Fantasy related but good info..
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!
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!
