Our weekly Fantasy Basketball Planner is the essential guide to setting your lineup for the upcoming scoring period. Every week, we provide you with news and notes for each team, tracking hot and cold players, injuries and rotation changes.
Atlanta Hawks
Schedule: @SAC, @UTA, IND
Good
Plays: Al Horford, Josh Smith, Joe Johnson
Bad
Plays: Jeff Teague, Zaza Pachulia, Jordan Crawford, Maurice Evans
Toss Ups: Jamal Crawford,
Mike Bibby
Injury Report: Marvin Williams (back/day-to-day)
Notes: Two of Atlanta's
three Week 11 opponents allow below 100 points per game. ... Marvin Williams left Wednesday's game against Golden State with a
bruised back. He remains day-to-day. Williams had scored at least 12
points in four straight games, but seems like a shaky play. ... Joe Johnson's elbow seems just fine. He is averaging a 19-6-4 stat
line in his last five games. ... With Johnson back, Jamal Crawford seems like a poor play again. He is averaging just 9.7
points over his last three games going into the weekend. ... Mike Bibby has been held below 10 points in three of his last four
games. Avoid him this week.
Boston Celtics
Schedule: MIN, SA, TOR, @CHI
Good
Plays: Paul Pierce
Bad Plays: Marquis Daniels, Semih Erden
Toss
Ups: Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo, Nate Robinson, Glen Davis, Shaquille O'Neal, Jermaine O'Neal
Injury Report: Rajon Rondo (ankle/day-to-day), Kevin Garnett
(calf/out indefinitely), Kendrick Perkins
(knee/out indefinitely), Delonte West
(wrist/out indefinitely)
Notes: Kevin Garnett is looking at about a two-week absence after
hurting himself in Wednesday's game. It does appear that the injury may
not be as bad as initially feared, but be prepared to go without him for
Weeks 11 and 12. ... In Garnett's absence, Glen Davis figures to see the most direct statistical boost. He is
averaging 13.2 points and 5.8 rebounds over his last five games and
should see a boost in each category. ... Shaquille O'Neal has been held below 10 points in his last three games,
all of which coincide with the return of Jermaine O'Neal. Garnett's absence could impact Shaq's playing time, but
he appears to be a very low-end play to be used in emergency situations
only. ... Jermaine O'Neal averaed just 3.0
points and 3.3 rebounds in his first three games back. He is not ready
to be activated in Fantasy yet. ... Rajon Rondo
is considered "day-to-day" by the Celtics, but with Garnett out and
Rondo reportedly getting better by the day, we expect him back within
the next couple of games. He may be available for owners in Week 11, but
you'll have to monitor the situation over the weekend. ... Rondo or no
Rondo, Nate Robinson appears to be a
poor play. He has been held below 10 points in four straight games.
Charlotte Bobcats
Schedule: MIA, @MIN, WAS
Good
Plays: Stephen Jackson, Gerald Wallace
Bad Plays: Nazr Mohammed,
Kwame Brown, Shaun Livingston
Toss Ups: D.J. Augustin, Boris Diaw, Tyrus Thomas
Injury Report: Tyrus Thomas (wrist/day-to-day)
Notes: In their first two
games under new coach Paul Silas, the Bobcats scored over 100 points.
They had not scored 100 points in a game in all of December. ...
Augustin looks like the biggest beneficiary of Silas' new up-tempo
style. He scored 27 and 28 points in his first two games under Silas and
suddenly appears to be a great play. ... Gerald Wallace returned from a five-game absence due to an ankle
injury to post nine points and 10 rebounds on Wednesday night. He should
also benefit from Silas' up-tempo style and appears to be a safe play
going forward. His scoring should only improve. ... Boris Diaw put up two well-rounded stat lines under Silas, but has
lacked in the scoring department. ... Tyrus Thomas scored 14 points in Silas' debut in only 23 minutes, but
a wrist injury kept him out of Wednesday's game. He is day-to-day.
Thomas should benefit in the long-term under Silas, but appears to be a
player to avoid activating in the short term. ... The Bobcats play three
games in Week 11. Two of those games come against poor defensive teams.
The Timberwolves allow the second most points in the NBA per game
(109.6) and the Wizards rank 22nd in scoring defense (102.7 points per
game).
Chicago Bulls
Schedule: TOR, @NJ, @PHI, BOS
Good
Plays: Derrick Rose, Carlos Boozer, Luol Deng
Bad
Plays: Kyle Korver, Kurt Thomas, Omer Asik, Keith Bogans
Toss Ups: Taj Gibson
Injury
Report: Joakim Noah (thumb/late
February)
Notes: Taj Gibson's
numbers have been down since returning from a concussion on Dec. 22. In
four games, he has played just 14.8 minutes per contest and has scored a
total of nine points with 14 rebounds. He did block five shots on Dec.
28 in just 15 minutes and stands to see a boost while Joakim Noah is sidelined, but should be reserved barring a signficant
improvement over the weekend. ... Kurt Thomas
continues to start at center with Noah and Gibson banged up. He is
averaging just 5.0 points and 7.2 rebounds over his last five games, but
is also averaging 2.0 blocks and 1.2 steals in that span.
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Player | Start % | |
1. | Andrew Bynum, C, Lakers | 52 |
2. | Glen Davis, F, Celtics | 47 |
3. | D.J. Augustin, G, Bobcats | 53 |
4. | Luke Ridnour, G, Timberwolves | 28 |
5. | Linas Kleiza, F, Raptors | 39 |
6. | Vince Carter, G, Suns | 31 |
7. | Grant Hill, F, Suns | 49 |
8. | DeMarcus Cousins, C, Kings | 47 |
9. | Anderson Varejao, C, Cavaliers | 62 |
10. | J.R. Smith, G, Nuggets | 29 |
Cleveland Cavaliers
Schedule: TOR, @GS, @PHO
Good
Plays: Mo Williams, Antawn Jamison
Bad Plays: J.J. Hickson, Ramon Sessions, Jamario Moon
Toss Ups: Anderson Varejao,
Daniel Gibson
Injury Report: Mo Williams (hip/day-to-day), Daniel Gibson
(thigh/day-to-day)
Notes: Mo Williams
missed Wednesday's game against the Bobcats with a hip flexor. The
injury was not expected to keep him out much longer than that. Expect to
have him in there for Week 11, but monitor his progress. ... Daniel Gibson left Wednesday's game with a bruised thigh. He is
day-to-day, but the injury does not appear to be serious. He is
averaging 16.8 points over his last four contests. ... Anderson Varejao is averaging 8.4 points and 9.8 rebounds with 2.0
blocks over his last five games. He could see enough inflation to
average a double-double this week considering his team's three games
against high-volume opponents. ... Hickson is averaging just 20.6
minutes per game over his last five contests. ... Cleveland's Week 11
opponents allow an average of 106.9 points per game.
Dallas Mavericks
Schedule: POR, OKC, ORL
Good
Plays: Jason Kidd, Jason Terry
Bad Plays: Brendan Haywood, Jose Juan Barea, DeShawn Stevenson
Toss Ups: Dirk Nowitzki, Shawn Marion, Caron Butler, Tyson Chandler
Injury
Report: Dirk Nowitzki
(knee/day-to-day), Roddy Beaubois
(foot/out indefinitely)
Notes: Nowitzki was scratched for a
second straight game on Thursday. He indicated feeling better on
Wednesday, but the fact he was held out of a big game against San
Antonio is troubling. His status may have to be monitored through lineup
deadlines. ... If Nowitzki is out for any extended amount of time, Shawn Marion will get a chance at a big Fantasy boost. Caron Butler would also enjoy a statistical jump. ... Tyson Chandler is averaging 8.2 points and 8.2 rebounds over his last
five games. ... Two of Dallas' three opponents in Week 11 rank among the
top-10 teams in scoring defense (Orlando and Portland).
Denver Nuggets
Schedule: HOU, @LAC, @SAC, NO
Good
Plays: Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups
Bad Plays: Chris Andersen, Shelden Williams
Toss
Ups: Nene, Ty Lawson, J.R. Smith, Al Harrington, Kenyon Martin
Injury Report: Nene (hamstring/day-to-day), Al Harrington (thumb/day-to-day), Kenyon Martin (knee/day-to-day)
Notes: The Nuggets face a
favorable four-game slate that features three high-volume games against
the Rockets, Clippers and Kings. Those three teams allow an average of
102.2 points per game. ... Carmelo Anthony
has not played since Dec. 22 at San Antonio due to the death of his
sister, but he is expected to return on Saturday and should be safe to
activate again in all weekly Fantasy leagues. ... With Anthony back,
J.R. Smith should see a decline in minutes and shot attempts. He remains
a viable low-end stopgap measure for deeper leagues given the matchups,
however. ... Nene missed Wednesday's game due to a hamstring injury. It
does not appear to be a serious injury, but it will have to be monitored
through the weekend. If he can play through it, he should benefit
greatly from the team's favorable matchups. ... With Anthony out, Chauncey Billups has picked up the pace, averaging 25.6 points and 5.6
assists over his last five games. With Anthony back, expect Chauncey's
scoring to dip. His assists are likely to increase, however. ... Ty Lawson is averaging 15.2 points over his last five games. He
could remain productive in Week 11 given the matchups. ... Al Harrington is dealing with a dislocated thumb, making him a
player to avoid until he can prove healthy and productive again on the
court. ... Kenyon Martin averaged just
18.5 minutes per game in his first four games back from a knee injury.
The Nuggets held him out as a precaution on Wednesday night and it is
clear they are going to ease him back into the rotation slowly. He does
not appear to be a safe play just yet in Fantasy, but is worth snagging
off the waiver wire for his upside.
Detroit Pistons
Schedule: @UTA, @LAL, PHI
Good
Plays: None
Bad Plays: Ben Wallace,
Greg Mornoe, Tracy McGrady, Will Bynum, Austin Daye
Toss
Ups: Rodney Stuckey, Tayshaun Prince, Richard Hamilton, Ben Gordon, Charlie Villanueva
Injury
Report: Rodney Stuckey
(illness/day-to-day), Jonas Jerebko
(Achilles'/February)
Notes: Stuckey is dealing with a flu bug.
He should be fine for Week 11, but he'll have to be monitored through
the weekend. ... Tayshaun Prince seems
to be heating up again. He has scored at least 17 points in three
straight and four of his last five games. ... Richard Hamilton was held below 10 points in two of his next three
games following his season-high 35-point outburst against the Raptors on
Dec. 22. ... Ben Gordon is averaging a
13-2-4 stat line over his last five games. He continues to see
inconsistent playing time and shot volumes. ... Quietly, Charlie Villanueva has become Detroit's most consistent Fantasy option.
He is averaging 17.2 points and 5.6 rebounds over his last five games.
Golden State Warriors
Schedule: @ORL, @NO, CLE, @LAC
Good
Plays: Monta Ellis, David Lee, Stephen Curry, Dorell Wright
Bad Plays: Reggie Williams, Ekpe Udoh
Toss
Ups: Andris Biedrins
Injury
Report: Andris Biedrins (ankle/out
indefinitely)
Notes: Biedrins received an injection of
platelets to help stimulate his recovery, but he seems unlikely to play
on the team's current road trip that ends two games into Week 11. He is
a player to avoid. ... In the three games since his return from a
sprained ankle, Stephen Curry is
averaging just 10.0 points per game. He is also averaging 10.3 assists
and 4.7 rebounds, however, and remains a wise play. His scoring should
increase soon. ... Since Curry's return, Reggie Williams has seen his playing time dip and he has totaled just
18 points, three assists and two rebounds over the three games.
Houston Rockets
Schedule: @DEN, POR, @ORL, UTA
Good
Plays: Luis Scola, Kevin Martin
Bad Plays: Chuck Hayes,
Courtney Lee, Terrence Williams, Chase Budinger, Jordan Hill
Toss Ups: Aaron Brooks,
Kyle Lowry, Shane Battier, Brad Miller
Injury
Report: Chuck Hayes (ankle/out
indefinitely), Yao Ming (ankle/out for
the season)
Notes: Hayes had to be taken out of practice on
Thursday in a wheelchair after suffering an ankle injury. The extent of
his injury was not immediately known, but do not anticipate on having
him available. ... Aaron Brooks appears
to be back in a groove after missing time due to an ankle injury. He was
held below 10 points in each of his first three games back, but managed
a 15-5-4 line against the Wizards and a 20-9-2 line against the Heat in
his next two contests. ... With Brooks seemingly ready to start playing
30-plus minutes again, expect Lowry's playing time and production to dip
sharply. ... Battier is avearaging a 10-4-5 stat line over his last five
games with a steal and nearly two blocks per game. ... Brad Miller has failed to score in double figures since Dec. 4. A
possible extended absence for Hayes could lead to a boost in minutes and
production, however.
Indiana Pacers
Schedule: SA, @ATL
Good Plays: Danny Granger
Bad Plays: Mike Dunleavy, Brandon Rush, Josh McRoberts, T.J. Ford, James Posey
Toss Ups: Roy Hibbert,
Darren Collison
Injury Report: No
significant injuries.
Notes: The Pacers are one of only two
teams to play two games in Week 11, making fringe options like Mike Dunleavy or Brandon Rush
players to avoid in all cumulative formats. ... Both of Indiana's Week
11 opponents allow less than 100 points per game. ... Roy Hibbert has been held below 10 points in three of his last four
games. He is a player to reserve, where possible, but is well worth your
patience. ... Darren Collison is
averaging just 11.6 points and 3.8 assists over his last five games and
is a player to reserve for Week 11 under most circumstances.
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Player | % Change | |
1. | Jared Dudley, F, Suns | 24 |
2. | Linas Kleiza, F, Raptors | 19 |
3. | Shane Battier, F, Rockets | 12 |
4. | James Harden, G, Thunder | 11 |
5. | Brandon Bass, F, Magic | 10 |
6. | Beno Udrih, G, Kings | 9 |
7. | DeAndre Jordan, C, Clippers | 9 |
8. | Kirk Hinrich, G, Wizards | 8 |
9. | Hedo Turkoglu, F, Magic | 8 |
10. | Luke Ridnour, G, Timberwolves | 8 |
L.A. Clippers
Schedule: DEN, GS
Good Plays: Blake Griffin, Eric Gordon
Bad
Plays: Eric Bledsoe, Chris Kaman, Ryan Gomes, Al-Farouq Aminu, Rasual Butler, Randy Foye
Toss Ups: Baron Davis,
DeAndre Jordan
Injury Report: Chris Kaman (ankle/early January)
Notes: The Clippers are
one of two teams to play two games in Week 11, but both opponents allow
over 104 points per game. In cumulative formats, this is a poor week for
your Clippers. In average-based play, it may be a better week. ... Baron Davis is averaging 8.6 assists over his last five games, but
only 9.6 points. ... There remains no concrete timetable for Kaman's
return, but he could be back at some point in Week 11 or 12. ... In
Kaman's absence, DeAndre Jordan is
averaging 10.8 points and 8.8 rebounds over his last five games. He is a
sleeper option this week in average-based play.
L.A. Lakers
Schedule: DET, @PHO, NO, NY
Good
Plays: Pau Gasol, Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom
Bad
Plays: Ron Artest, Shannon Brown, Matt Barnes, Derek Fisher, Steve Blake
Toss
Ups: Andrew Bynum
Injury
Report: No significant injuries.
Notes: The Lakers play
three teams in Week 11 that allow over 100 points per game (Detroit,
Phoenix, New York). ... Bynum appears to be ready for a full load again.
After playing less than 20 minutes in his first six games back, he
played 22 minuets on Dec. 28 and 30 minutes on Dec. 29 in a back-to-back
set that seemed to indicate he's ready to activate again in Fantasy.
Bynum scored 18 points with six rebounds against the Hornets on
Wednesday night. ... Even with Bynum playing big minutes, Lamar Odom maintained his productivity on Wednesday night. He scored
24 points against the Hornets. Some inconsistency should be expected
going forward, but it appears Odom remains a strong play in all formats.
Memphis Grizzlies
Schedule: OKC, UTA, @OKC
Good
Plays: Zach Randolph, Rudy Gay, Marc Gasol
Bad
Plays: Xavier Henry, Tony Allen
Toss Ups: Mike Conley,
O.J. Mayo
Injury Report: Xavier Henry (knee/day-to-day)
Notes: Mayo is finally
picking up the pace in scoring, averaging 16.6 points over his last five
games. His playing time is up and so are his shot attempts. He appears
to be a safe play again, but there is still room to improve. ... Mayo's
shot totals seem to be cutting into those of Mike Conley, who is averaging just 9.4 points over his last five
games. He is averaging 7.8 assists and 1.4 steals in that span, however,
salvaging his Fantasy appeal for now.
Miami Heat
Schedule: @CHA, MIL, @MIL, @POR
Good
Plays: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh
Bad
Plays: Mario Chalmers, Carlos Arroyo, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, James Jones, Mike Miller, Joel Anthony
Toss Ups: None
Injury Report: Udonis Haslem (foot/April)
Notes: Mike Miller has been restricted in four appearances since making his
season debut. He has played a combined 32 minutes and is clearly not
ready to be activated in any Fantasy league. ... James Jones is averaging just 5.4 points over his last five games.
... Zydrunas Ilgauskas is averaging just
7.4 points and 4.4 rebounds over his last five games. ... Miami will
play four teams that are allowing below 100 points per game in Week 11.
Milwaukee Bucks
Schedule: @MIA, @ORL, MIA, @NJ
Good
Plays: Andrew Bogut
Bad Plays: Corey Maggette, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute,
Chris Douglas-Roberts, Drew Gooden, Ersan Ilyasova, Corey Maggette, Larry Sanders
Toss
Ups: John Salmons, Keyon Dooling, Earl Boykins
Injury
Report: Brandon Jennings (foot/late
January), Drew Gooden
(foot/day-to-day), Carlos Delfino
(concussion/out indefinitely), Michael Redd
(knee/February)
Notes: The Bucks face four teams in Week 11
that allow below 100 points per game. Expect low-scoring matchups all
week. ... Douglas-Roberts didn't last long as a starter. Luc Richard
Mbah a Moute put up a double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds) in his
first start, but we don't recommend much more than a flier pickup off
the waiver wire for now. ... Dooling is averaging 10.8 points and 5.5
assists in six starts since Jennings went down with his injury. ... Earl Boykins averaged 18.0 points in three games prior to serving a
one-game suspension for bumping an official. With Jennings out, he is
taking advantage of an increased role and warrants adding in deeper
leagues. Just don't expect much outside of scoring.
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Team | Schedule | |
1. | Nuggets | HOU, @LAC, @SAC, NO |
2. | Lakers | DET, @PHO, NO, NY |
3. | Jazz | DET, ATL, @MEM, @HOU |
4. | Hornets | PHI, GS, @LAL, @DEN |
5. | Cavaliers | TOR, @GS, @PHO |
Minnesota Timberwolves
Schedule: @BOS, CHA, POR, @SA
Good
Plays: Kevin Love, Michael Beasley
Bad Plays: Jonny Flynn,
Wesley Johnson, Martell Webster, Corey Brewer, Anthony Tolliver
Toss Ups: Darko Milicic, Luke Ridnour
Injury
Report: Darko Milicic
(hip/day-to-day), Anthony Tolliver
(knee/mid-January)
Notes: Milicic remains day-to-day. He had
been limited to 16.2 minutes per game in his previous five games and has
been affected by the lingering injury. Unless he makes a significant
improvement over the weekend, he is a player to avoid in Fantasy. ... Jonny Flynn is still not being pushed to play big minutes. He is
averaging just 16.6 minutes over his last five games. ... With Flynn
still limited, Ridnour has been able to maintain consistent playing
time. He is averaging 16.2 points and 7.2 assists over his last five
games and seems to be trying to make a case for remaining the team's
primary point guard.
New Jersey Nets
Schedule: CHI, @WAS, MIL
Good
Plays: Brook Lopez, Devin Harris
Bad Plays: Joey Graham,
Derrick Favors, Troy Murphy, Travis Outlaw, Jordan Farmar, Anthony Morrow, Sasha Vujacic, Damion James
Toss
Ups: Kris Humphries
Injury
Report: Jordan Farmar
(knee/day-to-day), Anthony Morrow
(hamstring/mid-January)
Notes: Humphries and Favors are
splitting playing time almost evenly at power forward, but Humphries
still has a slight edge in playing time and production. Humphries is
averaging 9.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks over his last five games, but just
7.0 points. ... Stephen Graham has not
done much with his chance to start, averaging just 6.7 points and 3.2
rebounds in six starts.
New Orleans Hornets
Schedule: PHI, GS, @LAL, @DEN
Good
Plays: Chris Paul, David West, Emeka Okafor
Bad Plays: Marco Belinelli, Marcus Thornton, Jarrett Jack, Jason Smith, Willie Green
Toss Ups: Trevor Ariza,
Marco Belinelli
Injury Report: David West (ankle/day-to-day)
Notes: West was able to play
through a sprained ankle on Wednesday night. Barring setbacks over the
weekend, he should be a safe start for Week 11. Monitor his progress.
... Trevor Ariza is averaging just 8.6
points over his last five games, but may be able to benefit from
high-volume matchups against Golden State and Denver in a four-game
week. ... Marco Belinelli could also
benefit from high-volume games against the Warriors and Nuggets. He has
scored at least 14 points in three of his last five games, including 15
points against a Lakers team he will face again in Week 11.
New York Knicks
Schedule: SA, @PHO, @LAL
Good
Plays: Amar'e Stoudemire, Raymond Felton, Wilson Chandler
Bad
Plays: Toney Douglas, Anthony Randolph, Ronny Turiaf
Toss
Ups: Danilo Gallinari, Landry Fields
Injury Report: Eddy Curry (hamstring/early January), Kelenna Azubuike (knee/early January)
Notes: Gallinari
entered play on Thursday having attempted fewer than 10 shots in two of
his last three games. ... Fields entered play on Thursday having been
held below 10 points in three of his last six games. ... The Knicks play
three games in Week 11, two of which come against teams that allow less
than 100 points per game.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Schedule: @MEM, @DEL, MEM
Good
Plays: Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook
Bad Plays: Thabo Sefolosha, Nenad Krstic, Nick Collison
Toss Ups: Jeff Green,
James Harden, Serge Ibaka
Injury Report: No significant injuries.
Notes:
Green has hit an offensive funk, averaging just 11.8 points over his
last five games. For the most part, the shot attempts have remained
steady at around 14 per game, but his shot has not been falling with
much regularity. A pair of games against a Memphis team that allows 99.8
points per game could help matters some. ... Harden is taking on a much
more significant offensive role for the Thunder. He is averaging 15.2
points over his last five games and makes for a nice sleeper in deep
leagues. ... Serge Ibaka is averaging
just 6.4 points over his last five games, but is offering around seven
boards and two blocks per game.
Orlando Magic
Schedule: GS, MIL, HOU, @DAL
Good
Plays: Dwight Howard
Bad
Plays: J.J. Redick, Quentin Richardson, Chris Duhon, Ryan Anderson
Toss Ups: Jameer Nelson, Gilbert Arenas, Jason Richardson, Hedo Turkoglu, Brandon Bass
Injury Report: Quentin Richardson (illness/day-to-day), Jason Williams (foot/day-to-day)
Notes: Nelson and Arenas
have split point guard duties, impacting the Fantasy value of each
negatively. Nelson entered play on Thursday having been held under 10
points in two of his previous four games. Arenas averaged 10.3 points
through six games since joining the Magic after averaging 17.3 points in
21 games with the Wizards. ... Richardson's scoring average has dropped
from 19.3 with Phoenix to 12.2 with Orlando. ... Turkoglu's productivity
has risen since re-joining Orlando. He averaged a 9-2-4 stat line with
Phoenix and is averaging 12-5-4 so far with Orlando, including 2.2
3-pointers made per game. ... Bass has settled in as the team's only
true power forward, averaging a useful 13.0 points and 5.8 rebounds in
his last five games.
Philadelphia 76ers
Schedule: @NO, WAS, CHI, @DET
Good
Plays: Elton Brand
Bad Plays: Thaddeus Young, Lou Williams, Evan Turner, Jodie Meeks, Andres Nocioni
Toss Ups: Andre Iguodala, Jrue Holiday, Spencer Hawes
Injury Report: Andre Iguodala (Achilles'/day-to-day)
Notes: Lingering
Achilles' issues threaten to hamper Iguodala all season. He enters the
weekend as day-to-day and is a player that will have to be monitored
over the weekend. Have healthy alternatives in place and check back for
updates on his health. ... Nocioni and Turner have seen nice boosts in
the absence of Iguodala, but the lack of a guarantee of playing time
makes each too risky to activate in weekly formats unless Iguodala is
ruled out for a long stretch. ... Holiday is heating up again, scoring
20-plus points in each of his last three games. ... Hawes looks to be
getting out of a brief skid, with a double-double on Wednesday at
Phoenix and a near double-double in his previous game. In a four-game
week, he makes for a solid sleeper center in leagues that require
starting two.
Phoenix Suns
Schedule: @LAL, NY, CLE
Good Plays: Steve Nash
Bad Plays: Hakim Warrick,
Goran Dragic, Mickael Pietrus, Josh Childress
Touss
Ups: Vince Carter, Jared Dudley, Grant Hill, Channing Frye, Robin Lopez, Marcin Gortat
Injury Report: No significant injuries.
Notes:
Carter wasn't rusty in his first game with the Suns, scoring 18
points in his first game action since Dec. 14. Carter attempted 20 shots
in his first game with the Suns after attempting just one all season
with the Magic. He should benefit from Phoenix's up-tempo style as long
as he can remain healthy. ... With Carter in the mix, Dudley scored just
seven points in 21 minutes. His role will remain restricted going
forward despite his brief success while Carter was sidelined. ... Hill
is not fading away, averaging a stat line of 19-3-6 over his last five
games. ... Frye has cooled, averaging just 9.0 points over his last five
games. ... Gortat has quietly taken over the center job in Phoenix,
pushing Robin Lopez to minimal playing
time. Gortat makes for a decent play in deeper leagues, offering around
12 points, five boards and a block per game.
Portland Trail Blazers
Schedule: @DAL, @HOU, @MIN, MIA
Good
Plays: LaMarcus Aldridge, Andre Miller, Wesley Matthews
Bad
Plays: Brandon Roy, Dante Cunningham, Joel Przybilla
Toss
Ups: Marcus Camby, Nicolas Batum, Rudy Fernandez
Injury
Report: Brandon Roy (knee/out
indefinitely), Joel Przybilla
(ankle/day-to-day), Greg Oden (knee/out
for the season)
Notes: The Trail Blazers have decided to shut
down ailing Roy for an "extended period." The possibility exists that he
may be done for the season, but the only certainty is that he should not
be active in Fantasy leagues. ... With Roy out, Wesley Matthews should continue to see increased production. ... Marcus Camby returned from his ankle injury on Thursday. He continues
to offer steady rebounding and shot blocking with minimal scoring. ...
With Roy sidelined, Batum stands to see an increase in playing time and
shot volume. He is averaging a 12-3-6 stat line over his last five
games. ... Fernandez is 9 of 21 from beyond the arc in his last five
games and remains a good play in category leagues for help in 3-point
shooting and steals with a few dimes and boards mixed in.
Sacramento Kings
Schedule: ATL, DEN, @TOR
Good
Plays: Tyreke Evans
Bad
Plays: Samuel Dalembert, Francisco Garcia, Omri Casspi, Donte Greene
Toss Ups: Beno Udrih,
DeMarcus Cousins, Carl Landry, Jason Thompson
Injury
Report: No significant injuries.
Notes: The Warriors
continue to shuffle their rotation in the front court and it appears
Landry could be on the outs again. Thompson could remain in the starting
lineup at power forward and neither player is recommended in Fantasy
with the situation being so inconsistent. ... DeMarcus Cousins seems to have responded well to his recent benching,
dropping 21 points and 16 rebounds on the Grizzlies on Wednesday.
Consider him a safe play again. ... Evans is considering surgery that
could sideline him for several weeks, but is playing on for now -- and
at a high level. He scored 32 against the Clippers on Dec. 27 and capped
a 21-point effort with an incredible half-court game-winning shot on
Wednesday against Memphis. As long as he continues to play, he remains
an excellent play. ... Beno Udrih is
playing big minutes and is producing, averaging an outstanding 19-5-5
over his last five contests with solid production in steals and 3-point
shooting. He's a must-start across the board right now.
|
||
Team | Schedule | |
1. | Pacers | SA, @ATL |
2. | Clippers | DEN, GS |
3. | Wizards | @PHI, NJ, @CHA |
4. | Pistons | @UTA, @LAL, PHI |
5. | Nets | CHI, @WAS, MIL |
San Antonio Spurs
Schedule: @NY, @BOS, @IND, MIN
Good
Plays: Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili
Bad Plays: Matt Bonner,
Gary Neal, Tiago Splitter, Antonio McDyess
Toss
Ups: Tim Duncan, Richard Jefferson, DeJuan Blair, George Hill
Injury Report: No significant injuries.
Notes:
The Spurs play a back-to-back set in Week 11. Look for Duncan's minutes
to be restricted in those games. Duncan has been held below 10 points in
four of his last five games, averaging just 7.4 points in those games.
Even with a four-game week ahead, it may be a good idea to keep him
reserved as the Spurs are asking him to do less than ever. ... The Spurs
face two teams that allow over 106 points per game during their
four-game slate, making fringe options like Richard Jefferson, DeJuan Blair and George Hill viable plays in deeper leagues this week.
Toronto Raptors
Schedule: @CHI, @CLE, @BOS, SAC
Good
Plays: None
Bad Plays: DeMar DeRozan, Leandro Barbosa, Amir Johnson, Jerryd Bayless, Ed Davis, Sonny Weems, Joey Dorsey
Toss Ups: Andrea Bargnani, Jose Calderon, Linas Kleiza
Injury Report: Andrea Bargnani (calf/day-to-day), Jose Calderon
(foot/day-to-day), Jerryd Bayless
(ankle/day-to-day), Peja Stojakovic
(knee/day-to-day), Sonny Weems
(back/day-to-day), Reggie Evans
(foot/February)
Notes: Bargnani is dealing with a strained
calf. He has missed four of his team's last six games and has twice
returned only to be shut down again. Until he can prove healthy over a
couple of consecutive games, he remains a risky play. His upside,
however, makes him worth the gamble. Bargnani is averaging 21.9 points
per game in December. ... Calderon was held out on Tuesday due to a sore
foot that has been bugging him for some time. In his previous four
appearances, he averaged 13.3 points and 12.0 assists. If he makes it
through the weekend, he'll be a must-start in most formats. ... Linas Kleiza has been making the most of added playing time with the
Raptors banged up. He is averaging 20.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.0
assists over his last five games and is worthy of activating in most
leagues, especially in a four-game week.
Utah Jazz
Schedule: DET, ATL, @MEM, @HOU
Good
Plays: Al Jefferson, Deron Williams, Paul Millsap
Bad
Plays: Mehmet Okur, Raja Bell, Gordon Hayward
Toss
Ups: Andrei Kirilenko, C.J. Miles
Injury Report: Andrei Kirilenko (back/day-to-day), C.J. Miles
(illness/day-to-day), Mehmet Okur
(back/day-to-day)
Notes: Kirilenko is hoping to return on
Saturday after sitting out Wednesday and Thursday due to a back injury.
He has averaged just 9.8 points over his last five games, but also 5.8
rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.3 blocks. He remains a good play
in category leagues. ... Miles was held out of the team's back-to-back
set as well. He is dealing with the flu and should return over the
weekend. He is averaging a 14-2-5 stat line over his last five games and
makes for a decent play in deeper leagues. He has appeal in category
leagues for help in 3-point shooing and steals. ... Mehmet Okur is clearly not 100 percent. After being held out of
Thursday's game, he has missed three of his team's last five games and
has yet to play 20 minutes in a game.
Washington Wizards
Schedule: @PHI, NJ, @CHA
Good
Plays: Andray Blatche
Bad
Plays: Josh Howard, Al Thornton, Trevor Booker
Toss
Ups: John Wall, Kirk Hinrich, Rashard Lewis, JaVale McGee, Nick Young
Injury
Report: Kirk Hinrich
(thigh/day-to-day), Yi Jianlian
(knee/day-to-day)
Notes: Hinrich has been cruising along since
the departure of Arenas, but a thigh bruise forced him out of
Wednesday's game and makes him a bit questionable for the upcoming
scoring period. He'll have to be monitored, but he averaged 17.8 points
and 9.0 assists over his previous four games and is worthy of activating
in any league if healthy. ... John Wall
has not looked quite 100 percent since returning from a bruised knee,
but he did manage a well-rounded 10-12-7 stat line on Wednesday with
Hinrich ailing. He posted a 13-6-5 stat line in the team's previous game
alongside a healthy Hinrich. He has looked rusty offensively (shooting 8
of 28 from the field) since his return, but is doing enough across the
board to warrant activating in most leagues. ... Rashard Lewis seems to be settling in with the Wizards, averaging 14.3
points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists over his last three games. He is
playing big minutes and should be able to maintain this pace. ... McGee
has been very spotty lately, but his 16-and-10 effort against the Pacers
on Wednesday night is a reminder of his upside. He remains a low-end
play for now until he can show some consistency. ... Nick Young is getting a high shot volume in the Wizards' offense,
leading to solid scoring. In his last five games, he is averaging 19.2
points per game and is worth activating in most formats for help in
3-point shooting, steals and overall scoring.
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