| Kwame Brown, F, Detroit Pistons | Tuesday 2/5, 10:34 PM CT |
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| Kwame Brown came off the bench Tuesday in his debut with the Grizzlies. He played just 15 minutes and finished with four points and four boards. There's a chance he could work his way into the starting lineup. However, it's more likely that the Griz just wanted his contract to dump after the season and aren't interested in giving him a lot of playing time with an eye towards re-signing him for 2008-09. |
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| Hakim Warrick got his first start of the season on Tuesday, though he mustered just four points and six boards in 22 minutes of work. Warrick is someone to keep an eye on, as he's talented and benefiting from the departure of Pau Gasol. However, he offers little besides scoring and rebounding, and even that might not come with any regularity. |
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| Darko Milicic finished Tuesday's game with 11 points, 12 boards and two blocks. It's the third straight game in which he's had a double-double and at least two blocks. This is what the Griz and his fantasy owners are hoping to get from him the rest of the way. Darko's teased us before, but with Pau Gasol out of the mix, this is his best chance to prove he can maintain this level of performance. |
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| Kobe Bryant, G, Los Angeles Lakers | Tuesday 2/5, 10:23 PM CT |
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| Kobe Bryant scored just six points on Tuesday, the first time he finished a game in single digits since he scored eight points last Jan. 5. It was Pau Gasol's debut with the Lakers, and Kobe really focused on getting the ball to Gasol, rather than hogging it for himself. The result was just 13 shot attempts for Kobe, most of which were out of rhythm, resulting in a 3-for-13 total. No worries here, though. Kobe was visibly excited about balling with his new stud teammate and ended up with eight assists. He'll be back in form soon enough. |
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| Pau Gasol, F, Los Angeles Lakers | Tuesday 2/5, 10:17 PM CT |
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| Pau Gasol started for the Lakers in his debut with the team on Tuesday. He played 35 minutes and abused the ghost-like Nets' frontcourt for 24 points, 12 boards and four assists, while hitting 10 of his 15 field-goal attempts. He looked at ease, as his teammates went out of their way to work him into the offense. He dunked, hit some jumpers and crashed the boards, just like you'd expect. The future is suddenly very bright in Los Angeles, where Gasol should continue to be a fantasy stud. |
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| Richard Jefferson was accidentally clobbered by a Lamar Odom elbow in the first quarter Tuesday. He left the game with a shiner around his left eye. However, Jefferson must be part hockey player, as he received five stitches to close a gash and returned to complete the game. The positive news was that X-rays were negative. While the negative news was that he finished the game just 4-of-10 from the field for 12 points. It looks like he should be fine for their next game, but you'll want to check back with us for updates. |
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| Caron Butler failed to complete Tuesday's game after aggravating his strained left hip flexor muscle. He hit just three of his nine shot attempts before leaving and finished with eight points, though he dished out nine dimes. You'll want to wait for official word from the Wiz before pulling him out of your lineups, but since this is the same injury that recently cost him three games, there's a very good chance he'll be shut down until after the All-Star break. |
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| Rajon Rondo scored 20 points with two assists, seven boards and a steal on Tuesday. Even better, he hit 8-of-13 from the field after averaging just 43.3 percent in 12 January games. With KG out of action recently, Rondo has been asked to take on more of a load on offense, and he's responded well. Ride him while he's hot. |
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| Drew Gooden was unable to complete Tuesday's game due to a strained right groin. He sustained the injury on a rebound and jam early in the second half. It didn't look good at the time, so he may be out for a while. With Anderson Varejao already out of action, Donyell Marshall could actually have some short-term fantasy play in him, though we wouldn't recommend dropping anyone of value to pick him up. |
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| Jamaal Tinsley came off the bench Tuesday for the third straight game since returning from a sore knee. He played just 18 minutes and was limited to only two assists and eight points. Travis Diener has been holding his own, starting in place of Tinsley, which has allowed the Pacers to ease Tinsley back into the mix. On the other hand, the Pacers now have lost seven straight games, so we may see Tinsley starting again soon. Let's hope that's the case, since Tinsley has basically no fantasy value in his current limited role. |
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| As we reported earlier, Damon Stoudamire started Tuesday in his debut with the Spurs. He ended up playing 22 minutes and scoring 11 points, though he failed dish out any assists. The Spurs smoked the Pacers 116-89, so they were able to limit Stoudamire's minutes tonight. He should be a low-level source of threes and assists until Tony Parker returns to action. |
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| The Suns are considering acquiring Shaquille O'Neal from the Heat, according to ESPN.com. The Heat would receive Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks in return. Wow, that would be a monster deal. With Marion and Dwyane Wade, the future would be bright in South Beach. Meanwhile, the Suns would hope that Shaq could get over his hip injury and help provide a force in the paint during the playoffs. In fantasy terms, Marion would get a big boost in production by becoming the clear No. 2 option for the Heat. Shaq could even get a bump, if he can get healthy. |
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| The arrival of free-agent signee Chris Webber is going to push Al Harrington to the bench for the foreseeable future, according to the Contra Costa Times. "I've always wanted Al as the sixth man ... and I couldn't afford to do it all the time," coach Don Nelson said. "I think that makes us a better team, when he comes off (the bench) and is my machine-gun guy." Interestingly, Harrington's averages as a starter are nearly identical to the stats he's produced off the pine, though he's averaged nearly one more triple per game as a starter. If Nellie wants Harrington to gun off the bench, he should still maintain most of his fantasy value. |
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| Chris Webber will start in place of Al Harrington for the Warriors when he makes his season debut on Thursday, according to the Contra Costa Times. "I think he should start," coach Don Nelson said. "I'm planning on starting him every game." That sounds good, but Nellie is nortorious for switching his starting lineup all season long, so don't write C-Webb down in your starting lineup in ink. Of course, it's better in fantasy terms that he start rather than come off the bench, but you should be skeptical about his fantasy potential. The Warriors run the floor, and there's no way the aging big man is going to keep up. Instead, he'll be asked to hit the glass and create outlet passes and try to score some baskets when they're forced into their halfcourt set. That should be enough for him to help out teams in deep leagues, but his upside is going to be low. |
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| The San Antonio Express reported Monday that Damon Stoudamire would come off the bench in his debut with the Spurs, but he ended up starting at the point after all. Obviously, it's better for his fantasy value that he got the starting nod, but he'll eventually move to the bench by the time that Tony Parker returns to action. |
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| Stromile Swift will not take part in Tuesday's game against the Lakers, according to NBATV. Swift was just acquired from the Grizzlies on Monday, so it looks like the Nets will let him settle in before putting him out on the hardwood. It's incredibly unlikely that he will have more than occasional fantasy value. |
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| The San Antonio Express reported Monday evening that Damon Stoudamire will come off the bench Tuesday, as he makes his Spurs debut against the Pacers. For now, Manu Ginobili will start at the point, with Mighty Mouse backing him up. Tony Parker remains out, so Stoudamire could move into the starting lineup at some point soon. He'll have limited value as a reserve. |
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| Yi Jianlian will miss Tuesday's game due to strained right shoulder, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. "He’s having a heck of a time just lifting his elbow up over his head," said coach Larry Krystkowiak. "The day after the game he could hardly move it at all. We’d be taking a pretty good risk by having him play." Yi, who sustained the injury on Saturday, is listed as day-to-day, but it sounds like he'll probably miss some more action. Charlie Villanueva will start in Yi's stead. |
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| Bobs coach Sam Vincent said Monday that he is committed to starting Nazr Mohammed for the remainder of the season, according to the Charlotte Observer. He's started the past couple of games in place of the injured Gerald Wallace, but he could have some long-term value if Vincent is serious. In seven starts this season, he's averaging 13.0 ppg, 10.7 rpg and 1.4 bpg on 55.7 percent shooting from the field. On the other hand, there's a reason why he's a journeyman bench player, so Vincent's commitment may not be realistic over the long haul. |
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| Bobcats coach Sam Vincent confirmed Tuesday that Jeff McInnis is now his third point for the foreseeable future, according to the Charlotte Observer. We noted that as the likely case over the weekend when newly signed Earl Boykins backed up starting point guard Raymond Felton and McInnis didn't play a minute Saturday. It's a tough fall for McInnis, who had been starting at the one next to Felton at the two, but he held little fantasy value anyway. |
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| Michael Redd did not travel with the Bucks for Tuesday's tilt with the Grizzlies, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Since the Bucks remain on the road to play the Mavs in Dallas on Wednesday, it sounds like he'll probably miss that game, too. Keep him on your bench until we hear a positive report about his strained knee. |
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| Ray Allen, G, Boston Celtics | Tuesday 2/5, 5:31 PM CT |
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| It turns out that Ray Allen has battled his surgically repaired ankles for most of the season, according to the Metro West Daily News. "I've felt good, but I've still hslight problems with my ankles and trying to move forward," he said. "That's just with the soreness in them. It just hurts me a little bit. Just in the last week I have been able to get back fit with my body. In between practices, I have been working on my power stuff - getting in there, exploding to the rim, dunking with both hands like I know I am capable of doing. I've been getting my legs back underneath me and that carries over to my jump shot." It's been pretty clear watching him play that he's not as fluid running the court as he was in previous years. And while he said he's getting better, he's also 32 years old and 10 months removed from the surgeries on his ankles, so this is something to keep an eye on going forward. |
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| Shaquille O'Neal had his ailing hip examined Monday night, according to the Miami Herald. "We'll find out [Tuesday] a little bit how he feels and what the next step should be," coach Pat Riley said. "If they release him now to do more stuff -- he'll do some running. He should have a 10-pack by now. He's been doing enough sit-ups." Even if he gets cleared to do more than upper-body work, it's going to be at least a little while longer before he plays in a game. |
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| Kirk Hinrich will be a game-time call Wednesday evening, according to the Chicago Tribune. He bruised his ribs during Monday's contest and stayed in Portland for treatment. However, he was driving with an assistant trainer to Seattle Tuesday. That means he'll at least be with the team when they face the Sonics tomorrow, but time will tell if his ribs will allow him to run. |
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| As expected, Kevin Garnett will not lace up for tonight's game due to his ailing abdominal strain, according to the Boston Herald. Coach Doc Rivers said today that the next possibility for KG to hit the floor would be for Sunday's run with the Spurs, though even that might be pushing it. That means you can count him out for what was to be his return to Minnesota on Friday. At this point, you can simply consider him to be out indefinitely, and with the All-Star break right around the corner, common sense might keep him on the pine until the season resumes following the hiatus. |
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| LeBron James pleaded no contest to driving 101 mph on his 23rd birthday in December and was ordered to pay $259 in fines and court costs on Tuesday, according to the AP. We're guessing that he can afford to pay the fine, but we'll have to wait to see if his car insurance goes up too high. King James returned from his sprained ankle on Saturday and neither the joint nor the ticket should slow him down when he faces the Celtics tonight. |
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| T.J. Ford, G, Indiana Pacers | Tuesday 2/5, 4:17 PM CT |
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| As expected, T.J. Ford returned to action for Monday night's tilt with the Heat after a 24-game hiatus due to a neck injury. He entered the contest early in the second quarter and finished the game with four points, four assists and two swipes in 17 minutes of work. Ford has a narrowing of the spine in his neck and remains one bad spill away from sitting out for another extensive period or even calling it a career. Ford's going to have to battle Jose Calderon for minutes at the point, but he's worth owning in all leagues, because of his talent and potential. It's not clear when, or if, Ford will resume his starting role over Calderon. |
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| Jerry Stackhouse missed his sixth straight game Monday and is expected to sit out again Wednesday with a strained hamstring. However, the veteran is scheduled to return to action on Friday. "We'd love to have him, but he's not ready yet," coach Avery Johnson said in the Star-Telegram. "When we get him back, hopefully we can get him back strong between that period and the All-Star break and have him strong the rest of the year." |
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| Grant Hill, G, Phoenix Suns | Tuesday 2/5, 10:41 AM CT |
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| Coach Mike D'Antoni said that he'll continue to rotate starts between Grant Hill and Boris Diaw. Hill started Monday and has been in the lineup more often than not but Diaw started all three games last week. Hill is playing about four minutes more per game (32.2 to 28). The veteran doesn't care if he starts or comes off the bench. "It doesn't matter," Hill said in the Arizona Republic. "We're trying to figure it out. Whatever's necessary. I just hope Boris continues to play well. I think he will. We need that from him because he can bring so much to the table." |
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| Pau Gasol, F, Los Angeles Lakers | Tuesday 2/5, 10:34 AM CT |
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| Pau Gasol is expected to make his Lakers debut tonight against the Nets. He's missed four of the last five games with a back injury but said he's feeling better. "It's getting there, good enough to perform well," Gasol said in the LA Times. "I have it under control. I'm working hard with the trainers and physical therapists, and it's looking good." |
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| Tim Thomas, F, New York Knicks | Tuesday 2/5, 10:31 AM CT |
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| Tim Thomas didn't play in the second half of Monday's game after suffering back spasms at halftime, according to the LA Times. Expect Thomas to be day-to-day. |
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| C.J. Miles got the start Monday for Andrei Kirilenko, who is dealing with the flu. Miles ended the night with eight points on 3-of-6 six in just over 17 minutes of play. He hadn't played that many minutes in nearly a month. Coach Jerry Sloan said he started Miles instead of Kyle Korver or Matt Harpring because he wanted to keep the two forwards in their regular role coming off the bench. "I was a little tentative at first," Miles said in the Salt Lake Tribune. "The first half I had jitters, putting pressure on my shoulders. The second half, I was a little bit more free. I let Peja [Stojakovic] get a couple good looks, but other than that I felt a lot better the second half." |
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| Andrei Kirilenko missed Monday's game with New Orleans due to flu-like symptoms, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. The Jazz's next game is Wednesday, but it's not clear whether AK-47 will be ready to lace it up then. |
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| James Jones will miss at least the next two weeks because of a sore left knee. The soreness is related to tendinitis, and doctors have told coach Nate McMillan that rest is the best remedy, according to the Oregonian. Jones will miss at least six games before he is scheduled to return Feb. 19 against the Kings. |
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| Theo Ratliff said he's optimistic that he will be able to practice in a limited fashion sometime this week. The veteran hasn't played since having surgery on Dec. 18 to repair a torn meniscus. "I'm really just playing it by ear," Ratliff said in the Pioneer Press. "Probably in the next couple days I'll try to get out there on the floor and do some stuff with the guys. It's been fine so far as far as recovering. I'm just continuing to try to progress." |
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| Marcus Camby, C, Los Angeles Clippers | Tuesday 2/5, 10:04 AM CT |
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| Marcus Camby sat out his second straight game Monday with a bruised left knee, and coach George Karl is wondering if he's played the injury-prone center too much this season. "I think it's more of the wear and tear of an older player," Karl said in the Denver Post. "There's sometimes a need in a season to rest the bones and get the tendons and ligaments a little healthier. Marcus' knee is sore, no question. Just because it's an important game, we don't want to get crazy and put him out for a longer period of time." Karl is likely to be more cautious with Camby once the Western Conference's leading rebounder returns. |
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| If Yi Jianlian is unable to start tonight, Charlie Villanueva is likely to replace him in the starting lineup. "That's definitely an unfortunate situation," Villanueva said in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. "I don't want playing time like that. I don't wish harm on a teammate. But I understand the situation. The opportunity is there, and now I just have to seize it." Villanueva has grown frustrated by his lack of playing time recently, so much so that he felt compelled to address trade rumors on the blog he writes for NBA.com. "Is a trade possible? It's possible, definitely," Villanueva said. "Anything can happen in this business. I feel like I didn't get traded here to be the ninth man. I'm playing 19 minutes a game. It's definitely frustrating, but I've got to stick with it and keep working and see what happens." Villanueva is averaging 9.4 points and 4.8 rebounds while playing 19.9 minutes per game. |
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| Kirk Hinrich had to exit Monday's game with bruised ribs, and he didn't accompany the team to Portland immediately after the game. "He's going to stay behind here in Seattle and they're going to do a couple of tests," coach Jim Boylan said in the Chicago Sun-Times. "I don't know the extent of the injury but I think they're being cautious and make sure it's nothing more serious. If there is something internally wrong, it can be uncomfortable." |
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| A recent blog from a writer for a Seattle newspaper suggested that Jamal Crawford would welcome a trade to his hometown Sonics, but the guard has said there is no basis for the report. "I'm happy where I'm at," Crawford told the New York Post. "I definitely want to win, but I don't want to jump ship when things are tough. I want to be part of the reason when we turn it around." Crawford is leading the Knicks with 19.9 points per game this year. |
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| Leon Powe, F, Boston Celtics | Tuesday 2/5, 9:23 AM CT |
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| It's true that Leon Powe has seen his minutes go up since Kevin Garnett went down with an injury, but Powe had been playing more before KG was hurt, as well. After seven straight DNPs from Jan. 4 to Jan. 16, Powe has averaged 19.1 minutes since, according to the Boston Globe. He's scored in double-digits the last two times out, including a 25-point, 11-rebound effort a week ago in Miami. "Really, for this team, it's a perfect fit," Rivers said, "because he's not going to try to go outside of his role. He knows who he is." |
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| Brian Scalabrine has started the last three games with Kevin Garnett on the sidelines, and although Scalabrine hasn't filled up the statsheet, coach Doc Rivers has been pleased with the veteran's play. "I'm never going to look at Scal's numbers," the coach said in the Boston Globe. "He's not a numbers guy. He's not going to wow you with scoring or rebounding or assists or forcing turnovers. He's going to wow us with all of the little things he does, setting the right pick, moving to the right spot, spacing the floor, hustle plays." Leon Powe has also seen an uptick in minutes with Garnett out. |
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| Coach Doc Rivers doesn't think Kevin Garnett's abdominal strain will improve enough over the next few days to allow the forward to play in his homecoming to Minnesota Friday. He's already missed three games with the injury, and if he is out at least through Friday, that will be another three contests, according to the Boston Globe. There is no timetable for his return. |
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