Fantasy related but good info.......
C'mon, Rip. Enough Already.
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Rip Hamilton's A Jack Wagon[/SIZE]
It's going to be an interesting day for me, I think. First of all, I fell asleep around 10 p.m. for the night, which is probably some sort of modern-day record. Of course, I was wide-awake at 3:30 a.m., but still. I got up, took the kids to school and, for some reason, didn't hit 'next' when Cold November Rain came on the iPod. I know, weird. Then when I was driving back home from dropping the kids (one at high school, one at middle school, one at elementary, one at home – nice planning, right?) I suddenly found myself furious at Richard Hamilton. It was like I suddenly became the drill sergeant therapist from the Geico commercial. "Maybe we should chuck on over to mamby-pamby land where maybe we can find some confidence for you. Ya jack wagon!"
Jack wagon is not the first word that comes to my mind when thinking of Rip this morning, but it's a much better one to use in this forum. I got cute and picked up Rip and started him over Jrue Holiday in a weekly league. I was punting assists for the week and the extra game, as well as Rip's ability to get hot and score 27 every other week or so, got the best of me. So, of course, he goes out, gets ejected early for the
third time already this season for arguing, and now has exactly as many 20-point performances as ejections. It's easy to hate on John Kuester, but Rip is not doing himself, his teammates or his fantasy owners any favors with this behavior. And now the Pistons media crew on Twitter is turning on Rip and demanding that Ben Gordon start in his place. Hey, I'm good with that, but let's wait until after this week is over, OK?
As for the Twitter crew in Detroit, if you own any Pistons, they're worth following and are quite entertaining. #FreeAustinDaye, #Buckets and #TheKids are all popular topics over there, while they, like the rest of us, are baffled by most things John Kuester does.
@Vgoodwill
@Stevekays
@Chris_Iott
@Stareagle
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Hey Joe[/SIZE]
The other thing that was on my mind this morning was cutting Joe Johnson in a daily league format. I wrote on Twitter last night that I really wanted to cut him loose and might have to pound a few beers and just do it. Then I could just blame the alcohol. No, I have not cut Joe yet, and probably won't. But in the same league I had no problem dropping Chris Kaman the day he went down and I haven't looked back. And given the fact that Joe was playing so poorly before getting hurt, and that the Hawks are going to do just fine without him, I am really thinking I could dump him, despite taking him with my third-round pick. Luckily there's not much on the waiver wire, so I'll probably just sit tight. But those three lost games per week are not going to be enjoyable. In weekly leagues, I don't think you even consider it, but in daily H2H's, every game counts!
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Amir + Amare = Amore[/SIZE]
www.therx.ws
Amir Johnson gets another shot at the Knicks tonight and he had 22 points and 16 boards against them on Sunday. Additionally, Amare Stoudemire is hunting for his sixth straight 30-point game tonight.
Ball of Confusion
Typos happen, but I think we do a nice job, given how quickly we crank out material and self edit ourselves. However, beware that I am having some issues right now.
I often type Sonny Weems when I mean Jodie Meeks, have confused Blake Griffin with Brook Lopez, Jerryd Bayless with Patrick Mills, and Martell Webster with Wesley Matthews. Absolutely criminal in some cases, I know. But I'm just giving you a heads up. And if you see something out of whack, feel free to let me know so I can fix it and provide feedback. Thanks.
Keep reading for Injury Updates and Tuesday Game Fantasy News.
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Injury Updates[/SIZE]
Charlie Villanueva missed Tuesday's game for personal reasons but is expected to play tonight.
Rajon Rondo (hamstring/feet), Shaq (calf/knee) and Glen Davis (flu) are all questionable for Wednesday's game. And as for Rondo, the Celtics are seriously considering limiting his minutes and possibly games in order to make sure he's healthy for the playoffs. He's also worried that he could end up tearing his hamstring. Yikes. Nate Robinson, who becomes must-own material if Rondo goes down, missed Tuesday's practice due to a death in the family, but should play tonight.
Andrew Bynum is targeting a Tuesday return from knee surgery.
Yao Ming is going to be held out the rest of the week as he attempts to come back from yet another ankle/leg injury. He's out indefinitely again, but it still sounds like he'll be back in the next 10 days. How do you spell Yao's middle name? H-e-a-d-a-c-h-e. Aaron Brooks is still hoping to practice Thursday and play on Friday for the first time in a month, but Kyle Lowry was no slouch while he was recovering from an ankle injury. In fact, Lowry had his best line last night (22 points, six steals, 12 assists) and I'm starting to wonder if we should really be dropping him? I'm going to hang onto him where I still own him, but Brooks is the guy getting the fat paycheck and isn't going to lose his job to Lowry due to an injury. But you have to think Lowry has at least earned more minutes going forward. Shane Battier played through the flu, but had just seven points. Hey, at least he played.
Drew Gooden remains day-to-day with plantar fasciitis. Carlos Delfino is out indefinitely and may wear a
helmet if and when he returns to the court. I see no reason to hold him and his slow recovery gives hope to a guy like Larry Sanders.
Baron Davis is a game-time decision tonight with his hamstring pull, so start him at your own risk. Chris Kaman is out tonight with a bone bruise in his ankle and could miss more time, meaning more minutes for DeAndre Jordan.
Jameer Nelson practiced and flew with the Magic to the west coast on Tuesday and should be good to go after battling the flu earlier in the week.
Tyson Chandler missed Tuesday with the flu and remains day-to-day. Brendan Haywood started, but Ian Mahinmi was the story of the night with a double-double. Of course, that goes away when Chandler is healthy.
Darren Collison's mystery leg injury from Monday doesn't sound like an issue and he's expected to play for the Pacers tonight.
Darko Milicic is still day-to-day and possibly a game-time decision for tonight, but we should know something after today's shootaround. Martell Webster could be back tonight from back surgery, while Anthony Tolliver is out for a month or so with a strained knee. Oh, and Jonny Flynn will play at some point after he makes a couple more D-League starts. Look for him next week.
Andre Miller served his one-game suspension last night and will be back for the Blazers on Thursday against the Magic. Patrick Mills didn't start for him last night, but did have nine points and seven assists in 29 minutes.
Andray Blatche was a late scratch for the Wizards with a hip contusion, and my guess is he suffered that injury while compensating for his broken foot. Then again, that is just a guess. He's day-to-day and quite questionable tonight at Sacramento. If he's out again look for Yi Jianlian to make another start. Josh Howard should be back sometime in the next 10 days, but I don't trust him at all. He will get minutes when healthy though, and is probably worth stashing in deeper leagues. Al Thornton started for the first time in awhile last night, but hasn't looked right since suffering an ankle injury on Nov. 23.
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Tuesday Game Notes[/SIZE]
I'm not sure how much longer we'll see legitimate waiver-wire prospects continue to pop up each week, but Jodie Meeks can be grabbed in most leagues. He's starting for the Sixers and had 16 points and four more 3-pointers last night. He's averaging 21 points and 5.5 3-pointers over his last two games, he's started in three straight and also had a 21-point, five 3-pointer performance last week. He won't do much else, but if you're in a deeper league and the wire's bare, he can probably help your team. The real question is, will he still be doing this three weeks from now? There's definitely a chance. Thaddeus Young also blew up for 26 points and 11 boards for the Sixers, but is so inconsistent coming off the bench.
Troy Murphy didn't even get off the bench for the Nets, Terrence Williams didn't arrive in Jersey in time for the game after being recalled from the D-League, and Brook Lopez had five rebounds. In other words, nothing out of the ordinary happened in Avery Johnson-land. However, Jordan Farmar stayed hot off the bench with 16 points and three 3-pointers, and can be held in almost any league for now.
Josh Smith caught fire for the Hawks and hit 14-of-16 shots for 34 points and a full stat line. He was also 2-of-2 from downtown and has now hit 15-of-32 from beyond the arc after attempting just seven of them last year. Wow. Keep up the solid shot selection, Smoove. It's fun and appreciated.
Stephen Jackson played through a sore calf while Gerald Wallace had one of his better lines of the season for the Bobcats. Maybe Wallace is ready to turn it on. Tyrus Thomas had 16 points in 15 minutes before leaving with a quad injury, but it's not thought to be serious. At least, not as serious as the fact his coach refuses to play him consistently.
Luis Scola blew up for 35 points and 12 boards (possibly on your bench) to break out of a slump, while Brad Miller failed to score on 0-for-6 shooting (possibly in your lineup).
Louis Amundson made his Warriors debut and had four points, one rebound and two blocks. Meanwhile, Dorell Wright had a nice double-double with three 3-pointers, three steals and a block, while David Lee posted a solid all-around line in a tough loss to Dallas. Stephen Curry appeared to tweak an ankle or leg early, but played through it and should be fine. He finished with 21 points, six turnovers and a bunch of goodies.
Jason Richardson hit just 3-of-8 shots for six points last night, while Grant Hill finally got hot again. J-Rich had been as hot as any player in the league coming in and will bounce back from this one.
The Blazers got 24 points out of Wesley Matthews (again) and I'm a little baffled as to why I get so many questions a day about dumping him. If you want to drop him and play in a league with me, please shoot me a heads up before you do it. Thanks. Brandon Roy was solid with 20 points, five boards, five assists, a steal, block and 3-pointer and there it is. Your sign to sell high, gift wrapped for the holidays.
John Wall and Gilbert Arenas both started Tuesday, moving Kirk Hinrich to the bench, and both played well in a loss to the Lakers. I wish I were as skilled as Taco in The League. If so, I'd write a sweet fantasy obituary for Hinrich. Instead, I'll just leave you with the thought that he's now going to be a leader on the bench and in the locker room, but as long as Arenas and Wall stay healthy, Hinrich should have no fantasy value. None.
Charlie Villanueva - F - Pistons </TD></TR><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodyCopy>As expected, Charlie Villaneuva (personal) will return for Wednesday's game against the Hornets.</TD></TR><TR><TD>
