Sometimes it's the little things that make the difference. Every week we take you around the Eastern Conference for a look at the day-to-day developments on real NBA teams and how they might affect your fantasy squad.

Dec. 29 - I hate Christmas!! I hate it when my fantasy basketball team loses just because my opponent’s Kobe Bryant was playing on Christmas day and my Allen Iverson wasn't. Just not fair, I say! This year, for all practical purposes I got skunked in my fantasy league because of the screwy Christmas schedule. Hate it! Hate it! Hate it! ... Nah! I love Christmas!!! It's fun!!! Winning the weekly match-up would have been the icing, but hey, I'm still having my yule log and eating it too.

Boston Celtics: The news out of Beantown is that Dan Dickau could undergo season-ending surgery. Marcus Banks, who is averaging a decent 10 points, three assists and more than a steal and a three pointer per game while sharing time with Delonte West, should be upgraded and picked up in deep leagues. West keeps himself valuable with his steals and blocks and should see some extra minutes as well.

New Jersey Nets: Half Man, Half Amazing! Aye! Vince Carter is back in top gear and showing why he is among the top players in the league. Let alone the 33 points he is averaging over his last five matches, dude is going to the free throw line a ridiculous 17 times per game! Now don't be mad at me when I scream… sell high!

New York Knicks: I don't get this. You have a budding young center who is your second best scorer as well as your best rebounder. Why would you bench him and draw the ire of fantasy owners all over? Rubbing salt to the wound, it is Jerome James and Antonio Davis who are starting ahead of Channing Frye. How do you explain that? ... There have been better times but this isn't a bad time to own Stephon Marbury. Steph is touching the 20-point mark pretty regularly nowadays and, with hush hush trade rumors floating about, his value is on the rise. Hold on to him, there are better times ahead.

Philadelphia 76ers: When Kyle Korver hit just one three-pointer against the Hawks, it was the first time in eight games he failed to hit multiple threes in a game. Korver is red hot outside the arc this month and looks good to continue bombing three triples a game ... Good thing Samuel Dalembert blocks three shots every game. Just look past his inconsistent scoring and rebounding, he’s still a good fantasy center to own.

Toronto Raptors: The bottom-feeding Raptors are showing some life. Losses against the Spurs and Pistons are tough, but consecutive wins against the Magic and the Rockets give them some hope ... Jose Calderon and his six assists per game are back. So much for the inactive list ... More heartening news from up north. Jalen Rose scored in double digits in three of four games. Rose is capable of going on a scoring streak, so keep watch if you need a boost in points.

Chicago Bulls: The Luol-Deng-at-power-forward experiment needs to end. I'm serious. It's not like the Bulls are winning and it's killing Deng's scoring potential ... With eight points, 12 rebounds and 15 points with seven rebounds in back-to-back games, Tyson Chandler is showing some signs of life. Chandler has been a fantasy bust thus far but a few more games like this could send him back into the starting lineup.

Cleveland Cavaliers: Donyell Marshall scoring 17 points should be a good thing these days, right? Not if it makes you think he is out of the funk, and you insert him back into your starting lineup, and he puts up five points in his next two contests combined. Come on, Donyell, you are better than this. We know it, you know it, now just do it! ... Drew Gooden must be rubbing shoulders with Donyell Marshall. After near double-double averages in November and a good start to December, Gooden's production has tailed down. His December averages stand at barely 10 points, seven rebounds and let’s not talk about steals or blocks, because it would be a short conversation.

Detroit Pistons: The Detroit Express steams on, running over the Spurs in the much publicized Christmas day match-up. The starters are playing so consistently well, it’s becoming boring to write about... Antonio McDyess may be, just maybe, making his claim to an increased role after back-to-back double-doubles against the Spurs and the Raptors. He’d be a pretty handy fantasy player to have in deep leagues if he does start getting more minutes.

Indiana Pacers: Still no trade for Ron Artest. Not much clarity as to where he might be headed either. It's all rumors for now. What is clear is that Danny Granger is expected to fill in for Artest and he looks ready for the job ... Jamaal Tinsley is making me look bad after I said he should be shipped off your team as soon as possible. There is no doubting Tinsley's fantasy potential when he is playing, but he remains an injury risk and I repeat that it is better to trade him now, before gets injured again.

Milwaukee Bucks: With Andrew Bogut unable to make an impact around the basket, Jamaal Magloire is grabbing rebounds by the dozen and scoring handily ... Michael Redd is a great scorer but I've always felt he is a bit overrated in the fantasy world. For a pure three-point shooter, he has yet to get his season average up to two threes per game. After a blistering start to the season, the three point shots are drying up. I won't bet on him hitting 46 percent of his shots for the whole season, especially when, as the best player on his team, he is hounded and double-teamed by opponents. If you are getting a good price for him, don't hesitate to make a trade.

Atlanta Hawks: Josh Smith is starting to find some much-needed consistency to go with his talent. The high-flying shot blocker has averaged a decent 10 points and six rebounds in his last five games, great fantasy stats when combined with those three-plus blocks per game ... Zaza Pachulia should definitely make it to the All-Surprise Fantasy Stars team this season. He just keeps getting his 11 points and nine rebounds without making any headlines. His free-throw percentage is on the rise, making him that much more valuable as a fantasy center. In case you hadn’t noticed, there aren't many centers who can hit their free throws. Yah, I know you’re aware. I'm just trying to make a point here.

Charlotte Bobcats: Okay I've got Gerald Wallace back in my starting lineup. I'm just waiting for him to get himself injured now. My personal bad timing relating to Gerald Wallace being in my starting lineup aside, I think this guy just rocks. You'd be hard-pressed to find another player who was drafted as low as he was, filling up the stat sheet in multiple categories. Now he has taken fancy to blocking shots and has 15 swats in his last four games. Makes you go wow! ... Emeka Okafor is more-or-less done playing basketball this year. He should only be back next year. That's not as far off as it sounds ... Guess who's carrying the team right now? Brevin Knight! Three straight 20-point games and 7.5 assists per game, and two wins for the Bobcats ... For those in keeper leagues, we have proof now that Raymond Felton can play at the highest level. Felton has been solid since injuries to others forced him into the starting five. He has a great future ahead of him.

Miami Heat: The Alonzo Mourning Block Count has slowed down, but still sits pretty at 96. The most recent 18 have come in the seven games since Shaquille O'Neal returned ... Jason Williams is back from his injury and 18 points, seven assists, four three-pointers and one steal against the Bucks is ample proof that he is back to pre-injury form. If some impatient owner dropped him in your league, like someone did in mine, pick him up immediately. I missed out on him ... Shaq is working his way back to being the dominant center that he is. He should touch on last season’s stats soon, but what would be interesting is if his 33-year-old, 340-pound body can allow him to go higher. If you have him, you have him, you'll do well. If you don't, don't worry, you're fine without him.

Orlando Magic: Grant Hill continues to impress in his return, though he has yet to reach last season’s production levels. That’s actually a good thing as you can still make a lowball offer to his owner and steal him away. Act fast, as time is running out ... Hill's return has taken some attention off Steve Francis on offense, and it shows as Francis connected on nearly 50 percent of his shots playing alongside Hill ... Don't panic at Dwight Howard spraining his ankle against the Lakers. The Kid is fine, as he dropped another monster double-double, 19 points and 14 rebounds, in his next game.

Washington Wizards: Caron Butler is finally in the starting lineup and the Wizards have won all three games since the switch. Butler will get heavy minutes and will post great fantasy stats, especially with his ability to steal the ball. The way the Wizards gamble on defense, Butler should get close to two per game as a starter ... Jarvis Hayes is out indefinitely with a fractured knee cap. If you employed his services, cut him loose. No point in waiting.

Pravin Bhandakkar is a fantasy expert for NBA.com. His column Around the Eastern Conference runs every Thursday as part of the NBA.com Premium Scouting Report. Contact him at Praywin@TalentedMrRoto.com .