NBA Fantasy News 2010/2011

[HacheMan]

Wade Set Free
There were nine games on Monday night, which might be a record for the season, so Tuesday's Dose is busier than usual. Dwyane Wade has his babies, Marcus Thornton and Sammy D went career-night for the Kings, and Kobe played through his sprained ankle. Let's get to it.

Baby Daddy

Dwyane Wade, who was awarded custody of his kids on Sunday, stayed hot on Monday with another big game as the Heat rolled over the Spurs. Wade had 29 points, nine boards, four assists, two steals and two blocks, and said after the game that getting custody of his kids was a huge relief and has freed him on the court. So the next time a player or team says that serious personal issues won't become a distraction, don't believe it. Chris Bosh's calls for the ball have been answered as he stayed hot with 30 points and 12 boards, while LeBron James, as usual, flirted with a triple-double. And as for that panic you heard out of South Beach? It's been stifled as the Heat have beaten the Lakers, Grizzlies and Spurs for a new three-game winning streak.

Kobe's Ankle

Kobe Bryant played through his ankle injury and had 16 points on 7-of-19 shooting in a relatively easy win over the Magic. Kobe's a warrior and somehow avoided a serious injury, which is hard to believe if you've seen the replays. Andrew Bynum went off for 10 points and tied a career high with 18 boards.

Career Night For Couple Kings

Marcus Thornton and Samuel Dalembert (both in the lineup for my team that was eliminated from the playoffs on Sunday thanks to Danny Granger's DNP) went nuts on Monday for the Kings. Thornton, as predicted, hit 13-of-20 shots and four 3-pointers on his way to a career-high 42 points, while Sammy D added a career-high 27 points along with 16 rebounds and two blocks in an easy win over the Warriors. The only thing worse than barely missing the playoffs is then watching your team go nuts when it doesn't matter (LeBron was also on that team, which started 7-1 and finished 8-10 to miss the playoffs – yes, I'm bitter). Beno Udrih returned from the flu for nine points and nine assists, while Francisco Garcia posted a very serviceable fantasy line last night.

Tale Of 3 Point Guards

Chris Paul went off again for 27 points, 10 assists and seven steals. He's coming off a concussion, but has possibly played his two best games of the season in the last three days. David West was shut down by Kenyon Martin, as the Nuggets won again.

Ty Lawson and Raymond Felton posted nearly identical lines in the win, marking the first time the pair has gone 20 & 10 in a non-overtime game. Felton hit six threes, and while the starting job still clearly belongs to Lawson, Felton is holding his own off the bench. Danilo Gallinari and Arron Afflalo missed Monday's game with their lingering injuries. Gallinari is hoping to return on Friday, while Afflalo remains day-to-day, and J.R. Smith and Wilson Chandler continue to go off in their absence.

It Happens In 3s

Rudy Gay got some bad news on his shoulder on Monday, and will continue to sit out for at least another week or two with the injury. The good news is it doesn't sound like he'll need surgery, but while he hasn't been ruled out for the season, my guess is he would have been if the Grizzlies weren't looking like a playoff team. I still see no reason to hold him.

Meanwhile, Tyreke Evans will have his foot examined today as the Kings determine when he'll play again this season, if at all. Paul Westphal is making it sound like Evans is ready to come back and could play within a week to 10 days, and while that may be true, I'm not sure what the point is. Marcus Thornton has figured things out, Beno Udrih is solid and the Kings, despite last night's big win, are going nowhere. I'm still not fully convinced Evans is really coming back, but I would also be surprised if he doesn't.

Eric Gordon's wrist will get another look today and we'll hopefully have a solid timeframe for his return in a few hours. Obviously all three of these guys have been fantasy disasters this season, doing even more damage by holding owners hostage for most of the second half of the season.

Four Square

Andray Blatche (shoulder), Luis Scola (knee), Paul Millsap (knee) and Carlos Boozer (ankle) all remain day-to-day with their injuries. The first three missed Monday's game, while Boozer doesn't sound likely to play on Tuesday. I lumped them all together because I own the first three on one team, they all play the same position and all do very similar things. And another thing they have in common is we still really don't have a very good grasp on how long they'll be out. In fact, news has been so scarce on these guys, the only thing we do know is that Boozer has a Thursday target date in mind. But whether he plays on Thursday is still anyone's guess. I'm getting shutdown questions on everyone except for Boozer, but my guess is they'll all be back in action by the end of the week. But again, that's just a guess.

Thunder Destroy Wiz in Perk's Debut

The Thunder destroyed the Wizards last night as Kendrick Perkins returned from his knee injury and started in his first game with the Thunder, finishing with six points and nine rebounds. He should probably be owned in most leagues, but is not yet a must-start. Serge Ibaka blocked eight more shots last night, giving him 15 of them in two days, while Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook went off, despite sitting much of the second half in the blowout. And James Harden scored 16 points, meaning he's now gone 14 straight games in double digits.

The Wiz are a mess, but got 12 points from Jordan Crawford, as well as 14 points, a career-high 13 rebounds and two blocks out of Trevor Booker, who is starting for Andray Blatche (shoulder). Booker will be a solid fantasy play for as long as Blatche is out (see above). JaVale McGee had 14 points, nine rebounds and five blocks, and since it's impossible to tell when or where McGee is going to actually show up, it's possible he was on your bench. Oh, and in case you missed it, Josh Howard returned to action and started, but failed to score and lasted just 11 minutes.
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Celtics Downed By Nets In Deron's Return

Nenad Krstic finally cooled off last night, finishing with six points and two rebounds as the Celtics lost to the Nets. While our Rotoworld blurb suggests kicking him to the curb immediately, I'm not sure I agree. Krstic had been playing very well prior to last night, when Glen Davis finally showed up with 16 points and 14 rebounds, and unless Davis is going to start doing that nightly (he's not) or Shaquille O'Neal is suddenly relevant again (ha), Krstic is going to continue to get nice run. Rajon Rondo's cool streak continued as he hit just 1-of-10 shots for two points and nine assists. He's struggling right now, but still puts up numbers even when things aren't going well.

Deron Williams was back in action for the Nets and had 16 points, six boards, nine assists and three steals. Welcome back! Kris Humphries had yet another double-double, and remains one of the most pleasant fantasy surprises of the year.

Griffin Suddenly Struggling, Marc Gasol Goes Down

Blake Griffin scored just eight points for his first single-digit scoring line all season and hasn't double-doubled in four straight games. While I'm not going to say it's time to panic, he was bound to go through a cold stretch at some point. I think he'll bounce back and the Clippers should get some new life now that their road trip is over. Randy Foye and Mo Williams struggled, with Eric Bledsoe picking up the slack and scoring 19. Foye and Mo are still the guys to own, although Foye takes a hit if/when Eric Gordon returns. And while this shouldn't impact too many fantasy teams, Ryan Gomes left with a bruised right knee. If he's out, Al-Farouq Aminu would benefit, as would Jamario Moon.

Marc Gasol left Monday's win with a sprained ankle, although X-rays were negative. Zach Randolph stepped up in his absence for a big line of 30 points and 12 boards, and would be the primary beneficiary if Gasol is going to miss time. Darrell Arthur has been playing well, and would also benefit with Gasol in street clothes, but had just 12 points last night.

Jefferson Goes Off Again, Harris Hurts Hammy

Devin Harris left Monday's game with a hamstring injury, but says it's not too bad, so just keep an eye on him. He is day-to-day. If he's out, Earl Watson would start, but I don't think you need to race out to pick him up. Al Jefferson stayed incredibly hot last night with 30 more points, 16 more rebounds, six assists and two blocks, as he helps Wade and Westbrook lay waste to my team in the League Freak playoffs. Jefferson is as hot as he's ever been right now, so just enjoy the ride.

For the Sixers, Jrue Holiday disappeared again as his three-game funk continued, making him bench worthy after playing so well in his three previous games. Andre Iguodala scored 23 points, but is now day-to-day with right knee chondromalacia. With the Sixers one of the hottest teams in the league since the break, Iguodala will do what he can to keep playing.

Lowry Lifts Rockets, Nash Coming Back

Kyle Lowry had 18 points, six boards, five dimes, a steal and a three last night, as his dream season continues and as the Rockets stopped a seven-game losing streak against the Suns. Chuck Hayes added a career-high 21 points along with nine boards, a steal and a block, as his dream season also continues.

The Suns got nothing out of Aaron Brooks in a start for Steve Nash, while Josh Childress suddenly had a monster fantasy line. I thought he'd get more run this year and be worth owning, but this is really the first sign of life he's shown this season. Vince Carter chipped in with 21 points, while Hakim Warrick was quiet again.

Nash, out with what the team is now calling "pelvic instability" says he's good to go on Wednesday after missing Monday's game. He's far from 100 percent and my guess is that if the Suns were comfortably in the playoffs he might take a week off. But they're still 2.5 games out of the No. 8 seed and it's now or never. Once they fall out of the playoff hunt, guys like Nash and Vince Carter will likely become shutdown candidates.

Oh Danny Boy

Danny Granger's excuse for missing Sunday's game turned out to be strep throat and the fact he needed IVs throughout the day means he was pretty sick. Consider him questionable for tonight in a rematch against the Knicks, and stay tuned for an update. And if you own any other Pacer besides Granger, or are a Pacers fan in general, you should hope that Granger sits this one out, as he's been doing a lot more harm than good for much of the season.

Reading the Fine Print

Al Horford will start for the Hawks tonight in his return from an ankle injury, while Jeff Teague will stick in the starting five for the Hawks the rest of the way. I don't know about you, but I'm kind of excited to see what Teague will do tonight.

Ryan Anderson was as surprise starter for the Magic over Brandon Bass, and had 13 points, seven boards and four threes in the loss. There's no word if his starting gig is permanent or not, but if you remember the last time he started he was highly disappointing.

Luke Ridnour missed Monday's practice to be with his family (newborn twins), but is expected back in time for Wednesday's game.

Marcus Camby (knee) and Nicolas Batum (ankle) missed Monday's practice, but both are expected to play tonight.

Austin Daye missed Monday's practice with an illness, leaving him a little iffy for Wednesday.

C.J. Miles has potentially won a full-time starting gig for the Jazz, replacing Raja Bell. Miles was playing well off the bench and if you've had your eye on him, now if probably the time to make your move.

 

[HacheMan]

Miles To Go?
Desperate times often call for desperate measures. The Jazz have been scuffling badly for more than a month now, posting a 3-11 record since Feb. 7 before Monday. So partially because of Raja Bell's mild toe issue and partially because they needed a spark, C.J. Miles got the start Monday night. He hit the game-tying shot in regulation of an overtime win and in the process stated his case for a long-term starting job.

Coaches are constantly tinkering, toying and yanking around with rotations. Sometimes it has to do with injuries. In other instances, it's a result of ineffective play from a certain player. The effect this has on minutes played and thus statistical production is where we come in.

Each week in this space, I'll explore the rotations of half the league's teams while attempting to get inside coaches' heads. The idea is not to tell you what Kevin Durant and LeBron James are going to do -- it's to decipher how much production we can get out of fringe players. Last week, I hit the East. Let's start this week off with the Jazz, where new coach Tyrone Corbin is looking for the right mix.

* Note that lineups listed reflect the starters in the team's previous game. Stats are through Monday's games unless otherwise noted.

<BIG>UTAH</BIG>
PG Devin Harris
SG C.J. Miles
SF Andrei Kirilenko
PF Derrick Favors
C Al Jefferson

It has been a rough few weeks for the Jazz. They lost their legendary coach, traded away their best player and are dealing with a laundry list of daily injuries. Fantasy owners should view it as an opportunity.

The most interesting name is C.J. Miles. Although he is unlikely to ever start over Andrei Kirilenko at small forward, he could very well stick in the starting five over Raja Bell at shooting guard. Yes, Bell was dealing with a toe injury when Miles started Monday night. But new coach Ty Corbin had been hinting at a lineup change for some time and admitted late Monday night that Miles just may become a permanent starter.

In six starts this season, Miles is averaging 18.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.8 treys and 1.5 steals. With the Jazz in desperate need for his offense, 30 minutes a night should be no problem and his talent can sustain that rate of production. Add him.

Paul Millsap (knee) must really be in bad shape if he is sitting out. Still, it would be a mistake to drop him or make an impulse add on Derrick Favors. As one of the game's true tough guys, The Sapper won't shut it down. And he will be an offensive focal point once out there.

<BIG>DALLAS</BIG>
PG Jason Kidd
SG Roddy Beaubois
SF Shawn Marion
PF Dirk Nowitzki
C Tyson Chandler

Talent does not always win out in terms of minutes. Roddy Beaubois has been a flop, simply because the Mavs' rotation is too crowded for him to get consistent burn. Roddy B has started 11 straight games but averaged just 16.0 minutes over that span and it will not change. The Mavs are too set in their rotation.

Meanwhile, no one should be surprised that Peja Stojakovic is hurt again. This time it is his neck, but it could just as easily be his knees. In the three games since Peja went down, Marion is averaging 18.0 points, 8.0 rebounds 1.3 blocks and 1.0 steals. However, he is shooting 58.5 percent from the field during that span. If there were still trading available in your league, I would sell high. Marion will come back to earth and go back to the bench soon.

Editor's Note: Draft a hoops team just for tonight and win real cash in SnapDraft!

<BIG>DENVER</BIG>
PG Ty Lawson
SG Gary Forbes
SF Wilson Chandler
PF Kenyon Martin
C Nene

Everyone was banging their head against the wall, trying to figure out what the Nuggets would do with both Ty Lawson and Raymond Felton. It turns out that coach George Karl had the right idea all along -- simply put his most talented players on the floor at the same time and see what happens.

It has worked. With Felton and Lawson sharing the backcourt for huge minutes at a time, the Nuggets have won six of their last seven games and both players are racking up huge numbers. Not only are both point guards safe to use in fantasy -- both are major assets.

Arron Afflalo will immediately get his starting job back from Gary Forbes and play his 35 minutes. But Danilo Gallinari has been out for so long that he may need some time. The eventual timeshare between Wilson Chandler, Gallo and J.R. Smith is not appetizing from a fantasy perspective. Think 26-28 minutes for Gallinari and Chandler, while Smith may become unusable in fantasy again.

<BIG>GOLDEN STATE</BIG>
PG Stephen Curry
SG Monta Ellis
SF Dorell Wright
PF David Lee
C Andris Biedrins

Following Steph Curry game by game can be frustrating, but owners should take a step back. Before Monday, he was averaging 20.5 points, 6.4 assists, 5.3 rebounds, 2.6 treys and 1.3 steals in eight March games. Oh, and he also shot 95.8 percent from the line and 46.5 percent from the field during that span. So even when Curry throws up a clunker, there is no reason to worry. He is just too roto-friendly to complain about.

We can safely ignore the center position. Andris Biedrins has not topped 24 minutes in a game since Feb. 16 and Ekpe Udoh is clearly nowhere near ready.

David Lee can be used as a lesson for next year. Somewhat unproven guys who change scenery off a big year are just too risky to gamble on high in drafts. Darren Collison can be lumped in that category too.

<BIG>HOUSTON</BIG>
PG Kyle Lowry
SG Kevin Martin
SF Chase Budinger
PF Patrick Patterson
C Chuck Hayes

Count me as a believer in Chase Budinger. He has played no fewer than 34 minutes in any of his last five games and is just scratching the surface of his potential. In his eight starts entering Monday, Budinger was averaging 15.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 treys. His athleticism will eventually lead to more steals and there is more upside on the treys. We know the minutes will be there.

Without Luis Scola (knee) in there, the power forward position is a black hole. Patrick Patterson and Jordan Hill simply lack the talent to be impact players. We can do better.

Editor's Note: For weekly projections, daily pickup advice, exclusive columns and much more, check out Rotoworld's Season Pass!

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<BIG>LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS</BIG>
PG Mo Williams
SG Randy Foye
SF Ryan Gomes
PF Blake Griffin
C DeAndre Jordan

The split between DeAndre Jordan and Chris Kaman has gone about as I predicted in this space five weeks ago. Jordan has held the starting job tightly and is playing about 28 minutes per night. Kaman has settled in nicely with the second unit and is playing around 26 minutes. There is no reason to change as the Clippers are building toward the future and therefore must give Jordan his time. Both centers are viable fantasy plays with capped upside.

It is hard to get a read on Eric Gordon's possible return from his wrist aggravation. He is working out and seems intent on making a return, but the concern is that the damage is to Gordon's shooting hand. And when he broke his fall a couple weeks ago, he used that hand to cushion himself. Hold Randy Foye until we actually see Gordon make it through a game and not appear limited. After all, the Clippers have nothing to play for.

<BIG>LOS ANGELES LAKERS</BIG>
PG Derek Fisher
SG Kobe Bryant
SF Ron Artest
PF Pau Gasol
C Andrew Bynum

Andrew Bynum is playing at a scary-good level and he's being rewarded with extra minutes. Over his last 10 games heading into Monday, Bynum averaged 12.1 points, 12.4 rebounds and 2.5 blocks while shooting 66.7 percent from the field. He also played 35 minutes or more in the final three games of that span. We are finally seeing just how dominant a healthy Bynum can be.

Kobe Bryant remarkably did not miss any games with his ankle sprain. But note that Shannon Brown would have started and been a strong spot start. Kobe is a good bet to rest at some point before the playoffs, even if it is a short stint at the end of the season.

<BIG>MEMPHIS</BIG>
PG Mike Conley
SG Tony Allen
SF Sam Young
PF Zach Randolph
C Marc Gasol

The news on Rudy Gay is not good. He was still feeling pain in his left shoulder last week and is expected to need 1-2 more weeks of rehab. The Grizz are still hanging on to the No. 8 seed, so Gay won't give up. But expecting more than 6-8 games of solid production is wishful thinking. In the meantime, Tony Allen, Sam Young and Shane Battier will continue to chop up minutes. Out of the three, I'd most like to own Allen for the defensive stats.

The severity of Marc Gasol's ankle injury is unknown. If he misses time, Darrell Arthur will make for a decent add. Arthur has played 30 minutes or more six times this season. In those games, he is averaging 17.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks.

<BIG>MINNESOTA</BIG>
PG Luke Ridnour
SG Wes Johnson
SF Michael Beasley
PF Kevin Love
C Darko Milicic

A case of food poisoning limited Wes Johnson severely last week, but he can not use that as an excuse. Even after he said he felt better, he still averaged just 4.0 points on 26.3 percent shooting over four games, all starts. Now reverting back to that early-season form that cost him his starting job, Johnson is once again in danger of being benched.

Martell Webster's back is finally healthy and he is proving to be the more productive player. Most importantly, coach Kurt Rambis seems intent on giving him a chance. I'd expect a changing of the guard soon, opening up Webster as a possible late-season deep league sleeper.

Darko Milicic will keep starting, but is getting painful to watch. Early in the season he scored easily and made good decisions in the post. Now he is showing a woeful basketball IQ, a propensity for in-game injuries and is in constant foul trouble. He is still going to block two shots a night, but expecting more than 20-23 minutes is unrealistic.

<BIG>NEW ORLEANS</BIG>
PG Chris Paul
SG Marco Belinelli
SF Trevor Ariza
PF David West
C Emeka Okafor

Marco Belinelli got his starting job back from Willie Green, lost it for a game last week for disciplinary reasons, and then regained it again. Now this starting five should be set for the rest of the season.

Belinelli is a decent 3-point specialist, but do not overreact to his impressive March numbers. In 55 starts heading into Monday, Belinelli was averaging 10.4 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists. That is the kind of line to expect when the dust settles for those needing his 1.5 treys per game.

We all know that Trevor Ariza can not shoot. But it will not affect his minutes because he is a glue guy. He is a safe play for owners chasing steals and ignoring field-goal percentage.

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<BIG>OKLAHOMA CITY</BIG>
PG Russell Westbrook
SG Thabo Sefolosha
SF Kevin Durant
PF Serge Ibaka
C Kendrick Perkins

The Thunder wasted no time no time getting Kendrick Perkins into the mix. In his first game active with the team Monday, he started and played 20 minutes. Once that knee gets fully up to speed, 27-29 minutes nightly is a lock. Anyone who needs nine points, nine rebounds and a block or so per game should make the add.

I can safely say that I was dead wrong about James Harden. He seems to finally have turned the corner in terms of using his underrated size and athleticism to get his own shot. In 54 games before the All-Star break, Harden was scoring 10.3 points per night in 25.7 minutes. In 11 games since the All-Star break (before Monday), Harden is averaging 17.6 points per night in 30.3 minutes. His ascension has been an underrated part of the Jeff Green trade and he is now safe to use in almost all formats.

Serge Ibaka is averaging 4.1 blocks per game in eight March contests. Absurd.

<BIG>PHOENIX</BIG>
PG Aaron Brooks
SG Vince Carter
SF Grant Hill
PF Hakim Warrick
C Robin Lopez

Channing Frye wants to get back early from his shoulder dislocation, but these are really tough injuries. They can pop back out so easily and any fall will be a big issue. Additionally, the damage is to Frye's shooting shoulder. Look for Hakim Warrick to keep getting around 30 minutes for the next two weeks.

Meanwhile, the news is better on Steve Nash. Although his pubic issue has kept him out of two straight games, he should be fine going forward. Maybe not 40 minutes worth of fine, but 32-34 is very realistic. Nash is on the record saying the instability is not severe.

Vince Carter's playing time is directly related to how he is shooting. With Jared Dudley, Aaron Brooks and Mickael Pietrus more than ready to step in, Carter simply is not guaranteed minutes. And in his declining state, he will play 25 minutes just as much as he will play 39. Carter is a high-risk play nightly.

<BIG>PORTLAND</BIG>
PG Andre Miller
SG Wesley Matthews
SF Nicolas Batum
PF LaMarcus Aldridge
C Marcus Camby

Nicolas Batum (ankle) and Marcus Camby (knee) are both nursing minor injuries, but expect to play Tuesday. So it appears the Blazers are locked into this starting five even though coach Nate McMillan has hinted that Gerald Wallace will eventually start over Camby.

That move to put Wallace in the starting five could eventually come, but it really won’t matter too much. There are just too many mouths to feed here. Wallace is averaging 32.0 minutes a night over his last seven games and it is not going to get much better than that.

Brandon Roy is finally playing in back-to-back games, but is still on a minutes limit. That does not figure to be lifted anytime soon, especially with Wallace around now. With just 25 minutes a night, Roy is not worth the headache.

I have been getting a ton of questions about Marcus Camby lately. The answer is pretty simple -- he is not healthy and the Blazers are getting comfortable with LaMarcus Aldridge at the five and Wallace at the four. I would not be afraid to move on from Camby and his 20 minutes unless I really needed blocks and boards.

<BIG>SACRAMENTO</BIG>
PG Beno Udrih
SG Marcus Thornton
SF Francisco Garcia
PF DeMarcus Cousins
C Samuel Dalembert

Tyreke Evans is expected to be medically cleared Tuesday and return to game action in 7-10 days. At that point, he will likely start over Marcus Thornton. Still, there is enough room for all three to get their minutes. Thornton has proven he can play next to Udrih and Evans can obviously play next to anyone with his versatile skill set. At this point, all three are strong holds.

Francisco Garcia may not look like much, but his game is really fantasy-friendly. Over his last five games before Monday, Garcia averaged 12.8 points, 1.8 treys and 1.4 steals while shooting 92.9 percent from the free-throw line. So even though his minutes will be spotty, Garcia is a nice guy for the bottom of rosters.

<BIG>SAN ANTONIO</BIG>
PG Tony Parker
SG Manu Ginobili
SF Richard Jefferson
PF Tim Duncan
C Antonio McDyess

Coach Gregg Popovich is getting set for the playoffs. Therefore, veteran Antonio McDyess is in the starting five and youngster DeJaun Blair is out. The rotations are still tight, however, McDyess will play about 20 mintues most nights and Blair will play about 20. Although Blair's per-minute numbers are impressive, he is only an extreme low-end option now.

 

[HacheMan]

McGee's Wild Triple-Double
Wild Life

JaVale McGee came into Tuesday night on a nice three-game run, averaging 12 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks over that stretch, but took things to a new level against the centerless Bulls. McGee racked up the rare triple-double with blocks, finishing with 11 points, 12 boards and 12 swats in the loss. It was a wild performance that could have been much better, but McGee was marching to his own drummer and throwing up ridiculous shots late, hoping to throw something in for his 10th point. He was ripped by Flip Saunders recently for playing out of control and then allowed to do just that. He capped the evening off with a technical for hanging on the rim and celebrating his feat, which is drawing some ire from folks. But from a fantasy perspective? You go, JaVale! The Wiz lost this game by halftime and the Bulls were missing their bigs, so this felt more like a playground triple-double than an NBA version. I own McGee, Samuel Dalembert and Roy Hibbert in a league where we can start just one center, and I rolled the dice on Hibbert this week. He was great against the Knicks last night, but there's no denying how difficult it was watching Sammy and McGee put up the lines of their lives on my bench.

John Wall played through a foot injury last night and given the fact he went off for 17 points, 11 boards, seven assists, four steals, a block and seven TOs in 46 minutes, I still think his foot injury needs to be watched closely by owners. There's very little info coming out of Washington right now, but it does sound like Wall nearly missed last night's game. Just keep an eye on this situation. Jordan Crawford played all 48 minutes and finished with 27 points and three 3-poiners on 10-of-21 shooting, and with the injuries detailed in the next paragraph, deserves to be owned in most leagues going forward.

Andray Blatche (shoulder), Josh Howard (knee), Nick Young (knee) and Rashard Lewis (knee) were all out last night. My guess is we may have seen the last of Lewis and Howard this season, while Young is clearly a shutdown candidate as well. If you own any of those three, I'd recommend cutting bait and picking up Crawford if you can.

As for Blatche, we reported yesterday that he said on Twitter that his shoulder was "killin" him, but after further review, it's possible that simply missing the game was what was "killin" him. Either way, he's now missed three straight and most of a fourth after an MRI revealed no structural damage in his shoulder. I'm getting a lot of "should I drop him" emails, and at this point, if we don't have any new information by the end of the weekend, it is something to look at. Every league and situation is different and Blatche might be droppable in yours, but if you can, let's see what the next report has to say.

Yi Jianlian started last night and had 14 points, six boards and two steals, and could suddenly be relevant given all the injuries in Washington. Trevor Booker struggled after double-doubling in his last one, but still figures to be a decent play going forward.

Kurt Thomas had eight points, 15 boards and two blocks for the Bulls, and Taj Gibson added nine points, 13 boards and no blocks in a start for Joakim Noah. Noah shouldn't be out long after missing last night with an illness, while Carlos Boozer also hopes to return on Thursday. Derrick Rose didn't shoot it well, but still had a nice game, while Luol Deng chipped in with 20 points. Perhaps the most surprising thing that happened for the Bulls was the fact Keith Bogans blew up for 17 points and five 3-pointers. Regardless of how good he looked last night, ignore him because it was a fluke.

Roy Watch

The Blazers beat the Mavericks as Gerald Wallace made his first start for the Blazers, sending Marcus Camby to the bench. Both players struggled, but at least Camby had four blocks. Brandon Roy is turning heads again after scoring 21 points last night in 28 minutes. He didn't do much else, but has scored 37 in his last two. I still think the risk outweighs the reward but if you have some dead weight on your team and want to take a flier on him, go for it. Nicolas Batum struggled through an ankle injury, while Wesley Matthews scored 18 with four 3-pointers. He's scored between 18 & 20 points in his last three, despite Roy's hot streak. LaMarcus Aldridge had 30 points and eight boards for his first 30-point game in March.

Roddy Beaubois finally had a decent game as the Mavs' starting shooting guard, scoring 16 points and hitting four threes on the night, but I need to see him do it again before buying into what he's selling. Shawn Marion hit 9-of-15 shots for 18 points, five boards and four dimes. He's definitely worth owning in all leagues with Peja Stojakovic hurt again, and has been playing very well for about a month.

Perhaps the biggest news out of Dallas last night was Dirk Nowitzki's left shoulder injury. He had a similar line to Marion's, but left late after tweaking the shoulder twice. The second one didn't look great, and there is concern, at least from us, that he could miss tonight's game at Golden State. My guess is he'll be listed as a game-time decision, so watch for an update this afternoon.

Jason Kidd missed his only shot, but at least had 14 assists, and continues to be a hit-or-miss fantasy player. But you have to start him if you own him. Brendan Haywood was out with a back injury.
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Joe Cool

Joe Johnson got hot early last night and never really cooled off, finishing with 36 points on 13-of-19 shooting. He set a Hawks record with 28 before the break and hit six straight threes at one point. It's too bad he sat out the fourth quarter, or this could have been an epic fantasy line. He's starting at small forward now, and it appears to suit him.

Josh Smith came through with 17 points, 14 rebounds, a steal and four blocks on 8-of-12 shooting. Hopefully, if you own him, he's ready to have a monster week, but he won't get to play the Bucks every night. Al Horford returned from an ankle injury and had 15 points, five boards and a block. Not a monster line, but at least he played. Marvin Williams scored 16 points off the bench, but I'd ignore him unless he starts doing this on a regular basis. The blowout helped his minutes.

Jeff Teague did nothing in the first half, but came back after the break for six points, five rebounds and six assists on 2-of-9 shooting, with most of it coming in garbage time. If you rolled the dice on him this week, at least he put up some numbers. The Hawks finish the week with Denver, Miami and Detroit, which are all decent matchups for the young point guard. The good news for Teague is that the Hawks have won two straight since he moved into the starting five. Kirk Hinrich's struggles continued, and while he'll probably start playing well eventually, he can be dropped if necessary.

For the Bucks, Andrew Bogut had a nice double-double with 21 points and 13 rebounds. While he remains a shutdown candidate, he's going to keep playing as long as the Bucks can smell the playoffs. Brandon Jennings stopped Teague, but had just four points and two assists on 1-of-8 shooting. Yuck. The Bucks were pretty awful last night and it's still tough to tell from night to night who is going to get hot. Bogut was the only one who showed up against the Hawks.

Finally, Pacers

The Pacers beat the Knicks for the second straight time and finally put up a box score like we thought the Pacers would all season. Danny Granger returned from strep throat, put up a solid line and hit the game-winner, Darren Collison finally had a big line with 24 points and nine dimes on 9-of-13 shooting, Roy Hibbert added 15 points, 12 boards, five assists and five blocks, while Tyler Hansbrough poured in a career-high 30, but had just three boards. They went to Hibbert late and he came through, as did most of his teammates, so we just have to hope that they keep the same philosophy going forward. All four players are nearly must-starts in fantasy, even though most of them have struggled to play nearly this well all season.

The Knicks started Shawne Williams over Jared Jeffries and he had 10 points, six boards, a steal and two threes. We don't yet know if this move will stick, but it could, making Williams worth a close eye. Jeffries had six boards, two steals and two blocks, but should be ignored except in the deepest of leagues. Landry Fields added 17 points, two steals and three 3-pointers, while Amare Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups all played reasonably well. Owners who rolled the dice on Toney Douglas were rewarded with 17 points and four threes, and he's worth a look even with Billups back as the first guard off the bench. Stoudemire somehow avoided a technical foul, but easily could have picked one or two up after barking at the refs. He's one away from a suspension.

Tuesday's Non-Game News

Eric Gordon is not expected to play tonight and while his wrist is supposedly feeling better, he's still day-to-day. Hopefully we get another update today, but bench him for now.

Andre Iguodala's sore right knee will leave him as a game-time decision tonight against the Clippers. My guess is he's going to keep playing through it, but it's obviously a concern.

Paul Millsap wasn't able to practice on Tuesday and is a game-time decision tonight against the Wolves due to his sore knee. He was expected to practice, but wasn't able to, making me think we may not see him again tonight. Devin Harris (hamstring), Gordon Hayward (foot), Ronnie Price (toe), Francisco Elson (ankle) and Raja Bell (toe) are all game-time decisions for the Jazz tonight, so stay tuned for updates - especially if you own Harris. C.J. Miles will start over Bell at shooting guard for the time being and could stick there the rest of the season, making him worth a serious look. Al Jefferson has celebrated the departure of Deron Williams by averaging nearly 27 points, 12 boards and 2.5 blocks in March.

Tyreke Evans' trip to the doctor supposedly went well on Tuesday and there's still a chance he could start practicing soon and play at some point on their upcoming five-game road trip that starts on Sunday. I'm expecting a fresh update on him on Wednesday.

Rudy Gay's shoulder is still not well and he's had trouble lifting his left arm. He's expected to rest for another week or two, so I don't expect to see him in uniform anytime soon.

Luis Scola missed another practice on Tuesday, making him doubtful for tonight against the Bobcats. My guess is he won't go, but we should know for sure this afternoon.

Rajon Rondo was just 1-of-10 on Monday and tweaked an ankle, but it sounds like he's going to play tonight. Watch for updates if you own him.

Darko Milicic sat out most of Tuesday's practice with an illness, leaving him iffy for tonight. He's been a mess, in and out of the lineup all season.

Amir Johnson sprained his right ankle in practice yesterday and is out again tonight, missing his last few games with a left ankle sprain. This means more good news for Ed Davis and Reggie Evans.

Signs are pointing to Ricky Rubio staying in Spain and ignoring the Wolves again next season, although David Kahn plans on doing another full-blown recruiting trip. I don't think Kahn can be hit with a stalking charge, but Rubio is giving him no signs he's interested.

Luke Ridnour is expected to return tonight after taking a couple days off for family reasons.

Channing Frye was shooting jumpers on Monday and could be ahead of schedule to return from his shoulder injury. I'm getting a lot of questions about picking him up, but he's still not expected to play until next week (maybe Tuesday). Steve Nash is expected to return tonight, but don't be surprised if he's limited by his "pelvic instability."

Arron Afflalo is iffy for tonight with his hamstring injury, while Danilo Gallinari is targeting a Friday return from his broken toe. Until they're back, J.R. Smith and Wilson Chandler have must-start status.

Wednesday Night

Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook will square off with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh on national television in the game of the night.

Toronto takes on the unpredictable Pistons and the Cavs visit the Kings, which is whatever you would call the opposite of 'the games of the night.'

The Pacers will look for their third straight win against the struggling Celtics, Orlando should roll the Bucks, and the Wolves will look for their sixth road win against the beat up Jazz, as Kevin Love looks to start a new double-double streak.

There are 11 games in all and owners in playoff battles are going to have a good feel for how they stand when they wake up in the morning. Good luck!

 

[HacheMan]

Stew: Sir-Meeks-A-Lot
We'll get to the recent three-point barrage of Jodie Meeks in a minute, but first, a brief vent:

I generally try not to let fantasy basketball affect my mood, but there's no denying the fact that Chris Paul is currently ruining my week. Matched up against him in the playoffs in both of my main leagues – both of which saw him traded to my opponent in somewhat questionable deals just prior to the deadline – I've had to watch him drop 26.5 ppg, 9.5 apg and 5.0 spg in his first two games this week, pushing his absurd recent run to 28.7 ppg, 11.3 apg and 5.0 spg in his last three. Not fun times – unless of course you had the wisdom to not panic, or managed to heist him from a somewhat desperate owner while he was injured.

Moving on to a less volatile topic before I break something else in the direct vicinity of my desk…

TRENDSPOTTING

Three on the Rise:

Jordan Crawford: As of Thursday it was unclear exactly when Nick Young (knee) would be back, but in the meantime, Crawford's production for the horrendously awful Wizards has vaulted the rookie into must-add territory: 19.3 ppg, 3.5 apg, 1.5 spg, 1.0 threes in his last four games. And when you consider that three of those four games took place with Young in the lineup, there's a distinct possibility that Crawford sees extensive run the rest of the way (he played all 48 minutes of a 19-point loss to the Bulls on Tuesday).

Jodie Meeks: Hitting double figures in each of his last 10 games, the Sixers' starting SG has averaged 14.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.4 spg and 2.9 threes on 50.5 percent shooting, including a 22-6-3 line with five threes on Wednesday night. He may already be gone in your league, but the fact that Meeks is owned in 26 percent of Yahoo leagues makes it at least worth the 15 seconds it will take you to check.

Leandro Barbosa: He seems to occupy an almost weekly spot in the rising/plummeting sections of this column, but Barbosa's latest trend slants decisively in a positive direction. His last five games: 18.2 ppg, 1.2 spg and 1.8 threes, and the Raptors have four games next week, including a matchup against Barbosa's former team, the Suns.

Follow me on Twitter: @MattStroup

Three on the Plummet:

Carlos Delfino: He'll probably heat up again at some point, but there's too much at stake right now for fantasy owners to rely on Delfino when he's this cold. In his last eight games, he's averaging just 7.3 ppg (with 2.0 spg and 1.1 threes) on 34.4 percent from the field.

Tyrus Thomas: Not exactly the triumphant return from knee surgery that many fantasy owners were hoping for. In three games since his return, Tyrus has posted just 4.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg and 2.0 bpg. It seems inevitable that he'll break out a huge game when we're least expecting it (after all, that's what Tyrus Thomas does), but for the moment it's evident that Gerald Wallace leaving town isn't enough to propel Thomas toward consistency.

Jeff Teague: I'm not ready to completely give up on him, but with averages of 5.0 ppg and 4.0 apg in his last two, his monstrous 24-point game against Portland is looking more and more like a fluke.

THREE RANDOM BUT HOPEFULLY USEFUL OBSERVATIONS

1. Re: Roddy Beaubois – yes, I've noticed. After recording season-highs with 18 points, four steals and 37 minutes against the Warriors on Wednesday, Beaubois is now at 17.0 ppg, 4.0 apg, 2.5 spg and 2.5 threes in his last two games. Furthermore, he's now averaging a respectable 11.3 ppg, 2.4 apg, 0.9 spg and 1.3 threes this month despite playing just 19 minutes per game. I'm far from convinced that Rick Carlisle is ready to consistently turn him loose, but I do think Beaubois is worth a close look given the potential for points, threes and steals. And I'm especially intrigued by the possibilities in a rematch with the generous Warriors defense on Sunday.

2. Latest thoughts on DeAndre Jordan: Despite being brutal from the line (12-for-29 in his last five games) and somewhat inconsistent, Jordan's overall value this month has been surprisingly strong given the presence of Chris Kaman: 10.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 0.8 spg and 1.5 bpg. The free throws are undoubtedly a problem, but if you can stomach that awful stat (or better yet, if you already have some bad FT shooters sinking you in that department), there should be room for Jordan on your team.

3. About that JaVale McGee triple-double… It was both amusing and slightly sad watching McGee desperately try to get the last hoop of that 11-12-12 points-rebounds-blocks triple-double on Tuesday, but that does not change what is becoming a recurring trend: McGee likes to close the season in large statistical fashion. Last year, he posted 13.3 ppg, 8.5 rpg and 2.9 bpg in April, and he appears to be getting his finale started earlier this season, posting 12.0 ppg, 8.5 rpg and 4.0 bpg through his first six games of March.

THREE QUICK-HITTING STATEMENTS OF FACT AND/OR OPINION

1) I didn't mention him at the top of the column because we all should know about it by now, but it bears mentioning here: After his 40-point game on Wednesday, C.J. Miles is now averaging 19.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.1 spg and 1.9 threes in eight games this month.

2) Slightly deeper league alert: Entering a matchup with the Grizzlies on Thursday night, Shawne Williams had posted 12.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.0 spg, 1.0 bpg and 2.3 threes in his last three games.

Editor's note: For exclusive articles, chats, projections and more, check out the Rotoworld NBA Season Pass.

3) Considerably deeper league alert: Luke Harangody had 15 points, eight rebounds, a steal and two blocks in 25 minutes of a close game on Wednesday. I'm not expecting anything even the slightest bit magical in the long run, but watching his stat line on Thursday for something resembling a repeat would not be a bad idea.

 

[HacheMan]

Dose: C.J.'s Milestone
There are nights when the fantasy landscape changes in sudden and severe bursts, and usually a busy 11-game slate on Hump Day is enough to move the cheese all the way into a different maze.

Wednesday was not that night. Sure, there was a 40-point scoring night from C.J. Miles, Dwight Howard and Chris Paul went nuts, John Kuester is still coaching, Keith Smart might not be for long, and the Heat lost and the recently re-installed sky at American Airlines Arena fell in Miami once again.

I ain't gonna lie. It was sort of a snoozer.

But that's probably the perfect backdrop for what has been fantasy basketball's biggest season to date. We've had the biggest trade deadline in league history, an information revolution at owners' fingertips, and storylines that only David Stern could preside over.

Meanwhile, your rabid scouring for news heading into the fantasy playoffs still holds the Rotoworld site hostage, with only Chase Utley cracking the basketball dominated top-10 searches over the past week – and baseball's Opening Day just a fortnight away.

So why not let the pot simmer a bit before the top blows off?

Teams are jockeying for playoff positioning, resting their guys, trying new things at the last moment, playing for ping pong balls, limping across the finish line, finding out who they are, and in some places the NBA Cares more about the champagne room than they do the locker room. Fair or not, sometimes fantasy fortunes swing when the league's best player plays it safe, or when a guy goes fishing with Kenny and Chuck in March.

I played (and won) a big money contest in football that uses Week 17 to decide who goes to the finals, and while that is an extreme example, basketball is no different than any other sport in which fantasy titles are decided by guys like C.J. Miles, Jordan Crawford, Andray Blatche, Marcus Thornton, and Steve Nash's pelvis.

Now is not the time in which the best player or team wins. Now is the time that the most diligent owner wins.

If you're competing and keeping up with the Joneses, you're tired. So are your opponents. The NCAA Tournament starts today and it's St. Patrick's Day. There are only three games tonight. I can't think of three better reasons to grab the green war paint and scratch a day off the calendar.

But now is not that time. You're either in your playoffs or close, and your labor of love is either going to kiss you back or backhand you – and it's your choice whether or not you show up with bells on or get your bell rung. So maybe a somewhat slow Wednesday night is what everybody needed before the eye of the storm passes. Just don't let Wednesday night fool you, we're just getting started around here.

Follow the entire Rotoworld NBA crew right here:

Steve Alexander a/k/a Doctor A
Matt Stroup
Adam Levitan
Ryan Knaus
Aaron Bruski

C.J.'s Milestone

C.J. Miles set a Jazz record for scoring in a regulation game last night, dropping a career-high 40 points on 14-of-18 shooting (including six treys) with four rebounds and two assists, immediately after Ty Corbin named him the starting shooting guard going forward. Before last night's extravaganza, he had averaged 19.0 points, 5.7 boards, 2.5 assists, 1.8 threes, and 1.5 steals in six starts this season – and with the state of Andrei Kirilenko's back, Raja Bell's toe injury and general ineffectiveness, Paul Millsap's knee, Devin Harris' ever-present injury risk, and the lack of depth in Utah – Miles should have been owned before last night's eruption.

Chances are if you're reading this for the first time, he is long gone, but if not he should be owned in all leagues going forward.Update: It was previously reported by multiple sources that he set a Jazz record, but the Mailman Karl Malone owns the Jazz record with a 61-point game in which he hit 21-of-26 field goals and 19-of-23 free throws. Thanks to Geoff Buchan for pointing that out.

The Smart Money is on Curry

Tim Kawakami is a lightning rod for criticism in the Bay Area, but as a long-time Warriors fan, he is a sort-of cult hero among us poor souls that really dig in and follow the Ws. Among the 101 problems the franchise has, he has been all over the problem with having Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry starting in the same backcourt, whereas some Warriors fans are simply happy to have two guys that make amazing plays nightly. Now some of the shine has been stripped this season from Curry, whose choir boy image heading into the NBA was enhanced by a Cinderella-like run in the NCAA Tourney, a well-liked NBA player for a dad, and a mom that got more air time in the stands than Dick Vitale did on the court in his name-making tourney run.

This season, he has been pouty and his defensive liabilities have been on an island for all to see, and Keith Smart has spelled (read: punished) Curry with Acie Law, who almost played his way out of the league before this year. To Law's credit, he has been serviceable in his time on the court, but you can't take a franchise player off the court without raising eyebrows. Last night, after he played an increasingly-normal 32 minutes with just 10 points on 4-of-10 shooting with five assists and nothing else – Kawakami tweeted that 'one of the many reasons that Smart won't be coaching the Warriors next season, this thing with Steph Curry will be No. 1 or 2.'

Now Curry has been an elite, albeit frustrating, fantasy play all season long. But this situation bears watching, and could come to a head at any time. Smart could read the writing on the wall and fall in line, or he could dig a trench. My guess is that it will be the former, but wouldn't it be a kicker if it was the latter.

On a side note, I named my NBC March Madness NCAA bracket 'Stephen Curry's Mom' – because she's clearly good luck, and you can also enter and compete against the rest of America for some awesome prizes here.

Boston Brick Wall

The Celtics turned away the Pacers last night, which in of itself isn't news, but we saw the first signs of the Celtics' fantasy engine stalling at the worst possible time. Specifically, Rajon Rondo's owners should be concerned after Kevin Garnett declared that Rondo was playing hurt, and he scored no points on two shot attempts with no rebounds, eight assists, two steals, and one block. He tweaked his ankle on Monday, and has stubbornly played through a number of injuries this season, and the Celtics are among the most conservative teams in the league when it comes to injuries. Rondo should be considered a medium-to-high shutdown risk for at least a few games prior to 'dead-week,' though he'll probably demand to play through his ailments.

We also saw the first signs of minute reductions for the Big Three in Boston, with Ray Allen playing 27 minutes on his way to 12 points, three boards, and two threes, Paul Pierce playing 28 minutes with 20 points and a full stat line, and Kevin Garnett playing 25 minutes with 10 points, four rebounds, and a block. Meanwhile, Jeff Green played 27 minutes and scored 19 points on 6-of-9 shooting with three rebounds, no assists, three blocks, and a three, and Glen Davis scored nine points with nine rebounds and a block in 28 minutes. Of the two, I'm more interested in owning Big Baby since his role is more established and needed going forward for the Celtics, but I wouldn't rule out Green for some serviceable lines like this, either. As for the Big Three + Rondo, there's not a lot that owners can do down the stretch, and their schedule is among the best, but my advice is to not bury your head down the stretch and auto-start them.

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Today in Kuester

Now five games out of the playoff picture, it's safe to assume that Kuester has no intentions of forming a cohesive set of roles, but that's old news. And really, there's no 'new news,' but there is enough value in Detroit for owners to care about, and sadly fantasy fortunes are going to shift on the whims of 'Q.'

Last night's game brought us a new wrinkle, which was Rodney Stuckey getting sent back to the bench and going on a shooting strike, or so it looked, as he attempted just one shot but handed out a career-high 14 assists. At one point Q yelled at him to shoot, which brings back memories of the Bad News Bears when the Yankees pitcher lets Engelberg run around the bases while hiding the ball from his teammates. Your guess is as good as mine with what's going to happen night-to-night, but Stuckey in particular is joining Tracy McGrady as the riskier plays among the bunch. McGrady started at PG and scored seven points with one rebound, four assists, a steal, a block, and a three, and remains the type of player you only want to use if you're desperate. The good news is that some consistency has been developed out of Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince, with Hamilton scoring 24 points and a relatively full line by his standards, and Prince posting 22 points to make five consecutive games between the 12 and 22-point mark. Starting them right now is only halfway crazy, and keep in mind that Hamilton will miss Friday, and as a result his tenuous grip on value could be in jeopardy. As usual, the exception to the Kuester conundrum was Greg Monroe, who scored 21 points with 10 points, five assists, one steal, and one block. He's quietly emerging as a solid fantasy center at just the right time, and no, I'm not that worried about Ben Wallace's effect on him, either.

Pelvic Instability and the Playoff Prescriptions

First off, if I was naming a band, I would just go with 'pelvic instability.' Does that really need any explanation? Now if I had to give a heading to a bit of fantasy analysis, I would add the term 'playoff prescriptions,' because Steve Nash's pelvis is about to cause owners headaches. And like any good heavily marketed prescription drug in the United States, the subsequent players may cause irritability, drowsiness, fantasy face-palming, and if they cause an erection that lasts more than four hours you probably need a break from the whole 'fantasy basketball' thing.

So with the Suns behind Memphis by three games for the No. 8 slot, and with Utah and Houston ahead of them in the chase, Nash's owners will want to watch the standings closer than ever. He returned to action last night and scored eight points with 10 assists in 35 minutes against Chris Paul and the Hornets, but he faded into the background and didn't look all that healthy. I would suggest to all Nash owners that they go out and grab Aaron Brooks, no matter how underconfident and ineffective he has looked at times, and for those owners needing a PG or those with roster space – stashing Brooks isn't the worst idea right now.

Now the side effect of a less-than 100 percent Nash doesn't just stop there. Vince Carter, Channing Frye, Marcin Gortat, and Jared Dudley will be asked to pick up the slack until Nash is 100 percent, if that ever happens. Carter has pulled his magic act out for one more season, leaving us all to believe he was dead to rights a week or so back, only to post yet another solid night with 21 points, four rebounds, three assists, and five 3-point buckets. If we're looking for the cause of his recent play, look no further than Nash's issues. Jared Dudley also got into the act last night, scoring 25 points with eight rebounds and five threes of his own. Dudley has been a risky play even with Channing Frye out, but the confluence of any absence by Frye and Nash could be enough to put him on the radar down the stretch.

As for Frye, he reports that he is targeting Friday for his return, but I'm not fully convinced yet that he'll be ready to go. He should be owned in all leagues, however, because it does sound like he'll be returning soon and has way too much upside to be sitting on the waiver wire. And if you're holding Hakim Warrick, you can safely drop him after last night's zero-point, 17-minute outing, as he has officially crashed and burned after showing so much promise.

Two Buck Chucks

Like that five dollar bottle (or box) of wine you bought to impress that special someone, you woke up the next day after starting your Bucks with a hangover and little recollection of why you did it? Whether it's relying on known injury-risk Andrew Bogut as your big man, drinking out of Delfino's dirty glass, waking up with a Maggette Moustache drawn on your face, learning you ate three-day old Salmons directly off your unclean coffee table -- there's a ton to worry about here. Bogut missed last night's critical game with a migraine headache, and there isn't much he or anybody else can do about it. Brandon Jennings (23 points, eight assists) and John Salmons (22 points and a full line) had good nights, but the former is sure to bury your FG percentage soon enough and the latter may have Michael Redd, Corey Maggette, Ersan Ilyasova, Drew Gooden, and Chris Douglas-Roberts ferrying away minutes and touches down the road.

Chris Paul to Me: Shut up

I told owners to consider selling before Chris Paul's nosedive in the middle-third of the season, and then more recently cautioned folks to consider selling him for any first round talent, and even said I would consider second and third round talent depending on the guy. I was right on the first prediction, but Paul has me destroyed in the second act, and had another huge night with 26 points, five rebounds, nine assists, and three steals. Maybe it was the time off, or the rumors pissed him off, or both. And while I'm not 100 percent comfortable about his health, he's a guy that I wish was on my team right now – and that's all there is to say about that.

Jumping back on the chuckwagon

Chuck Hayes has had a nice year, and with Houston practically begging for a big man at the trading deadline, his future was very much in doubt. We now know that Houston was not able to bring in a competitive big man, and Hayes has quietly trucked along with his versatile blend of production. Quiet wasn't the operative word last night, however, as Hayes led the Rockets to a win over the Charlotte Bobcats, as he scored nine points with a season-high tying 17 rebounds, seven assists, three steals, and one block. He had 21 points and nine boards in the game before that, and it goes without saying that he should be owned in all formats, though all Rockets are going to be tricky to use in a two-game Week 22 schedule.

Perhaps of more consequence to owners is Luis Scola's knee injury, which I haven't liked the sound of since it happened. With Houston in must-win territory to make the playoffs, the fact that he hasn't been able to practice tells me that it's not just a minor knee sprain. And since he is a warrior, everybody (Houston included) is giving him the benefit of the doubt that he can heal up and play, but should the injury just be too much to overcome or Houston fall out of playoff contention, his season could go south at precisely the wrong time. Patrick Patterson followed up his clunker from Monday with 12 points, 10 rebounds, and one block last night, and has shown enough flashes of production to be well worth watching or even stashing should Scola not practice today.

With Houston pulling to within 2.5 games of No. 8 Memphis, the Bobcats are heading in the other direction and the loss kept them 0.5 games behind Indiana for the last slot in the East. Stephen Jackson was atrocious last night, hitting just 2-of-14 shots (0-for-5 from deep) on his way to six points, four rebounds, and four assists, but said his body felt fine. Assuming he's telling the truth, he should be in line for a big finish, but admittedly I don't know if I believe him. Aside from his hamstring, he dealt with a sore thigh last night, and he's probably going to stumble across the finish line and crash whenever the Bobcats' playoff hopes do.

Gerald Henderson's run as a solid fantasy asset may be coming to an end with Jackson back up and running, as he scored just eight points on 3-of-11 shooting with four rebounds, two assists, and a block. The minutes are going to be there, but the touches he had when he was posting second round 8-cat value are a thing of the past, which will lead to inconsistent results. In other shaky Bobcat news, Tyrus Thomas (knee) was a game-time decision and ended up playing last night, scoring six points with five rebounds, one steal, and two blocks in just 16 minutes. It feels like we've done this before because we have – his entire career. He's still worth owning to see where this all heads, but owners need to be ready to ditch him should he fall into his normal pattern of disappointment.

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The Anaheim Royals

One of the local blogs here that covers the Kings probably bit off more than they could chew when trying to convince the local fans to rally to save their team. A clumsy and mostly absent PR movement city-wide failed to motivate local politicians, who missed the boat when calculating the math, but will have their principles of not using public funds to fund arenas to keep them warm at night. It's pretty simple when you think about it. The Kings bring in 'x' amount of money. If you are comfortable losing that, then by all means do nothing. This, of course, is what the local politicians did, and if I'm running for office anytime soon I'd probably lead with that first, second, and third when the local economy takes a dump over the next five years. Recently, the Maloofs filed for a trademark on the aforementioned team name, among others, and sadly one of the NBA's best small-market fan bases is probably going to lose their team.

Now relating it to fantasy, I'm pleasantly surprised that Tyreke Evans is going to resume practicing, since he has very little incentive to gut it out for a fan base in Anaheim that probably doesn't know who he is. Paul Westphal said today that he will play limited minutes at the end of next week, which sounds reasonable, but isn't doing a ton of favors for owners right now. He's still worth owning in all formats, but if you're team needs a productive player right now, perhaps your team isn't the one that should own him, unfortunately. The good news is that Marcus Thornton and Beno Udrih's outlooks aren't destroyed by this news, as in a best-case scenario Evans gets up to full speed near the end of the fantasy playoffs. Any setbacks, mood swings, or lack of motivation by Tyreke, and both could hold their value throughout the end of the year.

Four Quarters of Fury

First Quarter: Things are about to get crowded in Denver, which is something owners have avoided with injuries to Danilo Gallinari and Arron Afflalo, and Afflalo returned last night to his normal role and production. J.R. Smith was almost left scoreless before erupting for 15 points in the final 10 minutes, and owners would be wise not to count on him for production going forward. Once Gallinari returns, you can expect the good vibes being felt by Ty Lawson, Raymond Felton, Wilson Chandler, and Kenyon Martin to turn a bit sour. In Atlanta, The Hawks just don't seem to care that much, as they got beat at home by Denver, and the best line of the night belonged to Zaza Pachulia, who scored 19 points with 10 boards and a block. While that is a fluke, the repeated disappointing performances by Jeff Teague, Kirk Hinrich, and Joe Johnson do not appear to be. I'm not hesitating to drop Teague for any hot free agent right now, and while I'm a bit (read: a bit) more guarded with Hinrich, he can go, too. The Hawks are what happens when your best players aren't leaders. For Philly, Elton Brand scored 19 points with 12 boards and helped limit Blake Griffin to his fifth straight game without a double-double, which goes to show you, don't sell your soul to Kia to win a dunk contest. Andre Iguodala played through his knee issue but his numbers were somewhat down, as he scored nine points with five rebounds and eight assists. Jrue Holiday picked up the slack with 20 points, four boards, and nine assists, which could become a theme if Iggy isn't okay.

Second Quarter: Tyler Hansbrough hit just 4-of-14 FGs last night with KG trying to prove a point that Pyscho T isn't all that crazy, but he did manage to double-double with 10 points, 11 boards, and a vicious dunk. Darren Collison survived the Boston Brick Wall with 10 points and nine assists, but outside of a fluky performance by Josh McRoberts (14 points, 11 boards) and an encouraging outing from Paul George (15 points, seven boards, three treys, three steals), the Pacers were mostly harmless last night. I'm not buying a turnaround for George, but there is a bit of upside lurking there. In Toronto, Leandro Barbosa is hot again, and scored another 18 points with a few goodies last night, and he should be owned in most formats. Otherwise, I'm generally concerned about the Raps for what Jay Triano could do down the stretch, and also because the injury-prone guys don't have much to play for. Andrea Bargnani should hold his value, but Jose Calderon isn't exactly a picture of overall health, and the PF situation is dicey at best. In L.A. the pendulum continued to shift toward DeAndre Jordan, who hit all six of his shots and finished with 16 points with 15 boards, a steal, and a block, while Chris Kaman had just eight points and three boards in 19 minutes. Jordan is the guy to own right now, but I'd try to be patient with Kaman, as the pendulum could swing back and leave you with a productive big man.

Third Quarter: Dwight Howard posted a 30-20 game with 31 points, 22 rebounds, two steals, and three blocks, but in the 'what's new' department he hit just 13-of-24 FTs and had five turnovers. Maybe when he cools it on the latter I'll jump up and down when the former occurs. Hedo Turkoglu posted a 19-4-5-3-1 line last night, which looks great until you realize eight of his points came in overtime. Gilbert Arenas hasn't taken charge of the J.J. Redick injury, scoring just five points, but at least Otis Smith helped out a friend. Ryan Anderson went back to the bench, and hit just 2-of-8 shots and one three, but grabbed 13 rebounds with three assists and two steals. He's worth a look if he has been dropped, given his propensity for a fantasy friendly game when he's on. Kendrick Perkins lasted just 20 minutes before fouling out last night, and I still see him being a double-double type guy with a block or two per game when he gets it figured out. In Houston, Chase Budinger scored 19 points with five assists and two threes, which is to be expected, and owners not concerned about Week 22 should stash him for his subsequent four-game week. Dirk Nowitzki brought back the Mavs with 34 points and 13 rebounds after the Warriors jumped out to an early 18-point lead, and Roddy Beaubois made his first noise this year with 18 points, four assists, and four steals in 37 minutes. He's worth a look, but I'm generally discouraged by the log-jam of talent in Dallas and the fact that this came against a sloppy Warriors squad. Monta Ellis went off early and finished with 26 points and 11 assists, while Dorell Wright disappeared with 14 points and not much else.

Fourth Quarter: Kevin Love got his 63rd double-double with 22 points and 11 boards, and his knee looks okay, but we'll be watching it for the rest of the year. Anthony Randolph got 15 minutes of garbage time, and posted 10 points, eight boards, one steal, and one block. And for the millionth time, I don't care. Call me when he does it twice in a row. Devin Harris played through his hamstring injury, and actually got to sit out the fourth quarter with the game in hand, but I have to wonder how his teammates feel about him leaving Monday's overtime game if he was good to play Wednesday? Paul Millsap will practice today, and that's a bit of bad news for Al Jefferson, who had another big game with 26 points and 11 boards last night. Big Al will continue to be the focus for Utah, but Millsap's presence will bring him back to reality a tiny bit. The Sacramento big men continued to be a force against the Cavs, with DeMarcus Cousins posting 11 points, 16 boards, five assists, two steals, and a block despite a 5-of-19 FG mark, and Samuel Dalembert scored 16 points with 10 boards, a steal, and two blocks. While they're not going to make it pretty, both should be in most lineups going forward. Joining them on the stat sheet was Marcus Thornton, who had 23 points and five boards with four treys, and Beno Udrih who had 14 points and eight assists. In Cleveland, Ramon Sessions had what may be his last truly useful line for a bit with 20 points, five boards, and six assists, with Baron Davis possibly playing tonight and cutting into his load. As usual, owners should do whatever they can to hang onto Sessions with Davis' health and motivation always in question.

Thursday Night Lights

Chicago heads to New Jersey, Memphis heads to New York, and Cleveland goes to Portland. For Chicago, Joakim Noah (illness) will play and Carlos Boozer (ankle) will not, and it's likely that Kurt Thomas will start and be worth a look in a spot-start. Taj Gibson, on the other hand, is not as trustworthy and should be avoided wherever possible unless he starts somehow. The Nets will get Damion James (concussion) and he will start, so downgrade Sasha Vujacic a small amount if you would like as he goes back to the bench. The local paper has listed Marc Gasol (ankle) as the starter in their game preview, but we'd like to get better confirmation before calling him a go, so stay tuned. For New York, we'll be watching to see if Chauncey Billups can get on track following his thigh/knee injury, and to see if Toney Douglas can hold some value off the bench. We'll be watching the Cavs to see how Baron Davis gets implemented, and also to see if Luke Harangody can make noise for a second-straight night. And in Portland, we'll be keeping an eye on the new lineup that has Gerald Wallace starting and Marcus Camby coming off the bench. Chances are, roles won't change too much. See you guys on Twitter!

 

[HacheMan]

James Harden staying hot
Here are the remaining weekly schedules for each team. I put the Celtics, Bulls, Cavs, Nets, Suns, Kings and Wizards in bold since they have a perfect remaining schedule. The Rockets play just two games in the upcoming week.

ATL 4-3-3-2
BOS 4-4-4-2
CHA 3-4-4-2
CHI 4-4-4-2
CLE 4-4-4-2
DAL 3-4-3-2
DEN 3-3-4-2
DET 3-3-4-2
GSW 4-3-3-2
HOU 2-4-3-2
IND 4-4-3-1
LAC 3-3-4-1
LAL 3-3-4-2
MEM 4-3-3-2
MIA 3-4-3-2
MIL 3-4-4-2
MIN 3-3-3-2
NJN 4-4-4-2
NOH 3-3-3-2
NYK 4-3-4-2
OKC 3-4-4-2
ORL 3-4-3-2
PHI 3-4-3-2
PHX 4-4-4-2
POR 3-4-3-2
SAC 4-4-4-2
SAN 4-4-3-2
TOR 4-3-4-2
UTA 4-3-3-2
WAS 4-4-4-2

Guards

Jordan Farmar - Nets

We got news on Sunday that Deron Williams will be out for the next three games in order to rest his right wrist. This makes no sense to me, as Williams has said forever that he needs at least a month of rest in order to get fully healthy. Maybe he'll play again sporadically, but why the Nets just don't shut him down makes no sense. Farmar is a must-own player, will excel in assists, steals and threes, while scoring plenty of points for as long as Williams is out, which I still think is the rest of the season. At press time, Farmar was going off on Sunday against the Wizards with six points, 11 assists and two steals in the first half.

Jordan Crawford - Wizards

Nick Young still isn't playing through his knee injury and Josh Howard's knee might end his season. Crawford has got the green light and is shooting at will right now, scoring in double digits in five straight, and between 22 and 27 in three of those games. He's seeing heavy minutes and the Wizards have a perfect schedule down the stretch.

Ramon Sessions - Cavs

Baron Davis is still not playing, returning from his grandmother's funeral only to quickly hurt his back. He missed Saturday's game, and despite everything he said before arriving in Cleveland, has no interest whatsoever in playing for such a bad team. "Ooh, my back, my back. I think it's broken." Ramon Sessions has somehow held value for a couple months and that trend probably isn't going to end anytime soon.

James Harden - Thunder

Harden has scored in double digits in every game in March, and all but two in April. He should no longer be available in most fantasy basketball leagues. That is all.

Toney Douglas - Knicks

Douglas was great while he was starting in place of Chauncey Billups and has been great as the first guard off the bench recently. He's scored 20, 29 and 17 points in his last three games off the bench, and while he'll have some off nights, he looks locked and loaded to finish the season up strong.

Richard Hamilton - Pistons

Hamilton is finally back in good graces with John Kuester and has scored in double figures in every game in March, except for Friday's, which he missed due to his grandfather's funeral. Will he stick in the starting lineup for Kuester, who hasn't made or stuck with a lineup decision all season? I have no idea. He's started in two straight and is averaging nearly 16 points and a 3-pointer in March.

Jodie Meeks - Sixers

Meeks is a 3-point specialist averaging nearly 15 points, four rebounds, more than a steal, and three 3-pointers in March. And outside of a seven-point game on Friday, he's been flawless in his last 10 games.

Wes Johnson - Wolves

Johnson finally broke out on Friday with 29 points and a full stat line after scoring a total of 21 points in his previous five games. We'll have to see if he's finally ready to start doing this on a regular basis, but there is not a reason I can think of why he isn't trying to go out there and take over. Worth a flier.

J.R. Smith - Nuggets

Arron Afflalo is hurt again and Smith looked great on Saturday. As long as Afflalo is out, Smith will be startable, but his hamstring isn't believed to be a serious injury. Smith is averaging 15 points, three 3-pointers and a steal per game in March.

Leandro Barbosa - Raptors

Barbosa has been playing well off the Raptors bench, scoring 15, 18, 15 and 29 points and eight 3-pointers in his last four games.

Tony Allen - Grizzlies

Allen blew up for 19 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, six steals and a block on Saturday. He's averaging 13 points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals and nearly a block per game in March. I still don't fully trust Allen, but it's hard to argue with the way he's been playing.
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Forwards

Trevor Booker - Wizards

Josh Howard and Rashard Lewis appear to be done for the season, meaning Booker is the starting small forward for the Wizards. He blew up for 26 points and 13 rebounds on 12-of-15 Friday, and is averaging 11 points and eight rebounds in March. Given the Wiz's 4-4-4 remaining schedule, Booker looks like a no-brainer.

C.J. Miles - Jazz

Miles replaced Raja Bell in the starting unit on Thursday and exploded for 40 points on 14-of-18 shooting and six 3-pointers. I doubt he ever has a line that strong again, but given how he was playing off the bench and how quickly he exploded on the scene as a starter, Miles should be owned in most leagues. Despite coming off the bench in five of his eight March games, he's hit double digits in scoring in all of them, averaging 19.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.9 threes this month.

Glen Davis - Celtics

It seems like Davis lands on this list every couple weeks, but he's finally been coming through of late. In March, he's averaging 14 points and almost nine rebounds per game, which is easily his best run of the season. I have no idea if he'll keep it up or not, but if you need a big man to help fill the gap while Andray Blatche is out, give Davis a close look.

Carlos Delfino - Bucks

I can't think of a more inconsistent player to list here. Over his last nine games, Delfino has scored 26, 2, 13, 3, 12, 4, 15, 6, 3 and 16 points. He played 44 minutes on Friday, 20 minutes on Wednesday and plays for Scott Skiles and the Bucks. He hit eight 3-pointers on Friday, and zero on Wednesday. Feel free to pick him up and roll with him, but as you can see by the above numbers, there is no rhyme or reason for fantasy owners to know when to start or bench Delfino, or any other Buck for that matter.

Jeff Green - Celtics

Green's numbers are down with the Celtics, but he's still averaging 12.6 ppg in March. His rebounds have taken a big hit though, as he averaged 7.1 per game in November but just 2.3 in March. And the strong play of Glen Davis isn't helping things. But Green will still a couple nice lines per week and if Doc Rivers start resting some of his old guys (Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, etc.), Green will gladly take the minutes. He's sort of like a luxury to own right now, but far from a must-start player.

Shawne Williams - Knicks

Williams had 17 points, nine boards, a block and four 3-pointers in his last game and is averaging 10 points, 4.5 boards, 0.7 steals, 1.2 blocks and 2.1 threes in March. Those are serviceable numbers in almost any league, but he'll also be somewhat inconsistent as long as he's coming off the bench.

Patrick Patterson - Rockets

Patterson has put up some big numbers in he absence of Luis Scola, averaging 15 points, 11 boards and 2.5 blocks over his last two games, which were both starts. It sounds like Scola will play on Sunday, which will obviously hurt Patterson's value. But if Scola goes down again, Patterson is the guy you'll want to grab.

Yi Jianlian - Wizards

Yi has been starting for Andray Blatche and did so again on Sunday. He's scored nine and 14 points in his last two starts, with a total of 10 rebounds, two steals and a block in them. He's not must-own by any stretch, but could be worth a deep-league add if Andray Blatche is finally shut down with his knee injury.

Centers

Channing Frye - Suns

Frye is back from his shoulder injury and had 17 points, nine boards and three 3-pointers in Friday's return, playing 31 minutes. Pick him up.

DeAndre Jordan - Clippers

Jordan has been a beast again, averaging nine points, nine boards and nearly two blocks in March. And that includes two games where he failed to score a point.

Chuck Hayes - Rockets

Hayes is still hot and is not going away. The Rockets play just two games this week, meaning he should be on the bench, but is averaging 8.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.6 blocks in nine March games. He should be owned in all leagues.

Samuel Dalembert - Kings

Dalembert is another guy not going away and is averaging 10.6 points, 10.4 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in March, making him another must-own center.

Marcus Camby - Blazers

Camby has been dumped in many leagues because of a lack of offense, but is averaging 8.4 boards and 1.2 blocks in his last 10 games. If you can handle the three points he scores per game, he'll help you boards and blocks.

Ekpe Udoh - Warriors

Udoh is starting for Andris Biedrins, who has a badly sprained ankle, but is still not a big producer. He's scored 3, 5 and 10 points in his last three games, with just six total boards and five blocks over that stretch. He's worth a look in deep leagues, but still hasn't had a breakout game.

 

[HacheMan]

Where Is Rajon Rondo?
The season is officially winding down as yours truly was violently knocked out of the League Freak championship game this week thanks to several things, like Kevin Durant and Jrue Holiday forgetting how to shoot, Roy Hibbert turning invisible on Saturday, and Kevin Love's disappearing act on Sunday (groin injury). Their shenanigans all combined to leave me three blocks, a couple made shots, and Love's rebounding average short of advancing. Oh well.

For the weekly games-played schedule as well as hot pickups, check out Waiver Wired.

Rondo's Finger

Rajon Rondo's finger injury is being blamed for his abysmal play of late, but whatever the reason, he's not a must-start fantasy play right now. How bad has he been? He has just three double-digit scoring games in March, has hit just 8-of-37 shots with 17 total points in his last five, and just 11 total assists in his last two. The Celtics play four games with very favorable matchups this week (@NY, MEM, CHA @Min), but I don't know if he'll be a reliable start or not. They say to always play your studs, but if Rondo was in your lineup last week, your season might have ended. Start him at your own risk, and ponder this Doc Rivers quote, when asked about Rondo's health: "I think he's fine. I didn't ask." Part of me wonders if the Celtics are using his pinkie as an excuse for Rondo's terrible play, but either way, I'm using him (again) in one of my leagues this week. On a side note, Glen Davis has been hot for the Celtics and looks like a sneaky fantasy play.

No Love

Kevin Love went down (and out) with a groin injury on Sunday, finishing without a point and just three rebounds. Anthony Randolph played 24 minutes, finishing with 14 points and seven turnovers, while Anthony Tolliver got 17 minutes and four points. Randolph is a very interesting add right now, and could be turned loose if Love is shut down. As of now, Love can't be trusted in fantasy lineups until we get more information. The only saving grace is that the Wolves are off until Thursday, which might give Love time to heal. Then again, that just makes your decision that much tougher. If I had to choose whether to start or sit him in a weekly league, he would most likely be on my bench until we get more information.

Michael Beasley played through his hip injury on Sunday but lasted just 15 minutes for 13 points. The score was lopsided and he's far from 100 percent right now. My guess is he'll play again on Thursday, as having three full days off will help.

Deron Playing Friday?

Deron Williams sounds like he fully intends to play again this season and is targeting a Friday return from his bum wrist. It won't take much to knock him out of action again and he is far from trustworthy. I'm still not convinced he'll play on Friday and Jordan Farmar remains a must-own player the rest of the way, and a must-start player for as long as Williams is out.

Iguodala Should Be Ready

Andre Iguodala was given Saturday off to rest his right knee and won't practice with the team very often, if at all, going forward. However, the whole point of giving him the weekend off was so that he'd be ready for Wednesday's game against the Hawks. The Sixers have just three games this week, but I'd plan on rolling the dice on Iguodala unless you have a stellar four-game option.

Captain Jack Back?

Stephen Jackson's hamstring injury kept him out on Saturday but it sounds like he should play on Wednesday. He's had plenty of time off so I'd be surprised if he doesn't play in that one, but we aren't likely to get a new update on his status until Tuesday, given the Bobcats will have so many days off between games.

Pop's Mind Games

Tim Duncan sat out Saturday's game against the Bobcats and the Spurs play the Warriors on Monday night. I'm going to guess Duncan is back in action for that one, but only Gregg Popovich knows at this time. As for DeJuan Blair? Despite Duncan's absence, Tiago Splitter got the start. I think it's time to let Blair go, as his minutes are just too much of a crapshoot to screw with right now. The Spurs have four games in each of the next two weeks, so chances are Duncan will play in seven, if not all of them.

Boozer Still Hurting

Carlos Boozer (ankle) and Taj Gibson (toe) are both gimpy right now, although Boozer is still hoping to play on Monday against the Kings, and is being called 'probable.' He said after Sunday's practice he's still sore, but it sounds like he's a go on Monday. And as soon as he's back on the court, Gibson's value drops severely. Gibson is a game-time decision with a toe injury, but with Boozer likely to play, I wouldn't plan on using him.

Baron's Back

Baron Davis is not expected to play against the Magic on Monday due to his back injury. The Cavaliers want to see him practice again before putting him back on the floor and if you choose to draft Baron again next year, you might want to pick up a 500-tablet bottle of aspirin for yourself as well. As usual, Ramon Sessions should be a nice play for however long Baron is watching from the sidelines.

Continue reading for the rest of Monday's injury bonanza.
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Bynum A 2-Gamer

Andrew Bynum has been suspended for two games for his flagrant foul on Michael Beasley. He missed Sunday's game and will also be out for Tuesday against the Suns. He'll be back on Friday against the Clippers leaving him with just two games this week. Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom will be very nice plays in his absence.

Wizards Woes

Andray Blatche was out again on Sunday despite not needing another MRI on his shoulder. Talk about a risky play this week, he could play in all four games, or could miss a few of them. He's closer to a return, but until we get a fresh update, owners in weekly leagues are going to have a very tough decision to make. Either way, with Rashard Lewis and Josh Howard all but shut down with knee injury, and Nick Young missing the last three games with his balky knee, Jordan Crawford and Trevor Booker are must-starts. Yi Jianlian has been starting for Blatche recently and played 36 minutes on Sunday, but is only an option in deep leagues, and not at all if Blatche returns to the starting five. The Wiz don't play until Tuesday and I'm guessing Blatche and Young are game-time decisions. Don't mess with Young, but Blatche might be worth a start in weekly leagues if your options are limited.

Injury Nuggets

Raymond Felton is not expected to play tonight, making Ty Lawson must-start material. The Nuggets only have three games this week and next, but as long as Felton is out with his sprained ankle, I think Lawson should be in all lineups.

Arron Afflalo is dealing with a hamstring injury and is iffy for Monday. Given how well Wilson Chandler and J.R. Smith have played, combined with the return of Danilo Gallinari, Afflalo belongs on benches (or waivers). Al Harrington is also dealing with an achilles injury, but there's no way he should be in most lineups when healthy right now.

Not Budging

Chase Budinger left Sunday's game with a sprained ankle that should keep him out for at least a week, if not two. Courtney Lee played 40 minutes on Sunday and despite hitting just 2-of-9 shots for eight points, is a nice pickup for however long Bud is out. The Rockets have just two games this week, but play four in the next one.

The Rest Of The Injury Rundown

Rudy Gay's shoulder is still not right and I'd be surprised to see him play this week. Tony Allen has been playing well and remains a decent option this week.

Tyreke Evans has been doing some basketball work and is hoping to return some time this week. Don't start him, but if he does play and produce, he might be worth a shot next week. Marcus Thornton bounced back on Sunday with 23 points and remains a must-start.

DeAndre Jordan was hospitalized with pneumonia but has been sent home. He's very shaky for Wednesday's game, although that could be enough time for him to get ready. The Clippers play three games in each of the next two weeks, and Chris Kaman looks like a safer play until we get more information on Jordan's status. Kaman started and had 21 points, 11 boards and two blocks on Sunday, so feel free to get him in your lineup (and then hope Jordan remains sidelined).

Marcus Camby left Sunday's game with a sprained ankle and will have X-rays on Monday, due to the X-ray technician being MIA in the Staples Center last night. Regardless of what the X-rays show, Camby should probably be benched this week. LaMarcus Aldridge will continue to get crazy run, while Nicolas Batum and Gerald Wallace will also see heavy minutes at the forward spots. Wesley Matthews failed to score last night in limited minutes, but apologized for it on Twitter and vows to bounce back. I believe him.

Shawn Marion is hoping to return Wednesday against Minnesota from his wrist injury, but given the fact Peja Stojakovic is back, as well as a 3-game week for Dallas, I wouldn't plan on using Marion. And as for Peja? He's worth a look, but I don't trust him at all and wouldn't use him except in a very deep league.

Mario Chalmers is out for a couple weeks with a knee injury meaning it's time for Mike Bibby in Miami. Bibby is a very marginal fantasy play, but might be worth using in deeper leagues if you're thin at point guard.

Darrell Arthur left Saturday's game with a sprained ankle and didn't return. He's listed as day-to-day and while he was playing well, should probably not be used in fantasy leagues until we get more information. And given that he plays for Memphis, that might not come until game time on Monday night. Zach Randolph will play a ton of minutes in his absence, while Shane Battier would also see a boost if Arthur is out.

Ersan Ilyasova, Drew Gooden and Michael Redd are all expected to return this week for the Bucks, but I wouldn't plan on much out of any of them. Ignore the trio for now.

Shaquille O'Neal should return for the Celtics in the near future. He won't play on Monday and doesn't have any fantasy value, but his return will hurt Nenad Krstic, and I expect to see him on the court at some point this week.

Andris Biedrins might be done for the season with a severely sprained ankle, meaning Ekpe Udoh is going to start at center for GSW until further notice. He hasn't been great, but if you're in a deeper league and are desperate at center, he's worth a look.

 

[HacheMan]

SBT: Love To Be Shutdown? A whirlwind weekend deserves a whirlwind column, but before I divulge, I have to pose the question – is there any better time to be a fantasy basketball nut than right now? You're either in the playoffs or close, and to chase that down you get the first two (or three) rounds of the NCAA tournament to keep your significant other hating you. My bracket is busted, but then again, I let my girlfriend, her friend, and my dog make the selections (Bacardi diets and dog treats). They know about as much as I do about the NCAA tourney, which is nothing, but I successfully picked every loser possible. I had Pittsburgh and Michigan State doing battle with Pittsburgh advancing to face Notre Dame in the Final Four. Sigh.

The Step-back Three is a place where Aaron Bruski takes a look at three issues in the world of both fantasy and reality basketball. Focusing less on daily events, the idea is to take a step back from the daily hullabaloo and try to make sense of things.

1. Playoff Push and the Shutdown Surprises – Western Conference

There are three more weeks of fantasy basketball left unless your league counts 'dead week,' though it shouldn't, and shutdown season is already underway.

In the West, San Antonio has wrapped up the first seed, while the Lakers and Mavs are within a game for slots 2-3, the Thunder has about four games in either direction for the fourth seed, and the final four spots are held down by the Nuggets, Blazers, Hornets, and Grizzlies, who are separated by no more than 1.5 games (in that order). Trailing the Grizzlies by 1.5 games are the Rockets, and then the Suns and Jazz are just 0.5 games behind them, rounding out the 11 teams remaining in playoff contention.

For the purposes of determining which teams will be grinding it out, you can omit the Spurs and Lakers from this list as both will play it safe, the Mavs might be more inclined to fight for seeding, the Thunder have no real advantage to be gained absent a big streak either direction, and the rest will fight it out until they are satisfied with their position or eliminated.

Some players that you will want to keep an eye on for surprise DNPs, limited outings, or cautious mom syndrome from coaches include Tony Parker (age), Manu Ginobili (age), Tim Duncan (age/knees), Kobe Bryant (knee, ankle, fingers), Pau Gasol (hamstrings), Kevin Durant (ankle), Dirk Nowitzki (age), Jason Kidd (age), Tyson Chandler (ankle), and Shawn Marion (wrist).

Of the teams that are likely to make the playoffs currently ranked 4-8, the following players will be handled carefully: Arron Afflalo (hamstring), Danilo Gallinari (toe), Raymond Felton (ankle), Kenyon Martin (age, previous injuries), Nene (calf, groin), Marcus Camby (ankle, knee), Brandon Roy (knees), Chris Paul (knee, concussion), Trevor Ariza (groin), David West (ankle), and Rudy Gay (shoulder).

Each of the aforementioned guys has their own individual risks. For instance, we know that Gregg Popovich is going to rest his guys, so George Hill, Gary Neal, and DeJuan Blair (wrist pending) could all end up being useful down the stretch. A guy like Kevin Durant, who is young but has hurt his ankle three times this year, probably won't get rested before dead week unless he tweaks it again – but you can bet he'll be sidelined at the first sign of injury. Kobe Bryant, Arron Afflalo, Raymond Felton, Marcus Camby, Brandon Roy, and Rudy Gay are among the most risky in this grouping, giving bumps to Shannon Brown, J.R. Smith, Ty Lawson, Tony Allen and the Memphis wings, and the Portland log-jam.

From there, there are two categories of teams that will handle shutdown risks as we go – the teams that are out of contention already, and the ones that will fall out of contention shortly. Looking at the grouping of the Rockets, Suns, and Jazz, let's bust out the protractor and try to look smart.

Steve Nash – He has surged since 'Pelvic Instability' broke into the Billboard Top 40 with their hit, It Normally Doesn't Happen Like That, which is a great sign now but you can bet grandma's cat Dilly that he'll be the first to get shutdown if the Suns fall out of the mix. Off topic, one of the things I appreciate about various writers is their ability to admit when they were wrong, and on the issue of Aaron Brooks over the past couple of weeks, I've been dead wrong. I don't know what's going on with him, other than he's clearly frustrated, but a player of his previous caliber doesn't go this far south without a reason. He threw a ball at an official, and while I haven't seen it yet and it doesn't seem too malicious, it's just yet another example of how he's losing his grip. Should Nash go down, don't rule out Zabian Dowdell to split time or even leap-frog Brooks at this rate. Either way, the beneficiary of that potential shutdown could be sitting on a goldmine, so keep your eyes peeled and watch the standings.

Channing Frye – We don't know how his shoulder felt, and hope to get some comment on that today, but the 19 points he scored spoke volumes on Sunday. If there is something wrong, however, he has already spoken about the pros and cons of playing through the injury and my sense is that he'd opt to sit. One of our blurbers said last night that Hakim Warrick would be worth a look in deep leagues down the stretch, but I don't even know that he'd be worth adding if Frye went down. He fooled us once before, but gambling on a guy that put up a donut when he had the starting job and no competition is crazy in my mind.

Vince Carter – His production has been closely tied to Nash's lately, which makes sense, because when Nash is out or hurt, they need him to handle the ball and initiate the offense. His knees will be an issue for the rest of his career, so gutting it out if Phoenix falls out probably isn't going to happen, making Jared Dudley a strong candidate for some late-season love. And while he has no specific injury, it doesn't hurt that Grant Hill is 77 years old.

Luis Scola – He lasted just 20 minutes last night in a must-win game for the Rockets, and has missed the last week of must-win games, as well. For a guy that doesn't miss games, that's about as big of a red flag you'll find on this side of China. Patrick Patterson posted a 13 and 14 double-double with a block last night, and could even split time with Courtney Lee at SF if Chase Budinger is out, so there's a bunch to like here outside of the two-game week. Unless we get great news about Scola soon, Patterson will be on the short list of stashes that I have in 12-team leagues.

Paul Millsap – He might try to impale the first guy to mention it, but if anybody deserves an early break it's the Sapper. He popped off for 35 points, 10 boards, three blocks, two threes, and a steal in his return-game on Sunday, and word is that he also uses aluminum for chewing gum. Kids, don't ever do that.

Devin Harris – He ran right up against the 30-minute mark last night, as he has been battling a hamstring injury that caused him to skip overtime in a must-win game on Monday. Unfortunately, his backup, Earl Watson isn't much to look at in fantasy leagues, but could be worth a desperation play if Harris goes down.

Andrei Kirilenko – At this point I'm pretty sure they're pumping him up with so many pain killers that he can't feel his back or his face, but the 20-minute outing last night is all I need to see to know his days are numbered. It's yet another reason to love C.J. Miles right now, and rookies Derrick Favors and Gordon Hayward are dark horses for productive weeks during the fantasy finals.

The final group is playing for ping pong balls, including the Warriors, Clippers, Kings, and Wolves. With the latter two teams and the Wizards each having 17 wins, there is some potential for a draft position swing, but predicting a true throwing of games is simply irresponsible. But if you're asking whether or not management would use that as a tie-breaker, well, they've been doing it for years.

Monta Ellis – He's as banged up (ankles, back, wrist) as they come, and while I'll be watching him, it just doesn't feel like he's ready to shut it down. I think he's having too much fun to quit.

Mo Williams – See Ellis, Monta. It's amazing how few reports we've gotten about his hip, groin, or state of mind since moving to the beach.

Eric Gordon – Now here's an injury risk. He took just 11 shots last night, but complained only about the 40-minute workload from the night before. My sense is that he's going to be able to handle the normal wear and tear, but it's the awkward landing or catch that I think could knock him out. Randy Foye played 31 minutes last night, and while I wouldn't stash him in a 12-team league, I'd probably do it in a 14-team league if I could afford the stash.

Tyreke Evans – He's hitting his benchmarks, and as funny as it seems, the Kings' frontcourt issues may be the saving grace for him, Beno Udrih, and Marcus Thornton. After Samuel Dalembert (knee), Jason Thompson (ankle), and DeMarcus Cousins (mouth) – the Kings have nobody, and I repeat nobody, to play down low. I get the sense that Thompson's ankle is probably hanging by a thread judging by the lower than normal per-minute numbers, and we could be seeing the run-and-gun Kings for the remainder of the year.

Kevin Love – You can add groin issues to the knee issues, and his season is very much in doubt at the time of this writing until we learn more. Anthony Randolph is the player on everybody's mind, but last night's 14-point, 4-rebound, 3-assist night while starting the second half in place of Love was a microcosm of his career. He had seven turnovers in 24 minutes. So my guess is that the Wolves would love to let him loose, but aren't about to reward bad play, which is his specialty. So they will counterbalance any of his playing time with a healthy dose of Anthony Tolliver. If Love goes down, make no mistake, Randolph will be worth a flier for his upside – but he'll need to be watched closely with expectations in check. Should Michael Beasley also go down, it could only help his cause.

Michael Beasley – He lasted just 15 minutes last night, and whether that was due to his hip, his ankle, or both, he is going to be a risk for the foreseeable future. I tend to think his minutes would be shifted more toward the guard group than the forwards if he was to go down, making Wesley Johnson, Martell Webster, and Wayne Ellington a bit more viable than they are right now. Each of the three need to show us something, however, before they're fit for activation in a 12-team league, obviously.

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2. Playoff Push and the Shutdown Surprises – Eastern Conference

In the East we have a three-team race for the top seed, with Boston and Chicago standing in a tie and the Heat just two games back. Orlando and Atlanta each sit on islands for the No. 3 and 4 seeds with four games separating them from each other and the next closest teams. Then, the Sixers and Knicks form another island for the No. 6 and 7 seeds at just a half game apart, and the Pacers sit in the eighth seed 5.5 games back. Trailing the Pacers by 1.5 games are the Bucks and Bobcats, rounding out the teams that are still in contention.

So the grinders in the group of teams that are leading the standings are the Bulls and perhaps the Heat. The Bulls are a young team that could use the home court advantage and the Heat are still trying to develop as a team. The Celtics have proven that they can win on the road in the playoffs, and will not be concerned about resting guys. The 'island teams' will probably play any injury situation safe, especially the Magic and Hawks who have no upward/downward mobility within the standings, and while one has to think the chance of playing an inconsistent Heat team is desirable over the Bulls and Celtics – the Sixers and Knicks will also probably play it safe with any injury.

Knowing this, guys you're going to want to watch will include Carlos Boozer (ankle), Luol Deng (workload), Rajon Rondo (legs, feet, pinkie), Paul Pierce (age), Kevin Garnett (age, calf, knees), Dwyane Wade (entire body), Chris Bosh (ankle), Hedo Turkoglu (age), Gilbert Arenas (knee, calf), J.J. Redick (abdominal), Al Horford (ankle, back), Joe Johnson (dead legs), Kirk Hinrich (calf, other), Andre Iguodala (knee, Achilles), Elton Brand (age, finger), Chauncey Billups (thigh, knee), and Amare Stoudemire (age, ankle).

Like their counterparts in the West, each one will have their own unique circumstance, and while Boozer, Rondo, and Iguodala are dealing with injuries now, they appear to be heading toward playing or staying on the court. Other than Redick and Arenas, who are not playing, the rest are suiting up and each holds their own unique chance of rest. Potential beneficiaries in this group include Kurt Thomas, Delonte West, Glen Davis, Jeff Green, Jason Richardson, Jameer Nelson, Ryan Anderson, Josh Smith, Jamal Crawford, Jrue Holiday, Lou Williams, Thaddeus Young, Toney Douglas, and Carmelo Anthony. Am I saying to adjust the value of any of these guys tremendously? No, but in some cases like Glen Davis, the situation makes a borderline player somebody comfortable to own in a 12-team league.

The remaining group of teams competing for the No. 8 spot in the playoffs is a truly sad bunch. The Pacers and Bobcats would have trouble in the NCAA tournament right now, while Scott Skiles took a trip to Bizarro World and is playing every starter 40 minutes per game and winning. The Pacers have no real shutdown risk outside of Danny Granger, who has no injury right now but looks and acts like a guy that wants out of Indy. I told a reader on Twitter the other day, when that day comes, he will be the next Rashard Lewis. Regardless, being the team in front, predicting a shutdown for him just isn't in the cards, at least for now. But for the Bobcats and Bucks, we have a few strong cases.

Stephen Jackson – He's gutting out a hamstring injury and pushing it too hard. The situation is simple here, as Gerald Henderson probably isn't worth starting if Jackson is on the court, and rang up second round 8-cat value for a stretch while Jackson was out. That stretch was a very small sample size, but the point is clear. D.J. Augustin actually takes a hit if Jackson is out, because he can't shake defenses that can focus on him.

Andrew Bogut – He's a risk whether or not the Bucks are in the chase. His elbow needs just one wrong hit, the rest of his body isn't showing up on the radar but could at any time, and his migraine headaches can pop up out of nowhere. Larry Sanders would get another shot to start if Bogut goes down, assuming Drew Gooden doesn't return and start, with the fantasy attention going to the guy that starts. The entire bunch of Bucks get a slight boost if Bogut goes out after touches get distributed, albeit in a more inefficient way.

Ersan Ilyasova – He is one of the keys to the success of Carlos Delfino and John Salmons, as when he returns he usually gobbles up at least 20 minutes per game and some of their outside looks. He is doing light work right now, and similarly to Delfino, he could be thrown right back into the fire. On the other hand, should the Bucks lose a stretch of games, they will opt for a more cautious approach which would be a god-send for owners.

The Other Guys – This group of Bucks is about as wild as cards go, as they could join the rotation with significant minutes, or be shutdown and excluded. Corey Maggette has no current injury that we're aware of, but his knee and then his back were recently hurt, but as far as we know he's simply out of the rotation. Anybody who has played fantasy basketball in the last year knows that this could change at any moment if he is healthy. Drew Gooden wants to return by March 23, and while he will be out of game-shape, a 20+ minute addition to the rotation is to be expected once he returns. And don't forget Michael Redd, who busted his hump to return to action when most other players would have taken their millions and ran. Don't think that Skiles isn't going to toss him 10-15 minutes because of the veteran contributions he can make. As you can see, there's a lot going on in Milwaukee, as Delfino and Salmons could go from fantasy title contributors to pariahs in a flash.

Moving toward the bottom of the standings, the Pistons, Nets, Raptors, Wizards, and Cavaliers are playing for ping pong balls, the future, or because their contract forces them to. I've written about John Kuester in a few places over the last week, and I'm not going there here. I'd rather let Ashy Larry hold my wallet than try to explain what he's going to do next. And other than the Wizards, who have something special brewing under Flip Saunders, the rest of the group is your standard out-of-the-playoffs bunch. They're all coached by guys that have various issues, but no team mutiny or early fishing trips are being planned in the open. The Cavs have the No. 1 lottery position all wrapped up, and for some poor kid's sakes, I hope they don't end up with the top pick. As mentioned, the Wizards have a chance to go up or down in the ping pong sweepstakes, but as you'll see they're a special case. Here are the shutdown candidates, excluding any Pistons:

Deron Williams – My personal opinion is that there is only ambiguity here to sell tickets and to keep his teammates or fans from labeling him soft. He needs the rest, and my guess is that outside of an outright shutdown, that he only plays in a few games here and there. Regardless, as if it needs explanation, Jordan Farmar should be owned in all leagues, with his 17 assists last night the early reward. The rewards also trickle down to Sundaita Gaines, who could become relevant if Farmar's ankle acts up. Don't think that the multi-year deal for him wasn't noticed around here, too.

Jose Calderon – He's been quietly productive since a barrage of minor injuries through the middle of the year, but as an injury-prone and somewhat old player, I've been watching out for any signs of slowdown. It doesn't hurt, either, that the Raps like Jerryd Bayless but know that he needs to develop into a true PG to have any real value for them.

Amir Johnson – He has played through ankle and back injuries that other guys would have sat through. Unfortunately, a three-headed PF monster has emerged in Toronto, so the guy everybody wants to see on the court, (Ed Davis), will be passed over by Jay Triano for Reggie Evans. And of course, that's what every 20-49 team should be doing this time of year.

Baron Davis – He might be the NBA's biggest shutdown candidate, even if you believe his talk about wanting to join Drew Carey for a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame before setting LeBron James jerseys on fire at Dan Gilbert's house. Knee, back, personal – you name it, he's got it. Make sure Ramon Sessions is owned, even if it's to keep your opponent from using him against you.

Anthony Parker, Daniel Gibson – Both are playing right now, but both are older and may or may not factor into the team's future plans. Parker's back and Gibson's quad have both been concerns, not to mention the ever-mysterious issues in Gibson's personal life, but both are a Byron Scott brain-burner from letting the younger guys play. Factor in Semih Erden's absence, and somebody from the group of (in no order) Manny Harris, Alonzo Gee, Christian Eyenga, or Luke Harangody is going to land on the radar.

Welcome to Washington – Flip Saunders may have been a bit more impassioned this season, and players may be a bit less aggressive with him due to his mother's passing, but the knock on his teams has always been lack of discipline due to his door-mat status. Enter JaVale McGee, Andray Blatche, Nick Young, and John Wall, each with their own unique issues. McGee thinks he has arrived but he hasn't earned anything yet, Young may have set a record for ill-advised shots by a guy with little to no playing time before this season, Blatche believes he is a No. 1 in this league but plays like a No. 3, and Wall goes between heady rookie talent and entitled top pick way too much for my liking. What do they have in common? None of them want to be associated with the losing on the court.

I'm hopeful that Wall will play out the string, but I'm not convinced he will. Young played on a bad knee all year long because of the success he was enjoying, so I'm not hopeful for his return. As for Blatche, the stories of his disdain for doing anything team-centric make it hard for me to believe he would risk any injury to join the losing parade, and I also wonder if the team simply wants him to go away. After all, the youngsters are playing with effort right now – why mess it up? It's no coincidence that JaVale McGee is enjoying his most consistent stretch, while Jordan Crawford and Trevor Booker dive around the court and produce. All three should be owned for the chance that Blatche and Young don't make it back, which is good enough to gamble on right now in 12-team leagues.

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3. Carmelo Anthony, Michael Jordan, and the Rub

The 'rub' was introduced to us by William Shakespeare, but it was introduced to me by a former boss. He'd instruct me to ask the prospective client what 'the rub' was, in an effort to find out what was controlling the situation, and once you knew that you could basically try to get the client. Until you knew that, however, you'd have a better chance getting laid as a fantasy sports writer. Though, special note, if you fib about the exact definition of what a fantasy sports writer actually is, there is some opportunity there, but I digress.

So when Carmelo Anthony sat outside of his team's huddle and pouted like a child on Friday, and Amare Stoudemire told him through the press to shutup, I said to myself, therein lies the rub.

The 'rub' in the NBA is that every team that has climbed to the top has had to take their lumps. The current Lakers had to lose to the Celtics, the Spurs had to lose to the Lakers all those years to truly attain greatness, the Pistons tried and tried and tried before beating the Lakers and Celtics, while the current Celtics had to beat – you guessed it, the Lakers. The Shaq/Kobe Lakers needed Michael Jordan to get old and retire, while the Bulls needed to dispatch the Pistons and Lakers before they went on their run, and before that Pistons, Lakers, and Celtics did battle for a decade. Only the Heat, Rockets, and Spurs have paths to a title among recent champions that are suspect, as the latter two teams needed Michael Jordan to retire and ended up beating less distinguished teams, though Houston won twice and the Spurs beat Patrick Ewing's venerable Knicks. As for the Heat, they beat a Mavs team that lost to No. 8 seed Golden State the very next year in the first round of the playoffs, but Dwyane Wade is still an ice-cold killer.

What did each of those teams have in common? A superstar that cares only about winning, period.

Yes, there were off the court shenanigans and they weren't all business (though tell that to Michael Jordan) – when they got to the practice court there were no laughs. There wasn't a party planning committee being organized by a hanger-on, unless you were also getting it done, but even then it didn't come before business. There was also no discussion about who is or was 'the man.' You either were the man or you weren't. You either commanded the respect of your peers or you didn't. Most importantly, leadership arose from within all of the ranks, and was not a result of deference based on fear. Guys followed because they wanted to, not because they had to, and they certainly had no question about who they were following.

Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, Bill Laimbeer, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Joe Dumars, Hakeem Olajuwon, Larry Bird, Dwyane Wade.

Carmelo Anthony. LeBron James. Amare Stoudemire. Dirk Nowitzki, Dwight Howard, Joe Johnson

Carmelo sat outside of his team's huddle on Friday, and Ty Lawson openly talked on NBA TV the same night about how happy George Karl was since the trade. I'd put a monkey butler's wages on the fact that a secret party was thrown the day Melo was traded, and it ended with Karl doing the worm across a beer-strewn floor.

Why are they happy in Denver?

Because Melo takes bad shots, he doesn't play defense, and he cares more about himself than the team. LeBron? The man with the most pound-for-pound raw ability in the NBA will become the case study for all superstars to follow him, for better or for worse. Amare? He's a guy that was routinely criticized for talking out of the side of his mouth in Phoenix and for taking plays off. Dirk? The knock on him is that he was soft, and he probably will stay that way until he proves it on the big stage. Dwight? He's a case study in what wanting to have fun all the time gets you (hint: it's called not first place). Johnson? He just wants to stay out of everything as the 'just don't get me involved' type. He's also cool with Smoove 26-footers. On a side note, never trust the person that tells you they 'just don't want to get involved.' They do want to get involved, but they just don't agree with you.

So some of these players with titles fell into good situations on good teams and never had that one defining moment for all of us to see. Larry Bird and Magic Johnson were cold-blooded from the day they stepped on the court and went to storied franchises. But some of them, including the G.O.A.T. Michael Jordan, had to fall on their faces a little bit. But each of their teams, when they won, was a fierce machine with egos either in check or at least pointed in the right directions.

This is the challenge for these would-be champions. Can they have the confidence to do the right things? Can they know that they're 'the man,' but not need to prove it? Can they work to make others better, while also being the best themselves?

The Lakers, Spurs, and Celtics each have those players. Dwyane Wade is one of those players, and so is Chauncey Billups. Amare Stoudemire is reaching a point in his career where winning is more important, and we're seeing a change in his perspective. Dirk Nowitzki may be in a more limited role than ever before, but for some reason, you don't feel like the guy is so nervous anymore. Never before has Dallas felt so dangerous, either, including the two aforementioned years. Howard now makes commercials that say he's not all about fun, but you'll know when he's serious when his teammates speak in reverent terms. Like James, Howard has the physical tools to command a ring if his mind is right.

As for James, he needs to develop a killer instinct, and part of that will come with figuring out how to come to grips with his past. He either needs to embrace being the villain, or come full circle on what he did, but it can't be neither and it can't be both. Kobe stopped caring if people loved him after the Colorado ordeal, and while he has rehabilitated his image, he still thrives on showing people that they are wrong and he is right. LeBron did that when he went back to Cleveland, but that whole 'global icon' thing brings him back to caring about what you think.

Whether it was Kobe learning how to be a leader of his teammates, MJ learning that he needed to pass the ball, or each of the aforementioned 'winners' deciding at some point that it was all about a singular focus, tireless work ethic, and the will to lead men correctly – each of them did that, and absent of that they would have won nothing.

Carmelo Anthony is just the most recent player to find the spotlight that for whatever reason could not inspire greatness. James has been in that spotlight for a few years now. Somebody will break through, after all – Kobe, Ray, Kevin, Paul, Dwyane, Tim, Manu, and Tony aren't getting any younger. But it's more likely to be a guy like Kevin Durant, who almost took off Heather Cox's head when she talked about his individual accomplishment of beating LeBron the other day. Tell me you're not laying $10 on the Thunder to win it all.

Guys on the Thunder are willing to break their neck for Durant, and also break their neck for Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka, Kendrick Perkins, Thabo Sefolosha, and James Harden, too. They know KD is the man, and he knows that they are needed, too. It works that way and everyone has a role. Sitting outside a timeout huddle is no way to lead men. Neither is sticking to your guns when all of America knows you blew The Decision. Nobody's signing up to follow that.

And therein lies the rub.

 

[HacheMan]

Rotations: Mike Bibby's shot
Mike Bibby was headed for a starting gig even before Mario Chalmers went down. His ability to knock down open jumpers is sure to open up the floor for the Heat's big three and his veteran presence should help their crunch time woes. But can Bibby help fantasy owners as much as he can help the Miami?

Coaches are constantly tinkering, toying and yanking around with rotations. Sometimes it has to do with injuries. In other instances, it's a result of ineffective play from a certain player. The effect this has on minutes played and thus statistical production is where we come in.

Each week in this space, I'll explore the rotations of half the league's teams while attempting to get inside coaches' heads. The idea is not to tell you what Kevin Durant and LeBron James are going to do --- it's to decipher how much production we can get out of fringe players. Last week, I hit the West and hit a home run with C.J. Miles. This week, we explore the East and start in Miami:

* Note that the lineups listed reflect the starters in the team's previous game. Stats are through Monday's games unless otherwise noted.

<BIG>MIAMI</BIG>
PG Mario Chalmers
SG Dwyane Wade
SF LeBron James
PF Chris Bosh
C Erick Dampier

Mario Chalmers is expected to miss about two weeks with a right knee sprain. Enter Mike Bibby, who now projects to hover around 30 minutes nightly and start the rest of the regular season plus the playoffs.

Before going any further, owners must understand that Bibby is a shell of the player we all remember from Sacramento. He turns 33 next month, is one of the worst perimeter defenders in all of basketball and can no longer get his own shot off. Bibby was playing nearly 30 minutes a game for the Hawks earlier this season, but averaged just 9.4 points and 3.6 assists.

Bibby has played just 10 games with the Heat so far, and here are his per-36 minute stats in those games: 10.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.2 steals. Yep, that bad.

But the stat I left out is 3-pointers made and attempted per game. Out of the 47 field goals Bibby has attempted with the Heat, 35 have been treys. He is jacking up 5.7 3-point attempts per-36 minutes in Miami and that is a sustainable number.

Now starting at about six wide open treys per game, Bibby is a good bet for two-plus 3-pointers made the rest of the way. He is the definition of a strict specialist, but a potentially difference-making one for those category hunting.

<BIG>ATLANTA</BIG>
PG Kirk Hinrich
SG Joe Johnson
SF Marvin Williams
PF Josh Smith
C Al Horford

I repeatedly warned owners not to buy into Jeff Teague's 24-point outburst and subsequent promotion last week. This kid has had plenty of opportunities before and flubbed virtually all of them. In 10 career starts, Teague is averaging just 9.7 points and 4.5 assists while shooting 39.4 percent from the field. And that includes the fluky 24-point game last Saturday. Teague picked up a DNP-CD on Sunday and the Hawks should have legit concerns that he will never be an average NBA starter.

Teague's struggles have put Kirk Hinrich back on the fantasy map. He is most effective when playing point guard and should be locked into that role the rest of the way. Look for around 30 minutes of 3-point/steal/assist upside.

Here are Marvin Williams' numbers in 42 starts this year: 10.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists. Yawn.

<BIG>BOSTON</BIG>
PG Rajon Rondo
SG Ray Allen
SF Paul Pierce
PF Kevin Garnett
C Nenad Krstic

Perhaps Rajon Rondo's injuries are overblown. At this point in the season, every NBA player is banged up with sprained joints and sore knees. His aggressive 42.5 minutes on Monday night should put to rest any major concerns.

Nenad Krstic was playing way over his head when he recorded back-to-back double-doubles last week. With Shaq close to a return and no blocks upside, Krstic is not a real fantasy option.

Jeff Green is settling in to his 22-26 minute role off the bench. In his last 10 games prior to Monday, he was averaging 12.6 points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.4 assists. Couple that with 0.7 blocks, 0.6 steals and 0.6 treys and we have an unappealing fantasy option. Glen Davis, meanwhile, is much more attractive. With his knee back at full strength, Davis is a lock to hover around 30 minutes and give owners points/rebounds nightly.

Editor's Note: Draft a hoops team just for tonight and win real cash in SnapDraft!

<BIG>CHARLOTTE</BIG>
PG D.J. Augustin
SG Gerald Henderson
SF Dante Cunningham
PF Boris Diaw
C Kwame Brown

Chalk Tyrus Thomas up as a swing and a miss. Since returning from that knee injury, he is averaging just 5.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 18.7 minutes per night. Even those desperate for blocks can move on while keeping an eye on the situation. Should Boris Diaw go back into his shell, Thomas would be worth an add.

Stephen Jackson's hamstring injury has become a major concern. He admits he is playing at 55 or 60 percent and the numbers show it. Captain Jack has missed four of the last eight games and is shooting 30.8 percent in his last six appearances. All owners can do is keep putting him out there when healthy, but be aware of the shutdown possibilities and likely ineffective play.

I am not a big Gerald Henderson, but he is a lock for huge minutes on a team void of scorers. The problem is that he’s averaging 0.1 treys, 2.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 0.4 blocks over his last 10 games despite playing nearly 34 minutes. The Bobcats need him more than fantasy owners do.

Editor's Note: For weekly projections, daily pickup advice, exclusive columns and much more, check out Rotoworld's Season Pass!

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<BIG>CHICAGO</BIG>
PG Derrick Rose
SG Keith Bogans
SF Luol Deng
PF Carlos Boozer
C Joakim Noah

Now completely healthy again as of Monday, the Bulls continue to trot out one of the most stable rotations in the game. The big four of Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Luol Deng and Carlos Boozer will all play 32-plus minutes nightly. Ronnie Brewer and Keith Bogans will cancel each other out and Taj Gibson projects as the primary big man off the bench going forward.

With a 50-19 record, this team is humming along.

<BIG>CLEVELAND</BIG>
PG Ramon Sessions
SG Anthony Parker
SF Alonzo Gee
PF Samardo Samuels
C J.J. Hickson

Ramon Sessions' declining play combined with his recently revealed sports hernia injury makes the point guard situation less cloudy than it seems. Baron Davis will be the starter once his back heals up and he gets his legs under him. Within a week, look for 31-33 minutes for Davis and 24-27 for Sessions.

J.J. Hickson has settled in reasonably well to the center spot, showing significant improvement as a rebounded. Although he does not play huge minutes, Hickson is proving to be productive in the 29-31 minute range. In the 12 games since the All-Star break before Monday, Hickson was averaging 14.3 points, 9.4 rebounds and 0.9 blocks. It is a sustainable pace.

Samardo Samuels is losing some juice. After playing 30 or more minutes in his first five starts, he has played fewer than 30 minutes in four of his last five starts. Considering his meager block/steal upside and horrid free-throw shooting, owners in medium sized leagues can likely move on.

<BIG>DETROIT</BIG>
PG Tracy McGrady
SG Richard Hamilton
SF Tayshaun Prince
PF Greg Monroe
C Ben Wallace

Coach John Kuester has made it very clear that he does not believe in defined roles or preparation. If you are active for a game, Kuester expects you to be ready to do whatever he asks. He does not care what the players or the media think. So we should all just stop complaining about him and accept it.

Lately, Kuester has decided that he prefers Rodney Stuckey in a bench role. Fine. Over the last three games, Stuckey is averaging 12.3 points, 8.0 assists and 1.6 steals while playing 30.3 minutes a night. Even when Stuckey was starting, he was only playing 31.5 minutes per night. In other words, we can comfortably use the combo guard right now for low-end value.

One player that has stayed above the fray is Greg Monroe. He has started 33 straight games and is averaging 14.1 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 0.8 blocks over the last nine games while playing 32.3 minutes per night. Not even Kuester can stunt this kid's growth.

I would not mess with the Richard Hamilton/Tracy McGrady/Ben Gordon mess unless I really had to. All are on a short leash and subject to random minutes swings based on effectiveness. I would rather roll the dice with Tayshaun Prince, who has logged 32 minutes or more in six of his last seven games.

<BIG>INDIANA</BIG>
PG Darren Collison
SG Paul George
SF Danny Granger
PF Tyler Hansbrough
C Roy Hibbert

Tyler Hansbrough is proving to be a much better NBA scorer than anyone outside of Larry Bird could have imagined. Since being promoted to the starting lineup eight games ago, he has scored 20 or more points five times. It's not a fluke -- this kid knows how to score on the NBA level and is a plus contributor in steals and free-throw percentage. Ride him.

Roy Hibbert is really frustrating to own due to some wild inconsistency. But the point is that the Pacers are intent on developing Hibbert and want to feature him on offense. Owners are best served to close their eyes and check out the stats on a week-to-week basis. Over his last 13 games, Hibbert is averaging 10.6 blocks, 6.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks. It is nothing great, but it is certainly usable in most formats.

With the Pacers hanging on to the No. 8 seed in the East, Danny Granger is showing some fight. We know the field-goal percentage is going to be tough to swallow, but he is playing hard again and getting to the line. It's obvious Granger has no plans to shut anything down.

<BIG>MILWAUKEE</BIG>
PG Brandon Jennings
SG John Salmons
SF Carlos Delfino
PF Luc Richard Mbah a Moute
C Andrew Bogut

A rotation that was once one of the most volatile in the league has finally gained some stability. Corey Maggette has completely fallen out of the mix, locking Carlos Delfino and John Salmons into major minutes. Both starting wingmen are turning into high-end plays as the Bucks push for a playoff berth.

Ersan Ilyasova (concussion) is back doing some light on-court work, but is still not going full throttle. Considering he has been out over a month, the ship may have sailed on him returning to a major role. Over the last nine games, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute is averaging 10.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 0.7 blocks per game. The defensive stopped has established himself as the starting power forward and deep leaguers could do worse at the bottom of their roster.

No, I do not believe that Michael Redd can really have a positive impact on the Bucks. It's a great story and all, but 31-year-olds with no knees left just do not get the job done. Remember that Redd averaged just 11.9 points on 35.2 percent shooting in 18 games before ripping up his knee again during the 1009-10 season. If I owned Salmons or Delfino, I would not feel threatened.

<BIG>NEW JERSEY</BIG>
PG Jordan Farmar
SG Anthony Morrow
SF Stephen Graham
PF Kris Humphries
C Brook Lopez

The point guard situation here is getting messy. Deron Williams (wrist) says he is not shutting it down and hopes to play Friday, but common sense says he will hang it up. He is a must hold until his reevaluation. Meanwhile, starting-caliber backup Jordan Farmar lost minutes Monday night to journeyman Sundiata Gaines.

I would not expect the Gaines experiment to stick. Consider Monday's performance a "hot hand" case, something that he is unlikely to duplicate. Meanwhile, Farmar came into Monday averaging 15.0 points, 8.8 assists, 1.6 treys and 1.3 steals as a starter this season. He is a legit NBA starter and is a good bet for 31-34 minutes nightly. Farmar is a hold through the rest of the season.

Coach Avery Johnson is intent on bringing Sasha Vujacic off the bench now, even when Damion James is hurt. Monday night's 14 points in 16 minutes was extremely fluky. Anthony Morrow is the one locked in to 33-35 minutes and is useful as a 3-point specialist.

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<BIG>NEW YORK</BIG>
PG Toney Douglas
SG Landry Fields
SF Carmelo Anthony
PF Amare Stoudemire
C Jared Jeffries

Ronny Turiaf is starting again, but do not take the bait. He has started 16 games this season prior to Monday and averaged just 5.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in those games. Turiaf is also one of the best bets in the league for an in-game injury.

I certainly understand the appeal of Shawne Williams. Not only is he one of the better 3-point shooters in the NBA, but he also rebounds at a high level and his length leads to some blocks. However, the torn ligament in his shooting hand that he is playing through is a major concern. As a borderline player to begin with, a wait-and-see approach is safer.

<BIG>ORLANDO</BIG>
PG Jameer Nelson
SG Jason Richardson
SF Hedo Turkoglu
PF Brandon Bass
C Dwight Howard

There are no surprises here on a game-to-game basis. Gilbert Arenas is proving that he will never return to serviceable form and Ryan Anderson continues to show that he is quite comfortable as a reserve.

In his last 10 games before Monday, Anderson was averaging 10.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.0 treys and 1.0 blocks. Sneaky, solid value despite the 25-27 minutes nightly.

<BIG>PHILADELPHIA</BIG>
PG Jrue Holiday
SG Jodie Meeks
SF Evan Turner
PF Elton Brand
C Spencer Hawes

Andre Iguodala took what amounted to a maintenance day on Saturday, giving rookie Evan Turner the start. Although Iguodala has nagging knee and Achilles pain, I would not expect anything near a full shutdown. The concern is that the Sixers are essentially locked in to the sixth or seventh seed and that really does not make a difference in playoff positioning. Iguodala could take a game or two more off in the final week.

The nagging injuries certainly have not bothered Iguodala on the court. Over his last 10 games, the swingman is averaging 15.0 points, 8.1 assists, 6.6 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.4 treys. He also guards the opponent's best perimeter player nightly and plays 36 minutes. It's a level we have not previously seen from Iguodala.

Jodie Meeks' ability to defend and finish consistently on the fast break have yielded more minutes. Over the last 11 games, Meeks is averaging a staggering 35.7 minutes to go with 14.5 points, 2.8 treys and 1.3 steals. He has not played fewer than 30 minutes in any game over that span and the Sixers are 31-21 overall when he starts. Look no further for a 3-point specialist with upside.

<BIG>TORONTO</BIG>
PG Jose Calderon
SG DeMar DeRozan
SF James Johnson
PF Amir Johnson
C Andrea Bargnani

Amir Johnson left Monday night's game with another ankle injury and Reggie Evans started the second half at power forward. Since coming off the injured list seven games ago, Evans is averaging 12.1 boards a night. Category hunters should take notice.

As long as Leandro Barbosa is coming off the bench, which he will likely do the rest of the season, he is going to be tough to trust. The Brazilian Blur has logged 18 or less minutes in three straight games as the Raptors refuse to kick DeMar DeRozan to small forward.

<BIG>WASHINGTON</BIG>
PG John Wall
SG Jordan Crawford
SF Trevor Booker
PF Yi Jianlian
C JaVale McGee

The lack of information coming out of Washington regarding their litany of injuries speaks volumes. They seem to be mailing in the final part of their miserable season and did not even practice Monday even though they arrived in Portland Sunday night, two days ahead of Tuesday's game.

When teams like this give up, it turns into wild, defense-free street ball. See JaVale McGee's triple-double from last week or Jordan Crawford's 20.2 points per game over the last five. Even defensive-minded Trevor Booker is giving owners viable production.

The point is that anyone starting in this kind of system deserves consideration. Rashard Lewis is done, Josh Howard is likely done and Nick Young/Andray Blatche are not showing much urgency to get back. All we can do is get the guys getting minutes into our lineups.

Andray Blatche is out at least two more games and Nick Young is out at least one more. Get Jordan Crawford and Trevor Booker into lineups.

 

[HacheMan]

Tim Duncan Down & Out
Monday's games offered plenty of food for thought as Tim Duncan went down, Keith Smart channeled his inner Nellie, Avery Johnson taunted Jordan Farmar's owners with Sundiata Gaines, while Danny Granger, Roy Hibbert and Rajon Rondo decided to play basketball. And Tuesday morning brought very bad news for Rudy Gay, courtesy of Dr. James Andrews.

Duncan Down & Out

Tim Duncan left Monday's game with a severely sprained ankle that could keep him out for the rest of the regular season. He's expected to miss two weeks, which means he might be droppable in most leagues. And in weekly leagues, the timing couldn't have been worse. DeJuan Blair now looks like a must-own player, but Gregg Popovich held him out last night because of a sore wrist. It sounds like it was a precautionary move, and while Pop and Blair have let us down time and time again, it's hard to imagine Blair not playing like a stud the rest of the way. He's expected back on Wednesday. Tiago Splitter, who recorded his first double-double last night, is also going to see a major boost in minutes and it's entirely possible that Splitter will start at center and Blair starts at power forward. We'll see, but both of them are worth grabbing if you need a big man.

Not A Gay Old Time

Rudy Gay will miss the rest of the season after learning he needs shoulder surgery from Dr. James Andrews. This isn't too surprising and I just hope you dropped him a couple weeks ago when he went down. Tony Allen will continue to be worth owning in many fantasy leagues, while Sam Young, Shane Battier and O.J. Mayo are worth keeping an eye on. Hopefully Gay will be good to go for the start of next season, but we don't know much about a timetable just yet.

Love Hurts

Beat writer Jerry Zgoda is speculating that Kevin Love will be shut down for the remainder of the season with his groin injury. That makes perfect sense to me, as the Wolves have nothing to play for and Love's been playing on one leg anyway. It's time for a rest and you can expect Anthony Randolph to suddenly become relevant again. Pick him up if you have someone to cut, including Love and Duncan.

Tyreke Targeting Friday, But Will Be Limited

Tyreke Evans is expected back on Friday, but he's going to play very limited minutes and I really doubt he's going to be all that useful down the stretch for fantasy owners. Think Brandon Roy. However, if Evans does make it back to full strength and reclaim his starting job, Marcus Thornton or Beno Udrih is going to take the hit. But at this point, I wouldn't be surprised if both guys average more minutes than Tyreke down the stretch.

Quiet In Washington

The Wizards didn't practice on Monday so we still know nothing about the status of Andray Blatche (shoulder), Nick Young and Josh Howard (knees). However, we should have an update later today so stay tuned.

Injury/Lineup News & Notes

Marcus Camby is iffy for tonight with his sprained ankle, but my guess is he sits this one out. Look for Wesley Matthews to bounce back after going scoreless on Sunday.

Andre Iguodala and Elton Brand both sound good to go on Wednesday for the Sixers. Iguodala's knee has gotten some rest over the last five days, while Brand, who has missed just one game this season, is dealing with a sore hand or two.

Stephen Jackson sat out Monday's practice with his hamstring injury and is nowhere near 100 percent. He's also going to be very iffy for Wednesday, but really wants to play. Even if he goes he's not going to be moving very well, as I suspect his slump will continue.

Kirk Hinrich will start again on Tuesday for the Hawks, along with Marvin Williams, who has been coming off the bench, meaning the Jeff Teague experiment is over. I thought Larry Drew was hell bent on keeping Teague with the first unit, but the dream is over.

Courtney Lee will start for Chase Budinger, whose ankle injury isn't as bad as initial reports indicated. Lee is a must-play until Budinger is back, which could be this weekend.

Keep reading for Monday's game news.
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Nuggets Crush Raptors

Ty Lawson had 23 points, eight assists and two 3-pointers on 7-of-10 shooting with Raymond Felton sidelined. Felton could be back on Wednesday, but Lawson is still worth starting in most leagues. Danilo Gallinari was back in the starting five last night, along with Wilson Chandler, although neither was all that great (12 and 9 points, respectively), while Al Harrington actually showed a pulse with 15 points in garbage time. He'd been out with an achilles injury, but I wouldn't give him a second look as the Nuggets absolutely destroyed the Raptors. Chandler started for Arron Afflalo, who might have permanently lost his starting job with his latest hamstring injury, while J.R. Smith had just 13 points off the bench. As I've been saying since the trade, Gallo and Chandler are the guys you want to go with here. Afflalo is expected to be out the rest of the week.

The Raptors were awful last night and Amir Johnson went down with yet another ankle sprain. That will help Ed Davis and Reggie Evans in the long run, but they didn't do much last night. Johnson's ankles are a mess and I'd recommend dropping him at this point. Leandro Barbosa finally calmed down last night, hitting just 2-of-11 shots for five points, but should bounce back in the next one.

Knicks Meltdown In Home Loss To Celtics

The Knicks had another melt down in the fourth quarter last night, getting outscored 33-17 over the last 12 minutes to take a 10-point loss at home. Carmelo Anthony scored 22 and needed five stitches in the loss, while his media boycott and the Knicks sub-par play are raising eyebrows in the Big Apple. The offense isn't clicking with Melo in the middle of it all, while the team's defense is pretty poor as well.

Landry Fields' slump continued with four points on 1-of-6 shooting while Shawne Williams, who is dealing with a finger injury on his shooting hand, was held without a point, and Toney Douglas hit just 2-of-7 shots for five points. These three have all come up big for fantasy owners throughout the season and I'm hoping they bounce back in the next one. But anytime you're starting one of these guys right now, you're playing with fire. Douglas had been unstoppable for 10 days but has now struggled in two straight, which owners have to hope isn't a sign that a new slump has started. But he's a streaky shooter who will go through hot and cold periods.

Ronny Turiaf was back in the starting five last night and had 11 points and four blocks, but his next injury, or stint off the bench, is probably just around the corner. And speaking of injuries, Kelenna Azubuike needs another knee surgery, as a source told the New York Post that "they put his knee back together wrong" during the first surgery. That's a shame.

Rajon Rondo (sprained, not broken pinkie) finally broke out of his funk with 13 points, 12 assists and two steals, while Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce also played well. Ray Allen needed seven stitches for a cut on his head but was able to finish the game and had 15 points.

Spurs Beat GSW

Tony Parker tied a career high with 15 assists for the Spurs, while Steve Novak backed up his 19-point line from Saturday with 13 points and three 3-pointers on 5-of-6 shooting last night. We've see him do this before with the Clippers a couple years ago, but I'm afraid he's going to be more damaging to guys like Gary Neal and George Hill than he valuable to fantasy owners.

For the Warriors, Stephen Curry was benched for Acie Law (14 points, three assists, two steals) on Monday, finishing with just eight points and two assists in 20 minutes. The fact that Curry has been able to maintain such solid fantasy value this long is pretty impressive, considering the way Smart has been jerking him around for much of the season. I never thought that Nellie's replacement could be as frustrating as he was, but Smart is trying my patience with Curry. I have no idea what the immediate future holds, but my guess is Curry will continue to start and produce, while Smart will be looking for a job this summer. And if you're thinking about picking Law up, feel free to do so. I'm just not recommending it.

Meanwhile, Monta Ellis hit just 4-of-13 shots for 10 points last night and could be wearing down. Yes, Ellis has been struggling a bit, but I think he's got a few 30-point games left in him, so you have to keep rolling him out there for now. Ekpe Udoh finally answered the call with 15 points, seven boards and two blocks in 38 minutes. We've had our eye on him for weeks, and now it's time to move on him if you need a center. Andris Biedrins is not expected to play again this season.

Bulls Throttle Kings

Carlos Boozer returned from his sprained ankle and had 16 points and five boards in 26 minutes. It looks like he's back and ready to go, so get him back in your lineup if he's not there already. Kyle Korver got hot and hit four 3-pointers on his way to 18 points and two steals in just 19 minutes. I'd like him a lot more if he was getting 25 minutes per game, but it's not happening.

For the Kings, DeMarcus Cousins played after avoiding a suspension for brushing a ref on Sunday and put up 11 points and eight rebounds in the blowout loss. He also committed eight turnovers, but is still a must-start player. Marcus Thornton stayed hot with 25 points, three steals and two threes on 9-of-14 shooting, and it sure would have been nice if he started out the season playing for the Kings in stead of the Hornets, where Monty Williams ruined him.

Magic Roll Over Cavs

J.J. Hickson had 18 points, six boards and three blocks, as his season of inconsistency continues, but when he's on, he's a blast to own. Ramon Sessions is playing with a hernia right now but still had nine points, six boards and six dimes in the absence of Baron Davis. Keep rolling Sessions out there until he breaks, but keep in mind that Baron is thinking about playing on Wednesday and could even start over Sessions. Daniel Gibson scored 16 points and has now hit double digits in five of his last six games, making him worth a look in most leagues. Just be aware that by the time you pick him up and get him into your lineup he could very well be hurt again. Gibson and Christian Eyenga could be heading back into the starting five for the Cavs, which would put Anthony Parker and Alonzo Gee on the bench, so keep an eye on them.

Dwight Howard, who I seriously believe should be getting just as much MVP love as Derrick Rose is, hit 9-of-11 shots and a remarkable 10-of-12 free throws for 28 points, 18 rebounds, four assists, four steals and four blocks in the easy win. Brandon Bass also feasted on the Cavs last night, going off for 22 points, six boards and a block on 9-of-10 shooting. Unfortunately, he doesn't get to play the Cavs every day, nor will he hit 9-of-10 shots very often. He's still in a timeshare with Ryan Anderson (12 points, two 3-pointers), so I'm still not taking the bait on Bass. And if anyone can tell me why a stat line like Dwight's doesn't even raise an eyebrow anymore, or get his name thrown in the MVP hat, I'm all ears. Gilbert Arenas quietly returned from his calf injury, but it was more of the same, meaning he still belongs on waivers.

Pacers Handle Nets

Jordan Farmar's owners are a little ticked off at Avery Johnson this morning for giving Sundiata Gaines so much run last night. However, Farmar played 32 minutes, so it's not worth panicking over. Gaines made the most of his 24 minutes with 18 points, six boards, three assists and three steals. Had he not been feeling it, Farmar's minutes would have been higher. Anthony Morrow played through his sprained finger but hit just 5-of-15 shots for 12 points, six boards and a three last night. The finger could bother him the rest of the season, but it looks like he's going to play through it. Kris Humphries finally had his double-double string snapped after rocking 10 straight, while Brook Lopez hauled in an amazing four rebounds last night.

For the Pacers, Danny Granger scored 20 points on 7-of-17 shooting, while Roy Hibbert, who disappeared on Saturday after picking up five fouls in 11 minutes, hit 10-of-14 shots for 24 points, five boards and three blocks. Thanks, Roy. Doing that Sunday night would have meant I'd still be playing for something this week. Darren Collison is back, going for 15 points and 12 assists last night. He was terrible a couple weeks ago, but is finally rolling for the Pacers. Tyler Hansbrough cooled off last night with seven points and nine boards, but I'm not worried.

Grizzlies Spank Jazz

Devin Harris left last night's game with a hamstring injury and is hoping to practice on Friday, meaning he's likely out on Wednesday and Thursday. Earl Watson is going to get plenty of run in his absence, but I'd ignore him if you can. He just hasn't done much with any of his opportunities this season. Derrick Favors also left this game with a sprained ankle and didn't return, but wasn't worth using with Paul Millsap back. Favors is hoping to play Wednesday, not that it matters. Andrei Kirilenko also played limited minutes for the second straight game. No one is saying his back is holding him back, but he continues to be one of the most frustrating guys to own this season. Stay away next year and weigh your options carefully with him the rest of the way. Damion James was out with a foot injury so Stephen Graham started and didn't score.

For the Grizzlies, Darrell Arthur played through his sprained ankle and had 14 points and two rebounds, making him still worth a look in deeper leagues.

 

[HacheMan]

Kobe Bryant's Big Night Out
Kobe Knocks Out Suns In Triple-OT Thriller

Kobe Bryant just missed a triple-double and posted a monster line as the Lakers took down the Suns 139-137 in a triple-overtime thriller last night. If you watched just one game last night, I sincerely hope it was this one. Kobe finished with a season-high 42 points to go along with 12 boards, nine dimes, three 3-pointers a steal, and, of course, hit the game-sealing shot at the end. This was just the second home triple-overtime game in history for the Lakers.

Lamar Odom stepped up with a season-high 29 points, 16 boards and five assists as Andrew Bynum sat out for the second straight game due to his suspension. Hopefully Odom was in your lineup with Bynum out, but now that he's back, Odom returns to his role of fantasy spot starter.

Ron Artest blew kisses to the crowd and gave everyone two tickets to the gun show by kissing his biceps, but also played the best game I've seen him play all year. He had 18 points, hit 7-of-14 shots, including three 3-pointers, and added five boards, two assists, three steals and a block. He also had an emphatic dunk near the end of the game, which resulted in the "gun show." However, this does not mean I'm picking him up.

The Suns got a career-high 32 points, five 3-pointers and 14 rebounds out of Channing Frye, 24 points, 16 boards and two blocks out of Marcin Gortat (53 minutes), 19 points and 20 assists from Steve Nash, and 11 points and 10 boards from Grant Hill in the tough loss. Vince Carter clanked a wide-open three late to seal the game for the Lakers and hit just 7-of-23 shots on the night, including a Granger-esque 2-of-13 from beyond the arc. And had Grant Hill not fouled out, Carter would likely have been on the bench in crunch time.

Jared Dudley and Hakim Warrick combined for just four points, and while they will have their moments, they're just not reliable enough to use in fantasy leagues. Aaron Brooks returned from his suspension and had 15 points and three dimes in 15 minutes. Fifteen minutes in a triple-OT game? No thank you. Frye will likely take this loss the hardest, as he had the game of his life and hit three straight free throws to force overtime after being fouled on a 3-pointer by Lamar Odom. The Suns are also going to be tired, as they flew home late last night and will host the Raptors on Wednesday. But at least they're playing…the Raptors.

Captain Jack's Setback

Stephen Jackson, who was already extremely iffy for tonight, tweaked his hammy in shootaround and is now doubtful against the Pacers. Dante Cunningham might get the start in his place, but guys like Gerald Henderson, D.J. Augustin and Boris Diaw will most likely benefit most from his absence.

Love Wants To Play

The jury is still out on Kevin Love's groin injury, but the good news is he wants to play and finish out the season. The Wolves don't play until Thursday and it sounds like there is a chance Love will play in that game, although I still don't really understand why the Wolves would let him rush back. There's also a chance Love will miss a week, or the rest of the season, so we'll have to wait and see what tomorrow brings. For now, make sure he's on your bench until we get more information. Anthony Randolph and Anthony Tolliver will get some bonus run either way, and I still think Randolph is a nice pickup right now.

Horford's Injury Not Serious

Al Horford went down in Tuesday's disgraceful showing on national television as the Hawks were run out of their own building by the Bulls. Horford suffered a hamstring injury during the 114-81 debacle but there is good news today, as he is expected to play tonight against the Sixers. Keep him active.

Devin Harris Iffy

Devin Harris remains questionable for the Jazz on Wednesday with a hamstring injury, but there's a very good chance he'll sit, with Earl Watson starting in his place. Watson might be worth a two-game flier, but hasn't played well as a starter (or non-starter) this season. Derrick Favors might be out tonight with an ankle sprain, which just means more minutes for Paul Millsap.

Red Cross Baron

Baron Davis is officially listed as questionable tonight but Byron Scott wants him to go through a full practice before playing again. And since that didn't happen yesterday, it sounds like Baron is out again tonight. Either way, Ramon Sessions will start again for the Cavs.

Duncan's Season In Doubt

Tim Duncan will definitely miss the next three games and could miss the rest of the regular season. He's between a Grade 1 and 2 ankle sprain and should miss at least two weeks, and possibly four. If you can't wait for him, go ahead and drop him. But if you can hang on for another day or two, we should have a better idea of when he'll be back. But I do know that Gregg Popovich is not going to have any sense of urgency to bring him back too soon. Both DeJuan Blair and Tiago Splitter will see a big boost, and both are probably worth picking up.

Sundiata Gaines to start?

Sundiata Gaines might start alongside Jordan Farmar tonight for the Nets. That means Anthony Morrow would come off the bench as Avery Johnson continues to prove time and time again that he hates fantasy owners. Gaines has actually looked great while on the court for the Nets and it will be interesting to see if; A. Avery is serious, and B. If Gaines can play with as much confidence in the starting five. If he really does start tonight I wouldn't be afraid to roll the dice on him if you need a guard to plug into your lineup.

Keep reading for more news and notes and game recaps.
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Matrix Is Back & And The Rest

Shawn Marion made it through Tuesday's practice and is expected back on Wednesday night from his wrist injury. It remains to be seen whether he starts over Peja Stojakovic, and it's clear that Marion looked like a better fantasy option when Peja was in street clothes.

Deron Williams is at home with his family and plans on meeting the Nets in Orlando on Friday. So it sounds like he's really going to try to play in that one, hurting the potential value of Farmar (and Gaines). But I'd hang onto Farmar until Williams makes it through a couple games.

Raymond Felton is hoping to play on Wednesday night after missing a game with a sprained ankle. This is bad news for Ty Lawson, but he'll still start over Felton and remains a solid fantasy option.

Andre Iguodala (knee) and Elton Brand (hand) are good to go tonight.

Ronny Turiaf will start at center for the Knicks again on Wednesday against Dwight Howard.

Chase Budinger's ankle isn't as bad as we originally believed and he could play on Sunday. This is bad news if you picked up Courtney Lee, but you should at least be able to get one big game out of him tonight vs. Heat. Kevin Martin missed practice with a sinus problem but is expected to play tonight.

Amir Johnson is a game-time decision for Wednesday with another ankle sprain, but I no longer trust him. Dropping him for a free agent seems to make sense right now.

Al Jefferson has a dislocated right pinkie finger but will play through it. Perhaps no player is hotter than Jefferson right now, which is likely the key for many fantasy championship marches.

Byron Scott has decided to bench Samardo Samuels in favor of Ryan Hollins for the Cavs against the Nets tonight. While this makes little sense from a reality standpoint, it's really a shame for fantasy owners. Maybe Hollins will play the best ball of his life and become relevant for the first time ever, but the odds aren't in his favor. We don't know if the change is permanent or not and early rumors were that shooting guard Anthony Parker was going to be yanked from the starting five, along with Alonzo Gee, but for tonight, Hollins will get the start to face Brook Lopez. Bench Samuels if you can and hope he's back in there for the next game. Perhaps the best news here is for J.J. Hickson, who will finally return to his natural position for power forward.

Josh McRoberts missed practice with a sore back and while that doesn't sound too exciting in fantasyland, it should mean good things for Tyler Hansbrough.

Blazers Spank Wizards

Gerald Wallace is hot for the Blazers, going for 28 points on 10-of-14 shooting last night along with eight boards, four steals and a block. Nicolas Batum had a nice 22 & 12 double-double, Wesley Matthews bounced back from a scoreless night for 15 points and a couple threes, while LaMarcus Aldridge was his usual solid self. The Brandon Roy nightmare continued as he scored just one point and missed all six of his shots. He was given a nice rest last night, but it doesn't matter. He is damaged goods, which is a tragedy. Marcus Camby was out with a sprained ankle.

Jordan Crawford had 12 points, four rebounds, four assists, a steal and a three last night, but hit just 3-of-15 shots to make it happen. Trevor Booker failed to live up to the hype in another start with just nine points, three boards and a block, while Yi Jianlian was quietly mediocre in another start for Andray Blatche. This game was over before it started and the Wizards are just mailing it in. However, I still think Booker and Crawford are solid starts the rest of the way. As for Blatche, he's hoping to play on Friday in Denver, but that's far from guaranteed as he's not even with the team. Nick Young is traveling, but remains questionable for tonight.

Bulls Rout Hawks

The Bulls put a major beat down on the Hawks last night and somewhere Mike Woodson is giggling. Derrick Rose had 30 points, six threes and 10 assists on 11-of-20 shooting for another (ho-hum) day at the MVP office. Carlos Boozer played just 23 minutes for six points and three boards, but with the Hawks down by about 40 all night long, the Bulls chose to rest his gimpy ankle.

Outside of Horford's injury, there's really not much worth mentioning about the Hawks. Kirk Hinrich, despite taking over for Jeff Teague and playing against his former team, missed all three of his shots and failed to score. Thanks, Kirk. Teague came off the bench and played just 19 minutes, but hit 6-of-9 shots and four 3-pointers for 20 points and two blocks. Maybe he can only play well when the game is already decided, but I think Larry Drew gave up on him too early. Oh, and Jamal Crawford was terrible again, and as Micheal Ray Richardson once said, the Hawks ship be sinking.

 

[HacheMan]

Dose: Dwight Howard for MVP?
The NBA's MVP award has seen plenty of controversy over the past 10 years or so. After all, Steve Nash has two MVP awards while Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal each hold one, and while we all love Nash, nobody in their right mind would claim that Nash belongs in the same conversation as either of the former Laker teammates by any stretch of the imagination. After all, Bryant will likely be the only player for the next 20 years to sniff the fabled Michael Jordan comparison, while outside of Tim Duncan's underappreciated greatness -- Shaq is the closest thing we've seen to a player of Wilt Chamberlain's stature until a certain goofy center landed in Orlando.

And as the current landscape of the NBA gives residence to the dying supernovas of Bryant, Duncan, Shaq, and a who's who of one-time NBA champions, only two players have the pure physical talent to be transformational like Bryant, Duncan, and Shaq were – and like Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, and the heroes of the 80s were before them.

Those two players are Dwight Howard and LeBron James. If they want to go right, they can go right. If they want to go over you, they can go over you. And if they choose correctly at most forks in the road, they'll get their way.

Ironically enough, both are taking the same type of lumps. They can't lead, they can't win the big game, and they don't have the mental toughness to hold the metaphoric jock straps of those that built the game before them. Both are deservedly in the MVP chase, and both are losing ground to the Golden Boys of the NBA, Derrick Rose and Kevin Durant.

So why are they losing ground? Isn't the most valuable player the player that has the most value? Or is it something else?

If you had to hold a draft today for a winner take-all playoff, who would you select?

Many of you would select Kobe Bryant for the fact that he hasn't handed the crown off just yet. Some of you would select LeBron for his game-changing athleticism, that is, unless you opted for Dwyane Wade because he's the better player right now. Many of you would select Kevin Durant simply because you think he's better than all of them at this stage of his career. And there would even be some of you that take Tim Duncan, because at the most important position on the floor, center, his wily ways still command tremendous value on the basketball court. Besides, who's arguing with four championships?

And let's say that your livelihood was on the line. How many of you would care about Le Decision, or that Wade and James cancel each other out, or that Rose's humility and conference leading record make him the safe choice, or that Howard should be dominating with his God-given gifts, that Durant says all the right things, that a player's numbers are either up or down, or that they have teammates who are better or worse than the next guy?

You would take the guy that can win you four games in four straight series. Period.

Now James has shown his warts on a nationally televised loop that, in my mind, keep him from being the most valuable. If you consistently come up short when it matters most, then you're not the ambassador of Kwan. And with Miami stumbling through their early days as a living, breathing basketball organism, I could not in good faith give an award to Wade, who I believe has played better than James this season. Kobe has played very well this season, and there's no reason why he shouldn't be in the discussion, along with Durant and Rose.

And then there's Howard.

Howard, like James, is basketball checkmate. Like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar before him, Howard has the ability to beat you every time. Should he learn to make the baby hooks and convert on the drop steps, you cannot stop him. Should he learn how to make foul shots, you can't hack away at him. On both ends of the floor, he has been a force, and to me – just by being who he is, he cannot be excluded from the final round of the MVP decision-making process. It is impossible to ignore that for every game, he is going to get 14 possession-saving rebounds, score 23 points to impact the final tally, block 2.4 shots and alter many more while taking away a team's best post player, and space the floor so the team can make nearly 10 threes per game.

And while it's neither polished nor perfect, it is what it is, and just like Bill Clinton waxes poetic on what the definition of the word 'is' is – MVP voters parse with the same voracity.

But nobody questions the impact Howard has on the game. Howard is the reason guys like Hasheem Thabeet get drafted No. 2 overall, as a dominant figure in the post is The Fifth Element.

Derrick Rose can control the game on offense, but the jury is still out on his defense. Kobe Bryant is the most lethal closer of a generation, and Kevin Durant can score in so many different ways that Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson stopped crashing weddings to take notes in Oklahoma City – but where does their influence stop on the other side of the court? Even with Howard's warts fully on display – the bad free throw shooting, the whining, the lax attitude of a silver medalist, and the lack of a go-to move – he still impacts the NBA more than any other player in the league.

And while I'm not holding my breath in wait for the NBA to grant me an MVP vote, if I had the choice, I'd be sure to throw away any 'Most Valuable Persona' or 'Must Validate the Press' accoutrements. I wouldn't be voting with a need to pick a guy from a winning team, or a need to pick a guy whose surrounding cast would flounder in his absence. I wouldn't pick a guy because he's not a jerk, or because he doesn't do stupid things, or because I don't have an axe to grind with him. If I was voting while Michael Jordan played, I'd have voted for Michael Jordan for 10 straight years.

And if Dwight Howard played like he did last night, every night, scoring 33 points on 11-of-15 shooting with 11 rebounds, one steal, and three blocks while hitting 11-of-13 freebies – I'd vote for him every year, too.

Because I'd draft him No. 1 overall to start the playoffs.

Pop's Prerogative

When Tim Duncan (ankle) went down on Monday night, the immediate question was whether or not DeJuan Blair could pick up where he left off weeks ago, and the mystery wasn't immediately cleared up last night. I've found that dealing with this question is easier working backwards, assessing the pieces surrounding Blair to find the conclusion, rather than asking whether or not Blair is going to start or not. The fact is that Pop has planned to use Antonio McDyess as a starter in the playoffs, and unless he's going to change that – he has to determine if bringing Blair into the starting lineup is going to affect continuity within the second unit.

Regardless of the answer to that question, Tiago Splitter is not answering any questions for Pop when he's getting winded after 17 minutes of mostly unproductive action. Splitter scored four points with seven boards last night, and while Blair wasn't much better with eight points, six boards, and two blocks, he clearly looked better than Splitter. The player that looked the best was Antonio McDyess, who may end up being the beneficiary of Duncan's injury, as he scored 13 points with 12 boards and a block. In my mind, the question of Blair vs. Dice is too close to call definitively, but I'll be rostering Blair for the chance he shows his big double-double numbers once more, and ready to move to Dice if this trend keeps up. Overall, I don't think Pop can afford to play Splitter big minutes, he doesn't want Dice playing much more than he is, and Matt Bonner is both slumping and hard to get behind too much. The result is that Blair should still be owned in most standard leagues, though he isn't a must-own player.

Carmelo Nuggets

The Nuggets are 11-4 since the Melo trade with 11 games coming against teams that are over .500, and they dispatched the Spurs for the first time this season, albeit without Duncan around. Al Harrington had his second straight appearance in the fantasy realm, scoring 27 points with five treys on 8-of-12 shooting in 28 minutes, and to me this wreaks of George Karl getting him involved to keep him ready for the playoffs. Harrington is making good on the minutes, but he needs to do this at least one more time before he should be considered in fantasy leagues. Meanwhile, Al's hot hand somewhat limited J.R. Smith, who was also hot with 6-of-9 makes (including two threes) for 18 points in just 20 minutes. With Arron Afflalo (hamstring) expecting to come back on Wednesday, this run by Harrington complicates the already small window Swish had to make his impression – but I still like him to be productive as long as Afflalo is out.

The other, more interesting piece that came out of last night's game was the return of Raymond Felton, who scored 18 points with eight assists, but also re-injured his ankle twice in the third and fourth quarters. He stayed in the game, and should be owned going forward unless bad news emerges, but Ty Lawson's owners may end up with some more unbridled run if that ankle keeps acting up.

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We're off to see the Wizards

Blake Griffin busted out of his slump in a huge way last night against the Wizards, triple-doubling for the first time in his career with 33 points on 14-of-19 shooting with 17 rebounds, 10 assists, a steal, and a block in a career-high 53.5 minutes as the Clips dispatched the Wiz in double-overtime. If you had anybody playing in this game outside of Trevor Booker, you're probably doing well this week. Eric Gordon scored 32 points with a full stat line and a game-tying three with 1.9 seconds left in regulation, Chris Kaman played sans-DeAndre Jordan and scored 28 points, 12 rebounds, one steal, and four blocks, John Wall scored a career-high 32 points with five boards, 10 assists, a steal, and a block, Jordan Crawford went off for 25 points, seven boards, a career-high 10 assists, four steals, and two threes, and even Yi Jianlian got into the act with a season-high 18 points on 9-of-14 shooting and seven boards.

From the Clippers fantasy standpoint, the only real question for owners is when Jordan will be healthy enough to play, as the pneumonia has kept him from eating and it may take a bit for him to get back on the court. And when he gets back, it's possible that Kaman's solid play will be rewarded with the starting job and/or more minutes. Whatever the case may be, Kaman is the player to own and if you're scrapping in the playoffs you need to take a long, hard look to determine if you can hold Jordan, even if patience is the preferred approach.

In Washington, however, everything revolves around the futures of Nick Young and Andray Blatche. Young warmed up last night but didn't play, which would be a good sign if there weren't so many overtures that both he and Blatche would be getting shut down. As of the time of this writing, no report from a reputable source has come across the wire, but I did see a gambling site that is right more often than it is wrong say that Young would be probable for Friday and that Blatche was expected to miss three games. This is not hard information, and since they refuse to source their information (but say their 'sources' are good), I'm not going to say who they are, but I wouldn't be surprised to see a similar report emerge later in the day. Whatever the case is, I'm holding Jordan Crawford until he gives me a reason not to, as I'm not convinced that Young will render him useless. As for Booker, who faced another physical match in Blake Griffin and scored just eight points with four rebounds, I'm holding him in most cases until we know Blatche is back but if a hot free agent comes along I'll probably make the move.

Aaron's Brook

I've written a few times about Aaron Brooks lately and the chance that Steve Nash would be shutdown early if/when the Suns fall out of playoff contention, and Brooks proceeded to play like a head-case and throw a basketball at a ref. Fortunately for Brooks, he turned it around with a good game in Tuesday's triple-overtime game in L.A., and then unsurprisingly picked up the slack for Nash, whose advanced age prohibits him from back-to-backs like that. He scored a season-high 25 points on 9-of-16 shooting (including four treys) with four rebounds, eight assists, and three steals in 34 minutes. Nash also played 22 minutes with 16 points and eight assists, and also spent time on the court with Brooks, too, and did not appear to aggravate any injury or increase his chances of being shutdown in any way. The only thing increasing his chances of being shutdown is the Suns' inability to make up ground in the standings, as they are still three games out of eighth place despite their win, as Memphis also won and holds the tiebreaker over Phoenix. Stashing Brooks isn't going to pay immediate dividends, but in championship week you could be holding a goldmine, so I can think of worse things to do with that last roster spot.

All aboard the Chuckwagon

It has been a banner season for the Chuckster, whose defense and passing have made him a must-start player in fantasy leagues, when the thought of paying attention to him two months ago drew laughs in some quarters. Not here, as we've been big fans of Hayes for a while now, and he went to town on the Warriors last night with his first career-triple double, scoring 13 points with 14 rebounds, 11 assists, and two steals. He won't have another game like this all year, and it comes against the Warriors, but it is the culmination of a season that has defied expectations. Don't sleep on him going forward.

The other news coming out of last night's blowout win was Luis Scola's 20 points with 10 boards and a rare block in 32 minutes. His knee still isn't 100 percent, and he is certainly a shutdown risk if the Rockets fall further behind than the two games they are trailing the Grizzlies for the last playoff spot, but owners have to be thrilled with last night's outing. They also may want to thrill themselves over to Patrick Patterson's corner, as the athletic PF would likely benefit from any Scola downtime, and has been relatively productive with three double-doubles in a row entering last night. He slowed down a bit with just eight points, nine boards, and two blocks, but looks like a good piece of insurance, and may have some standalone value, too.

Courtney Lee also posted 25 points with five threes and two steals in a start for injured Chase Budinger, who looks like he'll be back soon. If you own Lee, or are desperate enough to pick him up for the potential of another spot-start, you should hold him until Budinger proves he can return.

On the Golden State side, Dorell Wright busted out of his slump with a career-high 34 points with five rebounds, six assists, three steals, and one block, reminding everybody that he's not to be messed with. Keep him in your lineup going forward. Monta Ellis continued to look run down with 15 points, five boards, and five assists, while Stephen Curry returned to reasonable playing time levels with 16 points, six boards, six assists, two threes, and a steal in 30 minutes. You can't bench either of them, so cross your fingers and hope that both Keith Smart and nature bring favor to you.

Kings for a Day

The Kings turned back the Bucks in Milwaukee last night, and while we're not calling the Bucks out of the playoff race when the Pacers are the yardstick, it's a severe blow to lose this game and they fall behind by three games with the loss. Andrew Bogut's owners can only hope that the Bucks continue to win, as he is a risk to get injured whether they're in the playoff chase or not, but falling out of contention will be particularly bad for him. As for the Kings, Marcus Thornton scored 27 points with a full stat line, and Beno Udrih scored 25 points with a full stat line as well. The Rub? Tyreke Evans is expected to play on Friday night, and his minutes will be dictated by how he feels. 15 minutes sounds like a reasonable expectation, and overall we're not panicking. It sounds like all three players will get significant minutes, assuming Evans can stay healthy, and all three will hold enough value to be owned going forward. At least that's the hope.

Carlito's Way

The big story out of Milwaukee, however, is the tear that Carlos Delfino is on, as he set another career-high with 30 points and five threes, and is averaging 28.7 points per game over his last three contests. I'm not going to sit here and tell you that Scott Skiles is going to continue playing his starters heavy minutes, and there are four guys with varying potential that could theoretically return and clog up the arteries again (Corey Maggette, Drew Gooden, Ersan Ilyasova, Michael Redd), but after Delfino played all but one minute last night I'm hesitant to go against him. And after a season of (correctly) pointing out the crowded rotation, and the last month which has seen rocky mountain highs and rock-bottom lows, I'm cautiously optimistic he can provide at least low-end value going forward. And if he can carry your fantasy team like he's doing right now, then all the better.

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Today in Kuester

In today's Today in Kuester, I highlight the shouting match that Charlie Villanueva had with Q after being pulled in the fourth quarter. While it's yet another indictment of the situation in Detroit, I'm going to side with Q on this one. Charlie V was missing his defensive assignments, and all of the Detroit writers pointed to the fact that Kuester needed to pull his second unit faster than he did to start the fourth, which ended up costing him the game against the Heat. Fantasywise, Rodney Stuckey had just nine points and six assists, and will continue to be inconsistent off the bench, but there were no real aha moments to be had. Continue to deploy your Pistons with caution, and stay tuned for the next Today in Kuester.

Pacesetters

The Pacers turned away the Bobcats in Charlotte, and for all intents and purposes eliminated them from the playoff hunt. Stephen Jackson's hamstring is hanging by a thread, and while he sounds like a guy that's going to try to gut it out, the writing is on the wall. Gerald Henderson was charged with guarding Danny Granger as a result, which may have limited his offensive game to the 12 points he had, but he is worth an add to see if he can regain the numbers that had him producing as high as a second round value in 8-cat leagues for a stretch. He isn't going to be that good, but low-end value is certainly within his reach.

As for the Pacers, Granger went to town with 33 points on 11-of-19 shooting, and proved once again that when he plays efficiently, the Pacers win. Darren Collison left briefly with a bruised knee and returned, posting just seven points with four assists, and the hope here is that the knee injury isn't serious and that the Granger explosion is what held him down. Collison has been playing very well lately so he should get the benefit of the doubt barring bad news. The other piece of interesting news was that Frank Vogel said that he would be splitting time between starters Paul George and Tyler Hansbrough and bench players Brandon Rush and Josh McRoberts, going with a "hot-hand" approach. The good news is that Psycho T has had the hot hand recently, and did so last night with 24 points and five boards, but it adds an element of risk that owners are likely going to learn about the hard way if things go south.

Bemusement: The Boris Diaw Story

Boris Diaw isn't going to lose his job over it, but after not shooting a single shot last night he did everything he could to do so. The look on Paul Silas' face after the game when discussing Diaw was reportedly a mix of shock, bemusement, and exasperation, as Diaw continues to be the headcase with the versatile game owners crave. Backup Tyrus Thomas went down with a rib injury, and along with his knee injury, is a shutdown risk to go with being an unproductive risk. So if you own Diaw, or find him on the waiver wire, consider him to be a flier only for the chance his mood swings from disinterested to motivated by this latest embarrassment.

Doin' the Humph

It's low-hanging fruit to point out the impact that a fine woman can have on a man, but damn, the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree, here. Kris Humphries grabbed a career-high 23 rebounds to go with 18 points, two steals, and two boards in last night's overtime win against the Cavs. He started by flashing his talent in Dallas last season, and is now a must-start player until further notice. Jordan Farmar had 10 points and 10 assists and was the last PG standing in Jersey, with Sundiata Gaines lasting six minutes due to a hip injury, PG Ben Uzoh stuck at an airport after being called up from the D-League, and Deron Williams' shutdown tour set to land in Orlando for Friday's game. The plan is simple here. Hold and start Farmar while Williams is out, and unless you absolutely have to drop him, hang onto Williams until we get an up-or-down decision, either way.

The Cavs started Ryan Hollins to combat 7-footer Brook Lopez, knocking Samardo Samuels from his unexciting perch, as Samuels scored eight points with eight rebounds and a block in 22 minutes off the bench. Barring something unforeseen, however, it's likely that Samardo returns to his normal workload with serviceable, but uninspiring results, when the Cavs aren't playing somebody with Lopez's size. Elsewhere, the story is still the same in Cleveland. Baron Davis is expected to return Friday, and both he and Ramon Sessions should be held until the situation sorts itself out. J.J. Hickson went for 17 and 17, and Daniel Gibson got 33 minutes but scored just eight points with them, and without a scoring explosion from him I won't be paying attention much longer. One other note, Semih Erden could play Friday, which could knock the value out of Samuels, but if you're relying on Samuels you'll want to make sure Erden can survive on the court, first.

Caw, said the Hawk

The Hawks lost yet another game and put themselves into a dogfight for the No. 5 seed with Philly, who beat them 105-100. Jeff Teague followed his 20-point game up with a DNP-CD, while Kirk Hinrich scored 16 points with eight assists, before remembering that he's not allowed to shoot and clamming up for the entire fourth quarter. Al Horford posted mediocre numbers with eight points and nine assists, but lasted 37 minutes on his bad hammy. Josh Smith got hot with 33 points and 12 rebounds, while Joe Johnson had another mediocre outing with just 13 points. At least he got upset after the game, which could be the first step toward normalcy in Atlanta. Until they get things figured out, they'll be tough to gauge on a night to night basis, with fringe guys like Hinrich being hard to activate for fear of a donut.

Heads I win, tails you lose

Andre Iguodala (knee) was erroneously reported to be out of last night's game by their PR staff, but owners should be ready for more shenanigans, as he said that it would be a "coin flip" going forward as to whether or not he plays on a given night. Now all of the other quotes have not sounded that dire, but he'll be a risk going forward with no clear beneficiary if he does go out, aside from the corresponding bump Jrue Holiday and Elton Brand will get. As for Friday's game, Iguodala said, "we'll see." Owners have to just cross their fingers and hope that the Sixers stay close to the other teams they're jockeying with for playoff positioning. Jodie Meeks hit another five threes last night, and is now 36-of-76 (47.3%) from deep over his last 12 games.

Thursday Night Lights

The Wolves head to Dallas without Kevin Love, and Anthony Randolph will be the talk of the town, as he is custom-built to defend a guy like Dirk Nowitzki. That doesn't mean he won't fall all over himself and put up a ridiculous line in the process, or get pulled after 15 minutes of action after Kurt Rambis sees something he doesn't like. The fact is that he gets a two-game audition to make his case to both Rambis and owners. Call me a sucker, but I'm finding space to see if the lottery ticket gets cashed, but I'm not doing it at the expense of a consistent performer. Shawn Marion (wrist) is also expected back for the Mavs.

The only other game is the Hornets and Jazz, and while the Hornets are relatively healthy, we're still waiting to find out the status of Andrei Kirilenko (knee, back), Devin Harris (hamstring), and Derrick Favors (ankle). Unfortunately, anybody not named Al Jefferson (dislocated pinkie) and Paul Millsap (knee, body) is struggling, though I'm still firmly behind C.J. Miles despite his recent struggles. Unless I'm trying to protect my FG%, I'm still starting him in most circumstances, simply because somebody has to shoot the ball in Utah, and it's going to be him.

 

[HacheMan]

Stew: Delfino Manifesto
Yes, we're beginning to enter that time of year when late-season injuries and rotation changes begin to cause odd occurrences in box scores. Take, for example, Sundiata Gaines dropping a career-high 18 points on Monday night. Or the fact that Jordan Crawford – who couldn't get anything resembling consistent run with the Hawks earlier this year – is now posting big lines on a nightly basis for the dreadful Wizards (more on Crawford in a minute).

Another phenomenon we see at this time of year is the random statistical explosion from an already established player, who for whatever reason has waited until now to validate the draft pick many of us (myself included) used way back in October. Which brings us to the headline player in this column…

TRENDSPOTTING

Three on the Rise:

Carlos Delfino: Even though he's already long gone off the waiver wire in most leagues, this recent scoring binge needs to be discussed in more detail. Especially considering that Delfino completely disappeared for two and a half months earlier this season while dealing with the aftereffects of a concussion, and is now single-handedly helping boosting fantasy owners through the playoffs with an obscene (and out of nowhere) 28.7 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.3 spg and 6.3 threes in his last three games. Obviously there's no way he keeps this up, but Delfino was very good down the stretch last season and is reprising that productivity once more.

Gerald Henderson: First, the bad: He's been a bit maddening with inconsistency and doesn't hit enough threes (just 3-for-21 on the season). However, with a Stephen Jackson hamstring shutdown reportedly looming, Henderson could be on the verge of a consistent spike in scoring. Henderson's output in the four games that Jackson has already missed this month: 18.8 ppg.

Sasha Vujacic: He's not Avery Johnson's preferred choice at small forward, but with Damion James (foot) sidelined on Wednesday, Vujacic dropped 18 points with four threes and two steals, and could have some short-term value in threes, steals and points for as long as James remains out.

Follow me on Twitter: @MattStroup

Three on the Plummet:

Kendrick Perkins: Though he's starting at center for the Thunder, the results through his first five games in Oklahoma City fall very far short of inspiring: 4.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg and 0.8 bpg in an average of 24 minutes. Perkins will have his moments as far as rebounds and blocks are concerned, but his lack of involvement in the offense is a significant concern right now.

Ryan Anderson: After playing an average of 28 minutes per game between Feb. 27 and March 16, Anderson has averaged just 17 minutes (and 8.0 points) in his last three games. I would expect him to reemerge as a consistent factor in Stan Van Gundy's rotation, but his numbers this month (9.8 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 0.8 bpg, 1.9 threes) leave him slightly short of must-own territory.

Landry Fields: I know better than to fully write Fields off given his tendency to mix good games with bad, but there's no ignoring the fact that his last seven outings have been pretty uninspired: 8.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.0 apg, 0.4 spg and 1.4 threes on 38.2 percent from the field, including single-digit scoring in four of his last five. Like Anderson, he has the potential to heat back up quickly, but I won't argue with sending Fields to waivers if you've had enough.

FIVE QUICK-HITTING STATEMENTS OF FACT AND/OR OPINION

1) Jordan Crawford's last eight games: 20.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 4.3 apg, 1.8 spg and 0.9 threes (on 40.3 percent shooting). I know they're hollow stats on a bad team, but as a Hawks fan I'm wishing Crawford got more of a look before being dealt away.

2) Warriors starting center Ekpe Udoh has averaged 12.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg and 2.0 bpg in his last two games, and though his offensive repertoire is still very much under construction, the potential for blocks makes him worth a look in many leagues.

3) Even though we shouldn't expect consistency, it's worth noting that Al Harrington (27 points on Wednesday) has posted 21.0 ppg, 1.5 spg and 3.5 threes in his last two games.

4) The fun appears to be over for Francisco Garcia, who has averaged just 6.8 ppg in his last four games and now has to deal with the impending return of Tyreke Evans.

Editor's note: For exclusive articles, chats, projections and more, check out the Rotoworld NBA Season Pass.

5) Deeper league alert: Gordon Hayward shot just 1-for-10 on Wednesday, but still posted a 7-4-3 line with two steals and a three and could produce some intriguing numbers if Andrei Kirilenko (knee) misses significant time.

 

[HacheMan]

Head David West Young Man? No
Thursday night was quiet in the NBA unless you own, or were playing against, Anthony Randolph, who went off for a career night against the Mavericks. Dallas beat the Wolves, but Randolph lived up to our hype, while the Hornets stopped the Jazz in overtime. Let's get to it.

Randolph Love?

As expected, Anthony Randolph started in place of Kevin Love (groin) on Thursday. As not expected (by most), Randolph went nuts for a career-high 31 points on 14-of-20 shooting, with 11 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a block in a loss to Dallas. We have been hyping Ant-Rand recently and he came through in a big way tonight. Yes, Kevin Love could come back on Sunday against the Celtics, but it still doesn't make sense to me. Shut him down, jack up Randolph's trade value and move on…Right? If Love plays on Sunday, Randolph's one-hit wonder will look just like that, but I see no reason why he isn't worth holding onto until further notice. Yes, Love may return, but there is no reason for the Wolves to bury Randolph on the bench the rest of the way. I feel strongly about Love not finishing out the season with his injuries (knee, groin), and think Randolph could have a huge couple weeks for his new owners. But if you drafted Ant-Rand and are now getting your butt kicked by him, I feel you pain.

Darko Milicic, Luke Ridnour and Wes Johnson were all terrible last night, while Michael Beasley played through a hip injury, finishing with 12 points to go with six boards and two assists. As for Darko? If he couldn't get it done last night, he's a guy you can cut if you want to pick up a hot free agent. That said, I still think he's a decent guy to hold onto, if you're thin at center.

David West's Knee

David West was taken off the court in a wheelchair on Thursday after suffering what looks like a potentially season-ending left knee injury. Early reports are that he suffered "left knee trauma" and his season is in doubt. However, X-rays were negative and he's scheduled for an MRI on Friday. Either way, it sounds like he could miss some games, if not the rest of the regular season, with the injury. There's not an automatic add in fantasy, as the Hornets just aren't a very deep team. But dropping West, who left in a wheelchair, for Anthony Randolph could be a pretty smooth move from owners. Aaron Gray and Carl Landry are worth a close eye if West is going to miss a lot of time, but neither appears to be a must-own player as of now.

Matrix

After missing a game due to a wrist injury, Shawn Marion not only returned on Thursday but started and scored 17 points, grabbed six rebounds, and added two assists, two steals, and two blocks, while Peja Stojakovic came off the bench for four 3-pointers, 16 points and four rebounds. If Marion is going to continue to start over Peja, he regains all his fantasy value. This is a tricky situation, but as of now, I think Marion is worth starting again in most fantasy leagues. Just hope that Peja doesn't steal Marion's job again. And if you're in a real deep league, Peja is worth using as long as he's healthy. But hurry, because the clock is ticking.

Stephen Jackson Shutdown Update

Stephen Jackson and Tyrus Thomas are both suffering from injuries and are possible shutdown candidates going forward. Jackson's MRI says his hamstring is not torn, and he has no interest in being shut down unless the Bobcats demand it. But I'm thinking he's played his last game of the season. Yes, he could play on Friday against the Celtics, but I still think he'll aggravate the injury and eventually be shut down for the season. If you acted quickly on our Friday-night take and cut him, don't be overly concerned. The bottom line is Jackson (as well as Thomas), aren't likely to be healthy again this season.

Thomas wasn't doing anything when healthy, so cut him loose and add a player that can help your team tomorrow.

Red Cross Baron

Baron Davis is expected to return on Friday and should start at point guard for the Cavs, sending Ramon Sessions to the bench. Don't cut Sessions, as it won't take much for Davis to check out again, if he even starts/plays on Friday. If Davis starts and is awesome, Sessions can be dropped, but in the world of B-Diddy, there's a long way to go until the end of the season.

Blatche Witch Project

Andray Blatche said via Twitter that he is hoping to return from his shoulder injury for Wednesday's game against the Miami Heat. Well, that's all well and good, but this is becoming ridiculous and Blatche could easily be shut down for the year, despite his wishes of returning. Yi Jianlian is the guy to think about grabbing here, among players from other teams.

News & Notes

Tyreke Evans (foot) will come off the bench in his return to action Friday. I expect him to see very limited minutes initially, and owners of Marcus Thornton and Beno Udrih should hang on until further notice. And while it doesn't sound likely, it's possible that Francisco Garcia will take the hit in Evans' return.

Deron Williams is expected to play on Friday despite a wrist injury, but I think it's likely he will suffer a setback between now and the end of the season. If you own Jordan Farmar, hold onto him for now.

Marcus Camby is expected to return from an ankle injury on Friday, but is playing poorly enough off Portland's bench that he is not a must-start fantasy option.

The Raptors' Reggie Evans missed Thursday's practice due to soreness in his foot, which might help explain his minutes and low rebounding totals over his last two games. If he's out, both Amir Johnson and Ed Davis become relevant again.

The X-rays on Charlotte's Tyrus Thomas' ribs came back negative and he is listed as day-to-day. He was in a ton of pain while on the floor on Wednesday and while he could easily be back in action this weekend, he's not trustworthy in fantasy. If you can cut him for Anthony Randolph, do it.

Devin Harris (hamstring) will not play in Thursday's game against the Mavs, which puts him on track for Friday's practice, which we've been reporting all along.

Andrei Kirilenko (knee) was not with the Jazz in New Orleans on Thursday and, in my mind, is a serious shutdown candidate for the rest of the season. The Jazz are not going to make the playoffs and Kirilenko's knee injury (bruised nerve) doesn't sound pretty. Cut him for someone who you can rely on and who will help your team right now. Owners of Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap have to hope they keep playing with the Jazz's playoff hopes all but killed.

Roddy Beaubois started again for Dallas on Thursday, but disappeared early and was benched, finishing with three points and one assist. I have no idea what Rick Carlisle is doing with Roddy B, but there's no reason to continue to put up with this stuff if you're a fantasy owner. Yes, his upside is immense and yes, he could finish on a high note, but if you're holding Roddy B and Jordan Crawford is available in your league, make the move.

 

[HacheMan]

And Down Goes Manu Ginobili
The injury news is piling up quickly as the end of the season nears, and the names are getting bigger.

As expected, Joe Johnson missed Sunday's Hawks scrimmage with the Cavaliers due to a sprained right thumb and while Johnson is listed as day-to-day, there are no guarantees that he'll be ready for Wednesday. In weekly leagues, it may be best to bench him, as I doubt we get any word on his status before Tuesday afternoon, and possibly not until just before game time on Wednesday. Marvin Williams went off for 31 points in his absence yesterday, while Jamal Crawford had just seven points on 2-of-8 shooting. Like I said in Waiver Wired, I still think Crawford will be the main beneficiary from Joe missing time, but I could be wrong after Marvin's Sunday night explosion.

Rajon Rondo was a surprise scratch for the Celtics on Sunday due to his pinkie finger injury. Delonte West started in his place and had eight points and five assists in the win, while Rondo's injury isn't thought to be serious. Whether Rondo will play Monday night against the Pacers is anyone's guess, but we should have an answer before most lineup deadlines hit.

Shaquille O'Neal, Jermaine O'Neal and Troy Murphy, who are all eligible to play center for the Celtics, are all out with injuries right now. Shaq is targeting April 3 or 5 for a return from an achilles injury, O'Neal could join the Celtics in Indy on Monday, while Murphy might be done for the year with a sprained ankle, not that he was doing anything before the injury. Shaq and Jermaine might be able to give you a little fantasy help at some point between now and April 13 (final day of the regular season), but they still might be more trouble than they're worth.

Deron Williams (wrist) is expected to play on Wednesday and then a plan will be determined for the rest of his season. Maybe he plays in every game from here on out, or maybe his season ends after Wednesday's game. I'm benching him where I own him.

Manu Ginobili suffered a left quad bruise on Sunday, playing just 18 minutes. He said after the game that he couldn't put much weight on his leg and he sounds very unlikely for Monday against the Blazers. If I own him I'm benching him until we get a more positive update. George Hill and Gary Neal will both see a nice boost if Manu is going to miss time, and given the Spurs record and time of year, he could be shut down until the playoffs. Tim Duncan remains out with his sprained ankle, and while Gregg Popovich has said he doesn't expect Duncan to be out too much longer, we still don't know when he'll play again.

David West is out for the remainder of the season after suffering a torn ACL in his left knee. Carl Landry had 24 points, 10 boards and a block and looks like a great pickup for the rest of the season. Go get him.

Kevin Love missed Sunday's game with his groin injury but all indications are that he'll play on Wednesday. Anthony Randolph cooled off last night, playing just three first-half minutes after getting into foul trouble and then never being let back out of the cage by Kurt Rambis. Start both players at your own risk this week, but it does sound like it should be relatively safe to get Love back in there if you own him.

Kyle Lowry was in a walking boot after spraining his left ankle on Sunday but is still planning on playing Tuesday. Walking boots are nothing to sneeze at and he is questionable for that game, not probable. The good news is that he played on the bad ankle through much of the game and if it doesn't swell, he'll go on Tuesday. Unfortunately, we may not get an update until just before game time.

Andrea Bargnani, whose name is popping up in trade rumors lately, missed Saturday's game with a bone spur in his ankle. The Raps are off until Wednesday, so we're not likely to know when AB's playing again any time soon. Reggie Evans is on shutdown alert with his foot injury, while Jose Calderon is playing through a sore hamstring. Ed Davis still looks like a pretty solid fantasy prospect with Bargnani and Evans hurting.

Andrei Kirilenko (knee) and Devin Harris (hamstring) could both be done for the season, although no one in Utah has really said that. Kirilenko has been on crutches since suffering a nerve injury in his knee, while Harris has said he hopes to play some time before the season ends on April 13. Get both guys out of your lineup and take a look at C.J. Miles, Raja Bell and Ronnie Price for the Jazz.

Nicolas Batum suffered a right quad injury on Sunday, leaving him iffy for Monday against the Spurs. This is really a shame, as Batum has been on fire over the past week. The good news is he played through the injury last night, so it would not be surprising to see him go again tonight. Stay tuned for an update on Monday.

Brandon Roy is now doubtful after suffering a strained lower back on Sunday night, as he continues to live up to the 'headache hype.'

Nick Young has been ruled out for the Wizards on Monday and will have an MRI on his right knee. I've been predicting a shutdown for Young for a few weeks now and it looks like it's here. And this means Jordan Crawford should still see plenty of shots the rest of the way. Trevor Booker's season is clearly in doubt due to a foot injury, so cut him if you can. And that probably leaves Maurice Evans as your starting small forward in Washington. Andray Blatche has still not returned from his shoulder injury, although it sounds like he is tentatively planning to play on Wednesday against the Heat. While I don't understand the point of bringing him back again this season, it sounds like it's going to happen. But I'm not starting him in weeklies.

Wilson Chandler was a surprise DNP for the Nuggets on Friday night with a sprained ankle and remains day-to-day. It was a precautionary miss and the Nuggets have been off ever since and don't play until Wednesday, so it would be pretty surprising to see Chandler also miss that game. Arron Afflalo is also expected back for that one after missing time with a hamstring injury, and it will be interesting to see who starts for George Karl. But coming off the injuries and with just three games this week, both players are a bit risky.

Once again, Stephen Jackson is expected to play for Charlotte tonight, despite a hamstring injury that could shut him down at any time. The fact the Bobcats one a couple games they weren't supposed to, and climbed back into the playoff race, is motivating Jackson to keep playing. But as soon as the playoff dreams officially die, or Jackson aggravates the injury, the shutdown is coming.

Tyrus Thomas remains day-to-day for the Bobcats with his rib injury, but it sounds like he's going to try to play against the Bucks. I'm a little surprised by this, as he took a really hard fall and was in a ton of pain when it happened. Additionally, he wasn't playing all that well to begin with, so he should probably be on benches until further notice, unless he looks like a quality four-game option for your team.

Andre Iguodala, who played 44 minutes on Sunday, is listed as probable for Monday's game against the Bulls, so leave him in your lineup.

Jameer Nelson is listed as doubtful against the Knicks on Monday with a sore knee. It's very possible Gilbert Arenas could start in his place tonight, which would make him worth a quick pickup. Nelson's injury doesn't sound serious, but when he'll play again is unknown.

Sam Young left Sunday's game with a sprained ankle and didn't return. Shane Battier started in his place for the second half and this could be the break Battier's been waiting for since arriving in Memphis. He's still not a must-own player and it's possible that O.J. Mayo could even become more valuable than Battier. For now, just keep an eye on this situation. And in case you missed, it, Tony Allen blew up for one of the lines of the night with 23 points and five steals, and might be the right guy to play out of this group.

Tracy McGrady is expected back for the Pistons on Wednesday, while Chris Wilcox and Ben Wallace are iffy with knee injuries. Wilcox practiced Monday, along with T-Mac, who says his back is feeling better, but they're still pretty risky plays with John Kuester's random roster moves these days. In fact, playing any Piston is a calculated risk, but guys like Rip Hamilton have been paying off. In other Pistons news, Ben Gordon missed Monday's practice with a migraine. He should be fine by Wednesday, but I'm guessing this is just payback for all the headaches he's caused fantasy owners over the last two years.

Mike Dunleavy had his broken thumb examined on Monday and has been cleared to return this week. The Pacers will want him to go through a practice or two, but he could be worth owning in the short term, especially if he ends up replacing Paul George in the starting five for the Pacers.

Samardo Samuels left Cleveland's loss on Sunday with a sprained wrist and has already been ruled out for Tuesday against the Heat. His minutes were getting kind of dicey to begin with so it should be easy to find a better guy to start this week.

Ronny Turiaf was out on Saturday and remains day-to-day with his bad ankle, which is what he has been all season long for the Knicks.

Good luck in your playoffs!

 

[HacheMan]

Rock On, Rajon Rondo
Monday featured six games, a surprise start from Rajon Rondo, surprise DNPs from Tony Parker and Antonio McDyess, and losses for the Celtics, Jazz, Magic and Spurs. And yes, the Wizards got another road win, just their second of the year.

Rock On, Rondo

Rajon Rondo was a surprise play on Monday night, but despite his return and a nice stat line, the Pacers were still able to beat the Celtics. Monitor Rondo's status on Rotoworld daily, as his finger could cause him to sit out another game or two down the stretch. Glen Davis added 20 points and five boards, but has been very inconsistent. And when Shaquille and Jermaine O'Neal are finally back, he'll take a hit.

The Pacers got 26 points, four boards and a block on 12-of-17 shooting in the win, while Tyler Hansbrough struggled against Kevin Garnett, as usual. Darren Collison hit 8-of-9 shots for 17 points, three assists and two steals, and should remain in starting fantasy lineups as the Pacers try to clinch the No. 8 seed in the East. Paul George started again, but failed to score, while Brandon Rush scored eight off the bench to cool off. Mike Dunleavy is expected back from a broken thumb this week and could easily replace George in the starting five soon.

Jazz's Ship Be Sinking

Andrei Kirilenko is still on crutches and, in my opinion, has probably played his last game of the season, and maybe of his career with the Jazz. Devin Harris is in the same boat as AK, as his hamstring injury is still not allowing him to play. And with the free fall happening in Utah, Harris may not suit up again this year. Paul Millsap is now dealing with a hip injury, and while he's probably not in the same ballpark as those other two guys as far as shutdown candidates go, he's a player owners will have to keep a close eye on going forward. Additionally, Al Jefferson was benched for the fourth quarter last night and left without speaking to reporters. He also didn't participate in the team huddles late and is clearly frustrated. The Jazz's ship be sinking, so to speak, but unless you hear Millsap and Jefferson are out, you have to keep playing them.

Gordon Hayward played 37 minutes last night, while Derrick Favors double-doubled with 11 points, 10 boards and three blocks. These are the type of players who could provide a fantasy spark once the Jazz are officially eliminated from the postseason. It's almost time, as the magic number sits at 2. Lastly, Earl Watson finally showed up last night, finishing with 13 points, seven boards and nine assists. Maybe he still has some skills left, but this is the first time he's shown them off this season.

Wizards Get Road Win

The Wizards got 11 points, 17 boards and three blocks out of JaVale McGee, along with 25 points (9-of-25 shooting) from Jordan Crawford and 28 points, six boards and seven dimes out of John Wall as the Wizards stunned the Jazz for their second road win of the year. These three remain must-starts going forward, although you have to hope Crawford, who was 1-of-10 from downtown, doesn't wreck your field goal percentage along the way. As for Andray Blatche? Remember him? He's still tweeting that he plans to play on Wednesday, but I'll believe it when I see it.

Bobcats Win Again

The Bobcats refuse to go away quietly and got 18 points, five boards and two 3-pointers from gimpy Stephen Jackson, who continues to play through a nasty hamstring injury. The Cats are still just a game behind the Pacers after last night's win over the Bucks, so it looks like Jackson will continue to play, despite earlier reports that he was on the verge of being shut down. Tyrus Thomas was back from a rib injury and had seven points, six boards and a block in the win, but sat out the fourth quarter with his injury, leaving him day-to-day. while D.J. Augustin added 10 points and eight assists, despite suffering a bruised knee and sprained left ankle during the game. Shaun Livingston is also banged up with a sore back, meaning Garrett Temple could be forced into action if the other two are going to miss time. Gerald Henderson hit the game-winner and had 16 points and five boards, but would only reach must-start territory if Jackson were to shut it down (which is still likely to happen at some point). Kwame Brown was out for personal reasons, allowing Thomas to get the start, and remains questionable for Wednesday.

The Bucks got just five points on 1-of-7 shooting from Carlos Delfino, which was a painful fantasy playoffs line, while John Salmons wasn't much better with nine points on 3-of-11 shooting. Brandon Jennings was big with 26 points, nine boards and five assists, but hit just 9-of-27 shots and missed the game-winner, while Andrew Bogut stepped up with 26 points, nine boards and two blocks on 13-of-19 shooting. Bogut is another shutdown candidate once the Bucks are eliminated (and they're getting close). Michael Redd finally played in a game, but failed to score in 15 minutes. No fantasy value there. Drew Gooden also returned, but hit just 1-of-6 shots for two points and eight boards.
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Knicks Show Heart, Take Out Magic

Carmelo Anthony dropped 39 points on the Magic as the Knicks got a much needed win in overtime by beating the Magic. He also had 10 boards and a couple threes, while Toney Douglas, who has been a mystery lately, added 16 points and three 3-pointers off the bench. Landry Fields struggled last night, while Amare Stoudemire and Chauncey Billups combined for 37 points, 15 points and nine assists.

Jameer Nelson was out with his knee injury, but is expected to play on Wednesday against the Hawks. Dwight Howard, as usual, had a big night with 29 points and 18 boards, but also picked up a late technical foul, putting him one away from another suspension. Gilbert Arenas started for Nelson, but hit just 2-of-11 shots for nine points, 10 rebounds, five assists, three steals and a three, but also committed five turnovers. Maybe he's worth using if Nelson misses anymore games, but those missed shots and TOs are a little scary. Jason Richardson broke out of a funk with 24 points, four steals and four 3-pointers, so he was hopefully in your lineup.

San Antonio Shutdowns Lose Again

The Spurs are in a state of disarray right now, as starters Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and Antonio McDyess all sat out with injuries last night. Duncan and Manu are out for the week, while Parker and McDyess are day-to-day. George Hill blew up for 27 points and six assists, while Gary Neal hit just 3-of-14 shots for eight points. Tiago Splitter started for McDyess and had 14 points and nine rebounds in the loss. DeJuan Blair just can't get any run from Gregg Popovich, as James Anderson and Matt Bonner started in front of him last night. Hill and Neal are both worth grabbing in most leagues.

Blazers Take Out Spurs

Brandon Roy played through a back injury and scored his standard 11 points, Nicolas Batum played through a quad injury and double-doubled with 10 points and 13 rebounds, LaMarcus Aldridge wasn't really needed against the Spurs B Team, and Andre Miller proved he's still capable of scoring points with 26 points. Wesley Matthews added 19, while Batum is now must-start material again after his injury scare.

Bulls Fall To Sixers

Derrick Rose committed 10 turnovers as the Sixers beat the Bulls on Monday. Rose had a great game if you take away the TOs, while Joakim Noah double-doubled, and Carlos Boozer and Luol Deng just missed one in the loss.

For the Sixers, Thaddeus Young finally showed up again with 21 points, and will be a guy you'll want to grab if Andre Iguodala were to go down with his shaky knee. He looked great last night though, with 19 points, seven boards and seven assists, and should remain in lineups until you hear he's not going to play in a game.

Deron Williams Still Not Ready

Deron Williams, who was supposedly going to return from his wrist injury on Friday, has now been ruled out for Tuesday night. I still don't see the point in bringing him back, so just keep sitting on Jordan Farmar if you own him.

Suns Sets In Phoenix

With the Suns officially out of the playoff hunt, Steve Nash and Grant Hill won't play their normal minutes on most nights the rest of the way. I doubt that means you should bench Nash, but we'll have to keep a close eye on him from here on out. Aaron Brooks is a great player to own right now. Jared Dudley should continue to start and looks like a great pick up if you were able to get him on Sunday.

Chandler To Play For Nuggets

Wilson Chandler is expected to play through his sprained ankle for the Nuggets on Wednesday, while Arron Afflalo remains very iffy with a hamstring injury.

Raptors Injuries Piling Up

Reggie Evans practiced on Monday and it sounds like he'll play on Wednesday, fighting Amir Johnson, Ed Davis and James Johnson for minutes and rebounds. Andrea Bargnani missed practice with his ankle injury and is very iffy for Wednesday. Watch for updates on these guys throughout the day on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Baron To Start Over Sessions

Baron Davis was expected to come off the bench for the next couple games, leaving Ramon Sessions as the starter, but the latest news is that Baron will start over Sessions on Tuesday. Both are worth using in fantasy, but Davis is now a must-start, while owners of Sessions have to hope he continues to get at least 25 minutes off the bench.

Joe Johnson Ready

Joe Johnson practiced Tuesday and now sounds likely to play for the Hawks on Wednesday after missing his last game with a sprained thumb.

Lowry Still Iffy

Kyle Lowry, who was last seen in a walking boot, remains a game-time decision for Tuesday's game. If he's locked into your lineup, here's hoping he plays tonight. Goran Dragic will be worth an add if it's determined that Lowry will miss games.

Matrix's Finger In Bad Shape

Pictures of Shawn Marion's dislocated pinky finger are not pretty, but it's not his shooting hand and he says it doesn't affect him. Keep rolling him out there.

Samardo Out

Samardo Samuels has been ruled out for Tuesday with a sprained wrist, which just means more minutes for J.J. Hickson, who should be in all lineups.

Mike Miller Out

Mike Miller will miss Tuesday's game with a knee injury. Talk about a lost season, Miller hasn't been able to stay healthy enough to get on a roll.

 

[HacheMan]

Cleveland Rocks, LeBron Hides
Many of my leagues have shut it down already. I made the playoffs in most and still have a shot at two titles, but I didn't win the two leagues I care most about (and involve money), marking this year as somewhat of a failure. You can't win 'em all, right? Hopefully your league shut it down after last week, as what is happening in the NBA these days is more of a crap shoot than anything else. But if you're still reading this, that's probably not the case. There were just four games last night, as LeBron and the Heat lost at Cleveland, Tyreke Evans, Beno Udrih and Marcus Thornton went off, and Jared Dudley continued his hot streak. Here's the rundown.

On a side note, I wrote this on an unfamiliar pc, without spell check, so forgive me if that becomes apparent when reading this.

Heat Fall To...CAVS!

Mike Bibby had 23 points and seven 3-pointers in Tuesday's embarrassing loss to the Cavaliers. Any time Bibby plays this well for the Heat, something probably went wrong, which was certainly the case last night. Maybe Bibby's about to heat up and start doing this regularly, but given the outcome of the game, I'm not holding my breath. Chris Bosh was embarrassed by guys like Ryan Hollins and J.J. Hickson, hitting just 5-of-14 shots for 10 points and four boards, while LeBron James triple-doubled with 27-10-12 and Dwyane Wade had another fat stat line. LeBron also hid during introductions, blaming it on a last-second bathroom break. Whatever. Do us all a favor, man-up, say you didn't want to deal with the crowd and fire your advisors.

For the Cavs, Ramon Sessions came off the bench for 11 points, six boards and six assists in the relatively easy win, while Anthony Parker awoke from a slumber to score 20 points and help seal the win. Baron Davis started at the point and had 10 points and seven assists on 4-of-10 shooting. The fact he didn't have a big night and the Cavs beat the Heat means going to remain the starter until he goes down again. Hickson was the other big gun for the Cavs with 21 points, 12 boards and a block, and even hit 6-of-13 shots for good measure. He looks like a must-start player, as usual. Samardo Samuels was out with a wrist injury and could miss a week.

Rockets Blowout Nets

Kyle Lowry played through his foot injury and flirted with a triple-double last night as the Rockets crushed the Nets. Luis Scola got a break, while Patrick Patterson and Chuck Hayes both played well, and guard Kevin Martin scored 20 points in the easy win.

For the Nets, Jordan Farmar had 12 points, four 3-pointers and seven dimes in the loss, while Ben Uzoh somehow started the second half over Farmar. Thanks, Avery Johnson. All signs are pointing to Deron Williams playing tonight, which would be a blow to both players, while Uzoh shouldn't have fantasy value either way. And Brook Lopez showed a pulse with 22 points and seven boards after Monday's disaster against the Hawks.

Curry, Monta & Lee Play Well, But Warriors Fall To Thunder In OT

Stephen Curry celebrated the season-ending wrist injury to Acie Law with 35 points, five 3-pointers, six boards, five assists and two steals in 49 minutes. Finally! Law's season is over, which is great news for Curry. Keith Smart has inexplicably had a love affair with Law all year, and it will be interesting to see what his next move is when Curry gets into foul trouble, or turns the ball over (he had six last night). Something tells me Jeremy Lin and Charlie Bell are not the answer for GSW. Monta Ellis added 20 points, 11 dimes, three steals and two 3-pointers, while David Lee added 24 points and 15 boards in the tough loss. Additionally, Ekpe Udoh continued to impress with 12 points, six boards, two steals and three blocks in 39 minutes. He remains a very intriguing fantasy option at center with Andris Biedrins on the shelf. Dorell Wright was the big loser last night, hitting just 2-of-13 shots for seven points and 10 rebounds. He also hurt his hand, but played through it, which might help explain the off night.

For OKC, Serge Ibaka continued his late-season run with a fat stat line, James Harden added 14 points and a bunch of goodies, while Kevin Durant dropped 39 points, six boards, five assists, a steal, a block and three 3-pointers on the Warriors in the one-point win. Russell Westbrook hit just 4-of-15 shots and committed six turnovers, but still just missed a triple-double, while Kendrick Perkins failed to score, finishing with 13 rebounds and a block. There just aren't enough balls to go around for Perkins to score for this team.

Tyreke Flirts With Triple-Double In Win Over Suns

Tyreke Evans, who is expected to start tonight against the Nuggets, came off the bench to score just 11 points in 26 minutes, but added 10 rebounds and eight assists in a nice win over the Suns. Evans now looks like a guy who should be picked up in all leagues and I am hoping they start him alongside both Beno Udrih (19 points, five assists) and Marcus Thornton (24 points, career-high 11 rebounds, three 3-pointers), but that remains to be seen. He'll either start over Francisco Garcia (six points) or Beno. Either way, Evans looks a little better than I expected him to, although the Suns have given up on the season. Samuel Dalembert let his owners down with zero points and six boards in just 12 minutes, leaving early with a rib injury, but returning after X-rays were negative. DeMarcus Cousins (minor forearm injury late) flirted with a triple-double and had a full stat line with Dalembert invisible, while Jason Thompson hit 7-of-10 shots for 14 points and 10 boards. Dalembert is the starter, at least for now, if he's able to play in the next one, despite his rib injury. Donte Greene blew up for 18 points and four threes, but I'd be surprised to see him do it again anytime soon.

For the Suns, Aaron Brooks scored just five points on 1-of-6 shooting, but is still worth keeping stashed with Steve Nash a viable shutdown candidate. Nash had 13 points and 14 assists in 36 minutes, but his playing time is expected to drop between now and the end of the season. Vince Carter came off the bench for just 16 minutes again, while Jared Dudley came through again 21 points, five boards, five steals, a block and a 3-pointer. If you picked him up on Sunday when we featured him in Waiver Wired, congratulations. He could win you a championship. Channing Frye bounced back from an off night with 21 points, nine boards, two blocks and two 3-pointers in the loss, and remains a must-start player as long as his shoulder holds up.

Keep reading for Injury News & Notes.
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Injury News & Notes

Kevin Love sounds like he's good to go for Wednesday against the Bulls and it would be surprising if he doesn't play. However, how many minutes he'll play is anyone's guess. I'd probably start him if I had that option.

Dwight Howard picked up his 17th technical foul, which was upheld by the league. He's now one more tech away from another one-game suspesion, but my guess is he keeps his cool and doesn't pick another one up.

D.J. Augustin (ankle) and Shaun Livingston (back) are both quite iffy for Wednesday night with their injuries, while Kwame Brown is expected to play tonight against the Cavaliers. Yes, it's possible that Garrett Temple could get solid run tonight for the Bobcats if both DJA and Livingston are out, but I wouldn't have the guts to start him. Addtionally, Boris Diaw could get some run at point guard as well. Tyrus Thomas is also a little iffy with his rib injury, making the Bobcats a bit of a mess as they try to hang in the playoff hunt.

Nick Young's knee MRI didn't show any structural damage but it's still unknown if, or when, he'll play again this season. I have been calling him done for some time, but it remains to be seen if I'm right or not. But so far, if you cut him a couple weeks ago, it was the right move. Jordan Crawford should continue to see a ton of minutes for the Wizards the rest of the way. Trevor Booker (foot) could play for the Wizards tonight, which would mean he would share time with Maurice Evans.

Jason Terry and Jose Juan Barea both missed Tuesday's practice for personal reasons, but both are expected to join the Mavericks and play on Wednesday against the Clippers.

Ben Gordon returned to practice for the Pistons on Tuesday after missing Monday with a migraine. He's been a bust again and is by no means a must-start fantasy player, even when healthy.

Thaddeus Young is a game-time decision for the Sixers with a strained abductor and despite his nice scoring output in his previous game, is only a must-start if Andre Iguodala is going to miss time. And for now, Iguodala is playing through his sore knee.

Joe Johnson will start for the Hawks on Wednesday and should be back in starting lineups after missing time with a strained thumb. Josh Smith missed part of practice with his sore knee, but is not listed on the injury report.

Joakim Noah tweaked an ankle on Tuesday but is expected to play Wednesday against the Timberwolves. Keep him active unless we get bad news on Wednesday.

The Knicks' Shawne Williams is dealing with back spasms and will undergo some tests, leaving him doubtful for Wednesday. Dropping him for a hot free agent would make sense at this point.

Denver's Wilson Chandler practiced through an ankle injury on Tuesday and is expected to play tonight against the Kings. With Arron Afflalo still hurting, I like Chandler at this point. Afflalo is a game-time decision tonight after missing his previous six games. If you have other options, I'd leave him benched.

Mike Miller missed Tuesday's game for the Heat and is doubtful for Wednesday with a sore knee. What a wasted season, but he could be a nice player in reality for the Heat in the playoffs - if he can get healthy.

Other Questions For Wednesday Night

The Spurs and Jazz are probably the two toughest teams to figure out right now, but both are off on Wednesday night. Maybe we'll get some answers on both squads over the next 24 hours.

Andre Iguodala - Should play through knee
Andrea Bargnani - Iffy with ankle
Reggie Evans - Could return from foot injury
Ben Wallace - Not likely with sore knee
Tracy McGrady - Iffy with sore back
Mike Dunleavy - Should return for Pacers, could start for them soon
Jameer Nelson - Very iffy with sore knee
Sam Young - Iffy with sore knee

 

[HacheMan]

Dose: Love, Williams Return
Hi, folks. It's been a while. After the servers at Rotoworld headquarters decided to convert my Step-back Three from earlier in the week into a series of unintelligible characters (insert self-defecation here), my sincere hope is that this piece makes it to press.

If it does, there's plenty still going on in the worlds of fantasy and reality basketball, which is apropos after the year we've had. And before I delve into the fantasy basketball portion of the ritual, first, let's all take a moment and remember what happens when keeping it real goes wrong.

Warmed up yet?

Good. Here we go.

And you can follow me on Twitter here.

Welcome Home

There were a number of big-time returns last night, and each were relatively straight-forward. Deron Williams (wrist) returned for the ESPN cameras in last night's game against the Knicks, as if it was built into his contract, and said he felt good as he scored 22 points with eight rebounds and eight assists in 37 minutes. He was rusty, but he did not appear to have problems with his wrist during the game, though he did fall on his left arm on the game's final play and appeared shook up. He says that he expects to play on Friday, but his long-term availability is certainly in question. Jordan Farmar had seven points, three rebounds, no assists, and two steals in 20 minutes last night, as both Hubie Brown and I lamented the way he was deployed by Napoleon last night. The two PG's futures are completely intertwined, so watch out for updates.

For the Wizards, Andray Blatche (shoulder) graced our presences with his return, after a prolonged absence that left all Washington reporters checking his Twitter account for updates. It's odd that a franchise would be so quiet about his status, but then again, maybe they didn't know how Blatche felt, either. Like Williams, he looked fine in his return, scoring 14 points with eight rebounds and three steals, and with Trevor Booker out for the year this is a return with no major victim. And with the Wizards suddenly paper-thin in their frontcourt, I like his chances of staying on board a lot better than I did a week ago.

Rounding out the top-tier talent that got back onto the floor, Kevin Love (groin, knee) returned with a picture-perfect performance of 16 points on 6-of-13 shooting with nine rebounds in 27 minutes. Why perfect? Because he's being eased in, and for my money, that's how I want my super-stud adjusted back to basketball life. Anthony Randolph was predictably mediocre with 15 points, five rebounds, and three steals in 19 minutes, and while there's enough potential here for him to be stashed, owners will not want to do it at the expense of a free agent that can help them now, depending on the circumstance. And as evidenced by Anthony Tolliver's 14 points in 24 minutes, Kurt Rambis has no problem spelling Randolph.

Joe Johnson (thumb) also returned with a performance befitting of Anthony Morrow's contract, scoring 18 points with six rebounds and two assists in 44 minutes, all while Morrow was performing more like the max-contract player that Johnson was signed to be – scoring 30 points on 10-of-15 shooting with four threes. Honest question to both set of fans, even if you assign Johnson half of his current contract: Wanna make a trade?

I'm Gonna Git You Sucka

John Wall's face was being used as a place for Zydrunas Ilgauskas to stick his elbows, and Wall chose to retaliate, throwing a half-punch, half-push toward all seven feet of Big Z. This killed fantasy owners, who ate a two-point, five-assist night after just 15 minutes of action, and it may get worse if he gets suspended. Some tape of the incident is here, and in watching it, I also wonder what could happen to JaVale McGee. Juwan Howard comes by to ask him for some personal grooming tips, and McGee's 'action' looks strikingly similar to Wall's. My guess is that he doesn't get dragged into this due to the ambiguity over what it was that he actually did, but it's enough for me to keep an eye out for any issues.

Pass the Tylenol

Or Pepto, or Jack Daniels – really it's your choice at this time of year. And it's really a case to make your fantasy championship end prior to this week. And if your league's format does something ridiculous like average out the total of your scores, giving no penalty for a player that sits out completely, but completely wrecks them for playing just five minutes – it's also reason to find another league.

As it would go, Stephen Jackson lasted until halftime of last night's game due to his hamstring injury, and I won't rule out a return – but it isn't looking good. It's a boost to Gerald Henderson, and also Boris Diaw, who is literally forced now to be 'the man' for his team, especially with D.J. Augustin limited with his ankle injury. I really wasn't surprised at all by his 26 points, seven boards, and 11 assists last night, which isn't to say I don't also worry about him clamming up, but when there is an absolute necessity for him to take charge as there was last night – I like my chances. He needs to be owned in all formats and started in most. Wrapping up Charlotte, who will continue to gut it out down the stretch trailing Indiana by just one game, Tyrus Thomas could not play last night with his knee injury, and can safely be pitched to the waiver wire. He's just not right.

Jose Calderon left during the fourth quarter of last night's game with his hamstring injury, and in my two remaining money leagues, I avoided ditching Jerryd Bayless over the past week and am well-positioned if this is going to knock him out. Andrea Bargnani (ankle) played last night, scoring 22 points with two rebounds, three assists, and two treys, and I wouldn't be surprised if he joined Calderon on the bench. Either way, both need to be watched like a hawk, and joining Bayless on the pickup watchlist is rookie Ed Davis, who hasn't done much lately, and James Johnson – who has put up mediocre but versatile lines since arriving in Toronto. With Amir Johnson and Reggie Evans being banged up, and in Evans' case being old, I like the two young, healthy guys to step up.

Monta Ellis left last night's game with what the team is calling a 'high-ankle strain,' and if you own Ellis the time is now to grab Reggie Williams as insurance. And though I'm not a doctor (I just play one in the bedroom), a 'strain' is less dangerous than a 'sprain,' and I also immediately regret that use of too much information. Stashing Williams can also make some sense, just realize that Ellis has been a warrior this year, and now that I've lost all of your respect I could really care less about the use of the pun.

Joakim Noah didn't play last night and the most recent report is that his ankle is really swollen. That doesn't sound like a guy that's ready to do business. He's a tough one, however, so I'm not going to completely rule him out for Friday's game. I'm just looking at other options where I can.

And while not completely out, Baron Davis (knee/back) is about as banged up as they come. Watching the replay of the Cavs/Heat game I counted at least five winces in the final moments. He scored 11 points with six assists in 25 minutes last night, which is a good baseline representation of what to expect if he can stay on the court, while Ramon Sessions scored 24 points with five rebounds and four assists in 30 minutes off the bench. It goes without saying, but plan on holding – and in many cases, using Sessions for the rest of the season.

Thaddeus Young played through his right adductor strain last night and scored 22 points with nine boards, which usually isn't news except for the fact that Elton Brand missed today's practice with the flu. Young has been playing well enough to deserve to be owned in 12-team formats, but if Brand misses Friday's game (and also gets some much-needed rest), then Young becomes a pretty solid start. And while I feel less compelled to discuss Andre Iguodala's knee ailment as a major injury at this point, it's worth noting for those whose seasons are hinging on his health that he scored nine points with eight rebounds and 10 assists in 37 minutes. Outside of dead week, he looks good to finish the year as things stand right now.

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Today in Kuester

Today in Kuester decides to take a broader look at the NBA, and also seeks out funding for a reality show in which Kuester makes important life decisions. First episode: Kuester selects wallpaper with his wife at the local Home Depot. My guess – he picks them all and applies them in patchwork fashion.

The good news is that the cream is rising to the top in Detroit, as Richard Hamilton has proven useful down the stretch, and last night was no different as he scored 19 points with five boards, five assists, and four steals. He's about as stable as it's going to get outside of Greg Monroe. Rodney Stuckey has slowly climbed the mountain, reaching his highest peak last night with 24 points, seven rebounds, and nine assists in 36 minutes. Hopefully he hasn't reached this peak only to see that the next mountain is much higher. Tracy McGrady continued to be silent with just two points in 12 minutes, but don't pretend that he is irrelevant. If he still wants to play, any acquiescence by Kuester will likely come at Stuckey's expense.

Scott Skiles, normally the case-study when trying to understand Kuester, has continued to play his starters heavy minutes. Needless to say it's a thrilling development, and while Skiles should never (repeat, never) be fully trusted, owners need to stay patient with any Bucks starter that has a dip -- as long as the rotation stays this tight.

Out West, where #HereWeBuild seeks to build its own arena (more on that this weekend), Paul Westphal continued to work with fantasy owners, giving Tyreke Evans 28 minutes off the bench – while also giving Beno Udrih and Marcus Thornton over 40 minutes a piece. Really, this is simple, as the three are his best players in the backcourt and his frontcourt is being held together by duct tape -- so why not trot out the three-guard lineup at the end of the year? And since Thornton and Evans can rebound like forwards, the arrangement could theoretically work in the long-term, though defense would be an issue. For owners, the payoffs are considerable, as Evans scored 22 points with seven assists, Thornton scored 27 points, and Udrih had 12 points with 10 assists.

So maybe all these coaches aren't so bad after all? Maybe I'll use a question mark for all of my sentences? Either way, I'll be at the Home Depot if you want throw a John Wall push/punch at me for calling these known flip-floppers anything but that – in the process tipping the scales of the universe directly toward fantasy annihilation.

Jordan Crawford: More than just the guy that dunked on LeBron

Yes, Jordan Crawford was the guy that caused LeBron to confiscate the tape of him getting dunked on by a mere college student, and no, there is no word if the thought of playing him last night was what caused LeBron to nearly soil himself in Cleveland. After all, one would have to really have to go to be viewed as being 'too scared to handle introductions.' I'm thinking it wasn't the food served by his personal chef, or a night out drinking (he wouldn't do that) – I'm thinking he was looking forward to last night, hoping that he wouldn't be soiled by another Crawford dunk. After all, none of his advisors would be so stupid as to allow him to hide during introductions – as that would make him look like the slave in Gladiator that pees himself prior to entering the arena. But then again, that guy was going to get slaughtered by dudes dressed like female war gods in horse-driven buggies.

So I digress, as usual, and it was no surprise that LeBron came out and had a statement game after getting embarrassed in Cleveland, scoring 35 points with eight rebounds, eight assists, and five steals while shooting 12-of-16 from the field. His counterpart in Dunkgate, Jordan Crawford, went on to make his run at waiver wire pickup of the year, scoring a career-high 39 points with three rebounds and four assists. Overall, his shooting has been atrocious and the turnovers troublesome, and that along with Kyle Lowry's general greatness will keep him from winning the title – but Crawford has done his part to make a name for himself, and also make the Hawks brass look even worse than they did after the Joe Johnson signing. And while he won't have an open license like he had last night as Andray Blatche, John Wall, and Nick Young all return to relevancy to varying degrees (or not at all), it would be a surprise to see him dip below 20 ppg.

Four Quarters of Fury

First Quarter: There was a Vince Carter signing in last night's game, as he scored 28 points on 11-of-19 shooting with five rebounds and two threes, which might be the last dying gasp of an NBA supernova. My guess is that he wants to go out on his own terms, but that the reality of grinding out the season with the Suns 5.5 games out is calling. Jared Dudley is still the play here, and he was surprisingly solid as VC went off, scoring 16 points with four rebounds, two steals, and a three. The Nuggets' rotation survived for the most part last night, with the only real casualty being Wilson Chandler's seven-point, four-rebound outing, but Arron Afflalo isn't back yet and that could be the piece that pushes a few guys out. My guess is that those guys will be J.R. Smith and Al Harrington, but then again, that's not exactly telling you something you don't know. If you've followed me in the past two months, you'll know I have advised a hold in standard, 12-team 8-cat leagues on Tony Allen despite the threats of Rudy Gay, Shane Battier, Sam Young, and O.J. Mayo. He made me look good (again) with 21 points, eight rebounds, four assists, three steals, and a block last night, and while it came against Golden State, his superior athleticism and defense are going to keep him on the court and productive through the rest of the year.

Second Quarter: There was trouble in Portland last night, and not only did they lose to a depleted Hornets squad, the team's stable of shooting guards all hit the skids. Wesley Matthews had seven points, Nicolas Batum had two points, and the duo of Rudy Fernandez and Brandon Roy combined for 12 points. Everybody else was mostly fine, and I'm not going to tell you that you have to keep Matthews or Batum, but nights like this are reflective of a team-wide problem, and not necessarily their individual values. I do expect them to bounce back. That said, it does illustrate the downfalls of logjams, as the off-nights can be killer. Also, Gerald Wallace almost didn't return for the second half after taking a hard pick, but he ended up finishing the game, and owners should simply keep their ear to the ground for any bad news. Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors are two guys to watch closely with Utah both banged up and ready to go young, though neither have yet to produce at a level that suggests they're near must-add territory. That could change on Friday, however.

Third Quarter: Blake Griffin scored 25 points with 17 rebounds, and while that isn't exactly surprising, I'll give a tip of the hat to him. At the same time, I'm going to decry the use of the term 'take my hat off,' which Charles Barkley said a record 20 times in two weeks of NCAA telecasts. Then again, I'll take my hat off to myself for this column, which is pretty good if I don't say so myself. Speaking of hats, and in particular those that grace their owners' posteriors, Carmelo Anthony gave 100% effort on less than 10 defensive plays last night and spoke in the post-game television interview about leading his team to play good defense. I wonder what Amare Stoudemire thinks about the implication that it takes Melo (of all people), to rally his troops to play some defense, dammit. I don't need the game tape to count over five late defensive rotations that I saw last night, overly active hands, pushes that weren't called, and general lack of understanding of defensive principles. Melo needs to stick to talking about offense and rebounding, where he is as good as anybody that plays the game, as evidenced by his 39 points, 10 boards, and five assists last night. Chauncey Billups was also on a mission last night against the lowly Nets, scoring 33 points with six rebounds and six assists, all without a single turnover. Give that man his own talk show. Amare Stoudemire, on the other hand, had a mostly miserable night with 23 points and just three rebounds against the rebounding bandit known as Brook Lopez, who coincidentally had nine boards, which is easily in his top-10 games of the year (I'm not checking, I just know). The comic moment for Amare came when he got his fourth foul early in the third quarter, and motioned to Mike D'Antoni to keep him on the court, as an amused D'Antoni quickly subbed him out. Upon his return, it took Amare less than one minute to grab his fifth foul on some unnecessary clanging around underneath the hoop. Trust, it's what's for dinner. The fact is that Stoudemire is tired, and D'Antoni has already said that he will rest him, so owners simply have to hope that it happens during dead week, not championship week.

Fourth Quarter: J.J. Barea showed up with 22 points last night and I'm not buying it, as there's too many mouths to feed in Dallas. James Harden got back on track with 22 points on 7-of-9 shooting with three treys and three steals, and while I don't like the low number of shot attempts, he's worth starting consideration again. Carl Landry kept things going with 21 points, six boards, a steal, and a block, as the trade sending Marcus Thornton to Sacramento has worked out for both teams. Landry Fields was probably already dropped in your league, but it should be official after his two-point, two-rebound effort in 15 minutes. You can thank Chauncey Billups' lack of foot speed for that. Marvin Williams came back to Earth after his 31-point effort in his prior game, scoring 10 points with six boards, while Josh Smith scored 26 points with a full stat line. Hedo Turkoglu continued to get more touches with Jameer Nelson (knee) getting up to speed, scoring 17 points with eight rebounds and five assists, while Nelson did play and had a nice night with 20 points and five assists. As for backup PG Gilbert Arenas, he says he's going to train with the celebrated Tim Grover this summer, which is what really out of shape people say before they fall off the face of the NBA planet. Roy Hibbert and Darren Collison are both struggling with minor knee injuries, but Collison (20 points, 9-of-11 FG) is handling it well and Hibbert (12 points, four boards, two blocks) isn't. Also in Indy, Tyler Hansbrough has returned to his midseason, inconsistent form, scoring seven points with two boards in 23 minutes. And no, I'm not buying backup Josh McRoberts' double-double, either. Avoid them both, if possible.

 

[HacheMan]

Dose: Bayless Going Bonkers
So this is it. All of your hard work and avoidance of all things reality has come to this. And adding an interesting wrinkle to the matter is the NCAA Championship Game, which has caused the NBA to go dark for Monday with no games. Now for some unknown reason Yahoo! decides to have their weekly lineup deadline on Sunday night, but most other sites wait until Tuesday for lineup cards to be scribbled in. The latter case could prove invaluable for owners hedging on injured players and shutdown risks, while in the former, you're sacrificing chickens or whatever it is that you crazy people do to conjure up good luck. Legal note: Don't do that.

Without further ado….

Where exactly do you stand

The standings are as important as anything at this time of year, and as I've alluded to before, I wish more formats would just exclude this week. After all, if the point of this whole exercise is to reduce the luck factor, why should league titles be decided because key players are already fishing with Kenny and Chuck? Until that happens, however, we'll need to deal with the standings as a necessary evil of our pastime.

The standings this year are a mixed bag of good news and bad news compared to past years, as many seeds are already decided and the teams that are on the outside looking in are longshots at this point.

The most likely chance for a team currently qualified for the playoffs to get knocked off exists in Indiana, where the Pacers hold a two-game lead over the flailing Bobcats. The Pacers have four games left, the Bobcats have six games left, and Charlotte might have to dress Paul Silas and Charles Oakley any moment. If Mr. Miyagi was around to magically heal Stephen Jackson's hamstring, I'd be more apt to put stock in them catching the Pacers, though the Pacers at 35-43 are hardly a picture of strength heading into the final week. The Bucks are one game behind the Bobcats, and with an average of five games left to play between Indy and Milwaukee, I'm not holding my breath for any comeback.

In the West, the magic number for No. 8 New Orleans to clinch a playoff spot is two, with Houston sitting in the No. 9 slot a total of three games back with five games to play for both teams. Memphis is actually tied with the Hornets record-wise at 44-33, but any way you slice it a minor miracle would need to take place for the Rockets to catch either of them. Utah has been eliminated and the Suns are eliminated for all intents and purposes.

As for as seedings and home-court advantage goes, the Spurs have the best record in the league at 58-19, and hit it big when the Lakers lost to the Nuggets on Sunday, giving them a 2.5 game lead over the purple and gold. The Bulls trail the Spurs for home-court advantage throughout the playoffs by 1.5 games, and is one game ahead of the Lakers, 2.5 games ahead of the Heat, and 3.0 games ahead of the Celtics. Dallas struggled this week and fell 2.5 games behind the Lakers in the West, and beyond that, there is very little mobility between the remaining teams for playoff seeding. The Magic, Hawks, and Sixers have virtually wrapped up slots 4-6 (in that order), though the Knicks trail the Sixers by just 1.5 games, and the Pacers are four games back of New York. In the West, aside from being behind the Lakers by 2.5 games, the Mavs also lead the Thunder by 2.5 games, who have a 3.0 game lead over the Nuggets. The Nuggets lead the Blazers by 2.5 games, who are one game ahead of the Hornets and the Grizzlies. After the Blazers put a whooping on the Mavs on Sunday, you can bet they'll be motivated to stay in the six-slot where they will very likely get a rematch with the Mavs in Round 1.

So while the Spurs, Bulls, Lakers, Heat, and Celtics are jockeying for home-court advantage still, and the Blazers, Hornets, and Grizzlies still need wins to secure their position (and also likely want the No. 6 seed to play the Mavs instead of the Lakers or Spurs) – everybody else is playing for pride or licking their wounds in preparation for the playoffs.

Games played alert

4 Games: Celtics, Bobcats, Bulls, Cavs, Nuggets, Pistons, Clippers, Lakers, Knicks, Thunder, Bucks, Nets, Suns, Kings, Raptors, Wizards
3 Games: Hawks, Jazz, Blazers, Spurs, Hornets, Magic, Sixers, Grizzlies, Heat, Wolves, Warriors, Rockets, Pacers, Mavs

Today in Kuester

Just when you thought Today in Kuester was going to syndication, it popped up with a new episode over the weekend, with Rodney Stuckey refusing to re-enter another game on Friday – resulting in him getting benched on Sunday. Now Stuckey is probably in violation of his contract and deserving of a fine or suspension, but who am I to tell you what is going to happen next in Detroit. If you want to tell me that Kuester is going to start Charlie Villanueva at point guard all week, I may actually give it some thought. As it goes, Stuckey is hands off unless he avoids suspension and Kuester goes public with a desire to mend the fences with playing time, and even then he'll be a risk. In the meantime, Will Bynum has started the last two games with Tracy McGrady nursing a back injury, and provided low-end numbers in each game. In a four-game week, owners that are thin at PG should consider using him, though he does come with the standard amounts of Kuester risk.

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Youth in Revolt

I know that Papa Doc was all over this, too, but I'm pretty sure I had you guys picking up Jerryd Bayless about 2-3 weeks ago with no injury to Jose Calderon mentioned anywhere. We get plenty of picks wrong, but getting this one right feels so good because he has the chance to be a difference maker at precisely the right time. With Calderon out, Bayless exploded for a 26-4-8 line on Saturday and followed it up with 23 points and eight assists and plenty of goodies in Sunday's game. The best part? He had just two turnovers in the two games. There is no return date planned for Calderon as of now, but with Jay Triano saying that Bayless is going to get heavy minutes going forward, and the fact that the Raptors are playing some of their best ball all year long – it just doesn't seem likely that Calderon will be rushed back. As it stands, you won't find Bayless on any of my benches in the Raps' four-game week.

Also in Toronto, the Ed Davis 20-10 train came to an abrupt halt with Reggie Evans needed to combat Dwight Howard, as Evans grabbed 17 boards in 32 minutes, leaving Davis looking for scraps. Davis, who entered Sunday's eight-point, six-rebound outing with an average of 19 points and 11 boards in the three games he had started prior, is still worth starting consideration unless a report emerges that Andrea Bargnani (ankle) will be returning. Like Calderon, mum is the word about Bargnani's status, and I'm guessing the Raptors organization is privately hoping he just calls it a year. In a four-game week, if Davis can pop off with two games in the ballpark of those big outings, but also gets hit with two games like Sunday, he won't be the reason you lost. Give him a look.

And while we're in Toronto, let's add James Johnson to the deep sleeper list for this week. He has been very productive with his minutes as the starting SF, with the only problem being that he has been leashed. He posted a versatile seven points with five rebounds and six assists on Saturday, and had 11 points with seven boards, five assists, a three, and a block in 32 minutes. If there was ever a time for him to get a full load of minutes it's now, and depending on your format, he could end up proving to be worth a start in standard leagues.

Toronto isn't the only place that the youth movement is underway. In Utah, helped by the fact that Raja Bell (foot) and Andrei Kirilenko (knee, back) look like they're done, Gordon Hayward is starting to show some of that Butler promise. He scored a career-high 19 points with three rebounds, four assists, and two threes in 40 minutes on Sunday, and the only thing holding him back from strong starting consideration is the Jazz's three-game week. He and C.J. Miles should have license to fire away down the stretch, though Miles has been more miss than hit recently. And with Al Jefferson inching his way toward the doghouse, and Paul Millsap deserving a rest as much as anybody in the league, keep an eye on Derrick Favors in deeper, daily leagues.

Now that the Suns are out of the playoff race, the real question is whether or not Aaron Brooks can capitalize. He found himself in a timeshare with surprising rookie Zabian Dowdell on Friday, with neither providing compelling results, but Brooks did create separation on Sunday with 14 points and six assists in 26 minutes, while Dowdell had just six points and one assist in 21 minutes. Steve Nash (flu) did not play and is traveling to meet the team on Tuesday, and this is a case where the extra day could work wonders for owners of both Nash and Brooks. Should Nash play, he will probably deserve a start in a four-game week, while if the report was to remain ambiguous all the way up until lineup deadlines – Brooks would be a high-risk, high-reward play that would be mostly unadvisable. Depending on how the needle moves between now and then, you will have your start-sit question answered.

The rest of the Suns are also a question mark, as Vince Carter shows sporadic utility and is a huge age/injury risk this week, and Channing Frye's low production begs the question of whether or not his shoulder is healed enough to sustain meaningless games. Absent a negative report on Frye's shoulder I still believe you have to start him in a four-game week, though I might be tempted to hedge my bets if I have a deep bench. Standing atop this mountain of meltdown is Jared Dudley, who wrapped up a solid week with 12 points, 10 boards, three assists, and three steals, and he should be in all lineups, and you can add Grant Hill's age/rest risk to the list of reasons why, too.

If you own any Mavs right now you couldn't be thrilled with their three-game losing streak to end the week. As mentioned, it put them on an island for the No. 3 seed with 2.5 games between them on both sides, and with just five more games on the slate, an aging roster has to be considered a rest-risk with their seeding mostly set.

As for Jason Kidd's owners, there is a good chance they're no longer playing after he averaged 3.5 points, 1.75 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and a 3-of-20 shooting mark over his four-game week. So is there a report that says that Kidd is going to rest? No. If he doesn't rest, is there a chance that he bounces back in the Mavs' three-game week? Yes. If we iron out the highs and the lows of his season and look purely at his averages, is the thought of benching him somewhat silly? Sure.

This is where the lazy 'you don't bench your studs' maxim comes into focus. Now, if you're not a fantasy analyst for a living I don't blame you if you follow that strategy, but when you get paid to have an opinion, I believe it's your job to go against the grain and tell somebody to bench LeBron James if that's what the facts say to do. But if we are to follow that maxim, and we don't get a report that Kidd is going to rest, then even in a 3-game week following a brutal face-plant the week before, you're theoretically not benching a guy that has provided fourth round value in 8-cat leagues on the season.

The problem with blindly playing your stud in this case is that he's run down, a rest-risk, and with his recent poor performance, an owner has to at least think about shelving him. J.J. Barea is playing well right now, and while Roddy Beaubois looked horrible all night and then proceeded to score 18 points with four assists in garbage time last night, either of them could end up cutting into Kidd's minutes. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if the Mavs, who now look like they could end up losing to Portland in the first round of the playoffs at this rate, used the rest of the season solely to get long lost Beaubois up to speed because they need a spark. I'm not on a diatribe to tell you to bench Kidd outright, as there aren't too many realistic options that I'd choose over him as things stand right now. I'm just saying that you need not be married to the 'you don't bench your studs' way of thinking.

As for Dirk, he has commented on not wanting to go into the playoffs cold, so I'm cautiously optimistic about his outlook, but a guy like Shawn Marion who is sort of banged up (finger, age) could be a risk. And as mentioned, Tyson Chandler's back injury isn't helping his cause, either. While you can't start guys like Barea, Beaubois, or Brendan Haywood in a weekly league, they may end up having some value in daily leagues later in the week.

And what would a look at young and old be without the Spurs? Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, and Tim Duncan have fizzled just in time for the fantasy playoffs, and to cap it off they have a three-game week. If there is a silver lining, it's that they lost enough ground in the race for the top seed this week that their fantasy obituaries were written in pencil and not pen. The 2.5 game lead they hold will prove critical as all eyes will be focused on next Tuesday's matchup with the Lakers. A myriad of outcomes could happen here, as the schedule could make the game important or irrelevant, and in either case Gregg Popovich could decide to either go full bore with his starters in that game – or decide he doesn't want to lose a big game in Los Angeles using his starters so close to the playoffs.

This week they start with a back-to-back beginning in Atlanta on Tuesday and then they return home for the Kings on Wednesday. They don't play until Saturday against the Jazz, and then the big matchup with the Lakers is that following Tuesday. If I'm Being Gregg Popovich, I play Duncan decent minutes against Atlanta's more deliberately-paced team, rest him on the tail-end of the back-to-back on Wednesday against the playground attack of the Kings, and then with the Jazz playing their young guys I probably have a quick hook with him Saturday, too, even with time off before Tuesday's game. So with all of that in mind, can you start the guy? I don't think so.

Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili are much trickier, with Parker getting more run lately between the two, and Manu getting handled with kid gloves right now. Parker played 28 minutes and had just seven points on 2-of-11 shooting with five rebounds and eight assists, while Manu played just 24 minutes with six points, three boards, and two assists in a dreadful fantasy performance. Both are going to be tough guys to bench, but if I have a safe, lower-tier option that has four games, I'm considering pulling the trigger with one DNP being enough to make either player a bust. As for George Hill, who had another explosive game last night (albeit against the Suns) with 29 points on 10-of-16 shooting and four treys, he has to be treated like a fringe option at best in the three-game week, as one game of 'old George Hill' in which he scores 13 points with three rebounds and two assists would be enough to destroy his week. That said, he has more upside than the average guy, and if your options are limited a case could be made to play him.

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My neck, my back. My neck and my back

As you can imagine, the injured list is getting crowded. Here are the highlights:

Kevin Love – The Minneapolis Star-Tribune is "guessing" that Love will be out a few more games with his groin injury, and even surmise that he could miss the rest of the season. They have no reason to risk further injury here, and have a nice ancillary benefit of remaining in the No. 2 lottery slot to sway them. They are 1.5 games behind Cleveland for the top-chance at the No. 1 pick, and the Wizards are 3.5 games behind them. Anthony Randolph is the guy that everybody will be watching if Love indeed misses time, which should be the only way that he should sniff a lineup unless you're comfortable with a 1-in-10 shot at success. Even if Love is out, Randolph could start and post a ridiculous stat line, or he could play for nine minutes and rack up four turnovers and get yanked.

Pau Gasol – He is scheduled to have an MRI on his knee after hurting it in Sunday's game, but the good news here is that the Lakers are calling it just a 'tweak,' and he actually returned to the game after it happened. They also reported that he is experiencing some swelling and some soreness, however, which to me is a huge red flag for his status in Tuesday's game. Add in the fact that the Lakers' loss on Sunday could have crippled their hopes of catching San Antonio, and they could easily elect to play things safe.

Andrew Bynum – While Bynum is not scheduled to get an MRI like Gasol, he also hurt his knee in Sunday's game, but unlike Gasol he was not able to play after it happened. And after Kenyon Martin pushed Lamar Odom out of his way to tap in a missed free throw that decided the game last night, it goes without saying that the Lakers could have used him down the stretch in a pretty big game. The Lakers are also calling his absence in the fourth quarter 'precautionary,' while noting that it's not a new injury, and rather an aggravation of his existing knee injury. However you slice it, he will also be questionable for Tuesday's game, and if you own Lamar Odom you just found $20 in your pocket.

Dwyane Wade – He suffered what the Heat are calling a 'dead leg' after taking a knee to the thigh from Travis Outlaw, and in typical Wade fashion he floundered about the floor and made a big deal about it. Now reports suggest that he could miss a game, and while that wouldn't be shocking, let's not rush to judgment one way or another. The Heat need home-court as badly as any other team in the playoffs, and my guess is that he'll suit up for Wednesday's game against the Bucks. And while any Wade injury situation bears risk, if we don't get another report before Tuesday, I'll be plugging him into all my lineups, even in a 3-game week.

Lou Williams – Sweet Lou is out for the "foreseeable future" with a hamstring injury, and it's telling that the team is calling up Antonio Daniels to backup the point. While Sixers fans are probably punch drunk about their team's performance this season, when the dust settles they'll have a lot to think about knowing that No. 2 overall pick Evan Turner can't even be counted on to spell Jrue Holiday for 10 minutes. As for Holiday, he will likely end up playing much more than Doug Collins wants him to down the stretch, and Collins' statements about not resting guys will be tested as Andre Iguodala will be needed more and Williams' scoring will need to be replaced. Look for Thaddeus Young and Andres Nocioni to get a nice little bump with this development, with Young being worth a look in starting lineups, even during the Sixers' three-game week.

Tyson Chandler – He missed Sunday's game with the back injury he suffered late in Saturday's game, but expects to play on Wednesday. If you were looking at Brendan Haywood for a spot-start, you're probably not getting good news, but with the Mavs' seeding mostly decided anything is possible.

Kris Humphries – He will be out through Tuesday's game with heel and ankle injuries, and with four games next week there may be some hope if a positive report emerges before lineup deadlines on Tuesday. With Avery Johnson steering the ship, however, I'm already making contingency plans because anything he says simply can't be trusted. As for the Humph's replacements, most notably Brandan Wright, they can't be trusted, either. Wright double-doubled on Friday with 15 points and 11 rebounds after starting the second half, and backed it up with a three-minute outing in Sunday's game after getting yanked by a disgusted Napoleon. Good luck with that, Brandan.

Devin Harris – Betting on his hamstring to heal is risky business, and if it doesn't, then Earl Watson will be the guy to watch if you're PG desperate. And with his low-end production also not guaranteed he is a tough play, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him platoon with newcomer Kyle Weaver, who had 19 points in 29 minutes on Sunday.

Stephen Jackson – Paul Silas is "hopeful" that he can play Tuesday, and with the Bobcats' playoff chances hanging in the balance, I wouldn't be surprised to see him go. Even in a four-game week, however, the chance for an in-game injury is too high here unless you're feeling really, really lucky. Dante Cunningham made some noise in his stead with a season-high 21 points on Friday, but predictably disappeared on Sunday with just four points and five boards. Boris Diaw is the guy that needs to step up, and while he got benched on Sunday in the fourth quarter for his extreme fear of assertion, in a four-game week he'll be a tough guy to bench. Add into the mix that the Bobcats dressed just nine guys on Sunday and Tyrus Thomas might not be available, I like my chances with Diaw. D.J. Augustin's ankle appears to be fine and he made things right with owners with a 21-point, seven-assist outing, though I expect him to struggle a bit with teams able to bear down on him if Jackson can't play. Again, like Diaw, benching him in a four-game week will be tough.

Mo Williams – He has no listed injury, but I wouldn't be surprised if one popped up. After two straight hideous games over the weekend in which he totaled just 14 points and six assists, he's either deferring, depressed, or debilitated – and none of those things are paying the bills. The Clippers do play four games this week, but Williams is not a must-start play, and Eric Bledsoe will be worth keeping on your radar.

Carlos Delfino – He capped his return to his normally inconsistent ways with a rib injury that kept him out of Saturday's game, and with the Bucks having very little chance of contending for a playoff spot, I'm sensing we're about to see the old Scott Skiles that changes the rotation nightly. Add into the mix that Drew Gooden has returned and earned 20-25 mpg at least going forward, that Corey Maggette is now getting 22 mpg again, and Ersan Ilyasova is participating in shooting drills as if he is eyeballing a return – there are a ton of red flags, here. The Bucks do have four games, but I'd need a pretty good report from a non-existent Milwaukee press before I'm hitting the play button here.

Joakim Noah – All signs point to him playing Tuesday after missing most of this past week with an ankle injury, though Thibs isn't adverse to resting guys down the stretch. The Chicago press is pretty good about getting updates to us in advance of gametime, so owners likely won't have to make a blind decision, but if I had to decide right now I'd roll the dice.

Deron Williams – He played just 22 minutes on Friday due to the blowout loss, but backed it up with 18 points, three rebounds, and 12 assists over 41 minutes in Sunday's game. The story is that he's going to play the season out unless he suffers a setback, though he is just one bad play away from sitting down. As long as no new reports emerge, I think you have to roll him out there unless your safer alternative doesn't have too much drop-off. And if you're holding Jordan Farmar, unless he's the best stash you can find and you can afford to hold him, it's time to move on to a productive player.

Baron Davis – His knee and back could cause him to get shutdown at any time, but for now, he looks like he has a decent shot at finishing the year. And with numbers like the 22 points, six assists, and five threes he put up in Sunday's game, he'll be a hard guy to bench in the Cavs' four-game week. Consider him to be a less valuable version of D-Will, in the sense that I'm only benching him if a safer option doesn't have too much falloff. As for his backup, Ramon Sessions, he is producing enough to be started in most (if not all) formats, with the upside that Davis could go down at any time and turn over the reins. The only concern there is if a report emerges that his hernia injury has acted up, which to date hasn't.

Nick Young – He missed Sunday's game with his knee injury, and while he's day-to-day, it seems silly to throw him on the court just to see him hurt it again. Either way, you're not benching Jordan Crawford and you're not counting on Young this week – so there's not much to see, here. Andray Blatche probably sat on a lot of benches this past week, with his 36 points and career-high 19 rebounds (16 offensive) staring owners in the face. He is playing with energy and unless you hear about an aggravation of his shoulder injury, he needs to be in all lineups during the Wizards' four-game week.

 

[HacheMan]

Sacramento: Losing Its Crown
When was the last time you decided to do something big? I'm not even talking about going to college, starting a company or getting married – I'm talking about affecting social change.

This week's Step-back Three takes a break from its normal format to acknowledge the situation in Sacramento, where a city on the brink of financial disaster knows that they have a basketball team for at least a few more weeks. And while the city politicians have squandered opportunity after opportunity to keep the Kings in town, a local group has stepped up to try to save their team.

I had the opportunity to speak with the leader of that movement – a man who goes by the name Carmichael Dave. Immediately after setting the recorder down, it was easy to understand how he accomplished more in one minute than local government did in 10 years. Maybe it was the throng of ideas he had, or maybe because it felt like I was talking to Sir Isaac Newton about a siege of Snookies.

Or maybe it is the arsenal of votes that he's bringing to City Hall on Tuesday afternoon – and the fact that he's not asking them to do backflips. He's expecting it, he's televising it, and you won't need pay-per-view to see it.

But what becomes crystal clear just as fast as you listen to him – is that history is being made in Sacramento. Somewhere down the line, a different team and a different city will lose their common ground, and the Cowbell Kingdom will be the blueprint that all sides use to plot their path.

Save their team – and they will have saved the jobs of thousands and the hopes of millions.

Their message to the rest of the country? Don't wait for a broken system of broken souls to do what it should be doing on behalf of the citizens that empower it.

As of the time of this writing, the #HereWeBuild movement (located here) has secured nearly a half-million dollars in pledges for a new arena in Sacramento, in just about the time it takes for a loaf of bread to grow moldy.

And while the sheer force of the #HereWeBuild movement is a riveting display of technology unleashed, the more human story of a desperate, yet resiliently positive group of citizens fighting for their team -- as if it were a member of their family -- is much more salient. Make no mistake, hanging in the balance is the economic fate of over two million people, who may not even know or care to admit it yet, but their lives are about to get more difficult, and in many cases more miserable than they already are.

Can one man, a Twitter account, and a rabid fan base pull together an upset for the ages? Carmichael Dave will be the first one to admit that the odds are long. The group will march on City Hall today, but it's the behind the scenes work that's going to dictate if they can make some change. And with thousands of jobs shoved to the center of the pot, and the mental and financial health of the 20th largest market in the United States on the line – one man stands at the forefront of affecting social change.

Tell our readers a little bit about yourself

I've been a Kings fan my whole life. I've been a sports fan my whole life. I was a caller to the (local radio station) KHTK since I was 13 years old, and that's where I got my name. I was Dave in Carmichael, which is a suburb in Sacramento, like Fred in Fair Oaks or John in Citrus Heights, and like a number of callers whose names get switched around by the hosts I became Carmichael Dave. I then interned for the station for a while doing sports updates, and finally got my job there with the Carmichael Dave Show. I took a bit of a different road, and I literally am a fan with a microphone.

By now everybody knows that Kings owners Joe and Gavin Maloof are considering moving the team to Anaheim, and they will have to make a decision by April 18 whether or not they want to move pull the trigger. There is a chance the other owners could vote to block the move, but most think that the move will be approved. Now all of a sudden the #HereWeBuild movement has popped up on billboards, TV, and the Internet with just two weeks to go. So tell our readers what #HereWeBuild is and what it expects to accomplish in such little time.

Well, #HereWeBuild is as grassroots as it gets. It was me responding to the Anaheim city council voting 5-0 to approve $75 million in bonds for the Honda Center to help the Kings move down there, and I sent out a tweet on Twitter saying 'Carmichael Dave votes 1-0 to pay $200 out of his pocket toward a new arena who's with me.' So I sent out a few more tweets, and got a few more responses, and I sent out a few more tweets and got a ton of response and within a few hours, I think within three hours we raised our first $100,000 online. Jiffy Lube of Sacramento, a local business here, donated $30,000 of that and by the next morning had six digital billboards around Sacramento – very viewable, in very high traffic areas, each with the #HereWeBuild Twitter hashtag and a running total of what we had raised.

The goal, part of it, we're accomplishing it as we speak. The goal was to fix the tenor of the conversation here locally in Sacramento, which was extremely negative, with the towel pretty much thrown in not just by our city council but by our mayor himself in many senses. A lot of negative publicity has turned over the last three, four, five days into positive publicity. We've been on the front page of the Sacramento Bee, we've been on every TV station here in town, numerous blogs, the New York Times, and with you guys – and instead of the focus being 'the Kings are leaving, the Maloofs and the city council are fighting, and Sacramento's going to be without a team in two weeks,' it's now turned to 'well that still all may very well happen, but in the meantime the fans are speaking up and they're putting their money where their mouths are and trying to make a difference.'

It's a Hail Mary pass, it's the bottom of the ninth, it's the 15th round – whatever sports analogy you want to use. But we're going down with a fight, which is a lot more different than things were going just a few days ago.

I've never seen anything like this move quite so quickly, and I think it speaks to the power of social media and Twitter. What has Twitter meant to #HereWeBuild as an organization?

If #HereWeBuild is a house, Twitter is the foundation and the first floor. It's the start, it's the genesis, it's everything. Just a few years ago in order to reach a large audience you had to, at best, maybe have a website, put something up there and hope people went to that website via email or word of mouth. Twitter is basically a global text message to whomever is following you, and whoever is following them, and so on. This infinite loop of eyes looks at a very short, sweet statement in 140 characters, and they run with it. And really, that's why this happened so quickly, that's why this has spread like wildfire. Now we brought in a website, we brought in Facebook, and we brought in traditional media and word of mouth. As for Twitter, before we started this interview I sent out a tweet that was updating the media about what we had done this evening and what was coming tomorrow, and already it's been seen by more than 100s of thousands of eyes – and that's at a late hour on a Sunday evening.

So Twitter's everything, it's gotten us off the ground and then some, but now we need real life events and efforts to continue our momentum.

I saw you on the local Fox 40 news report saying that the next steps for #HereWeBuild included looking for the 'smart kids in class.' Why are you looking for the 'smart kids in class' and what are the next steps for #HereWeBuild.

That's the question and answer right there. We're looking to hear from the smart kids in class because we're looking to get to the next step – because this thing has been so fluid. And even as this thing grew – I didn't believe it would grow this much, nobody does when things like this happen. And nothing, as you said, like this has ever happened before in this capacity. As it exploded I started to feel a weight on my shoulders and a good weight, that in order for this thing to work, we have to move it somehow. We have to keep momentum going.

Now we have all these pledges out there but its Monopoly money, it's not real. It's pledges, just like any telethon, but we haven't cashed them – and that's gotten us a lot of good PR. The next step is to turn that into actual dollars, so what I need, and my thing from the get-go, from day one, is that we won't collect a dollar of pledges until we have assurances that all laws are being followed, that everybody is protected, and that the goals of the movement are spelled out ad nausea, and let's face it – we're realists here. We know that the odds are against this thing being successful, so there's more than a decent chance that every penny is going to have to be returned. And if the people of Sacramento and the surrounding regions that are Kings fans, when they are losing their homes and losing their jobs, and they're still willing to dig into their piggy banks and to donate whatever they can – I need to give them assurances.

<!--RW-->Along the lines of those assurances, how are you guys going to handle the money?

Like I said from the get go, I don't want a penny to come in of people's hard earned money, or to break their piggy banks after they lost their jobs, or they're $100K or $200K upside down on their mortgage – which is very prevalent in the Sacramento area, until we can guarantee that every penny goes back. Nobody's making a dime on this thing, there's not a percentage going to administration, there's none of that. So in order to accomplish that goal of 100%, and not that fake charitable 100% where really 80% goes to the cause, 100 percent of every dime goes to the arena fund. And if no arena is built, and it's more than likely that it won't be – then all those monies go back.

In order to accomplish that goal I need 'legal,' I need an accounting firm, we need a financial institution willing to do a herculean task of not just the intake but the release of those pledges back to the individuals, and many other things – web services, PR, all the stuff a good movement needs to make sure they're maximizing the voices of the people participating – the citizens! So we're trying to slam this thing together, and we need these groups who in most cases are extremely high-paid members of our business community, to come in pro bono, to come in and donate their time and efforts and resources to help us get to that goal -- which is bringing in pledges, starting a fund in escrow, which we will turn over to the city once they have cut a deal to build an arena and entertainment complex for the Kings and other tenants they will have throughout the year.

Has the ICON-David Taylor group, who was commissioned to do a feasibility study regarding the building of an arena for the Kings in Sacramento, contacted you regarding #HereWeBuild.

I haven't spoken to the ICON group, but I did speak to the mayor's office on Sunday. One question I asked very specifically was 'are we anywhere close to putting a dollar amount on what it's going to take to build the arena,' and I was told, 'no we're not there yet.' And I appreciate that, I understand that they don't want to give out false numbers and oversell or undersell, but the bottom line is that they don't have a number. So no I haven't been contacted by the arena group, and really I hope to at some point. If they want to get their hands on the money we're raising, they're going to need to contact us because part of what we're doing is contingent on their plan. They are one of the most important entities in this entire thing right now, and unfortunately their timetable doesn't seem to be meshing with the Maloof or NBA timetable so that remains to be seen.

Now a lot of folks remember the Kings from the Chris Webber and Vlade Divac days, they remember the cowbells and the sold out arena, but many of our readers across the nation and world might not know much about Sacramento. Can you tell our readers, what does the team mean for the city and how would losing the team be different for Sacramento than a city like Seattle, that lost a team a few years back?

I have been to Seattle, and Seattle is a gorgeous town with a fantastic nightlife and weather, as long as you like a little bit of rain. Most importantly, just from a sports point of view, although the loss of the Sonics was tragic –they also have the Seattle Mariners baseball team, the Seattle Seahawks football team, there's hockey up in Vancouver, there's college sports like the University of Washington nearby. They have a very viable sports scene without the Sonics, though it knocked a leg out from under them. But it's the same if you look at the Cleveland Browns, they have the Indians or Cavaliers, and if you look at most towns that have lost franchises – the Baltimore Colts when they moved to Indianapolis, they had the Orioles.

We have nothing. Sacramento's not a destination town, it's a government town. Sacramento is near things – it's near San Francisco, it's near Lake Tahoe, and it's a quick flight to Los Angeles and San Diego, and Yosemite is down the road. That's what we have. We have location near things. We don't have another team. With apologies to the Sacramento River Cats, but it's minor league baseball. Listen, there was a recent survey done, one of those national magazines puts out a misery index – the most miserable places to live in the country – and Sacramento, Stockton, and Modesto, which is the television market here, they were three of the top five miserable places in the entire country. One TV market holds three of the top five spots – that gives you an idea of how tough it is here.

And listen, this arena should have been built, but I'm not going to trash the city or its citizens when people are losing their homes. There's a homeless problem, class sizes are too high, and the city doesn't have a lot of money, because they don't have a lot of tourism. They don't have a lot of things to pick from. Anaheim can issue $75 million in bonds cause they have Disneyland! It's a destination place, people vacation to Anaheim. I've never watched the Price is Right and seen one of the prizes in the showcase be 'you've won an all-expense trip paid to Sacramento!' It doesn't happen.

So, back in 2002, the early part of this decade, people were flying flags with Kings on it. They were lining up round the block at the local Carl's Jr. for bobble head day, there was water cooler talk – and the thing I have to underline here, is that you can't quantify the complete value of the Sacramento Kings to this town. You can't put a dollar amount on when you go to work all day long and you come home, and you're worried about your mortgage, and your job, and you have a couple of kids that need to go to college and you don't know how you're going to do it – you can't put a dollar value on the ability to flop down on the couch and feel a little bit of civic pride while watching your basketball team, and win or lose, your mind gets away from the normal discourse of the day.

However you slice it, billions upon billions of dollars a year get spent on diversions, whether it's television, movies, video games, sports, or anything like that. People pay a lot of money just to forget for a little bit about real life, and there's not a lot of diversions in Sacramento. The biggest one by far is the Sacramento Kings, and this town which is in the top-5 cities that are the most miserable in the nation to live in right now with a team – is in the process of losing its crown jewel. It's a tragedy.

On the point of unquantifiable evidence, I agree that it's hard to quantify all of the benefit the Kings have to the region, but the Sacramento Business Journal actually quantified it and they pegged it at about $100 million per year. Now, you have a rabid fan base that raised a record number of funds, even if it is in Monopoly money, and there is an undisputed loss that this region is going to take if the Kings leave town. It seems to me that this should have been solved 10 years ago. What do you think the reason is that we're not at 'point B' right now?

Why do I think the reason is that we don't have an arena? Well, I know that there's a lot of people, whether they're listening or reading, that have never been to Sacramento, but I can tell you that as somebody that lives in Sacramento – if somebody asked me 'what is the last thing Sacramento accomplished, what is the last thing other than the Kings making the Western Conference Finals, or anything Kings related, what was the last thing this town accomplished?' I can't think of one, I can't, I cannot.

This town is perhaps, maybe other than Washington – which is the seed of government for the entire world, the most red-tape filled, bureaucratic, posturing, ego-driven town you can imagine. Nothing gets done. There's an old acronym, NIMBY, which stands for 'not in my back yard.' People in this town are all for things. They're willing to speak up for or against things, but don't do it near them. Don't' involve them. Don't make them pay for it. They don't want to do it.

The problem is, in my opinion, that we have a very misshaped seat of power here in Sacramento. We have people running this city that really are an old guard, they're in over their heads and they lack a vision, and most importantly, they lack courage. They lack courage to put themselves and their careers, their egos and their images, on the line.

Why haven't we discussed publicly a surcharge on all tickets for anything at the arena to help fund this? Why is the city of Sacramento, which has a relatively small number of attendees at arena events percentage-wise, the only city in the region in the discussion? You've got Yolo County, Placer County, you got suburbs all over the place that fall outside the jurisdiction of the city of Sacramento – that aren't involved in this process. Why isn't there a joint powers authority? Why hasn't that been created? Why isn't the county getting involved? Why is it a small sliver of the fan base of the Sacramento Kings that is trying to shoulder the entire process?

Just a few years ago we had a gorgeous, some say the best, minor league baseball facility (in the nation) built at Raley Field, but it's in (the separate city of) West Sacramento, which is led by a young, very dynamic mayor that somehow found a way to get things done. West Sacramento has leaders that get things done. If they can do that, and they're just a tiny little city, you're telling me that the 25th largest TV market in the country and the surrounding areas where millions of people live, they can't get an arena done and they've had 10 years with this on the front burner – it's because they're inept. It's because they're stubborn, and it's because they're obtuse – that's the problem.

<!--RW-->Many folks in Sacramento are against using public funds for an arena. What would you say to them?

I'd say that you know what, I don't want to pave a road in South Sacramento that I'm never gonna use. I don't want to pay for my neighbor on the other side of the city to have his kids have better books than my kids at school. I don't want to pay for some homeless person, through no fault of my own, that didn't make it in this world – and now I have to feed them or clothe them? I don't want my dollars that I need to save so that my three and two-year old children can go to college some day, and in the meantime wear clothes on their back and go to preschool, going to some family to eat and live because they're on welfare.

I don't want to do that, but you know what, that's the only way that this country works.

Sometimes you have to pay for things that you'll never see in front of your face. Look, we pay 'x' amount of dollars to re-pave a freeway, well I can't remember the last time I drove around and I saw one of those signs that said 'your tax dollars at work, check out this new lane on this main drag here' – and that got me out of my seat screaming in fury. I can't remember the last time that I went and bought a t-shirt that said 'I fed a homeless person' on the back. That doesn't mean they're not worthy causes, but they don't cater to your heart and your soul like a professional sports franchise does. And if you're not a basketball fan and you're not going to watch the Sacramento Kings, well guess what, there's a lot of things that you benefit from in life – like that police officer that came to your house and investigated that burglary, or that ambulance that rolled over to your grandmother's house and saved her life after she had a heart attack.

But you were willing to do that because that's how this country works. Well, this is something that affects hundreds of thousands of people every year, this is something that instills civic pride. And, oh and by the way as you quoted in the Sacramento Business Journal, this is something that brings hundreds of millions of dollars of revenue over the years into the city of Sacramento and is one of the few destination activities that Sacramento has. So I say deal with it – you know what, that's the way it happens and that's the way it works and it's the only way we're going to be a viable city. Otherwise, just sit back on your lawn chair, drink your wine cooler, and watch the tumbleweeds roll by because that's where we're headed.

Kevin Johnson rode into office on a wave of popularity. He's a local kid that did well, he made it in the NBA, and he became the mayor of Sacramento. Where does he stand on all of this, has he been involved, and is he going to get involved with #HereWeBuild?

The only way Kevin Johnson and the city are going to get involved with #HereWeBuild is when we write them a check after they decide to build an arena. I don't want any of their hands near this. Now I spoke to the mayor's office and they said that they're supportive and I appreciate that, I really do. It helps to have that involvement, and if the mayor wants to get on board with us, and the mayor wants to support us, that's fine. But I have nothing more to say to the mayor, and we at #HereWeBuild have nothing to say to the city council other than 'you failed.' You failed and we're doing what you can't, and you better figure it out, because you're our employees. You don't have tenure. You get voted in and you get voted out.

Kevin Johnson I think is a good person, I do, I think he means well. I think he wants to keep this team to stay in Sacramento as I do, or any Kings fan does. I mean geez, the guy played point guard in the NBA for over a decade. There's nobody that's a bigger basketball fan than Kevin Johnson, and I truly do believe that. But Kevin's not a politician, and a lot of times that's a good thing, but in this case it's not.

He's surrounded by people, in my opinion, that are giving him bad information. There has been PR catastrophe after PR catastrophe involved in this whole thing, there's been grandstanding, there's been egos that are prevalent in the old guard that defines the way that the city of Sacramento runs. His official spokesperson, is an old newspaper guy that for years was slamming the Kings around. A very snarky guy, somehow got hired to be the voice of the mayor of Sacramento, and said in a national newspaper that the city of Sacramento felt it was "good riddance" for the Kings to leave. Well, that's not the case, and the mayor recently said that he took his spokesman out back and "took him to the woodshed" in his own words. It's a small microcosm of the missteps, misdirection, and ineptitude coming out of not just the mayor's office but the city council in general. So I believe he's a good dude, I believe he wants the team to stay here, but I don't think he knows how and I think he needs help. Hopefully that help will come because I don't think he can do it on his own.

There are a lot of rumors and stories about varying efforts by fans working to try to save the Kings. Is #HereWeBuild a part of the effort to go down to Anaheim and collective signatures for a petition to reject the $75 million bond measure for improvements on the Honda Center?

Well if you're putting this print, please put a big giant capital 'N' and a capital 'O,' then underline it and underscore it and put a highlighter on it so it looks like the sun is shining on it. No, no, not anywhere close. No way, no way, shape, or form. That is the antithesis of what we're trying to do.

Now I understand that, as I've said many times during this interview that if there's one thing that Sacramento knows how to do is red tape and bureaucracy, who knows – if they're going to delay this team leaving, if they're going to have success in that capacity in any way, rather than rolling up their sleeves and getting something done, it's very Sacramento-like to find a loophole, to find some red tape, to find some bylaw on the 300th page of a booklet that they can try to exploit. But, that's the opposite of what we're trying to do. We may both have the same goal, which is to keep the team here, we have entirely different ways of going about it.

Our job, and our goal, and our attempt is to have a positive conversation – not just with the fans, not just with the city council, but most importantly perhaps with the Maloof family which owns the Sacramento Kings and holds the fate of the franchise in their hands. We want them to know that we understand that there have been mistakes made on the side of Sacramento, and we also understand that there have been mistakes made by the Maloof family and I'm sure they'd be the first ones to tell you that – but there's no place for blame here and there's no place for grandstanding as I said before.

We want them to stay and we want them to know that part of the reason for that is that we have love for the franchise they own. It means more to us than just a basketball on a court, it's civic pride. We want them, if they were to announce to stay, to do it because they want to be here and it makes financial and business sense. Not because we forced them to on a technicality, and thus drove even more of a wedge between them and the city that they employ over 1,000 people in. And I believe that the Maloofs know, I know they know – I would bet money, that they know the fans love the team, and I don't think the Maloofs have any issues with the fans. I can't speak for them, but I'd bet all the money in my pockets and all the money in yours that the Maloofs have not one inkling of ill-will toward the fans of Sacramento.

Their issues fall entirely with the city of Sacramento, and like any big business owners, this isn't anything new. Sacramento is not home to tons of major corporations. Even the smaller market teams like Charlotte have a ton of banks headquartered in their city, and you can go down the road to San Jose where they have many multi-billion dollar companies. Big business does not find a comfortable home in Sacramento because Sacramento does not make it comfortable for big business. So, the Maloofs and the Sacramento Kings are just a small little sliver of the issues Sacramento has in their attitude toward big business. Sacramento asks 'what can you do for us, what can we exploit, and we're not going to lift a finger to help you because you're rich.' And you know what, whether they're right or wrong, that's not how you attract, and more importantly, that's not how you keep big businesses. That's the bottom line. So no, we're not involved in that movement, and you can put a big period behind that.

If you had 15 minutes with the Maloofs, what would you say to them?

Well first I'd like that really cool basketball suite at the Palms for the weekend. After that, I'd say 'guys, I know you're good guys. I know you're been in the NBA since you were young – since your father George Sr. passed away.'

They love the NBA, they're huge fans. And I would apologize, I would say 'on behalf of my city leaders, who I elect, I apologize. I really do. I don't know why they have egos, I don't know why there has been grandstanding, but there has been. I understand why you don't have a lot of trust or faith in the system here. I understand that it does make some very good business sense to go where you're in the second biggest business market in the United States (in Anaheim), where you have quite a few more million people to draw from, where you will be greeted with open arms, where you have a city council that is issuing money before you have even signed on the dotted line to attract you – yet the city you've been in for over a decade as owners won't lift a finger. I get it. But let's put that aside. You know we want you here. We also know that it's not going to be the easiest road in the world for you to go down there. Come back to the table, let's see what we can do. There's always time to move your team to Anaheim.'

Now Sacramento was never going to do a thing until a gun was pointed to their heads, and the Maloofs have made mistakes along the way, and maybe their biggest mistake came from the right place. I don't believe the Maloofs ever wanted to point the proverbial gun at the city – I don't think they ever wanted to say 'we need an arena by this date or we're leaving.' I think had they done that, yes that would have caused them a lot of negative press in the beginning, but it might have gotten something done by now. I think by them trying to be good guys, and not wanting to hold the city hostage, they might have inadvertently messed up the process.

But maybe they didn't understand the apathy of the city leaders, so even when I say they made a mistake, I have to underline that by saying they might have made a mistake with better intentions. I'd want to bring them back to the table, and I'd want to get everybody talking again. I like to shift their focus, if not completely away from Anaheim, but I'd like to bring an eyeball away from Anaheim – and let them resurvey the situation now that the fans are being heard.

Final question, are the Kings in Sacramento next year?

Well I could be coy and give you the sound bite and say 'I sure hope so' and 'God-willing' and that's all true. You know part of this whole process is cutting through all the BS and getting the answers, and as much as I want to give the positive sound bites, I also want to give straight answers.

If I'm a betting man I say 'no.' I absolutely say 'no.' I think the odds of the Kings being here next season are 90-10 out of 100, but I'll tell you this, I think three days ago it was 95-5, and I think tomorrow it will be 85-15. And as long as we can continue in a very short time before April 15th when the NBA Board of Governors meets, that if we can continue to move that scale little by little, we've got a fighting chance.

Until the moving trucks pull up to Power Balance Pavilion, formerly Arco Arena, and they begin packing up all the gear of the Sacramento Kings franchise – they're still the Sacramento Kings. And as long as they're here, we at #HereWeBuild at least, and the many others that have joined us and will join us in the next few days, we're going to continue to fight for one goal – and that is keeping this franchise here, and building them an arena that they desperately need. That's the best answer that I can give you.





For the 2011 Rotoworld Fantasy Basketball Awards nominees check out Page 4<!--RW-->The 2010-11 Rotoworld Fantasy Basketball Awards

We're going to do things a bit different here, and solicit feedback from our readers and, maybe, actually use that when we meet in the world headquarters over beer and pretzels to make these important life-decisions. So send in your emails, send us your tweets, and without further ado….

Fantasy MVP

Numbers are per-game over the course of the season unless otherwise noted.

Kevin Durant: 27.7 points, 1.9 threes, 6.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.1 steals, 1.0 blocks, 46.1% FG, 88.0% FT, 2.7 TOs
Chris Paul: 16.1 points, 0.9 threes, 4.1 rebounds, 9.8 assists, 2.4 steals, 0.1 blocks, 46.8% FG, 88.3% FT, 2.2 TOs
LeBron James: 26.6 points, 1.2 threes, 7.5 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.6 blocks, 51.0% FG, 75.9% FT, 3.6 TOs

Best Draft Day Value

Kevin Love: 20.2 points, 1.2 threes, 15.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.4 blocks, 47% FG, 85% FT, 2.1 TOs.
Rudy Gay: 19.8 points, 1.1 threes, 6.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.7 steals, 1.1 blocks, 47.1% FG, 80.3% FT, 2.5 TOs.
Channing Frye: 12.6 points, 2.2 threes, 6.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.6 steals, 1.0 blocks, 43.4% FG, 82.5% FT, 1.0 TOs.
Elton Brand: 14.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.2 steals, 1.3 blocks, 50.9% FG, 77.2% FT, 1.3 TOs, 76 games played.

Fantasy Bust of the Year

Gilbert Arenas: 10.7 points, 1.3 threes, 2.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.3 blocks, 36.2% FG, 78,8% FT, 2.6 TOs
Aaron Brooks: 11.0 points, 1.3 threes, 1.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.1 blocks, 37.7% FG, 89.3% FT, 1.6 TOs
Brandon Roy: 12.8 points, 0.9 threes, 2.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.3 blocks, 40.3% FG, 85.8% FT, 1.2 TOs
Tyreke Evans: 17.9 points, 0.8 threes, 4.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.5 blocks, 41.6% FG, 76.6% FT, 3.2 TOs, 52 games played to date.

Waiver Wire Pickup of the Year

Jordan Crawford – Caught fire with 19.6 points, 1.3 threes, 4.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.2 blocks, 40.3% FG, 85.2% FT, and 2.9 TOs per game over the last month.
Marcus Thornton – Ditto. He had 21.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.2 blocks, 44.8% FG, 81.8% FT, and 2.1 TOs in the same time span.
Kyle Lowry – As a starter he has averaged 13.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.3 blocks, 43.9% FG, 76.8% FT, and 2.1 TOs in 69 games. In the last month, he has scored 18.8 points with 2.7 threes, 5.4 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.2 blocks, 46.0% FG, 91.4% FT, and 2.4 TOs