same stretch, however, he is averaging eight points on 36% shooting (his 40% season average is hardly an improvement). He has shown limited versatility this season, averaging 0.5 steals, 0.6 blocks and 0.0 three-pointers. He is another player whose turnovers (1.4) outnumber his assists (1.2). I think Love will eventually slide into the starting rotation (whether at center or power forward I have no idea, but PF seems more likely), but doubt whether that will give him significantly more value. Expecting a rookie to suddenly blossom halfway through the season --on a moribund team, no less-- is like waiting for Godot to show up. And we know how that turns out.

Ultimately, McHale might not have to make an either/or decision. With Jason Collins out of the rotation (he hasn't played at all since McHale took over) there are enough frontcourt minutes to go around. That is bad news for both Smith and Love, though I reiterate that even if both players get 30-35 minutes per night, they're not going to be great fantasy players.

Raptors shooting guard: Jason Kapono vs. Anthony Parker

The Raptors have finally given Jason Kapono the green light to shoot. It's about time, as most Raptors fans were wondering why they lured the three-point champ with a four-year, $24 million contract in the first place. His ascension to the starting five began while Anthony Parker was sidelined with a sprained ankle, but now it seems more or less permanent. To gauge the relative value of these guys, lets quickly examine their average stats as starters this season:

Kapono: 16.3 points on 45% shooting, 3.3 three-pointers, 4.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.3 steals, 0.5 turnovers.

Parker: 10.2 points on 40% shooting, 1.8 three pointers, 2.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.6 steals, 1.2 turnovers.

Those numbers aren't entirely fair, since AP started 20 games vs. Kapono's four, but you get the idea -- Kapono is a better shooter, particularly from deep, while Parker has the edge in steals. Both guys are capable of playing small forward.

Right now Kapono is a better option, simply because he's hitting a ton of threes and is playing big minutes as a starter. I wouldn't drop AP just yet, but if it's a decision between him and Kapono I'm leaning toward whoever is getting more minutes.

Parker has been a reliable fantasy player for the past few years, but it's not because he's such an enormous talent. He is a solid shooter and defender, but what he really had going for him was a complete lack of competition. This season, however, his minutes are getting pinched and he can't expect many minutes at small forward, which is where Jamario Moon, Joey Graham and (sometimes) Andrea Bargnani are being used.

There is always the possibility that Kapono and Parker will both be outmoded by a trade. The Raptors are eager to upgrade their wing positions and rumors of an Andrea Bargnani-for-Corey Maggette swap have recently surfaced (don't expect that to happen). The combination of shared minutes/new coach/potential trades has scared me away from both of the Raptors SGs. If you don't own them, steer clear. If you do own them, sell high.

Jazz power forward: Carlos Boozer vs. Paul Millsap
www.utahjazz.ws
There is no actual controversy here -- once Boozer is healthy he will start at PF for the Jazz. The question then becomes, how will Utah get Millsap close to 30 minutes per game, which he clearly deserves?

In case you haven't fully grasped how great Millsap has been, here are few facts. Millsap has 12 consecutive double-doubles. In eight December games, he is averaging 18.5 points on 57% shooting, 11.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.0 blocks. Those are elite numbers, and the scary part is he looks fully capable of sustaining them --well, maybe not the 2.3 steals-- as long as he continues to get heavy minutes. Which brings us back to the original question, where will those minutes come from?

He was averaging 20-25 minutes off the bench to begin the season, so we can start there. All he needs is another 10 minutes per game. Jerry Sloan has been raving about Millsap's recent play, for obvious reasons, and said recently that he might use Millsap at small forward occasionally, just to get him on the court. A frontline of Mehmet Okur, Boozer and Millsap would be as imposing as any the Jazz have had in years. The Jazz also don't have a significant backup center (Jarron Collins has played 15 minutes all season and is still contemplating surgery on his elbow), raising the possibility that Millsap (6'8", 250 lbs) could occasionally play center for a small Jazz lineup. For comparison's sake, Udonis Haslem is 6'8" and weighs approximately 235 pounds. Boozer is 6'9", 265 lbs.

Will Millsap's emergence cost other players their value? I think Andrei Kirilenko's production will suffer, as he typically picks up most of his minutes playing small forward behind C.J. Miles. If Millsap is also playing SF, something has to give. I have been leery of AK this season, mostly because I thought his fast start was a mirage owing to the absence of Deron Williams. Only time will tell, but I imagine the return of Boozer will make Kirilenko even more inconsistent. Matt Harpring will also have an even harder time getting on the court, but he wasn't valuable to fantasy owners anyway.

The bottom line is that if you own Millsap you should hang on to him. He has produced in limited minutes before (which will only increase now), has admirable versatility and is one Carlos Boozer injury away from ridiculous streaks like the one we are currently witnessing.

Nets power forward: Yi Jianlian vs. Ryan Anderson

I'm projecting this position battle, since right now there are no indications that Yi's job is in jeopardy...but after Monday night's game plenty of fantasy owners are clamoring for Anderson.

In Monday's game, Anderson came off the bench to tie or set career-highs in each of the following categories: minutes (33), points (21), field goals (six), three pointers (three), free throws (six), rebounds (nine), and assists (two). He is a rookie, so season-highs and career-highs are the same thing, but clearly career-high is more dramatic.

Those numbers are all very impressive, but don't get carried away. He's still averaging less than 18 minutes per game, is shooting 42% from the field and averages nearly as many turnovers (0.9) as assists (0.5), steals (0.5) and blocks (0.2) combined.

Andersen is a promising rookie, no doubt, and he has significant fantasy appeal with his combination of size and perimeter shooting...but I think you can safely leave him on the free agent heap this season. I also doubt whether he will crack the starting lineup as a rookie, especially as the Nets make a legitimate run at the playoffs.

Don't get me wrong, that is not a vote of confidence in Yi Jianlian. On the contrary, Yi has taken his inconsistency to vertiginous new heights. His points flucuate from 20 one game to three the next...his rebounding reflects his effort level, which bobs up and down like a buoy in a violent storm...he hasn't recorded more than one steal in any game this season...and he is averaging considerably more three-pointers (2.9) than free throws (2.1), despite the fact that he's a career 83% free throw shooter. The Nets have too much depth (Anderson included) at power forward for Yi to be a great fantasy player this season, even if he was more consistent. But that said, I think he will drive his owners insane before he loses his starting job to Anderson.

Hopefully that helps...as always, the best strategy is to follow the games, read the boxscores, check Rotoworld's player news and follow your instincts. Good luck this week.

[Hache Man]

Put the Needle on the Record

The AC DC show was quite fun and extremely loud. I always thought Dinosaur Jr. would be the loudest show I would ever see, but last night topped it. My ears haven't rang like this in some time – probably since the last time I saw them, and I've seen about 300 concerts. There were plenty of inappropriate things for my kid to see, like the opening video at the start of the show, the prop they used for Whole Lotta Rosie and some crowd antics, but nothing that should scar him too badly. Those guys are old, and I still don't know how Brian Johnson does it every night, but it was an entertaining two hours. And yes, they played all the hits.

If you haven't checked out the Season Pass or SnapDraft, what are you waiting for?

News and Notes

Dwight Howard (knee) is being fitted for a knee brace that he will wear during practices and will also have his activity monitored closely after an MRI on Tuesday showed he has inflammation in his knee. I'm not pushing the panic button just yet, and own Howard in multiple leagues. But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't concerned. The good news is that there's no structural damage and Howard sounds completely prepared to play through the injury, stating several times that it's long been an issue. He should play on Thursday against the Spurs on TNT, so get him in your lineup.

Andrei Kirilenko is listed as a game-time decision tonight with an upper back strain, but we hear that he is ready to play. Meanwhile, Carlos Boozer has again been ruled out with his quad injury. Paul Millsap looks like an all-star and has probably earned extra minutes going forward. Yes, Boozer is actually closer to playing again, as he's at least practicing. But even when he returns, Millsap should be held onto, at least in the short term, by his owners. Jerry Sloan is even talking about playing Millsap at small forward in order to get him more minutes.

Paul Pierce expects to play tonight in Philips Arena against the Hawks, although he's technically being called a game-time decision. And while the C's will tell you this is just another game, it's not. When the Hawks took the C's to seven games in Round 1 last year and Zaza Pachulia got in the face (OK, so maybe it was an actual head-butt) of Kevin Garnett, this became a rivalry again. I would bet money Pierce is playing tonight, and am guessing that he might not be if they were playing the Thunder instead of the Hawks.

Kevin Martin (ankle), Corey Maggette (hamstring) and Mike Dunleavy
(knee) are still not expected back any time soon. Martin would appear closest to playing again, while Maggette isn't traveling, and Pacers coach Jim O'Brien said yesterday the earliest Dunleavy would play would be January. If you've been hanging onto Dunleavy this whole season and want to cut him, be my guest.

Stephon Marbury attended the Knicks-Lakers game in Los Angeles last night and was probably happy to see his team lose. He also said we'll all be shocked to see who he signs with once he's bought out by the Knicks, but at this point, I frankly don't care, nor am I holding my breath.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas is healing from an ankle/foot injury and targeting a Friday return to action, which is about right based on the initial diagnosis we reported.

T.J. Ford is a question mark for tonight with a groin injury, but I would not be shocked if he doesn't play. Add together the facts he tweaked his groin with his dismal injury history, and this has DNP written all over it. Hopefully I'm wrong, but word just came down that O'Brien is calling him 'doubtful.' Troy Murphy is also a game-time decision with a stomach virus.

Shawn Marion's name continues to pop up in trade rumors and you have to think he'll get moved by the February deadline. I'm just going to hang onto him, as he's at least playing well enough to be in fantasy lineups, although he's a far cry from the Marion we hoped we were drafting.

Tuesday's Action - There were only six games – Here are the fantasy highlights.

Charlotte beats Chicago in OT

D.J. Augustin set a career high with 29 points to go along with four 3-pointers and hit all 13 of his free throw attempts in a tough win over the Bulls. He benefited from the absence of Gerald Wallace (funeral), but is clearly ready to play 38 minutes per game for Larry Brown. The question is, is Larry ready to play him that much? My guess is 'No,' at least for right now. Wallace is expected back for his next game, and owners knew last night's DNP was coming after we reported it a couple times last week. Augustin embarrassed No. 1 pick Derrick Rose, who was just 3-of-16 for six points and seven assists. Emeka Okafor had 20 points, 13 boards, three steals and four blocks, and while he's been a little inconsistent, he's obviously a solid fantasy play on most nights. Juwan Howard started at PF and had eight points and five rebounds. If you're in a 14-team league or more, or just very desperate for a PF that plays, give him a look. Boris Diaw added 15 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two blocks on the night and looks like the big winner from 'the trade.'

For the Bulls, I saw on my phone during a 'new song' that Tyrus Thomas scored a season-high 22 points on 9-of-16 shooting to go along with nine boards, a steal and two blocks. Of course, he was on my bench in 30-deep (along with Eric Gordon) and I've cut him everywhere else. I'm sure he flew off waiver wires last night and this morning, as usual. Believe Tyrus Thomas can play like that for more than seven straight days when you actually see it happen, and not before. It seems like posting a line like that does nothing more than make him think he can skip his next practice, or at least check out mentally. Larry Hughes was just 1-of-7 for two points but was dealing with the flu.
Clippers, like everyone else, beat OKC

Eric Gordon had 22 points on 7-of-11 shooting with three 3-pointers and two steals in the win. This one was somewhat predictable, as it looks like anyone can post a nice line against the Thunder. Now let's see what Gordon can do in his other three games this week. If he continues to score in those three, it's officially time to get him in your lineup, if he's not there already. Chris Wilcox had 13 points, two boards and a block in his return from a finger injury, while Russell Westbrook struggled to 11 points and seven boards. Earl Watson outplayed him last night (seven points and 12 assists), but make no mistake. Westbrook is the starting point guard.

New Orleans beats Memphis – CP3 Sets Record

Tyson Chandler played through a stiff neck and had seven points, six boards and two blocks. Not a great line, but at least he played. He's been very disappointing this season, but should be better in the second half. Chris Paul (five steals Tuesday) has recorded a steal in 105 straight games, tying a record held by Alvin Robertson. He'll look to break the record with a steal in tonight's game against the Spurs (which is who Robertson played for). And the best news about Paul? The Hornets have their first four-game week of the season next week and their schedule is heavy with four-game weeks in the second half. Rudy Gay hit 10-of-17 shots for 28 points, four boards, a steal, a block and two 3-pointers, so he's paying off if you didn't bench him for his two-game week.

Houston takes down Denver behind T-Mac's triple-double

Tracy McGrady had his fourth career triple-double Tuesday with 20 points, 14 boards and 10 assists. Man, he looks great right now, nearly posting back-to-back trip-dubs, but this really looks like a sign from the man upstairs to get out while you can. T-Mac's trade value will not be higher than it is right now. And yes, he says he's going to make a full recovery from his knee surgery, but what about his shoulder, back and every other part of his body? Ron Artest came off the bench for 20 points, four boards and a steal and you can expect him to stay there for the foreseeable future, as long as the Rockets are healthy. That will have to have some sort of negative impact on Ron-Ron, but not enough that you should immediately try to move him or panic. Aaron Brooks had 18 points, six dimes, two steals and two threes in a start for Rafer Alston (hamstring) and would be a fantastic pick up if we were never to hear from Rafer again. But as of now, Alston's job is safe, making Brooks nothing more than a fantasy bench rider.

Kenyon Martin played through his wrist injury, but had just six points and eight boards. It's probably time to sell him for what you can get as that wrist is going to be a problem all season. J.R. Smith had 17 points off the bench and is playing very well right now. There's even been talk of George Karl wanting to move him into the starting lineup, although that doesn't sound like a lock to happen. I was excited about Smith once the Allen Iverson trade went down, but it took us about a month to get to where we are today. Which means that Smith is finally becoming somewhat trustworthy for his owners. Unfortunately, if you owned Smith a month ago, you probably cut him during the "dark period." Don't worry – I did too. Sigh.

Portland crushes Kings

Spencer Hawes had eight points, five boards and five blocks last night as the Kings were destroyed again. Francisco Garcia came back to earth with 12 points on 2-of-8 shooting and I'm still a little worried about him when Kevin Martin returns. For the Blazers, Travis Outlaw returned from a tail bone injury and had five points in 20 minutes. Brandon Roy stayed hot, LaMarcus Aldridge double-doubled and Greg Oden was serviceable in the win.

Lakers rally to beat Knicks

Lamar Odom got a rare start in place of Pau Gasol, who was out with strep throat, and hit 7-of-12 shots for 17 points, 12 boards and four assists for his first double-double of the season. While he'll go straight back to the bench when Pau is back on his feet, it's nice to know Odom still has some game. The Knicks' Nate Robinson hit 9-of-16 shots and 12-of-12 free throws for a season-high 33 points to go along with three 3-pointers, five dimes and five TOs in the tough loss. He came off the bench behind Quentin Richardson again so that Q could guard Kobe Bryant, but I expect Nate to move into the starting lineup at some point before Monday. But it really doesn't matter, as he's playing starter's minutes and racking up numbers off the bench. Richardson had a decent line, but I don't really trust him. And as much as I love Wilson Chandler, his inconsistency is annoying. He's playing like a rookie, probably because he didn't really get any run last year until the end of the season. Hang in there with him if you can, but cut him if you must.

[Hache Man]

Pop Goes the Shoulder
Am I the only one who didn't feel obligated to break out the silly string and cardboard party hats when Chris Paul set the NBA record for most consecutive games with a steal?

That's not a knock on Paul, nor a disregard of the fact that it's terribly difficult to get a steal in 106 consecutive games, but it is a comment on an achievement that's far too obscure to have gotten so much attention in recent days. Paul himself, while responding in an appropriately honored fashion, also described the record as "weird" during a postgame TV interview on Wednesday. That's not an adjective you hear athletes use too often in referring to career milestones, but in this case it's pretty much 100 percent accurate.

While I attempt to determine the best future occasion to tear open this box of cardboard party hats, we move on to the basketball-related events that actually have bearing on your fantasy league standings, such as…

The Injury Watch
Elton Brand: His efforts to return to vintage form took a significant hit on Wednesday when he dislocated his right shoulder, an injury that is expected to sideline him for a month. Owners are probably wondering what to do with Brand at this point, but what can you really do other than wait? I'm not generally a proponent of trading a player while he's injured, because his value usually plummets the second he gets hurt. As frustrating as it is, the only truly sensible move is to put him on your bench until he's back.

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Carlos Boozer: He's set to have a second MRI on Wednesday after telling The Salt Lake Tribune that his knee is "a little sore." I played in a rec league basketball game last night, and my knee is actually a little bit sore too. Should I run and get an MRI also? Sarcasm aside, it has become abundantly clear that this man is in no hurry to get back on the basketball court. Remember, this is the same player who was out for almost an entire calendar year between 2005 and 2006 because of hamstring and foot problems. If Boozer's on your squad, you have most likely emptied the clip of expletives by this point, and the best solution is to stop expecting him to come back any day, then be pleasantly surprised if he actually does. Stay tuned for more info on Boozer later Thursday. Hopefully he doesn't encounter any particularly troublesome stretches of linoleum flooring on the way into the doctor's office for his MRI.

Antawn Jamison: Sprained his left thumb on Wednesday and will have an MRI. Check back for more information later on Thursday.

Dwight Howard: Expects to play on Thursday, and has likened his knee injury to a bruise. If he were Carlos Boozer, he'd be scheduled for season-ending surgery.

T.J. Ford: Missed Wednesday with a groin injury, but it's not considered serious and he's day-to-day. Troy Murphy is also day-to-day after missing Wednesday with a stomach virus.

Pau Gasol: Questionable for Friday's game because of strep throat and could be a game-time decision versus Miami. Possible opportunity for a Lamar Odom field day against his former team.

Tyrus Thomas: Left Wednesday's game in the second quarter due to a concussion and is expected to miss at least Friday's game while being examined by a specialist. There's no telling what he would have done had he not left the game with two and a half quarters remaining, but he had two points, one rebound and one block in five minutes when he left, and I still think that adding him to your squad at this point is akin to repeatedly bludgeoning yourself with a chair leg – it can only end in pain.

Peja Stojakovic: Missed Wednesday due to back spasms. Still a great source of threes and decent source of points when healthy, but is virtually useless in most other categories.

Now, onto Wednesday night's games:

Large Performances
Danny Granger: Second 40-plus point eruption in a six-day span. All-around threat is becoming even more versatile, averaging 4.4 assists in nine December games.

Jamal Crawford: 29 points, nine rebounds, four assists, four threes. Small-scale slump is over.

Allen Iverson: Normally it doesn't register when a big name goes off (for example, you won't see a write-up here on Dirk Nowitzki's 27 points or Vince Carter's 32 on Wednesday), but 28 points on Wednesday was Iverson's highest output since November 11. As surreal as it is to see a significantly diminished A.I., it seems we have to accept that 28-point games are the exception, not the norm. I can still envision a boost from his current 18.1 ppg average, but I don't think it will be an enormous one.

Marcus Camby: 19 points, 27 rebounds and four blocks. It's an extremely short list of players who have the potential to post lines like this on any given night.

Zach Randolph: 30 points, eight rebounds, six assists. Failed to hit a three after burying one or more in four straight games, but complaining about that is probably bad karma.

Sizable Performances
Marco Belinelli: Got his second start of the year and finished with a career-high 21 points to go with four rebounds, four assists, five threes and four turnovers in 39 minutes. It's hard not to add him at this point, but it almost feels written that he'll stay hot for a little while until Don Nelson loses interest and sends him back to the bench at the first sign of any struggles.

Stephen Jackson: 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting. This outstanding display of marksmanship comes on the heels of a four-games stretch during which S-Jax shot 13-of-64. If he's on my squad, I'm only using this as a new opportunity to sell. Despite good all-around stats, his shooting is still a disaster.

Jarrett Jack: 24 points, six rebounds, two threes in a spot start for T.J. Ford. Ford (groin) is day-to-day, but Jack is still a decent point guard option in deeper leagues even when coming off the bench.

Marquis Daniels: 23 points, eight rebounds, five assists, three steals and a block. Still somewhat inconsistent, but overall he's looking as good as he has since the inspired stretch run of his 2003-04 rookie year in Dallas.

Lou Williams: 25 points in a season-high 32 minutes. And make no mistake, 32 is the key number here. If the new coaching regime keeps giving him close to that much run, numbers are going to follow.

Jason Terry: 27 points, seven rebounds, eight assists. Sixth man is having his best statistical season since Atlanta days.

Mehmet Okur: 23 points, nine rebounds. You can stop worrying about the Boozer/Millsap situation impacting his minutes for now. (By the way, Paul Millsap got his 13th straight double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Are you surprised?)



Notable Performances
Kelenna Azubuike: 18 points, nine boards, two threes and a block. Despite fluctuating minutes, his last six games have all been at least a little bit useful.

Ronny Turiaf: Eight points, four assists, six blocks. Minutes are very inconsistent, so only consider this if you're in need of blocks in a deep league.

Brandon Rush: Got the start for Troy Murphy (stomach virus) and finished with 10 points, 11 boards, two threes, two steals and two blocks despite 4-of-17 shooting. Keep a watch on him in deeper leagues.

Marvin Williams: 16 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two blocks. He's been off lately, but looked assertive against a stout Celtics D. Don't give up.

Josh Howard: Should finally be back in your lineup after 20 points in 22 minutes Wednesday.

J.J. Barea: Some box scores list him as being a DNP – Coach's Decision, but that's incorrect. He actually played 21 minutes, finishing with three points, six rebounds and three assists. Even if you dropped him thinking he didn't play, don't worry. With Josh Howard back, Barea's minutes and value have taken a clear hit, and there's probably not going to be enough playing time for him to make a significant impact most nights.

Jermaine O'Neal: 19 points, seven rebounds, three blocks. Have I mentioned that it might be a good idea to try to trade him while he's still healthy? Are there any rabid Raptors fans in your league? Any old school Pacers loyalists? Any alums of Eau Claire High School? Anyone who shares his birthday (October 13)? Let's try to make this happen.

Deron Williams: 17 points, 11 assists. Full speed is just ahead.

Kyle Korver: 18 points, nine boards and two threes in a season-high 32 minutes at the expense of an underachieving Ronnie Brewer and C.J. Miles. Still only a consideration in deep leagues right now.

Jamario Moon: 13 points, nine rebounds, a steal, a block and three treys. Andrea Bargnani (three points in 18 minutes) is buried until further notice.

Brook Lopez: 15 points, seven rebounds and two blocks in 32 minutes. Josh Boone: scoreless in 16 minutes. This is still very much Lopez's job.

Andray Blatche: 12 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and a block on 4-of-11 shooting. That's two solid games in a row as the starter. I'm still nowhere close to convinced that you can count on Blatche, but I won't argue with adding him to your squad right now.

Rodney Stuckey: 18 points, 11 assists and a three. Only eight threes on the season, but six in his last three games. Too soon to tell if that's a legitimate trend, but if it is, watch out.

Derrick Rose: Still off with his shot (5-of-17), but bounced back nicely (16 points, seven assists) after six-point, 3-of-16 game Tuesday.

Tayshaun Prince: 14 points and 10 rebounds are nice, but still hasn't hit a three since November 23.

Antonio McDyess: Recorded 10 points, nine rebounds and three blocks, but won't get 30 minutes every night.

Mike James: 16 points, two threes, two steals in starting role. Worth adding if you need a PG.

Eric Gordon: Yes, he fouled Ben Gordon on a game-tying four-point play at the end of regulation, but the rookie still had 17 points and two treys in 47 minutes, and is back on track after a brief slump.

Andres Nocioni: 22 points in 35 minutes, but he doesn't get enough playing time to put up good stats on a nightly basis.

Jeff Foster: Started at center and had six points and 11 rebounds, but he's a one-dimensional fantasy player most nights (rebounds) and should only be a consideration in very deep leagues.

Tyson Chandler: 10 points, 11 rebounds, four blocks. His value is back on the rise.

Notably Bad Performances
Michael Redd: Just six points on 2-of-13 shooting, but on a bright note, he did have a season-high eight rebounds and tied his season-high with five assists. He's now averaging 4.7 apg over his last three. As bad performances go, I'm strangely encouraged.

Andre Iguodala: Four points, six rebounds and seven assists on 2-of-14 shooting. Rebounds and assists: good. Shooting: bad. These things happen. We move on.

Samuel Dalembert: Started well, but ended up playing just 19 minutes (with eight points and six boards). No foul trouble last night, so it's somewhat unclear what happened. Odds are this was just a small setback and Dalembert should bounce back Friday.

Jason Kapono: Started again, but was unproductive (five points on 2-of-7 shooting) in 25 minutes. Meanwhile, Anthony Parker had eight points in 24 minutes. This could be Parker's job before long, but neither player is a terrific option.

Ronnie Brewer: Two points in 10 minutes, and like C.J. Miles, he was benched for most of the game by a frustrated Jerry Sloan. I have faith that Brewer will bounce back. Miles, I'm not so certain.

Bobby Simmons: Last two games (including five points in 31 minutes Wednesday) have put a damper on a few solid lines he posted last week.

Yi Jianlian: Two points, seven rebounds in 17 minutes. If you still trust this man, you are a very trusting person.

Caron Butler: Five points, five rebounds, four assists, six turnovers. This could be his worst night of the season. Try to forget it ever happened.

Rasheed Wallace: Shooting just 6-of-25 over his last three games after going 1-of-8 on Wednesday. If you need threes and blocks (and who doesn't?), consider buying low.

Mo Williams: Six points in 22 minutes. This was one of those nights where he didn't need to do much for the Cavs to win. Unfortunately, that'll happen sometimes.

Randy Foye: Seven points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals in a blowout loss to the Cavs. His last three games have been ugly, but his job is safe and he should bounce back. (P.S. – the T-Wolves are outrageously bad.)

Kevin Love: Zero points and five rebounds in 19 minutes. Rebound machine will be better than this most nights, but he still needs to score or block more shots to be a fantasy starter.

Ryan Gomes: Four points combined in his last two games. He's obviously better than this, but I am green-lighting Operation: Cut Ryan Gomes.

Rashad McCants: He's absolutely killing it right now, and when I say "it," I'm referring to your field goal percentage. He went 0-of-8 Wednesday. Look elsewhere.

Matt Bonner: Had seven points and seven rebounds, but shot just 3-of-15. The fun times are probably not finished, but at the same time Bonner isn't likely to have an extraordinarily long leash.

Tonight
Just two games on the schedule for Thursday, with Dwight Howard looking to make a large statement that his knee is just fine thank you against the Spurs, and the wok-hot Brandon Roy (32.5 ppg over his last four games) attempting to keep his scoring binge intact against the Suns.