Fantasy related but good info......
Oh Noah
We're finding that the Daily Dose might need to turn into the 'hourly' fix, or the 'minute-by-minute' crack attack with the way news changes the fantasy landscape so fast. Early Wednesday the reports out of Chicago had Joakim Noah battling bruised tendons in his shooting hand, but he was set to play later that day and nobody was overly concerned. An hour later the reports turned troublesome when the Bulls were having thoughts about resting him, and then another hour later came reports that they were "concerned." Still, he went through shootaround and was slated to play against the Raptors, and we were touting him as somebody to think about dealing – but still, this sounded very much like your normal run-of-the-mill hand soreness that guys like Kobe Bryant have dealt with for seasons at a time. Another hour passed and reports worsened. The Bulls still had him slated to play later that night, but they were going to evaluate him Thursday back in Chicago and the possibility of surgery emerged.
Then, owners worst fears were realized when minutes before tip-off the Bulls said he would be undergoing surgery even though he would still play that night. 8-10 weeks was the verdict, and owners were left holding the bag with their seasons hanging in the balance. At least he gave owners his digits before sending them home on the walk of shame with one last double-double for their trouble.
Now more than ever, Twitter has become a necessity for any competitive owner. Here is a list of the Rotoworld basketball crew's twitter addresses. Follow each of us for breaking news, analysis, and get your questions answered in real-time.
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Noah Fallout
Taj Gibson is the biggest beneficiary of this development, and owners would be wise to expect the same type of numbers he has put up in the past when either Noah or Carlos Boozer have been out. This year he has averaged 11.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, 0.9 steals, and 51% shooting from the field in 14 starts with Carlos Boozer out. Last year he averaged around 10 points, eight rebounds, 1.5 blocks, and 0.7 steals in 29 starts with Noah out, with just about 27 minutes per game during each stretch. In other words, he is who we think he is. Those types of numbers can help your team, but owners should use discretion with who they drop for him. I'd take him ahead of inconsistent players like Jason Thompson, Trevor Ariza, Ersan Ilyasova, Drew Gooden, and if you're holding Troy Murphy I say make the move. Depending on if you can afford to wait for upside guys to develop, you may consider taking him as a safer bet compared to guys like Amir Johnson or Tyrus Thomas. Gibson isn't going to help you win your league, but he'll keep you from losing it.
Omer Asik and Kurt Thomas will also see extra time going forward, and could even start, but aren't likely to steal too many minutes away from Gibson. Keep an eye on them in deeper leagues. One interesting note from Wednesday that is more fun than realistic – Rasheed Wallace could be called by former coach Tom Thibodeau to see if he's interested.
While Gibson is the biggest beneficiary from a playing time standpoint, Carlos Boozer will now be free to run wild in the middle with Noah out. Boozer scored a season-high 34 points on 13-of-17 shooting with 12 rebounds, two steals, and a block on Wednesday, and there's no reason to think he can't duplicate his Utah numbers. In fact, if there is a match at PG in the NBA for Deron Williams, it's Derrick Rose. Luol Deng, who was feeling the effects of Boozer's return with decreases of five points, 2.5 rebounds, 0.7 blocks, four FTs, and five FG attempts per game – will now regain a prominent role in the offense.
As for Noah, 10 weeks expires on or around February 23, and he projects to miss about 30 games. Kirk Hinrich had the same exact surgery in the past and it took him nine weeks to return. This leaves him just over a month to impact fantasy leagues if all goes as planned, leaving owners with some decisions to make. For daily leagues and leagues that cause you to maximize your 'games played,' obviously he should be dropped. In weekly leagues and leagues that have limited roster spaces, owners have to take an honest assessment of their chances to win and/or make the playoffs with Noah rotting on the bench, and then make the call.
[SIZE=+1]Melo Drama[/SIZE]
The Carmelo Anthony saga is set to hit the national stage on Thursday night on TNT when the Nuggets take on the Spurs. And though not much has happened since the Nets traded away Terrence Williams and a Denver television station set Twitter on fire with a premature report that the Nets and Nuggets had "agreed to terms" – it's clear that owners need to start thinking about potential trade scenarios.
www.miamiheat.ws
As it stands, the lynchpin of the whole situation lies in Melo's decision to accept a contract extension with the Nets, Knicks, or any other team that tries to make a play for him prior to the trade deadline. The Nuggets are taking calls from a number of teams who are likely looking at scenarios that involve renting him for the stretch run, if indeed things fall through with the Nets or Knicks, who are the only real contenders for his services as of now.
The writing on the wall is pretty clear – Carmelo wants to be a Knick. From a fantasy perspective, that would be the ideal landing spot and the thought of him running up and down the court in Mike D'Antoni's offense is pretty appealing. The Nets, on the other hand, have all of the assets and draft picks the Nuggets are looking for, but according to many insiders they won't be able to sign him to an extension. This, of course, makes sense unless you consider the idea of Melo and Napoleon holding hands and singing
Kumbaya a likely scenario. There are reports that suggest that the Nets might try to pull the trigger on a trade without a guarantee that he will sign, with the hopes that Mikhail Prokhorov and Jay-Z can convince him to stay. On the surface there are some compelling reasons for Melo to consider this – a new arena in his hometown of Brooklyn, the stockpiling of draft picks to go with once-proud Brook Lopez, and the chance to put together a dream team of arm candy including Beyonce, Kim Kardashian, Maria Sharapova, Carmelo's wife Lala Vasquez, and the 20-or-so Russian models that throw rose pedals on the ground in Prokhorov's path as he walks.
I imagine any contract talks would begin and end with Avery Johnson, however. His insistence on defense, complete control, and being first in line at the water fountain pale in comparison to D'Antoni's country club atmosphere, pinball offense, and all that New York has to offer.
Advantage, Donnie Nelson.
Now that Melo has made it public that he will only accept an extension to the Knicks (regardless of what he says to the contrary), the Knicks will be in no hurry to offer a blockbuster package to the Nuggets, even if they could. After all, they can acquire him during free agency under a new CBA for less money, and their only concern will be trying not to rub that fact in Melo's face as the game of chicken goes down to the wire. Meanwhile, the Nuggets' leverage in this matter will be to send him to a playoff contender for the rest of the year (or to be mean, the Kings), which they will pit against the Knicks to get them to up their ante. The Knicks, for their part, simply need to raise their offer one penny higher than any team not named the Nets, so long as Melo doesn't buy what Prokhorov is selling.
Where does all this head? Is your head spinning yet? This goes where all deals go – compromise. While signing him as a free agent will be cheaper, the Knicks will want to keep their superstar happy by extending him under the current CBA, and they will offer a package of Danilo Gallinari, Eddy Curry's expiring contract, a first-round pick (likely picked up by the Knicks via trade of Anthony Randolph), and something in the ballpark of Landry Fields and/or Wilson Chandler. The Nuggets, for all of their bluster, will be forced to accept the deal that they've condemned as being insufficient – because the Nets simply can't mortgage their future on Prokhorov's ability to sell Carmelo on the Nets' vision. Not with Avery Johnson as their head coach. Teams seeking Melo as a one-year rental will not be able to match the Knicks' offer, and Carmelo should ultimately be a Knick.
So, if you own guys like Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, and Wilson Chandler, as hard as it may be to do it, it's time to start thinking about selling high. Felton's value, in particular, is sky high right now and you can bet with Melo around he won't be running nearly as many pick-and-rolls. Chandler, whether he finds himself somewhere new or staying in New York, won't get nearly as many touches, rebounds, etc. The same goes for Gallinari, and while both he and Chandler could easily be as successful in Denver or elsewhere, it's hard to project them in better roles than they have right now. I'm not saying it's time to have a fire sale, it's just something to think about before the writing on the wall turns into ink on a contract.
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[SIZE=+1]Wednesday Night Rundown[/SIZE]
Clippers 91, Sixers 105
Blake Griffin was a monster, as usual, with 20 points while tying his career-high in rebounds with 18 total for his 19th double-double and 13th in a row. He shot just 6-of-16 from the field but hit 8-of-11 free throws, so we'll call that a win. He also took a hard fall when Elton Brand flagrantly fouled him causing him to fall on his back and right elbow, which he's had some problems with already this year. He stayed in the game, but didn't bounce right up like he normally does and it's something for owners to watch going forward.
Baron Davis started his second straight game and scored 18 points on 7-of-14 shooting with two threes and five assists, but started to poop out in the second half with just two points. Eric Bledsoe played just 16 minutes off the bench, and still makes too many mental mistakes to threaten Baron's playing time, so long as Baron can stay healthy. Bledsoe can safely be dropped, while Baron looks ready for use in starting lineups for the time-being. Eric Gordon had his streak of 20-plus point scoring games snapped at 12, scoring 16 points while dealing with a sore wrist. Like Griffin's elbow, Gordon's injury doesn't sound too concerning but it's something to watch.
The Sixers got their third straight win and things appear to be working with them ever since the insertion of Jodie Meeks into the starting lineup. Meeks was just 2-of-9 from the field for nine points, but his outside touch has opened things up offensively for the Sixers. The biggest loser in this equation has been Andre Iguodala, who has not attempted more than 14 shots since Nov. 23 and his last 20-point game was on Nov. 26. Iggy had 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting with four rebounds, five assists, and a block, and also aggravated his Achilles' injury. He said he was 'hopefully' going to play on Friday, and since owners have gotten somewhat numb to this injury now is as good of a time as any to try to move him. Spencer Hawes had another big night with 16 points, 12 rebounds, and five blocks, and it's time to pick him up if you need a big man. He has been prone to inconsistency in the past, but one look at his game log will show a steadily increasing trend line.
Bulls 110, Raptors 93
Derrick Rose played through his wrist injury, and is also dealing with a bruised elbow and hip, but gutted it out to finish with six points on 3-of-9 shooting to go with 11 assists. He simply wasn't needed as the Bulls cruised to their seventh straight win. Joakim Noah had 11 points and 11 rebounds, and Taj Gibson had six points and six rebounds, but as discussed will see a big jump in production going forward.
The Raptors were without the services of Andrea Bargnani on Andrea Bargnani Bobblehead Night, who played through a sore knee on Tuesday only to see it worsen overnight and keep him out on Wednesday. He will get checked out today and we'll know more about it soon. Ed Davis drew his first career start at PF with Amir Johnson sliding over to center, and Davis double-doubled with 10 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks in 32 minutes. If Amir Johnson, who lasted just 20 foul-plagued minutes en route to two points, three rebounds, and two blocks, doesn't get his act together Davis could carve out a role, especially if Bargnani misses time. The other big man vying for Johnson's minutes, Joey Dorsey, also had a nice night with 12 points, a game-high 13 rebounds, and two blocks in 29 minutes. Unfortunately for all of them, they could be headed for a value-killing timeshare if Amir continues to foul his way out of starter's minutes. If you own Amir, try to be patient, but don't do it at the expense of a rock-solid free agent pickup.
The more intriguing part of the Raps' lineup, the backcourt, paid off owners one more time as Jerryd Bayless had 20 points on 9-of-15 shooting with three rebounds and four assists, while Leandro Barbosa scored 21 points on 7-of-13 shooting (with two threes), three rebounds, and two assists in 30 minutes. Of course, Jose Calderon (foot) did not play and is questionable for Friday's game, but both of these guys warrant consideration in most formats. Jay Triano came out and said that Bayless, among others, would be in competition for minutes, and Calderon's owners are correct to worry. Calderon's saving grace is that he is the Raps' only true point guard, and while Bayless has the ability to score, hit threes, and run the pick-and-roll, he often displays questionable decision-making, defense, and for fantasy owners he doesn't block or steal the ball. My guess is that Triano gives Calderon enough rope to hang himself with, and if Calderon is successful he will earn 30+ minutes per game. As for Bayless, he looks great as a combo guard backing up both guard positions at 25-30 minutes per night, but his upside gets capped much more if he only gets 15 minutes at PG and then has to battle Barbosa, DeMar DeRozan, and the other wings for time at SG. Likewise, Barbosa's owners should be watching the PG battle as well, since any minutes held by Calderon will come at the expense of Barbosa in a roundabout way.
Celtics 118, Knicks 116
In what was the most exciting game of the night, the Knicks took their 7-game winning streak up against the Celtics who had won their last 10 games before last night. In the end, Paul Pierce hit his patented step back shot from high post area for the game-winning shot, leaving just 0.4 seconds left on the clock. Amare Stoudemire turned around and buried a three in the game's final play, but it was clearly released after the clock expired.
Stoudemire went on to tie a season-high with 39 points for his ninth-straight 30+ point game, setting a franchise record in the process, and also added 10 rebounds, a steal, and three blocks for good measure. So far, he's earning that $100 million. For those owners that sold low on Amare after his disappointing start, allow me to throw booze in the wound – in his first nine games he was averaging 20 points with eight rebounds on 45% shooting. In the last 17 games? Oh, just 30 points and 10 rebounds on 57% shooting. I hesitated to cover Amare in the Melo trade analysis above, but it stands to reason that his touches would go down as well, making him a sell-high candidate. Think Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Chris Paul, Dirk Nowitzki, Deron Williams, Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry, and Pau Gasol (and not necessarily in that order). Raymond Felton scored 26 points with 14 assists, double-doubling in 7-of-9 games, and is playing like an elite-level PG.
The story for the Celtics was Rajon Rondo, and I would bet a good sum of money that him and Kevin Garnett have thrown down in practice at least five times that we don't know about. Rondo, for his part, needs somebody, Doc Rivers, a teammate, whoever – to protect him from himself. Dealing with foot, ankle, and hamstring injuries, he turned his ankle to a 90-degree angle and had to leave the game. The odd part was the froth coming out of his mouth as he berated his teammates and anybody within earshot for not covering the Knicks' 3-point shooters, while Doc Rivers didn't bench him because he was walking around like Willis Reed – he did it to calm his fiery PG down so he could put him back in the game.
So Rondo says he can play tonight against the Hawks, but will undergo X-rays today to make sure his ankle is still attached, and it sounds like they're going to have to shoot him with a horse tranquilizer to keep him off the court. Frankly, I'm sure there are more than a few of his owners out there that would volunteer to do it. For what it's worth, Paul Pierce doesn't think Rondo will play, nor does the Boston media, and Nate Robinson is a great spot-start if Rondo can't go. Aside from the game-winner, Pierce had a season-high 32 points with 10 rebounds and two threes, and for my money there are not many other people in the NBA I would want taking the final shot.
UPDATE: Danny Ainge told radio station WEEI that Rondo would miss a "couple of weeks" and that he was on crutches after Wednesday's game. Nate Robinson should be added in most scenarios with this news.
Lakers 109, Pacers 94
The Lakers avenged the Pacers' win at Staples Center earlier in the year with not much sweat. Kobe Bryant was content to pass the ball early in the first half, but broke out the trick shots in the second half on his way to 31 points on 11-of-18 shooting, four treys, and six assists. Pau Gasol also got his revenge on Roy Hibbert, getting him into early foul trouble and then finishing him off with 28 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and two blocks. Lamar Odom had 13 points and 17 rebounds, and has averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds on 58.6% shooting to start the year. Andrew Bynum is slowly getting himself together, and had just three points and five rebounds in 17 minutes, but should be starting and getting between 22-28 minutes in about 2-3 weeks. As for Odom, with Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol needing to be preserved and Bynum being an injury risk, this year feels different in terms of Bynum's potential impact on his stats. I'm predicting he only loses half the value he did last year, which means owners are probably better off hanging on than selling him when folks are concerned.
Ron Artest scored in double-figures for the second straight game with 13 points after going six games without, and has a sweet art show coming up in Toronto.
The Pacers were shot from the beginning tonight but there was a bit of good news for Darren Collison, who finally got a full complement of minutes with 33 total, and saw action during the fourth quarter after riding the bench for the last two games during the final frame. He finished with 17 points and six assists, so hopefully this is a sign of things to come. Roy Hibbert, on the other hand, is still struggling and sounds like a beaten man. Yes, he has had his problems recently, but prior to this last week you'd have to look hard to find anybody outside of Obie's office that felt he wasn't playing at a near All Star level. Obie said after the game that he would have benched Hibbert last night if "he had options."
As mentioned, Gasol had his number tonight and Roy finished with 12 points, six rebounds, and three blocks after some early foul trouble. Danny Granger played through an ankle injury and hit just 5-of-13 shots for 13 points, three rebounds, and two assists, and is laboring through a pretty disappointing December. Josh McRoberts also felt the wrath of Obie for his inability to rebound, and was benched in the second half for Tyler Hansbrough, who finished with four points and two boards in 11 minutes. McRoberts did practically nothing in 14 minutes, and has played just 30 minutes total in his last two games.
Cavs 95, Heat 101
In a game that I almost forgot to switch to last night, the Cavs played like junkyard dogs against the Heat – which may actually be
more insulting to Cavs fans knowing they had it in them but they couldn't deliver when it mattered. There were hard fouls, and Antawn Jamison actually clotheslined LeBron. Well, it was on accident, but hey it's a start if you're a Cleveland fan. Byron Scott pulled out all the stops by paring down his rotation to eight guys while playing the starters heavy minutes. Daniel Gibson, the target of Cavs fans' ire for weeks, scored a season-high 26 points on 10-of-16 shooting (including four treys) with three rebound and four assists. If for some reason he was on your league's waiver wire, he isn't anymore. Anderson Varejao has been an animal lately, and had 18 points and 15 rebounds last night. He's quietly 12th in the NBA in rebounding with 9.6 per game.
The Heat gave the Cavs their ninth loss in a row and won their 10th straight game, but did not tie an NBA record for consecutive wins in double-digits. Dwyane Wade took over late with 17 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter, and has now scored 25+ points in seven straight games. He did aggravate his left wrist during the game, and owners should know by now to watch his injuries like a hawk. LeBron James struggled hitting just 5-of-15 shots from the field for 21 points, but turned his attention to the glass with a season-high 13 rebounds. His owner is probably attached to his name and his potential, but now is as good of a time as any to float a buy-low offer, knowing things are improving steadily for him and Wade's injury risk is always high. He'll be a monster if Wade ever goes out.
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Kings 91, Hornets 94
The Kings had everything rolling on Wednesday. Tyreke Evans (foot) surprisingly gave it go and helped lead the Kings to a 23-point advantage, finishing with 22 points on 9-of-18 shooting with four rebounds and seven assists in 42 minutes. DeMarcus Cousins was strong early, and despite foul trouble, finished with 13 points and seven rebounds, and Beno Udrih scored 20 points on 9-of-15 shooting with six rebounds, four assists, and three steals. The only problem? The Hornets came roaring back on the heels of Marcus Thornton's big night and won the game.
For those who picked up Francisco Garcia, they were treated to a DNP-CD, while Samuel Dalembert continued to struggle with just two points, four rebounds, and two blocks in 18 minutes. Jason Thompson proved his inconsistency after a decent three-game stretch with just four points, six rebounds, and no steals or blocks in 29 minutes, while backup Carl Landry made some noise with 13 points, six boards, and nothing else. The bottom line is that these four should be on benches or the waiver wire. Thompson can be dropped for a hot free agent, while Dalembert's owners may want to see if he turns it around, since blocks specialists like him can be hard to find. Landry needs to show me a lot more before I'm picking him up in any leagues.
As mentioned, the Hornets completed their biggest comeback in franchise history and they owe most of it to the play of Marcus Thornton, who scored a season-high 19 points on 8-of-15 shooting with two threes, four rebounds, a steal, and a block in 24 minutes. His tip-in late in the game sealed the win and brought the pro-Thornton crowd to a frenzy. Now before you go running to the wire, consider that after the game Monty Williams chose not to praise Thornton, instead telling the media that his "offense can cover up a lot of mistakes." The Hornets won for just the fourth time in 13 games, and one has to think somebody will point out to rookie coach Williams that when the homegrown fan favorite helps give you a 'W," that then is not the time to try to defend your coaching decisions. By most observers recounts of the game, Thornton
did play good defense, so I'll certainly be watching the game-tape on this one.
The big loser in last night's game was Trevor Ariza, who did not score on 0-for-3 shooting in 20 minutes of play, and had no part in last night's comeback win. Synergy Sports ranks him 270th in the NBA in scoring efficiency, which is a nice way of saying he has no business shooting the ball ever, and owners should feel free to drop him for a hot free agent. Yes, he could have value down the road, but he has done nothing this year to suggest that he has the type of upside that roster stashes are made of.
Rockets 105, Thunder 117
Terrence Williams was officially acquired but wasn't with the team last night, and Rick Adelman said that he wasn't going to rush him into action. This sounds like a 2-3 week project before we find out where his value levels out at, so owners who picked him up should plan accordingly. He has a bit of competition in the backcourt, but the Rockets didn't trade for him to not give him a chance. 20-30 minutes sounds like a safe bet, and with the skilled players the Rockets have his playmaking abilities fit right in.
As for the game, the Thunder shot 57% from the field and the Rockets simply couldn't keep up. Kevin Durant, fresh off of being named the USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year, went on to score 32 points on 12-of-18 shooting with seven rebounds and four assists. He's a notably slow starter and luckily for anybody trying to buy him low he was in a bit of foul trouble, as he would have easily scored 40 points. If you have Amare Stoudemire, now is the time to try to make the move for Durant.
Thabo Sefolosha had season-highs with 15 points and nine rebounds, and included in his one steal and two blocks was a spectacular chase-down block of a Kevin Martin dunk attempt. Nenad Krstic (back) was out again, but Serge Ibaka was frustrated all night by Luis Scola defensively, and had just eight points and seven rebounds with no blocks. The book is out on him, aside from his silky-smooth mid-range jumper he's never met a pump fake he didn't like.
As for the Rockets, the most recent word is that Aaron Brooks is struggling in his rehab. He felt worse after his first practice on Monday than he thought he would, and the Rockets' next full practice for him to participate in won't be until after their 3-game road trip ending next Thursday. It sounds like Kyle Lowry's owners may have the benefit of this week and next.
Bobcats 80, Grizzlies 113
Easily the biggest story in Memphis other than Gerald Wallace's ankle injury was the return of O.J. Mayo to fantasy relevance. Mayo scored 24 points off the bench, hitting 10-of-15 shots from the field (including three treys) with four assists in 24 minutes. If he was dropped this is your signal to pick him up, but let me be the first one to say he has a ways to go before he can be trusted again. The best-case scenario for owners is a trade out of town, and his 'availability' may actually be the only thing keeping Lionel Hollins from burying him even further on the bench.
The Bobcats on the other hand, were lifeless. They allowed a five-on-zero fastbreak that sent Larry Brown into an outrage, and he called out his entire team during and after the game. Dominic McGuire drew the start for Gerald Wallace (ankle) and had eight points, seven boards, and two blocks, and could be worth a look in deeper leagues while Wallace is out. Wallace said yesterday that can't even walk on his ankle without his walking boot, so needless to say we're calling him questionable for Friday's game against the Hawks. D.J. Augustin continued to pull himself up off the ground despite the loss with 10 points, five rebounds, seven assists, three steals, and two threes on 3-of-8 shooting.
Bucks 90, Spurs 92
In the night-cap the second-most exciting game came down to a Manu Ginobili last-second shot, that replays showed looked like a travel. The refs didn't feel that way and it goes down as the first game-winning shot of his career, believe it or not. He finished with 26 points on 9-of-13 shooting with two threes, six rebounds, four assists, and a steal. Tony Parker wasn't bothered by the splint on his hand and finished with 16 points and eight rebounds, and may have been buoyed by a visit with Eva Longoria at a BBQ restaurant earlier in the day. I'm buoyed just thinking about it. Tiago Splitter left after a shot to the groin and DeJuan Blair left with a sore knee, but both expect to play later tonight against the Nuggets. Blair has shown flashes recently, but as evidenced by his six-point, three-rebound line last night, he's still much too inconsistent to be a must-own.
Tim Duncan had 13 points, 11 rebounds, and a season-high seven blocks last night. While he is a DNP risk and should generally be viewed as an asset that owners want to move for the right price, he is still capable of monster lines and is a must-start. That is, unless, you get the sense that he's due for a rest.
The Bucks came into last night's game with a bold new lineup, starting Chris Douglas-Roberts at SF and Ersan Ilyasova at PF, in a move that should be met with optimism from fantasy owners. Ilyasova has always put up good numbers as a starter, and had 13 points with six boards, a steal, and a block. As for CDR, he put on a show last night with 21 points on 8-of-15 shooting with two threes, three boards, two assists, two steals, and a block. Granted, John Salmons (back) did not start and we know that Carlos Delfino could return someday, but there is a ton to like about CDR. He was a play-maker in the truest sense on Wednesday, and could be exactly what the Bucks' offense needs to gain some respectability. Lord knows John Salmons hasn't been the answer.
Andrew Bogut started despite having a migraine on Tuesday night, and scored 15 points with seven rebounds and seven blocks. He's going to be an animal when starting, but I'm still trying to sell him wherever I can due to all of his injury risk. Drew Gooden had a very nice game coming off the bench with 20 points and 11 rebounds, and is worth a look if you need a big man. Yes, he'll be inconsistent coming off the bench and things could get crowded pretty quick, but he created some separation with last night's performance. Brandon Jennings had a rough night shooting the ball, hitting just 4-of-18 shots from the field on his way to 12 points and seven assists, but more importantly he took a rough tumble toward the end of the second quarter and left with a left knee injury. He returned to start the second half, but owners should keep an eye on it to make sure it's not serious.
Wolves 122, Suns 128
In Wednesday night's shootout in Phoenix, Kevin Love had Grant Hill fall on him in the game's opening minutes and suffered what was said to be a lower-extremity injury, but it turns out that he, as he put it, "broke his left butt cheek." He said he played mostly on one leg all night but still finished with 23 points with 16 boards and four assists. He promised he would play on Friday, and X-rays on his ass came back negative. Darko Milicic ditched the pad that was protecting his ailing quad, which was apparently bothering his knee, and went on to score 16 points with five rebounds, three steals, and two blocks. He said his quad is still bothering him and he tweaked his ankle a bit, but regardless he's playing well enough to be owned in all leagues and he should only improve as he gets healthier.
The Suns saw the return of Robin Lopez from a 14-game absence due to a knee injury, and he had a nice bounce in his step, scoring 12 points with eight rebounds. He's worth a look if you've been left high and dry due to the Noah injury, and in general. Channing Frye slid over to PF and didn't miss a beat, scoring 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting (all threes) with nine rebounds, and he should be owned and started in all leagues until further notice. Jason Richardson broke out of his 6-of-28 shooting funk over the last three games, and hit 11-of-23 shots (including three treys) on his way to 29 points and eight rebounds. Grant Hill scored 21 points for his seventh 20+ point game this year, and also chipped in with five rebounds and four assists. Steve Nash hit just 2-of-4 shots for 11 points as it's believed his heel and back issues are holding him back, but he had no problem dishing the rock with a season-high 19 assists, his highest total in 13 months.
Blazers 98, Mavs 103
The Blazers are a team without an identity right now, because it's all wrapped up in a guy formerly known as Brandon Roy that doesn't exist anymore. It's sad, and it's hard to watch, and we're in the midst of watching him grieve through his own basketball death. He hit just 2-of-5 shots from the field with two rebounds and five assists, and has been shooting 35% from the field in December. I had a reader tell me they were able to trade him for Landry Fields, and I was happy for the guy. Go find yourself a Landry Fields – you'll feel better immediately. LaMarcus Aldridge scored a season-high 35 points on 14-of-26 shooting with 10 rebounds, and should be good to cruise for the rest of the year now that he's the team's No. 1 scoring option. Wesley Matthews, who is now scoring option No. 1A, scored 17 points, and Nicolas Batum woke up with 11 points, six rebounds, two assists, a three, and a block on 5-of-10 shooting. He will be much too inconsistent for use in normal leagues while he's coming off the bench, but when Roy's knee gives out for the last time this year or they move Roy to the bench – Batum will be a guy to watch very closely.
The Mavs were entirely too normal last night. Dirk Nowitzki owned the fourth quarter, scoring 12 of his 21 points in the final frame. Caron Butler tied a season-high with 23 points with seven rebounds and four assists, and owners should be working the phones pretty hard. One of these days Rodrigue Beaubois will be starting at shooting guard, and minutes around the wing positions are going to get harder and harder to come by.
[SIZE=+1]Thursday Night Lights[/SIZE]
The Wizards go to New Jersey to face the Nets with two of their big guns, Andray Blatche (knee) and John Wall (foot), doubtful to play. With Yi Jianlian (knee) out, Trevor Booker could be worth a look in deeper leagues as a spot start, and Nick Young gets yet another lucky break to stay valuable in fantasy leagues. I wouldn't be surprised to see him score about 20 points with 3-4 threes. Just don't knock on my door if he puts up five points, since that's what I've pegged him at for the last 10 games or so – and he keeps proving me wrong. Gilbert Arenas has been playing through a sore foot, also lending some credibility to using Young -- while Kirk Hinrich and Al Thornton are also worth a look as spot-starters in most formats.
The Nets will waste no time in breaking out Sasha Vujacic it seems, but I'll be watching Jordan Farmar and Travis Outlaw to see who benefits most from Anthony Morrow's hamstring injury.
Jamal Crawford (back) will not play tonight against the Celtics, making Jordan Crawford a risky but intriguing play. With Marvin Williams and Maurice Evans both hampered by knee injuries, somebody is going to have to help out Mike Bibby, Josh Smith, and Al Horford. The Celtics will be without the O'Neal brothers and Rondo is a huge question mark we'll be watching for all day.
In the night cap we'll be watching to see if Spurs big men DeJuan Blair (knee) and Tiago Splitter (groin) play, and if not Nene gets a nice bump in the matchup. As for the Nuggets, there will surely be a lot of Ty Lawson fans tonight, as he looks to capitalize for owners who recently picked him up.
Oh, and Melo, he'll be wearing a Nuggets jersey for at least one more night.
