NBA Fantasy News 2009-2010

[HacheMan]

West Side Story & Puppet Show
[SIZE=+1]Muppet Show[/SIZE]

The Lakers and Cavaliers squared off in Cleveland on Thursday's two-game night and as usual, LeBron James posted a monster fantasy line to lead the home team to a win. LeBron went off for 37 points, five boards, nine assists, two steals, a block and one 3-pointer on 13-of-25 shooting. He hit just 1-of-9 3-pointers, but who's counting? Kobe Bryant scored 31 points, but in what has become a disturbing trend since his finger injury, needed 31 shots to get the job done. He also added just two rebounds and four assists in the loss, but probably sold a lot of shoes last night. And was it just me or did it feel weird watching Kobe play before 10 p.m. in the East?

[SIZE=+1]West Side Stories[/SIZE]

Despite the matchup of everyone's favorite hand puppets, the story of the day was the late news that Mo Williams will miss 4-6 weeks with a shoulder injury. This went down when many East Coasters were driving home from work, so it's possible many of you missed the 'opportunity' to grab Delonte West, who now looks like the starter for the next month or so. However, what you really missed was a mess of a line from Redz, who had just three points on 1-of-4 shooting, four rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a 3-pointer despite playing 43 minutes, and a mess of a situation.

West suffered a left finger injury late in the game that is still being evaluated. I stupidly said it wasn't his shooting hand initially, but he's a lefty, making matters worse. So, with a terrible stat line and a brand new injury to the hand he shoots with, things can't get much worse for West, right? Wrong.

He also has to worry about getting suspended for his Raising Arizona Lone Biker of the Apocalypse imitation over the summer. He's supposed to be in court today for a pretrial hearing and then the real deal is supposed to get underway in February. I have no idea when David Stern is going to kick Delonte to the curb Gilly style, but you have to think it's coming at some point. The Cavs are obviously worried and are looking for point guards, with Nate Robinson rumored to be topping the list. I don't know about you, but I'd pay to watch Nate and LeBron play together.

So, in summary, if you missed out on picking West up last night, it might not be a big deal. He should still be owned in most leagues, as there's a 55% chance he will start at point guard for the next six weeks. He will play much better than he did last night (although he's not a true point guard), but this whole legal mess is a huge concern. This also means that Nate should be held onto, as usual, in case he gets traded to a team that needs him.

J.J. Hickson had 11 points and 14 rebounds, but I'm still not sure how, and Pau Gasol struggled for the Lakers, hitting just 5-of-14 shots for 13 points, eight boards and no blocks. Andrew Bynum returned from his gastro problem, but had just seven points, eight boards and two blocks. Daniel Gibson (19 minutes, three points, two assists) is another guy to keep an eye on in this Delonte saga, while Anthony Parker should get some extra minutes as well.

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[SIZE=+1]Golden Nuggets[/SIZE]

The Nuggets rolled the Clippers last night as Carmelo Anthony did his best LeBron impression with 28 points, 10 boards, two assists, two steals, a block and two 3-pointers on 7-of-18 shots. Kenyon Martin continues to quietly put up solid numbers and had 13 points, 14 boards, two steals and two blocks last night. Ty Lawson got 20 minutes of burn for 11-6-4 and two threes, but still isn't worth owning or playing as long as Chauncey Billups is healthy. J.R. Smith was awful, hitting just 1-of-7 shots for three points. I was wrong about Smith this year (add him to the Jason Richardson file) and I'm really not sure one huge night out of every five is a good reason to hang onto him. But the same rules that apply to Tyrus Thomas work for Smith. Bench him and he'll score 41 with 10 3-pointers. Cut him and he'll get hot and turn his season around.

For the Clips, the big news is that Eric Gordon is out with a toe injury, but is traveling with the team and considered day-to-day. Ricky Davis (yes, Ricky Buckets is still around) got the start and had nine points on 3-of-11 shooting. It would have to be a pretty deep league for me to roll with Buckets, but he was better than Rasual Butler (35 minutes but just two points) and Al Thornton (started over Butler, but 2-of-7 shooting in 19 minutes). In my opinion, Butler is the guy to own of these three despite last night's weirdness.

Marcus Camby backed up a 25-rebound show with seven points, six boards, zero steals and zero blocks. Ouch. I had no idea that Nene and Chris Andersen were that intimidating. Craig Smith went off for 21 points, six boards, a steal and block on 9-of-14 shooting and is suddenly very hot. To steal directly from today's Pickups of the Day column, Smith has somehow scored 17, 16, 18, 6 and 21 points in his last five games, averaging 15.6 points and 5.0 boards over that stretch. I'm still not sure why or how, but if your league's wire is really thin, he could be worth a look. The dude's nickname is 'Rhino' and he frequently takes his teammates out in practice, so let's just hope that Chris Kaman and Marcus Camby come out of his hot streak in one piece. And for the record, Smith is not my pickup of the day, but just one of many guys covered in that column for Friday.

[SIZE=+1]News and Notes[/SIZE]

Tayshaun Prince will be worked back into the mix slowly when he returns to the Pistons from his knee injury. He and Ben Gordon (groin) are still quite iffy for tonight's game, while Will Bynum is out again with his ankle problems. If you're sitting on Prince and a guy like Delonte or Carlos Delfino is sitting out there, make the move.

The Nets came out and said they have no interest in trading Devin Harris, although Rod Thorn also said "never say never." But a Harris for Caron Butler deal doesn't look likely. In other trade news, Josh Howard is clearly on the block, as the Mavs would love to find a way to get Kevin Martin for him.

The Bobcats are 10-3 since Tyson Chandler went down (for a week, remember?) with his foot injury. My guess is that his fantasy owners' teams got better about the same time, and I'm still shocked by how many "Ty Chan is available in my league, should I cut so and so to pick him up?" emails I get. He's pretty useless, but does serve a purpose in leagues where centers are tough to come by. He should get his starting job back up on his return, but I am not looking to own him in any of my 12 leagues.

Kevin Garnett should play tonight for the Celtics, Tyler Hansbrough is out again for the Pacers with an inner-ear infection and Josh Howard should play through an illness, although it could be off the bench. Kevin Love (strep throat), Shawn Marion (funeral), Jameer Nelson (rest/knee), Josh Smith (achilles/thigh) and Joe Johnson (foot) are all probable for Friday night.

And lastly, Jerryd Bayless is expected to start for Brandon Roy, who will miss at least the next FOUR games with a hamstring injury. Roy isn't seeing another doctor until next Thursday, so he's going to miss a full week and possibly longer after aggravating the injury on Wednesday night. In other words, Bayless is probably worth an add in deeper leagues.

 

[HacheMan]

Wired For Sound
[SIZE=+1]Smaller To Average-Sized Leagues[/SIZE]

These players may or may not be available in smaller to average-sized leagues consisting of 10-12 teams with rosters somewhere around 12-15 players. That should cover a majority of the fantasy hoops leagues in existence. If your league is any smaller than that, the waiver options are endless and it's just too difficult to try to figure out whether you should pick up Kevin Garnett, Luol Deng or Jason Richardson.

Andrei Kirilenko F Jazz - Kirilenko is finally starting again and had 26 points in his most recent game. He's still nowhere close to the form that gave him Top 20 fantasy value a couple years ago, but he's averaging 13 points over his last five, and still has the ability to contribute in every single category.

Robin Lopez C Suns - I will admit I was a little slow to jump on the Lopez bandwagon and it cost me, as I don't own him in a single league. Will he start the rest of the way? I have no idea, but it's quickly become clear that the Suns would rather have him clogging the middle than have their center stand outside the arc like a shooting guard. Maybe the answer is to start Channing Frye at small forward, but it hasn't happened yet. Frye is now cuttable (although he could come back strong at any time), while Lopez looks like a must-own for points, boards and blocks.

Matt Barnes G/F Magic - Barnes has been hot since he moved into the starting lineup for the Magic and should be owned in just about all leagues by now. However, he's still available in 45 percent of CBS leagues and isn't starting in many of the ones where he's owned. He had 10 points, 16 boards, six assists and three steals on Wednesday, and there should be plenty more where that came from as long as he continues to start. And he also hits a lot of threes, despite not having one the other night.

Delonte West G Cavs - I covered him pretty thoroughly in today's Daily Dose, but the late-breaking update (pun intended) is that he fractured the ring finger on his left (shooting) hand. He's day-to-day, but won't play on Saturday, thrusting Daniel Gibson into the spotlight. West is still the guy to own if he can play through the injury, but Boobie now deserves a look in deep leagues as well. West still has a ton of legal problems and could be facing a suspension, so lower your expectations if you grab him.

Carlos Delfino G/F Bucks - Delfino has been a hot pickup for a week now, but is still only owned in about half of the leagues out there. He's a 3-point shooting fiend and has been scoring well lately. He's averaging 15 points, six boards, one-plus steals and nearly three 3-pointers over his last five games, while Ersan Ilyasova has become nearly useless.

Jerryd Bayless/Martell Webster/Rudy Fernandez/Steve Blake - With Brandon Roy out for at least five games (and remember that Pau Gasol missed 11 straight with his hammy) it looks like Jerryd Bayless will start, while Steve Blake and Rudy Fernandez will see a bump off the bench. Webster is already starting and playing well, although he was awful on Wednesday at Philly. Guys like Ilyasova and Rafer Alston could be cut to acquire any of these players, which I'd rank as Webster, Bayless, Blake and Fernandez. I don't really trust Rudy too much, but he's going to play and hit a bunch of threes without Roy around. Despite the fact that the Blazers appear to be cursed (Greg Oden, Joel Przybilla, Travis Outlaw, Nicolas Batum and now Roy), they are doing an admirable job of hanging in there at 26-17 and the fifth seed in the tough West. And while he should no longer be sitting on wires anywhere, Andre Miller is getting ready to start playing like an All-Star.

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[SIZE=+1]Normal-to-Deeper Leagues[/SIZE]

These players may generally be available in 12- to 14-team leagues.

Tyrus Thomas F/John Salmons G/F Bulls - These two jokers have been a mess all season and have bounced from team to team and in and out of lineups all year. Salmons was finally starting to show signs of life until an illness kept him out of the last one, but he is set to play Friday night. Like a broken record, I've been saying all year he needs to be held onto until he gets it fixed. As for Thomas, I'm about out of energy, but he had a big second half on Wednesday to finish with 18 points, six boards, two steals and three blocks. Which is just enough to make him worth keeping around in fantasyland.

Nate Robinson G Knicks - Robinson's name continues to be linked in several trade rumors, including signing with the Celtics or Cavaliers. He's also sort of back in the rotation for Mike D, and is capable of dropping 40 on any given night. Does that mean he should be in your lineup every night? Probably not. But should he be owned? Yep.

Marcus Thornton G Hornets - Thornton has quietly hit double digits in scoring in seven straight games and has hit between one and three 3-pointers in each of those. Do I trust him to still be doing this in March? Maybe.

Tyson Chandler C Bobcats - I am not a big fan of picking Chandler up, but bad centers have inflated value in many leagues and Chandler qualifies as one. He'll probably get hurt again, and could easily be outplayed by Nazr Mohammed off the bench, but give him a look if you're dying at center. This is assuming he finally returns from his one-week foot injury that is now close to a month, and counting.

Craig Smith F/Rasual Butler G/F Clippers - I have no idea why or how, but Smith is suddenly ballin' for the Clips. He's not doing a whole lot outside of scoring, but did have 21 points, six boards, a steal and a block on Thursday. He's averaging about 16 points and five boards over his last five games, and is shooting lights out. By the time you pick him up and get him in your lineup for next week it could be too late, but he's probably a current better option than Spencer Hawes or Marreese Speights.

Butler is also worth a look. He's been starting at small forward but Al Thornton got the call in the last one. Butler did almost nothing, but did play 35 minutes. If you need threes and a guy who can score 20 on any given night, he's worth a look. Ricky Davis started in place of injured Eric Gordon on Thursday, but should only be considered in real deep leagues.

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[SIZE=+1]Extremely Deep Leagues[/SIZE]

George Hill G Spurs - Hill is suddenly starting over Richard Jefferson, or at least he did in his last one. In any case, he's started in two straight games and has scored 16 in both of those, while scoring in double figures in six of his last seven. If Gregg Popovich is obsessed with keeping the old dudes healthy, running Hill until his wheels fall off makes perfect sense. I think I'm nearly sold, although he's not great in many categories outside of scoring, to go along with some threes and dimes.

Omri Casspi/Donte' Greene/Jon Brockman - Casspi has fallen from the starting five, but still managed to finish with 16 points and eight boards in 30 minutes. He was dropped in many league when he was dumped from the starting unit, but could easily still get 30 mpg and put up similar numbers to what he's done all year (points, boards, threes).

Greene and Brockman are intriguing as starters, but their efforts on Wednesday were horrendous. But in deep leagues where warm bodies are at a premium, they're certainly worth keeping an eye on.

Arron Afflalo G/F Nuggets - Afflalo has somehow avoided this list all year but has quietly been effective as the Nuggs' fifth starter. He's averaging 11 points, three boards, two assists, nearly a steal and two 3-pointers in 28 minutes per game over his last five. If that helps your team, go for it.

Dorell Wright G/F Heat - Wright has long been an intriguing fantasy player to keep an eye on for most of his career and blew up for 16 points, seven boards, two blocks and a 3-pointer in Wednesday's role as the star of the Washington Generals. The Heat were blown off the floor in a 39-point humiliation by the Bobcats, who played the role of the Globetrotters. Who knows if or when he'll do it again, but he's a guy worth grabbing in a 20-team league, and is worth keeping an eye on in most others.

Jerry Stackhouse G/F Bucks - Speaking of warm bodies, Stack returned to the league via the Bucks on Wednesday and had three points, five boards, four assists and a 3-pointer in 17 minutes. He will get better if he can stay healthy, so give him a look in a real deep league.

 

[HacheMan]

Guards Letting Us Down
Marching Into Miami

Congratulations to the Colts and Saints. If you are a long-lost Manning uncle and have some old family footage of the boys running around in the driveway/yard/street from 1975, I'm sure you can sell it for a ton of cash. Even if you only have video of two-year old Cooper stumbling down the street in his diaper, that will be good enough. The networks are going to go on an all-out Manning blitz, given Archie's ties to NO and Peyton on his way to another SB ring (I hope). I'm really happy for the Manning family though, as they might finally get a chance for some air time.

Letting Your Guard Down - Injuries to guards seem to be all the rage right now. Devin Harris, Leandro Barbosa, Brandon Roy, Jerryd Bayless, Derrick Rose, Delonte West, Mo Williams, Jason Kidd, Ben Gordon, Will Bynum, Monta Ellis, Anthony Morrow, Sebastian Telfair, Eric Gordon and Nate Robinson are all on the injury report heading into Week 14. Big man Joakim Noah has a foot problem that will give owners a headache this week as well. The latest report is that he doesn't sound too optimistic about playing on Monday. If you own any of these players, be sure to check out the latest news blurbs about them on Rotoworld.

Devin's Gonna Be All Right - Devin Harris' MRI on his wrist was negative and he remains day-to-day. This is good news, as nothing is broken, but he's probably too risky to use this week.

Half Monta? - Monta Ellis' ankle injury remains mysterious, although we're suppoed to get an update this afternoon. With four games, I think you go ahead and start him, but owners looking for some field goal percentage relief might want to give him a week off.

Melo Yello - Carmelo Anthony has already been ruled out for Monday's game due to a sprained ankle. That leaves him with three more games this week and my gut says he'll play in those. But he's an extremely risky start in weekly leagues and owners have to weigh their options carefully. I own him in several weekly leagues and have still not made up my mind on him yet.

West of the Fields - David West is iffy for Monday with his sprained ankle, although it's only considered to be "mild." He's another very tough call for the week

Delonte West is not likely to play on Monday with his fractured ring finger, but it does sound like he plans on playing with the injury at some point. With Mo Williams out for until March with a shoulder injury, I think Delonte is still worth hanging onto, but I wouldn't start him this week. Daniel Gibson will continue to start until West is ready to play, but LeBron will be the guy doing most of the dishing in Cleveland. Gibson's worth a look in very deep leagues, but I don't trust him enough to start him in most of mine.

I was asked why LeBron's not considered a guard since he basically is the point guard in Cleveland. While it's true that LeBron basically runs the offense in Cleveland, he starts at small forward and logs 90 percent of his minutes at forward. He's also roughly the size of a cement mixer and is the truest definition of a forward in the entire league. Of course, he runs like a gazelle and passes like a point guard, but that's not going to be enough to get him guard eligibility in our lifetime.

Where You Ben? - Ben Gordon is finally expected to come back from his groin injury on Wednesday. I'll believe it when I see it, but it does sound like he should play. Gordon is actually being dumped in many leagues and regardless of how useless he's been this season, he's still Ben Gordon, and should be owned in most leagues.

Skin Trade - Amare Stoudemire is being heavily shopped by the Suns and he could literally end up anywhere. Cleveland, Detroit, Golden State and Minnesota have all been mentioned, while we're guessing that just about every team in the league has talked to the Suns about Stoudemire in the past week. There's no sense in worrying about where he's going or what it will do to his value, as there is no way of knowing what will happen. His game shouldn't change much regardless of where he lands, although you'd have to think his numbers would go up in Detroit or Golden State, and down in Cleveland.

The Cavaliers are also said to be interested in acquiring Troy Murphy or Antawn Jamison, as they continue to try to add pieces in order to win LeBron James a championship. The Blazer said recently that they have no intentions of trading Andre Miller, but I bet they wouldn't hesitate moving him for the right offer. Speaking of Miller, it's hard to believe how useless he was earlier in the season, but Nate McMillan has finally gotten on the same page as the rest of the world and is using Miller properly these days.

About Last Night

The Knicks got housed at home by 50 points to a Dallas Mavericks team who got 15 minutes from Josh Howard, and zero minutes from Jason Kidd and Erick Dampier. Kidd was out for personal reasons and Damp with a knee injury, but both players are expected back for the next one. The fact they were beaten by 50 at home to that team is just shocking, even for the Knicks. Dallas' leading scorers were Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry with 20 a piece, while seven players were in double figures. Kidd and Damp took the right day off. As for the Knicks? They were led by Jared Jeffries' 14 points, which should tell you everything you need to know. Nate Robinson and his hamstring are a pretty tough call again in weekly leagues, and I just don't know what I'm going to do there, either.

Kobe Bryant's near triple-double wasn't enough against the Raptors, who won on some last-second free throws from Hedo Turkoglu. He still stunk it up with nine points on 1-of-6 shooting, as he simply can't figure out how to play for his new team. Andrea Bargnani, Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol all put up incredibly similar lines on the day, which carried several of my teams to late wins. Each player scored 21 or 22 points, had 8 or 9 rebounds and 1 or 2 blocks. Bynum has been a solid player since the second return of Pau Gasol and is a must-start player again. Jose Calderon played just 15 minutes for five points and five dimes, as his miserable season continues.

The Clippers easily handled the Wizards on Sunday getting double-doubles from Baron Davis and Marcus Camby, and 20 points from Chris Kaman. The Wiz got 18 points, 12 boards and three blocks from Brendan Haywood, which was a huge relief for us Haywood owners after he did almost nothing in his previous game. Randy Foye finally came back to earth from a hot run and had just six points and three dimes on 3-of-9 shooting. Antawn Jamison had 20 & 10, while Mike Miller came off the bench to score eight points, with a rather full stat line in limited minutes. If DeShawn Stevenson is still starting over him by the end of the week it would be a travesty. Eric Gordon was out again for the Clippers with a toe injury, and while it doesn't seem to be a serious injury, the lack of information about it is a little disturbing. The Clips play four games this week but I'm not sure I'd feel too secure about starting Gordon.
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Monday Morning Injury Report

Brian Scalabrine – shoulder – No reason to use him if healthy.
Kevin Garnett – knee – Seems to be good to go for now.
Marquis Daniels – wrist – Out until All-Star break.
Tyson Chandler – foot – Iffy for week again, I'd bench him.
Raymond Felton – ankle – Played through it on Saturday, should be safe.
Joakim Noah – foot – Surprise scratch Sat., not sounding likely for Monday.
Derrick Rose – flu – Not feeling well, sounds like GTD.
Brad Miller – knee – Doesn't sound serious, could be nice if Noah sits.
Delonte West – finger – Broken finger, iffy for the week. Bench him.
Mo Williams – shoulder – Out 4-6 weeks, West, Gibson benefit.
Jamario Moon – abdomen – Could play Monday, but not much value.
Leon Powe – knee – Getting closer, but not this month.
Erick Dampier – knee – Sounds likely for Tuesday.
Jason Kidd – personal – Should be back for Tuesday, as far as we know.
Carmelo Anthony – ankle – Ruled out for Monday, very risky in weeklies.
Ben Gordon – groin – Targeting Weds, but Pistons play just 3 games.
Will Bynum – ankles – Could play this week, but very risky.
Monta Ellis – ankle – More info coming today, very risky.
Anthony Randolph – ankle – Will miss extended time. Bench or cut him.
Anthony Morrow – knee – Could miss another week. Hello, Cartier Martin.
Vladimir Radmanovic – Achilles – Day-to-day, but still Vlad-Rad. Avoid.
Chuck Hayes – knee – Sound like he'll continue to play through soreness.
Tracy McGrady – personal – Won't play for Rockets while they try for trade.
Tyler Hansbrough – ear – Will play again, but no reason to risk him now.
Jeff Foster – back – Ditto. No hurry to rush him back.
T.J. Ford – healthy – Fourth-string point guard, inexplicably.
Sebastian Telfair – groin – 4-6 weeks means more P/T for Baron.
Eric Gordon – toe – Day-to-day, but pretty risky fantasy start.
Blake Griffin – knee – Season over.
Michael Redd – knee surgery – Season over.
Joe Alexander – hamstring – Chillin' in the D-League.
David West – ankle – Iffy for Monday, but sprain is "mild."
Morris Peterson – back – No value when healthy, Thornton looking good.
Devin Harris – wrist – MRI negative, remains day-to-day after missing Sat.
Nate Robinson – hamstring – Iffy for week, I'm benching him.
Vince Carter – shoulder – Playing, but really struggling.
Allen Iverson – knee – Still playing through it, risky, as usual.
Leandro Barbosa – hand – Out until Feb., good news for J-Rich.
Brandon Roy – hamstring – Out another week, hello Webster.
Jerryd Bayless – ankle – GTD Monday, but should have decent week.
Travis Outlaw – foot – Not due back til late in year.
Nicolas Batum – shoulder – Could play on Monday.
Greg Oden – knee – Could possibly play late in year?
Francisco Garcia – wrist – Targeting return at All-Star break?
Michael Finley – ankle – Still out with injury, not much value healthy.
Reggie Evans – foot – Could play soon, but not much value.
Andrei Kirilenko – finger – Sounds like he'll play, locked in starting 5.
Gilbert Arenas – suspended – Suspension news coming this week?

 

[HacheMan]

Monta's Deal
Monday night offered plenty of action, some memorable performances and some head scratchers. Here's what you missed. And don't forget about Ryan's live chat today at 2 p.m.

[SIZE=+1]Take Me Down To the Infirmary[/SIZE]

Monta Ellis is slated to miss Tuesday's game with a sprained right ankle but says he will be ready to go on Wednesday night. There have also been some trade rumors about Ellis, but it doesn't sound like he's going anywhere.

David West had 18 points and seven boards on 4-of-13 shooting in Tuesday's win, admirably playing through his sprained ankle. Congratulations if you rolled the dice on him this week.

Chris Andersen injured his ankle last night and didn't return to the game. He blocked five shots and is now day-to-day. Kenyon Martin is healthy, but saw his night cut short thanks to an ejection, while Carmelo Anthony sat out with his sprained ankle. K-Mart and Melo should be back on Wednesday, meaning Arron Afflalo's incredible night isn't likely to happen again.

Joakim Noah had 11 points, five boards and a block in a valiant effort despite his sore foot, while Derrick Rose played through the flu and had 27 points, six assists and a rare 3-pointer on 13-of-23 shooting.

Al Horford left Monday's game to get stitches in his left thumb, but played through the pain to finish with 10 points, nine rebounds and zero blocks. He should be good to go for the next one.

Eric Gordon missed last night's game with his ongoing toe issue and remains day-to-day. Rasual Butler had 17 points and two threes in the loss.

Grant Hill last just four minutes last night before leaving with a bruised heel. With Leandro Barbosa also hurting, look for big minutes for Jason Richardson and Goran Dragic.

Delonte West and Mo Williams were both out for the Cavs yesterday, allowing Daniel Gibson to go for 15 points and four 3-pointers in a tough win over the Heat.

Jerryd Bayless played 13 minutes through a sprained ankle, but was clearly still bothered by the injury. If you started him this week, it could be a long six days.

Al Harrington (knee) Wilson Chandler (groin) and Nate Robinson (hamstring) are currently all hurting for the Knicks. Harrington's a go on Tuesday, Chandler looks like a game-time decision and Nate is not supposed to play tonight. All should be considered day-to-day for now.

Jason Kidd is expected to return from his personal absence tonight, while Erick Dampier should play through his sore knee.

Ron Artest is expected to play tonight after missing Monday's trip to the White House with the flu.

X-Rays were negative on Devin Harris' wrist, but he's still day-to-day and very iffy for Wednesday.

Ben Gordon and Will Bynum practiced for the Pistons on Monday and my guess is both will play on Wednesday night. Start them at your own risk.

[SIZE=+1]Big Star(s)[/SIZE]

Chris Paul had 24 points, seven rebounds, 12 assists, five steals and three 3-pointers in Monday's win over Portland. Oh, and he hit the game-winner as well. Marcus Thornton moved into his new role of starting shooting guard and had 19 points and three 3-pointers. I am quickly becoming a huge fan of his work.

Wesley Matthews scored a career-high 21, 10 of which came in the fourth quarter as the Jazz came back to beat the Suns. He's scored a total of 22 in his previous four games, so I'm not ready to declare him a pickup just yet. Carlos Boozer had 21 points and 20 rebounds, and is averaging 21 points, 13 boards, 2 steals and nearly a block per game over his last five. Andrei Kirilenko was also strong with 25 points despite a jammed finger. AK-47 is locked and loaded into the starting lineup going forward, so make sure he's not available in your league.

Goran Dragic went off for a career high for the second straight night, hitting 10-of-13 shots and 6-of-7 3-pointers for 32 points. I think it's safe to say he may never play that well again, but with Grant Hill and Leandro Barbosa hurting, he is nearly an automatic pickup right now. Channing Frye also proved he's not done, hitting five treys and scoring 21 points in the loss. Steve Nash added 15 points and 15 assists to become the eighth player in history to hand out 8,000 assists, while the Suns blew a big, late lead to lose to the Jazz. Jason Richardson also looks decent again and had 14 points, six boards, a steal, a block and two 3-pointers in the loss.

Arron Afflalo went off with all the injuries in Denver and hit six 3-pointers to tie a career high of 24 points on 9-of-11 shooting. Afflalo has quietly been starting for much of the season and is worth a look in almost any league, although last night was probably as good as it gets with him.

Josh Smith quietly had 22 points, 10 rebounds, four steals and four blocks on 9-of-16 shooting, while his performance was nearly overshadowed by the fact his coach showed up with his eyebrows missing. Here's what Smoove did while using Woody as a human Mr. Potato Head. If any of you were Arrested Development fans, you have to think of Stan Sitwell and his fake eyebrows.

Zach Randolph went off again for 23 points and 19 rebounds while Dwight Howard countered with 27 points, 15 boards and six blocks in the loss. Don't look now, but Howard has hit 38-of-51 free throws in his last four games, but I don't expect him to keep it going. And in case you've been sleeping on the Grizzlies, they are a good team. They're 24-19 and 7-3 in their last 10.

Lou Williams came off the bench for 16 points, five assists, two blocks, a steal and two 3-pointers for the Sixers, as Eddie Jordan continues to keep everyone guessing with his strange rotations. If Lou was cut in your league, he's still worth owning for now. Allen Iverson had 20 points, six dimes and a three in the loss to the Pacers, as he continues to work himself into shape.

The Pacers got 16 points, three 3-pointers, four boards, two steals and a block from Brandon Rush. Rush is averaging 13 points, two threes and a block per over his last six games. Dahntay Jones was also solid with 18 points, four boards, four assists and a steal in the win, while Roy Hibbert came off the bench for a quiet line.

I'd probably be breaking some sort of NBA writer's law if I didn't mention LeBron James and Dwyane Wade squaring off in a classic battle that saw each player score 32 points last night, and the Cavs win the game. But there wasn't anything all that brilliant about either player's line, and Wade scored just two points after going off for 30 in the first half.

[SIZE=+1]Two Points for Honesty[/SIZE]

Elton Brand is starting for the Sixers but had just 12 points, six boards, zero steals and zero blocks last night. Samuel Dalembert was on the bench for the fourth quarter (usually where Lou Williams is at that time) and finished with just two points, 13 boards, a steal and no blocks. I think I speak for most of us when I say life will get easier once Eddie Jordan is out of there.

Robin Lopez had just eight points, four boards and zero blocks in the loss. He continues to start, and is still likely worth owning, but his hot start after his promotion was probably too good to be true. Frye is not going away quietly.

J.R. Smith was not suspended by the Nuggets and had 12 points, six rebounds, three assists, two steals, a block and two 3-pointers in a win over Charlotte, but hit just 5-of-14 shots on the night. He's one of those guys who tends to blow up when you're least expecting it, so don't be surprised if he has one of the monster games in his next three.

Richard Jefferson was 1-of-8 for two points in 26 minutes last night, and it's hard to believe just how bad he's been. If you've been holding on and waiting for him to get it turned around, this might have been the final straw. If I owned him, I'd probably cut him on principle.

Trevor Ariza was flat-out benched against the Hawks last night, hitting 4-of-11 shots for eight points in just 23 minutes. I have been waiting patiently for him to get it going, but my patience is wearing thin. Hopefully the benching works as a wake-up call, but I'm not holding my breath.

J.J. Hickson had been hot for the Cavs, coming into Monday averaging 10 points and 11.5 boards over his last two. Of course, as soon as you get him into your lineup he disappears for zero points and one board in 13 minutes. He'll be better than that on most nights, but is not likely to become a double-double guy anytime soon.

 

[HacheMan]

Kevin Martin's A Hot Mess
Tuesday Wrap Up

Kings of the Wild Frontier

Beno Udrih had 24 points, four boards, five assists and two steals in 31 minutes as the Kings beat Golden State last night. Spencer Hawes got a start due to Jon Brockman missing the game with a hip injury, and responded with 18 points, 13 boards, three blocks and a 3-pointer in the win. Both of these guys have been dropped by most owners over the past few weeks, and while both lines were encouraging, they did come against the Warriors. And there's no D in GSW. However, Kevin Martin didn't have anything to offer against the Warriors and appears to have lost his swagger. He has no confidence, can't figure out his shot and could even be a little intimidated by Tyreke Evans. Whatever Martin's problem is, he's not helping his trade value and should be benched until further notice in fantasyland. Jason Thompson could be in the same boat after last night's 14 minutes and four points.

Vladimir Radmanovic returned for the Warriors but failed to score in seven minutes. Why he was in the starting lineup is only a question that Nellie can answer, although I'm not even sure he has a reason. Andris Biedrins played just 23 minutes (8 & 6) despite a tasty matchup with the Kings, while Cartier Martin continues to play well and had 20 points in 34 minutes. The ROY showdown between Stephen Curry and Evans was won by Curry and his 27 points, nine boards, six assists and three 3-pointers. Evans had 23 points, six boards and four assists, but Curry is currently the hottest rook, averaging 25 points, six boards, five assists, two steals and a three 3-pointers over his last five games. Corey Maggette came crashing back to earth Tuesday, hitting just 3-of-22 shots. He also hit a bunch of free throws, as usual, to finish with 19 points and 12 rebounds, but this could be a sign that the run is coming to an end.

Black Hole Suns

The Bobcats beat the Suns in OT getting solid games from Raymond Felton, Gerald Wallace and Stephen Jackson, while Boris Diaw awoke from a slumber with 24 points, 11 boards, five assists, a steal and a block. Diaw had been ice cold, but got things turned around. Speaking of ice cold, Jason Richardson continues to boggle the mind as he had six points on 2-of-12 shooting in 45 freaking minutes. I know a lot of you are holding me liable for how Richardson does this season, and I take responsibility for my pimping actions, but it's not really my fault the guy can't do better than six points in 45 minutes. Goran Dragic came back to earth after a couple of career nights with 12 points, three dimes and one 3-pointer on 3-of-7 shooting. He's still worth a pickup, but I think it's safe to say his best games of this season are behind him. Jared Dudley made a start over injured Grant Hill and blew up for 18 points, 10 boards and four 3-pointers. Dudley was hot earlier in the year and has been a 3-point machine, but was not worth owning after disappearing recently. This may not change things too much, but he should definitely be back on your radar screen.

The Buck Pets

The Bucks put up a valiant effort last night but fell to the Mavs by a point. Carlos Delfino stayed hot with 22 points, six boards, five assists and four more 3-pointers on 8-of-12 shooting. He still looks like the real deal, but I wonder if he'll still be doing it a month from now. Andrew Bogut had the line of the night with 32 points on 13-of-14 shooting to go along with nine rebounds and a block. What a season he's having after back surgery. Oh, and late-breaking news - Brandon Jennings still can't shoot (5-of-16).

The Mavs saw the return of Jason Kidd (personal) for 11 points, four boards, 12 assists, two steals and three 3-pointers in the win. Drew Gooden was sent back to the bench with the return of Erick Dampier, and had just six points in 13 minutes, while Dampier had 11 rebounds in 35 minutes. Jason Terry stayed hot with 21 points and four threes in another start at shooting guard.

Love Comes Tumbling

Kevin Love was not in the starting unit and played just 17 minutes in last night's blowout loss to the Knicks. I have no idea what Kurt Rambis is doing with Love and his minutes, but I think this is nothing more than an opportunity to buy-low on him. Ryan Gomes started and had 13 points, seven boards, two steals and two 3-pointers, which means he's worth keeping an eye on. Jonny Flynn cooled off after some big games, hitting 3-of-11 shots for six points, four assists and six turnovers. Someone begged on Twitter for me to stop Flynn's TO-fest, but I'm not sure how to do it. Al Jefferson was also bad last night, with just four points and 10 boards. Two bright spots? Corey Brewer with 22 points, four 3-pointers and 9-of-10 shooting, and Ramon Sessions with 20 points, five boards and three assists. No player has been as up and down as Brewer this season, as his highs are through the roof and his lows are pretty low. Good luck trying to figure out when to play him.

For the Knicks, Nate Robinson made a surprise return from a hamstring injury with 13 points, four boards, six assists, two steals and three 3-pointers, while Al Harrington blew up for 26 points, 10 boards and four 3-pointers. I didn't think Nate would play, while Harrington was probably on a lot of benches after stinking it up for the last couple weeks. Wilson Chandler scored 20 despite a groin injury, while Chris Duhon continued to amaze with zero points and 13 assists in the win.

Boom, Boom, Pau

Pau Gasol returned to form to lead the Lakers to a win over the Wizards with 26 points and 10 rebounds. Kobe Bryant proved he can still shoot it by draining 8-of-15 shots for 26 points, four boards and eight assists, while Ron Artest played through the flu. As he has for much of the season, Artest disappointed with five points, one rebound and two assists. Ouch.

Antawn Jamison had 27 points and nine rebounds despite playing through a sprained foot, while Mike Miller moved into the starting lineup and had 15 points, five rebounds, four assists and a 3-pointer on 7-of-12 shooting. Miller is the pickup of the day, as he should be a very solid producer in the starting five for the Wiz – if he can stay healthy. Randy Foye's hot streak is officially over, as his minutes and production have been dropping. He had 11 points and four assists last night, and while he's still worth owning in all leagues, he's no longer a must-start.

News and Notes

Eric Gordon now says he'll play tonight against the Nets after missing several games with a toe injury.

Will Bynum (ankle) doesn't sound likely for tonight, while Ben Gordon remains a game-time decision with a groin injury.

Courtney Lee is questionable for the Nets tonight due to a wisdom tooth problem, while it doesn't sound like there's a chance Devin Harris will play through his wrist injury. And really, why risk it for a three-win team?

Chris Andersen is probable with a sprained ankle, while Carmelo Anthony remains questionable with his sprained ankle. All signs are pointing to him playing tonight, although I benched him in two of my weekly leagues, thinking he could miss more time. We'll see.

DeMar DeRozan is dealing with a pair of sprained ankles, leaving him questionable.

Tyson Chandler has been fitted with a new orthotic for his shoe and plans on testing out his foot on Wednesday. Yippee!

J.R. Smith says he's made an attitude adjustment and will play nicely with his team and coach now. We'll see if it helps.

The Jazz are 6-1 since moving Andrei Kirilenko back into the starting five, and I have no idea why it took Jerry Sloan this long to figure out it was the right thing to do.

Jerryd Bayless and Juwan Howard should both be back in the starting lineup for the Blazers tonight, replacing Steve Blake and Jeff Pendergraph. Blake still has value, while Pendergraph never did. Howard was solid on Monday, but I still can't see him being worth it in most leagues. As for Bayless? He's still a bit of a mystery but there's no denying the kid has talent. I think he's a fine fantasy play on nights when he's starting, but who knows how many more of those are coming his way this year? Brandon Roy is still out with his hamstring injury, and while the plan is for him to return next week, a target date has still not been set.

Francisco Garcia remains out with the Kings (wrist) and no return date has been set. It sounds like he's probably out until the All-Star break.

 

[HacheMan]

Two Tickets to the Gun Show
Compared to last Wednesday's 13-game gargantula (made-up word), this Wednesday's 11 games look relatively light. Then again, it's easy to have that outlook in the first sentence of the column, and there's only one way to truly find out how much less digestion is involved with 11 games rather than 13: begin digesting.

AU REVOIR, GILBERT

As you probably saw, Gilbert Arenas (and Javaris Crittenton) are now officially done for the year. No major surprise in either instance, and if there's good news here it's that Arenas has a chance to hit the "Reset" button on his career beginning in 2010-11 rather than try to cobble together the patchwork remainder of this season after the turmoil of a long suspension and potentially switching teams. However, considering that Agent Zero has played a grand total of 47 games the last three seasons, you probably won't find him on any of my fantasy squads next year, regardless of where he ends up.

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

Another reminder: I'm on Twitter. You can follow me right here.

BEASTLY (not to be confused with Beasley)

Tim Duncan went for 21 points, a career-high 27 boards and added six assists, but shot just 5-for-20 from the field while hitting 11-for-11 from the free throw line. An odd but altogether delightful evening, and a great chance to try to cash him in for top-15 value if you're worried about missed games later in the season (and you should be).

Chris Paul was a little careless with the ball (seven turnovers), but otherwise demolished the Warriors with 38 points, one shy of his season-high.

It's not really news when Kobe Bryant scores 29 points (with nine rebounds and seven assists), but 10-for-15 represents his best shooting night of the month.

The Thunder lost by 10 to Chicago and only scored 86 points, but there's no complaining about Kevin Durant's line: 28 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, two threes, two steals and three blocks. Beast-ly.

Dwyane Wade had 35 points and 10 assists (and hit 8-for-8 from the free throw line after some recent struggles in that department), but the Heat lost to the Raptors, who got 24 and 18 from Chris Bosh and 27 points on 13-for-19 shooting from Andrea Bargnani.

Deron Williams was outstanding on Wednesday (24 points, five rebounds, seven assists), but will miss Friday's game to attend a funeral.

Meanwhile, LeBron James was rather quiet with 13 points and 11 assists, but that will happen when a team like the Cavs plays a team like the T'Wolves.

ALMOST FAMOUS

They aren't players on par with the LeBrons and Kobes of the world, but in a fantasy sense it's normal and understandable to be expecting big things on a nightly basis from Josh Smith, Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol. So while on some level it's newsworthy that J. Smoove went for 14 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists and Randolph and Gasol went for 24 and 13 and 25 and 12, respectively, it should not be a surprise whatsoever. They're all top-30 fantasy players this season and have the potential to finish even higher.

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED

Andrew Bynum responded after an off night to drop 27 points and 12 rebounds (12-for-14 shooting) on the helpless Pacers, and it's important for the slightly impatient among us to remember that he just turned 22 last October (I was startled when reminded of that the other day).

Also recovering nicely after recent slumps were J.R. Smith (22 points) and Trevor Ariza (19 points, 10 rebounds). Ariza will continue to be a field goal percentage assassin (8-for-21 Wednesday), but it looks like he's ready to go back to contributing in other categories across the board.

Elsewhere, Kris Humphries busted out for 25 and eight in a rare (and I mean E. coli rare) Nets win (they're now 4-40). Humphries is worth owning in 12-team leagues, but is only worth of regular starting consideration in deeper formats due to inconsistent minutes and production.

For the Thunder, Jeff Green (24 points, nine rebounds) has clearly rediscovered his form after some rough games at the end of December and beginning of January. He'll still be prone to the occasional stink bomb, but hopefully you stuck with him (or bought low) during the slump.

And if you were worried about Kevin Love after his six-point, five-rebound grenade on Tuesday, 20 and 10 on Wednesday are a timely reminder that he'll be just fine.

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED (PART II)

Corey Brewer – With a re-tooled shooting stroke, he's an automatic starter in most leagues right now (22 points on Wednesday).

Roy Hibbert / Brandon Rush – Two maddening Pacers were pretty good on Wednesday. Hibbert followed up two bad games by going for 21 points, six rebounds and two blocks, while Rush had 13 points, 11 rebounds and a block. I still don't quite trust Rush, but he has averaged 15.5 ppg and 3.0 threes in his last four games.

Richard Hamilton – You have to love the playmaking (10 assists on Wednesday and a career-best 5.1 on the season).

Jermaine O'Neal – He has actually been pretty durable and useful, but I still consider him a sell-high option after going for 22 points, eight boards and three blocks.

Elton Brand – On a frustrating night for most Sixers (more on that in a second), Brand recorded a season-high 26 points with 10 rebounds, his first double-digit rebounding effort in January.

Andrei Kirilenko – Don't look now but he's averaging 18.5 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.8 spg and 2.3 bpg in his last four games. Those look like sell-high numbers to me.

Marcus Thornton – 18 points, a three and two steals are nice numbers for the new starter. Just don't expect any contributions in rebounds (two) or assists (zero).

C.J. Watson – Got the start at small forward and had 23 points, five assists and two threes. Has some value in deeper leagues but will be inconsistent.

Terrence Williams – Seven points, nine rebounds and eight assists should get your attention, but before anyone gets too excited it's worth remembering that Devin Harris (wrist) and Courtney Lee (wisdom tooth) were both out. Even so, Williams is worth a look in deeper leagues.

Brandon Jennings – Hit the decisive bucket and shot a respectable (for him) 8-for-18 en route to 18 points and seven assists.

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BACK FROM INJURY

Eric Gordon – 12 points, seven rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block.

Monta Ellis – Not a vintage Monta line, but no one should argue with 19-6-9 in his first game back.

DOWN WITH INJURY

Marcus Camby – Left early due to bruised ribs. It doesn't sound serious, but consider Craig Smith (18 points, eight rebounds) as a fill-in if Camby does miss time.

Tony Parker – This one looks like it could be serious. Add George Hill (15.0 ppg in last five games) pronto.

Carlos Boozer – He's headed for a visit to the doctor with a calf injury. No word yet on the severity, but this is the break (or strain, as the case may be) that Paul Millsap owners have been waiting for.

Carlos Delfino – Aggravated his ankle sprain and left early.

Jerryd Bayless – Scored 16, but headed for the locker room after apparently tweaking his ankle.

Michael Beasley – Hyperextended his knee but plans to play on Friday.

Brandon Roy – Won't play this weekend and is scheduled to be reevaluated Monday.

Devin Harris – Didn't play Wednesday and is doubtful for Saturday, meaning that Keyon Dooling (18 points, eight assists, two threes, two steals on Wednesday) is an intriguing short-term fill-in.

Carmelo Anthony – Sat out on Wednesday, but is expected to play on Friday.

Ben Gordon – Sat out again on Wednesday but will hopefully be back soon. Massive buy-low opportunity here.

DeMar DeRozan – Sat out with ankle trouble, but this should not have a measurable impact in most leagues.

FLAT-OUT STRUGGLING

Baron Davis – He'll lay an egg from time-to-time. Wednesday was one of those nights.

Andre Iguodala / Lou Williams / Allen Iverson – All three were varying degrees of bad on Wednesday, and much of the blame for that rests with Eddie Jordan, who inexplicably played 11 guys against the Bucks. I'm benching Lou for now, glad I don't own Iverson, expecting Iguodala to bounce back soon and impatiently waiting for Jordan to get canned.

Arron Afflalo – Shot a brutal 0-for-7 after his 24-point game on Monday, a reminder of why he should only be owned in deeper leagues.

Mehmet Okur – Somehow he only attempted three shots in 36 minutes. An extended Boozer absence would be a good thing for his production.

Andre Miller – Just an off night (seven points, four assists, three steals on 2-for-11 shooting).

Corey Maggette – Followed up 3-for-22 game with a quiet 5-for-13, 14-point night. Hopefully you sold high when the chance was there.

Andris Biedrins – He looked good when he was on the court (12 points, five rebounds, two steals and a block), but Don Nelson inexplicably only gave him 23 minutes.

Mike Bibby – Zero points, one assist on 0-for-7 shooting is about as unproductive a 27 minutes as you can play.

Yi Jianlian – Bad night due to foul trouble. He fooled many of us with some big performances when he came back from injury, but is still the same intriguing but inconsistent talent.

Hedo Turkoglu – Has now failed to hit double-digit points in five of his last six. It's ugly right now, but I do believe he'll get it turned around and I would consider buying low if there's a chance to acquire Turkoglu cheap.

Mike Dunleavy – I've said this before and I'll say it again: I don't see the point in owning Dunleavy in 10- or even 12-team leagues. Deeper leagues, yes, but it's just not worth the headache in shallow formats.

Ron Artest – My guess is he may get dropped in some shallow leagues after averaging 4.0 points in his last three games. Wretched as he has been, I still see benching him as the smarter option.

POSSIBLY ON YOUR WAIVER WIRE

Taj Gibson – Has averaged 8.5 ppg, 11.0 rpg and 2.3 bpg in his last four.

Ersan Ilyasova – Had 15 points and six rebounds, but his value will continue to be iffy unless Carlos Delfino misses some time.

J.J. Hickson – I'm not gonna get too excited about a random 23 and eight against the T'Wolves, but Hickson has posted decent scoring and rebounding numbers in four of his last five games.

Nicolas Batum – Busted out for 16 points, two threes, a steal and a block in just his second game of the season. For now he's only worth adding in deeper leagues.

Kyle Korver – 16 points and four threes in 18 minutes represents nice production, but Ashton's minutes are way too spotty for consistent production.

Antonio McDyess – Got the start over DeJuan Blair (four points, nine rebounds in 16 minutes) and responded with 17 points, four rebounds and a block. No reason to consider him unless your league has 16 or more teams.

Jamario Moon – Could see some increased opportunities with the Cavs dinged up and had 14 points, two rebounds, three assists and two threes on Wednesday. Again, only in a deep league.

TONIGHT

Three games on the schedule, and I'm curious to see which Knicks team will surface vs. the Raptors – the one that lost by 50 to Dallas, or the one that lambasted Minnesota by 27 two nights later. Considering that Toronto played last night, this has the look of an easy and productive Knicks win.

In the late games, my focus is entirely on Amare Stoudemire. Reports have been swirling that he's not giving 100 percent effort in anticipation of being traded, and the recent numbers bear that out (14.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg in his last three games). A nationally televised matchup against Dallas could be precisely what this under-motivated individual needs.

 

[HacheMan]

Super Snub
While there wasn't any earth shattering news on Thursday, there is plenty to talk about heading into the weekend. We'll start with All-Stars.

[SIZE=+1]All-Star Chatter[/SIZE]

East: Dwyane Wade, Allen Iverson, LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, Dwight Howard, Derrick Rose, Chris Bosh, Paul Pierce, Gerald Wallace, Rajon Rondo, Al Horford and Joe Johnson.

Notable Snubs: Josh Smith, David Lee, Brook Lopez, Mo Williams, Andre Iguodala

Some people are upset that Al Horford made the team instead of Josh Smith. Horford got in as a reward for the Hawks solid season, as well as the fact centers are lacking in the East. Smith was probably only going to get in if Gerald Wallace was snubbed, and frankly, Wallace has had a better, more consistent season. David Lee was also painful because he's played so well again, but that record in New York hurt him. Would I rather start Lee over Horford in my fantasy league? Yep. Lopez has been great, but those three wins (now up to four) gave him no shot, while Mo-Will's five dimes per game don't do a lot for me. Iguodala also didn't stand much of a chance given the way Eddie Jordan uses him, and having to compete with guys like Wallace and Josh. And if Iverson wasn't voted in by the so-called "fans," Mo would have made it.

West: Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, Tim Duncan, Amare Stoudemire, Deron Williams, Chris Paul, Pau Gasol, Kevin Durant, Zach Randolph, Dirk Nowitzki and Brandon Roy.

Notable Snubs: Chauncey Billups, Carlos Boozer, Chris Kaman, Monta Ellis

Billups lost out to Deron Williams and it's a shame there wasn't room for both. I was pulling for Williams though, who simply deserves the honor. It's also important to note the Jazz are suddenly the hottest team in the league. Which makes Boozer's omission that much more interesting. Tough to deny Zach, Dirk or Pau, but Pau's missed a lot of time. I would have taken Boozer. Of course, he's hurt now, but more on that in a minute. Kaman was also a real possibility and I would have easily taken him over Amare, had the "fans" not voted him as a starter. Did you catch that Amare blurb from the other day? He's playing his way out of Phoenix, hasn't had more than five rebounds in a game over his last five, and had ONE rebound last night. I don't even see how that's possible. Again, Kaman could have been chosen over Pau, but that Lakers' record is tough to ignore. And yes, Monta is having a huge year, but it takes him 22 shots a game to score 26 points, he's averaging 4.1 TOs and is a one-man, 48-minute wrecking crew for a bad team. He had no shot.

[SIZE=+1]NBA News and Notes[/SIZE]

Mr. Superlove

It's funny how quickly things change. When prepping for this column I noted that Kurt Rambis was standing behind his decision to bring Kevin Love off the bench so that things won't fall apart when he deploys his second unit. Of course, a day later Rambis is now talking about putting Love back in the starting five – which is exactly where he belongs. Minnesota is going nowhere fast, and having a bad second unit doesn't mean much when they should be trying to develop guys like Love. Buy low on him today before he's starting again.

Skintrade

There's talk in Phoenix about a potential Amare for Iguodala swap, which would be huge for Iguodala. There's also talk about every other team in the league aiming for Amare who, again, had 22 points and ONE rebound last night in a win over Dallas. That's 21 rebounds in his last five games. Nice job, Amare.

Chris Bosh, according to the Toronto Star's Doug Smith, will not be traded this season. I'll believe it when I see it, but he should know better than the rest of us, as he covers the team for a living.

I Hurt Myself Today

Brandon Roy is hoping to play for the Blazers on Monday, although his status is still clearly up in the air. Hopefully we get a more definitive report over the weekend. Jerryd Bayless says his ankle's OK and that he'll continue to play through it. He's clearly hobbled right now, making him a risky fantasy play, despite the absence of Roy.

Deron Williams is out tonight in order to attend a funeral, meaning Ronnie Price will get a start for the Jazz.

Boozer's calf injury has not yet seen him ruled out for tonight's game, but my guess is he won't play. We're still awaiting the full disclosure of the severity of his injury via an MRI, and owners have to be hoping for good news. It's also a little concerning that Kosta Koufos was recalled from the D-League, so cross your fingers and hope for the best. If Boozer's injury is serious, hello Paul Millsap.

Spurs point guard Tony Parker is expected to miss a few games with his left foot/ankle injury, meaning George Hill is a solid pickup right now. And knowing Gregg Popovich, he's going to take his time bringing Parker back.

As far as I know, Denver's Carmelo Anthony is going to play through his ankle injury against the Thunder tonight. Hopefully we'll have a definite answer later in the day.

Chris Kaman (left ankle), Marcus Camby (rib) and Baron Davis (knee) are all iffy for the Clippers tonight. Watch for updates.

Michael Beasley is iffy for the Heat tonight with a knee injury and my guess is he won't play. Udonis Haslem gets a boost if Beas is out.

Jared Jeffries, and more importantly, Al Harrington will both have MRI's on their knee injuries. Harrington has suddenly played well in two straight games for the Knicks and benefits from the absence of Jeffries. But, obviously, only if his own knee is OK.

Bucks swingman Carlos Delfino, who continues to be red-hot and one of the hottest pickups in fantasy, is still dealing with a sprained ankle, leaving him a little iffy for Saturday against the Heat.

Courtney Lee (tooth) and Devin Harris (wrist) are still iffy for tonight against the Wizards, and if I had to guess I'd say Harris probably won't play.

Ben Gordon (groin), Will Bynum (ankles) and Chucky Atkins (chest) are all iffy for the Pistons tonight. Gordon has been as annoying to own as any player this season and he's still not fully healthy. He's been dropped in many leagues, which may appear strange if you don't own him. But if you had dealt with his 'ish' all year, you'd probably be tempted to dump him too.

Anthony Morrow is hoping to return from his sprained knee tonight, so just keep an eye on him. He'll hurt the minutes of Cartier Martin when he returns. And speaking of the Warriors, Corey Maggette has cooled off over the last two games, and it's possible the run is over. He's also an injury magnet, so look into selling high on him while you still can.

Tyson Chandler is targeting a return next week from his foot injury, but still hasn't practiced. Put it this way…I'm not rushing out to pick him up.

And in case you live in a cave, Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton are done for the season due to their gun suspensions. Hopefully you dropped Arenas a few weeks ago.

Draft a new fantasy team today at SnapDraft!
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My Humps

Kris Humphries, coming off a 25-point, 8-rebound performance, will probably continue to see 25-30 minutes per game, making him worth pickup if you need a forward. Terrence Williams is also worth keeping a close eye on. He just missed a triple-double Wednesday with 7 points, 9 boards and 8 assists, and has played at least 25 minutes in three straight games. If you're in a deeper league, it could be time to move on him.

Legal Man

Delonte West's trial date has been pushed back to late April, meaning he's not likely to be suspended this season. His finger is still broken and he'll struggle to shoot with the injury when he does return, but at least the legal problems shouldn't be an issue while Mo Williams sits for the next month with a bum shoulder.

[SIZE=+1]Thursday Game Notes[/SIZE]

Raptors Beat Knicks 106-104

The Raptors beat the Knicks 106-104 last night despite Andrea Bargnani's worst game of his life. He was 1-of-9 for two points and one rebound, which killed me in a few leagues. He did have three blocks, but is apparently dealing with a foot injury, making him a bit iffy for Sunday against the Pacers. Hedo Turkoglu blew up for 26 points, 11 boards, two steals, a block and three 3-pointers in the win. I'm not a genius, but it's possible that Bargnani is the reason for Turkoglu stinking it up this year. If Turk was dropped in your league, go for it.

For the Knicks, Chris Duhon's struggles continue, as he's scored a total of 10 points in his last five games, shooting just 4-of-26 from the field. While his slump has hit the ridiculous stage, he's diming at a rate of 7.8 over that stretch. I wouldn't trust putting him in my lineup right now, but you can't argue with the assist numbers and he could break out of his slump at any time. Nate Robinson played through his hamstring injury and scored 14 points. He has now scored 14, 13 and 27 points in three of his last four games. And with Duhon struggling, Robinson is going to get run. David Lee went off (again) for 29 points and 18 boards, making a statement that he's not pleased with the AS snub.

Magic 96, Celtics 94

The Magic won despite Vince Carter's stellar 2-of-13 shooting performance for six points, four boards and two assists. It's probably no coincidence that Rashard Lewis finally looks like a player again, as he's making up for all of Vince's misses. He's averaging almost 19 points, six boards and three 3-pointers over his last five games. To me that's a sign to sell high on him, as Vince should eventually start doing something again at some point, and we saw how things went early when Carter was actually playing. Matt Barnes has become useless lately and had just five points in 23 minutes last night. He was facing a tough defense and should bounce back at some point, but if Carter ever gets hot, Barnes is also going to take a further hit, at least theoretically. Marcin Gortat got some run and had six points, eight boards and three blocks. It's possible the Magic will play him or Bass more at PF, so keep an eye on him.

Kevin Garnett's knee didn't look great last night and he hit just 2-of-8 shots for six points, seven boards, three assists and two steals. This is a red flag, as Doc Rivers won't hesitate resting him if his knee becomes a problem again. Rasheed Wallace had 17 points, three steals, three 3-pointers and a block last night, and would be the main beneficiary of a KG injury.

Suns 112, Mavs 106

The Suns beat the Mavericks last night and got 22 points from Amare. Did I mention he had ONE rebound? He also kicked in five turnovers for good measure. Steve Nash was solid and Jason Richardson scored 17, while Robin Lopez continues his downward slide. He had four points, six boards and no blocks, while Channing Frye wasn't much better with 7 & 6. I'd rather own Frye at this point. Goran Dragic cooled off, getting just 16 minutes for 13 points, two assists and two 3-pointers. He's still probably worth owning, but is not an everyday fantasy starter. Grant Hill returned from his heel injury for seven points. The Suns snapped an 18-game losing streak on TNT, which is simply amazing.

Dirk Nowitzki banged up his wrist and elbow again, but played through it. Just something to be aware of. Erick Dampier had 12 points and four rebounds, but appeared to tweak his knee again. I'm not a big fan of using Damp in fantasy right now, but he might still be worth owning if he can get healthy. Josh Howard continues to struggle off the bench and had just seven points and six boards last night. At some point, you have to think he'll get going.

Have a great weekend!

 

[HacheMan]

Panic Room
If memory serves correctly (and it does at least 57 percent of the time), the movie referenced above was not very good. But for the moment we're going to put the cinematic success of Panic Room aside, because though none of us has ever gone tete-a-tete with Forrest Whitaker or a menacing Dwight Yoakam in and around our own home, most of us do have our very own panic room reserved for fantasy basketball.

You could characterize a fantasy hoops panic room in any number of ways, but for the purposes of this column I would like to posit the definition: "A section of our brain reserved for panicking about various players in the league who happen to be on our respective fantasy rosters."

It goes without saying that being in the panic room of your mind can cause some rather haunting and confusing thoughts, and in an effort to ameliorate said thoughts I shall now take a look at the situation regarding some notably panic-inducing players around the league:

Vince Carter

The problem: You don't have to look that closely at an Orlando game these days to realize that V.C. looks O-L-D. He's slow, clearly lacking explosion off the dribble and is hindered by a suddenly unreliable jumper (Carter has averaged a dismal 8.7 ppg while shooting just 22.4 percent – 11-for-49 – on threes in 14 games this month). Quite simply, if you've seen him in action lately, it should come as no surprise that the Magic are 5-2 without Carter this season.

What to do: I tend to air on the side of optimism when it comes to slumps for established players, but I am not feeling positive about this one at all. Of course Vince can recover from whatever combo of shoulder trouble and damaged confidence he's dealing with, but given Orlando's crowded perimeter and Carter's age (33 going on 47, from the looks of it), I don't see him topping 17 or 18 ppg for any sort of prolonged stretch.

In sum, obviously you don't trade him right now because you probably can't get anything good in return, but I would begin bombarding league mates with offers the second he drops his next 20-point game (which may require more patience since he only topped the 20-point mark once in January).

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Kevin Garnett

The problem: If Alex Rodriguez truly has paintings of himself as a centaur in his bedroom, then K.G.'s sleeping quarters are most likely adorned with tapestries of himself as a pirate proudly standing on a pegleg.

In case you missed it, the aged Celtic was hobbling around as though his leg had been gnawed off by a shark during the loss to Orlando last Thursday, and he played on Sunday with a knee brace approximately the size of David Wright's batting helmet.

What to do: Enough baseball analogies – the bottom line here is that you have a window to sell K.G. while he's still gutting it out, and I would highly recommend doing so. Sure, you would be selling slightly low based on the theoretical value he could achieve – and I normally advise against selling players short – but this is once instance in which I think dealing Garnett for a safer, healthier option is the wisest move.

Can you get someone like Danilo Gallinari or Jamal Crawford for Garnett based on his reputation and his averages of 12.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.0 spg and 1.0 bpg in the last two games entering Monday? If so, I think you have no choice but to make it happen.

Marcus Camby

The problem: It seems like the overwhelming outlook on Camby is that it's time to unload the productive but injury-prone big man before the next significant injury hits.

What to do: Continuing the pirate/seafaring analogy from a minute ago, I'm actually taking a 100 percent about-face on conventional wisdom here, to the point that I went out and traded for Camby in two leagues last week.

Why would I do that, you ask? To be clear, I understand the concern about Camby missing time down the road, but I also want to look at this practically. The last three seasons, he has played 70, 79 and 62 games, an average of 70. That's not ideal, but it's also an important reminder that while brittle, he's very far from being a delicate vase at this point.

I also understand that there may be some concern about Camby and his expiring contract getting dealt to a less fruitful situation, but to that I say Camby should be able to thrive on most rosters, and any contender dealing for him is still very likely to give him 30 minutes a night.

Ultimately, I can understand being a little bit hesitant, but overall I think it's a worthwhile gamble. Not only is he a major force in two tough categories (third in the league in rebounding at 12.0, eighth in blocks at 1.9), he also produces above-average PF/C stats in assists (2.9) and steals (1.3), and will unleash, seemingly every 3-5 games, a line that makes you say "Yahtzee."

And yes, there is some risk, but don't you often have to gamble a little bit to win fantasy leagues? Or am I just saying that because I enjoy gambling? Either way, get on board this Camby experiment with me – there's a pretty good chance you won't regret it.

<!--RW-->

Andris Biedrins

The problem: After unleashing an inspired 19 rebounds and seven blocks on Jan. 18, Biedrins has topped 30 minutes only once, averaging just 5.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg and 1.0 bpg in his last five games.

What to do: I know you're technically in a panic room, but try not to panic. Biedrins' per-minute production remains solid, but for whatever reason Don Nelson is Eddie Jordan-ing his minutes. In the long run I think he's too useful and the Warriors are too thin up front for Biedrins not to play 30 minutes – even for a notorious mad scientist of a coach – so get him benched for now and let the situation sort itself out.

Danny Granger

The problem: You're concerned that one of his multiple past foot/knee ailments is going to resurface and shut him down before the season ends, especially since the Pacers stink.

What to do: I don't think this is a red-alert, deal-Granger-at-once situation, but I do think that some concern about his durability is valid. With that said, if you want to deal him, don't make the offer today (Monday) after he shot a combined 9-for-36 in his past two games. That reeks of desperation. Wait until he strings together a handful of big games, then shop him in an effort to upgrade to a more durable first-round type of player.

For instance, if I had Granger, I'd be seeing whether I could package him and another lesser starter, maybe a Luis Scola type, for Kevin Durant. Granted, that kind of offer might get promptly rejected, but as Jodie Foster's character said in Panic Room, "Our lives are filled with different rooms. If we don't try to go into some of them and turn on the lights, then what's the point of living?"

(Note: That is not an actual quote from the movie.)

Chris Paul

The problem: Your No. 1 player (and the consensus No. 2 player in fantasy hoops) appears likely to miss 1-2 months due to knee surgery.

What to do: Weep for a minute. Scream. Bang fist on desk. Throw chicken Caesar wrap against K.G. peglegged pirate poster.

Now catch your breath and go trade for Darren Collison.

The latter part of that advice may sound obvious, but my point isn't that Collison is someone you should consider trying to acquire; he's someone that you, the person who has Chris Paul on your fantasy squad, must go out and get.

How else are you going to replace a league-leading 11.2 assists on your team? Go out and trade for Steve Nash, Rajon Rondo or Deron Williams? That will be costly, and you'll likely deplete another area of your team too significantly in the process.

Meanwhile, Collison has averaged 7.7 apg (not to mention 15.1 ppg and 1.0 spg) in his nine starts this season. And better yet, the owner who got him off waivers probably views the acquisition as found money after randomly happening to be near a computer Sunday night when the news on CP3 broke. So while you probably can't acquire Collison for the worst player on your roster, you may be able to get him at a slight discount given that owners are generally happy to get decent offers for guys that they just happened to discover on waivers about 11 seconds ago.

I know, it probably doesn't feel terrific having to trade for CP3's backup. In fact, it's sort of like sheepishly calling an insurance company to attempt to buy a policy just minutes after your car careened into a tree as you attempted to swerve around an unruly pack of alpacas. However, it doesn't have to be a sad, meek maneuver. Your team just took a big hit, but now it's time to go back on the offensive. And the first step is to pony up and get Collison, whose name, it should be noted, is one letter away from spelling "collision."

(And yes, I did just drop "sheepishly," "alpaca" and "pony" in the same paragraph. And we're all just going to have to live with that.)

THREE RANDOM THINGS I FIND AMUSING

1) In his first game after famously explaining his season-high 26 points with the one-word response "Ball," Hedo Turkoglu played exactly one minute.

(I realize you probably don't find that too amusing if you're a Turkoglu owner.)

2) Robin Lopez got his second assist of the season last Tuesday. He now has a 2:21 AST:TO ratio in 2009-10, and 10:49 for his brief career. Fun idea for a Vegas prop bet: When will Lopez get Assist No. 3? (The drought between his first and second assists this season lasted 41 days.)

3) If you've always dreamed above all else of seeing Leandro Barbosa with his face painted blue stuffed into an overhead bin on an airplane, you may now consider your life's work officially complete.

 

[HacheMan]

Bye, Bye CP3!
Darren Collison Frenzy

Chris Paul's knee injury appears to be serious and he's supposed to undergo surgery Monday that could cost him the rest of this season. Darren Collison, the rookie point guard who backs him up, blew up for 17 points and a career-high 18 assists on Saturday night, before we knew just how serious CP3's knee problem was. My guess is Collison was grabbed as Paul insurance in many leagues after the 18 dimes. Additionally, he was probably the hottest player on the fantasy planet Sunday night around 10:30 when the Paul news broke. I'm not sure how, but I happened to walk in the door and sign on right as the news was breaking, and scooped up Collison in several leagues. Will he go 17 & 18 every night? Of course not. But he's now a starting point guard who can certainly do no worse than Earl Watson or Chris Duhon. If he's still somehow available in your league, make the move ASAP.

Durantula

Kevin Durant missed just five shots on his way to scoring 45 points on Sunday night. He hit 16-of-21 shots from the floor, made all 11 of his free throws and chipped in with a couple steals and 3-pointers in the win. The Thunder are now 26-21 and 14-10 at home, and Durant is ready to take over the scoring lead from Carmelo Anthony. Melo, who didn't play last week, is at 29.7 and Durant's at 29.6. Had Melo played last week, I'm pretty sure Durant would have taken the lead already. As reader Cbarghini2 so eloquently put it on Twitter last night: "I drafted KD third in both my leagues and don't regret it one bit." With Dwyane Wade's odd season, CP3's knee surgery and Danny Granger's sudden love of taking ill-timed, long-distance bombs, Durant is now probably the automatic No. 2 pick in all fantasy leagues next year.

Devin Nearing Return

Devin Harris is hoping to play on Tuesday, but actually sounds like somewhat of a lock for Wednesday. I guess that means you play him in weekly leagues, but he is a guy you simply want to do your best to avoid in the future, as injuries have become his middle name.

Odds and Ends

Carmelo Anthony missed last week with an ankle injury, but it does sound like he's going to play on Monday. I took a guess and benched him last week, which was apparently the right move. However, I'm going to go ahead and run him back out there this week.

Chris Kaman was out on Sunday for the Clippers with a sprained ankle. DeAndre Jordan started in his place and had a solid double-double. Kaman is day-to-day and I honestly don't know what you do with him if you own him in a weekly league. He was fairly optimistic that he was going to play on Sunday, so my guess is he's back sooner than later.

Carlos Boozer could play "by the end of the week," which means he should be benched in most leagues for now. Paul Millsap looks like a pretty solid play right now. Deron Williams is also expected back in action for the Jazz after missing Friday for a funeral, so get him back in your lineup.

Tyreke Evans left Saturday's game with a hip injury and his status for Monday's game is "uncertain," although the latest news is that he won't start. My guess is the injury isn't terribly serious, but the lack of information is a concern. With the news that he may not play on Monday, I'm leaning toward benching him in weekly leagues.

Al Harrington's knee has him iffy for Wednesday and he's not sounding all that optimistic about playing through the injury. "Obviously they want me to play, but I can't stop," said Harrington, referring to pulling up on drives. "I wouldn't be effective." He might be fine by mid-week, but start him at your own risk.

Charlie Villanueva's back seized up on Sunday just before tip off causing him to sit out. He's truly day-to-day for now, but surely you can find a more reliable player to roll with this week.

Hedo Turkoglu took an elbow to the face early on Sunday, causing him to miss nearly an entire game after his best performance of the season on Thursday. He has a small non-displaced fracture of his right orbital bone and the Raptors are hoping a mask will be enough to allow him to play on Tuesday. If you have another option, I'd probably recommend going with it.

Tony Parker didn't play Sunday and we've yet to hear a timetable for his return from a sprained ankle. Given the fact he plays for Gregg Popovich, I would make sure he's firmly planted on benches this week. Hello, George Hill.

Brandon Roy is now not supposed to play on Monday night due to his hamstring injury, but will be evaluated today. He could play mid-week, but you can also bet the Blazers are going to play it safe with Roy. If I had to make a decision in a weekly league, I'd bench him until further notice.

Full Monday Morning Injury Report

Marquis Daniels – hand – Targeting Feb. 16 return.
Tyson Chandler – foot – Should play this week, but don't start him.
Joakim Noah – foot – Missed practice, expected to play Monday.
Brad Miller – knee – Ditto.
Taj Gibson – foot – Ditto.
Delonte West – finger – Still day-to-day, keep benched for now.
Mo Williams – shoulder – Out for at least another month or so.
Tim Thomas – personal – Not much info, not much value.
Carmelo Anthony – ankle – Sounds likely for Monday – I'm going w/ him.
Charlie Villanueva – back – Very risky play, use someone else.
Will Bynum – ankle – He's been out forever, will be very rusty.
Ben Gordon – groin – 25 min., 2-of-11 Sunday. Yuck.
Anthony Morrow – knee – Out for this week, re-evaluated next Saturday.
Kyle Lowry – knee – Not likely for Week 15, Aaron Brooks should be huge.
Tyler Hansbrough – ear – Still out with ear infection so bench him.
Jeff Foster – back – Sounds like season is over, surgery pending.
Chris Kaman – ankle – Missed Sunday, iffy for next one. Risky.
Sebastian Telfair – abductor – Out for a month.
Dwyane Wade – back – Says he's going to play through it. Start him.
Mario Chalmers – thumb – Out indefinitely, hello, Rafer.
Michael Beasley – knee – Not serious, MRI negative. Hoping to play Monday.
Devin Harris – wrist – Iffy Tuesday, says he'll play Wednesday. Your call.
Chris Paul – knee – Surgery coming, season in jeopardy. Hello, Collison.
James Posey – Achilles – Hello, Thornton and Peja.
Al Harrington – knee – Iffy for his next one, bench him if you have options.
Mickael Pietrus – ankle – Not likely for week, good news for Matt Barnes.
Jameer Nelson – knee – Plans on playing through injury. Risky.
Leandro Barbosa – wrist – Out for another month. Dragic, Hill, J-Rich benefit.
Brandon Roy – hamstring – Out Mon., risky for week. Bayless, Rudy benefit.
Tyreke Evans – hip – Won't start Monday, risky for week. Hello, Beno.
Francisco Garcia – wrist – Aggravated injury, no target date on return.
Tony Parker – ankle – No target date, too risky in weekly leagues. Hello, Hill.
Hedo Turkoglu – face – Hopes to play w/ mask. Check options carefully.
DeMar DeRozan – ankle – Missed Sunday, risky for the week.
Reggie Evans – foot - Targeting after All-Star break.
Deron Williams – personal – Get him back in your lineup.
Carlos Boozer – calf – Iffy for week, play Millsap instead.
Gilbert Arenas – suspension – Done for year.
Javaris Crittenton – suspension – Ditto.

 

[HacheMan]

Wired for Week 15
[SIZE=+1]Smaller To Average-Sized Leagues[/SIZE]

These players may or may not be available in smaller to average-sized leagues consisting of 10-12 teams with rosters somewhere around 12-15 players. That should cover a majority of the fantasy hoops leagues in existence. If your league is any smaller than that, the waiver options are endless and it's just too difficult to try to figure out whether you should pick up Kevin Garnett, Luol Deng or Jason Richardson.

Darren Collison PG Hornets - Collison is the new starting point guard for the Hornets and had 17 points and 18 assists on Saturday. Chris Paul will more than likely have knee surgery, leaving his season in doubt, meaning Collison is a must-own in all leagues.

Mike Miller SG Wizards - Miller is starting for the Wizards and had 25 points, nine boards, eight assists and seven 3-pointers on Saturday. He was probably already grabbed in your league, but if he wasn't, make the move.

Beno Udrih PG Kings - Tyreke Evans isn't likely to play on Monday, meaning Beno Udrih will likely start at point guard. He had a big game against the GSW last week, but wasn't playing all that well after losing his starting job. However, he should be a decent fill-in this week if Evans misses a few games with his hip injury. Sergio Rodriguez is also worth a look deeper leagues.

George Hill G Spurs - Hill was playing well before Tony Parker went down with a severely sprained left ankle, and regardless of when Parker plays again, Hill is worth owning in all leagues right now. He's averaging more than 15 points and shooting over 50 percent from the floor over his last five.

Rafer Alston PG Heat - Mario Chalmers is out indefinitely with a thumb injury meaning Alston will get the point guard minutes going forward. He's not the most reliable guy around, but the potential is there for him to produce. He has only totaled seven points and nine assists in his last two games, so he's far from a must-start player. However, he could have a decent week in Week 15.

Rasheed Wallace F/C Celtics - Kevin Garnett is still not fully healthy and Sheed is going to continue to get run. He had just three points in 21 minutes on Sunday, so don't automatically throw him into your lineup. Just keep an eye on him.

Tyrus Thomas PF Bulls - Thomas is only playing around 21 minutes per game right now but has still scored in double digits in his last two. If the minutes ever get back up around 30, he'll be worth starting.

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[SIZE=+1]Normal-to-Deeper Leagues[/SIZE]

These players may generally be available in 12 to 14-team leagues.

Jerryd Bayless G Blazers - Bayless should get another start for the Blazers on Monday, as Brandon Roy's week is still in doubt with a hamstring injury. Bayless has been solid recently and is still worth a look in most leagues. He's dealing with an ankle injury of his own, but is averaging 14 points, 3.5 assists and shooting it very well over his last four games.

DeAndre Jordan C Clippers - Chris Kaman's ankle injury could keep him out for a few more games and Jordan double-doubled in Sunday's start. If you're desperate for a center, check him out.

Brad Miller C Bulls - With Joakim Noah hurting (foot), Miller has been productive lately. He'd only be worth using if Noah is ruled out for a few games, but you can't ignore the fact he's scored between 10 and 25 points in his last four games. He could even be a better pickup than Tyrus Thomas, but something about that notion just doesn't feel right.

Chris Duhon, Nate Robinson G Knicks - These two are still struggling for consistency, but Duhon is a reliable source of assists, while Nate has big-game potential every time out. They're not auto-starts in fantasy, but both players should probably be owned.

Jared Jeffries F Knicks - Jeffries had the game of his life on Sunday with 14 points, six boards, five assists, three blocks and three 3-pointers and has played pretty well in five straight games. The Knicks play just three games this week, but with Al Harrington iffy with a knee injury, Jeffries at least deserves consideration in most leagues.

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[SIZE=+1]Extremely Deep Leagues[/SIZE]

Kris Humphries F Nets - Humps probably isn't available in real deep leagues after the 25 points and eight boards he posted in last week's win over the Clippers, but has scored just 10 total points in his two games since. He's too unreliable to use in many leagues, but is worth holding, and possibly starting, in deep ones. Just keep in mind that a 2-point game is always a possibility with Humphries.

Jason Williams PG Magic - Jameer Nelson's knee is still not right and could be a problem all season. If it is, Williams is going to get run. He's really struggling right now, but could be worth a grab-and-stash in case Nelson finally goes down.

Keyon Dooling PG Nets - Devin Harris is due back from his wrist injury on Tuesday or Wednesday, but will likely get hurt again. Dooling has averaged 13 points and seven dimes over his last three games and is a nice insurance policy for Harris.

Antoine Wright – G/F Raptors - Hedo Turkoglu and DeMar DeRozan are both hurting for the Raptors, meaning Wright could be in line for heavy minutes this week. He's scored between 9 and 15 points in each of his last three games, knocking down seven 3-pointers over that stretch. He's a sneaky play this week, while Marco Belinelli also deserves a look.

Will Conroy PG Rockets - Kyle Lowry is going to miss time with a knee injury and isn't likely to play this week. Aaron Brooks should be in line for a huge week, while unknown Will Conroy will back him up. Again, not a player for everyone, but those of you in very deep leagues could benefit by scooping him up.

 

[HacheMan]

King Kobe
New, No. 1

Kobe Bryant blistered the Grizzlies to tie a season high with 44 points Monday and become the Lakers all-time leading scorer in franchise history with 25,208 points. So from a reality standpoint, Kobe looks like a real-life version of Superman. And from a fantasy perspective, the fact he's playing through the finger, finger, finger, ankle, knee, elbow and back problems, never taking a night off, is worth it's weight in gold. Kobe's not the best fantasy player around these days (it's not really even close), but he might be the most reliable one. Congratulations, Mamba.

The Lakers lost to the Grizzlies, who now sit with a 26-21 record. Congratulations to them, but it's too bad they play out West. That record is good enough to make them the No. 8 seed in the West, but the same record is the East would give them the No. 5 seed and a virtual lock for the playoffs.

And while we're talking about records, keep in mind that if the playoffs started today the Hornets would not make it. And with Chris Paul out for at least a month, I see almost no way they'll be in the hunt when he comes back. And because of that, you have to at least consider that his season might actually be over. I'm fine with making a trade for him for the fantasy playoffs, but don't give up much for him, as there are no guarantees CP3 plays again this season.

Too Far Down

Rafer Alston, Randy Foye, Josh Howard, Jason Thompson and Jason Richardson may have all hit new lows last night, while Chauncey Billups and Antawn Jamison also struggled.

Alston was 0-for-4 with zero points and one assist in 19 minutes last night. Wait a minute…wasn't he supposed to play well with Mario Chalmers out indefinitely with a thumb injury? This is clearly rock-bottom for Alston, who is either going to bounce back and redeem himself in the next one, or be dropped in 80 percent of the leagues he's owned in. And if you're wondering if you should rush out and pick up Carlos Arroyo (10 points, 2 assists), the answer is 'no.'

Lonely Afternoon

Randy Foye played just 18 minutes Monday due to being a defensive liability. He finished with just two points and four assists while, according to coach Flip Saunders, struggling to guard Rajon Rondo. Flip appears to love Earl Boykins, although I'm still not sure why. Boykins was solid with 14 points and three assists, but I still can't recommend picking him up. What I can recommend is benching Foye, who has scored six or less points in three of his last five games and is now averaging less than eight points and four dimes over that stretch. He may bounce back in the near future, but Flip clearly trusts Boykins more than Foye, which is just sad. If Foye is not producing for you a week from now, it might be time to cut bait.

Hardly Getting Over It

Josh Howard played just 11 minutes on Monday and has become completely useless. I picked him up a couple weeks ago in one league and was kind of excited about getting him for free. He's scored 7, 7 and 2 points in three of his last five games and is not worth using in most leagues currently. He could eventually turn it around and would obviously benefit from being traded, but owners have to consider moving on at this point if there's someone on waivers who can help your team.

Terms of Psychic Warfare

Jason Thompson played just 18 minutes for four points and four rebounds, and isn't worth starting for fantasy teams right now. I have no idea what Paul Westphal is doing with him right now, but I wouldn't cut him. Just bench him until further notice.

Ice Cold Ice

Jason Richardson did it again last night – 1-of-6 shooting for three points. Perhaps no player in the league has been as inconsistent this season as JRich, who sometimes looks like an all-star, and other times looks like my grandpa in Nikes. I have no idea what he's thinking, what his mindset is or what his teammates think, but he's become too unreliable to start for most teams. I doubt that means you should cut him, but think about moving him for whatever you can get the next time he puts together back-to-back solid outings.

Chauncey Billups hit just 6-of-25 shots but scored 23, while Antawn Jamison was just 2-of-17 for eight points and eight boards. It's hard to be mad at these two though, as they've had solid seasons and simply had an off night. Jamison's knee is a little banged up, so keep an eye on that. And look for Billups to replace Chris Paul on the Western All-Star Team.

59 Time the Pain

Hedo Turkoglu won't play on Tuesday due to a broken bone just below his eye. He's being re-evaluated and owners have to hope that surgery is not a possibility. A more likely scenario is that he just plays through the injury with a mask, but either way, it doesn't sound like he'll play tonight.

Carmelo Anthony (ankle) missed his fifth straight game on Monday, which seems like enough to me. Hopefully he'll be out there and ready to go Wednesday against the Suns, but my guess is we won't know until Wednesday afternoon. And be careful who you believe regarding injuries. The opposition's beat writer made it sound like Melo was a lock to return last night, but Chris Tomasson came through with some words of caution before Melo was finally ruled out.

Tyreke Evans missed last night's game with his hip injury and now we all have to hope the injury isn't serious and doesn't linger. We're still awaiting word on what the final prognosis is, but I guess no news should be considered good news at this point.

Brandon Roy's bum hamstring will be evaluated on Thursday now, meaning Jerryd Bayless and the suddenly hot Nicolas Batum will have some life left in their batteries. Bayless started and scored 15 last night while Batum had 15 points and nine boards. Batum has quietly been solid in three of his last four games and is worth a look in deeper leagues.

Paul Pierce sat out the fourth quarter of Monday's game with a mild left ankle sprain that seemed to bother him for the most of the night. He'll have X-rays today and my guess is that he'll be day-to-day with the injury. If he misses any games, Tony Allen should see a boost in minutes.

Makes No Sense At All

The Kings are a fantasy mess right now, with Spencer Hawes up and down like a yo-yo (23 points, 7 boards, 40 minutes), Jon Brockman making a nice showing every now and then (11 & 11 last night) and Beno Udrih now starting for the injured Evans. As mentioned above, Jason Thompson is useless right now, Kevin Martin appears to be getting it turned around, while Omri Casspi (14 points) and Andres Nocioni (11 points) are both capable of playing well or laying an egg on any given night. But as we discussed on RotoRadio last night, the only two reliable Kings seem to be Martin and Evans (when he's actually playing).

You're A Soldier

Kenyon Martin had 24 points, 12 boards and two blocks, and has now double-doubled in three of his last four, just missing a fourth straight by one point. He's averaging 16 & 10 over his last five games, while Nene's rebounding numbers have taken a hit with the emergence of K-Mart. Nene's averaging 13 points and just five boards over his last five games. I'm still kind of surprised neither of these guys has suffered an injury yet, and K-Mart looks like a strong sell-high candidate with things going so well.

Visionary

Paul Millsap was at it again last night with 25 points, nine boards and four blocks, and should be owned and started in all leagues until we see Carlos Boozer back in uniform again. Boozer has a calf injury, and while he says he'll be back soon, his track record speaks for itself. I'll believe he's healthy again when I see it.

These Important Years

Darren Collison went off again to the tune of 16 points, 14 assists, a steal and a 3-pointer for the Hornets, while Marcus Thornton had 25 points, four boards, four assists and five 3-pointers. We've been hyping both players recently and both should have been in starting lineups this week. Amare Stoudemire and the Suns beat the Hornets last night, and Amare looks like he's ready to start playing again. He had 25 points, 14 boards and a block last night, and 36 points, 11 boards and two blocks in his previous game. He wasn't rebounding at all over his previous five, but I'm hopeful you left him in your lineup for this week. If he keeps this up he could win the Player of the Week Award.

 

[HacheMan]

You say Kobe, I say Coby!

Check me out for a live chat today at 3 for Season Pass Subscribers.
Update: It's been confirmed that Chris Paul will have knee surgery, will be out for at least a month and miss the All-Star Game. Hello, Darren Collison.

The GSW – Where Dreams Really Do Come True

When a guy I like and respect as much as Yahoo's Matt Buser jokingly asked me to talk him off the ledge in regards to picking up Coby Karl last night, it got my attention. My guess is half of you are asking yourself "Who is Coby Karl?" while another large chunk of you didn't even know he was playing NBA basketball. Well, I'm not sure it qualifies as NBA basketball all of the time, but George Karl's son has signed a 10-day contract with the Warriors and got a ton of minutes (38) in last night's loss to the Rockets. In fact, he nearly had a triple-double (12-7-7) and even started the second half over Stephen Curry. I know, you're still waiting for the punch line and I want to give you one. But I'm not making this up.

Dreams come true in America, at Wally World, Disney World and apparently on the Warriors' bench, where guys like Anthony Morrow, Chris Hunter and Anthony Tolliver have all made a living when no one else would give them a chance. And now Coby Karl, the son of a coach and a cancer survivor, is living a dream for coach Don Nelson. But my guess is that this run will be short-lived and Karl will not be playing much or flirting with triple-doubles too many more times in his career. In other words, unless you're in a 20-team league, I see no reason to pick him up. But really, this is just another opportunity for Nellie to make me look like a fool.

Tweets of the Night regarding Coby Karl

@NickRinaldi – Nellie really is insane. I don't even think George Karl would play his son over Curry!

@Cjones187 – Know what I think? Nellie hates fantasy and is now making it his mission to ruin it any way he can.

Those are nice thoughts gentlemen, and for those of you who have been with me for a while, you know that I have proposed Nellie-free fantasy leagues. I've still never followed through with the idea, but the plan would be to ban any player wearing a GSW uniform from your league. It would not have been fun to watch Monta Ellis go nuts this year on the waiver wire, but that's the sacrifice you'd have to make if you want to live a Nellie-free existence. At least until he finally shuts it down and moves to Maui full time.

Milestones

Josh Smith became the youngest player in league history to block 1,000 shots on Tuesday at age 24. Unfortunately, the guy he passed is Benoit Benjamin, who took as much abuse from the media as anyone after being a major bust after being taken with the No. 3 overall pick by the Clippers in 1985. Benjamin is still the Clippers' all-time leader in blocked shots, while Smith should continue to rack them up at an alarming rate for the next 10 years or so.

Ben Wallace became the shortest player (6' 9") to reach 2,000 blocks last night. Congratulations to both defensive stalwarts.

Injury News

Paul Pierce's foot/ankle injury was all the rage yesterday afternoon, but order was restored when a report broke that he only had a sprain, and not a broken foot or ankle. He's being called day-to-day, but if I owned Pierce, I would still be pretty nervous about when he might play again. My guess is we won't see him until next week, or possibly not until after the All-Star break. In any case, it sounds like he avoided a catastrophe either way, but owners in weekly leagues are going to feel the sting of this one.

Jose Calderon sprained his left ankle at the end of last night's game and X-rays are coming. I'm not a real doctor, but this one didn't look great. If Jarrett Jack is available in your league, pick him up right now. You may end up cutting him if Calderon's ankle is OK, but you'll be glad you have JJ if JC is out for a few games, days or weeks.

Hedo Turkoglu will not play tonight due to his orbital injury and owners have to hope he'll be back soon. What a buzz hassle this is, as he finally played well just before getting hurt. It's been a long season for his owners and the Blazers have to be pleased that he's not in Portland. Marco Belinelli is worth a look as long as Turk is out.

Tyreke Evans is reportedly probable for Wednesday against the Spurs after missing his last game with a hip injury. I played it safe and benched him in my weeklies, but that may end up being a mistake.

Carmelo Anthony is expected to finally return tonight after missing five games with his sprained ankle. I went ahead and started him this week, so I've got my fingers crossed that we get three games out of him. Chauncey Billups is also expected to play through a sprained ankle.

Allen Iverson is out tonight due to an illness to one of his children. Maybe the rest will do his knees some good, and I hope his child is OK.

Corey Maggette missed last night's game with a hip pointer, but reportedly could have played if he had to. I'm not sure what would qualify as a must-play situation under Nellie, and it hurts my head to even think about it. But given the injury and his terrible play of late, hopefully you moved Maggette before the nosedive.

Vladimir Radmanovic started last night but didn't see many minutes and Nellie is now talking about shutting him down with his Achilles injury. If you still own him, abandon ship.

After GM Otis Smith came out and said Jameer Nelson (knee) and Mickael Pietrus (ankle) shouldn't miss any time with their injuries, they both sat last night. If you own Nelson, Jason Williams is worth holding as insurance. J-Will had 11 points, five boards, five assists and two threes last night, while Pietrus isn't worth owning right now.

Ben Gordon (groin) and Charlie Villanueva (back) played through their injuries on Tuesday, sort of. They combined for a whopping 22 minutes and both players should still be considered day-to-day. In other words, keep them out of your lineup until they prove they are healthy and ready to contribute. Will Bynum finally returned from his ankle injury and had 10 points, three assists and a steal, and is worth keeping an eye on. Richard Hamilton (22 points) continues to play very well, while Tayshaun Prince also had a solid game with 15 points and eight boards. Along with Rodney Stuckey, these three are the only Pistons worth trusting right now. Ben Wallace is also startable if you need a big man, but don't expect many points from him.

Keyon Dooling was out with his lingering hip issue, just in time for Devin Harris to come back in a big way. Harris owners may want to keep Dooling around, just in case.

Delonte West was out again with his broken finger and remains day-to-day until further notice. It would be nice if the Cavs could give us a target date for West, but we've yet to see one.

No word yet on Jermaine O'Neal's availability for tonight after missing Monday with back spasms. He also sat out Tuesday's practice and given the fact the Heat plays Boston, he might be better off on your bench anyway. Michael Beasley (knee) played Monday and will hopefully be able to go again.

We're expecting to get the verdict on Chris Paul's surgery today, but both Darren Collison and Marcus Thornton should be owned regardless of what the news is.

Ronnie Brewer (back) missed Tuesday's practice and is a game-time decision for Wednesday's game against the Blazers. Brewer's back is simply bruised, according to the Jazz.

Al Harrington is questionable for Wednesday's game with a swollen left knee. The Knicks' coaching staff was apparently hoping he'd play on Sunday. "Obviously they want me to play, but I can't stop," said Harrington, referring to pulling up on drives. "I wouldn't be effective." That's not much to go on when setting weekly lineups, so use him with caution.

And there's still no word on target dates for the Blazers' Brandon Roy (hamstring) or the Spurs' Tony Parker (ankle), so keep them benched until further notice.
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Tuesday's Game Notes

The Cavs beat the Grizzlies as LeBron James tied a career high with 15 assists. Shaquille O'Neal is officially hot and had 13 points, 13 boards and four blocks last night. He's averaging 17 points, eight boards and 1.6 blocks over his last five and should be owned in all leagues again. J.J. Hickson had 15 points and eight boards, but had scored a total of 11 points in his previous two games, while Daniel Gibson chipped in with 16 points. The Grizzlies were awful after a tough win over the Lakers on Monday, and were led by Rudy Gay's 15 points.

Pacers Wax Raptors - The Pacers got 15 points and 11 assists from PG Earl Watson and scored a 130 points in the win. Watson had 11 points and six assists in his previous game, but is very unreliable – congrats if he was somehow in your lineup this week. Troy Murphy had 20 points, 14 boards and two 3-pointers, meaning it looks like a good time to sell high on him. Roy Hibbert was back in the starting lineup and had 18 points, nine boards, a block and five fouls. If the Pacers would just put him in the starting five and leave him there the world would be a better place. Danny Granger hit just 8-of-19 shots and missed all five of his 3-point attempts, but finally had a solid line with 23 points, seven boards, four assists, two steals and three blocks. If you're looking for a sign to sell high on Granger, that was it. Brandon Rush had 13 points and continues to be worth owning, while Mike Dunleavy and Luther Head also hit double figures.

The Raptors got a season-high 34 points from Andrea Bargnani, but I'm pretty sure he's the only center in NBA history just as likely to hit four threes as he is to grab four rebounds. And he had four of each last night. Chris Bosh had 35 points and 15 boards, while Marco Belinelli had 21 points, five boards and three 3-pointers in a start for Turkoglu. If Turk is going to miss much more time, Belinelli is worth a look. Outside of those three, the Raptors were useless. But in case you missed what I wrote above about Calderon, Jack should be picked up in all leagues.

Magic Handle Bucks - The Magic got 22 points, 11 boards and five more blocks from Dwight Howard, while Vince Carter suddenly came to life with 17 points, 10 boards, seven assists, a steal, a block and two 3-pointers. If you just bought low on him, congratulations are probably in order. Now, let's see him do it again. Six Magic players scored in double digits last night.

The Bucks were pretty awful, with Brandon Jennings hitting a new low with two points on 1-of-7 shooting. Ouch. I just traded him for Andris Biedrins last week, but neither of us is very happy with what we got in return. Charlie Bell and Luke Ridnour led the Bucks with 13 points each, which should tell you how bad they looked last night.

Pistons Hang On To Beat Nets - The Pistons got solid lines from Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince and Rodney Stuckey in a win over the Nets. The Nets got 27 points, seven boards and two blocks from Brook Lopez, while Devin Harris returned from his wrist injury for 24 points, five boards and 14 assists. I can almost guarantee he'll get injured again, so look into moving him after another big night. Jarvis Hayes started over Chris Douglas-Roberts and had 13 points and three boards. If you want to pick Hayes up, be my guest, but don't expect much in return. Yi Jianlian was awful, hitting just 1-of-12 shots for three points. Courtney Lee, however, finally had a nice line with 15 points, three 3-pointers, five boards, three steals and a block, and is probably worth owning going forward.

Clips Clip Bulls - The Clippers got 21 points and 11 boards in the return of Chris Kaman, while Marcus Camby added 11 points, nine boards, four steals and four blocks. I don't trust either guy too much, but they're tough to let go of when healthy. Eric Gordon also woke up with 24 points, three 3-pointers, six boards, four assists and two steals. He's struggled this season and is also another guy I'd think about selling high on after last night.

The Bulls got two points on 1-of-4 shooting from John Salmons, who will likely show up on your waiver wire again after this one. A trade could open things up for him, but he's not worth a spot in your starting lineup right now. Tyrus Thomas had nine points, nine boards, a steal and a block, but played just 15 minutes. His minutes have been ridiculously low for a couple weeks now, but I still think he's worth hanging onto. Come on, Vinny. Just let him play. Taj Gibson, Joakim Noah and Brad Miller all played through their various injuries.

Thunder Ground Hawks - The Thunder beat the Hawks behind Kevin Durant's 33 points, 11 boards, two steals and a block, and he's now tied with Carmelo Anthony for the scoring lead at 29.7, while LeBron sits at 29.3 ppg. I fully expect for Durant to win the scoring title this year. Russell Westbrook flirted with a triple-double with 12 points, nine boards and nine assists in the win.

The Hawks got 37 points on 13-of-20 shooting from Joe Johnson, who also hit three 3-pointers, but it wasn't enough. Marvin Williams is really struggling and had just four points on 2-of-7 shooting. I have him in a lineup with four games this week, but wish I didn't.

Rockets Blast Warriors - The Rockets crushed the Warriors behind 24 points from Aaron Brook and Carl Landry, while Trevor Ariza added 18 points, one 3-pointer, five boards, two assists and a steal on 6-of-16 shooting. Not great, but better. Shane Battier is still worth a look in most leagues and had 12 points, five boards, five assists, two 3-pointers and two blocks, while Chuck Hayes added seven points and 13 boards. Hayes does this occasionally, but isn't worth owning in most leagues.

The Warriors got 34 points on 13-of-22 shooting from Monta Ellis, who added two 3-pointers, two steals and two blocks in the loss. He's back. Andris Biedrins had just four points, eight boards and a block, and Nellie seriously needs to turn him loose again. But I don't know if or when it's going to happen. Stephen Curry overcame a second-half benching in favor of Coby Karl for 14 points and two 3-pointers, but hit just 6-of-18 shots. I suspect he'll be just fine.

 

[HacheMan]

LeBron Starts At PG for Cavs
Rotoworld hoops-news specialist Aaron Bruski is going to take a stab at Friday's Dose and may occasionally help fill in here in the future. Enjoy.

No Boobie, No Problem

When news broke that Daniel Gibson's fiancée (Keyshia Cole) had been hospitalized for precautionary reasons due to her pregnancy, coach Mike Brown didn't look to Delonte West or 10-day contract signee Cedric Jackson. Instead he looked no further than current fantasy MVP LeBron James to run the point. True to form (unlike the form he shows when guaranteeing participation in dunk contests, or when being dunked on by college kids over the summer), he guided the Cavs to a 102-86 win over the Miami Wades on his way to 36 points with a season-high 17-of-21 free throws made to go along with seven rebounds and eight assists. The Cavs didn't start a player shorter than 6'6", and Rafer Alston and Dwyane Wade didn't have what it took to slow down King James in this one. Wade responded with 24 points and nine assists, but this game was essentially over once J.J. Hickson did this to Wade.

Kobe Bryant Reporting for Duty, Melo Not So Much

While it would take an act of God to keep Kobe Bryant off the court, perhaps Phil Jackson can be the next best thing. The left ankle injury Kobe aggravated in Wednesday's game kept him from practicing Thursday, and the Zen Master told reporters that it may be time to give him a rest. He then added that the decision lies mostly with Kobe, which probably means there not much chance he takes any time off. At least not yet. But at some point Kobe's going to wake up, crawl out of bed, look in the bathroom mirror and decide that he needs to get fully healthy again for the playoffs. Or maybe he won't.

Speaking of Friday's Nuggets/Lakers game, Carmelo Anthony's status is still up in the air. After several false alarms about his return date many folks are starting to question his toughness. We're about to give him the Carlos Boozer treatment, but a big game against the Lake Show is probably all Melo needs to put his big boy pants on. But unfortunately, it sounds like he's more likely for Tuesday because he doesn't want to play unless he's "100 percent." It's a good thing every player doesn't have that attitude, or the league probably would never have enough healthy players to exist. C'mon, man.

Noah's Ark

Joakim Noah was shelved through the All-Star break with plantar fasciitis on Thursday, and it couldn't have come at a better time. He'll get about two weeks off to rest the injury, which will hopefully be all the time he needs to get right. Maybe this is the kick in the pants Vinny Del Negro needs to unleash Tyrus Thomas, but then again maybe not. Brad Miller will start and get his fair share of minutes, and the Bulls have even signed Chris Richard to a 10-day deal to help fill the void. While logic would dictate that this is the time for Thomas to shine, don't count on it.

Doc On Pierce's Foot

Coach Doc Rivers isn't a doctor, and we're not sure if he's stayed at a Holiday Inn Express recently, but he doesn't sound one bit interested in letting Paul Pierce (foot) play at less than 100%. "I don't want to hear that, 'I can get through a game.' That's not good enough for me or for him," said Rivers. And while Pierce says the injury isn't serious, we're not ready to call him good to go for Sunday's game against the Magic, let alone any game prior to the All-Star break. That doesn't mean he won't play, but we'd prefer to wait until we hear more concrete news before selecting him over a more reliable option.

CP3's Knee

Chris Paul underwent successful knee surgery on Thursday and initial reports are that he will be out for 4-6 weeks, and on crutches for three weeks. If he could go from crutches to the court in one week we'd be pretty shocked, so five to six weeks sound more realistic. And that means he probably has somewhere around 10 games left in his season for fantasy owners. The obvious fear is that the Hornets fall all the way out of playoff contention (if they're not already there), and Paul is shut down for the rest of the season. We wouldn't recommend cutting him, but if you can get a solid and healthy player in return, a trade seems to make sense. And just wondering aloud here. When was the last time a player did not have "successful surgery?" Anytime he comes out of it alive it's a success, right?

Dunleavy Saga Finally Over For Clips – Sort Of

Coach Mike Dunleavy was canned, relieved, or quit depending on how you choose to look at it, but is no longer the head coach of the Clippers. This doesn't have any immediate impacts in fantasy leagues, although he will stay on as GM for now. Clippers have told teams that they will deal Marcus Camby if and only if they are out of the playoff chase, which means that for now he should stay put. Camby has gone from a bona fide sell-high candidate when Blake Griffin was set to return, to a strong sell-high candidate even with Griffin out for the year. And now to quote Dr. A in a random note to me on Thursday – "Selling Camby high is a very hard call, he's so hard to let go of when he's playing well, but then before you know it he's down...might be excited to play for new coach...if I owned him I'd probably just ride it for as long as he lasts." We all know he is an injury risk, and that a trade could put him in an unfavorable situation, but he's no longer a must-sell guy. And hopefully all this Camby chatter didn't just cause him to pull something.
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Thursday Night Lights

As we mentioned earlier the Cavs trounced the Heat in a game that wasn't as close as the score suggested. Rafer Alston was pulled after 15 minutes of run after the Heat opted for a combination of Dwyane Wade and Carlos Arroyo at the point. Alston's up and down like a ping-pong ball right now, so don't be surprised to see more Wade running the point, which would be good news for Quentin Richardson and Dorell Wright, who need all the help they can get. Q-Rich dropped a goose egg on 0-for-7 shooting Thursday, which probably means he'll blow up for 20 points in his next game, while Wright continued to flirt with providing some value in deeper leagues with nine points, six rebounds, and two assists.

Despite migraines, Shaquille O'Neal looks as close to his old self as we've seen in years, and the Cavs actually need him to take pressure of LeBron right now, as there's no telling when Delonte West and Mo Williams will return. It will also be interesting to see how Shaq plays when Williams comes back. Gibson returned to start the second half after missing the first half, finishing with 12 points and not much else. His fantasy ride is about to end when West returns, and that could be any day now.

The Blazers came back from 10 down in the fourth quarter to beat the Spurs 96-93 on Thursday. Tony Parker (ankle) returned to action, which moved George Hill over to shooting guard and returned the lineup to normalcy for the time being. Parker scored 18 points with six assists in 30 minutes, which has to be considered a victory for his owners. Parker didn't join the crunch-time theatrics until there was less than two minutes left, which was a curious decision by coach Gregg Popovich on the road with momentum slowly swaying to the Blazers' side. Hill's transition back to shooting guard yielded 16 points, but he had just one rebound and no assists. He wasn't shy in taking his shots (6-for-12 from the field), but owners should still be thinking about selling high since it's doubtful he returns to the numbers he had with Parker out, at least in the near-future. Manu Ginobili turned back the clock with 21 points, three rebounds and five assists, but missed a wide-open three to tie the game, and then a long-distance three with 15 seconds left on the shot clock in the last two minutes. Somehow I think Pop let him know the latter wasn't appreciated.

For the Blazers, LaMarcus Aldridge had 28 & 13, and has averaged more than 20 points per game with Brandon Roy out. Speaking of Roy, he is expected to play Saturday against the Lakers, but owners should check out how he looks after practicing Friday. Martell Webster made a final case for owners to sell high after scoring 20 points on Wednesday, and then 21 points on Thursday on a perfect 5-for-5 from beyond the arc. With Nicolas Batum playing well and the combination of Roy and Travis Outlaw on their way back, Thursday was a Vegas-sized neon sign to sell him Webster. Jerryd Bayless tweaked his hamstring, and we're almost sure the kid has suffered a new injury in every game he's played. It seems like he makes a trip to the locker room in each one as well, and his status is now in doubt going forward. And with Roy coming back, it's time for owners to move on.

Other News and Notes

Dirk Nowitzki practiced Thursday, and said he wouldn't miss any games as the result of his thumb sprain. Also, coach Rick Carlisle said that Rodrigue Beaubois has taken over backup point guard duties for J.J. Barea. Barea has not been a fantasy option for a while, but owners shouldn't fall asleep at the wheel with Beaubois. Should Jason Kidd ever go down with an injury, he could become a starting fantasy option a la Darren Collison, and he has proven he can produce when given the minutes.

Caron Butler is dealing with a nagging knee injury, and is a game-time decision for Friday's game against the Magic. While we're leaning towards him playing, watch for Nick Young to get the start if he doesn't. Antawn Jamison also has a sore knee and shoulder, but has been playing through it.

Nate Robinson will start at point guard for the Knicks on Friday and should be locked and loaded into lineups for now. For all of you who held on through the dark period, congratulations. Let's just hope he can keep on coach Mike D'Antoni's good side. And keep an eye on Larry Hughes, who is also going to get some run and possibly end up replacing Lil' Him once he ticks off D'Antoni again.

Marcus Thornton suffered a back bruise on Wednesday and has now been ruled out for Friday's game.. He's very sore and the team is highly concerned about the injury, which obviously concerns us. They're also planning on signing a guard to help fill the gap for as long as he's out, which hopefully won't more than through All-Star Weekend. James Posey is actually worth a close look as a short-term fill-in for Thornton.

Jameer Nelson (knee) and Mickael Pietrus (ankle) both appear to be ready to play Friday. Nelson's knee is of particular concern since his numbers have been down, and it seems like his knee is more "hurt" than it is "healthy." Next time he puts up a string of good games might be a good time to move him. Pietrus showed his first signs of life with 14 points before he injured his ankle, but until he proves he can be a fantasy asset we're not putting much energy into him. What we're really interested in tonight is seeing if Vince Carter bounces back from his best line in forever tonight. If he does, someone in your league probably got a steal on him, as his trade value was at an all-time low before Wednesday's wake-up call.

Charlie Villanueva (back) worked on the side of Thursday's practice with the Pistons' trainers, and although he didn't practice, says he's playing Friday. He played just eight minutes in the same type of situation on Tuesday, and it's doubtful owners want to mess around while he tries to get himself back into game shape. But if he lands on your league's waiver wire, don't hesitate to scoop him up and hold him.

Allen Iverson is questionable for Friday's game for personal reasons, with Willie Green likely to start in his place if he's out. Whether or not coach Eddie Jordan lets Lou Williams see any of those minutes is another story all together.
A.J. Price will start the Pacers' next two games at point guard with Earl Watson out for personal reasons. Consider this his big audition, but it's hard to get too excited about anybody in Indiana, especially with Watson returning soon and T.J. Ford dusting off and getting back on the floor.

Kyle Lowry is close to returning for the Rockets, so watch him if you're in need of a point guard

 

[HacheMan]

T.J. Ford Back In Action
It's Super Bowl Sunday and while most of us have our eyes on the big game, there are two NBA contests today and lineups need to be set for the upcoming short week leading into All-Star Weekend.

I was born and raised in Indianapolis, and was a Colts season-ticket holder until we moved south in 2004. I'm a homer, no doubt, but I just can't see the Saints stopping Peyton Manning today. My official prediction is Colts 38, Saints 24. We'll see.

[SIZE=+1]Smaller To Average-Sized Leagues[/SIZE]

These players may or may not be available in smaller to average-sized leagues consisting of 10-12 teams with rosters somewhere around 12-15 players. That should cover a majority of the fantasy hoops leagues in existence. If your league is any smaller than that, the waiver options are endless and it's just too difficult to try to figure out whether you should pick up Kevin Garnett, Luol Deng or Jamal Crawford.

Andrei Kirilenko, Carlos Delfino, Darren Collison and Randy Foye may all still be available in some leagues, but shouldn't be. Make sure they're not sitting on waivers in your league, and if they are, pick them up.

T.J. Ford PG Pacers - Ford is suddenly back in the rotation in Indy and had 20 points on Saturday. Earl Watson was out with a personal issue, but will return on Tuesday, while A.J. Price suffered a concussion on Saturday. He's also expected to be available on Tuesday, but it sure feels like Ford has earned his backup job back, and could even possibly be given the starter's job. Either way, my guess is that Price is now the odd man out in Indy's forever changing rotation, and I think Ford should be picked up in all leagues right now. Just don't expect any miracles.

John Salmons/Tyrus Thomas Bulls - These two underachieving Bulls continue to bounce from fantasy team to fantasy team, as they simply cannot put together any consistency this season. Salmons has had some solid games to go along with some terrible ones, while Thomas is coming off a one-game suspension. I still think both players are worth owning, but I wouldn't put them into starting lineups until they get hot. And it's a real possibility that won't happen anytime soon. They still look like good guys to stash on the bench until something changes.

Courtney Lee G/F Nets - Chris Douglas-Roberts suffered from back spasms on Friday and is quickly falling out of the rotation. He's also a candidate to be moved in a deadline trade. Lee has taken advantage of extra opportunities lately, averaging 11 points, three boards, nearly two blocks and more than a 3-pointer per game over his last five and should be primed for a big second half. I think he should be owned in nearly all leagues, as he could quickly heat up after the break.

Donte' Greene G/F Kings - Greene blew up for a season-high 31 points on Sunday to go along with seven boards, a three and two blocks. Jason Thompson is set to return from a personal leave, but Greene appears to have earned more minutes. I think he's a sneaky play with two games in this short week, and could get more run in the second half. His ability to block and hit threes is the key here, but it's impossible to tell how much Paul Westphal is going to play him going forward.

Jonas Jerebko F Pistons - Jerebko is back in the starting five for the Pistons and hit all nine of his shots on Saturday to finish with 20 points, seven boards and two 3-pointers, but had scored a total of just 10 points previous two games. He looks locked into the starting lineup at power forward and while he's not a must-own player, he's certainly worth a look.

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[SIZE=+1]Normal-to-Deeper Leagues[/SIZE]

These players may generally be available in 12 to 14-team leagues.

Ryan Hollins C Wolves - Hollins has been starting at center for the Timberwolves, averaging 12 points, three boards and a block over his last five. He scored between 15 and 19 points in three straight, but scored just four points on Saturday, and six before the double-digit streak started. He doesn't get many rebounds, but might be able to help owners in deeper leagues who need a starting center.

Luc Richard Mbah a Moute F Bucks - I really don't trust the Prince too much while starting for Scott Skiles, but he scored a season-high 18 points to go along with 11 boards on Saturday, and had 16 points, six boards, two steals and two blocks in his previous game. He's obviously heating up and while I have no idea how long it will last, he's probably worth a shot right now.

Kyle Lowry G Rockets - Lowry is back from a sprained ankle and has averaged 10 points, three boards and three assists in his last three games. He's averaging nearly nine points and five assists on the season, and could help owners who struggle each week in assists now that he's healthy again.

Anthony Morrow G/F Warriors - Morrow's been out with a knee injury but returned for Saturday's loss. He scored just five points in 16 minutes, but is capable of going on a 3-point and scoring barrage on a moment's notice. Don't plan on putting him in your lineup right now, but consider grabbing him in case Don Nelson decides to make him a focal part of the offense again in the near future.

James Posey G/F Hornets - Posey has played very well recently, averaging nine points, 10 boards and four assists in his last three games. Marcus Thornton has missed two of those games and could be out until the break with a back injury. Posey looks locked in as the team's sixth man now, and has also six treys in his last three.

Draft a new fantasy team today at SnapDraft!

[SIZE=+1]Extremely Deep Leagues[/SIZE]

Shannon Brown G Lakers - Known mostly for dunking, Brown has hit double digits in three straight games, averaging about 10 points, three boards, three assists and a 3-pointer per game over his last five. He'd look a lot better if Kobe Bryant or Derek Fisher were to go down for a stretch, but has passed Jordan Farmar on the depth chart. Again, he looks like a solid pickup in deeper leagues.

J.J. Hickson/Leon Powe F Cavaliers - Hickson continues to start for the Cavs and has scored in double figures in three straight games, going for 10 & 5, 12 & 5 and 15 & 8 points and boards over that stretch. Powe is due back from knee surgery after the break, which could hurt the numbers of Hickson and Anderson Varejao, and is also worth a look in the deepest of leagues.

Joey Dorsey F Rockets - Dorsey has played 18 and 19 minutes in his last two games and appears to be primed for more minutes going forward. Again, not a guy you want to own in most leagues, but for deep ones with a limited waiver wire, Dorsey could surprise people if he continues to get minutes. He had four points and seven boards in Saturday's game, and added seven points, 12 boards, a steal and a block in the previous game.

Rodrigue Beaubois G Mavericks - Roddy had 17 points and four threes on Friday night, but had scored just a total of 14 points in his previous four games. He's passed Juan Jose Barea on the depth chart and is at least worth a watchful eye going forward.

JaVale McGee C Wizards - McGee isn't doing much for the Wizards, but is clearly available on trading block. If he were to land some place like Minnesota, he could make a quick fantasy impact and even start. He's not a must-own player by any means, but he might be worth stashing in a deep league until we see what happens at the trade deadline. Additionally, he would likely start for the Wizards if they were to move Brendan Haywood.

 

[HacheMan]

C'mon, Melo!
I was wrong and my football team lost. It was a bad week all the way around, as Carmelo Anthony also hurt me badly in several leagues after deciding to take another week off. Congratulations to the Saints, who were simply the better team on Sunday.

It's a short week in the NBA with action grinding to a halt on Thursday night as the All-Star Game will take place on Sunday in Dallas. The Magic are the first team I remember having three games during All-Star week, so make sure a guy like Matt Barnes isn't sitting out there in your weekly-lineup league. There are several looming injuries that will probably result in more guys getting into the game. While Monta Ellis is a popular pick to replace Brandon Roy, it's also possible that Chris Kaman, Carlos Boozer or Aaron Brooks could get the call over him.

There are a lot of trade rumors out there too, with guys like Andre Iguodala, Amare Stoudemire, Kevin Martin and Caron Butler topping many teams' wish lists, but again, they're just rumors at this point.

There is also talk of a work stoppage coming in 2011-12 and it doesn't look to promising right now. These things have a way of working themselves out, but if the league really does want to chop salaries by 30 percent, or some other substantial number, things are going to get ugly. I'm sure we'll hear a lot more about this after the break.

Out of all the things mentioned above, the only thing we have control of as fantasy owners is setting a healthy lineup and letting the chips fall where they may. Here are some of the bigger injury headlines you need to be aware of today.

Lake of Fire

The Lakers have two pretty big injury concerns right now, as Kobe Bryant (ankle) and Andrew Bynum (hip/knee) both remain iffy for Tuesday's game. Kobe sat out his last one, while Bynum was ineffective and left early. The problem here is the Lakers didn't practice or meet on Sunday, so we don't have much of an update. Phil Jackson is leaving the decision on whether to play or sit up to Kobe, which leads me to believe he'll play in both games this week, as well as the All-Star Game. Of course, I also believed Melo would crawl out of his hole and see his shadow last week, too. As for Bynum, our latest report lists him as doubtful, but he really sounds more like a game-time decision. He had trouble running with the Blazers, but would be used in more of a half-court setting against the Spurs. I'm benching Bynum as of now, but could change my mind if we get better news later in the day.

Via Chicago

Joakim Noah had blood injected into his ailing foot which could keep him out for weeks after the break. He's a tough kid and I'm not panicking just yet, but it is definitely a concern. Don't plan on playing him any time soon. Taj Gibson, Brad Miller and Tyrus Thomas all will see a boost in minutes as long as Noah is out. Thomas is due back from his suspension on Tuesday and now that we've all just about given up on him again, it's probably time for a big game from him.

We Are Family

There's still not timetable for the return of Allen Iverson from his family emergency, so just keep him benched until further notice. Unfortunately, this has not meant a big boost for Lou Williams, as Willie Green tends to start in his place.

The Hold Steady sing Hornets! Hornets!

Chris Paul is obviously out after knee surgery. The question becomes, should owners hang on to him or drop him? I think it's become pretty clear that the Hornets will be out of the playoff race when he returns, making me believe he might not play again this year. And if he does play, it may just be in an effort to prove to himself and the team he can still play. It's a gamble either way, but I'd recommend moving CP3 for whatever you can get. And for those of you lucky enough to get Darren Collison, he sure looks like the real deal so far.

Marcus Thornton has missed two straight games with a bruised back, but has not yet been ruled out for Monday. He tried to play in his last one, trying his back out in warm-ups before shutting it down, and is a game-time decision for Monday as well. My gut is telling me he'll probably play tonight, but I'm still not brave enough to start him in a weekly league without confirmation that he'll play. If he's out or still hurting, James Posey should continue to put up solid numbers.

Hats Off To (Roy)

Brandon Roy will have another injection into his hamstring on Monday and is out until at least the first game after the All-Star break. We should get more information on him by the weekend, and owners have to cross their fingers and hope he's ready to go after the break.

Rocky Mountain Low

Carmelo Anthony has now missed two straight weeks with an ankle sprain that I'd hardly classify as 'severe.' He decided, for whatever reason, that he was going to sit out until he felt 100 percent, as Kobe Bryant and several other players have continued to play through similar injuries. I mean, did you see Tony Parker's sprain? To say I've lost some respect for Melo is putting it mildly and this little episode could land him on my "never again list." As I basically wrote one week ago, all signs point to Melo playing on Tuesday and you can believe he will be in the lineup in all my leagues this week. After suffering through one week from Marvin Williams, and another week with zero production from Melo in my lineup, there's no way I'm going to have him on the bench so I can helplessly watch him go off for 40 points or whatever tomorrow night. And if he somehow sits until the All-Star game, I feel sorry for the people and animals who have to deal with me this week.

Chauncey Billups missed his last game with a sprained ankle and will be a game-time decision for Tuesday. Since his name's not Melo, my guess is he'll play. Chris Andersen, Arron Afflalo and Nene are all banged up with minor injuries as well, but George Karl doesn't sound too concerned. I do think Nene's a pretty risky play, as he couldn't really run in his last game with a foot injury.

Devin Harris (shoulder), Corey Maggette (finger) and Trevor Ariza (hip) are other guys you'll have to make decisions on this week. Here's the entire injury report.

I had Kyle Lowry listed as a good pickup in Waiver Wired, but didn't realize he severely injured his ankle again. He could miss a couple more weeks, so abandon ship on him if you picked him up.

Additionally, Nate Robinson looks like he'll return to a bench role as Mike D'Antoni wants to continue to play Chris Duhon at point guard, using Nate at SG. He's still worth starting in most leagues, but weigh options carefully now that he's not starting (again).

Continue reading for the Injury Report.
<!--RW-->
Take Me Down To The Infirmary

Joe Johnson – flu – Iffy for Tuesday depending on how he feels.
Zaza Pachulia – flu – Ditto.
Tyson Chandler – foot – Still on the verge of playing again, supposedly.
Joakim Noah – foot – Blood injection a setback. Bench until further notice.
Tyrus Thomas – suspension – Due back for next one. Start at own risk.
Delonte West – finger – Still day-to-day, might sit until after break.
Mo Williams – shoulder – Still about a month or so to go.
Leon Powe – knee – Should be back right after break. Worth a look.
Erick Dampier – knee – Iffy for Monday, I'd bench him.
Tim Thomas – personal – Missed Saturday, out for Monday.
Carmelo Anthony - ankle – It's time to get back on the court, Melo.
Nene – foot – Muscle injury, but Karl not concerned, but day-to-day.
Chauncey Billups – ankle – Game-time decision for Tuesday.
Arron Afflalo – ankle – Injured in last game, hit 1-of-9 shots.
Chris Andersen – knee – Should play on Tuesday.
Charlie Villanueva – ankle – Played on Saturday, hopefully he keeps playing.
Ben Gordon – groin – Playing, but went from 26 to 5 points in last two.
Corey Maggette – finger – X-rays negative, a little risky unless more info comes.
Vladimir Radmanovic – Achilles – Shut down through break, at least.
Anthony Randolph – ankle – Sounds like season is over.
Anthony Morrow – knee – Back in action, might take some time to groove.
Trevor Ariza – hip – Was in ton of pain after Sat., doubtful for Tuesday.
Kyle Lowry – ankle – Aggravated injury on Sat., could miss weeks.
Earl Watson – personal – Should be good to go, but will he start?
A.J. Price – concussion – May be third string with rise of TJF.
Luther Head – flu – Missed last two, might be sneaky play if healthy.
Tyler Hansbrough – ear – Still no timetable. Dump him for healthy body.
Jeff Foster – back – Could require surgery, dump him.
Kobe Bryant – ankle – Finally missed a game, iffy for Monday.
Andrew Bynum – hip/knee – Risky, but could play tonight. Check options.
Darrell Arthur – chest – Cleared to return, keep an eye on him.
Mario Chalmers – thumb – Remains out indefinitely, while Rafer still stinks.
Chris Douglas-Roberts – back – Not getting enough minutes when healthy.
Devin Harris – shoulder – Day-to-day again. Risky play, as usual, but playing well.
Jarvis Hayes – shin – I don't expect him to play this week.
Marcus Thornton – back – Could play Monday, start at own risk.
Chris Paul – knee surgery – Season in jeopardy, hello, Collison.
Larry Hughes – toe – Missed Saturday, too risky to use right now.
Eddy Curry – knee surgery – Says he's ready, but Knicks won't play him.
Jameer Nelson – knee – Playing through it so use him if you need him.
Allen Iverson – personal – Still not timetable on return.
Leandro Barbosa – wrist – Still out a few more weeks.
Brandon Roy – hamstring – Out through AS break, at least.
Travis Outlaw – foot surgery – Targeting Feb. 21 return.
Jerryd Bayless – groin – Played on Saturday, but sounds pretty banged up.
Francisco Garcia – wrist – Will play at some point, but not ready yet.
Beno Udrih – foot – Playing, but deep in rotation now, hurting value.
Hedo Turkoglu – eye – Played fairly well on Saturday, startable.

 

[HacheMan]

Go to Sleep
The term "running on fumes" doesn't quite do justice to the level of fatigue I'm currently experiencing, having woken up at 4:30 a.m. to catch an airplane the morning after the Super Bowl. So, I figured I would attempt to describe my feelings of exhaustion a few additional ways:

I have a low battery.

I need to switch to outlet power immediately or risk losing my work.

I'm knackered.

Out of ammo.

No arrows left in the quiver.

The autogyro is low on petrol.

The camel I rode in on is dehydrated.

My Ton-Ton just froze to death in the cold.

The ice cream truck is out of dairy products.

I am Jack's wasted life.

You get the idea – I'm fatigued. But that shan't stop me from staving off the darkness a little bit longer to impart some hoops-related insights in what will be my last dispatch of Stew before a two-week hiatus. That's right, for the remainder of the month of February I'll be covering the Olympic Winter Games in a little town called Vancouver, a place where basketball players such as Anthony Peeler and Tony Massenburg once roamed the earth.

Other things to know about Vancouver: I will be taking a gargantuan nap here, of the face-down, drooling uncontrollably variety, as soon as I finish writing this column. But first, let's talk basketball, and what better day to highlight a handful of sleepers than one on which the author is about to pass out from deprivation of sleep:

Brandon Rush, Pacers: Before I get into this, I should say that the "sleepers" in this particular column will run the gamut between players who are long gone off your waiver wire, players you would never add because your league is too shallow and some who lie in between. In other words, I have attempted to highlight some players who make sense to add in shallow leagues as well as deeper and medium-sized leagues, and accordingly I'm beginning shallow and working my way toward deeper leagues as I go.

With that explanation out of the way, on to Brandon Rush. I've been vocal in my distrust of the Pacers' swingman in recent weeks, and games like Saturday's (five points, five rebounds in 40 minutes) are precisely why. But Rush had been on a nice run prior to that, and has been playing heavy minutes lately, averaging 13.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 0.8 bpg and 2.4 threes in his last nine games. He is 100 percent capable of sustaining solid numbers in points, threes and blocks over the long run, but I for one am still not ready to declare him a bona fide starter going forward. However, putting together a nice run of five games or so after his recent dud would go a long way.

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

Another reminder: I'm on Twitter. You can follow me right here.

Delonte West, Cavs: West's expected return to action on Tuesday would be cause for a reasonable amount of intrigue had the Cavs not gone 8-0 with another sleeper (Daniel Gibson) starting at PG the last eight games, a run that has seen Gibson average 12.4 ppg and 2.5 threes per game. I still think it's worth adding West in many formats, but odds are that he and Gibson will fall into something resembling a value-limiting platoon for the three or so weeks that Mo Williams is expected to remain out.

Ryan Gomes, T'Wolves: Prone to running hot and cold like a temperamental shower head, Gomes has averaged 14.2 ppg and 2.5 threes in his last six games, including a 26-point, five-three outburst on Saturday. He's not someone I would advocate dealing for in a standard-sized league because I don't trust him to sustain standout numbers in the long term, but don't hesitate to add him and activate him for a short-term run in a shallow league.

Anthony Morrow, Warriors: He may have been forgotten while recently missing 10 games due to a knee injury, but my guess is that the boom-or-bust Morrow goes boom sometime in the next week to 10 days. Don't hesitate to add him if you need threes, but wait for a clear sign before activating him.

James Posey, Hornets: Darren Collison and Marcus Thornton have been the most prominent beneficiaries of Chris Paul's knee injury, but the Hornets have also recently thawed out Posey with impressive results. In his last four games, the 33-year-old has averaged 7.3 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 4.5 apg and 1.5 threes. He won't consistently rebound or pass at that clip going forward, but he's a respectable source of threes and steals who can help owners right now. Just don't expect a lot of scoring and be willing to plow through a sub-par line or two.

Brad Miller, Bulls: Like Posey, Miller isn't exactly a fresh name you're just hearing about for the first time, but he has recently rediscovered relevance due to a teammate's injury. With Joakim Noah reportedly having had blood from his arm injected into his ailing foot (a procedure commonly known as "completely bizarre"), Miller has started the last two games and posted 11.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg and 2.5 spg in an average of 38 minutes. And in his last eight games, Miller has averaged 12.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg and 1.1 threes. He's not being featured as a passer as extensively as he was in Sacramento (1.0 apg in his last eight games and just 1.7 apg on the season), but he's still an intriguing option for as long as Noah remains out.

Donte Greene, Kings: His stats were padded by one huge and slightly random 31-point outburst, but Greene has still averaged 18.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.0 bpg and 2.0 threes in his last three games. I still fully expect inconsistency, but Greene's potential in threes and blocks makes him someone who should be owned in leagues of 12 or more teams.

Jared Jeffries, Knicks: Being 100 percent honest, he is not someone I could tolerate having on any of my fantasy teams, largely because I don't have the patience for players who mix low-scoring duds with games of tantalizing multi-category production. But just because I can't completely tolerate his inconsistency doesn't mean that Jeffries doesn't have a place on fantasy rosters. In his last eight games, Jeffries has done a nice impersonation of a productive Shane Battier, averaging 10.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.5 spg, 1.1 bpg and 1.1 threes. There are some downright infuriating lines mixed in there, but there's no doubt that those numbers can help owners in deeper leagues.

Kyle Lowry, Rockets: I only list him this low because he has an ankle sprain that reportedly may require two weeks to heal, but owners in deeper leagues should note that Lowry has averaged 9.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg and 4.6 apg in his last 17 games. The most recent injury may mean he's available on the waiver wire, and it's worth stashing him away in deeper formats if he's still out there.

Now if you'll pardon me, I have officially reached Phase 9 of exhaustion: delusion/hallucination. Pretty sure I just saw Billy Madison run past chasing a penguin. Beginning hibernation… now.

 

[HacheMan]

Don't Call It A Comeback
Say Hello To ProBasketballTalk.com

Kurt Helin and company helped launch Probasketballtalk.com yesterday at NBCSports.com. While we focus mostly on the fantasy angle of hoops at Rotoworld, the boys at PBT are going to cover all angles. You can also follow probasketballtalk on Twitter.

[SIZE=+1]Monday's Game Recaps[/SIZE]

Carter's Throwback Jersey

Vince Carter exploded for a season-high 48 points and six 3-pointers on 19-of-27 shooting last night to lead the Magic to a comeback win over the Hornets. Carter's explosion caused Twitter to light up and the guy has now scored at least 20 points in three straight games and had 17 points and 10 boards in the game before the 20-point streak started. He's averaging 26.5 points over his last four games, has hit 12-of-20 3-pointers and 38-of-72 shots from the field. The game before the hot streak started saw him go 1-of-8 for two points and he averaged less than nine points for the entire month of January. Yes, it looked like he might be done, but he was apparently just saving himself for February.

Rashard Lewis has survived the Carter surge, scoring in double figures in 13 straight games. Granted, the numbers over his last four haven't been huge, but despite Carter's 48 last night, Lewis added 18 points, four boards and three 3-pointers. These guys are not ideal teammates in Orlando, but it looks like they're at least close to making it work.

Dwight Howard had another ho-hum night with 25 points, 12 boards and four blocks, while Jameer Nelson handed out 10 assists. The only problem with Nelson's line was his 2-of-8 shooting for four points, but at least he managed a season high in dimes. The Magic have three games this week to lead the league, and it's possible that between Carter and Howard, you've already wrapped up a win (or loss) in head-to-head leagues.

Peja's Throwback Jersey

Peja Stojakovic also turned back the clock last night, scoring 29 points to go along with nine boards, five assists and five more 3-pointers. Over his last five games he's averaging 19 points, four boards, a steal and three 3-pointers, and is also shooting it lights out from both the line and field. I'm not sure any player on the Hornets actually took a step backwards when Chris Paul went down, but Peja, Marcus Thornton (who is out, which has helped Peja some) and Darren Collison have all pretty much been lights-out since CP3 shut it down.

Thornton remains day-to-day with his back injury, but it doesn't sound like it will keep him out much longer. Maybe the one game left before the break, but then he should be back and good to go. Collison went nuts again last night, and owners who saw his line at the break thought it was going to be a monster. Instead, he cooled off in the second half to finish with 27 points, nine assists, four steals and a 3-pointer on 12-of-22 shooting. I believe he had 18 points and eight dimes in the first half, but it's tough to be mad at him after another great stat line. David West had a nice night and James Posey was quietly effective, as usual, but it was not Emeka Okafor's night. Okafor failed to score and grabbed just two rebounds in nine minutes last night. While it's easy to blame last night's disaster on Dwight Howard, Okafor seems to put up an awful stat line about once every two weeks. He averaged 12 points and 10 boards in January, but had a 2 & 2 game against the Spurs and failed to reach double figures in scoring seven times. In other words, as much as you want to cut him right now, know that he'll bounce back in his next one.

Jet

Jason Terry blew up for a season-high 36 points last night and threw in six rebounds, nine assists, three steals and six 3-pointers in a win over – drum roll please – the Warriors. It's a cliché, broken record and dead horse, but if you need to break out of a slump or have a big game, just put the GSW on your schedule. And if you're playing against Terry head-to-head this week, my condolences. Drew Gooden had 24 & 10 without Erick Dampier (sore knee) around and Josh Howard, who has basically stunk all year, blew up for 25 points. This is why you start your guys against the Warriors, every time. Jason Kidd double-doubled and Dirk Nowitzki struggled with foul trouble, but the Mavs held on for the win in an entertaining game.

There's Always To-Morrow

Anthony Morrow got hot last night and blew up for 33 points on 12-of-20 shooting. He also hit five 3-pointers and grabbed 11 boards for what was possibly the best game of his career. This one line makes him an auto-pickup in all leagues, but it's entirely possible he scores five his next time out. He played very well as a starter earlier in the year, and while he may never be consistent while playing for Don Nelson, he's going to score and rack up 3-pointers. He was featured in this week's Waiver Wired, but it's too early to say it was the right call. However, I think it's obvious at this point that he should be owned in all leagues despite the inconsistency that's coming.

Perhaps the bigger news from this game was that Monta Ellis hurt his left knee and is awaiting an MRI. This is kind of scary news, but at least he didn't go down in a heap and get carted off the court. That doesn't mean he's in the clear, but there's at least hope that he just suffered a sprain or hyperextension. Ellis had 27 points, five boards, five assists, four steals and two more threes last night.

Corey Maggette is now out through the break with an injured ring finger and could miss even more time. I got some angry messages via email and Twitter about Maggette, as we've been ripping on him and calling him a sell-high player for several weeks now. I really don't care if he had some good games since his 3-of-22 night (when he still managed to score 19 points?). He's still Corey Maggette, he is still the ultimate injury/shutdown risk, and it's possible he never really bounces back from this with the arrival of Morrow and the playoffs an impossibility. I wouldn't just cut him, but I hope you listened to my gut and sent him packing a couple weeks ago.

Anthony Tolliver has double-doubled in two straight games again, going for 14 points, 11 boards and two blocks. I really like the kid and if you're holding onto Anthony Randolph for some reason, it would make sense to drop him for Tolliver.

Stephen Curry, who has reached must-start status, had 25 points, nine dimes and another 3-pointer last night. And for whatever reason, it sure seems like Nellie hates Andris Biedrins. But all you can do is keep running him out there.

Keep reading for info on Kobe, Bynum and several other injury notes from Monday.
<!--RW-->
No Kobe, No Bynum, No Problem

The Lakers handled the Spurs even without Kobe Bryant (ankle) or Andrew Bynum (hip). I really don't know if Kobe's going to play on Wednesday, but it's very possible. If he sits on Wednesday, I doubt he plays in the All-Star Game. Bynum is also iffy for Wednesday and should have been on benches in weekly leagues coming in. Unfortunately, Kobe was probably in your lineup, as it would have been a pretty gutsy call to bench him. Congratulations if you did so.

Pau Gasol went off for 21 points, 19 boards, eight assists and five blocks. Wow. Obviously, Gasol or Bynum would easily be better fantasy players if they didn't play next to each other. Ron Artest, Lamar Odom, and even Derek Fisher and Jordan Farmar all played well for the Lakers.

The Spurs got 16 points, 15 boards and four blocks from Tim Duncan, 20 points and eight assists from Tony Parker, and 21 points and three 3-pointers from Manu Ginobili in the loss. George Hill cooled off to hit just 2-of-8 shots for five points, but had scored at least 12 points in 10 straight games. He scored 22, 16 and 23 points in his previous three games, but if your gut tells you his run is over, think about dropping him for Morrow if you want to. I think Hill just had a bad game.

There are 11 games on Tuesday, 10 on Wednesday and two on Thursday night before we shut it down for the weekend.

[SIZE=+1]Loose Ends[/SIZE]

Paul Pierce should play on Wednesday, according to Doc Rivers. Pierce left Monday's practice early due to his foot injury.

Kyle Lowry is going to miss a couple more weeks after aggravating his ankle injury and Trevor Ariza is out tonight due to a hip pointer.

Delonte West should return tonight after missing eight games with a broken finger and I actually have him in one lineup for the week. Yikes.

Joe Johnson sounds likely to play tonight despite a bout with the flu.

Nate Robinson has been sent back to the bench and Mike D'Antoni can't stand the thought of him playing point guard. The good news is that Robinson's not in the doghouse and should continue to get minutes. Chris Duhon is back as the starting point guard and I think he could be ready to break out of his funk. D'Antoni is not happy with Duhon's play (could anyone be?), but likes the way Duhon passes first and gets Danilo Gallinari involved in the offense.

Nicolas Batum is expected to replace Jerryd Bayless in the starting five for the Blazers tonight, while Brandon Roy decided against getting another injection in his hamstring. He's out through the break and we'll have to see how he's feeling on Sunday or Monday before knowing much more. Keep your eye on Batum tonight.

Carmelo Anthony (Anthony) is still non-committal about playing tonight, but I will be shocked if he doesn't. Shocked.

Devin Harris is 50-50 to play tonight with a shoulder injury. If he can't go, Keyon Dooling should be solid. If you own Harris, I'm sure it feels like you're holding a ticking time bomb.

Tyson Chandler should be back tonight after missing a month or so with a foot injury. Yes, he's worth a look, but will be coming off the bench behind Nazr Mohammed for the time being. Put it this way. I haven't typed his name into the player search function in any of my leagues lately. Raymond Felton tweaked his ankle in practice on Monday, leaving him a little iffy for tonight, although everyone with knowledge of the injury seems to think he'll play.

Allen Iverson missed another practice to attend to his daughter, has no timetable on a return and possibly has lost his starting job. Simply put, he's been a mess for more than a year. Hopefully is daughter will be fine and he can come back soon.

Chris Kaman was named as an All-Star replacement for Brandon Roy, but the league got this one wrong. Carlos Boozer would have been a better pick, although he's just back from his own injury, which could have been the reason for the snub.

 

[HacheMan]

Thanks For The Help!
With 11 games on the Tuesday night schedule and a multitude of casualties, I've decided to break the Dose into four categories:

Thanks For The Help
Welcome Back
Where You Been?
Where'd You Go?

Here we go.

[SIZE=+1]Thanks For The Help[/SIZE]

Kevin Durant had 33 points, two 3-pointers, 11 rebounds and two steals in Tuesday's road win over the Blazers, marking his 25th consecutive game with at least 25 points scored. He scored his 5,000th point tonight, and I'm guessing there are about 25,000 more where those came from.

Carlos Boozer poured in 34 points (13-of-17 FGs, 8-of-9 FTs), 14 rebounds, four assists and four steals in Tuesday's win over the Clippers, Utah's ninth consecutive victory. The fact he was passed over for the All-Star Team for Chris Kaman (19 & 7, 5-of-14 shooting) just doesn't seem right.

Courtney Lee, who I have been pimping for a big second half, had 24 points on 9-of-15 shooting with seven boards, four dimes, one steal and one three on Tuesday. I think he's a must-own in all leagues. Chris Douglas-Roberts picked up a DNP-CD on Tuesday, and it doesn't sound like it was because of his recent back spasms. Just another reason to love Lee.

Mike Miller had 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting with three 3-pointers, six boards, three assists, two steals and two blocks. I've been high on him lately, but only if he's healthy. And it feels like he's healthy.

Luol Deng had 23 points and 11 boards despite a sore shoulder on Tuesday and looks like he's good to go for the second half.

Tyreke Evans had 27 points, 10 boards, six assists and a steal in Tuesday's OT win over the Knicks. Nice one, Tyreke. Simply put, he looks nothing like a rookie, which you know if you've seen him play this year.

Donte' Greene pumped in 24 points and four 3-pointers on 9-of-12 shooting to go along with eight boards, three assists and a steal in Tuesday's OT win over the Knicks. Are you kidding me? We've touted him as a hot pickup in blurbs recently and he should be in most lineups until further notice. Just be ready for the ride to come to a grinding halt at some point with Paul "Nellie" Westphal pulling the strings.

Kings forward Omri Casspi started again in Tuesday's OT win against the Knicks in New York. He had 18 points on 7-of-17 shooting, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and zero turnovers. He's not a must-start player, but has held value despite playing an ever-changing role for the Kings.

Wilson Chandler blew up for a season-high 35 points in the loss, hitting 15-of-23 FGs and adding five boards, two steals and two blocks in 47 minutes. Nice.

Jared Jeffries left Tuesday's game briefly after taking a hard fall, but returned to notch 13 points, 10 rebounds, two steals and one block in 41 minutes. He's not a must-own or must-start player, but is definitely worth a look as long as he's starting for the Knicks. And in fantasy, we can forgive his awful shot late in Tuesday's loss.

Marcus Camby posted a typically well-rounded line for the Clippers on Tuesday with nine points, 15 rebounds, three assists, two steals, two blocks and just one turnover in 35 minutes. These are the kind of lines that win you fantasy games in two-game weeks.

Jamal Crawford picked up the slack for flu-ridden Joe Johnson (11 points) with 28 points and five threes on Tuesday. He looks like the Sixth Man of the Year to me and the Hawks have won three straight games after a tough win over the Grizzlies.

Andre Miller had 22 points (9-of-18 FGs, 3-of-3 FTs), six rebounds, six assists, one block and four turnovers for the Blazers on Tuesday. Remember when he was hardly playing for this team? As Chris Farley would say, "Yeah, that wasn't cool."

Jonas Jerebko had six points and 13 rebounds in another start at PF for the Pistons. Give him a look if you need a forward.

Luc Richard Mbah a Moute had nine points, 11 rebounds, a steal and a block in Tuesday's loss. He's starting for the Bucks and is averaging 15 points and nine rebounds over his last three games, clearly outplaying Ersan Ilyasova, who failed to score and had four rebounds in just 10 minutes tonight. At this point, Mbah a Moute is a much safer fantasy play, obviously.

The 76ers extended their win streak to five games on Tuesday, aided by Andre Iguodala's 24 points, two 3-pointers, four rebounds, six assists, one steal and one block.

Andrew Bogut had 17 points, 18 boards and three more blocks in Tuesday's loss to the Pistons. He dominated Ben Wallace and company tonight, but it wasn't enough. Bogut is having a fantastic season, averaging 16 points, 10 boards and two blocks, but has missed six games and most of a seventh. But when he's healthy, he's about the closest thing as there is to a must-start at center.

[SIZE=+1]Welcome Back[/SIZE]

Carmelo Anthony scored 19 points vs. the Mavericks on Tuesday, as the Nuggets celebrated his return from an ankle injury with their biggest victory of the season. He finally came back from his ankle "injury" and it appears to be safe to get him back into your lineup. He added three 3-pointers, four rebounds and six assists in 30 minutes.

Chauncey Billups played through a sore ankle on Tuesday to finish with 16 points, three 3-pointers, six assists and three steals. Billups made 6-of-8 field goals, and his night was even more impressive considering he played under 29 minutes in a lopsided victory. He intends to play in the All-Star game and should be a safe option for Thursday's game vs. San Antonio.

Nene was bothered by the strained muscle in his leg, but it wasn't evident on Tuesday -- he scored 21 points in 26 minutes, making 8-of-9 FGs and 5-of-6 FTs. He obviously benefited from the absence of Kenyon Martin.

Chris Andersen posted his second double-double of the season on Tuesday, getting 14 points, 10 rebounds, two steals and one block. He got extra run with Kenyon Martin sidelined by knee tendinitis, and remains little more than a blocks specialist in average leagues. He was iffy with a knee injury, but obviously looked good tonight.

Tyrus Thomas was back from his suspension Tuesday and had nine points and seven boards in 28 minutes. It figures he would get a ton of minutes when all hope seemed lost. Maybe they're showcasing him in hopes of a trade. I still own him, but currently don't have the stones to start him unless he has a four-game week and my options are limited.

Andrea Bargnani (ankle) practiced fully on Tuesday and is expected to be ready for tonight.

Nate Robinson came off the bench for 11 points on 4-of-15 shooting with a groin injury Tuesday. He may have played in this one simply to prove he's healthy enough to dunk this weekend, but the results were less than stellar.

The Knicks lost in overtime on Tuesday with Chris Duhon back at the reins as starting PG. He had seven points on 2-of-10 shooting to go with three rebounds, nine assists and one steal in 37 minutes. The high playing time is nice to see, but we pretty much know what to expect from Duhon at this point -- assists, steals, turnovers, a few 3-pointers, and an atrocious FG%. However, he could break out of his slump and get hot any time in the near future. I picked him up in a couple leagues when it was announced he was back in the starting five.

Tayshaun Prince scored a season-high 18 points on Tuesday and could have some value the rest of the way.

Raymond Felton (twisted right ankle) gutted out 11 points, three rebounds and five assists on Tuesday, including the go-ahead fadeaway jumper with 1.9 seconds left. Stud. This guy just continues to play through injuries, and while he's not a must-start point guard, he's at least reliable.

Josh Howard started at SF for the ailing Mavericks on Tuesday, notching 14 points, three rebounds and one assist in a crushing loss to the Nuggets. I started Howard in a H2H league I'm currently leading 7-2, and Jo-Ho is the leading scorer for my team so far. I came awfully close to cutting him on Sunday, but am glad I didn't. Shawn Marion was out, but Howard has scored double-digit points in four consecutive games and is showing signs of life as we head into the final months of the season.

T.J. Ford is officially back in the Pacers' funky rotation for now and had nine points in 14 minutes Tuesday. He's backing up starter Earl Watson, who had 14 points and six dimes, while A.J. Price has been relegated to third string.

Lamar Odom intends to play vs. the Jazz on Wednesday despite a sore right foot. He should have a big game with Andrew Bynum (hip) out, and Kobe Bryant (ankle) questionable.

Tyson Chandler played on Tuesday and had five points and five boards in 10 minutes. Baby steps.

Yi Jianlian played through a sore shoulder Tuesday and had 11 points and eight boards. You can probably do better off your waiver wire.

Darrell Arthur (pectoral surgery) made his season debut for the Grizzlies with four points and four boards, and doesn't deserve your attention unless Zach Randolph (20 & 14) goes down.

Reggie Evans (foot) is expected to play for the Raptors on Wednesday, but probably doesn't have any fantasy value.

Keep reading for Where You Been? and Where'd You Go?
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[SIZE=+1]Where You Been?[/SIZE]

John Salmons hit 7-of-10 shots for 21 points on Tuesday, and remains one of the most mysterious fantasy players in the league. I picked him up in one league this week and like I keep saying, he's still worth hanging onto in most leagues.

Wayne Ellington, who is from Philly, blew up for a team-high 16 points and three 3-pointers on Tuesday, but I have no interest in owning him in fantasy leagues.

Kevin Martin came off the bench after missing shootaround with a migraine and got hot late on Tuesday, finishing with 17 points and doing much of his damage in the fourth quarter and overtime against the Knicks. They could be showcasing him for a trade, or he could still be a really good player. He may have aggravated a wrist injury late in this one, so keep an eye out for an update on his status going forward.

Contrary to the Philadelphia obituaries, Lou Williams is alive, well and still a capable fantasy player. He had 16 points, seven assists, three steals and a 3-pointer Tuesday. He's still worth starting in many leagues, but owners have to be prepared for those occasional nights when Eddie Jordan randomly decides he's not worthy of playing for his team.

Ben Gordon had 18 points, two threes, two assists and a steal on Tuesday. He has scored 18, 5, 26, 7 and 5 points in his last five games, making him far from a must-start player right now.

Chase Budinger had 10 points and 12 boards on Tuesday, helping to fill a hole left by the absence of Trevor Ariza (hip) and Kyle Lowry (ankle).

Charlie Bell had 15 points, three boards, one assist, two steals, a block and a 3-pointer on 5-of-8 shooting in Tuesday's loss. Luke Ridnour was glued to the bench, finishing with seven points and nothing else in 14 minutes. Bell is worth a look in many leagues, averaging 12 points and two 3-pointers over his last five games, while Ridnour has scored seven or less in four of his last five.

Dante Cunningham got hot for a stretch of Tuesday's game and wound up with 14 points, six rebounds and one steal in 21 minutes. Nicolas Batum started and had 12 points and four boards, but Cunningham is far from reliable, having hit double digits in scoring just one time prior to Tuesday.

Jawad Williams had 17 points and three 3-pointers on Tuesday. He'd scored a total of 12 points in his previous three games, so I'm not getting too excited at this point.

[SIZE=+1]Where'd You Go?[/SIZE]

Kobe Bryant sat out Monday and remains a game-time decision for Wednesday, and I have no feel for whether or not he'll play.

Andrew Bynum has been shut down until after the break with his hip injury.

Allen Iverson is out through the All-Star break and isn't guaranteed a starting spot anytime soon after he returns. However, there's still a chance he plays in the AS game, which would be a very questionable decision, in my opinion. Willie Green, who had 15 points and five assists on Tuesday, has taken his starting job.

Monta Ellis' knee injury is being classified as a sprain and his availability for Wednesday is up in the air. Considering the gloom and doom his MRI results could have brought, this is great news.

Delonte West did not play on Tuesday and now looks out until after the break. And I have him in a starting lineup this week. Grrr.

Devin Harris missed Tuesday's game with his shoulder injury. Are you surprised? I'm not. Consider him very iffy, at best, for Wednesday. Keyon Dooling had 11 points and seven assists in his absence.

Kenyon Martin missed Tuesday's game due to knee tendinitis and you have to wonder if he'll miss another one and rest over the break. My guess is that he does.

Erick Dampier sat again on Tuesday with his bum knee and the Mavs are done until after the break. He should return to his starting role next week.

Shawn Marion sat out of Tuesday's game due to lower back tightness, which came out of nowhere.

Kris Humphries had just two points and one board in 11 minutes on Tuesday. Ouch. He's not a must-start player, but he'll bounce back. Keep in mind the Nets got trounced by the Cavs tonight.

Ryan Hollins had just four points and two rebounds in Tuesday's loss. Samuel Dalembert wasn't much better for the victorious Sixers, going for just four points, seven boards, and zero blocks. It was a bad night for big men in this one, but Sammy should be held in all leagues, as this was his first game in his last 15 without at least 10 boards. As for Hollins? He's only worth holding in very deep leagues.

Spencer Hawes blew up my Twitter page with his five-minute performance on Tuesday, but he doesn't appear to be injured. Don Nelson gets all the headlines, but Paul Westphal is a pretty "special" fantasy coach in his own right. He's screwed with almost everyone on the team, except for Tyreke Evans. Hawes will be dropped in many leagues after this one, but don't be afraid to take a gamble on him. Just be prepared for a lot of inconsistency. If he ever does get hot and into a groove, he is a game changer.

Danilo Gallinari left Tuesday's game with a sore right forearm, but X-rays were negative. He finished with nine points and eight rebounds in 31 minutes, and he says there's no way he'll miss the 3-point contest over All-Star Weekend. So my guess is he'll play on Wednesday.

Larry Hughes sat out Tuesday's game with a toe injury and is day-to-day.

Ben Wallace had zero points, five boards, a steal and two blocks on Tuesday. He's probably in a lot of lineups this week (he's in one of mine), but failed to meet expectations tonight. He's averaging just four points, six boards and two blocks over his last five after tonight's dud.

Michael Beasley played just 15 minutes Tuesday, limited by foul trouble. Look for a solid second half from the troubled and talented forward.

Charlie Villanueva failed to score in 19 minutes, as his back injury continues to be a concern. Make sure he's not in your lineup until (and 'if') he gets it going again.

Brandon Jennings hit just 5-of-16 shots (again) and two 3-pointers for 18 points, three rebounds, five assists and three steals in Tuesday's loss. His shot is still a major concern and he's failed to impress since his 55-point explosion back in November. The rest of his numbers were pretty nice tonight, but the constant poor shooting and inconsistency (18, 5, 22, 2, 9 points in last five) makes him tough to live with in most leagues. Maybe he'll get hot again in the second half.

 

[HacheMan]

The Natural

Matt Stroup is off today covering the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, or perhaps he's just busy extolling the benefits of asparagus, but either way you're stuck with me in his normal slot. So with a fairly busy 10-game night as the NBA limps into the All Star break, let's get down to business.

[SIZE=+1]The Natural[/SIZE]

Most of you on the East Coast were asleep for Stephen Curry's historic triple-double of a career-high 36 points, 10 rebounds, 13 assists, and seven 3-pointers, and those of us on the West Coast that were "lucky" enough to watch the game – well, we fell asleep too. The Warriors' 132-102 win over the Clips is best described by the fact that the Warriors held a 29-point lead with 8:48 remaining in the second quarter! Tim Kawakami, who writes for the San Jose Mercury News tweeted, "even given the circumstances (All-Star break), the Clippers turned in one of the most pathetic performances I've ever seen, pro or college." It's hard not to agree, and it's also hard to imagine this Clippers team making the playoffs after watching this debacle, but I digress. On the other side, the Warriors had just eight guys available, and two of them were named Chris Hunter and Devean George, so naturally the six remaining Warriors got as much run as they could handle. To be fair this game looked like your local game at the YMCA, except instead of old, out-of-shape buddies of yours running in-between the 3-point lines it was Baron Davis, Marcus Camby, and Chris Kaman, but even so Curry was the first rookie to put up a 30-10-10 triple double since Kevin Johnson in 1988 – the same year Curry was born.

And while owners should be looking to ride Curry until the wheels fall off, the looming returns of Monta Ellis and Corey Maggette should complicate matters for the rest of the crew that wrecked the Clips on Wednesday. Anthony Tolliver had a career-high 29 points with three 3-pointers, three rebounds, two assists, and a steal in 45 minutes of run, but he'll be one of the first guys whose touches get slashed when the Black Hole and Vortex return. Anthony Morrow, who Nellie recently called the best shooter he has ever seen, had 26 points on 9-of-16 shooting, three treys, 10 rebounds, six assists, and one steal in 48 minutes. He should be owned in all leagues right now, and while he may struggle with his consistency, he's one injury away (read: Corey Maggette) from having serious fantasy value. C.J. Watson had 11 points, four rebounds, eight assists, and two steals in 48 minutes, but he shouldn't be worth much outside of real deep leagues once Ellis returns. Andris Biedrins (11 points, five rebounds, one block, 13 minutes) raised his free throw percentage from 10% to 13% with a 1-for-3 effort, and got the most crowd reaction of the night when he banked that one free throw in. He's a mess and perhaps this mental block is partially responsible for him not getting unleashed just yet, and if it continues Ronny Turiaf (12 points, six rebounds, six assists, 25 minutes) could turn this into a timeshare.

[SIZE=+1]The Don Nelson Happy Hour[/SIZE]

Nellie isn't the only coach who enjoys playing with your emotions, and having just eight guys to play on a number of nights has actually stabilized things a bit in Golden State. Dare we say there are rotations that are more screwed up than Nellie's? Here's a few that catch my eye.

In Sacramento Paul Westphal has kept us guessing all year, and last night's 103-97 win over another squad with rotation issues, the Pistons, was no different. After a 31-point and 24-point outing sandwiched around a 13-point, five-rebound outing, Donte' Greene played just 14 minutes and scored just six points. Ugh. Omri Casspi, fresh off of a 17-point outing in which he played 45 minutes, managed just eight points in 21 minutes. Meanwhile, Beno Udrih scored 22 points in 35 minutes and Kevin Martin scored 26 points in 33 minutes. Jason Thompson (five points, nine rebounds, 27 minutes) continues to come off the bench, and Spencer Hawes is completely hit-or-miss, and had six points with 11 rebounds and four assists in 27 minutes. The Kings have too many guys that do the same things, and because they need to play Beno Udrih in order to create ball movement, there's even less minutes to go around – unless Kevin Martin gets dealt. Right now you can start Martin and Tyreke Evans with confidence, but with the rest of the lot you'll have to take the good with the bad.

In Detroit, rumor has it that coach John Kuester has lost the locker room, but we're guessing that the problem here isn't all the coach, but the vets instead. They've burned through Flip Saunders, Michael Curry, and now Kuester, so look for Joe Dumars to swing a trade including one or more of them before the trade deadline. In the meantime, Tayshaun Prince is emerging as a boring, but somewhat productive option. His 30+ minutes per game aren't going to win you any fantasy titles, but they may keep you from losing one. Ben Gordon continued to struggle with just three points in 17 minutes on 0-for-8 shooting Wednesday, but we think he'll eventually get his act together. Charlie Villanueva (back) played 19 minutes off the bench and scored 11 points with three rebounds, and while the All Star break will do him good, he should remain on owners' benches until he shows us something.

In Philadelphia coach Eddie Jordan seems to have the most irrational quirks as of late, and his most recent "quirk" was to bench Elton Brand to start the second half of Wednesday's 104-93 loss to the Raptors. His replacement? Royal Ivey, of course. Brand was plenty unhappy after the game, and Jordan took the blame for going with a small lineup, saying "it happens." Sixers fans may add an 'S' and an 'H' to that statement when Jordan gets fired, but until that happens look for more of the same. While Brand should be fine, the four-headed monster of Jrue Holiday, Allen Iverson, Lou Williams, and Willie Green will continue to cancel each other out. The most valuable on that list, Williams, had 26 points Wednesday but has not been able to capitalize with A.I. out. Speaking of A.I., owners need to do everything they can to move him after he posts a couple of good games. He's old and he's just not worth banking on at this point. Samuel Dalembert left Wednesday's game after tweaking his back, and did not return for the second half. He stayed on the bench, though, so hopefully the injury wasn't serious.

And what would a lineup dysfunction section be without Scott Skiles? But unlike his brethren, he boasts the security blanket of a five-game week the week after next (Week 18). That's a good thing because right now the entire rotation is up in the air. Guys like Brandon Jennings and Carlos Delfino are relatively safe, but Luke Ridnour, Jerry Stackhouse, Ersan Ilyasova, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, and Charlie Bell could all be worth a look in the next week.
<!--RW-->[SIZE=+1]News and Notes[/SIZE]

No, the Nazr Mohammed Era has not begun, despite the 21 points and 20 rebounds he posted during the Bobcats' 93-92 win over the Wolves, which included his game-winning dunk. His counterpart Tyson Chandler played through his foot injury for 11 yawn-inspiring minutes, and his return probably means a time-share at first, and whatever happens after that shouldn't concern owners too much right now. Boris Diaw gave his owners some light at the end of the tunnel with 15 points, five rebounds, five assists, and three blocks, but if you're looking for him to do anything but fill out the bottom of your lineup card you're asking too much.

Owners of Kevin Love, Jonny Flynn, and Ryan Hollins were treated to a fourth-quarter benching in Wednesday's loss, and about Love in particular coach Kurt Rambis said, "if he's not going to play hard, then things aren't going to work out for him." Ouch. The good news is that Love has kept producing in his bench role, and we see him getting things worked out in the long run under Rambis, who as a Phil Jackson disciple is more prone to these types of motivational tactics. The same thing goes for Flynn, who has already been reined in a couple of times by Rambis already.

The Lakers walked into the Jazz's house on Wednesday without Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum, and took care of business with a 96-81 victory. Pau Gasol (22 points, 19 boards, five blocks) and Lamar Odom (25 points, 11 boards, three steals, two blocks) were both predictably good, and feel free to sell both of them high, even if there are talks of Odom possibly replacing Bynum in the starting lineup. If fact, use that latter fact to sell Odom high, who will struggle to be consistent whether he starts or not if the Lake Show is at full strength. It won't hurt your cause that Bynum is complaining about hip pain, which doesn't sound extremely serious but it's worth watching. Ron Artest scored just three points, which is just unacceptable, and I personally wouldn't waste my time on him. Nothing on the Utah side of the box score was even slightly exciting, and I'm going to blame that on Andrei Kirilenko's new Haley Joel Osment haircut circa his Sixth Sense days. In reality the Jazz let their guard down with Kobe out, and paid for it dearly. I have a special place in my heart for Paul Millsap's owners, who will have earned every bit of fantasy production that will result from a Carlos Boozer trade, which is still far from a certainty at this point.

In the biggest injury-related news of the night, Derrick Rose left Wednesday's game after two minutes when he crashed down on his back in a hard fall. Bulls trainer Fred Tedeschi said it's unlikely that he fractured his hip, but we're still waiting on results from the MRI and the All Star break couldn't come at a better time. Taj Gibson (who is dealing with plantar fasciitis) and Brad Miller (who isn't good) combined for two points on 1-of-12 shooting and seven rebounds, which along with the absence of Rose makes it easy to see why Orlando won handily 107-87. Tyrus Thomas may be dating your best friend right now, which if that's the case you're pretty steamed because he had 16 points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals, and a block in 35 minutes on Wednesday. I never could bring myself to get rid of him in the first place, so I won't be cursing his existence come Valentine's Day. As for the Magic, there were no 48-point outbursts a la Vince, but every starter had a productive fantasy line which probably has led to a number of fantasy wins in the Magic's three-game week.

The Blazers went into Phoenix and ran the Suns out of their own gym, winning by a total of 108-101 in a game that wasn't as close as the score suggested. Andre Miller and Steve Blake both had 20 points a piece, and it's safe to assume that Blake will be the odd man out once Brandon Roy returns from his hamstring injury (although we're still not 100% healed from McMillan's exploits from the beginning of the year). We've been telling folks to sell Martell Webster seemingly forever, so if you didn't get the memo we're not going to feel bad. Amare Stoudemire trade rumors continue to run strong, and if the Suns don't get a big man in return it would mean big things for both Channing Frye and Robin Lopez, who could provide a nice inside-outside frontcourt tandem.

The Celtics went into Super Bowl ravaged New Orleans and lost 93-85. As usual, much of the post-game and Twitter banter surrounded the health of KG, and many are wondering (including us) if Doc Rivers can keep running him out there on one leg. If you own him, you may want to look into selling him while he's still an everyday player. Darren Collison continued to drop jaws, although he almost gained the dubious distinction of having a triple-double that included turnovers (25 points, nine rebounds, 10 turnovers). He plays at a million miles per hour, and I'd take him and his 10 turnovers on my squad any day. Marcus Thornton returned from a back injury and played just nine minutes, but we fully expect him to be back up to speed after the break. And in somewhat of a non-news news update on Chris Paul, he walked without crutches during shootaround, and is reportedly hell-bent on returning this season. Keep an eye on the Hornets' record, how his knee responds, and remember that he's a gamer. Peja Stojakovic scored 20 points with four rebounds, an assist, two steals, and a block. Whenever CP3 goes out, the Hornets turn to him to carry the load, and if for some reason he's available in your league pick him up and ride him until his back goes out.

Devin Harris (shoulder) returned to action just in time to watch the Nets lose their 48th game to the Bucks, and managed to score 27 points with nine assists. His injury risk has been fully chronicled on this site, and we fully encourage you to use this line to sell him with – just don't expect other owners to jump at a so-so offer. Interestingly, this game was played in front of just 1,000 people because of the snow storms in New Jersey, and I'll spare you the obvious joke at both team's expense. Andrew Bogut has been a nice find in fantasy leagues this year, averaging 16 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks per game, and Wednesday was no different as he ran off with 22 points, nine rebounds, and four blocks. He also held Brook Lopez to just nine points and six rebounds, but we'd still rather have Lopez since Bogut is such an injury risk.

The Heat continued their odd two-game stretch of dominance, following up their 99-66 win over Houston on Tuesday with a 94-76 win over the Hawks, who weren't at full strength with Jamal Crawford out with a sore shoulder. Jermaine O'Neal went for 19 points and 10 rebounds, and owners would be very wise to move him before he trips over something and injures himself.

As mentioned, the Raptors beat the Sixers 104-93, and all is well in Toronto. They tied a franchise-record (29) for wins before the All Star break, and there is an air of stability in what they're doing. Unfortunately that's bad news for owners of Jarrett Jack and Jose Calderon, because the two are functioning perfectly in their roles – which ultimately cancel each other out. Chris Bosh looks like he's going to stay, and Andrea Bargnani has been playing well. The only guy we worry about is Hedo Turkoglu, but even he started to show signs before he was derailed by an elbow to the face. Watch to see if Turk finally learned how to work within the offense, and if any gains by him come at the expense of Andrea Bargnani.

[SIZE=+1]Thursday Night Lights[/SIZE]

Orlando Magic @ Cleveland Cavaliers

A rematch of last year's conference finals come at a time of the year when people are taking stock of who's doing what – and that type of microscope in a two-game night should make this a fairly spirited matchup. Delonte West isn't expected to play, which hasn't mattered thus far with Daniel Gibson doing a commendable job with West and Mo Williams out. An interesting subplot will be the battle of Superman 1 and Superman 2. Gene Hackman would get major style points if he showed up courtside for this one.

San Antonio Spurs @ Denver Nuggets

Carmelo Anthony finally took time out of his busy schedule to play a basketball game on Tuesday, and Chauncey Billups rejoined the lineup as well and both are set to play Thursday. Kenyon Martin is the only player of significance that is questionable for the game, and if he can't go look for Malik Allen to possibly start again in his place. Obviously Malik doesn't have any fantasy value, but Chris Andersen gets a bit of a bump if K-Mart can't go. The Spurs are in the midst of their Rodeo Road Trip, but they're not scaring anybody these days. George Hill moved over to shooting guard when Tony Parker returned to action, and as a result his nude pictures circulating the Internet are a lot scarier than he is in most formats. The Spurs have a lot to prove and need to improve their defense, shooting, and energy – in other words everything.

 

[HacheMan]

1st Half Fantasy Hoops Awards

Welcome to the NBA All-Star Break. I apparently needed a break too, as getting out of bed this morning was a complete struggle. Today's column will be a combo of a Daily Dose, Waiver Wired and Fantasy Awards, as there are no more meaningful games until Tuesday. Dallas is seeing record snowfall and there was a blizzard on the East Coast, but it does sound like everyone who is supposed to be there for the weekend festivities is going to make it.

[SIZE=+1]All-Star Weekend Predictions[/SIZE]

Dunk Contest: Nate Robinson

Tough to bet against a guy with that much flair for the dramatic, and who is chasing a record third title. But if Derrick Rose was in the contest and healthy, my money would have been on him – especially after this one. And something tells me that if Eric Gordon somehow gets in over DeMar DeRozan, we'll look back on it in 10 years and laugh. Sort of like I did on Thursday when I realized Ray Allen dunked against Kobe Bryant in 1997. Other participants include Shannon Brown (who will win it if Nate doesn't) and Gerald Wallace. We find out today who wins the Dunk-In between DeRozan and Gordon, but you can go ahead and pencil DeRozan in.

3-point Contest: Stephen Curry

Curry is officially hot and seems to really enjoy the pressure of a spotlight. I'm not sure he's where the smart money is going, but I really like his attitude and it feels like he's going to do well in this thing. And this video has done nothing but make me feel even better about the decision. Smart money should probably be on Chauncey Billups, who drained nine treys last Friday. One would also think Danilo Gallinari could set a record in this thing, but my guess is the pressure gets to him.

Skills Challenge: Brandon Jennings

Steve Nash is old, Deron Williams doesn't strike me as the fastest guy in the league and Derrick Rose will be far from 100 percent for this one. And since we know Jennings can't shoot, maybe his speed and skills in other areas will come to the forefront this weekend.

H.O.R.S.E: Kevin Durant

As some astute and witty Twitter user said the other day, Durant only needs to shoot it from the free throw line all day to take home the title against Rajon Rondo and Omri Casspi.

[SIZE=+1]First Half Fantasy Awards[/SIZE]

Best Fantasy Coach:
Mike Woodson, Atlanta

Woody didn't win this award all by himself, as the Hawks core group of players (Mike Bibby, Joe Johnson, Marvin Williams, Josh Smith, Al Horford, Jamal Crawford) has missed a grand total of just two games this season! That is really incredible to me, and is probably just as big a reason for the Hawks' success as anything else going on in Atlanta. Marvin missed a game in December with the flu and Jamal Crawford missed the last game before the break with a minor shoulder injury – and that's it. Serious props to head trainer Wally Blase, who is simply doing a fantastic job.

But what gets Woody this award is the fact that his rotation has been as reliable as any I can ever remember in the NBA. Each of the six guys mentioned above can pretty much count on knowing when they're coming in and out of the game and how many minutes they're going to play every night. And really, as a fantasy owner, that's all I'm looking for.

Honorable Mentions – Good Coaches:

Lionel Hollins – Rotation as rock-solid as ATL's.
Larry Brown – Usually bugs me, but nice rotation this year.
Rick Adelman – Props for sticking with Trevor Ariza when many of us gave up.
Scott Brooks – OKC's rotation nice, but more run for James Harden, please.
Jeff Bower – Hornets rotation solid, smart move of starting Marcus Thornton.
Jerry Sloan – Thanks for giving Andrei Kirilenko his life back.
Don Nelson – Crazy huh? But it's hard for even Nellie to screw up a seven-man rotation, although he's killing Andris Biedrins.

Worst Fantasy Coach

Eddie Jordan, Philadelphia

This one was not easy, as plenty of coaches have been pretty annoying this year. But the benching of Elton Brand, constantly screwing with Lou Williams, teasing us with Marreese Speights, benching Thaddeus Young, starting Willie Green, questionable use of Samuel Dalembert early, low shots and a weird role for Andre Iguodala and an overall crazy rotation give Jordan the nod. The fact he still has his job is somewhat mind boggling, but the Sixers have actually been winning lately. And oddly enough, Allen Iverson has been out, Lou-Will has been getting minutes, Samuel Dalembert is playing and Elton Brand is starting. Weird how that works, isn't it Eddie?

Honorable Mention – Bad Coaches

Jim O'Brien – Can't decide on starting lineup/rotation, players don't seem care.
Nate McMillan – Can't decide on rotation, early use of Andre Miller a joke.
Paul Westphal – Props for running with Tyreke Evans, but the rest is a mystery.
Scott Skiles – Apparently only cares about sticking with hot hands.
Kurt Rambis – Kevin Love off the bench? Really?
Mike D'Antoni – Hates Nate Robinson and Al Harrington, which is annoying.
Gregg Popovich – Make up your mind on DeJuan Blair, let Duncan play.

Fantasy MVP: LeBron James

It's not even close, although guys like Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant and Chris Bosh are having great seasons. If there was any question prior to the season if LeBron was the No. 1 overall pick, there is no question next year. And for my money, Durant is now No. 2. We had to ban Michael Jordan at one point back in the day because he was too dominant, and LeBron could be treading in those waters going forward.

Continue reading for Busts, Steals and Second Half Breakout Candidates.
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Fantasy Bust: Gilbert Arenas

He went from looking like a potential steal in drafts when he was taken in Round 3, but the Wizards never seemed to jell and then the whole locker room street war went down. A lost season and a total waste of a fantasy pick is the end result.

Waiver Wire Steal of the Year: Luol Deng, Bulls

This is a tough one to figure out, as the possibilities are literally endless. But Deng came in injured and was coming off a terrible season. He bounced back this year to play in play in every single game despite a serious thumb problem and is leading a Derrick Rose team in scoring (18.1 points) and is second in rebounds (7.5), while averaging a steal, a block and shooting 47 percent. He's also on pace for a career high in 3-pointers made.

Other guys who have been sweet grabs include Brendan Haywood, Stephen Curry, Brandon Jennings, Darren Collison, Jamal Crawford, Elton Brand, Carlos Delfino, Channing Frye, Andre Miller and Andrei Kirilenko, among others. My apologies if I forgot to list your favorite. If you want to share your most brilliant waiver-wire pickup on Twitter, maybe I'll retweet some of them over the weekend.

Steal of the Draft: Zach Randolph, Grizzlies

Who saw this explosion coming? Not only is he producing ridiculous numbers in points and boards (20.5 & 11.6), but he has been a model citizen in Memphis, who appears to be headed to a playoff berth if they don't fall apart.

Honorable Mentions:

Chris Kaman, Aaron Brooks, Monta Ellis, Stephen Jackson, David Lee, Joakim Noah, Danilo Gallinari, Brendan Haywood, Tyreke Evans, Marc Gasol, Andrew Bynum, Russell Westbrook, among others.

Most Pleasant Surprise: Gerald Wallace, Bobcats

Another tough call, but the fact Wallace was leading the league in rebounding early and putting up sick numbers across the board give him the edge over some of the honorable mentions. The fact he's only missed one game gave him the nod in my book.

Honorable Mentions:

Josh Smith, Rajon Rondo, Andrew Bogut, Tyreke Evans, Stephen Curry, Carlos Boozer, Andrea Bargnani, Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Andrei Kirilenko, Peja Stojakovic, Channing Frye, Carlos Delfino, Randy Foye and Marc Gasol.

Rookie of the Year: Tyreke Evans, Kings

He has a real chance at finishing the year at 20 points, five boards and five assists, which would put him in elite rookie company with LeBron James, Oscar Robertson and Michael Jordan. He's also played through several injuries and doesn't appear to be fazed by the return of Kevin Martin.

Honorable Mentions:

Stephen Curry (who may very well end up winning the real award), Darren Collison and Brandon Jennings.

Player You Drafted Too Early: Jose Calderon, Raptors

Calderon is proving to be nothing more than a Grade A backup fantasy point guard. He's highly effective running the point with the second unit, but constant injuries and inconsistency simply make him more of a bust than a stud.

Honorable Mentions:

Paul Millsap, Anthony Randolph, Kevin Garnett, Ron Artest, Richard Jefferson, Tony Parker, Kevin Martin, Hedo Turkoglu, J.R. Smith, Ben Gordon, Charlie Villanueva, Yi Jianlian, Tyrus Thomas and John Salmons.

Productive, But Disappointing: Danny Granger, Pacers

Constant injuries and a love of shooting 3-pointers at will have made Granger a fantasy headache, but not a full-fledged bust. He's still productive when he plays, but owners who took him over Kevin Durant, among others, are pretty sore about the decision in hindsight.

Honorable Mentions:

Andris Biedrins, Trevor Ariza, Brandon Jennings, Dwyane Wade, Rashard Lewis, Vince Carter, Andre Iguodala, Amare Stoudemire, Devin Harris, Tyrus Thomas and Kendrick Perkins.

Second Half Breakout Candidates/Waiver Wired:

Tyrus Thomas – Change of scenery would likely do wonders for him.
John Salmons – Trade of Kirk Hinrich would clear path to success.
Josh Howard – Trade out of Dallas could mean big things.
J.R. Smith – Denver should use him more down the stretch.
Ben Gordon – Can't stink it up this badly all year, can he?
Anthony Morrow – Coming on strong, Nellie likes him.
Anthony Tolliver – Ditto.
Andris Biedrins – This one is in Nellie's hands, but so far, so bad.
Trevor Ariza – Can he really shoot 38 percent all season? Maybe.
Eric Gordon – Injured and quiet first half, should be ready to start playing.
Lamar Odom – Could be money if promoted to first unit permanently.
Courtney Lee – Nets didn't acquire him not to play him. Getting minutes.
Jason Richardson – So inconsistent, but could still figure it out.
Robin Lopez – Would see a big boost if/when Amare is moved.
Thaddeus Young – Trade in Philly could clear return to starting five.
Lou Williams – Still the PG in Philly and playing well again.
Travis Outlaw – Sleeper off Blazers' bench when he gets healthy.
DeJuan Blair – Will Gregg Popovich finally turn him loose?
Manu Ginobili – Getting healthy, could go on late run.
Spencer Hawes – All on Westphal, who has really not used him effectively.
Andray Blatche – If Antawn Jamison or Haywood get traded, could start.

Summary

There it is. I'm sure I forgot some guys, so feel free to let me know who was missing from any of the various lists. I ripped the fact we'll be watching Shakira's hips at the All-Star Game on Twitter, and while I am as big a fan of her hips as the next guy, I just don't see why people want to sit through her 'singing' at an All-Star Game. The Who got ripped for their Super Bowl performance, but the annual NBA All-Star musical talent continues to do nothing more than annoy me. If I want to see Shakira howl like a she wolf or shake her hips, I'd rather just go to Youtube.