NBA News/NBA Fantasy News 2007/2008

[Hache Man]

Will Riles pull Wade's plug?
Boulevard of Broken Dreams

I've divided injured players into three categories this week. A Players are generally fantasy studs who are hurting. B Players are big names or guys with some value when healthy and C Players are possibly on the fringe of having some value when healthy.

A Players

Gilbert Arenas – knee- March 2nd comes and goes, running out of time.
Caron Butler – hip – Likely out for another week, Songaila starting.
Yao Ming – foot – Out for the season. Hello, Luis, Carl and Dikembe.
Chris Bosh – knee - Out for at least a week. Hello, Rasho, Parker, etc.
Gerald Wallace – concussion – Questionable to return this year, bench him.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas – back – Says he'll miss two weeks. Hello, Varejao.
Tim Thomas – groin – Will be out all week. Hello, Al Thornton.
Elton Brand – Achilles – Hoping for full practice in 2 weeks, running out of time.
Mike Miller – back – Targeting Wednesday after quiet back injury. Bench him.
Zach Randolph – foot – Out on Saturday after huge Friday. Start at your own risk.
Andrew Bynum – knee – Hopeful to play last two weeks of regular season.
Jameer Nelson – hamstring – Talk of Turkoglu playing point not helping Nelson.
Jamaal Tinsley – knee – Feels like he's given up on playing again this season.
Jermaine O'Neal – knee – Pacers want him back, not looking likely until April.
Chauncey Billups – personal – Sounds safe for Tuesday, but you never know.
Andris Biedrins – abdomen – Hoping to play by end of the week. Bench for now.

B Players

Dorell Wright – knee – Bench for now, but pounce if Wade is shut down.
Chris Webber – knee – Nellie's crash test dummy a failed experiment. Bench.
Eddie Jones – flu – Day-to-day, but Stackhouse is the best reserve in Dallas.
Bostjan Nachbar – hip – After Caron Butler disaster, bench Boki for now.
Vladimir Radmanovic – calf – Could play Tuesday, but has Walton stolen his job?
Keyon Dooling – foot – Has missed 2, but shaky value even in deep leagues.
Acie Law – wrist – Hoping for Tuesday, but keep benched for now if you can.
Shaun Livingston – knee – Hoping to play in a few games in April. No value.
Yi Jianlian – ankle – Day-to-day and Villanueva's already stolen his job.
Thabo Sefolosha – groin – Missed 2 straight, Hughes taking over. Bench him.
Etan Thomas – heart – Might play again before it's over, but no value.
Daniel Gibson – ankle – Likely out until the last couple weeks of season.
Marko Jaric – thigh – Youth movement isn't helping in Minnesota. Can be dropped.

C Players

Shawne Williams – personal – Street cred at all-time high, fantasy value not.
Chucky Atkins – groin - Hoping for Saturday, will hurt Carter more than help.
Trevor Ariza – foot – Hinting at return, but not quite yet.
Tony Battie – shoulder – Hopes to play again this season, but no value.
Sasha Pavlovic – foot – Due back in April, wasn't useful when healthy.
Brian Scalabrine – groin – Set to play any day now, but no fantasy value.
Jason Smith – ankle – Day-to-day, no fantasy value right now.
Ramon Sessions – hand – Still a couple weeks away, no value.
Robert Swift – knee – Out for season, Petro starting.

Timber! - After Yao Ming's season-ending foot injury that will require surgery, Chris Bosh (knee) and Zydrunas Ilgauskas (back) are both out for at least the next week. Rasho Nesterovic will start for Bosh, while Anderson Varejao gets the call for Big Z. Other players to see a boost in value include Anthony Parker, Andrea Bargnani (theoretically), Jose Calderon and Ben Wallace.

I'm Streaking! - The Rockets won their 15th straight game with a tough one over the Nuggets, and don't appear to be ready to go anywhere despite the absence of Yao. The Raps were embarrassed by the Bobcats, offering further evidence that Chris Bosh is probably as valuable to his team as any player in the league.

Closing Time - Pat Riley finally dropped the bomb no one wanted to hear on Friday, suggesting that it might be time to shut Dwyane Wade down. Wade is hearing none of it, but at some point, he's going to give in and put the dress clothes on. Was Sunday's embarrassing loss to the Kings (when they blew a 21-point second-half lead) enough to do it? We'll soon find out. But for now, if you own Wade, I think you need to try to squeeze every last drop out of him while you can. And if you're in a weekly league, you'll just have to pray he gets the hook on a Sunday night or Monday morning.

One-Man Band - LeBron nearly single-handedly led the Cavs over the Bulls on Sunday and after the big trade between the two teams, all we really know is that Larry Hughes looks good in red. Also, props to Wally Szczerbiak for getting to Cleveland in time for the game after his wife gave birth to his son, Maximus Jack, on Saturday night. Nice power name too, Wally.

Love fest in L.A. - Kobe went off for 30 points in the fourth quarter and OT on his way to 52 to beat the Mavs, and everyone is now declaring the Lakers the favorites to win it all. I'll stick with the Spurs until someone knocks them off their pedestal, but it's hard to believe that it has only about nine months ago that Kobe was cussing Andrew Bynum at the mall and telling any radio station that would listen that his relationship with the Lakers was damaged beyond repair.

Wrong Number - The Hornets lost to the Wizards again on Sunday. I'm not sure how, but they've lost twice to the Wiz in the last week (and once to the Spurs), while beating the Jazz and Suns. Speaking of the Wizards, Darius Songaila is now starting over Andray Blatche in place of Caron Butler. Both Songaila and Blatche appear to have some value for now.

Keep on Turkin' - In addition to having a breakout season, Hedo Turkoglu is now being looked at as Orlando's point guard for the playoffs. That would put Brian Cook at PF and Rashard Lewis back at his natural 3 position, and doesn't say much for the inconsistency of Jameer Nelson.

Mr. Longoria almost as hot as Mrs. - Tony Parker is back after Sunday's 25-8-7 line and should be in all starting lineups again. And the day after Gregg Popovich said he wasn't going to make any lineup changes, Manu Ginobili came off the bench behind Michael Finley and Kurt Thomas replaced Fabricio Oberto, and could stick at center. Thomas had six points, nine boards and a block and might offer some value in deep leagues requiring two centers.

The Devin Inside - Marcus Williams is still starting for the Nets, but it's Devin Harris' team at this point.

Keeping Pace in the East - Mike Dunleavy tied a career-high with 36 points and Danny Granger also went off for the Pacers as they crushed the Bucks Sunday. They've won two straight and are only 2.5 games behind the Nets for the eighth playoff spot. Travis Diener has become the unsung hero in Indy, while Troy Murphy has been a solid player as well.

Wilcox and the Wolves - After I destroyed Chris Wilcox here a few days ago, he's been unconscious, blowing up for 30 points on one night and then 18 points and 15 boards the next. I don't know how much longer he'll stay motivated, but he had a huge weekend. The Sonics beat the Wolves, who got nice efforts from Rashad McCants, Craig Smith and Corey Brewer, who all were highlighted in Waiver Wired.

Captain Jack and Crew - Stephen Jackson scored 29 and hit six treys despite an ankle injury on Sunday, leading the Warriors over the Blazers. Baron Davis has been dreadful over his last three, hitting just 16-of-58 shots. But it's tough to complain when the dude hasn't missed a game yet this season. The "yet" in that sentence reminds me of one of the great scenes from High Fidelity: "When I say 'I haven't seen Evil Dead 2 yet,' what does that mean to you?" While there's a chance Baron might make it through the season without missing a game, it seems highly unlikely. And his recent shooting slump may convince Nellie to give him a night off.

Final Thought - The Knicks have won seven more games than the Heat. Wow.

[Hache Man]

When will we see Brand again?
While it was a pretty quiet night in the NBA with just three games, there was still plenty of high-school drama in New York, injury news on some big-named players and a big night by Deron Williams.

Falling Stars

Andrei Kirilenko – AK-47 got taken down by Dirk Nowitzki last night and landed awkwardly on his hip. The drama was pretty intense, as Kirilenko was down for a few minutes, then struggled to the line to hit a pair of free throws and was then wheeled out of the arena in a wheel chair. The good news is X-rays were negative. The bad news is that AK stayed in a wheel chair for the rest of the night, making him very questionable for the rest of the week. The Jazz host the Timberwolves on Wednesday, so keep your fingers crossed for that one if you own him. utahjazz.com

On a side note, the NBA will probably take a closer look at Dirk's Flagrant-1 and could change it to a Flagrant-2, which would garner an automatic suspension. My opinion is that the right call was made at the time, but we'll have to see what Stu Jackson thinks.

Elton Brand – Brand "hopes" to start full-contact practices with the Clippers in two weeks, although that's "in the hands of the training staff." If it happens, that would give him a couple full days of practice and he could possibly appear in their March 19 game against the Warriors. To me, that's the best-case scenario, and then you have to wonder how long it will take him to get into game shape as your fantasy playoffs are winding down. Brand can opt out and become an unrestricted free agent this summer, but word on the street is that he's not going to opt out and will play out the final year of his contract in L.A. next season. That would suggest he has nothing to prove by returning this season, unless the stories about him staying with the Clippers are inaccurate. While I still think we'll see Brand on the court this season, it could be more for his own psyche than to actually help a team that has no shot of making the playoffs. If you've held onto Brand for this long, you might as well keep holding on, but I'm still not expecting you to get much bang for your buck.

Gilbert Arenas – Same deal with Arenas, who talked at length about his surgically repaired knee on Monday. He's cleared for full practice with the team and should get on the court with his mates today. But the guy is scared and I would be too. After his first knee surgery, he rehabbed the right way, working his butt off all summer, and was able to play in Game 1 of this season. But he went under the knife again after just eight games and is rushing to get back in game shape for the playoffs. If the Wizards weren't in the thick of a playoff chase right now, my guess is Arenas would just shut it down for the year. But he wants to come back and help his team in May. "I think I'm scared to go out there" and "I don't want to get hurt again" are two quotes from Arenas on Monday. He's not going to be mentally healthy until next season and there also has to be some concern about him favoring his knee and possibly doing damage to other parts of his body in the process. Arenas will play again this season and could be very effective for fantasy owners. Just don't expect any miracles. This one could go either way.

Dorell Wright – Wright underwent knee surgery and is done for the year. If and when D-Wade gets shelved for the rest of the season, it looks like Marcus Banks should be the guy who gets the big minutes. Ricky Davis could benefit as well, but the Heat don't care to watch him play anymore. Banks, on the other hand, is a somewhat unproven commodity and they will likely want to take a long look at him. If you have a free roster spot, stash Banks. If you don't, be prepared to pounce on him if Wade is shut down. Smush Parker's year is over after the Heat and he couldn't reach a buyout agreement. The fantasy impact of the move? None.

Mike Miller – Miller finally practiced with the Grizzlies and could play tonight after missing six games with a bad back. Marc Iavaroni said recently he was targeting Wednesday, but reports were that he looked fine at Monday's practice so I don't know why he wouldn't go tonight.

Andris Biedrins – Biedrins is traveling with the team right now, but the San Francisco Chronicle's Janny Hu doesn't believe he will play until a week from Wednesday, once the Warriors are home from their road trip. Chris Webber had an MRI on his knee and his availability for the week is in serious question, which could be the best news Al Harrington owners have heard in two weeks. Unless he's on your bench. Brandan Wright will probably continue to start for now, as well.

Zach Randolph has now missed two games with a right foot injury and his status is unknown for Wednesday's meeting with LeBron.

Chauncey Billups is expected back in the Pistons' starting five tonight.

Corey Brewer and Marko Jaric both have thigh injuries and are questionable for the Wolves tonight.

Vladimir Radmanovic will play for the Lakers tonight and it will be interesting to see what that means for Luke Walton. He'll take a minutes hit, at least.

Thabo Sefolosha is out again tonight, missing his third straight game with a groin injury, but it really doesn't matter because Larry Hughes has killed his value anyway.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, Jameer Nelson (flu) and Keyon Dooling (foot) are likely out again tonight for the Magic. Carlos Arroyo and Hedo Turkoglu should benefit.

Yao Ming – Yao had successful foot surgery on Monday and is now setting his sights on getting ready for the Olympics in Beijing. But you can be sure the Rockets are going to everything in their power to keep him from playing this summer.

Trading Places - Gordan Giricek is expected to sign with the Suns today, while Sam Cassell's agent says he's a Celtic. Cassell should back up Rajon Rondo and see some minutes in the clutch of tight games. That is, once his wrist is healthy. bostonceltics.ws

Start Me Up - Drew Gooden is likely to start over Tyrus Thomas at PF the rest of the way for the Bulls. No player in recent memory has had as many potential highs and lows as Thomas has this year. Go ahead and cut him, and then watch him become the team's starting center a week later. Then you can pick him up, and he'll be pulled completely out of the rotation.

Fine By Me - Ron Artest was fined $5,000 for ripping his coaching staff after Sunday's big comeback win over the Knicks. The comments are pretty typical Artest and just further evidence that you never know what the guy is going to do next. sacramentokings.com

Monday Highlights

Deron Williams had 20 assists in a win over the Mavs.

Mehmet Okur had 20 points and 12 boards for his third straight double and fourth in his last five games. With Kirilenko hurting, look for Memo to keep this up, and for Kyle Korver, Paul Millsap and Carlos Boozer to all see a bump as well. utahjazz.com

Andre Miller finally cooled off, scoring just six points for his worst game in two months.

Al Thornton had 20 points and six boards to go along with 10 turnovers. He's set for a big run over the Clippers' last 20 games.

Knicks - I had planned on ripping the Knicks today, but ran out of room, time and desire. The Isiah vs. Starbury feud is pointless, ridiculous, childish, stupid, noob-ish – Whatever you want to call it. Does anyone really care if Marbury attends home games? Then Isiah chooses crunch time in a close game to bench Nate Robinson and Quentin Richardson and play his youngsters (Wilson Chandler and Randolph Morris) last night. It's really just become a bad joke. We had an Eddy Curry sighting, and David Lee grabbed 16 boards, but if Isiah's gonna start playing the kids, those of you who started Nate and Q could be in for some disappointment this week. Myself included. I'm just ready for the Isiah era to mercifully end.

[Hache Man]

The Miami Lukewarm
This week there have been more than enough injuries, fluctuating minutes and other random developments to keep fantasy owners on their toes. The fantasy playoffs are nearly upon us, and while the bottom half of your league may have conceded defeat, competition amongst those vying for a bye week is as fierce as ever. Please remain comfortably seated as you read through this week's hodgepodge of NBA Fantasy Trends.

Vanishing Act—Jameer Nelson has been excruciating to own. He's been shuffled around like a jack of hearts at Caesars, though he finds himself starting mainly because his competition (Carlos Arroyo and Keyon Dooling) has been underwhelming. Nelson, at a very generous 6'0", is never going to be the defensive presence Magic coach Stan Van Gundy wants him to be. He's never going to be a pure assists-oriented point guard and he is never going to be a terrific fantasy starter.

I'm giving him one more chance. He just returned after having 1) the flu, 2) a cyst removed from his neck and 3) a sore hamstring. Keyon Dooling (chronically sore foot) isn't back yet, so it's time for Nelson to produce in the next few games – if he can't get it going I recommend you perform some magic yourself, by making him disappear from your roster.

Crash Into Me—Matt Carroll has been singing a sad song this season as his statistics have dropped across the board (excluding a 0.1 increase in blocks) compared to last year. Charlotte's season is effectively over, so the Bobcats' agenda now consists of developing the players that will be a part of their future. We therefore see Raymond Felton locked in as the team's point guard, Jared Dudley playing extended minutes…and Carroll, with his $27 million contract, is obviously a part of that equation.

In the past four games, Carroll is averaging 17 points on 51% shooting, 2.75 three-pointers, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.3 turnovers in 37 minutes.

Heady numbers for someone who is averaging just 23 minutes on the season. Carroll's recent success is attributable to Gerald Wallace's concussion and Jeff McInnis' being waived. Carroll complained early in the season about how difficult it is to enter a game cold, for only a few minutes, and be expected to start immediately knocking down three-pointers…especially if the other team is glued to you along the perimeter (there are scouts in the NBA, after all). Now that he has more minutes and job security, we're seeing what he's capable of doing on a regular basis, with a regular share of minutes.

The real test will come when Wallace returns from his concussion—will Carroll be able to maintain his strong play, or will he shrink back into a spot-shooting reserve role? My advice is to pick him up, play him while he's hot, and worry about dropping him once Wallace returns and displaces his production.

The other side of the Gerald Wallace injury is Jared Dudley. Dudley has been very impressive for a rookie, showing that he can consistently produce when given enough minutes:

Dudley has played 30+ minutes six times this season. In those games, he averaged 13.5 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals.

He is averaging 35 minutes in the past two games, but I can't imagine his value will survive the return of Wallace. Use him while you still can, but expect Matt Carroll to have more staying power once the Bobcats get their second star back in uniform.

The Miami Lukewarm—Dorell Wright's season-ending knee injury gives Ricky Davis and Marcus Banks one more shot at respect in fantasy leagues. Wright was a solid fantasy option when playing 30+ minutes, but was only averaging 25 minutes this season. Still, those 25 minutes have to be played by someone, and that's where our underperforming friends Ricky Davis and Marcus Banks come in.

Ricky Davis has had an awful spell with the Heat. Nobody expects Ricky to be unselfish or economical (career averages of 3.4 assists vs. 2.3 turnovers), but his season numbers are quite poor. Despite playing 34 minutes per game this season, Davis has managed just 13 points on 43% shooting, 1.4 three-pointers, 3.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.1 turnovers. Unfortunately, there's not much room for improvement when you're already averaging 34 minutes.

Marcus Banks could surface with more value than Davis, but he might not have as much upside as you think. A vastly improved three-point shooter, Banks nevertheless looks out of synch on offense sometimes, is error-prone and won't be able to sustain his 49% shooting clip with the Heat (he is a career 43% shooter). His career bears little evidence of consistency, so fantasy owners should be wary of committing to Banks before we actually see him play well in increased minutes.

One other aspect of Wright's injury is that it leaves both of these guys in a beautiful position when/if Dwyane Wade gets shut down. Just something to keep in mind.



Brandan Wright—Wright has done the unthinkable, cracking Don Nelson's starting rotation as a rookie. Unfortunately for fantasy owners, he's averaging 15 minutes in his four starts and will take an even bigger hit once Andris Biedrins (appendectomy) returns. I imagine Wright's minutes will dwindle as the Warriors' games take on greater importance, which is a daily process in the vacuum-sealed Western Conference. Consider him a short-term starter at absolute best.

Larry Hughes—I don't like Larry Hughes. Maybe that's obvious, since I have repeatedly tagged him with silly nicknames (Larry Airballs) and offered advice to avoid/drop/despise him. Well, I'm happy to say that I still don't like Larry Airballs. He basically gave up on the Cavaliers once they refused to alter their LeBron-centric offense to suit his "style", and recently said (I'm paraphrasing, and please remember my anti-Larry bias) that he's more interested in having fun than winning games.

Hughes recently assumed starting duties when Thabo Sefolosha went down with a groin injury, and we know that groin injuries can cost players plenty of time (ask Kevin Martin's owners). I fully expect Hughes to continue starting when Thabo returns, so everything looks rosy, right? sacramentokings.com

Wrong. My pessimism stems from the fact that he will forever remain a career 41% shooter (30% from downtown) and is averaging less than one steal over the past 12 games. Most of all, I'm concerned about the return of Sefolosha. Again, I do expect Hughes to remain the Bulls starting shooting guard; but Sefolosha has earned a solid portion of minutes, so even as a bench player he is a serious threat to Larry's value. I could be wrong (that's my weak disclaimer), but the recent wave of positivity toward Hughes makes my heart beat a little faster than I'm comfortable with. If you own Hughes and can pawn him off on another owner for a player with solid value (and no returning teammate sure to damage their value), I beg of you to do so. P.S. I swear I won't write about Hughes any more.

For Deep Leagues Only: Brandon Bass—The Mavericks recently acquired ex-All Star Jamaal Magloire to play 10+ minutes in relief of starter Erick Dampier. Dampier's value is peaking right now and there is a good chance he will maintain his strong play through the fantasy playoffs. Magloire, on the other hand, debuted with one turnover in five minutes. He has zero chance of establishing fantasy value, since his minutes and physical ability are both extremely limited.

That leaves young bruiser Brandon Bass as the Mavericks main source of front-line support. This season, Bass is averaging 7.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 0.7 blocks in 20 minutes. I don't expect his numbers to jump very much, but if he starts playing closer to 25 minutes per game he will deserve a look in deep leagues.

Chucky Atkins—There's no way to know how many minutes Nuggets guard Chucky Atkins will play, or how effective he will be once he returns from a sports hernia. Having missed all but nine games this season, he is averaging just four points and two assists in 18 minutes per game.

Atkins recently declared that his explosiveness has returned, and said he's ready to be the player the Nuggets envisioned when they signed him. Unfortunately, I can't see a scenario where he has value beyond deep leagues…more likely, Atkins forces a time-share with incumbent point guard Anthony Carter, rendering both guys useless for fantasy purposes. Don't drop anyone worthwhile to acquire Atkins—at least not until we've seen him in action.

Desmond Mason—Since returning from surgery on his thumb, Desmond Mason has outplayed Bobby Simmons and consequently resumed starting. His numbers have been modest, but show admirable consistency:

In the past 11 games, Mason is averaging 11.9 points on 56% shooting, 5.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 turnovers in 30.6 minutes per night.

He's a mediocre free throw shooter (65% on the season, 75% for his career) and hasn't attempted a single three-pointer all season, but he does manage just shy of a steal and a block per game (0.7 in each category). Consider Mason an unobtrusive handy-man, and feel free to have him plug some holes in your lineup.

Kirk Snyder—Snyder started for the Timberwolves on Tuesday, marking his second straight game with 30+ minutes. Fantasy owners now have to decide whether he's worth a flier…in my opinion, the answer is a simple 'no'.

The only reason Snyder started is because both Corey Brewer (thigh bruise) and Rashad McCants (illness) missed the game (it also helped that Marko Jaric was returning from knee and thigh injuries). Snyder is a tough defensive guard (racked up five steals and two blocks in Sunday's game) but he struggles to score, won't hit many threes and has to average at least 30 minutes per game for owners to notice him. Neither Brewer nor McCants will be out for too long, so don't expect more than a few more games of mediocre production from Snyder.

[Hache Man]

Slump Buster
Injury Report

Andris Biedrins – Hopes to return Friday after appendectomy.
David West – Game-time decision Wednesday with a sprained left ankle.
Andrei Kirilenko – Day-to-day with hip injury. Very iffy for Wednesday.
Gilbert Arenas – Practiced Tuesday, I've got general target date of March, 25.
Caron Butler – Still not practicing but hip rumored to be improving.
Gerald Wallace – Shooting drills. Could return next Wednesday in Texas.
Elton Brand – Half-court practice Tuesday, two weeks away from return?
Etan Thomas – Returned to practice Tuesday after heart surgery.
Chucky Atkins – Targeting Friday return from groin injury.
Chris Webber – Likely to miss whole week with sore knee.
Corey Maggette – Missed practice with finger injury. Questionable for Wednesday.
Chris Kaman – Missed practice with sore back. Should play tonight.
Acie Law – Targeting Saturday return after missing nine games with wrist.
Delonte West – Death in family, questionable for tonight.
Linas Kleiza – Tweaked left ankle in practice, questionable for tonight.
Mike Miller – Set to return tonight night from back injury.
Yi Jianlian – Iffy with ankle sprain, not playing well right now anyway.

Here's Your Sign

Sam Cassell was officially signed by the Celtics on Tuesday but left Boston for a funeral. It sounds like he'll play on Friday, but don't plan on using him in fantasy for a couple weeks, if at all. bostonceltics.ws

Theo Ratliff signed with the Pistons and could be a source of blocks in deep leagues.

Tyronn Lue was signed by the Mavericks and will help back up both guard spots in Dallas. With Eddie Jones still hurting, he could see a little bit of run.
dallasmavericks.com
Chris Andersen was reinstated by the league after his two-year drug ban and will rejoin the Hornets. It's doubtful he'll have fantasy value, but is worth keeping an eye on.

Tuesday's Game Notes

Devin Harris made his first start for the Nets with mixed results. He hit just 5-of-17 shots and committed five turnovers, but also finished with 13 points and seven assists. Marcus Williams came off the bench to hit 6-of-10 shots and three 3-pointers for 16 points, and probably saw some extra run with Boki Nachbar out. Harris can be started in fantasy leagues now, while Williams should be held onto until we see how this shakes out.

Andrea Bargnani was probably a popular start this week with Chris Bosh out, but hasn't really answered the call. He's 4-of-19 from the floor with 12 points in his last two games. I'm guessing he'll blow up for a 28-point game soon, but inconsistency is his middle name.

Baron Davis broke out of his funk last night hitting 16-of-25 shots after making just 16 of his previous 58. He had 35 points and nine assists in the Warriors 135-118 win over the Hawks. The 135 was a season high for Golden State, while they've now topped 100 points in 23 straight games, going 17-6 over that stretch. As for the rest of the Warriors, the news was a little strange, and either good or bad depending on your team. Brandan Wright started again at PF, but played just 12 minutes for five points and two boards. Matt Barnes started at center and had eight points, four boards and two assists. Mickael Pietrus came off the bench for 19 points, 12 boards and two blocks and has now hit double digits in three of his last four games. Al Harrington played just 19 minutes and hit 5-of-13 shots for 13 points. As usual, the Warriors are one of the most complex teams to try to gauge fantasy value for. By the time you get Pietrus in your lineup, Harrington will be back in the mix, Biedrins will be back, etc. Again, outside of Baron, Stephen Jackson and Monta Ellis, no one else is reliable. But one or two other guys will go big each week and there's never any rhyme or reason to it. My condolences if you started Wright this week, and nice, gutsy call if you have Pietrus in your lineup.

Johan Petro outplayed Nick Collison for the Sonics last night, but I don't expect it to happen often. Then again, Petro needs to be developed and there isn't much else to play for in Seattle. Chris Wilcox has been a beast for three straight games, averaging 23 points and 10 boards over that timeframe. Luke Ridnour played just 10 minutes off the bench last night, missed all four of his shots and failed to score. No word of an injury, so we'll see. Earl Watson is back in full effect, going for 23 points and seven dimes last night, and was probably Ridnour's ailment.

Detroit's Rasheed Wallace has been inconsistent this season and had just seven points and six boards last night. He did have three blocks and a 3-pointer, but his inability to go on a week-long tear this season has been annoying. Chauncey Billups returned from a personal absence for 20 points, nine assists, four threes and five steals. Wow.

Charlotte's Matt Carroll kept his hot streak going last night with 18 points, six boards, four assists, three steals and three 3-pointers. Congratulations if you ran him out there this week, but the run could be over if Gerald Wallace returns next week. Raymond Felton and Emeka Okafor both double-doubled last night and both have been nice since Jeff McInnis was dropped from the team.

Kirk Hinrich had 19 points and 12 assists last night while most of the other "big named" Bulls had nice lines. That meant that it was finally time for Larry Hughes to take a backseat, as he had just eight points and five assists. Drew Gooden had his best game as a Bull with 21 points, 14 boards and three blocks, and has rendered Tyrus Thomas completely useless.

Darko Milicic has somehow put together decent back-to-back games, but hasn't blocked a shot in either of them. Something is weird about that, as his main fantasy value this season has been shot blocking. He had 21 points and seven boards last night, and 11 & 11 in his previous game. The Memphis backcourt is more confusing than Nellie's rotation in Golden State. Kyle Lowry and Javaris Crittenton looked like All-Stars again last night, while Mike Conley and Juan Carlos Navarro looked like they are ready for the D-League. When Mike Miller gets thrown back into the mix tonight, it will become even more confusing. I'm staying away from all four of the aforementioned guards in Memphis, but Miller should be worth playing again next week.

Kobe Bryant scored 17 fourth-quarter points, leading the Lakers on a 24-5 run to comeback and beat the Kings last night. He finished with 34 points and 10 boards, and had the dunk of the night on a breakaway 360. Pau Gasol had his best game as a Laker with 31 points, 10 boards, four dimes, two steals and three blocks. Vladimir Radmanovic returned to action, but I get the feeling Luke Walton's going to start the rest of the way. For the Kings, John Salmons got hot early and scored 17 points, marking his best performance in about a month. But we'll need to see that a few more times before he'll be worth picking up.

[Hache Man]

Celtic Pride

And they're back!

The Boston Celtics, two years removed from their last taste of post-season action, downed the Detroit Pistons 90-78 Wednesday night to become the first team to officially clinch a playoff spot this season.

Pretty impressive stuff, considering the Celtics were the worst team in the Eastern Conference last season.

It's only fitting that Boston clinched against the Pistons – the main team, most believe, standing in the way between the Celtics and a possible trip to the NBA Finals this year. This crucial win gives Boston a 2-1 regular season series win over Detroit, and therefore the home court advantage should the two teams meet in the playoffs.

Kevin Garnett – the key cog in Boston's tremendous turnaround this season – shone his brightest last night, pouring in a season-high 31 points to lead the way for the men in green. He sunk 13-of-22 from the field (8-of-12 in the first half) and 5-of-6 from the line in 41 minutes of action – by far the most PT he's seen since returning from that abdominal strain a couple of weeks ago, an injury that cost him nine games. bostonceltics.ws

Although he's shot the ball incredibly well, Garnett has generally been a disappointment for his fantasy owners this season. This was just the first time all year he's managed to reach 30 points, breaking his previous season-high of 27 points, set way back on November 9. Besides a massive drop off in scoring, his rebounding, assists, steals and FT percentage have all slipped this season – leading to plenty of frustration. And even as he enjoyed a breakthough offensively, Garnett managed just six rebounds, three assists, one block and no steals last night.

After his big scoring night, KG got the ultimate compliment, running into Celtic legend Bill Russell in the hallways after the game. "I've always said you're my favorite player to watch," Russell told him.

The Big Ticket's big night leaves him just 23 points shy of 20,000 for his career, a milestone he'll look to reach Friday night against the Bulls (who, by the way, are doing much worse than my poor math skills could determine last week).

After falling behind 17-3 from the outset, Detroit battled back to tie the game at 69-69 in the fourth quarter before Garnett answered with five straight points to help Boston take over.

Boston, with six straight wins, is now 47-12, good for a four-game lead over Detroit in the Eastern Conference standings.

There's a genuine excitement building as we anticipate a Boston-Detroit Conference Final.

Of course, Boston has a long road ahead before considering facing the Pistons in the Conference Finals. And bear in mind that playing in the Eastern Final is old hat to Detroit, having competed in the past five. That experience has to give the Pistons a mental edge.

As we dream of a Boston-Detroit playoff matchup, let's turn our attention to the rest of the action from Wednesday night…

• J.R. Smith has shot the ball nearly as well as last year, when he experienced somewhat of a breakout, but he's been used exclusively off the bench with the Nuggets having increased backcourt depth this season. Obviously, that's limited Smith's fantasy value this year, but if you need help in 3-pointers, he's your man. Wednesday, Smith nailed 6-of-8 from beyond the arc as he poured in 20 points in 21 minutes of action. He now has nine long bombs in the last two games with 46 over the past 11 games – nine of which have resulted in double-digit scoring efforts. Smith has been getting dumped from plenty of league lately, but if you need outside help, you should definitely consider him, his notorious inconsistency notwithstanding.
• LeBron James put on a show at MSG last night, sinking 16-of-30 from the field, including 7-of-13 from beyond the arc, for 50 points in 44 minutes. The King, who added 10 assists, eight boards and four steals, now has 24 double-doubles – just one shy of matching his career mark set in 2004-05. In recording his third straight 30-point game and second 50-point effort of the year, LBJ is now averaging 43.5 PPG in his past two contests. With an average of two steals and one block per game for the first time in his career, you've got to think James has an excellent chance at his first MVP award as long as he can stay healthy down the stretch.
• No Yao, no problem. Wednesday, Houston won its fourth straight without the Ming Dynasty, giving the Rockets a franchise record 16 consecutive wins. Tracy McGrady led the way, sinking 10-of-22 from the field, including 4-of-9 from downtown, for 25 points (23 in the first half alone) with six boards and five assists. As always, T-Mac's value has been limited by injuries, and despite a strong shooting season, he's been unable to duplicate last year's performance. Houston will need to ride McGrady down the stretch without Yao, however. But as luck would have it, tonight Houston gets a short-handed Mavericks' team, with Dirk Nowitzki out for this one, serving his suspension.

dallasmavericks.com

Injury Report

Michael Redd was accidentally head-butted by Kevin Durant last night, an injury that resulted in six stitches on his nose and an early exit for the Buck star. Redd had been rolling, with 30.6 PPG in his last five games headed into last night, but he managed just 15 points before getting knocked out in the third quarter. Assumedly, Redd will be ready to roll tomorrow night, but in the unlikely event that he needs to miss a game or two, perhaps Charlie Bell (who had 17 points last night) will finally have some value. Meanwhile, Mo Williams (abdominal strain) remains day-to-day, so Royal Ivey could get another start Friday, not that he has any value, mind you. Yi Jianlian (sprained left ankle) is also still day-to-day, but Milwaukee probably doesn't even mind, considering his injury offered more PT to Charlie Villanueva last night, and CV finally enjoyed a breakout contest, sinking a team-high 32 points while adding 11 boards, three assists, three treys, two blocks and a steal. All aboard the Charlie V bandwagon, everyone!

Tip-ins: Chauncey Billups wasn't at his best last night, sinking just 4-of-12, but he helped Detroit make a big comeback when he potted 18 of his 23 points in the third quarter and sunk all 11 of his free throws. His 91.3 percent accuracy from the line matches a career best…Kendrick Perkins is suddenly a hot commodity on the waiver wires after three straight double-figure scoring games, the last two of which have been double-double efforts. He crashed the glass for a career-high 20 rebounds Wednesday (one game after a season-best 12 boards) and has blocked 11 shots over the last three games…Rajon Rondo continues to struggle with his shot (6-for-16), but at least he busted his scoring slump with 16 points last night, his first double-digit scoring effort in five games…After snapping his slump on Sunday, Paul Pierce shot well (5-for-9) but took a back seat to KG offensively last night, managing just 15 points. He did nail three treys for the second straight game, however, while pitching in with five assists and a block, so it wasn't all bad news for owners of The Truth…Ray Allen – another big piece Boston added this season – struggled badly last night, sinking just 1-of-9 for three points. He's been hot, so we'll cut him some slack, but what a disappointing effort from Jesus in such a big game…Rasheed Wallace continued to struggle with his shot, but he did nail three 3-pointers en route to 23 points, his best offensive output in almost a month…Richard Hamilton shot pretty well, but with just two trips to the charity stripe, was held to only 15 points last night…Tayshaun Prince's offensive tear ended Wednesday as he managed just seven points, but he pulled down 10 boards and dished five dimes. In very shallow leagues, he may still be available, so have a look…Jason Maxiell was held scoreless, managing just two rebounds and no blocks in only 18 minutes last night. There's no reason to hold onto him anymore…Rafer Alston, after his 21 points last night, has to be owned in all leagues by now…Chris Paul sunk three of the Hornets' 15 treys Wednesday as he put up 23 points with 18 assists to lead New Orleans to another win…With David West (ankle) missing in action, it opened the door for Peja Stojakovic to go crazy, and he canned seven of those treys for the Hornets on his way to 29 points with nine rebounds…If you need some scoring help, Desmond Mason might be worth looking into. He got another 16 last night for his fifth straight double-digit effort…On Wednesday, J-Rich continued his scorching play of late, scoring 42 points with seven rebounds and five 3-pointers…With 19 games still to play, Orlando has already matched last year's win total with 40, and by beating Washington last night, the Magic has pretty well sewn up the Southeast Division title…Pat Riley is just about at the end of his rope, calling last night's effort against Toronto "so unprofessional, it's ridiculous." Miami has dropped 29 of its past 32…Andrea Bargnani was involved in a scary incident Wednesday when Alexander Johnson elbowed him in the head sending the Raptors' budding star crashing to the floor where his head bounced off the hardwood in a very ugly manner. It looked very bad, and the Raptors' training staff tended to him for several minutes before Bargnani got up and headed to the locker room. The fact that he was able to sink both his free throws before going off and getting checked was a great sign. X-rays were negative, and while he'll likely have a nice shiner under his eye thanks to Johnson's flagrant foul, the only damage he suffered as a result of hitting the floor was that one his teeth shifted. He'll be fine for next game…With both Kevin Martin (bruised thumb) and Ron Artest (sore foot) sacramentokings.com out of action last night, John Salmons and Francisco Garcia started for the Kings…Mike Miller returned to action Wednesday after missing seven games with a back injury. He had an immediate impact, scoring 22 points with two steals, to help Memphis snap a nine-game losing skid. Of course, a season-high 25 points from Hakim Warrick (with seven rebounds, to boot) sure helped…Marcus Banks exploded for a game-high 21 points in 29 minutes off the Heat bench last night. He had five rebounds, four assists and three 3-pointers and looks like a wise waiver wire choice down the stretch…The 14 rebounds were nice, but Shawn Marion was limited to 2-for-7 from the field for a mere five points Wednesday. Credit Jamario Moon with some stifling defense on the Matrix, who couldn't get off a shot without Moon in his face…Allen Iverson scored 31 points – his third game of at least that many points in the past four – while adding 12 assists and five rebounds and Carmelo Anthony had 30 points, 13 rebounds and two blocks as Denver beat Phoenix, extending the Suns' woes. Phoenix, the top team in the West until very recently, has dropped six of its past 10 to slip badly in the standings. With Houston winning yet again, the Suns have fallen to sixth in the West…It's time to dump Mark Blount. Thanks to some ugly efforts, his PT is in free fall, and with Coach Riley about to blow a gasket, Blount could very easily lose his starting job soon…As if Tyrus Thomas' stock isn't falling fast enough, he missed practice Wednesday, resulting in a team-imposed two-game suspension that will begin tonight. Drew Gooden should continue his recent roll with Thomas in the doghouse…Brandon Bass should be in for a big game tonight with Nowitzki suspended…Utah has won 17 straight games at home. The Jazz better pray for home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs…If the Kings could somehow avoid playing any games against division rivals, they'd be a winning team. They are now 0-9 against Pacific Division foes but 27-25 against everyone else…Andrei Kirilenko, dealing with a bruised hip courtesy of Disco Dirk, will miss Friday's game, meaning C.J. Miles will get another start…Caron Butler says he's hoping to test his injured hip within the next two weeks…After Beno Udrih scored 25 points last night, your window for picking him up is likely closed. Take a peak just to make sure, though.

Team Report

The New Jersey Nets dropped their third straight game last night, hitting rock bottom by losing to a Grizzlies' team that had dropped nine straight. Yet, the Nets continue to hold onto the final playoff spot in the East, mostly because none of the non-playoff teams seem capable of putting together any kind of streak to make a move. Still, the Nets are now 0-2 on their five-game road trip with dates coming up in New Orleans, Dallas and Houston, so you have to think that their hold on a playoff spot is wavering. Vince Carter continued his recent struggles last night, managing just 12 points with four boards, two assists and just one three-pointer. His perimeter game is really down this season. RJ was decent with 22 points last night, and he's enjoying a career year with 23 PPG, but after scoring 29 points in his season opener and only October game, Jefferson's averages have dropped every month (24.9 PPG in November, 24.5 in December, 22.3 in January, 21.1 in February and 16.7 in March). On the plus side, Devin Harris has been on a roll and has taken over as the starting PG in Jersey the past two games. He poured in 20 points with eight assists last night, giving him three games in the past four where he's reached 20 points or more. Harris was a tremendously popular waiver wire pickup in the past week. Take another look at Nenad Krstic. He scored a season-best 16 points last night and added nine rebounds. Krstic could be poised to finish strong, so get ready to pounce on him. Marcus Williams is still putting up good numbers (11 points, eight assists last night; 13.5 PPG in his last two), but now that he's coming off the bench, he's a far less attractive fantasy option. Stromile Swift has gotten a bump in the depth chart over rookie Sean Williams, but neither is playing enough to be worth owning. Josh Boone got hot last week, making some noise as a waiver wire pickup, but he's scored just six points in each of his last three games, and hasn't been getting enough rebounds the past couple. Keep him on your wire, for now. Bostjan Nachbar heated up a bit last week, but he's now missed the past two games with a strained left flexor. Despite those occasional big games off the bench that tempt you, he's too inconsistent to be considered as a fantasy option

[Hache Man]

Oh My Bosh!
Game Totals in Week 20:

Four games: PHI, CLE, BOS, LAC, ATL, MIA, UTA, ORL, DAL, DEN, TOR, HOU, SAS, SEA, POR

Three games: CHA, MIL, MEM, NOR, SAC, NYK, LAL, NJN, IND, DET, PHO, MIN, GST, WAS

Two games: CHI

Dallas has four games, three of which are at home next week. Their four games (NYK, CHA, IND, @ mia) are all against teams in the lower half of PPG allowed. Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard, J-Kidd and Jason Terry all will receive a slight boost in value in your starting lineups this week. Even Erick Dampier might be worthy of a start next week as well. dallasmavericks.com

I know Phoenix only plays three games next week, but all of them are at home (GST, MEM, SAC) and their opponents in those matchups rank 30th, 29th, and 24th in PPG allowed. Throw in the fact that the Suns score the second most PPG and that's a solid combination. I don't need to tell you that you should be playing Steve Nash or Amare Stoudemire, but you might need some prodding to play a rejuvenated Shaquille O'Neal or Leandro Barbosa. Grant Hill and Raja Bell are also worth strong looks next week.

The team to stay away from next week is the Chicago Bulls. They only play two games, their rotation is in flux and head coach Jim Boylan is still figuring out his best players to get on the court throughout the game. Larry Hughes is playing great since coming over from Cleveland, but with only two games even Hughes is a risky play. I would stay away from every Bulls player next week.

Big Z Out

Zydrunas Ilgauskas announced on Sunday that he is out for at least the next two weeks with a strained back. Big Z's injury clears up the crowded frontcourt situation in Cleveland. Now Ben Wallace and Anderson Varejao will protect the lane alongside King James in Cleveland.

Chris Bosh left last Friday's game with a sore knee and was originally diagnosed as day-to-day. Well, it's now three games later and Bosh still has yet to hit the hardwood. The Raps are going to be extra careful with their superstar and won't want to rush him back until he is 100%. If you need some short term help, Jamario Moon is playing well in Bosh's absence and can offer the rare combo of both blocks and steals (four steals and three blocks in his game on Wednesday). He warrants a long look as a one-week fill in. In addition, Rasho Nesterovic has been playing very well in Bosh's absnece, and may continue to do so.

The news is getting a little better for the Washington Wizards. Even though Caron Butler has now missed his last 13 games, the Washington Post claims his hip is improving and he hopes to be cleared for practice by next week. However, he is still a couple of weeks away from returning. After claiming that "I'm scared to go out there right now," on Monday, Gilbert Arenas practiced with the Wizards on Tuesday and said afterwards that he felt fine. He wore a leg sleeve and light brace on his knee and is realistically two to three weeks away. That puts a potential return date as March 25th at Portland. If that were to be the game in which Hibachi returns, it would give his owners 13 games of statistics. You need to make a decision if you want to wait for either of the injured Washington studs to return or if you need to make a move to pick up a player like DeShawn Stevenson who can get you stats right now.

Gerald Wallace began running and shooting around and coach Sam Vincent is actually considering a return for Crash on March 12th. An amazing turnaround for Wallace, who was cleared after showing improvement after undergoing neural tests earlier in the week.

Bonzi Wells returned from injury (Achilles) on Sunday, but aggravated the injury and is yet to return. David West missed the Hornets game with a sprained left ankle on Wednesday, but is expected to be back soon.

The Thabo Sefolosha experiment is officially over. He is still sidelined with a strained groin and the arrival of Larry Hughes into Chi-town has killed any value Thabo may have had when he returns. Jamaal Tinsley also cast some doubt on if he will be able to return this season from an injured knee and is also safe to cut at this point for a better option (Delonte West or Earl Watson anyone?) available on the wire. indianapacers.com

Andrew Bynum, Jermaine O'Neal and Elton Brand are all at least two to three weeks away from returning. That's a long time to wait, especially if you are in the midst of a title chase.
utahjazz.com
Warriors C Andris Biedrins is targeting a return this weekend, but it all depends on how quickly he can get his wind back. Andrei Kirilenko is day-to-day with a bruised hip and will definitely sit out Friday's game against the Suns. Kevin Martin sat out Wednesday's game with a bruised thumb and is hoping to return for Friday's game, but for those of you in daily lineup leagues, be sure to check back here on Rotoworld before tip off. Ron Artest also missed Wednesday's game with a sore foot and it is unknown how soon he will be able to return to the court. sacramentokings.com

Yi Jianlian flew to Los Angeles on Thursday to have his injured right wrist examined and is definitely out for Friday's game. His availability beyond that is also in doubt, further cementing Charlie Villanueva's value for the next few games.

Returning from injury this week were Brandon Roy, Chris Kaman, Mike Miller, Jason Richardson, Earl Watson, Luke Ridnour and Marvin Williams.


High Five: - Stats exclusively from each player's last five games

Beno Udrih 5 G, 22.6 PPG, 5.8 APG, 3.8 RPG, 57% FG, 1.2 SPG
Al Thornton 5 G, 19.6 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.0 BPG, 49% FG, 7 3-pointers
Anthony Parker 5 G, 17.4 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 2.6 APG, 57% FG
Earl Watson 5 G, 15.5 PPG, 7.0 APG, 1.0 SPG, 58% FG
Luis Scola 5 G, 15.4 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 66% FG
Travis Diener 5 G, 13.0 PPG, 6.8 APG, 7 3-pointers
Kareem Rush 5 G, 12.2 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 11 3-pointers
Delonte West 5 G, 11.6 PPG, 4.2 APG, 4.6 RPG, 6 3-pointers
Jeff Green 5 G, 10.2 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 1.4 SPG
Thaddeus Young 5 G, 9.0 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 57% FG
bostonceltics.ws
Scoop De Ville:

Other players you should scoop onto your fantasy rosters

Marcus Banks – 21 pts, 5 rebs, 4 ast in last one, ready to take over PG job?
Andray Blatche – Need blocks? AB has two in each of his last four games.
Matt Carroll – Averaging 15+ PPG, 6+ RPG with 12 3s in last 5.
Erick Dampier – Has rebound lines of 16, 13 and 17 in three of his last five games.
Jordan Farmar – Almost 12 PPG and 9 3s in last five.
Brevin Knight – Might get run in Clips backcourt, nice pickup if you need dimes.
Nenad Krstic – Had 16 pts/9 rebs in last game, worth grabbing if you need a C.
Darko Milicic – 21 pts on Tues., hot over last 3, could be a nice big man pickup.
Jamario Moon – 14 pts, 9 rebs, 4 stls, 3 blks in last game. Wow.
Kendrick Perkins – Exploded for 20 & 12 and double-digit pts in last two games.
Wally Szczerbiak – If you need a sharpshooter, has eight 3s in last five games.
Brandan Wright – Starting at the 5 in GST, now that C-Webb is out indefinitely.

[Hache Man]

Dose: Bad news on Bynum

A slow Thursday night offered little drama, although LeBron and the Cavs fell to the Bulls, the Spurs won their 11th straight and the Rockets beat the Dirk-less Mavs for their 17th straight win.

LeBron scored 39 but added just three rebounds and one assist to his line. All that really means is that he's likely to come back with a vengeance tomorrow against the Pacers. And I have to admit I was wrong about Delonte West. I mean, the numbers haven't been too bad, but he has not stepped in and taken his game to the next level in Cleveland yet. He's doing just enough to be worth owning, but he'll hopefully kick it up to the next level soon. Joakim Noah had 13 points and 20 boards in the absence of Tyrus Thomas, who will also miss Saturday due his two-game suspension, while Luol Deng had 23 points and eight rebounds in the win. Deng has been playing very well since his return, and is a safe fantasy option. Ben Gordon also scored 23 and hit four treys, while Kirk Hinrich struggled on 2-of-12 shooting. Larry Hughes' hot streak is over, as he hit just 4-of-12 shots last night for 12 points.

Manu Ginobili hit 10-of-13 shots for 28 points to help pick up Tim Duncan's slack. Duncan hit just 3-of-11 shots for six points and 12 boards, and has struggled recently. If you throw out Tuesday's 11-of-21 shooting night, he's just 11-of-36 from the floor and totaled 28 points in his last three. Normally I'd be concerned that he is going to cruise into the playoffs and under perform the rest of the way, but this just feels like a slump to me. Danny Granger led the Pacers with 22 points and six steals, but failed to hit a three, while Jeff Foster blocked four shots. The amazing thing about that is he had just 16 blocks on the season coming in.

Rafer Alston scored a season-high 24 points to go along with two threes, five boards, four assists and two steals, but the most remarkable piece to his night is the fact he didn't commit a turnover. Luis Scola had 12 points and nine boards, Carl Landry had 17 and 2, and Tracy McGrady scored 31 and handed out nine dimes as the Rockets somehow won their 17th straight. With or without Yao, no one is going to want to see this team in the first round of the playoffs. With Dirk Nowitzki suspended for last night's game, the Mavs were led by Josh Howard, who hit 8-of-19 shots for 21 points. There's been a lot of talk about how bad Howard has looked, but he's scored in double figures in eight straight and is still putting up fairly solid fantasy lines. The main thing is that he's become a jump shooter, so his percentage is down, but if you look at his season numbers, he's still averaging career highs in scoring, rebounds and assists, although his steals are down. Brandon Bass started in place of Dirk and had seven points and five boards. dallasmavericks.com
Banged Up Guys Who Should Play

Rasheed Wallace – ankle – Had treatment, but it sounds like he'll play against Knicks.
Willie Green – knee – Worked out yesterday and sounds ready to play.
Keyon Dooling – foot – Missed last game as precaution, should play.
Al Jefferson – leg – Tweaked left leg, but played through it last game.
Michael Redd – nose – Probable despite the six stitches.
Chucky Atkins – hernia – Sounds ready to back up Anthony Carter Friday.

Other Injury News

Gerald Wallace is set to return to practice and it sounds like there's a pretty good chance he will play on Wednesday, March 12. That's the team's first game of next week, so it's possible you could start him in a weekly league for three games if you had to.

Jamaal Tinsley sounds like he's done for the year to me. From coach Jim O'Brien: "He still has pain in his knee, and I have no timetable whatsoever, nor does he, on when he'll be back," Travis Diener should be owned in all leagues. indianapacers.com

Nothing new on Jermaine O'Neal, but he might return if Pacers stay in playoff hunt.

It sounds like Elton Brand may not play in a game until April. He says he's ready to go, but the Clips just aren't in any hurry to rush him out there. I've been fairly down on the returns of guys like Brand and Gilbert Arenas this time around, and unfortunately, things aren't sounding too good for most of the big names with serious injuries. That said, I would not be surprised if Brand plays before April. But as of yesterday, it didn't sound too likely.

Chris Bosh remains out with a swollen knee that has not really improved at all over the last week. The Raps are safely in the playoffs and can't do a whole lot position-wise, so they're going to be extra careful with Bosh. Rasho Nesterovic and Jamario Moon remain viable options while he's out.

We should have an update on Andrea Bargnani's condition later today. He left his last game after taking an Alexander Johnson elbow to the face, and hitting his head on the floor. He had some broken teeth, but it sounds like he's not seriously hurt.

Zach Randolph is not likely to play tonight due to a sore foot. If he's out, that will be four straight misses, which is surely killing fantasy owners right now. I thought he'd be back tonight, and was a little surprised when I read of Isiah's doubts. If you own David Lee and want to start him tonight, it makes sense. On a side note, I owe the world an apology for getting suckered into believing that Quentin Richardson could help fantasy teams this week. But don't worry…I'm paying the price with him in several lineups this week, which has been painful so far. However, with two more games this weekend, there's still time for him to turn it around. Come on, Q!

Kevin Martin (thumb) and Ron Artest (foot) are both questionable tonight for the Kings, but depending on how you interpret Sam Amick's column this morning, it sounds like they both could easily play tonight. Hopefully we'll have an update prior to tip-off. sacramentokings.com

Yi Jianlian flew to Los Angeles to have his wrist looked at by a specialist. The longer he's out, the better the news for the suddenly hot Charlie Villanueva. Let's see if CV can actually post a decent line in back-to-back games. I'm not convinced, but I'm hopeful.

Andrew Bynum will not play during the month of March according to today's L.A. Times. He's hoping for early April, but it's possible he could miss the rest of the season with his knee injury. Unless you're in a keeper league, it's probably time to let go.

Trevor Ariza's broken right foot is still not healed and it sounds like he could be done for the season as well, not that that means much in fantasy circles.

Loose Ends

The Sonics may not be dead in Seattle just yet: Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is heading a group of investors interested in buying the Sonics and keeping the team in Seattle. The proposal includes privately funding half of the $300 million needed for renovations to KeyArena. Of course, it doesn't seem likely that Clay Bennett will sell the team, and has said it's not for sale. But ask any successful businessman and he'll tell you that everything is for sale for the right price.

Sam Cassell attended shootaround this morning and will be on the bench tonight, but it's doubtful that he plays. And Doc Rivers shot down TNT's report last night that he'll play tomorrow. Rivers said he still isn't sure when Cassell or P.J. Brown will play. bostonceltics.ws

Dwyane Wade says he missed playing the game so much when he was down with a pair of surgeries last season that he is still planning on finishing out the year for the Heat. Maybe he will, maybe he won't, but I doubt he continues to play 40 minutes a night either way. Also, Pat Riley says he could miss a couple games while preparing for the lottery on scouting trips. In addition, Riley says wholesale changes may be coming because some of his veterans just don't seem to care. I'm guessing he's referring to Mark Blount and Jason Williams. In my mind, it's time to own Marcus Banks in every sized league, as he's already posting career-high numbers in Miami, but could be huge if Riley turns him loose. And keep your eye on Earl Barron, who could possibly replace Blount in the middle.

Yao Ming says he's going to play in this summer's Olympics. The fact that they're in Beijing means he's going to do whatever he can to be there, but the Rockets can't be happy about it. Dude hasn't finished a season in three years.

The Pacers suspended David Harrison today for one game for conduct detrimental to the team. He threw a fit in the fourth quarter of last night's game after getting hit in the face by the Spurs' Matt Bonner. Harrison apparently told an official that he was going to "bleeping kill Bonner," and then went ballistic in the locker room after the game, requiring a couple of stitches in his head. Hey, at least he cares.

[Hache Man]

Bonus Dose: Reality Check

I got an email recently, bashing me for Rotoworld's constant chatter that Dwyane Wade would be shut down for the season at some point soon. I don't still have the email, but it was along the lines of "Wade is getting ready for the Olympics and is not a quitter and you are losing credibility for continuously suggesting he's going to be shut down." I got another one several weeks ago, bashing us for basically saying the same thing about Elton Brand. That one went something like "Brand wants to play for a contract and says he's coming back with a vengeance. Given the Clippers' strong playoff schedule, it's irresponsible and cowardly for you to keep saying he's not going to offer fantasy value later in the season. You're taking the easy way out. Why not grow a pair and suggest that he'll come back and dominate in the fantasy playoffs?"

Fair enough. I understood where both guys were coming from, and it's also obvious that they're both owners of the studs they're still counting on down the stretch.

In honor of those two emails (which were very poorly paraphrased, my apologies in advance), and the recent developments with Wade, Brand and just about every other big-named stud with a serious injury, I'm going to crank out a bonus Daily Dose for Saturday morning. I'm not doing this to say "I told you so," or anything like it. I'm doing it because it's starting to look like many of the studs owners are waiting for won't be back. Let's take a look at the big names that may or may not play again this season, in no particular order.

I'll start by saying that I am (obviously) not always right. Just take a peek at the archives regarding Amare Stoudemire last season. But the odds of Amare playing in 82 games last season after micro-fracture surgery were slim to none. Even though he pulled it off, I would still (foolishly) have bet that he wouldn't finish last season, if I had it to do over again. When trying to predict when guys will return from catastrophic injuries, the best course for fantasy owners is to not listen to what the player is saying, or your heart, and instead look at the medical facts regarding each injury. Guys don't tend to bounce right back from ruptured Achilles', blown knees and torn ligaments in hips. And there are just as many mental hurdles to climb as there are physical ones. On to the players.

Gerald Wallace – Concussion – Bobcats – Wallace is one of the few guys on this list that should return to full strength sooner than later. I wouldn't start him next week, although you could, as he's expected to play Wednesday, meaning he would play in all three Bobcats' games next week. Will he be at full speed? Will he be overly cautious? Will he continue to "crash" his way to the glass and bucket? I don't know, but I'd take a look at him in action before using him. At least, in most cases.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas – Back – Cavaliers – He's going to be out at least another week to 10 days and the Cavs don't even really need him with Ben Wallace and Anderson Varejao available. The Cavs will want his back to be ready for the playoffs, so I'm not expecting much from him the rest of the way. It's your call as to whether or not you cut him, but I would probably say goodbye if I owned him. I don't have much patience.

Yao Ming – Foot – Rockets – Not much to say here, as he's done. But keep in mind at next year's draft that the guy hasn't finished a season in three years.

Jermaine O'Neal – Knee – Pacers – I don't own him because you could see this coming from a mile away. Yeah, he might return, but he doesn't want to. And the more games the Pacers lose, the farther they fall out of the playoff race, and the more likely it is that we've seen the last of JO this season. He's worth holding onto, but don't expect much, if anything at all.

Jamaal Tinsley – Knee – Pacers – Jim O'Brien says he has no idea when we'll see Tinsley again and I'm writing him off for the season. Travis Diener is playing well and the chances of JT returning appear to be slim to none. Cut him for Marcus Banks. Trust me. indianapacers.com

Elton Brand – Achilles – Clippers – It now sounds like he won't play until April, even though he says he's ready to go. The Clips plan on making him a strong offer and the early word is that he won't opt out this summer. And Mike Dunleavy and company see no reason to run him out there before he's clearly at 100 percent. He might be worth hanging onto, but I'd rather have a guy I know can help me. Like Kendrick Perkins or Banks. I would probably cut him, but it's your call.

Shaun Livingston – Knee – Clippers – The fact he was even talking about coming back after last season's gruesome injury is a great story. But he's got tendonitis in the knee and is done.

Andrew Bynum – Knee – Lakers – Big man is still in a pool and won't play until April. Even though I owned him in a keeper league, I traded him to improve my chances of winning this year and it may payoff. And with Pau Gasol around, I see no way he returns to full strength in time to help your team. It's probably time to let go. Again, Perkins looks pretty damn good, to me. And just after I posted this column, Phil Jackson said after Friday's game that Bynum will likely be out for another month and will be worked back into the mix slowly at the very end of the season.

Dwyane Wade – Knee/Shoulder – Heat – Wade said again Thursday that he had no plans of shutting it down this season. But again, you had to ask yourself why he wouldn't. His coach already said he plans on shutting him down, and Wade is still nowhere near 100 percent to begin with. Now there's this, from the Miami Herald on Saturday morning:

Wade sat out a day after he had no plans to miss games down the stretch to rest his surgically repaired left knee. But Wade revealed after the game that pain in his knee has grown worse since he fell awkwardly on a drive to the basket in last Sunday's loss at Sacramento. Wade said he was sore after Friday's shootaround, and his status for Saturday is questionable.

''It's been pretty bad lately [and] I'm just trying to be cautious,'' he said before turning his attention to the season-long struggles. ``It's one of those seasons when everybody's looking for a way out, hoping for the season to end. It's like a nightmare, let's just end this season.''

Do you cut D-Wade? No way. But you start stockpiling reserves in case this is truly the end of the line. Common sense tells us that if his knee (not to mention his shoulder) don't feel better over the next week, he's done. Sure, he might suddenly feel better Saturday and be good to go the rest of the way. But I am standing by my initial instincts that told me Wade will not finish the season. There's just no way. One more time…Marcus Banks, who scored 20 points Friday (and Ricky Davis), have to be considered hot pickups for Wade's owners. We'll find out in the next week or so if I'm right or wrong, but I'm not alone. Rick Kamla suggested heavily on Friday night on NBA TV that Wade may have played his last game of the season. Then again, maybe he was influenced by reading Rotoworld so much.

On a side note, my family and I will be at the Hawks-Heat double-header on Saturday. Will my kids get to see Wade play? I doubt it. But they will get to see Josh Smith, which is all I really care about.

Ron Artest – "Foot" – Kings – Ron-Ron was a DNP for the second straight game on Friday and only let his coach know through the team trainer on short notice prior to the game. He's done that for both of the DNP's and these come just after he blasted Reggie Theus and was fined by the team. I am guessing that this is some form of protest, and the fact the Kings keep losing and are now out of the playoff race, he could easily decide to shut it down for the rest of the season. I think we'll see him again, but he's clearly unreliable right now, which is the opposite of fantasy gold. sacramentokings.com

Gilbert Arenas – Knee – Wizards – Arenas said all along he was coming back strong for the fantasy playoffs, even teasing us with that March 2 return date. Well that's come and gone, and while practices are going well, there's no guarantee he plays before April, either. Hang onto him, but don't expect much from him until your fantasy season is about over.

Caron Butler – Hip – Wizards – Butler is supposed to practice next week, but I don't expect him to play until the following week, at best. He already aggravated the injury once by coming back too soon, and is going to be cautious this time around. The goal is to have him playing by the end of the season in preparation for the playoffs. Again, this does nothing to help your fantasy team. Keep him on your bench, and hope that you see him play a game before the end of March.

[Hache Man]

Is It Finally Time For Lee?
There are several players getting it done right now who have been off the radar all season. Picking up the right no-name player right now could be the difference between finishing first or third in your league, but there's certainly a lot of luck involved. Who will be this year's Tarence Kinsey? Here are some candidates.

Bobcats - Matt Carroll and Jared Dudley both had a big week with Gerald Wallace out, but what will happen when he returns from his concussion on Wednesday? My guess is that Dudley won't get enough minutes to matter, while Carroll should still be a decent source of threes. And if Sam Vincent decides to leave Carroll at shooting guard and bring Nazr Mohammed off the bench, Carroll should still have enough value to be used in most fantasy leagues. If Wallace goes down again, both players will be automatic pickups, but for the upcoming week, I'd bench all three players until we see how this shakes out.

Cavaliers - Zydrunas Ilgauskas' back issue is fairly serious and could end his regular season early. Anderson Varejao was a beast in Saturday's game and should continue to get plenty of big-man minutes for the Cavs the rest of the way. He should qualify at both F and C, and should be owned in most leagues right now. Also keep your eye on Damon Jones, although the upcoming return of Sasha Pavlovic and strong play of Wally Szczerbiak could limit his opportunities the rest of the way.

Mavericks - Jerry Stackhouse should start at shooting guard the rest of the way for the Mavs, and if he does, he should be picked up immediately in most leagues. He scored 20 points in his last game and the idea is to get him up to full speed for the playoffs. It's time to make a move on him. dallasmavericks.com

Warriors - Mickael Pietrus is semi-hot right now and has likely been picked up in many leagues already. It's anyone's guess as to when Don Nelson sours on him and starts giving minutes to Kelenna Azubuike or Matt Barnes, but for this moment in time, Pietrus looks fairly good. That said, he's played less than 30 minutes in seven of his last nine games and has hit single digits in scoring in three of his last five. If you own him, it's probably best to keep him on your bench. Especially with Andris Biedrins back in action.

Clippers - Dan Dickau has started in two straight games but will split time at point guard with Brevin Knight now that Sam Cassell is finally out of L.A. Knight didn't even play on Saturday due to a sore neck, and the fact that Dickau hasn't produced much in his two starts doesn't have me too excited. If you need a point guard in a deep league, both players are worth looking at. And because of Knight's constant injury woes, I'd probably pickup Dickau before going after Knight.

Bucks - Charlie Villanueva is hot and should have already been picked up in most leagues. He could have a strong stretch run and should be owned and started right now. With Mo Williams' abdominal strain, guys like Desmond Mason and Charlie Bell are also options, while Royal Ivey could even be looked at in extremely deep leagues. I still haven't heard a target date for Mo's return, but I'm guessing it's sooner than later.

Heat - Dwyane Wade (knee), Marcus Banks (hamstring) and Udonis Haslem (ankle) are all iffy for Monday's game, meaning guys like Ricky Davis, Chris Quinn, Mark Blount, Alexander Johnson and possibly even Earl Barron (knee) might get some run. Davis is very hot right now, hitting double digits in nine straight games and had 27 points and five treys on 11-of-16 shooting against the Hawks on Saturday. Davis is a must-start this week, while all the other players I mentioned are just too shaky to depend on. Once Banks is healthy again, he's also a must-own player.

Nets - Nenad Krstic had a nice week and appears to be ready to hit his stride after taking most of the season to recover from knee surgery. He was averaging a double-double over his last three coming into Saturday's game, but struggled in that one against Erick Dampier. He'll have the occasional off night, but signs are pointing in his direction. If you need a center, it's time to grab Krstic.

Knicks - Hopefully you were smarter than me and had Nate Robinson in your lineup on Saturday when he exploded for a career-high 45. It helped that Jamal Crawford (hand), Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph were out, but it's possible that Curry is done for the season and that Isiah will go to Robinson as a reward for the big game. Curry will require knee surgery and the New York Post is speculating he won't play again this season. David Lee is an automatic pickup right now, while Randolph Morris could see a few minutes. Wilson Chandler is also intriguing, but his success will be dependent on whether or not Zach Randolph gets back out there from his foot injury. Randolph should return, and we'll hopefully have an update on all the injured Knicks this afternoon.

Blazers - Martell Webster has played well in a couple games while Travis Outlaw is suddenly struggling over his last two. I expect Outlaw to bounce back soon, while Webster looks like he can be used again in really deep leagues. Both guys make me nervous right now, so see if you can find more consistent options.

Sixers - Thaddeus Young has hit double figures in four straight games and had a career-high 22 on Sunday. Obviously, it's time to pick him up, but I'm not sure if he can stay this hot going forward. It's worth a shot to find out.

Spurs - Kurt Thomas might be usable if you need a center in a big league, and has grabbed at least six boards in five straight games. The scoring is inconsistent, but he looks like a solid source of steals right now. It would have to be a pretty deep league, but there's a chance Thomas might be able to help your team.

Kings - Spencer Hawes and Mikki Moore are both intriguing right now. Hawes has been taking some of Brad Miller's minutes and Miller has been as bad as he ever has been in his last three games. Again, if you need a center, it's possible Miller's minutes will start to dry up once the Kings are eliminated from the playoff race, while I'm thinking Miller might even be injured right now. Hawes is a good player to pick up with hopes of him breaking out over the next month if you're thin at center. Moore has been on somewhat of a hot streak lately, probably also due to Miller's struggles. He's averaging 13 points and five boards over his last three, and eight boards over his last six games. If you need rebounds, you could probably do worse than Moore. sacramentokings.com

Raptors - Anthony Parker, Rasho Nesterovic, Jamario Moon and Carlos Delfino all had a nice week for the Raptors with Chris Bosh out, and should do it again this week. I'm guessing Bosh doesn't play again until a week from Wednesday. Parker has been scoring and racking up threes lately, hitting double figures in six straight games and draining nine threes over that stretch. Nesterovic's week was borderline unbelievable, as he averaged 11.5 points, eight rebounds and two assists over his last five, all starts. And if you throw out his two "bad" games, those numbers shoot up to 16 points and seven rebounds. Not the flashiest center around, but could come in handy for as long as Bosh remains out with a sore knee.

Moon racked up 11 steals and eight blocks in four games last week, while averaging 12 points and eight rebounds. Again, with Bosh likely out at least another week, there's no reason Moon won't put up similar numbers again this week. Carlos Delfino was in a major slump, going five straight games without hitting a three or double-digits, but has now played well in two straight, averaging 16 points, four rebounds, 3.5 assists, two steals and a 3-pointer. With T.J. Ford back, Delfino's minutes could fluctuate, but he's somewhat hot right now and could be worth a flier in a very deep league.

Chat

Due to some support and software issues, the Monday Hoops Chat is not likely to happen again this season. It will be back and better next year, and I will miss our Monday afternoon gatherings.

D-Wade on Saturday

I know some of you saw something on Rotoworld Saturday evening about Dwyane Wade not playing against the Hawks. I spoke to Dennis Scott, the former Magic and Georgia Tech star who now works for Hawks Radio, about 30 minutes before tip-off and he told me he was "pretty sure" Wade was not going to play that night due to his sore knee. Given Scott's position and the fact he had just come out of the "tunnel," I thought that was pretty safe information and sent it in to Rotoworld. Of course, when I saw Wade warming up prior to tip-off 15 minutes later, I knew he was going to play and we updated the blurb.

[Hache Man]

Game Over?
Monday Morning Injury Report

A Players

Gerald Wallace – concussion – Should play Wednesday, start at own risk.
Mo Williams – abdomen – Missed 3 straight, play at own risk.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas – back – Out indefinitely, bench until further notice.
Elton Brand – Achilles – Not likely to play before April.
Dwyane Wade – knee – Out for season. Not to say I told you so, but...
David West – ankle – Has missed 3 straight, start at your own risk.
Andrei Kirilenko – hip – Status in doubt for whole week, look to bench him. utahjazz.com
Jamal Crawford – hand – deep bruise in shooting hand, questionable.
Zach Randolph – foot – Left team, should be back for Monday, risky fantasy start.
Andrew Bynum – knee – Won't play until April, iffy for regular season.
Kenyon Martin – mild concussion – Expected to start tonight, start at own risk.
Brad Miller – tailbone – Might explain his recent slump, bench if you have options.
Nene – testicle – Could play again this season, but not likely.
Jamaal Tinsley – knee – Forget about him for now. indianapacers.com
Jermaine O'Neal – knee – Could play again, but I'm not holding my breath.
Rasheed Wallace – ankle – Has had nearly week off, should play Wednesday.
Chris Bosh – knee – Sounds doubtful for next week or so, bench him.
Yao Ming – foot – Done for the year.
Caron Butler – hip – Should practice soon, bench until further notice.
Gilbert Arenas – knee – Says he'll return after Butler, which is not great news.
Vince Carter – personal – Shouldn't miss any time, but you never know.
DeShawn Stevenson – knee – Walking with cane, but says he'll play.
Jameer Nelson - foot - Questionable. Start at own risk.

B Players

Carl Landry – knee – Iffy for Monday, play at own risk.
Eddy Curry – knee – Probably done for season, bench him for now.
Udonis Haslem – ankle – Guessing he's out for another game or two.
Marcus Banks – hamstring – Iffy for Monday, start at own risk.
Acie Law – wrist – Has missed 10 straight but should be very close to return.
Shaun Livingston – knee – Won't play this season.
Brevin Knight – neck – Very injury prone, will split time with Dickau. Bench him.
Yi Jianlian – ankle – Has missed three straight, no reason to play him.
Thabo Sefolosha – groin- Close to return, but has lost fantasy value. Bench.
Daniel Gibson – ankle – Still out, could return next week.
Sasha Pavlovic – foot – Will probably play this week, but keep him reserved.
Bonzi Wells – Achilles – Due back Wednesday, but currently has no value.
Luke Ridnour – face – Injury doesn't look too serious, should play through it.
Sebastian Telfair – ankle – Sounds very iffy for week, bench him.
Chris Webber – knee – No timeline for return, no value when healthy.
Etan Thomas – heart – Has returned to practice, could be back soon. Bench.

C Players

Tyronn Lue – calf – Iffy for the week, no fantasy value.
Eddie Jones – knee – Stackhouse starting kills any value EJ had.
Tony Battie – shoulder – Still hoping to return for playoffs.
Chris Mihm – Achilles – Could play in April.
Trevor Ariza – foot – Remains out indefinitely.
Ronnie Price – shoulder – Injury not serious, but doesn't offer fantasy value.
Smush Parker – personal – Out for season.
Dorell Wright – knee surgery – Out for season.
Earl Barron – knee – Missed two straight, could emerge with late value.
Scot Pollard – ankle – Out for the season.
Aaron Williams – abdomen – Injury could linger, has no value anyway.
David Harrison – suspension – Served suspension, no fantasy value.

News and Notes

Chris Wilcox had 28 points and 10 rebounds in Sunday's loss and should be a solid play this week. Luke Ridnour smashed his face on the court during a fall, but I'm guessing he plays through the injury this week. The Raptors got strong performances from Anthony Parker, Rasho Nesterovic and Jamario Moon, while Andrea Bargnani hit just 6-of-21 shots for 16 points. Jose Calderon and T.J. Ford continue to hurt each other's production. JC can still be used, but I would not have Ford in many lineups this week.

The Sixers were led by a career-high 22 points for Thaddeus Young and saw seven players score in double figures in Sunday's win over the Bucks. Despite hitting 8-of-11 shots and posting 18 points and 10 boards in the win, Samuel Dalembert is unhappy with his role and minutes, and says he's not having fun. He's playing well again, so go ahead and continue to roll with him. Charlie Villanueva led the Bucks with 25 points in the loss and can be started until further notice. I'm not sure what Andrew Bogut's problem was, but he missed all four of his shots and finished with one point and seven assists. I'm leery about him with three games this week, but he is probably the best option most of us have at center.

The Suns beat the Spurs on Sunday behind strong performances from Steve Nash, Shaquille O'Neal, Grant Hill and Amare Stoudemire. Leandro Barbosa really struggled last week, but I'm guessing he bounces back this week. The Spurs got strong games out of Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, who came off the bench again, in the loss. Gregg Popovich can't make up his mind with Manu.

Kirk Hinrich was terrible again and is nearly unplayable. Of course, he'll probably blow up as soon as he gets on your bench, but it has not been a pretty season for him. Luol Deng continues to play well, Ben Gordon was on fire yesterday, hitting 10-of-12 shots for 27 points. Chris Duhon sat out for disciplinary reasons and Tyrus Thomas returned for one point from a two-game suspension. Chauncey Billups tried to match Gordon, going 9-of-12 for 34 points in the win. Theo Ratliff started in place of injured Rasheed Wallace again, but it sounds like Wallace will be back on Wednesday after getting nearly a full week of rest.

The Kings beat the Lakers when Kobe Bryant missed a last-second jumper. Ron Artest took great delight in "poppin' his collar," as he ran around the arena pointing to the Kings' logo, much like Kobe did recently in a win over the Kings in Sacramento. Kobe wasn't impressed: "He's got to get his own material," Bryant said. "Don't be (rapper) Puff Daddy and sample every song. You've got to create your own music sometimes." Artest didn't play in the fourth quarter, but it was a coach's decision and not injury-related. Beno Udrih hit the game-winning free throws and had 25 points and 10 assists, while Spencer Hawes picked up the slack for Brad Miller (2 points) with 14 points, eight rebounds and four blocks. Kobe led the Lakers with 26, Pau Gasol flirted with a triple-double and Lamar Odom double-doubled in the loss.
sacramentokings.com
Tonight

There are seven game on Monday night, with the big question marks being whether Brevin Knight, Dwyane Wade, Marcus Banks, Kenyon Martin, Jamal Crawford and Zach Randolph will play. Ricky Davis is playing well and healthy right now, and should be in all fantasy lineups this week.

[Hache Man]

Iron Man is the Answer
The D-Wade shutdown finally hit on Monday afternoon. While I can't say I was surprised, I'm just hoping that everyone planned accordingly, as there was plenty of advance warning, at least coming from Rotoworld. But unfortunately, even if you did plan ahead by picking up Marcus Banks, the news that he's going to probably miss a couple weeks with a bum hamstring hurts. Go ahead and stop reading this and pick up Daequan Cook if you need a shooter. He hit five treys last night and scored a career-high 23. It couldn't have been a fluke since the Heat only have about six healthy players, so pick him up.

I must have gotten 25 emails about Ricky Davis yesterday. Every time I answered one, I was emphatic that Davis be owned, regardless of who had to be cut to get him (within reason). A common question was "Should I cut Matt Carroll for Ricky Davis?" The answer was a resounding "Yes." Gerald Wallace is coming back and will play exclusively at small forward, meaning Jason Richardson is the shooting guard. That means Carroll is going straight back to the bench, while Ricky Buckets is suddenly one of the hottest players in the league with all the minutes he could ever want the rest of the way. For the last time, if Davis (who had 27 points, 6 assists, 4 threes and 3 steals last night on 10-of-14 shooting) is still available in your league, cut whomever you have to (within reason) in order to pick him up.

Triple-Doubles – LeBron James and Hedo Turkoglu both triple-doubled last night, getting their owners' weeks off on the right foot. LeBron had his seventh of the season and 17th of his career with 24-11-10, while Turk had 23-13-10 for his second of the season. Turkoglu has turned out to be a super-sleeper this season, and is apparently over the slump he was in recently. LeBron wasn't happy with the way he played last night, but he got a trip-dub and the Cavs beat the Blazers. LeBron is also in the news for having the kid who caused a security breach recently (by running onto the court to talk to him) as a guest of honor at an upcoming game. David Stern's gonna love that one.

The 19th Hole - The Rockets waxed the Nets to win their 19th straight game, and as a result, are only one game back of the Lakers and Spurs in the West. The Nuggets were celebrating when Yao went down, but I don't think that's still the case. And while it doesn't seem possible, the Rockets are just as good without Yao as they are with him. The streak should go to 21 straight, as their next two opponents are the Hawks and Bobcats, which means that Sunday's game against the Lakers should be the game of the week.

More Bad News - Chris Kaman (back), Elton Brand (Achilles), Gilbert Arenas (knee), Caron Butler (hip), Chris Bosh (knee), Ben Wallace (back), Zydrunas Ilgauskas (back), Mo Williams (abdomen) and Marcus Banks (hamstring) are all out right now and the news doesn't appear to be great for most of them.

Mike Dunleavy is still hinting that the Clippers may not bring Brand back at all this season (and before you angry Brand owners email me again, he said it, not me), while Kaman's missed several games recently with a sore back. As we've seen with several other players, if Kaman's not fully healthy, the Clips could just choose to shut him down. Not saying it's going to happen, but if Kaman isn't playing again by the end of the week, you have to wonder if or when we'll see him again this season.

Arenas skipped yesterday's practice so that he could rehab his knee, while Butler reportedly had a really good day. The key is how he feels today and tomorrow. If all goes well, I could see Butler going through one more practice and then playing sometime next week. And if that happens, Arenas could return at some point late next week or early in the following one. Those are guesses on my part, but seem to be logical based on the information out there. Of course, both guys could play even sooner, although it doesn't appear likely.

The news on Bosh is fairly disturbing, as he could easily sit out until March 19. If that happens, he will have missed 10 straight games, and there's no guarantee that he's even back for that one. The Raptors are going to make the playoffs and I think Bosh will be back by the end of the month, but beyond that, it's anyone's guess as to when we'll see him again.

Big Ben left last night's game with back spasms and has been bothered by them for a few days now. Wallace was already a shaky play and if he's going to miss more games, his owners will be beyond irate. Ilgauskas is also on the shelf with a bad back and could be done for the regular season, but I'm guessing Ben won't be out for too long.

Mo Williams will miss his fourth straight game tonight with his abdominal strain. I mentioned to my wife last night that it was discouraging to read a Bucks Blog entry from the Journal Sentinel yesterday afternoon and not see Mo's name mentioned, yet the AP can tell us a day prior that he's out for tonight. Come on, fellas. We need some Mo and Yi updates from the source.

And one of the biggest disappointments from the Wade fallout yesterday was learning that Banks would be out for a couple weeks. He was set to dominate, along with Davis, and his injury is part of the reason Cook looks so good right now. Banks should be back in time to offer some value, but you can feel free to cut him if you need a healthy body right now. Man, that one hurts, as I had stashed him in many leagues.

Minor Injuries? - Willie Green (back) and Dirk Nowitzki (eye) suffered injuries last night. Green's back could sideline him for a couple games (or not), with Lou Williams seeing a boost in value, while Dirk played well through the eye injury. No worries with Dirk. dallasmavericks.com

Hump Day Club - Gerald and Rasheed - Good news for Gerald (concussion) and Rasheed Wallace (ankle) owners, as both players are expected to return on Wednesday.

Technically Speaking - Kobe Bryant leads the league in technical fouls with 13 of them, while Rip Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace, Carmelo Anthony, Drew Gooden, Brad Miller, Cuttino Mobley and Kendrick Perkins are all tied at nine a piece. As far as I understand it, Kobe will be allowed two more T's without penalty, but if and when he picks up that 16th, he's in for an automatic one-game suspension. The killer was when he picked up two and was ejected on Feb. 24 in a blowout win over the Sonics. He picked up No. 13 on Feb. 26, so the good news is he's made it six straight games without one, including Sunday's tough loss to the Kings. Keep your eye on all these guys, although it looks like Kobe's the only one in real danger of missing a game due to technicals.

Welcome Back – Kenyon Martin (concussion), Allen Iverson (finger), Zach Randolph (foot), Jamal Crawford (hand) and Brevin Knight (neck) all returned from their injuries last night, although some of them were never gone. And Cuttino Mobley and Tim Duncan broke out of their slumps last night, with Mobley going for 29 points, six boards, three steals and two threes on 10-of-14 shooting. Where has that been? Duncan hit a season-high for boards, going for 18 points, 23 rebounds, five assists and three blocks. That should stop the slump chatter regarding Duncan, while I'm not sure I trust Mobley just yet. Of course, I'm playing against him in my main league this week, so of course he chooses now to get it going. In addition, Sam Cassell (trade) made his debut with the Celtics last night in a foul-riddled, five-minute run. Only Iverson wouldn't blink at playing through a broken finger, and then complain that it didn't even get hit because he wanted to see how it would react. S-T-U-D.

Loose Ends

Carl Landry missed second straight game with knee injury. Could miss more.
Nets shot 30% in blowout loss and had hit 9-of-47 shots at one point.
Andre Miller may have tweaked his back last night, but no news is good news.
Nate Robinson was awful, but at least got off a lot of shots for Knicks.
LaMarcus Aldridge had his second straight double-double in loss.
Kendrick Perkins had 10 rebounds and six blocks last night.
Jameer Nelson played through sore foot for 13 points, four assists.
Mike Bibby had 23 points and five threes in Hawks' loss.
Etan Thomas is practicing and could play soon.
Thabo Sefolosha should return from groin injury tonight, but with limited value.
Kareem Rush is day-to-day with a hip injury. Keep an eye on Flip Murray.
Daniel Gibson is 10-14 days from returning from an ankle injury.
Marcus Camby played through a hip injury last night.
Andrei Kirilenko could play tonight, game-time decision with hip.
Manu Ginobili handed out a season-high 14 assists last night and played through a thigh injury.

[Hache Man]

Heat lose D-Wade: The Fallout

It's that time of the year again, when rookies and scrubs crawl out of the hardwood and inch teams toward the fantasy playoffs. Injuries have irrevocably changed the fantasy landscape. Player's roles have shifted dramatically. Bad teams are looking forward to next year and good teams are looking forward to resting their players as we approach the post-season. Stir it all up and you've got a mighty strange gumbo. Dig in.

King me!—Spencer Hawes, the Kings rookie seven-footer, erupted with twelve blocks in the past four games, enough to make him a hot topic but not yet a hot pick-up (1% ownership in Yahoo! leagues). Skepticism surrounds his recent play, and justifiably so: in his first 51 appearances this season he managed only 14 blocks, played 20+ minutes once and scored double-digit points on three occasions. sacramentokings.com

The good news? In his past two games he has averaged four blocks, 9.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists. The Kings need to give their young big man some NBA-level experience, so it's conceivable that he'll average 25 minutes as their doomed season winds down. This gives Hawes immediate value in deep leagues and immediate interest in almost all formats, since stumbling into 3.0 blocks per game isn't a weekly occurrence.

The Heat is on—Dwyane Wade's season is over, as he'll be undergoing OssaTron a.k.a "shock-wave" therapy on his surgically-altered left knee. In his absence the injury-ravaged Heat have had as few as seven healthy players, narrowing the field of potential pick-ups.

Ricky Davis has been thoroughly disappointing with the Heat and will probably leave Miami at the end of the season, but for now he is indispensable. Shifted into the starting lineup three games ago, Davis responded with 64 points (including back-to-back 27-point games) tying his best three-game scoring output of the season. He is capable of piling up steals, points and threes while contributing modestly in other categories, and should be owned in all formats.

Daequan Cook was recently recalled from the D-League and exploded in the game after Wade shut it down, dropping career-highs in points (23), three-pointers (5) and minutes (43). It was a very encouraging post-Wade debut, but surprisingly he remains a free agent in plenty of leagues.

I don't expect Cook, as a rookie, to post consistently terrific numbers, but he still needs to be owned. He played 30+ minutes in only five games this season, during which he averaged 15 points on 48% shooting, 2.4 three-pointers and four rebounds. There's plenty of reason for optimism, but be aware that Marcus Banks (injured hamstring) will damage Cook's value once he returns in about two weeks.

Chris Quinn and Jason Williams are a sickly duo, prone to fits of value followed by prolonged statistical depressions. After scoring 20 points on March 7th, Quinn has four points in the last two games. Williams is averaging a mere 7.25 points and 2.25 assists in the last four, despite Miami's myriad injuries. Considering the impending return of Marcus Banks, neither guy is more than a lousy short-term pickup in average leagues.

Marcus Banks, as mentioned, is going to play spoiler in a few weeks. He was starting before his hamstring injury and will likely resume starting upon his return. There is a surprising lack of versatility to his game, unfortunately, as he doesn't have a knack for steals (0.5) and has been a mediocre play-maker (3.0 assists). Keep an eye on him, but don't feel obligated to stash him away.

Udonis Haslem is battling a recurring left ankle injury and should solidify the Heat's underwhelming front-court rather than damaging anyone's value. Mark Blount has been awful in the month of March, averaging less than eight points and four rebounds per game. Alexander Johnson hasn't had double-digit rebounds or points since February 6th. The Heat are being forced to play small-ball and their lineup is in shambles, so take fantasy value wherever you can find it.


Sonic Bust?—Nick Collison is an average fantasy player. For each stretch where he vacuums up rebounds and posts double-doubles there is an equally long stretch of Olowokandi-like production. (Yes, Olowokandi-like is an adjective. Look it up.) What is refreshing about Collison is that the quality of his statistics (unlike teammate Chris Wilcox) depends almost entirely upon his role and minutes played.

In 21 games as a starter, Collison has averaged 10.5 points, 10 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.7 steals and 1.0 blocks in 31 minutes per game. Coming off the bench, he averages seven fewer minutes and his statistics drop in every single one of those categories.

The encouraging news is that Sonics coach P.J. Carlesimo has specifically stated that current starting center, Johan Petro, is heading back to the bench in the near future. This news is tempered by the fact that both Collison and Francisco Elson were named as potential replacements, and that as of Tuesday evening Petro was still starting. Elson is averaging less than eight minutes over the past five games, so I can't see him suddenly assuming the starting job. This leaves Collison with a healthy share of minutes and, it is hoped, the starting gig to close out the season. He's probably owned in most deep leagues but should be watched closely in all formats.

Wizards' Apprentice—Nick Young has a brashness that makes him the target of playful derision from his veteran teammates, but that same cocky streak recently vaulted him into a significant role off the Wizards bench.

Young has posted 20+ minutes and 10+ points in each of the past four games, his longest such streaks of the season. He capped his recent surge with a career-high 22 points on 9-of-15 shooting, two 3-pointers, five rebounds and three steals in 27 minutes on Tuesday.

His scoring is bound to waver, his minutes will take a hit when Caron Butler returns and he'll vanish from fantasy radars if and when Gilbert Arenas gets back. But he's still worth watching.

Cavs and Cav-nots—The Cavaliers are a curious bunch, a collection of players young and old, injured and healthy, all clinging for dear life to the coattails of a 23-year old named LeBron. Injuries and the mega-trade haven't derailed the Cavs championship aspirations, but they haven't helped fantasy owners much, either.

Delonte West has emerged as a useful utility-style guard in most formats, chipping in just enough across the board to keep his owners grumbling their satisfaction. Damon Jones has faded once again, managing double-digit points just one time in the month of March.

Daniel Gibson (sprained ankle) and Sasha Pavlovic (mid-foot sprain) are both due to return in the next few weeks, causing an even greater crunch for playing time. Gibson and Pavlovic were averaging a combined 56 minutes per game when healthy, so imagine what their return will do to the value of spot-shooter Wally Szczerbiak and defensive-specialist Devin Brown. Things are going to get ugly.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas is out indefinitely with back inflammation and a bulging disc. I have no idea when he's going to return and I've already seen some owners drop him outright. The "new Cav" shine has worn off of Ben Wallace and he was forced out of their last game with back spasms. Meanwhile, Anderson Varejao accumulated 31 points, 25 rebounds, six assists and four steals in his last two games combined. He missed the early part of the season because of a contract dispute and then missed 13 games with a sprained ankle, so his legs should be fresh while everyone else starts to break down (see: teammates Ilgauskas and Wallace). Varejao should be a worthy starter in most formats for at least as long as Big Z is out.


A blogger is a blogger is a millionaire—Mark Cuban's recent ban of one Dallas Morning News blogger from the Mavericks locker room raised some interesting questions about the shifting grounds of journalism in our internet age. His assertion, in short, is that bloggers have no reliable journalistic standards and that just because blogger Tim MacMahon works for the Dallas Morning News does not grant him special privileges, i.e. Blogger X-Man from South Africa should have equal access to the Mavericks as McMahon does.

When Cuban was informed that almost all beat writers maintain blogs, he replied, "If…blogging is part of the base job of being a beat reporter, thats [sic] a sad commentary on beat reporters. In depth analysis…would be a far better use of a beatwriters time and serve as a far stronger differentiation that would attract readers." dallasmavericks.com

His use of the term "differentiation" is bewildering. How does a blog—an on-line phenomenon featuring short updates and insights—fail to "differentiate" from a beat writer's typical story? Am I missing his point, and if so, what is it? How would more "in depth analysis" be of service to readers already inundated with so-called expert advice? Most beat writers already repeat themselves ad nauseum, often falling back on fluffy player profiles when the news slows to a trickle.

Blogs have countless attributes that are of use to beat writers. Injury updates. Lineup changes. In-game analysis. Trade announcements. Anecdotes. All fantasy sports nuts know how important it is to have frequent updates on player injuries, something blogs make possible. When Ben Wallace was traded to the Cavaliers, how many NBA fans do you think found out about it in the following day's newspaper?

Cuban makes the mistake of assuming that "A blogger is a blogger is a blogger." Compare the quality of the Washington Post's "Wizards Insider" (maintained faithfully by Ivan Carter and Michael Lee) to the quality of your average schmo on Blogspot, rambling about which movies they love and which they hate.

Cuban also complained that he could think of no standards "that differentiate between bloggers to the point where I should or should not credential one versus the other." To use Cuban's term of choice, there is no differentiation between journalistic standards just because one person's writing appears in print and another person's appears online. The differentiation comes in who is holding the writers accountable, and in this case it is the well-respected Dallas Morning News.

A "print reporter" is no less susceptible to subjectivity and error than a blogger, and the distinction between the two is largely semantic. Reporters have universal tenets they should follow and if a newspaper chooses to accredit a writer, even a lowly blogger, then that individual may be held to the same standards as the company which employs them. It is no guarantor of objectivity and grammatical tidiness, but neither are there any guarantees when you read reports in a paper or watch a report on TV (thank you, Fox News).

Weakest of all was Cuban's assertion that this whole episode was incited by a lack of space in the team's locker room. I don't at all doubt that it gets crowded, but do wonder how the absence of one blogger is going to alleviate the situation.

Newspaper circulations are slowly waning—it's sad but it's true (Dallas Morning News circulation dropped 7.7% during the six-month period ending September 30th, 2007). If Cuban continues his self-righteous crusade against the culture of online journalism and newspaper-accredited bloggers, fifteen years from now he'll find himself in a locker room with ample space and zero reporters.

[Hache Man]

CV in Full Effect

It's finally a somewhat quiet day for news in fantasy hoops so I thought I'd take the opportunity to fill you in briefly on how my leagues are going. I've been getting a lot of emails asking why I haven't been chattering about League Freak this year, and you'll find out why with a brief recap at the end of the column.

News From Tuesday's Action

Bucks - Andrew Bogut bounced back from that one-point disaster on Sunday for 23 points, 12 boards and three blocks. Yeah, I got suckered into benching him in a league or two (just three games this week), but you're smarter than me and played him, right? Charlie Villanueva stayed hot with 24 points and 16 boards, and is really getting it done over his last four games. He might be a guy who can really help your team out down the stretch, and it appears the Bucks would be in much better shape right now had they started him over Yi all season long. As for Yi and Mo Williams, still no word on when we might see them again, although it sounds like Mo will be back first.

Wizards - Nick Young hit two treys on his way a career-high 22 points and is another guy you could cut Kareem Rush for, if necessary. Caron Butler is sounding more and more likely for Thursday, while we still have no return date on Gilbert Arenas. Antawn Jamison left last night's game with a lower back injury and received treatment immediately after the game. As of now it doesn't sound like he'll miss time, but keep your eye on this story.

Pacers - Mike Dunleavy broke out of a funk last night, scoring 32 points after failing to score more than 13 in his previous three games. Due to his slump and Nate Robinson being so hot coming into the week, I played Nate over Dunleavy in League Freak this week. Oops. Dunleavy was battered last night, taking an elbow to the face and tweaking an ankle, but played through both injuries. Hopefully it doesn't come back to get him in him on Friday vs. Dallas, but he has some time to heal. Kareem Rush returned from a hip injury but scored just four points in 10 minutes. indianapacers.com

Sonics - Luke Ridnour had 12 points and eight assists, Kevin Durant scored 27 points and Chris Wilcox missed 10 shots.

Blazers - Travis Outlaw has now gone four straight games scoring eight or less points after going for 10 straight in double-figures. I'd tell you to cut him, but the second you do he'll score 24 and hit the game-winner for the Blazers. But that doesn't mean you can't cut him if you want. James Jones hit three treys for 13 points and five boards and is worth a look for threes in deep leagues.

Wolves - Marko Jaric could see a boost with Sebastian Telfair (ankle) out at least 7-10 days and had 12 points, four boards, six assists, three steals and two threes on 5-of-9 shooting. It's probably time to grab him…again.

Jazz - Andrei Kirilenko returned from his hip injury and had a fairly decent line, while the woes of Carlos Boozer continued in a loss to the Bulls. Boozer was just 4-of-15 for 10 points and nine boards, while Mehmet Okur had 22 points, 18 boards and a couple threes. If Memo double-doubles (like he has in seven of his last nine games), you can pretty much count on Boozer not getting one. I'm not sure Memo can stay this hot for much longer, but Boozer's slump couldn't have come at a worse time for his owners. utahjazz.com

Bulls - The mess known as the Bulls got a little more complicated last night with the return of Thabo Sefolosha, who is going to further limit the value of Larry Hughes, who has done a pretty good job of killing his own value lately. Kirk Hinrich had a pulse last night, while Tyrus Thomas somehow played more than Andres Nocioni. Drew Gooden and Luol Deng had big lines in the surprising win over the Jazz, but I'm trying to stay away from any Bull not named Deng at this point.

Grizzlies - Speaking of a mess…The Grizzlies were absolutely throttled by the Suns and the best news yet? My buddy Marc Iavaroni brought Hakim Warrick off the bench. Great. Outside of a decent line from Rudy Gay (who was finally allowed to breathe without the usual double-team courtesy of a lax Phoenix D), this team was (and is) a fantasy wasteland. Hopefully the Warrick move wasn't permanent, but we'll find out tonight at, gulp, Denver.

Suns - Amare Stoudemire put up a big line in limited minutes, while Gordan Giricek and Leandro Barbosa each scored 18 with a ton of garbage time. Keep your eye on GG, but don't run out and pick him up just yet.

Raptors - T.J. Ford exploded for 24 of his 28 points in the second half of last night's loss to the Lakers, so I picked him up this morning. Jose Calderon had just two points and six assists, and the timeshare has become a complete downer in Toronto. Rasho Nesterovic continues to play like an All-Star and he even contained Pau Gasol last night.

Lakers - Kobe Bryant had his typical line against the Raptors, which included 34 points, seven boards, seven assists, four steals and four threes, finger injury and all. Lamar Odom couldn't miss, hitting 9-of-12 for 20 and 9, while Vladimir Radmanovic tried to ruin a perfectly good game by going 0-of-5 for zero points. If you are or were a Luke Walton owner, you can't be happy that Vlad Rad has ruined his value for no apparent reason.

Loose Ends and Falling Trees

Ben Wallace – Back is "decent," a game-time decision tonight.
Rasheed Wallace – Ankle is "so-so," game-time decision tonight.
Marcus Camby – Hip is doing well, probable for tonight vs. Grizz.
Nene – Hasn't been ruled out for the season, should know next week.
Chris Webber – Still in Atlanta, could be done for year. Much ado about nothing.
Antonio Daniels – Suffered thumb injury last night, played through it.
Sasha Pavlovic – Should return tonight, could start over Devin Brown (knee).
Willie Green – Out two games with back injury.
Eric Snow – Out for year w/ knee injury. You won't even know he's gone.
Gerald Wallace – Will come off bench in return, hopefully tonight.
Marcus Banks - Sounds like season could be over and it's safe to cut him.
Don Nelson – Will coach Warriors again next season. Preseason rankings for worst fantasy coaches next season: 1. Nellie, 2. Iavaroni, 3. Boylan, 4. Wittman, 5. Carlesimo. Speaking of P.J., he says he's going to start shaking up Seattle's starting lineup soon, so you've been warned.

My Leagues

League Freak – I'm the defending champ in Rick Kamla's league. He's the dude you see on NBA TV every day and I like my team, but they haven't jelled and gotten it going except for short stretches at a time. Core Lineup: Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol, Gerald Wallace, Hedo Turkoglu, Danny Granger, Mike Dunleavy and Mike Bibby. Obviously I was light at PG all year and had some issues with Pau early. Currently in 7th place, Kamla's in 8th and we both still have a shot at 3rd. I was actually making a serious run until Wallace got hurt, I ran into a games-played crisis, and the LeBron owner hung a 7-1 loss on me last week.

UBC Expert – This is the industry league I've been in the longest (2003 I think) and I've always had my stuff handed to me by guys like Matthew Berry, Dave Gawron and a long line of others. But I had a nearly flawless draft this year and finished the regular season as the No. 2 seed, and the highest scoring team. We'll see what the playoffs bring.

Rotoworld Expert Rotisserie – I won this last year and am in second place this season, trailing ESPN's Brian McKitish.

Dropping Dimes Expert – The guys from Dropping Dimes put this one together and I'm currently in third place despite having the disastrous duo of Chris Webber and Quentin Richardson in my lineup last week. The playoffs start next week and I'm playing against the Dwyane Wade owner this week, who is stuck with him in the lineup. You're probably sick of me saying this, but why in the world does Yahoo! have a lineup deadline of Sunday night when games don't start until Monday night? I just can't get over it, and it's the reason I ended up with Webber in my lineup last week.

30-Team League - This thing was really fun and a good learning experience. You cannot afford to take much risk in your first five picks and I got burned when Nene didn't pan out. Had a fairly solid team and hung in there with Chuck Hayes as my PF for as long as I could, but just missed the playoffs.

Ode To Trinkle - My oldest league that I founded in 1992. We've had some interesting clashes this year but things have calmed down and my guess is everyone is back and ready to go again in October. I lost by a point in the Roto format last year to finish second to my buddy Kelin, and am in second in our new H2H format this year, as the league is getting owned by Rod, who pulled off a draft-day trade with Kelin that resulted in him getting the 2nd and 10th picks – Hello LeBron and Iverson.

Some second-place finishes, a couple possible wins and mini-disasters in League Freak and 30-Team. Just another year of fantasy hoops.

[Hache Man]

Rocket Roll

Well, someone finally put up a fight against them, but in the end the Houston Rockets walked away with their 20th consecutive victory on Wednesday night.

Houston only managed 32 points in the first half – its lowest total of the season – and failed to beat a team by double-digits for the first time in 10 tries, but a 21-point second half by Tracy McGrady led the way as the Rockets prevailed, 83-75, over a pesky Hawks' squad.

The Rockets are just the third team in NBA history to win as many as 20 straight games, matching the 1970-71 Milwaukee Bucks for the second-longest streak ever. Just the 1971-72 Lakers, with 33, have ever had more consecutive victories. Ironically, after Houston takes on a hot Bobcats' team Friday, the Lakers stand in its way on Sunday, in a game in which first place in the West will likely be on the line. If the streak is still going, Boston, New Orleans and Golden State also await next week, so no one can accuse the Rockets of piling on against the league's weak sisters.

T-Mac scored 28 in total to lead the way, adding nine boards and a couple of steals, to continue his recent roll that resulted in being named Western Conference Player of the Week for the second time this season. No, this wasn't McGrady's finest hour, sinking just 10-of-28 from the floor (including just 2-for-10 in the opening half), but he's now averaging 27.7 points, 5.7 boards and 1.8 three-pointers per game in March, rounding into form after an injury-plagued season.

With Houston clinging to a one-point lead with five minutes to play, it was McGrady who took control, scoring five points to spur a 10-0 run that made things academic. Okay, so the Rockets couldn't set a new NBA record by winning an 11th straight game by 10 or more points. So what? Who doesn't love a little drama?

Defense has been driving this streak, as Houston had been giving up just 89.3 PPG over the past 19 games. That's definitely something to consider when you're assessing whether to roster your fringe players who have a date against the Rockets on their schedules.

Anyways, so much for those predictions of doom for Houston once Yao Ming suffered his foot injury on February 26. The Rockets are 7-0 since losing their big man.

While we ponder for a moment that you've got to go back to January 27 to find the last time the Rockets lost a game and that they are on a 28-3 run, let's take a quick tour around the rest of the association…

• Allen Iverson is starting to get a bit beat up. He was already dealing with a busted digit before banging his knee last night. Limited to 31 minutes, small wonder he struggled from the floor (2-for-12) and failed to reach double digits in scoring for the first time all year. At least the Answer dropped eight dimes against just one turnover. He's been on a scoring roll, with four straight games of at least 28 points, so we'll cut him some slack and hope he's good to go Friday against Toronto. It's not like A.I. isn't used to playing through aches and pains. I've never seen anyone who takes a pounding like he does.
• While his latest big night wasn't good enough to get the Cavs past a struggling Nets' team that had lost six straight, LeBron James is just playing out of his head since the break. He seems to have that MVP award directly in his sights judging by his recent play (33.5 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 8.0 APG and 2.2 treys per game since the break). Last night, King James nailed 12-of-23 from the floor and got the line a season-high 23 times en route to 42 points. He hit a pair of treys, added two blocks and pulled down 11 boards for his third straight double-digit rebounding game and career-best 27th double-double of the season. LBJ has taken an even bigger role in the Cleveland offense this year, leading to 31 PPG – the second-highest scoring average of his career. If he continues his current pace (38.3 PPG in March), he'll easily eclipse the 31.4 PPG he averaged two years ago.
• Rudy Gay, enjoying a breakout year since becoming the Grizzlies' go-to guy (especially since the Pau Gasol trade), was limited to 18 minutes Wednesday because he aggravated a hamstring injury originally suffered on Tuesday. The super soph is listed as day-to-day, but his owners better pray he's good to go Saturday against the Warriors in what it always a wide-open game that lends itself to huge fantasy lines. Anyone remember Memphis' 144-135 win over Golden State last January? That game resulted in some of the most incredible fantasy nights of the year.

Injury Report

I've never owned him, so I have to ask: just how frustrating is it to have Darko Milicic on your fantasy squad? The dude was being written off as useless a couple of weeks ago, and then suddenly he discovers an offensive touch, reaching double digits in scoring for five straight games, leading to plenty of waiver wire interest. Sure, his blocks and rebounding have been a bit inconsistent lately, but this kind of scoring consistency is something we've never seen from Darko. Of course, as luck would have it, just as we began to get excited about his play, he had to leave last night's game after just nine minutes thanks to a sore right foot. We have yet to hear if this is serious, but are monitoring the situation, so check the site for an update soon.

Tip-ins: Shane Battier hasn't exactly been earning his fantasy keep lately, but last night he contributed 15 points and two blocks, while continuing his recent strong perimeter play with a pair of treys…Foul trouble has helped limit Marvin Williams to just 9 PPG in his last three games. He really hasn't been the same player since the All-Star break…Joe Johnson, on the other hand, is scorching, with over 31 PPG in his last three. He poured in 28 Wednesday and added eight boards and a pair of steals…But for the Hawks, no one was topping Josh Smith on this night. While his recent less-than-inspiring offensive totals continued with just 16 points, J Smoov was the chairman of the boards, pulling down a career-best 22 rebounds – nine of them off the offensive glass. Sick. He added a pair of steals, and now has back-to-back double-doubles…Teammate Al Horford, who's been losing steam lately, just missed a double-double of his own with 11 points and nine boards. He pitched in with a steal, but even better, it was great to see him record a pair of blocks, the rook's first multi-block effort in a week and a half…Please tell me you're not the one in 200 people who is still holding onto Zaza Pachulia. His last double-digit scoring game was on February 25 and his last game of at least 10 boards was almost a week before that…Chuck Hayes put himself back on the radar last night and impressed coach Rick Adelman in the process. He saw 33 minutes of action off the bench, scoring eight points with 12 rebounds and a steal. Many of those minutes came at the expense of Luis Scola, and while the rook only managed seven points, he still pulled down a dozen boards. As long as Carl Landry (sore knee) remains out, the hustling Hayes could be worth a look…Rafer Alston has been a stud during the Rockets' streak, making him a must-own fantasy player, but last night he sunk just 3-of-18 for eight points. Luckily, two of his baskets were 3-pointers and he added a game-high seven assists against just one turnover, plus had four rebounds and two steals, so all was not lost…Atlanta has dropped six of its past seven to drop into a tie for ninth place in the East. The Hawks are trying to end the NBA's longest streak without a playoff appearance…Acie Law (sprained wrist) was back in action after missing the past 11 games. He no longer has much of a role, of course, so don't get excited. Hopefully the rook can finish strong, but with the Hawks battling for a playoff spot, don't expect him to see much PT…Then again, Mike Bibby better improve upon his Wednesday performance. He sunk just 3-of-12 for eight points with just four boards. He has not shot well since arriving in Atlanta (40 percent)…While LBJ blazes, Chris Paul has been making his own MVP statement. He scored 26 points and added 17 assists last night to lead the Hornets to a major pasting of the San Antonio Spurs. CP3 is on a massive scoring roll, and has chalked up four straight double-doubles. The Hornets deserve a little love today, so see below in my team report for more…Memphis has dropped 16 straight games on the road. What? The Grizz can't find a decent BBQ place away from home or something?...Baron Davis continued his excellent scoring season, sinking 10-of-17 for 23 points while dropping 15 dimes and even adding a block to lead Golden State past the Raptors. The Warriors let a 20-point lead disappear, but rallied for the win thanks to B. Diddy…Dwight Howard suffered a bruised quad and had to come out early last night. He may not practice Thursday, but don't panic – he said after the game that he should be fine to play Friday against the Heat. Of course, before he departed, Howard racked up his 11th straight double-double…Gerald Wallace (concussion) was back in action for the Bobcats Wednesday, but as expected, he didn't play much (22 minutes) and was coming off the bench. Yesterday, we discussed how Crash's return may affect Charlotte…Boston keeps rolling, winning its 10th straight game Wednesday. With the Pistons losing, the Celts' lead is up to 5.5 games…Mehmet Okur had 19 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and a steal last night for his fourth straight double-double. He was joined by struggling teammate Carlos Boozer, who put up 20 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and two steals. Thanks mostly to some awesome shooting (58.2 percent from the field in March) Boozer's scoring is starting to come around somewhat after a couple of down months, but his rebounding remains a bit sub par of late…Okay, okay, so it was only against Miami, but still, New York won to snap a seven-game losing skid. Break up the Knicks! The Heat has now dropped six straight. Winning games, especially without Flash, looks like a lost cause, but let's hope Miami can at least win the lottery...Devin Harris had slipped a bit in the past couple of games, perhaps opening the door slightly for Marcus Williams. But Harris sure slammed it tight last night, putting up a fantastic all-around fantasy line: 19 points on 8-of-14 shooting, five rebounds, five assists, four steals, two 3-pointers and a block. Williams, meanwhile, had five assists, four rebounds and a steal, but was 0-for-5 from the field. Given Harris' propensity to disappear from time to time, it wouldn't surprise me if Williams had some value down the stretch, but he can't be recommended now…Josh Howard snapped a mini slump with a big all-around game last night, sinking 9-of-15 for 24 points, with seven boards, six dimes and two 3-pointers….We're still waiting to hear if Eddy Curry (knee) is officially done for the year, but Isiah Thomas says that the team still hasn't decided whether to put Curry under the knife. Either way, if you haven't already done so, you should probably get out your Ginsu and cut Curry from your team…Don't cut Kenyon Martin just yet. The oft-injured Nugget is showing signs of life lately, and with A.I. hurting, K-Mart went off for 23 points with seven rebounds and three assists last night…Elton Brand (Achilles') has begun working out with his teammates again, and keeps saying he'd like to return this year. Don't hold your breath…Monta Ellis' excellent roll continued last night as he sunk 14-of-19 for 33 points while adding six boards and four assists. The last time Ellis was held to single digits in scoring? Try January 4. His shooting touch just seems to keep getting better and better, too. He's now draining 54 percent of his shots from the field – unbelievable for a guard…Marcus Camby, dealing with a hip injury, managed just eight points and ten boards in 28 minutes. On the plus side, he had six blocks and a pair of steals. Of course, anytime the word "injury" is associated with the Cambyman, it is usually preceded by "lingering," so beware.
bostonceltics.ws
Team Report

The New Orleans Hornets bounced back from a tough loss against untouchable Houston to hammer the Spurs 100-75 last night for their fourth win in five games. New Orleans is now just a half a game behind San Antonio and Houston for the division lead in the highly competitive Southwest Division. We already discussed Paul's latest masterpiece above, but how about David West? He sure didn't show any rust in his return after missing three games with an ankle sprain, knocking down 14-of-22 for 29 points with ten rebounds, three assists, a steal and a rare 3-pointer, just his sixth of the season. He now has 24 double-doubles and has parlayed a bigger role in the Hornet offense into a career year. Okay, back to Paul, because no talk of the Hornets can veer far from the NBA's fantasy king. How about this gem from the Elias Sports Bureau? CP3 has either sunk or assisted on 48.3 percent of New Orleans' field goals this year. That's the highest percentage for any one player since John Stockton was involved in 51.6 percent of Utah's field goals in 1990-91. Just think about that for a moment. Reaching the century mark against the Spurs, by the way, is some rare footage. Heading in, San Antonio had held 26 of its previous 30 opponents under 100 points. Okay, more Paul talk: the dude took only 20 minutes to reach a double-double, his 39th of the season. He had 48 double-doubles in first two seasons combined. Eight times this year, he's had at least 20 points and 15 assists. The Hornets beat the Spurs despite an off game by Tyson Chandler, who managed just four points and ten rebounds. Still, that's five straight double-digit rebounding games for him, and he added three assists and a pair of blocks last night. Peja Stojakovic's struggles continued as he managed just nine points, three boards, one 3-pointer and no assists or steals last night. Peja looked like he was turning things around the past couple of months, but he's shot the ball very poorly (39 percent) in March. With West back in action, rookie Julian Wright's 15 minutes of fame are over. He played just five minutes Wednesday, although give the kid credit – he somehow still had four boards and a steal. It was nice to see some flashes of the talent in the past week that made him the 13th overall pick last season, but Wright will go back to being an afterthought as long as West is healthy. Still more to marvel at about Paul: he has at least one steal in all 61 games he's played this year, currently the longest such streak in the NBA and a new franchise record for the Hornets. Sure, injuries haven't helped (he was back yesterday after missing the past four games with a bruised Achilles'), but Bonzi Wells has been completely useless since arriving from the Rockets. He showed some signs of life yesterday with eight points in 15 minutes, but clearly he's nowhere near being worthy of fantasy consideration.

[Hache Man]

Old Faithful?
LeBron James will appear on the cover of Vogue magazine, but fantasy owners could probably care less. Baron Davis had the line of the night and continues to sparkle this season, putting up the kind of numbers we all knew he was capable of if he could ever stay healthy, and Caron Butler finally got back to work.

Thursday Game Notes

Caron Butler finally returned to action from a hip injury for the Wizards and had 19 points and six boards in a tough win over the Cavaliers. It looks like he's here to stay this time, so go ahead and get him back in your lineup. He started over Darius Songaila and Andray Blatche, who will both struggle to have fantasy value from here on out, if Butler stays healthy. If you own Blatche, it's time to let go. Songaila could still hold a little value in really deep leagues, but chances are that most of his owners can probably find more production on the wire. Antawn Jamison played through his back injury, but hit just 5-of-14 shots for 17 points, but did pull in 10 boards.

Ben Wallace returned for Cleveland and had eight points, eight boards and three blocks, so he is playable again. Wallace is a fantasy nightmare for his owners. He's just good enough that you really shouldn't be able to cut him, but he's just bad enough that you live to regret it when he's in your lineup. But the bottom line is that he's one of the better stat stuffers in steals and blocks, so you have to take the rest with a grain of salt. At least he's not shooting enough free throws to hurt too much. Sasha Pavlovic blew up for a season-high 24 points last night, hitting 9-of-15 shots and five treys. Maybe he's finally ready to start playing after struggling prior to his injury. If you need threes or own Wally Szczerbiak (six points, 12 minutes), make a move on Pavlovic. LeBron had 25 points, seven rebounds, seven dimes and seven turnovers. He also missed a game-winning three, but if that's a bad line for LeBron (and it is), life is good. Kind of reminds me of that bumper sticker – "A bad day on the golf course is better than a good day at work." A bad line from LeBron is better than a good one from 90% of the league.

Beno Udrih had 14 points, seven rebounds and eight assists in a nice win over the Kings, and continues to reward those of you savvy enough to grab him off the wire before Mike Bibby got traded to the Hawks. He also had six turnovers, but you can't really complain about someone you picked up after your draft. Kevin Martin struggled last night, hitting just 2-of-11 shots for six points in 25 minutes. Reggie Theus isn't really a frustrating fantasy coach, unless you own Martin. The kid is the face of the franchise and should be getting 38 minutes per game, rain or shine. But he and Theus don't see eye to eye right now, and the inconsistency in minutes and production is very disturbing for Martin's owners. The good news is that he should bounce back strong in his next one. The bad news is that Theus probably isn't going anywhere. sacramentokings.com

Baron Davis had the line of the night with 38 points and six threes on 15-of-30 shooting, but the Warriors failed to beat the Suns. He also had nine rebounds, eight assists, three steals and a block, and is shooting 55% over his last six games. He's the No. 5 ranked fantasy player this season and has obviously rewarded those of you brave enough to draft him this year. And I'm not sure why, but I don't think I've thrown any "watch for him to get injured" smack out there this year, even early in the season. Maybe it's because I drafted him in a league or two, but I must have had a premonition about him staying healthy this season, as it's not like me to stay off the "Baron is only going to play 50 games" bandwagon. Diddy hasn't missed a game, and here's to hoping that I didn't just jinx him. Mickael Pietrus had 16 points, eight boards, two assists and a steal without committing a turnover. He should be owned in most leagues given his sudden rise up Nellie's totem pole, but use caution when putting him in your lineup. Stephen Jackson was quiet last night with 13 points on 4-of-13 shooting, but will be fine.

Amare Stoudemire had 36 points, 11 boards, four assists, four blocks and one turnover on 13-of-21 shooting. He even hit 10-of-12 free throws for good measure and is the No. 4 ranked fantasy player this season. He's become the poster child for what's possible after micro-fracture surgery, and his story is one of the better ones I've seen over the last 20 or so years. Boris Diaw had 16 points, seven rebounds and dive assists in 32 minutes and should be owned in most leagues. I don't know how often you'll want to actually use him, as he's very inconsistent, but he's a good fantasy role player, just like he is in real life.

Loose Ends

Andre Miller is a game-time decision for tonight with a back strain and contusion, as well as an abdominal strain. "He will be a game-time decision and we will see how he feels," Mo Cheeks said after today's shootaround, which Miller skipped. "My gut is I think he will go, but he stayed back to get treatment." Miller has played in 431 consecutive NBA games and plans on playing tonight, although he sounds iffy against the Bulls.

Mo Williams (abdominal strain) and Yi Jianlian (wrist) are both expected to return for the Bucks, but we just don't know when it will happen. The Milwaukee paper suggests Mo will play on Saturday, so stay tuned. If an impatient owner dropped Williams in your league, pick him up and see what happens. It's not every day you can pick up fourth-round value off the wire.

Udonis Haslem (ankle) and Earl Barron (knee) don't sound likely for the Heat tonight, who will be coached by Ron Rothstein while Pat Riley is out scouting college talent in hopes of landing the No. 1 draft pick.

Allen Iverson (finger/knee), Marcus Camby (hip) and Eduardo Najera (leg) all missed practice on Thursday, but are all expected to play tonight. Coach George Karl said he's mildly concerned about Iverson making it through the season in one piece, but I'm guessing he'll just cut his finger off if it becomes too big of an issue.

Ime Udoka went back to San Antonio to receive treatment for his right ankle injury, but should be back in action on Monday.

Carl Landry is doubtful for tonight with swelling in his knee, which will make his fourth straight missed game. If you want to cut him for a healthy body, go for it.

Yao Ming has been given a vote of confidence by Rockets' owner Leslie Alexander, who says he supports Yao's decision to play in the Beijing Olympics this summer.

Chris Webber has left the ATL and rejoined the Warriors, but there's no timetable on his return from a sore knee. Even when he does return, the minutes will be few and far between. Cut him.

[Hache Man]

What's Your Twenty?
Game Totals in Week 21:

Four games: CHI, CLE, BOS, MEM, MIA, LAL, ORL, NJN, DEN, IND, TOR, HOU, SAS, MIN, GST, WAS

Three games: PHI, CHA, ATL, NOR, UTA, SAC, NYK, DAL, DET, PHX, SEA, POR

Two games: MIL
bostonceltics.ws
How can I not mention the red-hot Houston Rockets in this section? After beating the Hawks on Wednesday night, the Rockets won their 20th straight game, tied for second longest in the history of the NBA. Think about it, none of the Bulls dynasties of the 90s or the great Lakers of Celtics teams of the 80s ever won as many as 20 in a row. The Rockets have a favorable schedule next week because they have four games and two of them are at Golden State and at Phoenix, who are both in the bottom four of most PPG allowed. In addition to the obvious start Tracy McGrady, you should seriously consider starting fringe fantasy players like Luis Scola, Rafer Alston and Shane Battier next week if they are on your fantasy squad.

Charlotte only has three games, but with games at Memphis, at Indiana and at home against Miami, all of their opponents are in the bottom 10 off most PPG allowed. Gerald Wallace returned from a concussion on Wednesday, but did not start. He scored 14 points and grabbed 5 rebounds and should slowly regain all of his top-50 overall value in due time. Matt Carroll has been fantastic in Crash's absence, but he might lose some time in the 'Cats rotation with everyone healthy. However, if Carroll can continue getting 30+ MPG, he will be a valuable fantasy player next week especially if you need 3s. Because of their favorable schedule, you also should probably play Jason Richardson and Emeka Okafor next week.

Milwaukee is the lone team with only two games on the slate next week. Even though Charlie Villanueva has been playing great lately, I would seriously consider benching every Bucks player not named Michael Redd next week if you have better options.

Flash Turned Off

In a move that many hoops fans saw coming, the Miami Heat finally shut down Dwyane Wade on Monday. Wade started on his long road to recovery by immediately starting the OssaTron stimulation treatment process on his injured left knee on Tuesday. Wade is out for the season and now the Heat and Grizzlies will battle it out down the stretch to see which team will end up with the best odds in the lottery come playoff time.

Newly acquired Big Ben Wallace spent one night along side Zydrunas Ilgausakas on the bench in Cleveland with matching back injuries. Wallace sat out Wednesday's game, but returned on Thursday. Back injuries can be tricky, so I would be surprised if Wallace is at full strength every game for the remainder of the season. LBJ's front court protection is dwindling by the week. The Cavs' bigs' injuries helps increase the value of Anderson Varejao, who is now probably worth a pickup in standard sized leagues. It also may pay dividends to keep a close eye on PF Joe Smith. Sasha Pavlovic returned from an extended absence on Wednesday, and was a non-factor in his first game back (0 points), but dropped 24 on the Cavs on Thursday. You need to watch Sasha as a potential pickup. Hopefully the Cavs will get healthy in time for the playoffs because I'm sure most hoops' fans want to see if a healthy Cleveland team can provide better support in LeBron James' quest to return to the NBA Finals.

According to CB4 himself, Chris Bosh's injured knee has hardly improved and has now missed Toronto's last seven games. The Raps will be extra cautious with their franchise baller and will want him to be at full-strength for the playoffs. Rasho Nesterovich has been playing well in Bosh's place and is worthy of a roster spot in most leagues right now.

Orlando's superman, Dwight Howard, suffered a bruised quad in the fourth quarter of Wednesday's game. NBA TV is reporting that Howard is day-to-day, but Howard said he expects to come out of the phone booth in his Orlando jersey ready to play on Friday night. But be sure to check back here on Rotoworld to see if the Orlando superhero will be suiting up for the Magic on Friday night.

Andrew Bynum actually surprised head coach Phil Jackson by running on a treadmill and doing some light shooting and dunking this week in practice. The Zen Master stopped short of saying when Bynum would return, but it's looking closer to one week as opposed to the original diagnosis of two to three. Jermaine O'Neal is also still rehabbing and trying to return before the end of the season, but there are no guarantees, especially given O'Neal's lengthy injury history.

Caron Butler returned from a hip injury which had sidelined him for the last 16 games. Tough Juice's return is about two weeks ahead of schedule and dropped 19 points in his return game for the Wiz. Still no update regarding Gilbert Arenas, as his return date is still up in the air.

Nick Collison (back) and Francisco Elson (knee) are both dinged up for Seattle. The Sonics' injuries should open up more minutes for Chris Wilcox and Johan Petro in the next few games. In Minnesota, Sebastian Telfair injured his ankle earlier this week and is out for awhile, giving Marko Jaric some short term value if you need a guard.

Chris Kaman had returned with a vengeance after missing four games with a back injury. However, Kaman's back flared after his brief return and has sat out the Clippers' last two games. There is even some speculation he may have played his last game of the year. It's only speculation, but something to definitely be cognizant of. The news is not any better for Elton Brand as Coach Dunleavy fueled the fire that Brand may be out for the remainder of the season as well by saying "We literally play every other day for the rest of the year. It's hard to get the kind of practice time that he needs." Even though it has been a lost season for the red and blue, not good news in the City of Angels if you are a Clippers fan.

Yi Jianlian is still sidelined with his wrist injury and has also battled injuries to his shoulder and ankle over the past eight weeks. Chairman Yi may be in danger of hitting the proverbial rookie wall, although has said "I haven't really thought about [shutting it down]." Charlie Villanueva has been tremendous since moving back into the starting lineup and will retain value the remainder of the year. Mo Williams has also missed the last five games for the Bucks with an abdominal strain. Williams is out indefinitely and should definitely be benched for the next fantasy scoring period.

The Grizz had two of their best players, Rudy Gay (hamstring) and Darko Milicic (foot), go down in their game on Wednesday. Neither injury is considered serious, but with the way Marc Iavaroni is constantly tinkering with the Grizzlies' lineup, it bears keeping an eye on.

Marcus Banks, on the verge of seizing the Heat starting PG job, is now probably out for the remainder of the season with his strained hamstring. On Tuesday, Banks said the original projection to return in two weeks is looking too aggressive. Rookie Daequan Cook played very well in Banks' absence, so Cook is someone to consider in larger fantasy league. Udonis Haslem has been injured on-and-off for the last three weeks. Consider his injury switch flipped back to on, as he tweaked his ankle earlier in the week and has been held out of the Heat's last three games.

Eddy Curry put an exclamation mark on his disappointing season by revealing that his knee injury has gotten so bad that he is going to have to have an MRI to determine if he can play again this year. It's all but official that Curry is done for the year, so feel free to cut him for a center who might be able to bring you stats immediately. Even though Andre Miller left Wednesday's game early with back and abdominal injuries, he is expected to be back for Philly's game on Friday night.

Returning from injury this week were Caron Butler, David West, Gerald Wallace, Andrei Kirilenko, Kevin Martin, Ron Artest, Andris Biedrins and Bonzi Wells.


High Five:
Stats exclusively from each player's last five games

Beno Udrih 5 G, 20.2 PPG, 6.6 APG, 4.0 RPG, 54% FG, 1.2 SPG
Anthony Parker 5 G, 18.6 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.0 SPG
Al Thornton 5 G, 17.2 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1.4 BPG
Matt Carroll 5 G, 17.0 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 2.0 SPG, 18 3-pointers
Thaddeus Young 5 G, 14.8 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 71% FG
Rasho Nesterovic 5 G, 13.2 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 2.0 APG, 67% FG
Earl Watson 5 G, 12.0 PPG, 6.6 APG, 45% FG
Travis Diener 5 G, 10.8 PPG, 5.8 APG, 9 3-pointers
Luis Scola 5 G, 10.0 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 1.6 APG
Jeff Green 5 G, 10.0 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 1.0 SPG
Kendrick Perkins 5 G, 9.8 PPG, 11.4 RPG, 3.2 BPG, 52 FG%
Delonte West 5 G, 8.6 PPG, 4.2 APG, 3.4 RPG, 6 3-pointers
utahjazz.com
Scoop De Ville:
Other players you should scoop onto your fantasy rosters
indianapacers.com
Daequan Cook – Will get some tick in Miami's backcourt with Wade and Banks out.
Sasha Pavlovic – Scored 24 points on Thursday vs. Washington.
Anderson Varejao – With Cavs' bigs hurting, averaging 11+ RPG in last five games.
Nenad Krstic – Intriguing pickup if you need a C, has double-double potential.
Jamario Moon – 5 cat potential; 9.8 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 2.0 BPG, 2.2 SPG over last 5.
Wally Szczerbiak – 3 point threat available in many leagues.
Mickael Pietrus – Averaging 15 PPG, 8 RPG in last two.
Steve Blake – Averaging 12 PPG, 6.8 APG over last five.
Spencer Hawes – If you need blocks, 12 swats in last five games.

[Hache Man]

Pau out, Turiaf in
This is the time of the year when figuring out who is going to play well becomes nearly impossible. The only sure bets are fantasy players who are in a playoff push (have you ever seen Joe Johnson or Rafer Alston play this well?), and they're not even guaranteed to show up every night. But when you look at teams ready to clinch (Celtics, Pistons) or the teams with nothing left to play for (Heat, Clippers, Timberwolves, Grizzlies, Knicks, Kings, Sonics), it gets even more difficult to find reliability. I actually picked up Earl Barron on Sunday night. Yeah, I can't believe it either. And the move was probably not a good one since Shawn Marion will be back soon. Or will he?

Anyway, I don't have time to watch much college hoops, but I made it a point to watch Georgia play their last three games in the SEC tourney on Saturday and Sunday. I'm not sure why, but I had a feeling about the worst team in the event, and they somehow won three straight to take the title and sneak into the NCAA tournament. I don't think they've got a chance to do too much damage, but they could offer Xavier a fight in Round 1. I'll probably take Georgia to win that game as an upset special, and then roll with Davidson, George Mason and Winthrop with upsets. I'll probably take the easy way out and make Carolina my champion, while I'll also look to have the suddenly consistent Butler Bulldogs taking out Tennessee and Louisville to sneak into the Final Four. Now that's a long shot. On the other side. I'm likely to go with Texas and UCLA, with Carolina beating the Bruins in the final game.

It feels a bit like a broken record, but let's take a look at a list of guys you can think about adding to your roster for a late-season push. As for who you're going to cut for these guys? Here's a quick list of possibilities: Acie Law, Tony Allen, Matt Carroll, Tyrus Thomas, Damon Jones, Brandon Bass, Linas Kleiza, Rodney Stuckey, Matt Barnes, Bobby Jackson, Jamaal Tinsley, Chris Kaman, Andrew Bynum, Vladimir Radmanovic, Luke Walton, Mike Conley, Sebastian Telfair, Eddy Curry, Keith Bogans, Rodney Carney, John Salmons, Francisco Garcia, Andrea Bargnani, Andray Blatche, Darius Songaila, Antonio Daniels. Just because I listed a guy below doesn't mean he's an automatic pickup, but you might be able to find a diamond in the rough if you're lucky.

Guards

Jason Williams/Daequan Cook – Heat – There's not much to say here. The Heat are still rolling with about seven healthy players and Williams and Cook now make up the starting lineup. Cook has been rock solid, while Williams blew up for 34 points the other night. Add in the fact that the Heat plays four times each week for the next three, and it's hard to argue with owning either of these guys right now.

Jerry Stackhouse – Mavericks - Stack is starting for the Mavs and is averaging 15 points, two boards, four assists and 1.6 treys over his last five games, one of which was a blowout over the Heat. Stack played well enough last week that he should stay in the starting five again this time around. In my eye, Stackhouse is worth starting in most leagues, although not this week if you're in a weekly league as the Mavs play just three times. dallasmavericks.com

Flip Murray – Pacers – Murray started over Travis Diener in the Pacers' last game and has hit double figures in five of his last six games to go along with 10 steals during that stretch. If you are looking for steals on your waiver wire, Murray looks like a sure bet right now. indianapacers.com

Smush Parker – Clippers – Brevin Knight is hurting again and Dan Dickau is still Dan Dickau. There's no reason the Clippers aren't going to see what Smush can do, so look for him to get some run over the next three weeks. He should be good for some points, threes, assists and steals.

Sasha Pavlovic – Cavaliers – Pavlovic is starting for the Cavs and is a good source of 3-pointers. He'll be inconsistent, but should be worth owning if you're team has a hole in 3-pointers.

Marko Jaric – Timberwolves – Jaric is averaging 12 points, five dimes and a couple steals over his last three games and has only come back to life because Sebastian Telfair is down with a sprained ankle. Jaric's not the most dependable guy around, but is playing well enough right now to get some fantasy attention.

Thabo Sefolosha – Bulls – Sefolosha was left for dead by many fantasy owners, including me, but scored 20 in his last game as Larry Hughes continues to struggle toward mediocrity. Jim Boylan has not ruled out returning Thabo to the starting lineup, and if it happens, he's probably worth owning again. As owners who had him throughout the middle of the season, he contributes in nearly every category when he gets 30 minutes per game.

Chucky Atkins – Nuggets – Chucky is averaging about 12 points and four threes over his last three games, all of which were blowout wins for the Nuggets. When they're not blowing people out (like the 168-116 beatdown they gave the Sonics Sunday), Atkins will probably struggle some. But he's averaging 18 points and five treys over his last two games, and at least deserves a look in most leagues right now.

Forwards

Mickael Pietrus – Warriors – I trust Pietrus about as far as Nellie can throw him, but he's averaging 14 points over his last three games and has hit double figures in five of his last seven. He's also hauled in eight boards in each of his last three games and 11 in the one prior, while also averaging 2.0 steals over his last four games. He should be owned in most leagues as long as he continues to start for the Warriors, which he has now done in five straight games.

Carl Landry – Rockets - Landry is due back soon from his knee injury, and while I don't think he's a must-have player anymore, he's someone you should keep your eye on if you need boards and a power forward.

Gordan Giricek – Suns – I'm still not sure how or why, but Giricek is providing some value in Phoenix, while appearing to limit Leandro Barbosa's in the process. He had 23 points, five boards, five assists and two steals in his last game, in which Grant Hill left early with a wrist injury. GG has gone for 23, 6 and 18 points in his last three, and while he's not a sure bet, he might be useful in very deep leagues. The Suns may choose to sit Hill in order to get his wrist back in shape, and if it happens, both Barbosa and GG could have a nice week.

Travis Outlaw – Blazers – Outlaw has hit double figures in two straight, but has only gotten more than 20 minutes in one out of his last six games. Until the minutes get back up in the 25 range, he's not startable, and there's no guarantee those minutes come back. Just keep your eye on him.

Craig Smith – Timberwolves – Smith had hit double figures in seven straight games until scoring eight in his last one, and but is averaging under five rebounds. He's worth a look in deeper leagues and should continue to get about 20 minutes per game the rest of the way.

Centers

Ronny Turiaf – Lakers – With Pau Gasol down for at leas the next couple games, Turiaf has become a hot pickup. He should be good for points, rebounds, blocks and field goal percentage over the next week, so feel free to grab him and play him this week.

Rasho Nesterovic – Raptors – Nesterovic has been on a great run with Chris Bosh out, but it sounds like Bosh will return this week. Even so, Rasho could continue to get some run, and it's tough to ignore the fact he's averaging close to 13 points, seven boards, a steal and a block in March. He'll take a hit when Bosh returns, but could still hold a little value even if that's the case.

Darko Milicic – Grizzlies – Darko missed his last game with a foot injury suffered in his previous game. If you feel like gambling, he could play well this week if healthy. He had hit double figures in his five games leading up to the injury and racked up double digits in rebounds in two of those. He's a decent center play in deep leagues when healthy, but I'm just not sure that he'll play this week. We thought he would play on Saturday, so there's a chance he could show up in all four of the Grizzlies' games this week. Play him at your own risk.

Earl Barron/Mark Blount – Heat – With Shawn Marion's back leaving him iffy, and Udonis Haslem and Alexander Johnson both hurting, Blount and Barron are almost guaranteed heavy minutes this week. Barron had 21 points and five boards in his last one, while Blount has averaged about 11 points over his last five. He only has one block in that stretch and has only posted double figures in rebounds once this month. I think I like Barron a little more than Blount this week, but both guys will be less effective if Marion plays.

Josh Powell – Clippers – With Chris Kaman out for "a while," Powell suddenly looks like a fantasy option, starting in four straight and posting 14 points and nine boards in his last game. He's not a sure bet, but could do something with Kaman down. You're your eye on him.

Nenad Krstic – Nets – Krstic missed his last game with a respiratory infection leaving him a little iffy for this week. He's hit double figures in three of his last five games and should also be a decent source of boards if he's healthy enough to go in all four games this week. Start him at your own risk.

[Hache Man]

Dose: Fantasy Heat Wave

Monday Morning Injury Report

Gilbert Arenas – knee – Close to return, but will take it slowly. Bench for now.
Andrew Bogut – thigh – Missed Saturday and Bucks only play two this week.
Chris Bosh – knee – Hopeful for Wednesday, start at own risk.
Ray Allen – heel – Day-to-day, start him at your own risk.
Al Thornton – leg – Iffy for the week, Tim Thomas could get his minutes.
Chris Kaman – back – Out "a while," keep him reserved.
David West – ankle – May miss whole week. Ely/Wright to get big minutes.
Shawn Marion – back – Guessing he plays, but risky start until we get more info.
Pau Gasol – ankle – Not likely for the week - Hello, Ronny Turiaf.
Nenad Krstic – flu – Could play four time this week, but a bit risky.
Darko Milicic – foot – Missed his last one, could play four times this week.
Brendan Haywood – knee – Could play tonight, start at own risk.
Grant Hill – wrist – Day-to-day, Barbosa and Giricek worth a look this week.
Spencer Hawes – foot – Day-to-day, Brad Miller should be safer play.
Elton Brand – Achilles – I don't expect to see him until April.
Shaun Livingston – knee – Done for season.
Alexander Johnson – knee – Earl Barron and Mark Blount look decent.
Yi Jianlian – wrist – Not much value when healthy, so bench him.
Marcus Banks – hamstring – Probably done for year. J-Will and Cook get run.
Udonis Haslem – ankle – Barron/Blount get extra run with Haslem likely done.
John Salmons – ankle – Iffy for week, Fran Garcia would get his minutes.
Quentin Richardson – wrist – Fred Jones looks like a safer option.
Eddy Curry – knee surgery – Done for year – Hello, David Lee.
Trevor Ariza – foot – Don't count on him this year.
Andrew Bynum – knee – Won't see him until April. Turiaf looking better.
Chris Mihm – Achilles – Could make appearance soon.
Eddie Jones – knee – No value with Stackhouse starting.
Nene – tumor – Could return this season, but don't count on it.
Jamaal Tinsley – knee – Probably time to cut bait.
Jermaine O'Neal – knee – I would cut him, but it's your call.
Carl Landry – knee – Could play this week, but don't start him.
Yao Ming – foot – Season over.
Ime Udoka – ankle – Should play tonight, but limited value.
Francisco Elson – knee – No value when healthy.
Sebastian Telfair – ankle – Give Marko Jaric a look if you own Bassy.
Chris Webber – knee – Might be done for the year, hello, Mickael Pietrus.
Aaron Williams – abdomen – No value when healthy.
Dorell Wright – knee – Out for season.
Etan Thomas – heart – Could play soon, but shouldn't have value.
Chris Duhon – flu – Suffering from flu and trip to doghouse. No value.
Daniel Gibson – ankle – Could be back this week, but currently no value.

News and Notes

Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson combined to score 50 points, while Marcus Camby had another triple-double as the Nuggets racked up an NBA season-high 168 points in a romp over the Sonics. Everyone got involved for the Nuggets, as eight players scored in double digits. The Nuggets have won three straight blowouts, and appear to be getting hot at the right time.

Jarvis Hayes had 29 points and seven threes as the Pistons rolled over the Hornets, but I don't expect him to be consistent enough to use in most fantasy leagues. But keep your eye on him.

Ben Gordon played just 14 minutes on Friday, but should have a couple solid lines this week.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas won't see his minutes limited due to a back injury, and his return severely limits the value of Anderson Varejao.

Brad Miller double-doubled in his last game and is trending up with Spencer Hawes' injury. Kevin Martin's minutes continue to fluctuate, but he scored 32 in his last one. sacramentokings.com

Jason Kapono scored 26 points last night, but has really struggled in March. He got hot as Jamario Moon was benched for most of the first half, but Moon finished the game. Ignore Kapono and consider Moon again for this week. Rasho Nesterovic had 20 points and eight boards last night, but could take a hit with the pending return of Chris Bosh on Wednesday, while the timeshare for Jose Calderon and T.J. Ford continues to make for some tough decisions.

Jamal Crawford hit just 1-of-7 shots for four points in 28 minutes in his last game, but I'd continue to roll with him.

Josh Childress and Marvin Williams combined for 47 points as the Hawks continue to hang out in the final playoff spot, while Joe Johnson stayed hot on Sunday with a double-double. He's averaging 29 ppg over his last eight. Mike Bibby remains inconsistent and hit just 2-of-11 shots in his last one, but is still a pretty solid play from week to week. The Hawks play just three times in this one.

Matt Carroll had just four points in 18 minutes, but the return of Gerald Wallace appears to be ready to take its toll.

Ronny Turiaf had 13 points, eight boards and three blocks and should be a solid start this week with Pau Gasol shelved.

Bobby Jackson scored 19 points and hit two threes last night, despite the fact Rafer Alston scored a career-high 31 and hit eight treys. I probably should have included B-Jax in Waiver Wired, but forgot him.

Udonis Haslem's ankle injury could keep him out for the year, although there are conflicting reports. Alexander Johnson also got hurt yesterday, meaning Earl Barron and Mark Blount should see an increase in value. Jason Williams, Daequan Cook and Ricky Davis also appear to be strong plays right now, although I'm not sure why Davis has fallen off as of late. Shawn Marion tweaked his back injury when he backed into a pole with his car the other day, which just make Blount and Barron look that much better.
Grant Hill is iffy with a bum wrist, meaning that Gordan Giricek and Leandro Barbosa could both see a boost this week. If you own Hill, I don't know what to tell you other than to start him at your own risk.

Caron Butler now has a bum wrist to go along with his sore knee, making him a bit of a shaky play again. Brendan Haywood is expected to return tonight from a knee injury, while Gilbert Arenas could play this week. Just because Arenas will likely be cleared, I'm guessing he takes it very slow on his way back, so bench him until you see him getting it done on the court.

With David West iffy this week with another ankle injury, Melvin Ely and Julian Wright are worth a look. Again, I didn't include them in Waiver Wired, but probably should have. Chris Paul played through a sore ankle on Sunday, and while it's slightly concerning, go ahead and continue to roll him out there as long as he's walking.

Baron Davis, like Kobe Bryant, is playing through a finger injury, but has yet to miss a game. Continue to play him until he finally takes a day off.

I got the Dose posted a little early today, so make sure you check in with the news blurbs throughout the day for the latest information.

[Hache Man]

Have You Seen Me Lately?
The Spurs-Celtics game in San Antonio lived up to the hype last night as the Celtics pulled off a dramatic comeback (they were down 22 at one point) despite the fact that Ray Allen was in street clothes with a heel injury. Bad news on Allen, as it doesn't sound like he'll play tonight against the Rockets, either. Rajon Rondo overcame a slow start to score 20 points and grab some crucial rebounds late, Sam Cassell hit some clutch shots near the end and finished with 17, and Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett posted eerily similar lines in the win. The Celtics defense stopped Tim Duncan, holding him to 10 points, eight rebounds and three blocks, while Manu Ginobili was able to get free for 32 points and four 3-pointers. Kurt Thomas came off the bench behind Fabricio Oberto last night, but big men don't play well against the C's anyway. This very well have been a preview of the Finals, although that prediction seems a little suspect based on the fact the Spurs have now dropped four straight, and six of their last seven games. Cassell got a lot of extra run due to the absence of Allen, so don't get too excited about the scoring. That said, there's little doubt that Cassell's arrival just makes the Celtics that much tougher. bostonceltics.ws

Monday Game Roundups

Mike Bibby's on-again, off-again ride continued on Monday as he drained five treys and 7-of-13 shots for 23 points as the Hawks beat the Wizards to win back-to-back road games for the second time this season. They pulled a ½ game ahead of the Nets for the final seed in the East, and have been carried by the consistently strong play of Joe Johnson. I get the sense Johnson is going to do everything he can to carry the team on his back into the playoffs, but he's been red-hot for 10 straight games now and I'm not sure how much longer he can keep it going. Al Horford had another big night with 12 points, 15 boards, six assists, a steal and two blocks, and it's getting to the point that he should be the hands-down favorite to win Rookie of the Year. He doesn't come with the scoring or name recognition of Kevin Durant, but he's playing for a team that might make the playoffs, he doesn't hurt his team anywhere and leads rookies in double-doubles and rebounding. The simple fact is that Durant hurt his team on many of those 3-of-14 shooting nights, while Horford has helped his team in nearly every game this season, and has been more consistent. Yeah, I'm a homer, but Horford is the real ROY this season.

For the Wizards, Brendan Haywood returned from a knee injury, Antonio Daniels played through a hip/wrist injury and Caron Butler put another game under his belt after suffering a wrist injury in his last game. Butler actually has a chipped bone in his wrist and it's effecting his play. But he's going to work through it. Gilbert Arenas will practice at full speed today and then see how his knee reacts tomorrow. If all goes well, Arenas could be very close to a return. If he has swelling, inflammation and soreness, he could continue to chill for a couple weeks. My guess is we see him later than sooner, but there's no way to know at this point.

The Pacers crushed the Knicks behind 36 points, four threes and a complete all-around line from Mike Dunleavy as his dream season continues. I drafted him in a couple leagues because I liked him coming in, but soon had some buyer's remorse after being laughed out of a couple industry draft rooms for taking him in the sixth or seventh round. Um, I'm over my remorse. Danny Granger and Troy Murphy double-doubled, while it appears that Travis Diener has lost his starting job to Flip Murray. Diener failed to score last night. Murray had 14 points, four assists and a three, and if you own Diener, it might be time to drop him for Murray. For the Knicks, Wilson Chandler had a nice game with 15 points, eight boards, two steals, a block and a three, while Jamal Crawford bounced back from a bad game. Zach Randolph double-doubled, but David Lee struggled, as it seemed that every Knicks player got 25 minutes last night. indianapacers.com

The Cavaliers fell to the Magic last night as Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Ben Wallace got a close look at Dwight Howard. Big Z and Big Bust combined for six points, 11 rebounds and a block, while Howard torched them for 23 points, 13 boards and two blocks, and even hit 11-of-15 free throws. I don't have time to do the research, but I'm pretty sure that Wallace has given up as many big lines to opposing big men as any player in the league this year. Especially when he was playing center for the Bulls. He'll still get his blocks and steals, but he should not even be in consideration for the Defensive Player of the Year award any longer.

Matt Carroll scored just two points as defenses have figured him out. Hopefully you played him for that one week he was hot and then let go with the news that Gerald Wallace was coming back. Jason Richardson was awful last night, hitting just 4-of-18 shots for eight points as the Bobcats got blown out by the Grizzlies. Darko Milicic returned from a foot injury for 11 points, 10 boards, a steal and a block, although he hit just 4-of-13 shots. Mike Miller is hot again, going for 18 points and three 3-pointers, while pulling down 13 boards for the second straight game. Hakim Warrick seems to be holding some value with 19 points and six boards, while Rudy Gay scored just eight points as he was saddled by foul trouble (not to mention the constant double-teams).

Mehmet Okur left last night's win over the Raptors with a stomach illness and will be questionable for his next game. Carlos Boozer double-doubled before tweaking his tender back, and while he says he'll play in his next game, I'm a little worried. The back's been a problem for weeks now, but the good news is that the Jazz still have something to play for. Rasho Nesterovic double-doubled again, T.J. Ford was ejected and Andrea Bargnani had his nose busted up by Jamario Moon's elbow. Bargnani isn't expected to miss time, but his fantasy owners are probably wishing he would be ruled out for an extended period so they could stop worrying about making those tough lineup decisions with one of the most inconsistent players in the league. utahjazz.com

Al Thornton played through his leg injury in last night's loss to the Timberwolves, which was a bit surprising. But if you benched him in favor of Tim Thomas, you had to love seeing the 22 points, three blocks and a two threes out of TT. Josh Powell started at center again and had 10 points, 12 boards and a couple blocks, while Corey Maggette scored 34 in the loss to the Timberwolves. I'm still a little worried about Maggette shutting it down due to tender knees and ankles, but you just have to keep running him out there until it happens. Al Jefferson had 22 points and 14 rebounds for his 48th double-double of the season and ninth in his last 10 games.

Kirk Hinrich failed to score in 16 minutes on 0-of-6 shooting, Thabo Sefolosha had four points in 13 minutes and Andres Nocioni played a grand total of five minutes as the Bulls dropped a big lead to lose to the Hornets last night. Jim Boylan's quickly working his way up the ladder of terrible fantasy coaches, as he has ruined the hopes of the owners of Hinrich, Sefolosha, Nocioni and Tyrus Thomas (among others) this season. Ben Gordon went off for 31 points and five threes. For the Hornets, Chris Paul had 37 points and 13 dimes (surprise), while Bonzi Wells had 19 points, a steal and a block, and split minutes with Morris Peterson. We've been waiting for over a month for Bonzi to have some value with the Hornets and it might finally be on the verge of happening.

Loose Ends

My attention was brought to a Peter Vescey story yesterday that said Jermaine O'Neal was rumored to be ready to return in the very near future. I chose to ignore it for several reasons, but mainly because I didn't believe it. It sounds like JO was going to try to return, but team doctors now say his knee is not ready for him to even practice. Yeah, he may still return this season, but time is running out and he would rather just bag it. If I owned him, I would cut him. indianapacers.com

Andrew Bogut – Won't play tonight and thigh bruise could keep him out all week.
Yi Jianlian – Returning from wrist injury tonight.
Charlie Villanueva – Tweaked an ankle in practice on Monday, says he's fine.
Nenad Krstic – Didn't travel to Chicago w/ flu for tonight, questionable Weds.
Shawn Marion – Said after practice he'll play tonight w/ back injury. Risky play.
Ron Artest – Iffy for Tuesday with a stiff right elbow. Shutdown coming?
Baron Davis – MRI on right pinkie negative. Great news.
Ricky Davis – Groin injury could keep him out tonight. Terrible timing.
Jermaine O'Neal – Knee not strong enough to practice yet. The end is near.
Grant Hill – Missed practice with wrist, hoping to play tonight.
Andre Miller – Missed practice with back strain, should play tonight.
Willie Green – Missed practice with back strain, should play tonight.
Austin Croshere – Will miss a couple games with a groin injury.
Chris Webber – Season likely over with sore knee. Shocking.
Marcus Banks – Hamstring will keep him out 2 more weeks. Cut bait.
Alexander Johnson – Doubtful with knee bruise, hello Earl Barron.
Udonis Haslem – Says he wants to play through ankle injury on Tuesday.
Spencer Hawes – Questionable Tuesday with foot injury.

[Hache Man]

Charlotte Fever

The Nuggets—Nuggets guard Chucky Atkins is making his return from a sports hernia look like Child's Play. Here are his averages in the past two games, along with those of Anthony Carter:

Chucky Atkins—18 points on 60% shooting, 5 three-pointers, 4.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 0.5 steals.

Anthony Carter—10 points on 58% shooting, 1.5 three-pointers, 1.5 rebounds, four assists and 2.5 steals.

Carter, the incumbent starter, is comfortably settled in the land of mediocrity. Owners know what to expect from him, though now that Atkins is healthy they should lower those expectations—Carter hasn't played more than 25 minutes in a game since Atkins' return.

Chucky has some fantasy momentum after his impressive play last week, but will need more playing time if he is to make an impact in average leagues. He's a low-risk source of threes and assists and is at least worth keeping an eye on, given Denver's high-scoring ways (when you score 168 points, everyone gets their share).

Charlotte fever—Gerald Wallace's return is a good thing, right? Well, it is if you own him, but for all the other Bobcats his return has had a concussive impact. He will steal shot attempts from Jason Richardson, but most damaging is the 38 minutes that he plays per game. Suddenly Matt Carroll is a non-factor (averaging four points in the four games since Wallace's return) and you can hardly even consider Jared Dudley any more (averaging less then 8 points and 4 boards post-Wallace). All this despite Wallace slowly working himself into the lineup, averaging just 27 minutes since his return.

The fact that Wallace isn't playing power forward should help the fantasy value of Emeka Okafor and Nazr Mohammed, but so far their production has been stagnant. Unfortunately, it will take more than a few extra minutes per game for Mohammed to have value in average leagues.

The Bulls—I admit to being wrong about Drew Gooden. I argued a few weeks ago that his production in Chicago would be virtually identical to his production in Cleveland, on account of his blue-collar basketball skills. What I apparently overlooked is that having LeBron James as a teammate was stifling Gooden's game. His first year in Cleveland, Gooden played just 30 minutes per game but managed to set or tie career-highs in points (14.4), rebounds (9.2), free throws made (3.1), free throw percentage (81%), steals (0.9) and blocks (0.9). Those numbers dropped across the board once LeBron arrived in Cleveland.

Now the good news: in his 12 games since joining the Bulls, Gooden has improved his season averages in every single category, including turnovers. What's most appealing is his versatility—he's snagging 0.7 steals but has raised his blocks to 1.4 per game while shooting 47% from the field, 77% from the line and turning the ball over just 1.3 times per game. Throw in an automatic double-double and he deserves a serious look in deep leagues.

Outside of Gooden, however, the Bulls are a fantasy nightmare. Witness Ben Gordon log a season low 14 minutes one night, followed by a 31-point performance in the very next game. Andres Nocioni went from averaging 21 minutes per game since March 1st to a season-low five minutes in the Bulls last game. Kirk Hinrich has seen his playing time dwindle and was flat-out embarrassed by Chris Paul in the Hornets recent comeback win in Chicago. He scored zero points in that game and has double-digit points in only one of his last six games. Ugly and uglier.

The Bulls young big men aren't faring much better. Joakim Noah is averaging 28 minutes per game in March, but hasn't cracked seven rebounds since his 20-board explosion on March 6th. He's easily the Bulls best option at center (I'm not counting Aaron Gray, since he's playing nine minutes per game in his rookie campaign) and should see close to 30 minutes for the rest of the season. In spite of his short-comings, I still think he should be watched very closely in most leagues.

Tyrus Thomas is similarly disappointing—he recently skipped a practice to have some Chinese food and is obviously upset with his minute role (no pun intended) in the Bulls frontcourt. In sharply descending order, Ben Gordon, Larry Hughes and Thabo Sefolosha all have value, but the Bulls crowded backcourt necessitates a minute-share that fluctuates and is unfriendly for fantasy purposes. Owners have to steer very wide to avoid the train wreck in Chicago.



Maybe they're pacing themselves—Pacers point guard Travis Diener was finally benched after an 0-of-9 shooting performance last Friday. He has scored 22 points in his last five games combined, shooting a putrid 7-of-41 (17%) during that stretch. Feel free to cut him in all formats.
indianapacers.com
The Flip side of the coin is that Flip Murray got promoted, though he isn't setting the world on fire as a starter, managing 13 points, two rebounds, three assists and 1.5 steals in his two starts. He's not a terrific shooter (41% for his career), but he's scored double-digit points in six of the last seven games and should steadily improve while starting. He could be a worthwhile source of points, steals and assists before very long. Owners in deep leagues should consider scooping him up right now, though most can afford to wait a while and see whether his numbers pick up.

Jamaal Tinsley—all evidence supports the notion that Tinsley won't play again this year. He can't even participate in limited, non-contact drills, so stick a fork in him and move on. Let his fate be a lesson to us all for next season…sell high!

Should you trust Pietrus?—The Warriors have three steady fantasy options, Baron Davis, Stephen Jackson and Monta Ellis. Fantasy owners start any other Warrior at their own risk, though Mickael Pietrus has been surprisingly steady in recent weeks.

Pietrus has played 30+ minutes in five straight games, a somewhat unbelievable streak given Don Nelson's infamously fickle rotations. He's converted the extra minutes into compelling averages of 12 points on 47% shooting, 1.1 three-pointers, 7.8 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 0.8 blocks, numbers most owners would be glad to have at their disposal. There's always the very real possibility that Pietrus' run as a starter will end, but it seems unlikely since he's playing well and Chris Webber is expected out through the end of the regular season.

The rise of Pietrus has also been the demise of Matt Barnes and Brendan Wright, though as a rookie Wright never really stood a chance in Nellie's system. UPDATE: Pietrus was benched on Tuesday and finished with four points on 1-of-6 shooting in 16 minutes. Nellie has proved once again how futile it is to try to figure out Golden State's rotations. Unless you have tarot cards and a streak of self-delusion, your guess is as good as mine whether Pietrus will start again.

Hakim he gets to play and I don't?—Hakim Warrick has been the biggest beneficiary of Pau Gasol's departure from Memphis, but his strong play hasn't guaranteed him a spot as a starter. Grizzlies coach Marc Iavaroni has recently switched to a smaller lineup, shifting Warrick to the bench where his minutes are constricted. Rudy Gay and Mike Miller fill the forward spots while Juan Carlos Navarro shifts into the starting five.

Warrick is still a potent offensive player, particularly on the post, and the Grizzlies will play him close to 30 minutes even if he's coming off the bench. He should hover around 15 points and six rebounds per game, but unfortunately a toothbrush has more versatility than Warrick does. Consider him a border-line option in the majority of leagues, but keep a close eye on the Grizzlies rotations since a move back into the starting five is quite possible. And if Darko Milicic, Juan Carlos Navarro, Mike Miller or Rudy Gay are injured, pick up Warrick immediately.



Curry's season gets nixed—Eddy Curry's season-ending knee surgery has had a surprisingly muted effect both in real life and in fantasy leagues. His awful play and limited minutes had basically rendered him useless, but even so, you'd think that the disappearance of a nearly 300-pound center would have more noticeable fallout.

Instead, we have Wilson Chandler as a starter, and little else. Chandler has started the last six games for New York, compiling averages of 5.8 points on 30% shooting, 4.8 rebounds and basically nothing else. Pretty great, huh? Let him hang on the waiver wire until he posts a few lines worthy of an NBA starter.

The Heat—Udonis Haslem is dealing with an ankle that is sprained in two places and has bone spurs, not a promising injury for any player, let alone a member of the lottery-bound Heat. Miami can't afford to lose any more players but may soon have to shut Haslem down for the season—doctors have already cautioned that continued activity could exacerbate the injury.

If and when Haslem does shut it down for good, the Heat will be forced to cobble together a front-court consisting of Mark Blount and untested big men Alexander Johnson and Earl Barron. None of these guys are a fantasy shoo-in—in fact, they're probably not even worth owning outside of deep leagues. Blount is lucky to get 10 points and five rebounds in a game, with comical contributions to other categories.

Earl Barron is hardly better. He scored a career-high 21 points last Sunday, but a quick glance at his other career-highs will explain my pessimism. In a single game, Barron has never had more than seven rebounds (he did that twice), two assists (once), two steals (twice) and one block (many times). Oh, and if that isn't enough to dissuade you, he's a career 37% shooter. Yikes.

Then there is Alexander Johnson, who has "upside" only because we haven't seen much of him. In his career, he's averaging four points and three rebounds in 14 minutes per game. Even when you throw in 0.5 steals and 0.5 blocks, he's probably not the type of player owners are looking for as we approach the fantasy playoffs. Keep an eye on him, but don't worry if it wanders—the Heat are awful in fantasy leagues as well as real life.

Princes in waiting—John Salmons and/or Francisco Garcia could be in for a resurgence in value if king of the hill Ron Artest's "stiff elbow" turns out to be anything serious. I'll only give this a brief mention, because nothing indicates that the injury will be season-ending and Artest played a whopping 42 minutes on Tuesday. Still, he had surgery to remove bone chips in the same elbow earlier this season, and it's within the realm of possibility that this injury could escalate the longer he plays with it. sacramentokings.com

[Hache Man]

Shut Down City

How Fun Is This?

It's not very often that I am torn on what game to watch on the League Pass each night, but what is going on right now is ridiculous. As you know, I live in Georgia, where NBA Action ranks somewhere in popularity below tractor pulls, motocross, skeet shooting and turkey hunting. NASCAR is king, SEC football is giving them a run for their money, and even the Falcons and the cluster they have become are still extremely popular. Tickets to Arena Football games are tough to find, while you can usually pick up Hawks tickets off the ground near Phillips Arena on game night. But things are changing. Three different local people have said to me recently that they're looking more forward to the NBA playoffs than March Madness. Of course, college basketball doesn't fare well here either, but the fact people are looking forward to the playoffs says something.

Check out some of the games that have been on the schedule between last Sunday and this Sunday. I left the lower Eastern Conference battles off, as those matchups just didn't have the same ring as these games.

Sunday: Hornets vs. Pistons, Lakers vs. Rockets
Monday: Celtics vs. Spurs bostonceltics.ws
Tuesday: Denver vs. Pistons, Lakers vs. Mavericks, Celtics vs. Houston
Wednesday (tonight): Rockets vs. Hornets – I'll be watching Hawks vs. Nets
Thursday: Lakers vs. Jazz, Celtics vs. Mavericks (both on national television)
Friday: Rockets vs. Warriors
Saturday: Celtics vs. Hornets, Rockets vs. Suns, Heat vs. Bobcats (wink)
Sunday: Rockets vs. Spurs, Mavericks vs. Warriors

The fact that the Lakers and Rockets, who are tied at the top, are just 4.5 games ahead of the eighth seeded Warriors is mind blowing. Anyway, I think it's a great time to be an NBA fan and when you throw in the crazy trades we've seen this season, an incredible playoff race, the fact that the Spurs and Mavs aren't locks to make the playoffs, and even the apathy in big markets like New York and Miami, this stuff really is fantastic.

Monday's Game News

Kevin Garnett did a nice job of handling the ridiculous Glen Taylor "tanking" comment by blowing him off after the Celtics beat the Rockets in Houston to snap their 22-game winning streak, and 15-game streak at home. KG had a nice game without Ray Allen (heel), Tony Allen (back) was injured during the game and Leon Powe (no value) blew up for 21 points in 20 minutes. Sam Cassell came back to earth for two points and one assist, but the C's have now won 13 of their last 14 games. For the Rockets, Tracy McGrady hit 4-of-11 shots for eight points, and is just 8-of-27 for 19 points in his last two games. bostonceltics.ws

The Lakers blew out the Mavericks early, then blew a 25-point lead while hanging on to win in Dallas by two points. Kobe Bryant scored 27 and jammed his hip, but stayed in the game. He's fine. Ronny Turiaf, Lamar Odom and Vladimir Radmanovic all played well, although I'm not sure we'll see Vlad Rad score 21 again anytime soon. Turiaf has value for a few more games, but you have to think Pau Gasol will be back sometime next week. Andrew Bynum is done for the regular season with his knee injury, so feel free to set him free. I don't even know what to say about Jason Kidd, who had just one point and missed all three of his shots, including a crucial late 3-pointer. The Mavs are 0-6 against winners since Kidd's arrival and he was on the bench when the Mavs rallied back from 25 down. I mean, you have to play him every week, but then again, maybe you don't. Dirk Nowitzki was money, and nearly pulled off the biggest comeback in Mavs' history. dallasmavericks.com

The Heat surprised the Bucks, getting good performances out of Jason Williams, Ricky Davis, Earl Barron, Chris Quinn, Shawn Marion, Daequan Cook and even Joel Anthony. All of these guys should be picked up, except for Marion. Matrix is now officially on "shutdown watch" with a sore back, and he's not expected to play tonight. If you own him, you just have to hope he isn't done for the season, but it's very possible he could be. Udonis Haslem's season isn't officially over, but it is in my book. He's going to have surgery for bone spurs in his foot and should be dropped immediately. Alexander Johnson's not healthy either, meaning that anyone who is not injured and playing for the Heat has fantasy value. I'm pretty stoked about Barron's first game in my starting lineup after his 16 points and full stat line.

As for the Bucks, they got Yi Jianlian back from a wrist injury, but he failed to score in 13 minutes, Charlie Villanueva lost his shooting touch, Andrew Bogut sat with a deep thigh bruise, and Mo Williams finally looked like Mo-Will again. Good news on Bogut, in that he's expected to play on Saturday.

The Nets' ego was not the only injury victim in Tuesday's loss to the Bulls, as point guard Devin Harris left with a sprained ankle. Marcus Williams took over and played well, and Harris is day-to-day with his injury, meaning he shouldn't miss much time. Kirk Hinrich was on again last night, as the roller coaster ride continues, Larry Hughes is hot again, and Thabo Sefolosha got 30 minutes. I don't trust most of the Bulls, but they all have value depending on what night it is and what kind of mood Jim Boylan is in.

Kevin Martin had 34 to lead the Kings over the Warriors, while Mikki Moore and Anthony Johnson double-doubled, and Ron Artest played well. Beno Udrih was out with a back injury and is day-to-day, and if his injury's not serious, AJ shouldn't have value. Moore, on the other hand, has been playing well and is probably worth a pickup. John Salmons played through an ankle injury and plans on finishing the season. If Artest shuts it down, you'll want to grab Salmons. Monta Ellis and Stephen Jackson struggled for the Warriors, and several of them got fourth-quarter rest to be ready for tonight's meeting with the Clippers. The news here was Mickael Pietrus going to the bench after starting the last five, with Al Harrington getting the start. Pietrus played just 16 minutes and had six points after playing 30-plus in his previous five. My guess is that Nellie received word that Pietrus was becoming a hot fantasy play and made a move. Andris Biedrins started and played pretty well, but good luck figuring out when to play guys like Biedrins, Pietrus and Harrington (as usual). sacramentokings.com

Brandon Roy hit just 3-of-14 shots for six points, while LaMarcus Aldridge hit 15-of-27 shots for 31 points and eight rebounds in a loss to the Suns. Aldridge has scored 20 in six straight games, but didn't do much else last night. The Blazers have asked the NBA to supply an independent doctor in order to determine if Darius Miles can play again. Obviously, the Blazers are hoping the answer is "no," and that Miles will just retire, which would mean he'd still get paid, but a lot of his ridiculous salary would come off the cap. For the Suns, Shaquille O'Neal was solid again with 16 points, 15 rebounds, five dimes, two steals and three blocks, while Grant Hill played well through a wrist injury in the win. Don't look now, but the Suns have won five straight.

Loose Ends

Chris Bosh (knee) – Will play tonight for first time in March.
David West – Hoping to return from ankle injury tonight.
Andrew Bynum – Out for regular season with knee injury.
Udonis Haslem – Probably done for year with foot surgery.
Caron Butler – Playing with bone chip in wrist.
Daniel Gibson – Out two more weeks w/ deep bone bruise in leg.
Pau Gasol (ankle) – Out Thursday and will then be re-evaluated.
Elton Brand – Sounds like he'll be lucky to play in two games this year.
Chris Kaman – Doubtful Wednesday w/ back injury, shutdown watch is on.
Manu Ginobili – Expected to come off bench the rest of the way.
Carlos Boozer – Should practice today through back injury.
Tim Thomas – Missed practice for personal reasons, should play tonight.

[Hache Man]

Don’t Count the Cavs Out


While everyone continue to assume the Celtics and Pistons will cruise to the Eastern Conference Finals this season, the Cleveland Cavaliers have different plans.

After taking out the Pistons 89-73 on Wednesday night, Cleveland is now 25-13 since the calendar turned 2008.

Apparently, the defending Eastern Champs aren't going to turn over their crown without a fight.

As per usual, the Cavs were led by the King, LeBron James, who scored 30 points as he moved within a couple of buckets of the franchise career mark.

A frontrunner to bag his first MVP award, LBJ filled the stat sheet to lead the Cavs to their eighth straight home win.

James now needs just five more points to knock Brad Daugherty off his perch as Cleveland's all-time leading scorer. Daugherty played his entire 548-game career in a Cav uni; James will likely break the mark in his 380th career game.

Sure, James led the way as always, but it was the D that drove this big win for the Cavs. This was the fewest points they've surrendered all season, and that's the kind of effort it's going to take to advance in the playoffs and earn a crack at defending their title.

While we mull the idea that the East might not be a two-horse race, let's tour the rest of the association…

• Turnabout is fair play, we guess. After it was reported earlier this week that Andrew Bynum was being shut down for the season, yesterday Coach Phil Jackson said that his young star will return from his knee injury before the regular season is over. The Lakers are now aiming towards April 6 as Bynum's return – probably too late to offer help for most fantasy leagues, but certainly in time to provide a boost for the Lakers in the postseason.
• Vince Carter, who has endured a disappointing season, is showing some signs of life in the past week. After struggling most of March, he's turned it on, with 28.7 PPG in his last three including a huge 39-point performance in 44 minutes of action Wednesday as the Nets downed Atlanta to take over the eighth spot in the East. VC sunk 17-of-26 including a pair of treys, while pulling down 10 boards and recording eight assists. He even had a block, his third in the past two games. Vince Carter blocking shots? Something crazy is going on, especially since Jason Kidd isn't even there to light a fire under Half Man, Half Amazingly Inconsistent. Carter's offense has suffered this year, especially his outside shooting, but if he can take charge and lead the Nets to the playoffs, that would help salvage the season. No one doubts that when the dude feels like it, he can be among the best in the biz.
• Raja Bell has been gaining some nice traction lately, and he was having a fantastic game Wednesday having sunk 7-of-9, including all six of his attempts from beyond the arc, for 20 points with a pair of steals. Then, just as quickly, Bell hurt his ankle and had to leave in the third quarter, suffering a sprain that it being termed at least Grade 1 if not Grade 2. X-rays were negative, but it looks like he'll miss at least Saturday's game – lousy timing just as the Suns (six straight) were starting to roll towards the playoffs. We'll know more after Bell is re-evaluated today. In the meantime, look for Leandro Barbosa to pick up the slack.

Injury Report

Seattle big man Chris Wilcox, who had put up a couple of big lines recently, looks like he's going to lose value again, coming out early last night with a sprained pinky finger. He managed a mere four points and two boards before getting hurt, and Nick Collison stepped up with a double-double in Wilcox's absence. Wilcox is being called questionable for the Sonics' upcoming two-game road trip, so it looks like the incessant big man shuffle in Seattle will continue. Advantage Collison.

Tip-ins: Wally Szczerbiak, who has become persona non grata from a fantasy perspective since arriving in Cleveland, showed some signs of life last night, scoring 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting in 15 minutes. It's not much, but it was Wally World's first double-digit scoring game in over a week and a half. He had been shooting just 31 percent since the trade and has barely gotten off the bench recently…Zydrunas Ilgauskas, a hot pickup since returning from a back injury, bounced back from an off game in which he was in foul trouble, scoring 20 points on 9-of-14 shooting with a steal on Wednesday…Rasheed Wallace, who has stepped up his offense the past couple of months, sunk just 6-of-17 last night, but scored 16 points and added three blocks. He has nine treys in his past three games…Richard Hamilton continues to be inconsistent, managing just 14 points, but he did pitch in with seven assists and four rebounds…Ben Wallace continues to lose steam as a Cav. He did have four assists and two blocks Wednesday, but managed just two points, eight rebounds and a steal. Even in mid-sized leagues, there are probably better options out there…Inconsistent Delonte West is not showing enough since arriving in Cleveland to be valuable for fantasy owners. While he dropped six dimes and had four rebounds and a 3-pointer last night, he sunk a woeful 3-of-13 for just seven points. Time to dump him if you haven't already…Since the return of Big Z, Anderson Vajerao's limited value has plummeted…Tayshaun Prince, who has played well of late, managed just 5-of-14, but he dropped another four dimes and is averaging almost six per game in his last four contests…Chauncey Billups also struggled with his shot, sinking just 4-of-12, and he's been in a funk with just 12.4 PPG and 5.8 APG in his last five…Hedo Turkoglu's career year reached new heights yesterday when he canned seven treys on his way to a career-high 39 points…Troy Murphy has been hot lately, and kept up his fine pace with a second straight double-double last night, recording three blocks with three assists as well…David West, out another two games because of his ankle, came back last night and enjoyed a double-double. Chris Paul turned the trick as well as the Hornets are rolling at home…Dwight Howard, dealing with foul trouble, sunk just 1-of-6 for three points. He did manage 14 boards, but this was his first single-digit scoring effort in a month…It looks like Devin Harris' ankle is just fine, thank you very much. He poured in a career-best 26 points while dropping nine dimes, canning a trio of treys and picking up three steals…Allen Iverson shone in his return to Philly with 32 points, eight assists, three steals and three 3-pointers, but the blazing Sixers got the last laugh with the win…Bonzi Wells tied his season high with 25 points. If you've been hanging on to Morris Peterson, go ahead and make the switch…Toronto, coming off a nightmare 0-5 Western road swing, came home last night and received just the tonic it needed – a visit by the woeful Miami Heat. Miami mustered a mere 54 points as the Raps snapped their skid…Struggling Al Harrington was sent back to the bench last night and Mickael Pietrus started and responded with 15 points, 12 boards, a block and a trey…Houston has lost two straight. What's wrong with this team? Well, you can finger Skip to my Lou, as it appears Rafer Alston is going into one of his funks, managing just 8-of-26 in the past two games…As bad as Stephen Jackson was Tuesday (3-for-15), he looked pretty darned good last night (10-for-18, 29 points).
bostonceltics.ws
Team Report

We have some great news for you Knicks' fans. Your team hasn't lost since getting wiped out in Indy on Monday. What's that? You don't play this week until tomorrow night? Oh. Well, never mind.

Still, the Knicks have an easy schedule coming up over the next week with games at home against Memphis, New Jersey and Miami and road dates in Minnesota and Toronto. I smell a .500 week!

Of course, the Knicks have only won one of their past 10 games, cementing their status as a bottom three team in the East. There's still hope, however. If the Knicks merely win their final 15 games, they will improve upon last year's 33-49 finish by one game. I'm taking action on that happening, by the way.

Judging by his action's last game when he emptied the bench early, it appears Coach Isiah Thomas (before he gets fired, that is) is going to let some the youngsters like Renaldo Balkman and Mardy Collins see more PT down the stretch.

That means the minutes of starters like Jamal Crawford could be squeezed. Crawford has been a rare must-own commodity on the Knicks this season, but he's just 6-for-20 in the last two games combined. Crawford has carried a heavy load in his first season being used exclusively as a starter, but he has responded with a career year, arriving as a bona fide star.

Zach Randolph shot poorly in his last game (7-for-18), but he drained a shocking three 3-pointers on his way to 21 points with 14 rebounds and two steals. Unfortunately, flashes of offense like that have been too rare for Z-Bo as he struggles through his worst season as an NBA starter. A big reason why his offense has plummeted is the fact that he's getting to the line just 4.5 times per game after averaging 7.1 trips per game a year ago.

One player who could surprise down the stretch is Wilson Chandler. The rook has had a chance to start recently, and while he hadn't done much, on Monday he came through with 15 points, eight boards, two steals, a block and a 3-pointer. Keep an eye on this kid as he could become waiver-wire worthy over the last couple of weeks of the season.

Now that Eddy Curry is officially out for the season after undergoing surgery Monday, perhaps Morris Randolph will get a longer look as well. He played a season-high 18 minutes on Sunday, but is still not even someone to get remotely excited about.

Fred Jones struggled against his former team on Monday, but he has been putting up some decent offensive totals lately, having hit double figures in points in five straight prior to that.

[Hache Man]

Oh no, not Z-Bo!

Thursday's Roundup

The Spurs thumped the Bulls without a problem last night, as Jim Boylan's schizophrenic rotations continue to bite him in the rear. Tim Duncan had 22 points, 10 boards and three blocks against Joakim Noah, while Tony Parker had 23 points and six assists. Had Manu Ginobili shown up (1-of-8, six points, four boards, two assists) things would have been even worse for the Bulls. Kirk Hinrich was out with a sprained right ankle, but it sounds like he may play on Saturday. Ben Gordon started in his place, but hit just 5-of-16 shots for 12 points. He did add eight rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block on the night. Thabo Sefolosha played 30 minutes, but failed to score, while Larry Hughes went 4-of-12 for 10 points and two assists. It's becoming clear that Thabo and Larry in the backcourt together just doesn't work. Why Boylan hasn't been able to figure that out is beyond me.

The Celtics completed an improbable Texas sweep last night with a nice comeback win over the Mavericks, who are now 0-7 against teams with winning records. Ray Allen returned from a sprained ankle and hit the game-winning three, finishing with 21 points. Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett (bostonceltics.ws) combined for 42 points and 26 rebounds, but shot a collective 13-of-36 from the floor. Add to that the fact that Boston's point guard play was dismal, and the Mavericks have to feel like they let one get away. Rajon Rondo was 0-of-7 with five turnovers, while Sam Cassell was 1-of-9 with four points and six dimes. The Mavs got 22 points, 19 boards and two blocks from Dirk Nowitzki, but Jason Kidd and Jason Terry (dallasmavericks.com) combined for 2-of-16 shooting in the loss. Kidd at least had 11 boards and nine dimes, but his lack of scoring and overall poor play is killing those of you that own him. I wish I had an answer. Jerry Stackhouse is paying off if you picked him up, as he went for 17 points, three 3-pointers and four assists, and is locked into the starting job the rest of the way (it would seem). And the fact that the Celtics came out of Texas with wins over Houston, San Antonio and Dallas should really scare the rest of the league.

The Lakers routed the Jazz last night, led by Kobe Bryant's 27 points, eight boards and seven assists. Lamar Odom's strong play continues, as he went off for 21 points, 12 boards and six assists without committing a turnover in 44 minutes. Deron Williams led the Jazz with 26 points and 12 dimes, Mehmet Okur played through the flu, and Carlos Boozer played through a back injury. Boozer double-doubled, meaning Okur didn't. It's unreal how those guys just can't seem to put up strong lines on the same night. Andrei Kirilenko played well, finishing with 15 points, four boards, two assists and three steals on 6-of-11 shooting. Not great, but it looks like he's starting to get over the hip injury. utahjazz.com

Loose Ends

By now you Zach Randolph owners have seen the headline and read that Isiah is planning on benching him for the weekend to get a good look at Randolph Morris. That's a good story, but what he's really trying to do is get a good look at some extra ping-pong balls by tanking the rest of the way to try to come up with a worse record than the Sonics and Grizzlies. It won't be easy, but if anyone can do it, it's probably Zeke. I don't own Z-Bo in any leagues, but if I was in a championship chase and read this news, I'd be borderline postal this morning.

Jason Williams (thumb) and Shawn Marion (back) are iffy for the Heat tonight with their injuries after missing their last game. I really have no idea if they'll play, but it does sound like Marion has a better chance of going tonight.

Jermaine O'Neal (knee) finally went through a full practice with the Pacers yesterday, although no return date has been set. It would be nice if the Pacers would officially drop out of the hunt for the 8th seed so O'Neal could be shut down in peace.

Seattle's Chris Wilcox and his aggravated pinkie injury might be done for the year, although he's getting a second opinion. He's in a contract year next season, but that should have no impact on him playing out this one. Put him on your bench if you can, or you can probably safely cut him. My gut says he's done. Mickael Gelabale is out for the year with a torn ACL, and with these two injuries, Nick Collison and Johan Petro should be safe plays.

Raja Bell is out for the Suns on Saturday with his sprained ankle, which should mean good things for Leandro Barbosa.

Spencer Hawes' foot injury has improved and he'll probably play tonight. On the other hand, Beno Udrih (back), Brad Miller (elbow) and Ron Artest (knee/elbow) are all very iffy for tonight against the Spurs. If there's any way Udrih can play against his old team, he will. If Artest doesn't go tonight, the question of him playing again this season will linger. I don't know the answer, but I would not be surprised if he closes up shop early. I am guessing Miller will play, but it's just a guess.

Grizzlies center Darko Milicic injured his wrist on Wednesday but it sounds like there's a decent chance he'll play tonight.

Rockets rookie Carl Landry is hoping to play through his sore knee tonight, although we've been saying that for a week. I hope he goes, as I'm getting drilled in a big playoff game and every little bit will help.

Cavs guard Daniel Gibson is planning on returning from his sprained ankle next week, but don't activate him until you see him play again.

Vacation and Music

I will be in Florida all week so Ryan Knaus, Scott Morrow and Rob Blackstien will be handling most of the load in my absence. Thanks in advance to those guys. I will be posting Waiver Wired on Sunday night/Monday morning and will help here and there with news, but may not be answering emails as regularly, etc.

I found out on Wednesday that Stephen Malkmus (Pavement) and Janet Weiss (Sleater-Kinney, Jicks), are Rotoworld junkies and fans of my columns. It's hard to express how fun that is for me, as I have been a super fan for more years that I care to count. I'm really hopeful this will result in a hoops-related interview with them either for this year's playoffs, a look at the upcoming season, or both. The sad part of this story (for me, anyway) is that they're playing here on Wednesday and I will be out of town. I'd just assume bag the Spring Break trip and go hang out at the show, but I'm not sure how the kids would feel about that one. Especially after having their last two vacations built around the tour schedules of Band of Horses and Sebadoh.

[Hache Man]

L.A. Story
Game Totals in Week 22:

Four games: PHI, CHA, MIL, CHI, BOS, LAC, MEM, ATL, MIA, NOR, SAC, NYK, LAL, NJN, DET, SAS, PHX, SEA, POR, GST, WAS

Three games: CLE, UTA, DAL, DEN, IND, TOR, HOU, MIN

Two games: ORL

Twenty-one NBA teams have four games upcoming, so many fantasy players have a full slate next week. The Los Angeles Lakers have four games on the docket next week, two of which are against the worst (@gst) and third worst (MEM) in the league in most PPG allowed. Your Lakers players are all stronger plays than normal. Pau Gasol is out for a few games, so keep him on your bench. You should never bench Kobe Bryant or Lamar Odom, but guys like Ronny Turiaf, Sasha Vujacic and Derek Fisher also deserve a look next week.

The Nuggets dropped 168 points on the Sonics last Sunday. Considering the Heat have scored 166 in their last two games, Denver's score last week was pretty amazing. The Nuggs are hitting on all cylinders right now and even though they only have three games, two are against teams in the bottom three of PPG allowed (@mem, GST). In addition to playing your normal Denver fantasy studs like Allen Iverson, Carmelo Anthony and Marcus Camby, you need to think about playing J.R. Smith, Linas Kleiza, Chucky Atkins and Anthony Carter as well.

Orlando only has two games on the slate next week. Unless you have Dwight Howard or Hedo Turkoglu on your team you shouldn't play any Magic players next week in your lineups.

Lakers and Clippers injuries continue

The Andrew Bynum drama continues. After saying that Bynum would be shut down for the season, Lakers' coach Phil Jackson then backtracked and now says Bynum plans on returning on or around April 6. That only leaves the Lakers big man with five regular season games to help your team. It's pretty safe to cut Bynum unless your league runs to the very end of the regular season, has daily lineup settings and you feel he will be at full strength for the last few games. The other Lakers big man, Pau Gasol, has also missed the last three games with an ankle injury. He actually shot some baskets after practice earlier in the week, so he seems to be getting better, however no return date has been set for Pau yet. He needs to stay on your bench for now, but check Rotoworld over the weekend for any updates on his gimpy ankle.

The Clippers, the additional Staples Center tenant, didn't receive any good news, as Chris Kaman is still out with his back injury and Elton Brand is still out with his Achilles injury. There is no imminent news on either of the Clips' big men, so you should probably keep them both on your bench for next week.

Shawn Marion missed Miami's game with a back injury on Wednesday and the Heat went out and proceeded to score a franchise record low 54 points. After scoring 21 and 16 in the two games prior to Marion's injury, Earl Barron started in the Matrix's place but had an off night, scoring only three points while chipping in eight rebounds. However, if Marion is out for any extended period Barron is well worth a pickup. Jason Williams also missed the game on Wednesday with an injured thumb and Chris Quinn started in his place and played a full 48 minutes, scoring 14 points, chipping in five boards and three dimes. As long as J-Will is out, Quinn will be a solid play for Miami. The Heat also announced that Udonis Haslem has been shut down for the year to undergo surgery on bone spurs in his ankle.

Gilbert Arenas is making some noise that he is ready to return, almost immediately. "I'll be back way before the playoffs," Arenas said. "Hopefully, within this week, I'll be playing or maybe on the West Coast trip." The West Coast trip Arenas was talking about starts on Tuesday in Portland, so check back here on Rotoworld Monday morning for any update on if you should get Agent Zero back into your starting lineups. Jermaine O'Neal went through a full-court practice for the first time since January on Wednesday, but the Pacers would not commit to a return date for their franchise player. He might come back for the last few games of the season, but the risk outweighs the reward right now for JO.

Danny Granger sat out Wednesday's game with a jammed wrist and there is no immediate news on his return. If Granger is out for an extended time, Kareem Rush or even Shawne Williams might emerge with some fantasy value. Kirk Hinrich sat out Thursday's game with a sprained ankle, but is only listed as day-to-day and could come back in the next game or two.

On Tuesday Andrew Bogut sat out Milwaukee's game against Miami with a bruised thigh, but he expects to play on Saturday. Check the Saturday box score before you plug him into your week 22 lineup. The Sonics' front court injury musical chairs continues, as now Chris Wilcox (finger) is injured and Nick Collison returned from injury to post a double-double in Wilcox's absence. Sebastian Telfair is still out indefinitely in Minnesota and Marko Jaric will have value going forward.

Raja Bell's sprained ankle will keep him out of the game on Saturday, but his long-term prognosis is still unknown. More should be known at the beginning of next week on Bell's status. In Sacramento, Beno Udrih (back) and Spencer Hawes (foot) were late scratches for Tuesday's game, but MRIs on both of them came back negative and are considered day-to-day.

Returning from injury this week were Chris Bosh, Ray Allen, Yi Jianlian, Mo Williams, Andre Miller, Rudy Gay and Darko Milicic and Zydrunas Ilgauskas.

For all of the up-to-the minute news on the NBA team-by-team injury report, click here:
Rotoworld Injury Report

High Five:

Stats exclusively from each player's last five games

Flip Murray 5 G, 15.4 PPG, 2.4 APG, 2.0 RPG, 48% FG
Anthony Parker 5 G, 15.4 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.4 SPG
Bonzi Wells 5 G, 13.4 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 57% FG
Jeff Green 5 G, 13.2 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 46% FG
Mickael Pietrus 5 G, 12.6 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 1.2 SPG, 46% FG
Luis Scola 5 G, 12.4 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 41% FG
Daequan Cook 5 G, 10.4 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 1.6 APG, 9 3-pointers
Earl Watson 5 G, 11.6 PPG, 6.4 APG, 2.2 RPG
Delonte West 5 G, 9.0 PPG, 4.0 APG, 4.0 RPG, 6 3-pointers

Scoop De Ville:

Other players you should scoop onto your fantasy rosters

Jerry Stackhouse – Now part of high-octane Mavs starting lineup
Al Thornton – 24 points, 13 rebounds in last game. Wow.
Rasho Nesterovic – With Bosh back minutes will drop, had 12/4 in last game.
Kendrick Perkins – Averaging 1+BPG, 6+ RPG over last five.
Sasha Pavlovic – Averaging over 11 PPG and hit 8 threes over last five.
Smush Parker – May get run in Clippers backcourt, 8 ast in last game.
Steve Blake – Averaging 6APG and hit 7 three-pointers over last five.
Ronny Turiaf – Averaging 12 PPG/6.5 RPG over last 2 with L.A. bigs hurt.

[Hache Man]

Is Mobley really helping you?
There are several teams I dread writing up game news blurbs for right now. The Knicks lead the way, as they are in full tanking mode and you never know what you're going to get from that team night to night. And even if you do figure it out, it's likely to change again before the week is over. Other tricky teams are Miami (ya think?), Memphis, Minnesota, LA Clippers and Sacramento.

Update: Dirk Nowitzki just got hurt for the Mavs (Sunday at 3 pm) and could miss some time. If that makes you want to grab Jerry Stackhouse or Brandon Bass, I concur. Go for it.

I took advantage of having a house full of sleeping people combined with a "vacation" from work to tweak and overhaul the rosters on several of my fantasy teams last night. Since the moves I made are likely in direct correlation with who I would include in this week's Wired column, I just decided to feature those players today.

In the Dropping Dimes H2H League, I made a pretty major overhaul in preparation for the playoffs. It's a weekly league, so games played are crucial, and my goal with these moves was quite short sighted - Win next week. I cut T.J. Ford for Bonzi Wells, Cuttino Mobley for Jeff Green, Sasha Pavlovic for Vladimir Radmanovic, Mark Blount for Spencer Hawes and Ronny Turiaf for Luke Ridnour.

In the Rotoworld Rotisserie League, I cut Earl Barron, Steve Blake and Ronny Turiaf to acquire Spencer Hawes, Bonzi Wells and Mikki Moore. I then set that lineup to include Bonzi, putting Kevin Martin on the bench (more on that later).

In my main league, which is now H2H, I cut Charlie Villanueva to pick up Bonzi Wells, but then changed my mind and grabbed Darko Milicic instead.

In my buddy Amy's league, I cut Mark Blount and Luis Scola to acquire Spencer Hawes and Luke Ridnour.

Pavlovic, obviously, should have been dumped long ago, but I really haven't been doing a very good job of managing most of my teams lately. The scary thing is that this is my job. If I have trouble trying to find time for my fantasy teams, I can't imagine how those of you with real jobs do it. But then again, when I had a real job and was looking at mind-numbing reports all day, managing people who would have rather been anywhere else, as well as dealing with micro-managing hypocrites who said things like "I don't even want to know what this fantasy sports thing is," my fantasy teams got a lot more attention.

Anyway, let's take a look at some of these moves and the reasons behind them.

Dump Ford, acquire Bonzi - Ford just hasn't been consistent (or very good), the Raptors play three games this week and I already had other PG options. Meanwhile, Bonzi had eight steals on Saturday night and has now hit double figures in three straight games for the Hornets, averaging 19 ppg over that stretch. He's finally healthy and appears to be ready to see an increased role as the team prepares for the playoffs. Bonzi comes with no guarantees, but it's hard to argue with what he's done over his last three games.

As for playing Bonzi over Kevin Martin? I am in second place overall and trying to make a last-minute push on ESPN's Brian McKitish. I'm set in points and can make the biggest move in field goal percentage and rebounds. Bonzi's not a lock in either category, but is traditionally a great rebounding guard. I'm not sure he can get many with Tyson Chandler and David West patrolling the paint, but I'll take my chances. And while he's not guaranteed to beat Martin in FG%, I'll also take my chances there. It helps that he doesn't shoot enough to hurt me, while Martin's 8-of-24, 2-of-12 and 2-of-11 lines that he's put up in three of his last six games can hurt me more than his 25 or so points can help. Come on, Bonzi! I'm not asking for much here. Just some boards, points, steals and some decent shooting. You can do it.

Sidenote: Just playing the "best" player in any league is sometimes a big mistake. Had I really dialed in earlier and started making a run in the categories I can move in and ignoring the ones I can't, I'd probably have a better chance of defending my title in this league. Best thing about fantasy sports? It takes a lot of time, commitment and passion to win. Worst thing about fantasy sports? Same answer. It's amazing how much your own personal situation comes in to play with how well you do in your leagues. The guys who win generally have their team in the Top 3 on their list of priorities, and although they'd not like to admit it, sometimes, even No. 1.

The Moves

Dump Cuttino Mobley, acquire Jeff Green - Mobley's not terrible right now, but just has never seemed to hit his stride this season. Sure, he scored 24 on Friday, but hadn't done better than 13 in his previous four and only scored 11 on Saturday. Green, meanwhile, is the model of inconsistency. As I noted in Saturday's blurb, he has alternated between double- and single-figure scoring in each of his last nine games. The good news is that he's coming off a career-high 23 on Saturday, while Earl Watson, Chris Wilcox and Mickael Gelabale are all hurting. With nothing to play for and the hope of getting Green ready to go off next year, maybe this is the week he fully explodes. Either way, I'll take my chances on him over Mobley, who I can only describe as disappointing this season. Especially given all the injury problems in for the LAC.

Dump Pavlovic, acquire Vladimir Radmanovic - First of all, I have no idea how Pavlovic was still on this roster as of last night, but he was. Secondly, Vlad Rad and I have a long and storied history, and I'm pretty sure I haven't owned him since I picked him up on a dreadful January night of 2004. Do you guys have strong memories of random moves you've made in the past? My family was staying with friends in Bloomington, IN and I remember waking up at 3 a.m. and getting on their PC to check up on the squads. Vlad Rad had a good game and I picked him up, although I don't remember whom I cut. I also remember a message on the board the next day from Robby saying something like "Dude, enjoy Vlad Rad as he decimates your team's field goal percentage over the next three weeks," or something like that. Of course, Vlad Rad's field goal percentage wreaked havoc on my team for a couple weeks and then I dumped him, swearing to never own him again. But since I didn't write that publicly, as I did with Larry Hughes this year, and four years have passed, I was OK with picking him up last night. Why I remember that particular transaction out of the thousands I've done since then, and forget that trash goes out on Wednesdays, is beyond me.

The new and improved Vlad Rad surely won't let me down though, will he? He's scored double-digits in four of his last five (13 in three of them, 21 in the other) and has buried 11 threes in his past five games. The fear is that he's still Vlad Rad and had a five-point game sandwiched in the middle of that gold. The Lakers play four games this week, Pavlovic is useless and I get the sense that Vlade is gonna have a nice week. We'll see.

Dump Blount, acquire Hawes - Brad Miller is dealing with some elbow bursitis that could linger and the Kings have nothing to play for. Blount is Blount and the Heat are an unpredictable mess, much worse for fantasy use than most of us thought possible. Blount has done a nice job of helping prove that just because a guy is starting and getting minutes, doesn't necessarily mean you want him in your lineup. Hawes is close to recovering from a foot injury and racked up 19 points, 12 boards and three blocks against Darko Milicic and the Grizzlies last night. While I'm not about to anoint Hawes a fantasy savior after one solid line, there's no reason to think he won't get substantial minutes and decent production the rest of the way. Again, given a choice between the young rookie and a Blount, I'll take the rook for now.

Dump Turiaf, acquire Ridnour - Here's where things might get a little controversial. I have been fairly high on Turiaf since Pau Gasol went down and picked him up in many leagues. However, the payoff hasn't been great and with Pau eventually coming back, I suddenly envisioned the following point and rebounding lines from Turiaf next week: 9 & 6, 11 & 8, 5 & 4 and 6 & 3. Add in the fact he's only blocked six shots in his last eight games, and he really hasn't been all that great of a fantasy pickup, although he has been somewhat consistent. As for Ridnour, I'm not convinced that he's going to help my team, but my gut says he's ready for a big week. Earl Watson went down with a calf injury on Saturday and we still don't know how long it's going to shut him down for. But if he's going to miss time, Ridnour is going to be money. He was already playing pretty well when Watson was starting, going for double digits in five of his last seven games and three straight. The assists haven't been great, but if Watson is gone, I wouldn't be surprised to see him hit double figures in assists in two of his four games this week. Pretty lofty expectations, but it just makes sense to me for some reason.

As you can see from the above moves, I also cut Barron for Hawes, Blake for Bonzi and Turiaf for Moore. Turiaf for Moore almost feels like trading an orange for an orange or a Miller High Life for a PBR. But the truth is that Moore has been playing better over the last 10 days and might continue to do so with Miller and Ron Artest hurting. He's hit double figures in six of his last nine games and is averaging 12.5 points and nearly seven rebounds over that stretch. He's also blocked five shots in his last three games and also had games with 12, 8 and 13 rebounds just before his nine-game streak started. Moore is very underrated right now, and the Kings play four games in the upcoming week. There's no reason he shouldn't be useful in most normal-sized leagues. sacramentokings.com

Dump Villanueva, acquire Darko - Villanueva pushed my buttons last night and made me very scared for what was about to come in the upcoming week. He had five points, has scored a total of 25 in his last three games, and was on the bench for much of the night, while Yi Jianlian was running around and shooting. The Bucks play four next week, but I'm about done with CV. The good news for him is that Charlie Bell got hurt, but if he and Yi are going to split minutes, I'd rather take a risk on a historical chump like Darko. Don't look now, but Darko has actually played in four straight games and had 19 points, 10 boards and three blocks last night against Hawes and the Kings. He's played in 10 games in March (only missing one) and is averaging 11 points, seven boards and a block. Given how Villanueva is playing right now, Darko looks like a better roll of the dice to me. We'll see if I actually sack up and start him for the week.

The only other move we haven't covered is cutting Scola for Ridnour. I don't recommend this for everyone, obviously, but Scola plays three games and I'm going for four-gamers in the playoffs whenever possible. And I'm guessing that my team can live with or without Scola.

Other players who are worth looking into given recent developments include:

Brandon Bass – Mavs: Dirk just went down, Bass is a must-own if injury is serious.
Jerry Stackhouse – Mavs: Automatically sees boost if Dirk's really hurt.
Nenad Krstic – Nets: Healthy, getting minutes and contributing.
Nick Collison – Sonics: With Wilcox likely done, big pickup last week.
Flip Murray – Pacers: Has replaced Diener, should already be owned
Wally Szczerbiak - Cavs: Shot is coming around
Mickael Pietrus – Warriors: Tricky with playing time, Nellie.
Smush Parker – Clippers: Not for the week at heart, but could get minutes.
John Salmons – Kings: Will Artest play again?
Luther Head – Rockets: Don't run out and get him, but watch him.
Damien Wilkins – Sonics: Gelabale, Watson, Wilcox hurt – Who knows?
Anthony Johnson – Kings: Beno is due back, but if that changes, grab AJ.

[Hache Man]

Dirk Goes Down

Ryan Knaus here, filling in for a vacationing Dr. A on Monday's dose—I'll try to do him justice. There were only four NBA games played on Easter Sunday, but it was a still a busy day. I'll touch on some top stories, then close with the all-important injury list.

Dirk Nowitzki is expected to miss at least two weeks after suffering an unspecified lower leg injury during Sunday's game. Most of you probably saw it live or replayed on TV, so you know how ugly it looked. X-ray results weren't released but the Mavericks will re-evaluate Dirk later on Monday, so check back for updates. dallasmavericks.com

Who will the Mavericks find to replace his 36 minutes, 24 points and nine rebounds per game? The obvious answer is…nobody. Brandon Bass immediately gets a boost and should slide into the starting lineup, but that leaves the Mavericks with a starting five (Dampier, Bass, Howard, Stackhouse, Kidd) that's averaging a combined 54.6 points per game. Wow.

The Mavs will badly need to score the ball, so Jason Terry and Jerry Stackhouse benefit by default. Suddenly Terry becomes the team's second-highest scorer, and should play with Kidd in the backcourt for long stretches.

Malik Allen and Juwan Howard could each pick up a few minutes as front-line support, but their fantasy value is still negligible. Erick Dampier's defensive presence is now essential for the Mavericks to have a chance at making the playoffs—more will be asked of him, so expect impressive rebound and block totals for the rest of the regular season.

Nowitzki's injury nearly over-shadowed the ongoing Gilbert Arenas drama. Arenas felt physically and mentally prepared to play on Sunday, but team doctors wouldn't clear him. This sent him into a fury, accusing the medical staff of playing mental games with him and declaring, "I'm not coming back this season."

He hedged his bets later in the day, agreeing with coach Eddie Jordan that he'll be re-evaluated in about a week, but this could have been the last straw for many fantasy owners. Anyone heading into a playoff week with Arenas on their roster has to be very sure they can win with a dead spot in their lineup. There's a good chance we'll see him before the end of the season…the question is whether it will be too late to matter.

That above quote, "the question is whether it will be too late to matter" seems to apply perfectly to Elton Brand, as well. What a nice segue into the Injury List:

Elton Brand (Achilles) has been practicing one-on-one with Chris Kaman and could still return this season, but he should be benched this week.

Chris Kaman's sore back feels fine and he expects to play on Tuesday. Owners have likely been scraping the bottom of the barrel in his absence, so don't hesitate to play him during the Clippers' upcoming four-game week.

Pau Gasol (ankle) had been targeting Wednesday's game – now he is doubtful for Wednesday and questionable for Friday. The Lakers play four games next week, but one or two rusty games wouldn't be enough for Gasol to help his owners much. Start him at your own risk.

Andrew Bynum (knee) is still not expected back before April 6th, so he won't be helping owners any time soon.

Shawn Marion is still officially day-to-day with his sore back. Updates have been few and far between, and owners face a torturous decision on whether to gamble and start their injured stud. We truly wish there was more we could say, but…start him at your own risk.

Jermaine O'Neal has resumed practicing with the Pacers and reports that his sore knee feels fine. He wants to return for the "last 10 games" of the season and is probably worth a pick-up—just be aware that he's doubtful to help you at all this week.
indianapacers.com
Jamaal Tinsley—No amount of coat drives and autographed glossy 8" x 10" photos can make us forget Tinsley's massive failings in Indiana, both on and off the court. Fantasy owners can at least try to forget about him for now—he announced on Saturday that his sore knee will shut him down for the rest of the season.

Ben Wallace is officially day-to-day with back spasms. Anderson Varejao has some value in his absence, but owners start either guy at their own peril in the week ahead.

Brevin Knight continues to sit out with a sore left leg, the same leg he suffered a stress reaction in earlier this year. His return looks increasingly doubtful, leaving Dan Dickau and Smush Parker to battle each other for playing time.

Tim Thomas is day-to-day with a stomach virus. He's still a gamble, but should be a decent start for the short-handed Clippers.

Ron Artest (stiff elbow) is likely a game-time decision on Monday. There's no indication that he's done for the season, but he's a DNP risk and—in the absence of an update— owners should start him at their own peril.
sacramentokings.com
Beno Udrih (lower back strain) has been targeting Monday's game against Houston as his return date. A setback is always possible, but he's probably worth starting in the Kings' four-game week.

Brad Miller's elbow bursitis has him officially questionable for Monday's game. Spencer Hawes exploded in Miller's absence, going for 19 points on 9-of-13 shooting, 12 rebounds and three blocks in his first career start, making him an overnight waiver wire sensation. Either Hawes or Miller will have value next week, but not both—start them at your own discretion.

Raja Bell (sprained ankle) is a true game-time decision on Monday, though his ankle is reportedly free of swelling and he practiced 3-on-3 on Sunday. This is bad news for owners of Leandro Barbosa and Gordan Giricek—Bell will resume starting and should play a minimum of three games this week, making him a decent option in most leagues.

Earl Watson left Saturday's game with a right calf contusion and is questionable going forward. Luke Ridnour has instant short-term value with Watson out, but the uncertainty of Watson's status makes it impossible to confidently recommend starting either guy in the four-game week ahead.

Chris Wilcox (finger injury) is questionable for Monday's game, as is Francisco Elson (knee). Wilcox is an extremely risky start next week, and there's no guarantee that he'll even return this season. Nick Collison gets plenty of action with Wilcox sidelined and can certainly be started in a pinch. Elson shouldn't even be in the equation.

Nate Robinson (sprained knee) will get another DNP on Monday and owners shouldn't risk starting him now that the Knicks are firmly committed to losing.

Quentin Richardson is still out with a sprained wrist, and shouldn't even be on any fantasy rosters at this point.

Zach Randolph (coach's decision) will start on Monday, ending Randolph Morris' atrocious (2-of-15 shooting) two-game experiment as a starter. Z-Bo is not the most reliable option, but he should be a tolerable play in the Knicks four-game week.

Mickael Pietrus is day-to-day with a strained groin. He had settled into a nice 30-minute role prior to going down, but isn't worth gambling on next week (groin injuries tend to linger).

Charlie Bell is a bit of a mystery, though he's listed as day-to-day after having an MRI on Sunday. He's not good enough to risk playing him at less than 100%.

Daniel Gibson hopes to return from his sprained ankle against the Hornets on Wednesday. That date is tentative, and he's going to be rusty and fighting for minutes anyway, so don't use him this week.

Tony Allen—out with a bruised back and considered day-to-day, he is worthless in 97.6% of leagues.

Chris Duhon is still out indefinitely with his mysterious "virus"(a.k.a. the team is suspending him without the accompanying fines and drama). He shouldn't be owned in any fantasy leagues.

Robert Horry is day-to-day with a knee injury and shouldn't be in any fantasy lineups.

Nick Young missed his second straight game on Sunday with a bruised left thigh. His absence clears a few more minutes for Roger Mason and Antonio Daniels, but otherwise there are no fantasy implications.

Sebastian Telfair (sprained ankle) still has no return date set, meaning Marko Jaric should have another week of mediocre value.

Walking Wounded

Shane Battier got "Shaqed" on Saturday, suffering a bruised shoulder courtesy of a flying elbow from O'Neal. He doesn't expect to miss any time.

Samuel Dalembert is playing through a mildly strained right shoulder and is a safe start.

Deron Williams bruised his left hand on Saturday but played through the injury and should be starting in all fantasy lineups. utahjazz.com

Corey Maggette missed one game with a shoulder injury but returned on Saturday after receiving a cortisone shot. He's a bit of a DNP risk, but should be fine to start this week.

Darko Milicic shook off a sprained wrist and had 19 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks on Saturday. He is (at least for now) safe to start this week.

Travis Diener injured his back during Saturday's game, but appears fine. If you're going to start a Pacers' point guard, make it Flip Murray.

That wraps up Monday's injury-intensive dose…hope it helps! As usual, check the site for possible updates throughout the afternoon.

[Hache Man]

Artesting our patience

It was a manic Monday around the Association, so let's get right to the news without a preamble.

Headlines

*The Pacers announced on Monday that CEO Donnie Walsh will leave the team after this season. ESPN News reported last night that Walsh will accept a three-year, $15 million deal with the Knicks, apparently signaling the end of Isiah Thomas' disastrous reign over the franchise. For what it's worth, the Knicks canceled their practice this morning. indianapacers.com

*The Rockets made a season-high 33 free throws on Monday, including 15-of-18 in the fourth quarter, to beat Sacramento and earn Rick Adelman his 800th career victory as a coach.

*Tracy McGrady had a rough night—he turned his left ankle four minutes into the game, turned it again in the second quarter and then strained his left shoulder in the fourth quarter. He insisted after the game that he'll be fine, so keep him active.

*Beno Udrih returned after missing three games with a strained lower back, but he aggravated the injury after less than 10 minutes and did not return. His status is officially day-to-day, but owners should sideline him if at all possible.

*Brad Miller (elbow bursitis) was back in action, finishing with seven points, seven rebounds, four assists, two blocks, one steal and a 3-pointer in the loss.

*Ron Artest ruled himself out for yesterday's game during the team's afternoon shoot-around—then reversed course 90 minutes before tip-off. He had 17 points and six assists, but you have to think he's a DNP risk for the rest of the season. In addition to his sore knee and stiff elbow, Artest also mentioned having a sore shoulder and a recently strained calf. Good luck knowing when to start this guy. sacramentokings.com

*LaMarcus Aldridge sprained his ankle in the third quarter on Monday, but X-rays were negative and he is questionable for Tuesday' game. The Blazers lost, giving Seattle its first victory in the last 12 games.

*Lamar Odom had 23 points and 21 rebounds, one game after grabbing a career-high 22 rebounds. The feat made him the first Laker to grab 20+ rebounds in consecutive games since Vlade Divac in February 1995.

*Earl Watson (calf contusion) did not play on Monday, forcing the Sonics to sign guard Eddie Gill as an insurance policy behind Luke Ridnour. Watson's injury could be of the "lingering" variety, and owners should consider claiming Ridnour.

*Shawn Marion is still day-to-day, though a recent MRI revealed nothing worse than back spasms. He said he feels "a lot better", but might not travel with the Heat on their upcoming four-game road trip, which is thoroughly discouraging. There's little incentive to rush him back (surrounded by D-League talent), and if we don't hear some good news by next weekend…well, you know the rest.

*Gilbert Arenas is getting increasingly discouraged: "Even if I'm cleared next week, that's not enough games for me to get my swagger," Arenas said on Monday. "When I do get back, I'll be playing 20 minutes [a game]. That's not enough for me to be me." He also expressed doubt about his re-evaluation scheduled for later this week: "They're not going to clear me next week. They said that last week." He spoke out of frustration…something his owners know plenty about.

*Richard Hamilton sat out on Monday with a sore left hip that been bothering him for several weeks. He is day-to-day, so owners should check his status frequently. Teammate Juan Dixon was held out on account of a strained calf.

* J.R. Smith scored 25 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter as the Nuggets defeated the Grizzlies. He was 8-of-10 from the field and 7-of-9 from downtown in the quarter.

Clippers Injury Report

*Elton Brand participated in his first 5-on-5 scrimmage in nearly a year. Coach Mike Dunleavy said that Brand needs more practice, but believes Brand will play in the final six games of the season. Brand, for his part, said his Achilles feels as close to 100% as possible.

*Chris Kaman also scrimmaged but probably won't play Tuesday against the Mavericks, a disappointing setback for his owners. He could return on Wednesday, so all is not lost in weekly leagues.

*Brevin Knight scrimmaged but couldn't finish because the stress reaction in his lower left leg flared up. He has missed the past three games, but is likely to play (limited minutes) on Tuesday.

*Tim Thomas will return on Tuesday after missing time with a stomach virus. Quinton Ross is probable despite a sore left foot. Aaron Williams is doubtful due to a lingering abdominal strain. Josh Powell is expected to meet the team in Dallas, after missing Monday's practice for personal reasons.

Injuries, etc.

*Mickael Pietrus missed his second straight game with a strained right groin, but an MRI on his leg showed no further damage. There is no timetable for his return—the leg is still painful and he can't return to practice yet, so don't expect anything of him this week.

*Charlie Bell suffered a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee on Saturday, and will miss at least two weeks. He had played in 191 consecutive games and until Monday was the only Bucks player to have appeared in every game this season.

*Jason Williams is out for at least a week with a cast on his injured thumb. He was playing through the injury, but the Heat don't want to risk his health just to lose a few lottery balls…I mean, just to win a few games. Chris Quinn started for the Heat and had a career-high 24 points and four steals. With J-Will's season in jeopardy (he has an MRI scheduled for Tuesday, so we'll know more soon), Quinn should have nice value for at least the next week.

*Andres Nocioni avoided a suspension for his tantrum during Saturday's game—he received nothing worse than a fine and a kiss from coach Jim Boylan (seriously). Seems like a lousy double-standard after Joakim Noah was suspended two games for doing the same exact thing...in a practice. Noce's fantasy value is all but kaput.

*Marko Jaric was limited in practice by a stiff neck, but is expected to play.

*Brent Barry (injured left calf) went through shooting drills on Monday, but his status for Tuesday's game is uncertain.

*Zach Randolph returned from two straight DNP-CDs and had 17 points and eight rebounds.

*Raja Bell returned from a sprained ankle, saying afterward, "I thought [the ankle] was close to 100 (percent)."

*Andrei Kirilenko reported no discomfort in his injured hip on Monday.

*Ronny Turiaf sprained an ankle in the first quarter on Monday, but finished with 11 points and eight rebounds in 33 minutes. The Lakers can't afford to lose another big man, and he should be fine.

*Kobe Bryant needed five stitches to close a large gash under his left eye, courtesy of a Baron Davis drive in the fourth quarter.

*Bostjan Nachbar, who is shooting 12-of-37 (32%) in his last five games, admitted his back has been a nagging problem.

*Nenad Krstic shot 9-of-15 from the field and said later, "I think I'm back. I feel like my shot is back."

*Samuel Dalembert is playing through a slightly strained tendon in his right shoulder: "It's sore, but…it's too crucial at this point in the season to sit down." Barring a setback, he should be fine.

*Sonics owner Clay Bennett is willing to leave the team's name, logo, colors and history behind if (or, more likely, when) he moves the team to Oklahoma City.

*There is a video floating around of Kenyon Martin repeating variations of the phrase "You know what I mean" no less than 15 times in one minute of a post-game interview. It's unintentionally hilarious.

*I'll close with two ridiculous quotes, the first from Nets forward Richard Jefferson, who said on Sunday, "There's a very good chance we'll be in the playoffs, there's a very good chance we might not be in the playoffs."

*Then there is this gem from recently reinstated Hornet Chris Anderson: "For the last two years, I just wasn't sitting on the couch passing time. I was in the gym running, six hours a day -- three times a day."

Who knew the Birdman was a cuckoo.

[Hache Man]

Big Trouble in Little Portland

The Gilbert Arenas drama, the looming return of Elton Brand and Jermaine O'Neal, the interminable guessing game over Shawn Marion's ongoing back pain, Chris Kaman's ongoing back pain, Ben Wallace's ongoing back pain…this list could be ongoing for a while. Unfortunately, I don't have the space to address every injury and happening (subscribe to the Daily Dose if you want to not only be in the loop, but have the loop delivered to your email inbox every morning). Some of the guys I just mentioned appear in this week's NBA Fantasy Trends, but I also make time for Knicks coach/president/innovative popcorn salesman Isiah Thomas…read on to see what the hell I'm talking about.

Trailblazers reach a fork in the…trail

Brandon Roy left Tuesday's game with a groin injury. Actually he left the game twice with the same injury, after unsuccessfully trying to return. Roy will be re-evaluated on Wednesday, but as coach Nate McMillan pointed out, "[Groin injuries] can sit you down for a month."

So far there is no official word that last season's Rookie of the Year will be out for a long time—but if he gets a bleak diagnosis, owners should be ready to pounce on two guys…Jarrett Jack and Martell Webster (with James Jones as a deep-league bonus).

Jarrett Jack is averaging 35 minutes in his 11 starts this season, compared to just 25 minutes in his 61 games as a substitute. As a starter he has averaged 9.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.0 steals and 2.7 turnovers. He is shooting 42% from the field this season, but balances it out with 87% free throw shooting. If Roy is out for a while, look no further for a mid-level utility guard.

Martell Webster was already starting to heat up and could be a top-notch source of threes and points for as long as Roy is out. Before this week, he hadn't scored 20+ points since January 5th and had done it only four times all season…now suddenly it's happened twice in a row. In the past two games he's averaging 22.5 points on 50% shooting, 4.5 three-pointers, four rebounds and two assists.

Webster almost never steals the ball, he hands out dimes like his first name is Ebenezer and he is averaging just 42% from the field and 73% from the line. Still, when you consider that 48% of his shots are from downtown, it's kind of an inevitable trade-off. LaMarcus Aldridge (sprained ankle) should return soon, but Webster will still carry more of the offensive burden, which suits his skill-set just fine.

James Jones could be a decent pick-up in deeper leagues, as he's likely to absorb a few more minutes for however long Roy is out. He's a 3-point specialist, but certainly of use to some owners.

Doubting Thomas

The Knicks are torturing the fantasy landscape, offering up insufficient minutes (David Lee), random DNPs (Zach Randolph), sketchy injuries (Nate Robinson), awful "project players" (Randolph Morris) and other shiftless dreck (Quentin Richardson, Fred Jones). It cannot be overstated—this lineup is 100% hand-crafted by Isiah Thomas.

The Knicks official website has a truly hilarious biography about Isiah. There's too much great stuff and I can only scratch the surface, but they speak glowingly about his "singular style" and his "singular philosophy" (you can't deny it, can you?). Upon resuming coaching duties, Isiah was quoted as saying, ""The first thing I'll do is restore the discipline and from that discipline we should be able to regain the trust of our players. And from the discipline and trust, we'll try to restore their confidence and build their confidence back to the level where it should be for a professional athlete." I'm not sure if the discipline/trust speech was before or after the sexual harassment lawsuit. Discipline, trust, and confidence (Marbury refusing to play, Randolph throwing water on a teammate, Curry questioning his role, Q-Rich exploding, etc.) Hmm…I wonder when Isiah is going to get started on that.

Sorry…back to the court. As my colleague Scott Morrow correctly noted, Mardy Collins had a torrid April last season, averaging 44 minutes, 14.8 points, 0.9 three-pointers, 6.7 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 2.0 steals in the last nine games of the season.

It wasn't all terrific, as he also shot 39% from the field, 66% from the free throw line and turned the ball over 4.0 times per game. The Knicks season has been over for a long time and we're never quite sure who's in and who's out, or who will end up with consistent minutes going forward. But if last year is any indication, Collins is a prime breakout candidate as we near the season's final stages.

Two facts you definitely did not know about Isiah Thomas:

1) He was named "Father of the Year" in 2004, though the bio failed to specify "best" or "worst".

2) He is a financial partner in an innovative chain of retail popcorn stores. Don't laugh—there's big money in innovative popcorn.


Phony Iavaroni

The Grizzlies are another fantasy headache. Coach Marc Iavaroni continues to shuffle his starting five, occasionally swapping out Hakim Warrick for Juan Carlos Navarro. This is the Don Nelson effect gone awry. I realize other coaches employ similar tactics with great success—Manu Ginobili never seems to be bothered much when he shifts from the bench to the starting five, or vice versa. But these are the Grizzlies, after all. They are in rebuilding mode, and Iavaroni's decisions often seem arbitrary and counterintuitive. Wouldn't his young team be better served by having some stability? Wouldn't Navarro develop his NBA skills more readily by playing one role for longer than a week and half? Isn't Warrick's blossoming post game enough to force Iavaroni to keep him on the court? I mean who else can the Grizzlies throw it to on the block…Darko? Not a chance. I should acknowledge that some of my anger is because Iavaroni has eliminated 92% of Mike Conley and Kyle Lowry's potential fantasy value, miring them in an awful time-share that only got worse once Javaris Crittenton came to town. And then the Grizzlies somehow didn't trade Lowry this season, even though a ton of teams were clamoring for him. What, there was no team willing to part with someone as good as Kwame Brown?

Warrick has been a solid fantasy contributor, but only while starting. Check out the disparity:

Starting: 16.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 0.9 steals and 0.5 blocks.

Not Starting: 7.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, 0.3 steals and 0.3 blocks.

(The real drop-off isn't quite so steep now, since the majority of his games as a reserve came with Pau Gasol still in a Grizzlies uniform.) Warrick has played 30+ minutes in four straight games, so keep him active and hope Iavaroni calms down the lineups—just don't be shocked if Hakim throws out another random 22-minute clunker.

Idling on the runway

Elton Brand has had some positive vibes lately—he finally participated in a 5-on-5 scrimmage, he says his Achilles is nearly 100% healthy and his coach is seemingly eager to welcome him back onto the court. These are all good things, but owners should count their blessings: just because EB returns for a few games doesn't mean he'll be posting MVP numbers during the week of your fantasy championship. Brand is thawed out—now he has to warm up a little. Expect limited minutes and limited numbers in the half dozen or so games he might appear in—Brand even said he might play in the final eight games of the season, which would mean a return on Wednesday, April 2nd.

I don't own Gilbert Arenas in any leagues, but if I did I would drop him overnight, in my sleep, in a heartbeat. His latest setback is a dagger for owners whose faith in Agent Zero has kept them afloat for many agonizing months. He could still return, but I can't see him significantly impacting anyone's fantasy fortunes.

Arenas has been out for months and months, and three days ago the team doctor refused to clear him for action. His checkup next week could be just as fruitless, potentially leaving owners precariously little time to unload him before weekly lineups need to be set. Even if he does return, he has already said (once in an interview, once in his blog) that he won't play more than 20 minutes and doesn't want to start. So we're left with a rusty Arenas returning from back-to-back knee surgeries, his game predicated on speed and rhythm jump shooting, his role limited to 18 minutes off the bench…I personally see no reason why he should be owned in any leagues right now. Feel free to email your responses to this (I know it's not easy to accept, if you own him).

Jermaine O'Neal has been practicing for a while now, and Pacers coach Jim O'Brien says his return is solely dependent upon his conditioning. O'Neal said on Tuesday that he expects to be back "soon". The Pacers are scrapping for a possible playoff spot, so he could make a difference down the stretch in fantasy leagues. Unfortunately, I feel the exact same way about O'Neal as I do about Brand—J.O. has missed 31 straight games and is struggling just to get his conditioning back. Forget about 20 & 10 with a handful of blocks—the only 20 & 10 games he'll have this season will be in minutes and points.

We'll end on a downbeat this week, there's nothing wrong with that. I'm just trying to look at the prospects of these guys in a realistic light, and actually hope that I get proven wrong. But months of relative inactivity can't be overcome in the course of two weeks. Well, at least we won't have to wait long to see if any of these guys pan out.

Shawn Marion is the most heated topic right now, and I'm sorry to say that updates are simply hard to come by. He's definitely abusing the privilege of day-to-day, but it sounds like he genuinely wants to return. Hang on to him, then think about dropping him if there's still no positive news out of Miami next weekend. UPDATE: Marion didn't travel with the Heat on their current four-game road trip.

[Hache Man]

Hedo headed for an MRI


Welcome to Wednesday's Dose. There were six games on the schedule last night, but the action was tempered by the loss of two huge fantasy players. I'll touch on that, along with a few guys who returned to action, some retroactive record-setting, Shaq becoming a cop and the impending retirement of Chris Webber.

Departures

*Hedo Turkoglu left Tuesday's game with a wrist injury after crashing to the court in the first quarter. He will have an MRI and visit with a hand specialist later today, so check the site for updates. Florida Today reported, "X-rays showed no breaks", but the Orlando Sentinel reported, "X-rays were difficult to read because of swelling in the wrist." No breaks sounds pretty good, but difficult to read because of swelling? Yikes. Again, we'll have a much better picture of his injury later in the day, but keep Maurice Evans and Keith Bogans in mind…who knows, we might even see extended minutes for J.J. Redick before this is over.

*Brandon Roy left with a groin injury after the first quarter on Tuesday. He tried to return later in the game but had a bad limp and was quickly pulled for a second time. Roy will be further evaluated on Wednesday, but team trainers said that after a preliminary observation the injury "didn't look good."

"That (injury) can sit you down for a month," coach Nate McMillan added. His words don't reflect the actual length of time Roy will be out, but there is definitely cause for concern. Keep an eye on Jarrett Jack and Martell Webster, both of whom should benefit if Roy goes down for a while.

*Jameer Nelson went out with a bruised jaw after running into teammate Dwight Howard. That's like a crash-test dummy and a brick wall. He's day-to-day, but was observed operating his Blackberry "at record speeds" by one reporter. It seems unlikely that he has a concussion, and he should be back soon.

*Morris Peterson left Tuesday's game with a bruised shoulder, but he was also seen clutching his wrist. Injuries are never a good thing, but for fantasy purposes this could be a lucky break. Peterson has been clogging up the Hornets two-guard spot, but his departure opened up minutes and allowed Julian Wright to leap-frog Bonzi Wells on the depth-chart and start the second half. Either Wright or Wells (or possibly both?) could have a serious spike in value if Mo Pete's injury is long-term, so pay close attention to New Orleans' injury report.

*Chris Webber is expected to announce his retirement on Wednesday, unable to overcome the most recent damage to his chronically injured left knee. His second stint in Golden State was unproductive, as he averaged less than four points and four rebounds in nine appearances.

The real C-Webb, however, was an explosive five-time All-Star who amassed career averages of 21 points, 10 rebounds and four assists per game. And of course he'll be discussed fondly every time a player calls a timeout without having any timeouts left.

Arrivals

*Nick Young played through pain and stiffness in his bruised thigh, but we barely noticed his return—he was held to four points in 16 minutes off the bench.

*Tim Thomas started after sitting out two straight contests with a stomach virus. He scored an uneconomical 13 points on 14 shot attempts, but will be better on most nights and deserves a roster spot in the majority of leagues.

*Brevin Knight returned from a stress reaction in his left leg, but the injury will clearly limit him for the rest of the season—he had 10 points and two assists in 17 minutes off the bench.

Standby

*Pau Gasol will not play in Wednesday's game against the Bobcats and is doubtful for Friday's game against Memphis. There's little reason for the Lakers to rush him back against the Grizzlies, so don't expect to see Gasol until next Sunday. Hopefully he at least plays then and give his owners something to base their weekly lineups on.

*Richard Hamilton is listed as probable for Wednesday's game, as he returns from a minor hip injury.

*Dirk Nowitzki's ankle progressed well during the crucial first 48 hours after the injury, but according to coach Avery Johnson, "That doesn't mean he's going to be back anytime soon." The Dallas Morning News speculates that Mark Cuban's two-week timeframe was too pessimistic, but the official word is "out indefinitely". dallasmavericks.com

*LaMarcus Aldridge (mild ankle sprain) was doubtful in the morning, probable in the afternoon and ruled out by game-time on Tuesday. He expects to travel with the team to Golden State on Wednesday and declared himself probable for Thursday's game, but that's obviously worth double- or triple-checking prior to tip-off.

*Shawn Marion received negative MRI results but did not travel with the Heat on their current four-game road trip, because he didn't want to aggravate his back spasms. This means he's unlikely to play on Wednesday and Thursday. Owners have to be going crazy right now, as Marion continues his parade of day-to-day DNPs.

*Nate Robinson is again questionable with his knee injury, and we can't recommend using him until we've witnessed his successful return.

*Chris Wilcox (sprained right pinkie) is visiting another hand specialist today and is doubtful for tonight's game. His season could very well be over.

*Ben Wallace (back spasms) is doubtful for Wednesday's game against the Hornets. He's been pretty awful this season (Big Bust, Big Bum…the Chicago media is wonderfully vicious), but odds are he never made it to your waiver wire. Reputations can be dangerous…owners shouldn't hesitate to cut him if an attractive free agent is available.

*Jermaine O'Neal (sore knee) continues to practice with the Pacers, and coach Jim O'Brien said O'Neal only needs to improve his conditioning before returning. He has missed 31 consecutive games, and counting.

*Elton Brand expects to return for as many as the final eight games of the season, which in a best-case scenario would mean he returns on Wednesday, April 2nd. He's been out all season recovering from a torn Achilles' tendon.

*Beno Udrih is questionable for Wednesday's game with a strained lower back. He aggravated the injury after playing 10 minutes in his last game, so we'd keep him sidelined until he proves he can stay on the court for a full game.

*Earl Watson (calf) if questionable for Wednesday's game, giving backup Luke Ridnour another start and another chance at some fantasy value. Seattle plays a late game tonight, so check back in a few hours for possible updates.

*Daniel Gibson practiced on Tuesday and could make his return from a high ankle sprain on Wednesday. His minutes will be limited—and he'll be rusty—so he isn't worth a pickup in average leagues.

*Thabo Sefolosha expects his groin injury to limit his mobility for the rest of the season. At the moment he's not expected to miss any time, but if you're starting Thabo in fantasy leagues you have bigger problems than just his lingering injury.

Game Time

*David West finished a win over the Pacers with 35 points and 16 rebounds, one game after he poured in 37 points on 15-of-25 shooting. He's only averaging one more minute than last season, but is setting or equaling career-highs in points (20.1), rebounds (9.1), assists (2.3), steals (0.8) and blocks (1.3). His recently aggravated left ankle sprain clearly isn't an issue, and his chemistry with point guard Chris Paul is beautiful to witness. West will be one of the more versatile fantasy forwards for years to come.

*Josh Howard had an encouraging game sans Nowitzki on Tuesday, finishing with 32 points, 15-of-15 free throws, seven rebounds and four steals. He was just 2-of-11 from the field in the first half but finished the game 8-of-22. Erick Dampier had 19 points and 17 rebounds, confirming that his role will significantly increase with Nowitzki sidelined. Meanwhile, Malik Allen started at power forward and had six points, nine rebounds, and a steal in 27 minutes. Brandon Bass came off the bench for eight rebounds in 19 minutes, basically a reversal of what we had assumed would happen. If this sticks, neither guy should have much value as they trade off mediocre nights.

*Drew Gooden had 31 points and 16 rebounds as the Bulls made up some ground in the playoff race by defeating the Hawks. Gooden is averaging 15.1 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks since joining the Bulls…congratulations to any owners who saw his potential and traded for him or claimed him off the wire at some point.

*The Jazz were at the height of their fantasy powers on Tuesday, and each starter had at least 14 points, four rebounds and a steal. Ronnie Brewer had four steals, his most since February 4th. Matt Harpring pitched in a season-high 18 points off the bench. utahjazz.com

*Joel Przybilla now officially grabbed 26 rebounds last Saturday, after the NBA determined that one "team rebound" was actually corralled by the Vanilla Gorilla. The extra board tied him for the franchise-high and also the season-high, which he shares with Golden State's Andris Biedrins.

*Shaquille O'Neal has decided to serve as a police volunteer in Phoenix. The Diesel with a billy club? If the producers of the show Cops don't have a camera crew en route to Phoenix they should be fired immediately for gross incompetence.

[Hache Man]

MVP Effort


As we near the home stretch, it's time to start handicapping the field for the NBA MVP Award.

Valid arguments can be made for LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul and to a lesser extent, Dwight Howard. Amare Stoudemire needs to factor into this discussion as well. And if you want to simply look at the numbers, this quintet deserves the most accolades.

But what about the intangibles? Which player has had the biggest effect on his team?

From this perspective, Kevin Garnett deserves plenty of consideration for helping to guide the Celtics from the worst record in the East last year to the best record in the NBA this season. bostonceltics.ws

Will he win it? Considering he missed a good chunk of the season with an injury, he's having his worst season statistically in over a decade, and he plays less then 34 MPG, I don't like KG's chances once the voters start to cast their ballots.

But has a single player meant more to his team than The Big Ticket has to the Boston Celtics?

Paul Pierce, who's lived through the nightmare that has been the Celtics' existence in the past couple of years, is convinced.
bostonceltics.ws
"The whole face of the Celtics turned around when the trade happened with this guy. Everyone talks about MVP, and they talk about numbers, but this guy has changed the whole culture around here."

Is The Truth speaking it?

Well, Garnett did his thing again Wednesday night, stepping up with 30 points to help the Celtics end a two-game skid by hammering the Suns 117-97.

KG pulled down a mere three boards – that's just eight rebounds in the past two games for the guy who has won the last four rebounding titles – but he helped in other ways with six assists, two steals and two blocks.

While we ponder whether Garnett – the only one of the main candidates who has won it before – can garner another MVP Award, let's take a tour around the NBA on the Wednesday that was…

• Tracy McGrady's concerns about his shoulder seem unfounded now after he enjoyed a fine night on Wednesday. T-Mac's shooting woes continued (9-for-25), but he shook off his shoulder and ankle injuries and just missed a triple-double with 23 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists. He's playing heavy minutes (40.4 over the past five), but has responded nicely, averaging 22.2 PPG with 7.0 APG and 6.8 RPG. McGrady got off to a fine start this year, but then plodded along for a few months, dealing with injuries over some of that stretch. With Yao Ming sidelined, however, T-Mac has stepped up his effort down the stretch, averaging 23.3 points, 6.3 assists and 6.1 rebounds per game during March. McGrady's overall value has slipped this season, however, as his touches have dropped for the second straight year, and his perimeter game in particular has taken a hit. T-Mac hasn't put up this few (4.5) 3-point attempts per game since 2001-02 when he was with the Magic.
• I have been quite remiss this season as I have yet to give it up for Mike Dunleavy. But hey, what can I say? The dude deserves some big-time kudos. Last night, he turned in another spectacular night at the office, flashing some all-around skills with 33 points on 9-of-16 shooting in 44 minutes, with five three-pointers, seven assists, six rebounds, a steal and a block. It'll do. Dunleavy is putting up 22.4 PPG with 4.8 APG in the past five as his breakout season just keeps hitting new levels. He's actually playing slightly less than he did after arriving in Indy mid-season after last year's massive trade, but his outside game this season has been off the charts. Relative to his fantasy draft position, Dunleavy has been one of the top steals in the NBA this year.
• The Cavs are expecting to get Daniel Gibson back from his ankle injury on Saturday, but will likely be without Ben Wallace (back) for the weekend action. The Cavs have lost two straight, so getting Boobie back will be a nice shot in the arm. But with Big Ben remaining out of action, Anderson Varejao, who had a double-double last night, should continue to start. Wallace's absence has more or less coincided with Zydrunas Ilgauskas' recent scoring bonanza. Big Z kept pouring it on last night with 29 points, while adding 15 rebounds, three assists and two blocks, confirming his status as a must-own player.

Injury Report

If the Chris Kaman owner in your league gave up on the Clipper big man, you better pounce fast. The former mountain man is back after missing the last nine games with a back woe, and he came through with 16 points last night. He only managed five boards and failed to block a shot, so it's going to take him a while to regain his full game, but Kaman's return will likely spell the end of what little value Josh Powell had.

Tip-ins: Paul Pierce scored 27 points Wednesday, combining with KG to give Boston two players with 25 or more points for the first time since January 31. Need more evidence that the three-star system has hurt the fantasy value of this trio?...Kendrick Perkins has done nothing lately but aggravate his dwindling owners, but last night he came through with a double-double. Let's hope this is the start of strong finish…Ray Allen's scoring slump continued with just 14 points, but he's been helping out in assists, with 14 in the past two games, including eight Wednesday…Rajon Rondo has been slipping, and I'd call him inconsistent at best in recent games, but last night he enjoyed a solid performance with 14 points, six rebounds and six assists…Shaquille O'Neal scored 16 points, but his recent run of double-doubles ended as he managed just seven boards. He also got T'ed up…Amare Stoudemire continued his dominating offensive run with another 32 points last night. His other numbers have slid recently, but with an average of 30.8 PPG over the past five, Stat is bringing it. Unfortunately, the Suns' seven-game winning streak has come crashing to halt with losses to Detroit and now Boston…The C's had dropped five straight to Phoenix dating back to 2001…Boris Diaw's value continues to plummet, but in 25 minutes off the bench Wednesday night, he reminded us what he's capable of with 15 points, five boards, five assists and a steal…Steve Nash has been held to under 10 assists in three straight games, and hasn't managed as many as a dozen in the past six…Once upon a time, we thought Eddie House would be a key player off the Celtic bench. He hasn't played as many as 20 minutes in any of the past six games. Even so, he's still managed seven 3-pointers in the past three games…James Posey is another Celtic reserve I thought might have some occasional use, but as the season has progressed, his numbers have slipped as he struggles through his worst NBA season…Leon Powe had shown a little scoring touch in two of the past four games, but he managed just three points Wednesday, confirming his fantasy irrelevance…Atlanta held on to eighth spot in the East with an easy win over the Bucks last night, but the Hawks may have lost Mike Bibby to another thumb injury. He exited early with a sprain to his left thumb – the same one he needed surgery on previously. X-rays were negative and Coach Woodson insists Bibby will suit up Friday, so perhaps Atlanta will avoid major calamity here…Josh Boone lit it up for a career-high 26 points on 9-of-12 shooting, but was unable to keep his great rebounding streak going. If the Nets weren't battling for a playoff spot, Boone would likely completely swallow Nenad Krstic's minutes…David West sunk just 7-of-19 from the field, but his jumper with 0.6 seconds to play gave the Hornets the win and gave him at least 20 points in all four games since he returned from his latest ankle injury…Ricky Davis shook off some recent offensive doldrums with 28 points, nine rebounds and six assists last night. He also canned seven 3-pointers…Philly continues to roll, with its third straight win last night, taking the 76ers' record to 11-2 in March. It's time to take another look at Louis Williams, who led the way Wednesday with 23 points, five assists, four rebounds, a steal and five treys. But how about Andre Miller? Forget about the fact he only scored nine points. The dude dished 18 dimes while adding eight rebounds and a couple of steals…Devin Harris wasn't at his best last game – a rarity since arriving in the swamplands – but he sure made up for that last night with 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting and a career-high 15 assists. Harris hit three from downtown and tossed in a couple of steals…Man, did the Raptors need that. The last time they beat a good team was over a month ago, when they downed the Magic on February 20. Since then, Toronto had gone 6-12 until beating Detroit last night, as T.J. Ford, inserted back in the starting five, came through with 13 points, nine assists and five rebounds. Chris Bosh had just 21 points and six boards, but shot well (10-for-19) and added three assists and two steals…Andrew Bogut was enjoying a superb game (27 points, nine rebounds, four assists, three blocks and a steal), but he then had to exit after getting clipped by Marvin Williams. Bogut's noggin may be busted, and that could sideline him for a spell, so check for an update on the situation this afternoon…Break out the bubbly! The Knicks' franchise record-tying seven-game home losing skid is over. Thank you, Miami, for playing a part in yet another slump ending…Pau Gasol's ankle will keep him sidelined through the weekend, meaning the earliest he'll return to action will be Wednesday. ..The Spurs have turned things around after their four-game losing streak. They have now won five consecutive games to again tighten up that great Western race…Rasho Nesterovic's solid March has been rewarded as the Raptors put him back in the starting five. He responded with 15 points, nine boards and four blocks. If you're seeking a nice waiver wire pickup this week, Rasho's your man. Andrea Bargnani, meanwhile, has sunk to new depths (three points on 1-of-4 shooting in just 13 minutes), and should be jettisoned pronto…It was close, just a one-point loss, but the Grizzlies have now dropped to 1-24 in franchise history in Sacramento's Arco Arena including 19 straight losses. You think when they decide to blow that place up, that Grizz ownership will volunteer to press the button?…Our fears about Brandon Roy's injury have been realized as it's been announced he'll miss at least two weeks and possibly be unable to return this year. Jarrett Jack, Travis Outlaw and Martell Webster all gain in value as a result…Put Roger Mason on your radar. The dude nailed six treys – five in the final stanza – on his way to 22 points last night…An off night for Kobe Bryant boiled over with a couple of quick techs and then an early trip to the showers…Alexander Johnson returned from his bruised knee last night. The Heat would be wise to let him show what he can do down the stretch. If that happens, he could be worth a look…Chris Duhon was back in action and played all of three minutes last night. Please tell me you don't still own him…Ron Artest sacramentokings.com is about as banged up as you can get, but he's still producing, scoring 24 points with six steals, five rebounds, three assists and two 3-pointers last night...Speaking of the Kings, K-Mart is rolling now, scoring at least 30 points in three of his last six games, including 36 on Wednesday…Well, at least Darko Milicic is playing starter's minutes even if he isn't looking very fantasy worthy. While he did have nine rebounds, two blocks and a steal, Darko sunk just 2-of-5 for four points and now is stuck in a 2-for-9 shooting drought…Despite his 3-for-10 shooting last night, Nick Collison is looking like a fine waiver wire pickup with Chris Wilcox (pinkie) still out. Collison had 21 rebounds and five assists on Wednesday.

Team Report

Even if the Orlando Magic suffer its traditional late-season swoon – and with three losses in the past four games and some injuries to key personnel, it looks like a possibility – the team is likely locked in to the third seed in the East with the Southeast Division all but wrapped up.

Regardless of how it finishes, it's been a fantastic year for Orlando, as this team massively improved its offense – especially from beyond the arc -- and became one of the NBA's better road teams, a trait that will stead the Magic well come playoff time.

Newcomer Rashard Lewis hasn't been the go-to guy he was last year in Seattle, but he's helped add much-needed depth to this organization. He snapped a scoring slump Tuesday with 24 points, so let's hope he can finish with a flourish.

Hedo Turkoglu has enjoyed a career year, but he was knocked out Tuesday with a wrist injury. Thankfully, it's not broken and there's no tendon damage, so he's only out day-to-day, a huge relief considering how massive the Turkish Delight has been this season.

Keith Bogans had some value when he was starting earlier this year, but injury issues and ineffectiveness since his return have rendered him essentially useless for fantasy purposes. Having struggled to score in his past couple of games, Bogans should likely be dumped even in the deepest of leagues.

Dwight Howard, as discussed above, has been playing like an MVP this year. On Tuesday against the Spurs, he chalked up his eighth 20-20 game of the year. To put that in context, Howard became just the sixth player to have a game of at least 20 points and 20 rebounds against Tim Duncan in the Big Fundamental's career. The others? Marcus Camby, Dirk Nowitzki, Shaquille O'Neal, Kevin Garnett and Amare Stoudemire. With 14.5 per game, Howard is a cinch to wrestle the NBA rebounding crown from KG this year.

With all the offensive firepower in Orlando, Keyon Dooling hasn't had enough touches to be useful this year, but he's cooking lately, and after scoring 19 points on Tuesday needs to at least be watched as a waiver wire possibility.

Jameer Nelson ran into a brick wall by the name of Dwight Howard Tuesday, suffering a bruised jaw that knocked him out of the game. Nelson's value has again been restricted by PT this year. If this guy is ever going to take it to the next level – something that is rapidly becoming a doubtful proposition -- he'll need to start logging starter minutes. The Magic needs a real point guard if it has championship aspirations.

Carlos Arroyo dealt with a foot injury earlier this year that really limited his value, but now that Turkoglu and Nelson are out, he may finally have some fantasy use. On Tuesday, he played significant minutes for the first time in a couple of weeks, and responded with 17 points. If Nelson will miss time, you may want to consider Arroyo.

Heading into the season, I considered J.J. Redick somewhat of a sleeper, even capable of stealing the starting two-guard job at some point, but the addition of Maurice Evans has pushed the sophomore down on the depth chart and near the end of the Magic bench. We had a Redick sighting on Tuesday, but he has still failed to play even ten minutes in a game since last month. What a massive disappointment the former Duke star has been as an NBA player to date.

[Hache Man]

Is J.O. ready to go?

The Dose ran a bit long this morning, so I'll skip the introduction and get right to the day's news.

Headlines

*According to the Newark Star-Ledger, Jermaine O'Neal expects to play in Friday's game. He has been out since mid-January, so his minutes will be very limited and he's bound to be rusty. That said, the Pacers are still realistically in the playoff race (2½ games behind the Hawks) and J.O. could be of service to owners as the regular season winds down.

*Chris Wilcox is done for the season because of his dislocated right pinkie finger. There was no mention of surgery, only "recuperation and rehabilitation". His departure immediately solidifies Nick Collison's value in the Sonics' inexperienced front-court.

*Andrew Bogut doesn't expect to miss any games, despite suffering a bloody and possibly broken nose on Wednesday (officially it is a "nasal bruise"). Double-check his status, but keep him active if possible—he was having a huge game before the injury and has really improved his fantasy stock this season.

*MRIs on Mike Bibby's injured thumb came back negative and he is expected to play in Friday's game. Owners dodged a bullet on this one. The Hawks are locked in a battle for the eighth playoff spot and Bibby can't afford to take it slow, so keep him active and hope the injury doesn't affect his game.

*Hedo Turkoglu expects to play on Friday after testing his sprained wrist during shooting drills on Thursday. Jameer Nelson, however, is doubtful to play because of a badly bruised jaw. Keyon Dooling should have decent short-term value while Nelson is out.

Nuggets vs. Mavericks
dallasmavericks.com
*Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson had their way with the Mavericks last night, scoring a combined 63 points on 22-of-41 shooting. Anthony had 10 rebounds, eight assists, two steals and even surpassed 9,000 points in his young career. Both guys are going to play heavy minutes as the Nuggets claw their way into the playoffs, a wonderful outcome for fantasy owners.

*Kenyon Martin scored a mere eight points and didn't have a steal or block for the first time since February 29th. It was simply an off game for K-Mart, who is still a fine fantasy option. He is also one of the least heralded "comeback" stories after battling a serious knee injury last season and appearing in only two games. This year he is on pace to play in 70+ games and has provided some defensive intensity, which the high-scoring Nuggets desperately need.

*Denver got a huge emotional lift when Brazilian big man Nene entered the game with less than two minutes to go. The home crowd rose and gave him a standing ovation as he played for the first time since being diagnosed with testicular cancer last January. His amazingly quick recovery is a testament to the efficacy of modern medicine and early detection—a good reminder that we all need a yearly physical.

*Jerry Stackhouse attempted 15 shots for the fourth straight game, as his offensive responsibilities increase in the absence of Dirk Nowitzki. He played just 30 minutes but tied season-highs with eight rebounds and six assists to go along with 18 points. There is no better time than the present to start Stackhouse, so either drop him or play him. dallasmavericks.com

*It was a tale of two halves for Jason Kidd and the Mavericks offense: they followed up a 70-point first half with exactly 35 points in the second half. Kidd had 13 points, 11 assists and four steals at halftime, finishing with 19, 15 and five. He hadn't handed out double-digit assists in five straight games prior to this nice game.

*Josh Howard did his part, scoring at least 30 points for the second straight game with Nowitzki out of the lineup. He was 12-of-24 from the field and should obviously be active in all fantasy lineups.

*Brandon Bass failed to score in 10 minutes off the Mavs bench, and he's officially not benefiting from Dirk's departure.

Heat vs. Pistons

*The Heat took a two-point lead into halftime, but scored 24 points after the break and ended up getting drubbed by 16 points. Ricky Davis had only seven points on 2-of-9 shooting in 44 minutes of action, but his wild inconsistency is nothing new for fantasy owners.

*Daequan Cook missed the game with a bruised jaw and concussion. He was replaced in the starting lineup by Kasib Powell, who had two points on 1-of-8 shooting in his first NBA start.

*No starter scored more than 11 points, allowing Blake Ahearn to lead the team with 15 points off the bench. The Heat are a fantasy disaster, and only Ricky Davis and Chris Quinn (11 points, five rebounds, seven assists, two steals) seem capable of contributing on a nightly basis.

*From a fantasy perspective, the Pistons weren't very appealing last night. Richard Hamilton missed his third straight game with a hip injury (day-to-day), allowing rookie Aaron Afflalo to start and post career-highs with 15 points and seven rebounds in 33 minutes.

*Rasheed Wallace had just 13 points and four rebounds, Chauncey Billups had 13 points, 11 assists and five turnovers and Tayshaun Prince scored eight points on 4-of-13 shooting with eight rebounds. They'll be better on most nights, but the Pistons' deep rotation continues to temper fantasy values.

Warriors vs. Blazers

*Brandon Roy (strained groin) is sidelined for at least the next four games, and the Blazers' back-court stepped up nicely on Thursday. Jarrett Jack played 41 minutes and had 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting, though he managed just one assist vs. four turnovers. Steve Blake led the team with 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting, four 3-pointers and six assists.

*Martell Webster struggled with his shot, going 5-of-14 for 14 points, two 3-pointers, six rebounds and three assists. He played 39 minutes and should see a nice, consistent boost in minutes and production for as long as Roy is out.

*In other random Blazers news…billionaire team owner Paul Allen flew to Spain to meet with 2007 draft choice Rudy Fernandez. Fernandez could sign lucrative contracts with European teams, but said in a recent interview that there is "a 90% chance" he will be playing in the NBA next season. Meanwhile, the Blazers discovered that Greg Oden, who is recovering from season-ending knee surgery, participated in two pick-up basketball games at a local gym. Nothing bad happened, but he was duly reprimanded and his actions were called "stupid" by coach Nate McMillan.

*The Warriors blew this game open in the third quarter. After attempting zero free throws in the first half, Golden State made 18-of-20 free throws in the third quarter alone. They also shot 9-of-13 from the field and turned the ball over just once in the decisive quarter.

*Baron Davis had five rebounds, seven assists, four steals and two blocks, but scored only 12 points on 4-of-12 shooting. His energy was sapped by a recent illness, so he played only 27 minutes and sat out the entire fourth quarter.

*Mickael Pietrus missed his third straight game with a strained right groin. He will not travel to Denver on Saturday, but could play in Oakland against the Mavericks on Sunday.

*Pietrus' impending return won't help the Warriors muddled front-court rotation. Al Harrington started last night's game but played just 18 minutes, despite hitting all five of his field goal attempts. Andris Biedrins started and had 10 points and seven rebounds in 21 minutes. Kelenna Azubuike came off the bench for 14 points in 32 minutes, and even Austin Croshere played 14 minutes in his first action since March 6th.



*LaMarcus Aldridge returned from a mildly sprained ankle on Thursday, notching 17 points, five rebounds and six assists. He was on fire before the injury, so get him active.

*Beno Udrih (back) and Spencer Hawes (ankle) are both doubtful for Friday's game, though both Brad Miller and Ron Artest are expected to play. The Kings' injury report changes almost hourly, so be sure to double-check their status (especially Artest) prior to tip-off. Hawes' value had already been decimated by the return of Miller.

*Pau Gasol has been ruled out for Friday's game but was recently upgraded to questionable for Sunday's game. His owners should check the site frequently for updates.

*Michael Redd was benched for the entire fourth quarter on Wednesday, saying afterwards that he was "beyond frustrated" and found coach Larry Krystkowiak's methods to be "bizarre". There's almost no chance Larry K will survive the off-season as the Bucks coach.

*Kobe Bryant is playing through a mildly sprained ankle. He's been playing with the injury for a few games and it isn't damaging his numbers, so he should be fine unless it is aggravated at some point. Owners also need to be aware that Kobe, who leads the league with 15 technical fouls, is one 'T' away from a mandatory one-game suspension.

*Jason Williams was diagnosed with a deep bone bruise in his thumb and has been ruled out for at least the next five days. Marcus Banks could return as soon as Wednesday and is worth watching since the Heat roster is completely decimated.

*Rajon Rondo sat out Thursday's practice with a sore hamstring, but said, "I'm playing on Friday for sure." bostonceltics.ws

[Hache Man]

Stevenson Should Finish Strong

I'm back from the Sunshine State, although surviving the traffic on I-75 coming home on Saturday was interesting, to say the least. A 10-hour drive took about 13 hours and a simple order from Steak 'N Shake turned into a 2-hour ordeal thanks to about three busloads of high school students. In any case, it feels good to be back.

What doesn't feel good is having Spencer Hawes and Jason Williams in one of my lineups. No one could see the J-Will thumb cast coming on Sunday night, but the Hawes play was a complete gamble. Everything that could have gone wrong with Hawes did. Brad Miller's injury wasn't a big deal and he came back for big minutes, Hawes did little when he got an opportunity, and then he got hurt (also missing Sunday's game). Oh well. Hopefully you didn't end up with him in your lineup, and my apologies if I steered you wrong on that one.

It's getting really difficult to try to predict what's going to happen the rest of the way, but here are the fringe players for each team, and I've included the remaining weekly games-played schedule as well.

Atlanta - 4-3-2

Josh Childress is playing very well off the bench and should be a safe fantasy start right now. Zaza Pachulia is also an option at center, while Marvin Williams has posted two straight double-doubles.

Boston - 3-4-2

Leon Powe had 17 points and 13 boards in Sunday's "bye game" against the Heat, but has posted at least 12 points and seven boards in three of his last four games. With the Celtics getting ready to go on cruise control, Powe could make for a decent play. Just don't be surprised for him to post as many duds as he does big lines. Boston plays Chicago, Indiana, Charlotte, Milwaukee, Washington, Milwaukee, Atlanta, New York and New Jersey to finish out the season, so Powe and some other reserves (Sam Cassell, James Posey, Eddie House, Glen Davis) should have some opportunities the rest of the way. bostonceltics.ws

Charlotte - 4-3-2

Matt Carroll, Jared Dudley and Earl Boykins are worth keeping an eye on, but would only be sure bets if the team suffers an injury to a starter.

Chicago - 3-4-2

Joakim Noah is cooking and Tyrus Thomas started his last game. Thomas could get run the rest of the way, especially since the Bulls appear to be close to falling out of the playoff race. Thomas started over Thabo Sefolosha, making him a risky play off the bench. Andres Nocioni scored 17 in his last game off the bench, but I trust him about as far as I can throw him.

Cleveland - 3-3-2

Devin Brown replaced Sasha Pavlovic in the starting five on Sunday and played 42 minutes. If he stays in the starting five, he could be worth something over the final stretch, but I don't know. With Ben Wallace still hurting, Anderson Varejao could have value, but the return of Ben hurts his outlook quite a bit. Joe Smith also might be useful with Big Ben out, while Daniel Gibson scored eight on Sunday, but left after aggravating his ankle injury. The Cavs are going to try to get him back in game shape, so keep your eye on him as well. Delonte West finally broke out on Sunday, and will be a very hot pickup after tonight's outburst. Go get him.

Dallas - 4-4-1

With Dirk Nowitzki out, Malik Allen is starting and Brandon Bass is getting run off the bench. Both are too unreliable for me. Then again, with Jerry Stackhouse out on Sunday with a groin injury, both players could be in line for some decent games if Stackhouse continues to sit. Howard already has 17 points and five boards in the first half of Sunday's game, but he hasn't done much up until now. dallasmavericks.com

Denver - 4-4-1

J.R. Smith is playing very well and should be owned in leagues that count threes. As usual, Anthony Carter is still worth a look in deep leagues if you need a point guard. Meanwhile, Eduardo Najera and Linas Kleiza contributed in their last game, but aren't really worth owning at this point.

Detroit - 3-4-2

Rodney Stuckey, Jason Maxiell and Arron Afflalo are all worth a watchful eye, but not worth using unless the Pistons suffer an injury or two.

Golden State - 4-3-2

Kelenna Azubuike and Matt Barnes are always intriguing, but you never know when they're going to get minutes.

Houston - 4-3-2

Luther Head (10 points, five dimes) started over Shane Battier on Sunday, but that should be a temporary thing. Luis Scola is balling right now, while Carl Landry and Bobby Jackson also deserve some attention.

Indiana - 4-3-2

Troy Murphy remains a must-start, while Kareem Rush, Flip Murray, Travis Diener, Shawne Williams and Marquis Daniels are also getting their share of run right now. But trying to figure out which one to play on what night is not the easiest thing in the world. As of right now, I like Murray because he's starting, but I'm not sure I like him enough to start him. indianapacers.com

Clippers - 4-3-2

Al Thornton is obviously playing well and should be a safe play with Tim Thomas hampered by an Achilles' injury. Elton Brand is due back soon, but will likely have his minutes monitored closely. Start him at your own risk. Josh Powell also deserves a look, but not if Brand comes back.

Lakers - 3-4-1

Vladimir Radmanovic and Ronny Turiaf are still effective, but Ronny will take a hit if Pau Gasol plays on Wednesday. Sasha Vujacic should remain a nice source of threes, while Luke Walton will have the occasional big game. Vlad Rad still looks like the safest play of the bunch, although Vujacic is the man if you strictly need treys.

Memphis - 4-3-2

Darko Milicic is playing well enough to be starting again, as is Hakim Warrick. Mike Conley and Kyle Lowry are also strong possibilities, but are just so inconsistent.

Miami - 4-3-2

Where do I even start? I mean, these guys hit just 17 field goals against the Celtics on Sunday. Chris Quinn looks like the safest bet, while Earl Barron, Kasib Powell, Stephane Lasme and Blake Ahearn are also worth looking at. Not necessarily worth owning, but worth a look nonetheless.

Milwaukee - 4-4-2

Charlie Villanueva finally broke out of a funk in his last game, while Yi Jianlian could get some nice run over the final couple weeks. CV should be owned (hopefully the slump is over), and Yi can be used in deep leagues. Desmond Mason is also starting a worth a look in deeper leagues.

Minnesota - 4-4-2

Sebastian Telfair might be done for the season so Marko Jaric could have some big lines if that's the case, while Corey Brewer, Craig Smith and Kirk Snyder could be worth owning in deep leagues. But unfortunately, I think you're going to see a different guy emerge from this group from night to night.

New Jersey - 3-3-2

Josh Boone is startable right now, while Nenad Krstic is starting, but inconsistent. Use him at your own risk.

New Orleans - 4-4-2

Bonzi Wells is due for a few more big lines, but the problem is you don't know when they're coming.

New York - 4-3-2

Wilson Chandler, David Lee, Renaldo Balkman, Nate Robinson, Quentin Richardson and Jared Jeffries are all intriguing, but Zach Randolph should return soon. If he does, most of these guys will be a roll of the dice. Robinson appears to be healthy again after Sunday's 12-point effort, and should make for a nice sleeper if you need a guard. But no guarantees.

Orlando - 3-3-2

Carlos Arroyo, Mo Evans and Brian Cook all deserve attention, with Arroyo having some real value if Jameer Nelson will be sidelined for long. He's day-to-day with concussion symptoms.

Philadelphia - 3-3-2

Thaddeus Young, Lou Williams and Willie Green all deserve a look, with Young looking like the safest option.

Phoenix - 4-3-2

Grant Hill is hurting with a wrist and groin injury, making Leandro Barbosa a solid play right now. Gordan Giricek will also get some run in his absence, while Boris Diaw should see minutes as well. GG and Diaw are risky options, so take a long look at your needs and what they provide before using them.

Portland - 3-3-2

Brandon Roy is likely done for the year, meaning Jarrett Jack and Martell Webster are suddenly good looking plays. Joel Przybilla should be a nice source of boards and, along with Travis Outlaw, was huge in his last game. Steve Blake is also proving to be a serviceable point guard, as well. All five players look like solid pickups right now, and I'd rank them:

1. Przybilla
2. Outlaw
3. Blake
4. Webster
5. Jack

Sacramento - 4-3-2

Ron Artest may or may not finish the season, but as of Sunday, he sounds like he's ready to finish. If he plays, Francisco Garcia and John Salmons are very iffy fantasy starts, although they both played very well on Sunday. Beno Udrih remains sidelined with his back injury, but Anthony Johnson is hardly reliable. If we get news that Udrih will miss more time, Anthony could help your team this week. Mikki Moore is also worth playing right now, but should already be owned in most leagues. sacramentokings.com

San Antonio - 3-3-2

Not much going on here, but Michael Finley will likely be the hottest pickup of the week, as he's on fire. Kurt Thomas is also an option if you're desperate for a big man.

Seattle - 3-4-1

Jeff Green, Nick Collison, Earl Watson, Johan Petro and Damien Wilkins are all possibilities right now for the rest of the season. I'd rank them like this, although the first three are very close:

1. Watson
2. Collison
3. Green
4. Wilkins
5. Petro

Toronto - 4-3-2

Jason Kapono started on Sunday over Jamario Moon, but was ineffective. Rasho Nesterovic looks like the starting center the rest of the way and should be a very hot pickup this week, while T.J. Ford is starting over Jose Calderon for the moment. Nesterovic is the safest play, while Ford is also worth owning again.

Utah - 3-3-2

Ronnie Brewer, C.J. Miles and Paul Millsap are all worth a look right now, but their value depends on how long Andrei Kirilenko and Mehmet Okur are out. I'm guessing they both play this week, meaning that Brewer is the only one of the three guys I'd consider adding. utahjazz.com

Washington - 4-3-2

Antonio Daniels suffered a wrist injury Sunday and didn't return. DeShawn Stevenson, Roger Mason and possibly Nick Young could be nice pickups, with Stevenson being a must-own after Sunday's huge game

[Hache Man]

What's Eating Gilbert A?

Game Totals in Week 23:

Four games: CHA, MIL, LAC, MEM, ATL, MIA, NOR, SAC, NYK, DAL, DEN, IND, TOR, HOU, PHX, MIN, GST, WAS

Three games: PHI, CHI, CLE, BOS, UTA, LAL, ORL, NJN, DET, SAS, SEA, POR

Dallas took a devastating blow losing Dirk Nowitzki last week, however their schedule next week is very favorable. They have four games, all against teams that allow over 100 PPG (@lac, GST, @ lal, @phx). With The Big German out, other Mavericks will have to pick up the scoring. Jason Kidd has not been playing well lately, but with four games against leaky defenses, next week could be the one where Kidd breaks out. Other Mavs players like Josh Howard and Jason Terry will have increased value next week. Keep your eye on Erick Dampier, Jerry Stackhouse or Brandon Bass as one week fill in possibilities. dallasmavericks.com

The Hornets continue their impressive season as the number one seed in the West as of Thursday. The have a four game slate next week, three against teams who give up over 100 PPG (@mia, NYK, GST) and the fourth (@orl) gives up 99.9 PPG. David West has been en fuego lately, scoring 37, 35 and 20 points in his last three games. He will look to keep it going next week with the Bugs' favorable schedule. Chris Paul has made a legit case as the fantasy hoops MVP this season. You can never bench CP3 and his schedule next week has his fantasy owners salivating. Peja Stojakovic has been hot as well lately, scoring in double digits in his last seven games. Based on their favorable schedule, you need to play Peja and Tyson Chandler next week. If you like to gamble, you can even consider playing Bonzi Wells or Morris Peterson, depending on if either of them seize control of the 2 spot over the weekend

New Jersey has three tough Eastern Conference battles on their hands next week. With only three games next week and all three against teams in the top nine of least PPG allowed (PHI, @det, TOR), it is hard for me to recommend any Nets players except for Vince Carter in your lineups next week.

What's Eating Gilbert A?

Gilbert Arenas was just about ready to return on Sunday night, as he was at shootaround and getting warmed up and ready to play. Before tipoff, the Wizards medical staff decided to wait another week, stating that they didn't want to rush things because the team was set to play six games in the next nine days. Arenas was upset because physically and mentally he had been preparing to return Sunday night against Detroit and was understandably upset that the plans had changed without his knowledge. This is where Gilbert's blog posting on NBA.com about his return to the arena that evening got a little strange. There were some very vague references to suicidal thoughts and I really hope that it was just Gilbert being Gilbert because he is a great guy and he is such a special and talented ballplayer. Arenas should be ready to go for the playoffs, but those of you holding out hope that he will help you in the fantasy basketball playoffs, it is not looking like you will get any more than a few games out of him – if that.

Richard Hamilton has missed the last three games with a hip injury. The Pistons play again on Saturday so be sure to check the box scores Sunday morning to see if you should get Rip into your lineups next week. If Hamilton is out for any extended period, Arron Afflalo will have some value as a potential pickup.

Brandon Roy's groin injury has not got any better and has been announced as out for a minimum of the next four games. Roy himself has said he may only be able to return for the last two games of the year, which probably isn't soon enough for those of you embroiled in a battle down to the wire for the fantasy playoffs.

Jermaine O'Neal is chomping at the bit to return and is hoping he can return to the lineup in time for next week's games. O'Neal hasn't played since Januay and will probably not be at full strength from a conditioning standpoint. However, those of you who have held onto him this long, should check Rotoworld.com on Monday to see if he played over the weekend and if he is scheduled to play in the upcoming week 23 scoring period to see if next week is finally the week JO will return to the hardwood. indianapacers.com

Chris Wilcox was announced as out for the year on Thursday night after his pinkie injury just never got any better over the last couple of weeks. Nick Collison will have solid value for the rest of the season and could be a valuable pickup if he is still available in your league.

Mike Bibby owners got a scare this week, but received good news when it was announced that an MRI on his injured thumb came back negative and came back for Friday's game vs. Chicago. Similar good news out of Orlando, as the Magic have announced that after leaving his last game with an injured wrist, Hedo Turkoglu is set to return very soon as well. This news differs from other reports earlier in the week, so be sure to check back here on Rotoworld on Hedo's status.

Nothing new on Andrew Bynum as he isn't expected back until the last week of the fantasy season, so his roster spot on your fantasy team may be used more wisely if you need to scoop a center for next week's games. Pau Gasol is still out and the news seems to point to his return for next week's games, but be sure to check the latest news before setting your lineups.

Andrew Bogut had surgery on his broken nose on Friday, but is actually only listed as day-to-day. It's doubtful that Bogut could return in time for Saturday's game against Chicago, but may be able to return next week depending on the Aussie's pain tolerance.

Shawn Marion has missed eight of Miami's last nine games and there is no reason for the Heat to rush The Matrix to return from his back injury. He is a very risky play in the upcoming scoring period.

In Sacramento, Beno Udrih (back) returned for one game, but reinjured himself during the same game. Spencer Hawes also returned this week only to leave again with injury. Both Kings' players are day-to-day. Michael Pietrus is out with an injured right groin and his return date is still unkown. sacramentokings.com

Returning from injury this week were Chris Kaman, Danny Granger, LaMarcus Aldridge, Kirk Hinrich, Raja Bell and Nene.


High Five:
Stats exclusively from each player's last five games

Jeff Green 5 G, 15.6 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 1.0 BPG
Bonzi Wells 5 G, 14.2 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 55% FG, 1.2 BPG
Earl Watson 5 G, 13.8 PPG, 5.3APG, 2.8 RPG, 49% FG
Luis Scola 5 G, 13.6 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 48% FG
Rasho Nesterovic 5 G, 13.2 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 1.6 BPG, 56% FG
Ronny Turiaf 5 G, 12.4 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.2 BPG, 54% FG
Flip Murray 5 G, 12.0 PPG, 3.8 APG, 3.0 RPG, 47% FG, 5 3-pointers
Anthony Parker 5 G, 11.4 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 3.6 APG, 7 3-pointers

Scoop De Ville:
Other players you should scoop onto your fantasy rosters

Martell Webster – Averaging 16+ PPG, 3+ RPG over last 5 G
Jerry Stackhouse – Scoring will increase with Dirk out - 17, 19, 20, 18 pts in last 4.
Al Thornton – 20+ pts in two of last five games.
Kendrick Perkins – If you need blocks/rebs, KP is your man.
Steve Blake – 22 pts, 6 ast in last game. Could pick up game with Roy out.
Chris Quinn – Who cares what Shaq says - averaging 12.8 PPG/5.2 APG over last 5.
Smush Parker – Cheap source of dimes if you need assists.

[Hache Man]

Bogut not as funny as Borat

Monday Morning Injury Report

We posted some news on Andrew Bogut this morning that actually suggests he could shut it down for the season after nasal surgery. We haven't heard this coming from anyone in Milwaukee (yet) but it has scared me into benching him this week. I have a solid replacement in Shaq. If you have to play Bogut, you have to play him. But if you have other alternatives, it might be wise to go there. He truly could play all week and go off, or not be heard from again this season.

Andrew Bogut – nose – May play, but some talk of shutting him down. Your call.
Drew Gooden – groin – MRI today, risky start. Hello, Tyrus Thomas?
Ben Wallace – back – Won't be 100% again. Bench him for Anderson Varejao.
Tim Thomas – Achilles – Struggled recently. Hello, Al Thornton.
Elton Brand – Achilles – Will likely play this week, but how much?
Shawn Marion – back – Missed 7 straight. Why would Heat bother playing him?
Jason Williams – thumb – Thumb was in a cast, making him very risky.
Daequan Cook – concussion - Day-to-day. Start at your own risk.
Marcus Banks – hamstring – Could play this week, hurting value of Chris Quinn.
Andrei Kirilenko – calf – Day-to-day, but probably not a safe start in weeklies.
Mehmet Okur – flu – Improved condition Sunday, I'm guessing he plays.
Beno Udrih – back – Missed all four games last week, start at own risk.
Zach Randolph – flu – Missed two straight, should be back, but who knows?
Pau Gasol – ankle – Hopeful for Wednesday, start at own risk.
Andrew Bynum – knee – Could play this week, but how much? Bench him.
Jameer Nelson – head – Day-to-day, but don't trust him. Seek other options.
Jerry Stackhouse – groin – Iffy for Monday. Timing of injury poor with Dirk down.
Dirk Nowitzki – leg – Hoping for Wednesday. Start at your own risk.
Jermaine O'Neal – knee – Says he'll play tonight, but how much? Your call.
Jamaal Tinsley – knee – Done.
Steve Nash – shoulder – Playing through spasms. Roll with him.
Grant Hill – groin/wrist – I don't like this injury combo. Weigh options.
Chris Wilcox – finger – Done.
Brandon Roy – groin – Could be done for season. Bench him.
Gilbert Arenas – knee – Wants to play this week, but how much? Bench him.
Antonio Daniels – wrist – Too many injuries to count. Hello, DeShawn.
Etan Thomas – heart – Could play this week, but no fantasy value.
Ronnie Brewer – groin – Played very well Sunday, injury makes him iffy.
Mickael Pietrus – groin – Doubtful Tuesday and Wednesday. Bench him.
Al Harrington – thumb – Playing through thumb injury, although inconsistently.
Charlie Bell – knee – Iffy for week, hello, Desmond Mason.
Aaron Gray – back – Day-to-day, but Joakim Noah is the play.
Daniel Gibson – ankle – aggravated injury Sunday, bench for now.
Quinton Ross – foot – Day-to-day. No fantasy value anyway.
Spencer Hawes – ankle – Will get run if healthy, but burned us last week.
Kenny Thomas – foot – No value if he plays again.
Maurice Ager – flu – No value when healthy.
Juan Dixon – calf – No value when healthy.
Primoz Brezec – groin – No value when healthy.
Brent Barry – calf - Shouldn't play at all this week.
Robert Horry – knee – No value when healthy.
Sebastian Telfair – ankle – Conflicting reports on whether he'll play again this season.

Pickup Lines

DeShawn Stevenson buried eight treys last night on his way to 27 points, while Nick Young also scored a career-high 27. It's not surprising that Antonio Daniels missed all but three minutes of this game with a wrist injury, and both players deserve some serious attention right now. We still don't know the severity of Daniels' injury, but Stevenson should be picked up either way. Caron Butler triple-doubled in the loss to the Lakers.

Sasha Vujacic hit six threes on his way to 20 points last night and has hit 18 treys over his last four games. Wow. Vladimir Radmanovic hit four of them for 18 points, and helped me win a championship game this week. Ronny Turiaf also chipped in with 10 points, six rebounds and four blocks. His numbers haven't been huge, but he's been a steady play at the end of fantasy rosters. He'll take a hit with Pau Gasol coming back this week, but is still worth owning.

Brandon Bass finally got some minutes last night and had 21 points, while Erick Dampier was ineffective against the Warriors. Neither player is a safe start right now, but could be used depending on your options. Jason Kidd just missed a trip-dub and Josh Howard has been a beast with Dirk out of the lineup, but the Mavs are quickly dropping out of the playoff hunt. If they don't make it, I don't see how the Avery Johnson regime would return next year.

Damien Wilkins is officially back, and I'm still not sure why he fell out of the rotation after a hot start to the season. He had 18 points and two threes last night and has hit double figures in six straight. If you need a player in a deep league, you can pick him up. Earl Watson blew up for 20 points and 12 dimes on 9-of-15 shooting last night, and I've got him firmly planted in a championship game lineup for the upcoming week.

Francisco Garcia had 21 points and a bunch of other stuff last night, but is not trustworthy as long as Ron Artest is playing. Then again, he's also playing point guard, so his value also hinges on the pending return of Beno Udrih. Speaking of Udrih, I'd like to thank him for costing me a playoff win last week by sitting out four games. Oh well. Play Garcia at your own risk. sacramentokings.com

Leon Powe had 17 points and 13 boards as the Celtics rolled the Washington Generals on Sunday. The Celtics have a pretty easy schedule the rest of the way, so Powe could find himself getting run in blowouts. If you're in a real deep league, he could actually be a gamble that pays off.

Devin Brown replaced Sasha Pavlovic in the starting lineup for Cleveland on Sunday and it looks like he may start the rest of the way. He only hit 3-of-13 shots, but played 42 minutes. With Daniel Gibson hurting, Brown is another guy you'll have to look at in real deep leagues. And Delonte West finally showed up off an injury, blowing up for 18 points, four treys, six boards, 11 assists, two steals and three blocks. I've been waiting for that for a month, but it remains to be seen if he can keep it going.

Carlos Delfino had 18 points and three 3-pointers Sunday and could be on the verge of more minutes from Sam Mitchell. Jamario Moon came off the bench for Jason Kapono, but will be back in the starting five this week. Delfino could be the best play of the three. And Anthony Parker mysteriously played just 18 minutes yesterday, but there's still no word of why that was.

Nate Robinson came back from a knee injury for 12 points in yesterday's loss to the Hawks. It could be time for Nate to blow up over the last eight games. Speaking of blowing up, Jamal Crawford stayed hot, hitting seven threes for 39 points.

Michael Finley scored 22 points on Sunday and is averaging close to 20 ppg over his last four. He's hit seven treys over that stretch and should be a solid pickup for the rest of the way.

Luis Scola scored a season-high 24 points to go with seven boards, but the Rockets fell to the Spurs. Luther Head started over Shane Battier (which appears to have backfired on Rick Adelman), but I don't expect for it to happen again.

My League Updates

Congratulations to Hector Castro, who co-captained a team with me for the second straight season. We won the championship last night despite losing Yao Ming and trading Amare Stoudemire. We got huge help from guys like Darko Milicic and Turiaf this week, while Troy Murphy's run over the second half can't be ignored. Trading Zach Randolph and acquiring guys like Monta Ellis and Gerald Wallace didn't hurt either, while Kevin Martin's return from injury and Devin Harris' emergence were also key to the win in the Fox H2H League.

In the poorly named Developmental League, I was taken out for the second straight year by my buddy Amy Seidenwurm. Last year we met in the Finals, and she took me out in the first round this year. Had I gotten a single game from Beno Udrih last week, I win. Andrei Kirilenko and Andrew Bogut also missed time, while Amy's team was running at full strength. I cruised into the playoffs and thought I had a real shot at winning the whole thing, while Amy squeaked into the postseason. Oh well. utahjazz.com

In the Ultimate Basketball Challenge, which is the league I most want to win after five or six years of futility, I held off Sportsline's Dan Dobish in a two-week semi-final match and will face Dave Gawron in the Finals over the next two weeks. This is going to be an evenly matched battle between the teams with the two best regular-season records. Good stuff. League alumni include guys named Hollinger, Berry and Karabell.

League Freak was a waste for me this year. I still like my team, but they could just never get into a groove.

Jason Williams and Spencer Hawes were my undoing in the Dropping Dimes League, as Matt Satten rolled me like I was the Heat last week. I had a very solid regular season, but the team folded up shop in the playoffs, even if I wouldn't have lost my mind and started Hawes and J-Will.

I'm hanging around in second place in the Rotoworld Rotisserie League and should finish there, while ESPN's Brian McKitish waltzes to an easy win. Actually, that one's not over yet, as Brian Styers from Yahoo! is right on my tail in third.

And in my main league, the granddaddy, Ode To Trinkle, I'm firmly locked in second place and would need a meltdown of historic proportions to drop to third.

A fairly successful year for me overall, but it would have looked a lot better if I would have at least made a run at a second straight League Freak title. Maybe next year.

[Hache Man]

Kaveman + Crutches = Disaster

So you got Jermaine O'Neal back last night, and you might benefit by the fact that Pau Gasol and Elton Brand are set to return as well. But if you own Chris Kaman, the news isn't so good. Just like the circle of life, as Brand is set to return, Kaman's season is likely over after suffering a nasty sprained right ankle last night. He left the arena on crutches and I'd be shocked to see him play again this season. Josh Powell will likely step up in his place. In other Clippers' news, Cuttino Mobley also left with a heel injury and Tim Thomas remained out with his Achilles' injury. Al Thornton was money again last night and I'm trying to decide where he goes in next year's drafts. Fourth round? Seventh? I'll go with Round 5 for now. The Mavs beat the Clips and were led by Jason Kidd's 27 points. Kidd had a sweet line, but just four assists, while Jason Terry scored 20 in the absence of Jerry Stackhouse. Stack is still day-to-day with his groin injury, and I need him back more than ever with the loss of Kaman. It's sad when injuries dictate the outcome of championship games, but that's just the way it is. dallasmavericks.com

The Raptors' lineup was back to normal last night with Jamario Moon starting and producing, but Jose Calderon owners are still fuming over his one-point, one-assist performance. T.J. Ford had 16 points and seven dimes in the start, and clearly has more value than J.C. at this point. For Charlotte, Gerald Wallace returned from a myriad of injuries and had a nice line in the loss, while Emeka Okafor had another double-double and Jason Richardson had a nice line.

The Pacers beat the Generals last night and celebrated the return of Jermaine O'Neal, who had nine points and a block in 18 minutes. His return crushed Troy Murphy's mojo, as he finished with just seven points and four boards. O'Neal will likely play until the Pacers are finally put out of the playoff race for good, then shut it down again. For the Generals, Ricky Davis continues to struggle, finishing with just seven points, although he did have seven assists as well, while Mark Blount tallied one rebound.

The Hawks stayed hot last night and beat the Grizzlies, led by Josh Smith's 26 points, eight boards, six assists, three steals and a block on 11-of-13 shooting. It's been awhile since we've seen Smoov play like this, so owners have to be excited about the hot start to his week. Rudy Gay's line was almost as nice as Smoov's, while Darko Milicic, Mike Miller and Mike Conley were all awful in limited minutes for Memphis. Forget about Nellie…Marc Iavaroni is officially the most frustrating fantasy coach out there, and using any Grizzly outside of Gay is a risk right now.

The Suns made a 22-point comeback to beat the Nuggets behind Steve Nash's season-high 36 points and eight threes to go along with eight assists. Amare Stoudemire went off again, finishing with 41 points and 14 boards, while Raja Bell double-doubled with 15 points, 10 boards, five dimes and three 3-pointers in the absence of Grant Hill. Leandro Barbosa was disappointing, hitting just 2-of-10 shots for six points. Hill is probably out until at least Friday with his groin injury, so look for Barbosa to bounce back. J.R. Smith led the Nuggs with 23 points and three 3-pointers, and should be good for at least one more big line this week.

The Jazz blitzed the Wizards despite not having the services of Andrei Kirilenko (calf, hopeful for Wednesday) and Ronnie Brewer (day-to-day, groin). C.J. Miles blew up for a career-best 29 points to go along with five dimes, four rebounds, four threes and a steal. Wow. utahjazz.com If he was somehow in your lineup last night, congratulations. I don't know if Miles is worth owning, but because groin injuries are so tricky, he's probably worth a shot. Mehmet Okur returned from the flu for 16 points and a stellar fantasy line. For the Wizards, Caron Butler was out with a strained hamstring, but is hoping to play on Wednesday. Butler's owners are lucky the Wiz are still in the playoff hunt, or Butler's season would have ended long ago. Although having him miss a game with zero notice in during Championship Week (for many of you) can't exactly be classified as luck. Andray Blatche started in his place and had six points and eight boards, but won't have value if Butler does return on Wednesday. Antonio Daniels was out with a wrist injury and will see a specialist, but is also hoping to play on Wednesday. While he's out, Roger Mason, DeShawn Stevenson and Nick Young will all see a boost in value, although Stevenson and Young were disappointing last night after Sunday's explosion.

Loose Ends

Pau Gasol is still hoping to play for the Lakers on Wednesday, there's still no word on Andrew Bynum's return date, and Elton Brand will make his Clippers season debut on either Thursday or Sunday.

Andrew Bogut will reportedly start tonight, which is great news given the scare we got about him shutting it down on Monday. He should be safe to put back in your lineup.

Jameer Nelson is set to start tonight despite a sore jaw and some post-concussion symptoms.

Richard Hamilton missed practice yesterday with his lingering hip injury and it's possible he could be in line for more missed games in order to get healthy for the playoffs. It could be Rodney Stuckey time.

Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks could play at some point this week, although both are doubtful for Wednesday. Why Marion would bother playing for the Generals again this season is beyond me.

Bostjan Nachbar could be on the verge of being shut down for the year with a bad back.

Drew Gooden's ab strain could keep him out all week, making Tyrus Thomas look like a decent option as of now.

Ben Wallace has no structural damage in his back, but won't likely be at 100% again this season. I don't know when he'll play again, but I do know that his owners would actually be happy if he would just stop playing until the playoffs. His name is definitely bigger than his bite these days and he has been one of the biggest disappointments in fantasy and reality over the last year and a half.

Daniel Gibson could play on Wednesday after his ankle MRI turned up good news, but I wouldn't start him right now.

Beno Udrih's season sounds like it might be over due to his back injury, although he's still day-to-day. I'm doing an about-face on Francisco Garcia and John Salmons today. Both should probably be owned right now, as Garcia will get a lot of run at point guard, while Salmons' PT has been on the rise lately. Given the Beno situation, I'd rather have Garcia than Salmons as of now. sacramentokings.com

That's it for the news. I've started to put the pieces in place to run a celebrity rock and roll hoops league next year and the names that are being kicked around to play are very impressive (in my book). I've already got commitments from several pretty big names and will let you know once things become a little clearer on whether or not it's going to happen. Feel free to shoot me an email if you want to chat about it. I'm already dreading the end of the season, but will at least get to know my family again.