Week 9 Fantasy Basketball Planner

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: ORL, CLE, @NO
Good Plays: Al Horford, Josh Smith
Bad Plays: Jeff Teague, Jordan Crawford, Zaza Pachulia
Toss Ups: Jamal Crawford, Mike Bibby, Marvin Williams
Injury Report: Jamal Crawford (back/day-to-day), Maurice Evans (knee/day-to-day), Joe Johnson (elbow/January)
Notes: First Joe Johnson, now Jamal Crawford is banged up. Crawford is dealing with back spasms. If he recovers over the weekend, he makes for a strong play, having scored 20-plus in three straight games prior to his back acting up. If he doesn't, expect Mike Bibby and Jordan Crawford to pick up some of the slack. We don't recommend either outside of deep, deep leagues. ... Marvin Williams has enough upside to pick up off the waiver wire, but he is not producing with any consistency yet.

Boston Celtics
Schedule: PHI, @ORL
Good Plays: Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce
Bad Plays: Rajon Rondo, Jermaine O'Neal, Semih Erden, Marquis Daniels
Toss Ups: Ray Allen, Nate Robinson, Glen Davis, Shaquille O'Neal
Injury Report: Rajon Rondo (ankle/late December), Shaquille O'Neal (calf/day-to-day), Jermaine O'Neal (knee/late December), Kendrick Perkins (knee/February)
Notes: Rajon Rondo (ankle) was initially expected to return over the weekend, but the Celtics have a history of being overly cautious with their players and have decided to hold him out for a couple of weeks. ... Nate Robinson is averaging 16.5 points, 5.5 assists and 3.3 rebounds in four starts in place of Rondo this season. He makes for an excellent low-end play. ... Shaquille O'Neal (calf) is "resting" a sore calf, but missed a fourth straight game on Thursday night. Unless he proves healthy and productive over the weekend, avoid him in a two-game week. ... Jermaine O'Neal is expected to start practicing over the weekend, meaning a return at some point in Week 9 is possible. We do not recommend activating him, however. ... Ray Allen is on fire. Over his last five games, he is averaging 21.2 points per game and he is 11 of 18 from beyond the arc in that span. ... The O'Neal injuries continue to benefit Glen Davis, who is averaging a very solid 15.0 points and 6.8 rebounds with 1.2 steals over his last five games.

Charlotte Bobcats
Schedule: @WAS, OKC
Good Plays: Stephen Jackson, D.J. Augustin
Bad Plays: Tyrus Thomas, Nazr Mohammed, Shaun Livingston
Toss Ups: Gerald Wallace, Boris Diaw
Injury Report: Gerald Wallace (ankle/day-to-day)
Notes: Wallace was held out on Wednesday after tweaking his ankle in Tuesday's game. He is day-to-day, but the injury does not appear to be serious and he should be available for Week 9. ... Boris Diaw has been held below 10 points in three of his last four games despite averaging over 30 minutes per game. Avoid him. ... The Bobcats play just two games, but both come against teams that allow over 102 points per game.

Chicago Bulls
Schedule: PHI, @WAS, @NY, @DET
Good Plays: Derrick Rose, Carlos Boozer, Luol Deng
Bad Plays: Joakim Noah, Ronnie Brewer, Kyle Korver, C.J. Watson, Kurt Thomas
Toss Ups: Taj Gibson
Injury Report: Joakim Noah (thumb/March)
Notes: Joakim Noah is likely to miss up to 10 weeks after being scheduled to undergo surgery on his thumb. ... In Noah's absence, Taj Gibson is expected to see a much more prominent role. Much like when Carlos Boozer was sidelined, Gibson should become a suitable No. 3/4 forward. ... The Bulls are one of just three teams to play four games in Week 9.

Sergio's Sleepers for Week 9
* Sleepers are players started in less than 70 percent of CBSSports.com leagues
	Player	Start %
1.	Taj Gibson, F, Bulls	25
2.	Brandon Bass, F, Magic	13
3.	Spencer Hawes, C, 76ers	24
4.	Robin Lopez, C, Suns	7
5.	Chris Douglas-Roberts, F, Bucks	5
6.	Channing Frye, C, Suns	55
7.	Ersan Ilyasova, F, Bucks	9
8.	Anderson Varejao, C, Cavaliers	55
9.	James Harden, G, Thunder	14
10.	DeAndre Jordan, C, Clippers	14

Cleveland Cavaliers
Schedule: UTA, @ATL, MIN
Good Plays: Mo Williams
Bad Plays: J.J. Hickson, Ramon Sessions, Anthony Parker, Ryan Hollins, Jamario Moon
Toss Ups: Antawn Jamison, Anderson Varejao, Daniel Gibson
Injury Report: No significant injuries.
Notes: In four starts, Antawn Jamison is averaging 17.0 points and 5.3 rebounds. ... Anderson Varejao is averaging a double-double (11.4 points, 11.8 rebounds) over his last five games and makes for a strong play at either forward or center, depending on your league's eligibility rules. ... Daniel Gibson is averaging a steady 15.8 points with a handful of boards and dimes and over a steal per game over his last five games.

Dallas Mavericks
Schedule: @MIA, @ORL
Good Plays: Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd
Bad Plays: Shawn Marion, Brendan Haywood, Jose Juan Barea
Toss Ups: Jason Terry, Caron Butler, Tyson Chandler
Injury Report: Roddy Beaubois (foot/out indefinitely)
Notes: The Mavericks play just two games, each against teams that allow below 93 points per game. ... Jason Terry has topped the 15-point mark just once in his last four games. Considering the matchups, this may be a week to sit him if you have alternatives on a better run or facing better matchups. ... Caron Butler's scoring is up and his rebounding is getting there, but he is not filling up the box score quite like he used to. He is averaging a 16-5-2 stat line, however, and is worth activating in deeper leagues even with poor matchups. ... The Heat do not give up a ton of points, but opposing centers have had a lot of success against them. That means Chandler faces one good matchup and one really poor one opposite Dwight Howard. Take that into account.

Denver Nuggets
Schedule: @SA, @OKC, PHI
Good Plays: Carmelo Anthony, Nene
Bad Plays: Arron Afflalo, Shelden Williams, Chris Andersen, Gary Forbes
Toss Ups: Chauncey Billups, Ty Lawson, Al Harrington, J.R. Smith
Injury Report: Chauncey Billups (wrist/out until at least Dec. 22),Chris Andersen (knee/out until at least Dec. 22), Kenyon Martin (knee/January)
Notes: Chauncey Billups is "hoping" that a week of rest will help his wrist feel better. Fantasy owners may not be able to afford being quite as optimistic. ... The uncertainty around Billups' possible return date limits Ty Lawson's appeal in weekly formats. He is a strong play in daily-lineup leagues while Billups remains sidelined, however. ... Al Harrington has had a pair of solid games over the past week. One came while starting in place of an injured Camelo Anthony, the other came in a 129-125 game at the Knicks. He is showing signs of improvement, but remains a risky low-end play. ... Arron Afflalo has been held below 10 points in three of his last five games. ... J.R. Smith has cooled off, as expected, and is averaging just 12.8 points over his last five games with spotty production over the past week.

Detroit Pistons
Schedule: @TOR, CHI
Good Plays: Rodney Stuckey
Bad Plays: Ben Gordon, Ben Wallace, Will Bynum, Austin Daye, Tracy McGrady
Toss Ups: Tayshaun Prince, Richard Hamilton, Charlie Villanueva, Greg Monroe
Injury Report: Ben Wallace (ankle/day-to-day), Jonas Jerebko (Achilles'/February)
Notes: Tayshaun Prince has cooled off significantly after appearing to take on a bigger offensive load for the Pistons. He is averaging just 9.2 points over his last five games. ... Richard Hamilton is averaging 16.3 shots per game over his last four contests and is seeing an offensive surge. He is averaging 18.5 points per game in that span. ... Charlie Villanueva remains far from inconsistent, but his 23-point, 11-rebound effort against the Hawks in a rare win for Detroit suggests big things ahead for Villauneva -- at least in the short term. It likely means poor performances ahead for Greg Monroe.

Golden State Warriors
Schedule: HOU, @SAC, POR
Good Plays: Monta Ellis, David Lee
Bad Plays: Jeff Adrien, Lou Amundson
Toss Ups: Stephen Curry, Reggie Williams, Dorell Wright, Andris Biedrins
Injury Report: Stephen Curry (ankle/out until at least Dec. 18), Andris Biedrins (ankle/day-to-day), Brandan Wright (back/out indefinitely)
Notes: Curry hopes to return over the weekend. He will have had a full week-and-a-half off and should be a safe play for Week 9, barring setbacks. ... With Curry expected back, red-hot Reggie Williams is on the verge of a steep decline. ... Expect Dorell Wright to continue to chuck up a high level of 3-point shooting. He is averaging 8.2 shots from beyond the arc over the last week to go with 14.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. ... Andris Biedrins has not scored in double figures since Nov. 26, but he has brought down 10-plus rebounds in four of his last five games. He tweaked an ankle in practice on Thursday.

Houston Rockets
Schedule: @GS, @LAC
Good Plays: Luis Scola, Kevin Martin
Bad Plays: Yao Ming, Terrence Williams, Shane Battier, Brad Miller, Courtney Lee, Chase Budinger, Chuck Hayes, Jordan Hill
Toss Ups: Aaron Brooks, Kyle Lowry,
Injury Report: Aaron Brooks (ankle/day-to-day), Yao Ming (ankle/out indefinitely)
Notes: Aaron Brooks appears to have suffered a setback after re-joining the team in practice this week. He remains day-to-day, but should be reserved until he can prove healthy and a limited two-game scoring period may not be the best time to take a gamble on him. ... Yao Ming suffered yet another setback when it was discovered he has a stress fracture in his ankle. He is out indefinitely -- again. ... Kyle Lowry will be a risky play, perhaps too risky, unless Brooks is ruled out through Week 9. ... Brad Miller is averaging just 4.2 points and 4.4 rebounds over his last five games. ... New addition Terrence Williams is likely to have to earn playing time behind Kevin Martin and Shane Battier. At least initially, he will not be a reliable Fantasy option.

Indiana Pacers
Schedule: NO, MEM
Good Plays: Danny Granger
Bad Plays: T.J. Ford, Josh McRoberts, Tyler Hansbrough, James Posey
Toss Ups: Roy Hibbert, Darren Collison, Mike Dunleavy, Brandon Rush
Injury Report: No significant injuries.
Notes: Roy Hibbert is slumping, but the 10.0 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.8 blocks he is averaging over his last five games make him a good play in most formats. ... Darren Collison has been highly inconsistent, but the 17-point, 6-assist effort he posted against the Lakers on Wednesday night is a reminder he remains viable as at least a low-end play. ... Coach Jim O'Brien continues to alternate between Mike Dunleavy and Brandon Rush based on matchups. Both have been good for low-teens scoring, but Dunleavy has been a better rebounder. Rush offers cheap help in 3-point shooting.

L.A. Clippers
Schedule: MIN. HOU, PHO
Good Plays: Blake Griffin, Eric Gordon
Bad Plays: Al-Farouq Aminu, Ryan Gomes, Rasual Butler, Randy Foye
Toss Ups: Baron Davis, Eric Bledsoe, DeAndre Jordan
Injury Report: Chris Kaman (ankle/January)
Notes: Baron Davis looked as good as he has all season on Wednesday night in Philadelphia. He scored 18 points with five assists in 27 minutes. He is back in the starting lineup and, barring a setback over the weekend, looks like a strong play. ... Davis' re-emergence makes Eric Bledsoe obsolete. ... DeAndre Jordan is quietly averaging 9.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks over his last five games. He has scored in double figures twice in his last three games and makes for a solid sleeper option in larger leagues where stopgap centers may be of need. ... Expect high-volume, high-scoring games ahead for the Clippers. Their Week 9 opponents allow an average of 108.4 points per game.

Most Added Players
* as of Dec. 17
	Player	% Change
1.	Jerryd Bayless, G, Raptors	29
2.	Ty Lawson, G, Nuggets	19
3.	DeJuan Blair, F, Spurs	17
4.	Spencer Hawes, C, 76ers	17
5.	DeAndre Jordan, C, Clippers	14
6.	Taj Gibson, F, Bulls	12
7.	Nick Young, G, Wizards	11
8.	Mike Dunleavy, F, Pacers	10
9.	Luke Ridnour, G, Timberwolves	10
10.	Reggie Williams, F, Warriors	9

L.A. Lakers
Schedule: MIL, MIA
Good Plays: Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol
Bad Plays: Ron Artest, Derek Fisher, Steve Blake, Shannon Brown, Matt Barnes
Toss Ups: Lamar Odom, Andrew Bynum
Injury Report: No significant injuries.
Notes: Andrew Bynum is back and headed back to the team's starting lineup. That means Lamar Odom's value stands to take a hit. How much remains to be seen, but expect a quick decline in production. ... Bynum averaged just 5.0 points and 4.5 rebounds in his first two games back and is likely to be brought along slowly in terms of playing time. He has yet to play 20 minutes in a game. For that reason, keep him reserved until he can get his playing legs back under him. ... Odom remains a good play in larger formats, but his time may be limited.

Memphis Grizzlies
Schedule: NJ, @IND
Good Plays: Zach Randolph, Rudy Gay, Marc Gasol, Mike Conley
Bad Plays: Xavier Henry, Darrell Arthur, Greivis Vasquez
Toss Ups: O.J. Mayo
Injury Report: No significant injuries.
Notes: Mayo is starting to come around. In his last three games, he is averaging 17.0 points per game and has seen his shot totals increase to the point he attempted 15 shots against the Bobcats on Wednesday night. If he can keep it going through the weekend, it may be time to activate him again.

Miami Heat
Schedule: DAL, @PHO, @LAL
Good Plays: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh
Bad Plays: Carlos Arroyo, Mario Chalmers, Joel Anthony, Erick Dampier, Eddie House
Toss Ups: James Jones, Zydrunas Ilgauskas
Injury Report: Udonis Haslem (foot/April), Mike Miller (thumb/out indefinitely)
Notes: Coach Erik Spoelstra said this week that Mike Miller is not close to a return just yet. ... James Jones is 10 of 18 from beyond the arc over his last five games. He will continue to be used for 3-point shooting consistently while Miller remains sidelined, but he has scored more than 10 points just once in his last eight games.

Milwaukee Bucks
Schedule: @POR, @LAL, @SAC
Good Plays: Andrew Bogut, Brandon Jennings
Bad Plays: Drew Gooden, Corey Maggette, Larry Sanders, Carlos Delfino, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute
Toss Ups: John Salmons, Ersan Ilyasova, Chris Douglas-Roberts
Injury Report: John Salmons, (back/day-to-day), Carlos Delfino (concussion/out indefinitely), Michael Redd (knee/February)
Notes: John Salmons is dealing with back spasms that held him out Wednesday night. He had played 40-plus minutes in two of his previous three games prior to getting hurt, eclipsing the 15-point mark in each game. He remains a low-end play, but is an interesting sleeper for deeper formats if he can get past the back issue. ... Ersan Ilyasova and Chris Douglas-Roberts have been named starters. Drew Gooden and Larry Sanders have been reduced to bench roles at power forward and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute was also moved to the bench. ... Ilyasova is averaging 13.8 points and 7.5 rebounds in four starts. ... Douglas-Roberts scored 21 points with three rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block in his first start Wednesday night at the Spurs. He looks to be a solid sleeper off the waiver wire.

Best Fantasy Schedules
	Team	Schedule
1.	Bulls	PHI, @WAS, @NY, @DET
2.	Spurs	PHO, DEN, @ORL, WAS
3.	Clippers	MIN, HOU, PHO
4.	Warriors	HOU, @SAC, POR
5.	Magic	@ATL, DAL, SA, BOS

Minnesota Timberwolves
Schedule: @LAC, UTA, @CLE
Good Plays: Kevin Love, Michael Beasley
Bad Plays: Sebastian Telfair, Nikola Pekovic, Wesley Johnson, Martell Webster
Toss Ups: Darko Milicic, Luke Ridnour, Jonny Flynn, Corey Brewer
Injury Report: Kevin Love (gluteus/day-to-day), Anthony Tolliver (knee/January)
Notes: Kevin Love limped around in Wednesday's game in Phoenix after a hard fall. He did not practice on Thursday to rest, but he declared himself good to go for the weekend. ... Darko has cooled off some, but he is averaging a very respectable 14.0 points and 2.8 blocks in the four games since he sat out due to a quad injury. He tweaked an ankle on Wednesday night in Phoenix, but was able to play on. ... Jonny Flynn is back for the Timberwolves, but he is not ready for big minutes just yet. He played just 17 minutes in his first two games back and is not ready to be activated. ... Luke Ridnour is averaging 9.4 points and 9.2 assists over his last five games. Expect his minutes to decline as Flynn gets into shape, but he appears to be a deccent low-end starter for at least a little while longer. ... Corey Brewer scored 20 points on 9 of 18 shooting on Wednesday, but is averaging just 11.3 points, 2.4 assists and 2.7 rebounds in December. ... Martell Webster reached double digits in each of his first two games of the season, but remains a very low-end play.

New Jersey Nets
Schedule: @MEM, @NO
Good Plays: Brook Lopez, Devin Harris
Bad Plays: Derrick Favors, Travis Outlaw, Sasha Vujacic
Toss Ups: Jordan Farmar, Kris Humphries, Derrick Favors
Injury Report: Anthony Morrow (hamstring/January), Damion James (foot/January)
Notes: With Terrence Williams now in Houston and Anthony Morrow out for 2-3 weeks, Jordan Farmar has been named a starter. ... Farmar averaged 22.0 points and 9.5 assists in two starts this season in place of Devin Harris. Don't expect such high-end numbers -- especially not in assists -- as he will be playing shooting guard, but he has some appeal off the waiver wire in the short term. ... Kris Humphries continues to offer around 10 rebounds per game, but only sporadic scoring. Use him in larger category leagues only. ... Derrick Favors is on the verge of more playing time as a result of his 10-point, 13-rebound performance on Tuesday night against the Sixers, but as long as he continues to battle Humphries for minutes, he will be inconsistent.

New Orleans Hornets
Schedule: @IND, NJ, ATL
Good Plays: Chris Paul, David West, Emeka Okafor
Bad Plays: Jarrett Jack, Marcus Thornton, Jason Smith
Toss Ups: Trevor Ariza, Marco Belinelli
Injury Report: No significant injuries.
Notes: Trevor Ariza is averaging just 6.0 points per game over his last five contests despite getting 30-plus minutes of playing time. Avoid him. ... Hot-and-cold Marco Belinelli is cold again. He has failed to score in double figures in three straight contests, going just 8 for 27 (29.6 percent) from the field in that span.

New York Knicks
Schedule: OKC, CHI
Good Plays: Amar'e Stoudemire, Raymond Felton, Wilson Chandler
Bad Plays: Toney Douglas, Anthony Randolph
Toss Ups: Danilo Gallinari, Landry Fields
Injury Report: Eddy Curry (hamstring/late December), Kelenna Azubuike (knee/January)
Notes: After a brief cold spell, Danilo Gallinari is averaging 17.8 points over his last five contests. ... Landry Fields has been held below 10 points in three of his last five games, but has averaged 8.2 rebounds, 1.4 steals and over a 3-pointer per game in that span.

Oklahoma City Thunder
Schedule: @CHA, @NY, DEN
Good Plays: Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Jeff Green
Bad Plays: Serge Ibaka, Thabo Sefolosha, Nenad Krstic
Toss Ups: James Harden
Injury Report: Nenad Krstic (back/day-to-day)
Notes: James Harden is starting to get going. He has scored at least 16 points in back-to-back games and is averaging 13.8 points in December. He has scored at least 16 points in four of eight games during the month and has some low-end appeal in deeper formats. ... The Knicks and Nuggets each allow 100-plus points per game.

Orlando Magic
Schedule: @ATL, DAL, SA, BOS
Good Plays: Dwight Howard
Bad Plays: J.J. Redick, Chris Duhon, Marcin Gortat, Mickael Pietrus, Quentin Richardson
Toss Ups: Jameer Nelson, Vince Carter, Rashard Lewis, Brandon Bass
Injury Report: Mickael Pietrus (knee/day-to-day), Quentin Richardson (elbow/day-to-day), Ryan Anderson (out indefinitely)
Notes: All four of Orlando's Week 9 opponents rank among the top 10 defensive teams in the NBA, but the Magic are one of just three teams to play four games during the scoring period. ... Jameer Nelson shot 1 for 10 from the field on Wednesday night in Denver, but he managed eight assists and remains a strong play barring signs of an extended slump over the weekend. ... Vince Carter is averaging 14.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists over his last five games. ... Rashard Lewis continues to disappoint, averaging just 11.0 points over his last five games. ... Brandon Bass is quietly averaging 13.4 points and 5.9 rebounds in December and has attempted 10 or more shots in six of his last seven games. Now a consistent starter, Bass is a solid sleeper given the four-game slate.

Philadelphia 76ers
Schedule: @CHI, @BOS, @DEN
Good Plays: Andre Iguodala, Elton Brand, Jrue Holiday
Bad Plays: Evan Turner, Andres Nocioni, Marreese Speights
Toss Ups: Thaddeus Young, Lou Williams, Spencer Hawes, Jodie Meeks
Injury Report: No significant injuries.
Notes: Thaddeus Young is averaging 24.1 minutes per contest in December. Inconsistent playing time and shot totals continue to lead to erratic numbers. ... Lou Williams has cooled significantly after a string of three solid games late last week. He has scored just eight points combined in his last two games, shooting 1 for 14 from the field. ... Spencer Hawes is getting -- and earning -- more playing time. He is averaging 27.8 minutes per game over his last five games and has turned that into 12.2 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. Make the most of it while you can. ... Jodie Meeks has been held below 10 points in two of his last three games and has been ice cold from the field (8 for 31) in that span.

Phoenix Suns
Schedule: @SA, MIA, @LAC
Good Plays: Steve Nash
Bad Plays: Hedo Turkoglu, Hakim Warrick, Goran Dragic, Josh Childress, Jared Dudley
Touss Ups: Jason Richardson, Channing Frye, Robin Lopez, Grant Hill
Injury Report: No significant injuries.
Notes: Jason Richardson snapped a cold spell with a 29-point outburst against Minnesota on Wednesday. He had been held below 10 points in three straight prior to that but appears to be a decent play again. ... Robin Lopez looked highly productive in his first game back from injury, producing 12 points with eight rebounds in 24 minutes. With Channing Frye being used more as a power forward, more playing time is available to Lopez at the five, making him a solid sleeper off the waiver wire. Lopez should benefit from matchups against DeJuan Blair, Zydrunas Ilgauskas and DeAndre Jordan in Week 9. ... Frye scored 21 points and nine rebounds in Lopez's return playing alongside him. ... Grant Hill has remained stead, averaging 16.4 points and 5.2 rebounds over his last five games.

Portland Trail Blazers
Schedule: MIL, @GS
Good Plays: LaMarcus Aldridge, Andre Miller
Bad Plays: Nicolas Batum, Rudy Fernandez, Joel Przybilla
Toss Ups: Brandon Roy, Wesley Matthews, Marcus Camby
Injury Report: Brandon Roy (knee/day-to-day), Greg Oden (knee/out for the season)
Notes: Brandon Roy is playing, but he clearly is not himself. In his last five games, he has been held below 10 points four times. Don't be surprised to see him shut down soon as it has become painful to watch him play. ... Wesley Matthews is seeing increased production while Roy remains less than 100 percent, averaging 17.6 points per game over his last five contests with good numbers in steals and 3-point shooting. ... Marcus Camby is averaging 12.8 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 1.2 steals in his last five games. His scoring remains spotty, but he has returned to viability.

Sacramento Kings
Schedule: GS, MIL
Good Plays: No must-starts.
Bad Plays: Francisco Garcia, Donte Greene, Luther Head, Pooh Jeter
Toss Ups: Tyreke Evans, Beno Udrih, DeMarcus Cousins, Jason Thompson, Samuel Dalembert, Carl Landry, Omri Casspi
Injury Report: No significant injuries.
Notes: Tyreke Evans was productive on Wednesday night at the Hornets, scoring 22 points with seven assists and four rebounds, but he is not out of the woods yet. Plantar fasciitis is a lingering injury that could continue to make him inconsistent, so Fantasy owners are advised to play it cautiously until he can string together a couple of good games. ... Beno Udrih has scored 20 points twice in his last four games. He is averaging a 13-5-3 stat line with two steals per game over his last five contests. ... DeMarcus Cousins is averaging 12.2 points and 6.4 rebounds over his last five games, making him viable as a low-end start in deeper leagues. ... Samuel Dalembert is averaging just 19.0 minutes per game over the last two weeks. He is averaging just 4.3 points and 7.0 rebounds in that span. ... Carl Landry is starting to get going again, attempting double-digit shot totals in back-to-back games. He scored 17 points with five boards on Tuesday in Houston and backed that up with 13 points and six boards on Wednesday in New Orleans.

Worst Fantasy Schedules
	Team	Schedule
1.	Raptors	DET
2.	Mavericks	@MIA, @ORL
3.	Lakers	MIL, MIA
4.	Celtics	PHI, @ORL
5.	Grizzlies	NJ, @IND

San Antonio Spurs
Schedule: PHO, DEN, @ORL, WAS
Good Plays: Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker
Bad Plays: Matt Bonner, Tiago Splitter, Antonio McDyess
Toss Ups: Richard Jefferson, Geoge Hill, DeJuan Blair
Injury Report: No significant injuries.
Notes: The Spurs are one of just three teams to play four games in Week 9. ... A back-to-back set during the scoring period could lead to a restriction in minutes for Tim Duncan, who is averaging 10.4 points and 8.4 rebounds over his last five games. He should be a good play in most leagues, however. ... Given the four-game slate, Jefferson, Hill and Blair become viable stopgap measures in cumulative formats.

Toronto Raptors
Schedule: DET
Good Plays: No must-starts.
Bad Plays: Jerryd Bayless, Jose Calderon, Amir Johnson, DeMar DeRozan, Leandro Barbosa, Sonny Weems, Linas Kleiza, Ed Davis
Toss Ups: Andrea Bargnani
Injury Report: Andrea Bargnani (knees/day-to-day), Jose Calderon (foot/day-to-day), Peja Stojakovic (knee/out indefinitely), Reggie Evans (foot/February)
Notes: Andrea Bargnani could be looking at missing a few more games after missing his first game of the season on Wednesday due to sore knees. The team announced on Thursday that there is no timetable for a return, which means Fantasy owners should have healthy alternatives prepared. ... In Bargnani's absence, Ed Davis and Joey Dorsey become sleeper options off the waiver wire in deeper formats, but Amir Johnson also should see an increase in responsibilities. ... The Raptors are the only team in the NBA to play just one game in Week 9. ... Jose Calderon will have to battle for playing time with Jerryd Bayless when he returns, according to the team.

Utah Jazz
Schedule: @CLE, @MIN
Good Plays: Deron Williams, Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap
Bad Plays: Raja Bell, Mehmet Okur
Toss Ups: Andrei Kirilenko, C.J. Miles
Injury Report: Raja Bell (groin/day-to-day), Mehmet Okur (Achilles'/out indefinitely)
Notes: Mehmet Okur is traveling with the team and is expected to play Friday night, but owners should absolutely see what they have in him before plugging him in for Week 9.. It also means Paul Millsap should enjoy at least one more scoring period before Okur gets his feet completely under him. ... Andrei Kirilenko is averaging just 11.2 points and 6.0 rebounds over his last five games. He is also averaging 2.0 steals and 1.2 blocks in that span, making him viable in larger category leagues.

Washington Wizards
Schedule: CHA, CHI, @SA
Good Plays: Gilbert Arenas
Bad Plays: Al Thornton, Josh Howard, Trevor Booker
Toss Ups: John Wall, Kirk Hinrich, Nick Young, Andray Blatche, JaVale McGee
Injury Report: Andray Blatche (knee/day-to-day), John Wall (knee/day-to-day), Josh Howard (knee/out until at least Dec. 20), Yi Jianlian (knee/January)
Notes: Andray Blatche and John Wall remain day-to-day with no real concrete return date. Monitor their progress over the weekend, but prepare for a continued absence in each case. Kirk Hinrich and JaVale McGee should benefit for however long they remain out. ... Trevor Booker and Kevin Seraphin have seen an increase in playing time with very minimal results.

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