FANTASY / PLAYER NEWS
Gerald Wallace: Could Play On Wednesday
Update: Wallace (concussion) is expected to return to full-contact practice next week and could return to action next Wednesday against Dallas, the Associated Press reports.
Analysis: "He's (Wallace) been working out, and he's been on the floor. Did some up-and-down running, got a little winded," Charlotte coach Sam Vincent said on Saturday. "But he's feeling pretty comfortable that by the Dallas game he should at least be good enough to be able to get on the floor a little bit." Wallace's minutes will most likely be monitored but it looks like his return is imminent.
Eddy Curry: Sidelined With Sore Knee
Update: Curry missed Saturday's game against Portland due to a sore right knee, the Associated Press reports.
Analysis: Curry had been playing well in the absence of Zach Randolph (knee) and was averaging 21.5 points and 4.5 rebounds over his last two games. Consider him day-to-day for now. Wilson Chandler took his place in the starting lineup.
Jamal Crawford: Misses Game With Right Hand Injury
Update: Crawford missed Saturday's game against Portland due to a bruised right hand, the Associated Press reports.
Analysis: Crawford injured his hand in Friday's game against Detroit. Consider him day-to-day for now.
Carl Landry: Misses Game with Knee Injury
Update: Landry missed Saturday's game a bruised right knee, the Associated Press reports.
Analysis: Landry hurt his knee in Wednesday's game. He played Thursday but needed to take a seat Saturday. He doesn't expect to be out long.
Nick Fazekas: Signs Another 10-Day Contract
Update: The Clippers on Saturday signed Fazekas to a second 10-day contract, the Associated Press reports.
Analysis: In three games with the Clippers, the 6-11 Fazekas has scored just two points and grabbed three rebounds.
LeBron James: Stuffs The Stat Sheet on Saturday
Update: James had another superb all-around game on Saturday, scoring 38 points (11-for-12 from the free throw line) and pulling down 11 rebounds in a win over Indiana.
Analysis: James also had five 3-pointers, four assists and two blocks. He entered the day averaging 36.4 points, 6.8 assists and 6.6 rebounds over his last five games.
Travis Outlaw: Struggles From Floor
Update: Outlaw scored just two points on 1-of-8 shooting in Friday's game against Milwaukee.
Analysis: Consider this an off-night for Outlaw, who had scored in double-figures in 10 straight games entering Friday. Look for him to rebound when Portland travels to the play Knicks Saturday night.
Steve Blake: Good Game in Win
Update: Blake scored 21 points with six assists, three boards and a steal in a win over the Bucks Friday night.
Analysis: The point total was Blake's highest since Jan. 9. He shot 8-of-15 from the floor with three 3s and is averaging 13.7 points and 5.3 assists so far in March.
LaMarcus Aldridge: Scores Game-High 29
Update: Aldridge scored a game-high 29 points on 14-of-20 shooting in Saturday's close win in Milwaukee.
Analysis: Aldridge also added six rebounds, four assists and a block in 35 minutes of action.
Deron Williams: Huge Game
Update: Williams scored 25 points (11-of-18 shooting), dished out 15 assists and pulled down six boards in Friday's win over Phoenix.
Analysis: Williams has been playing at an incredibly high level all season long. Expect a similar performance when the Jazz host the Nuggets on Saturday in what should be a high scoring affair.
Mehmet Okur: Continues to Play Well
Update: Okur had 25 points (9-of-18 FG) and 14 rebounds in Friday's win in Phoenix.
Analysis: It was Okur's fifth double-double in his last seven games. Through four games in March, he's averaging 19.3 points and 12.0 rebounds.
Anderson Varejao: Double-Double Saturday
Update: Varejao had 15 points, 16 rebounds, six assists and four steals Saturday in Cleveland's victory over Indiana.
Analysis: Varejao has started the last four games with Zydrunas Ilgauskas sidelined with a sore back. We don't expect this kind of production every night, but he's a hustle guy that can produce in the hustle categories like rebounding and steals. Ilgauskas is about a week away from a projected return.
Ronald Murray: Getting Minutes off Bench
Update: Murray had 13 points on 6-of-13 shooting with four assists, three rebounds and two steals in 21 minutes Saturday in Indiana's loss to Cleveland.
Analysis: Murray has double-digit scoring efforts in three straight games while averaging about 20 minutes a contest. This is probably Murray's ceiling for the Pacers, an organization that's looking to make some changes next year. As someone not in the long term plans, Murray will take a back seat to guys like Travis Diener and Danny Granger.
Michael Harris: Re-signs for 10 days with the Rockets
Update: Harris signed a 10-day contract with the Rockets on Saturday.
Analysis: The Rockets released Harris back in October of this season, then went on to play in China for DongGuan of the Chinese Basketball Association. Harris will provide some depth at the bench, but should see very little action.
Rasho Nesterovic: Leads Raptors in Rebounding Friday
Update: Nesterovic scored seven points with 12 rebounds in Friday's loss to the Wizards.
Analysis: He's been putting up useful numbers since Chris Bosh was sidelined, averaging 10.3 points and 8.5 rebounds over the last four games. Bosh is expected to remain out of action for the foreseeable future, so if you need help at center Nesterovic should be able to contribute.
Jamario Moon: Strong Play Continues Friday
Update: Moon scored 13 points with eight rebounds, three steals and two blocks in Friday's loss to the Wizards.
Analysis: He's recorded at least one block in 10 straight games, averaging 10.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, 1.3 steals and 0.8 three pointers over that stretch while shooting .506 (43-for-85) from the field.
Johan Petro: Could be Benched
Update: Petro is in danger of losing his starting assignment, the Tacoma News Tribune reports.
Analysis: Petro, who has started since Kurt Thomas was traded in late February, gets pushed around on defense most nights, and he doesn't really have an offensive game. He's capable of a big rebounding night now and then, but more often are nights like Friday when he had just five rebounds in about 25 minutes. Nick Collison likely would start if Petro is benched.
Jose Calderon: Solid Game Friday
Update: Calderon just missed a double-double, scoring 20 points with nine assists in Friday's loss to the Wizards.
Analysis: He also added four rebounds and three steals. Calderon's play has been inconsistent recently, and he's averaging 9.9 points and 7.5 assists over his last eight games, but his spot as the raptors' starting point guard is secure.
Wilson Chandler: Starts Friday Night
Update: Chandler made his second start of the season Friday night in New York's loss to Detroit.
Analysis: Chandler started in place of Quentin Richardson (DNP) at small forward and had four points, four rebounds, two assists and one blocked shot in 25 minutes. This was the third straight game that Chandler's been given increased playing time, but the production (7.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 26.7 mpg) is nothing for fantasy owners to get excited about.
David Lee: Starts in Place of Zach Randolph
Update: Lee started at power forward in place of the injured Zach Randolph (foot) Friday night in New York's loss to Detroit.
Analysis: Lee has started the last two games for the Knicks, averaging 14.5 points and 11.5 rebounds in the two starts. Without Randolph around for the past four games, Lee is averaging 34 minutes a game. Randolph may not be available for Sunday's game in Dallas.
Zach Randolph: Returns Home to Indiana
Update: Randolph (foot) returned home to Indiana for personal reasons Friday, the New York Daily News reports.
Analysis: Knicks coach Isiah Thomas says Randolph, who has missed four games because of the foot, will rejoin the Knicks Sunday in Dallas but there is no guarantee he will play. David Lee started at power forward in his place against the Pistons.
Eddy Curry: Team-High 23 Points
Update: Curry scored a team-high 23 points on 8-of-13 shooting Friday night in New York's loss to Detroit.
Analysis: Curry's having a nice little run with Zach Randolph sidelined for four games with a bruised foot. In the past three games, Curry is averaging 20.7 points on 65.6 percent shooting (21-of-32) while getting to the free-throw line 29 times (20 makes) without Randolph crowding the frontcourt. He's still not a productive rebounder, but Curry can be a pretty effective scorer.
Nate Robinson: Comes off Bench Friday
Update: Robinson came off the bench Friday night against the Pistons after being the starting shooting guard in the previous nine games.
Analysis: Freddie Jones got the start instead. Robinson scored 14 points on 5-of-13 shooting with two rebounds, three assists and two steals in 30 minutes. His playing time didn't suffer despite being a reserve, so we're not about to write him off because of the demotion. He remains part of coach Isiah Thomas' rotation.
Fred Jones: Starts on Friday
Update: Jones was in the starting lineup at shooting guard Friday night in New York's loss to Detroit.
Analysis: Jones had 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting with two 3-pointers, two assists, one rebound and one steal in 30 minutes. Nate Robinson had been the starting two for the past nine games, and there's no reason given for the switch on Friday.
Quentin Richardson: DNP Friday
Update: Richardson was a DNP Friday night against the Pistons, Newsday reports.
Analysis: Wilson Chandler got the start at small forward for the Knicks, scoring four points in 25 minutes. Perhaps coach Isiah Thomas is going with his young players, so we'll have to keep an eye on Richardson's status in the coming days.
Michael Doleac: Out After Death In Family
Update: Doleac missed Friday's win over Sacramento after the death of his grandmother and will miss Saturday's game, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Analysis: He's expected back early next week.
Kirk Snyder: Gets Another Start
Update: Snyder started at small forward and scored eight points with three rebounds in 34 minutes in Friday's win over Sacramento.
Analysis: Synder has been in the starting lineup with Corey Brewer out with the flu. However, he's made enough of an impression that the T-Wolves may keep giving him minutes to see if he'll be part of the team's plans next season.
Josh Powell: Improved Play Continues
Update: Powell had 12 points, 10 rebounds and a steal in the Clippers' 119-82 loss to the Lakers Friday night.
Analysis: Excluding rookie Al Thornton, Powell has probably improved the most over the course of the past few months. The forward-center shot 5-of-7 in 35 minutes versus the Lakers. In his last four games, Powell is averaging 33.3 minutes, 10.3 points and 7.1 rebounds while shooting 51.6 percent.
Chris Kaman: Double-Doubles in Limited Minutes
Update: Kaman (back) played 27 minutes and scored 14 points to go with 11 rebounds during the Clippers' 119-82 loss to the Lakers Friday night.
Analysis: Kaman's production is firmly bound to his health problems and, since mid-January, there have been numerous. Currently, the 7-footer is dealing with a balky back, limiting his minutes, so expect the box score to reflect that.
Eduardo Najera: Posts Season-High 19 vs. Spurs
Update: Najera came off the bench to contribute 19 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals during Denver's win over the Spurs on Friday night.
Analysis: The 19 points was a season-high for Najera, who played a key role in Denver ending San Antonio's 11-game win streak. He played 25 minutes but that shouldn't be expected every night as Carmelo Anthony got into foul trouble early and Najera was called upon to plug the gap.
Mikki Moore: Paltry Production
Update: Moore scored six points and grabbed just two rebounds in Sacramento's loss to Minnesota Friday night.
Analysis: Moore wasn't very productive in 29 minutes of action, so don't be surprised if the Kings' starting power forward begins losing time to Shelden Williams, acquired from Atlanta in mid-February. Sacramento's season is heading south fast, and Kings coach Reggie Theus may start tinkering with the playing rotation in order to assess some of his younger players.
J.R. Smith: Continues to Earn Minutes
Update: Smith came off the bench to score 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range, during Denver's win over San Antonio on Friday night.
Analysis: While Smith's scoring punch was huge during his 25 minutes of court time it was actually his defense which helped trigger the comeback and prevent San Antonio from getting back in the game. Smith had three steals on the night along with two assists and one rebound.
Tim Thomas: Returns to Action Friday
Update: Thomas returned to action Friday night after missing three games because of a groin injury.
Analysis: Thomas came off the bench and was scoreless (0-for-6 FG, 0-for-2 3pt) in 14 minutes in the Clippers' loss to the Lakers. Al Thornton started at power forward, but reserve Josh Powell was the best four on the floor, scoring 12 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in 34 minutes.
Luke Walton: Back to the Bench
Update: Walton was back on the bench Friday night in the Lakers' victory over the Clippers.
Analysis: Walton had been starting at small forward while Vlad Radmanovic was out with a calf injury. Radmanovic returned to the lineup earlier this week and started on Friday. Walton had seven points, three rebounds, three assists and one steal in 21 minutes against the Clips.
Francisco Garcia: Six Points in 21 Minutes
Update: Garcia played 21 minutes and had six points, two assists, a rebound and a steal in the Kings' loss to the Timberwolves Friday night.
Analysis: There are times when it appears Kings coach Reggie Theus is intent on playing John Salmons more than Garcia. Consequently, that strategy greatly affects Garcia's playing time and production since both of them play similar roles. When he's logging more than 30 minutes per game, the third-year swingman is a viable middle-tier player in roto leagues.
Vladimir Radmanovic: Back in Starting Lineup
Update: Radmanovic was back in the starting lineup at small forward Friday night in the Lakers' victory over the Clippers.
Analysis: Luke Walton had been starting while Radmanovic rehabbed his calf injury. Radmanovic had 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting (two 3-pointers) with two rebounds, four assists and one steal in 23 minutes. He was limited only by the five fouls he picked up.
Nenad Krstic: Double-Double Friday
Update: Krstic had 14 points and 11 rebounds in 29 minutes Friday night in the Nets' loss to the Hornets.
Analysis: Krstic's having a nice three-game run that's seen him average 30 minutes a game, a sign that his conditioning is finally back, after rehabbing his left knee for over two months. In his last three games, Krstic is averaging 12 points on 65.4 percent shooting (17-of-26) and 10 rebounds.
Bostjan Nachbar: Works Out Friday
Update: Nachbar (hip) worked out Friday and hopes to be available Saturday night against Dallas, the Newark Star-Ledger reports.
Analysis: Nachbar missed his third straight game on Friday. "I went about 70 percent today without a problem," Nachbar said. "I'm going to try again (Friday night) before the game and push it real hard, and then make a decision then."
Jared Dudley: Wallace's Return to Cut Minutes
Update: Because Bobcats coach Sam Vincent will play Gerald Wallace more at small forward when he returns from a concussion next week, Dudley's playing time will be cut, the Charlotte Observer reports.
Analysis: Vincent will have to find a way to get Dudley at least 20 minutes a night, but he's not been very adept at roster management this season. Dudley has played over 30 minutes in each of the last four games -- all Charlotte wins -- including his 13-point, eight-rebound, four-steal effort in 39 minutes Friday night in a win over Atlanta.
Brad Miller: Bitten by the Wolves
Update: Miller suffered through his worst game of the season and was held scoreless during Sacramento's 111-103 home loss to Minnesota Friday night.
Analysis: In 25 minutes, Miller's only positive fantasy stats were grabbing eight rebounds and registering two steals. He sat the fourth quarter in favor of rookie Spencer Hawes. Expect him to bounce back favorably next game.
Manu Ginobili: 24 Points in Loss
Update: Ginobili had 24 points (9-of-17 FG, 2-of-5 3-PT, 4-of-4 FT), four rebounds and five assists in the Spurs' loss to the Nuggets on Friday.
Analysis: Ginobili continues his great play of late. Ginobili has averaged 22.2 points a game in March. Ginobili should thrive Sunday against Phoenix's up-and-down style.
Gerald Wallace: More Small Forward in Future
Update: Bobcats coach Sam Vincent said he may keep Wallace (concussion) at small forward instead of forcing him to play the more rugged power forward position when he returns next week, the Charlotte Observer reports.
Analysis: "If you're playing the 4 (power forward), you're going to get hit," Vincent said. "So we may keep him down on the 3 (small forward) more." That's a wise move to protect a valuable asset like Wallace.
Rashad McCants: Team-High Scoring off the Bench
Update: McCants scored a team-high 22 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field (3-of-4 3pt) and 7-of-7 from the line in Minnesota's victory over Sacramento on Friday.
Analysis: No doubt about it, McCants is a scorer. He's averaging 17.3 points per game as a bench player in nine games since the All-Star break while shooting 49.2 percent from the field and 41.5 percent from 3-point range.
Tim Duncan: Bounces Back In Loss
Update: Duncan had 23 points (8-of-11 FG, 7-of-9 FT), nine rebounds and four blocks in the Spurs' loss to the Nuggets on Friday.
Analysis: Duncan bounced back from one of his worst offensive performances of the season and will be needed if the Spurs hope to get back to their winning ways against Phoenix on Sunday.
Corey Brewer: Returns to Action Friday
Update: Brewer returned to action after missing two games because of a bruised thigh.
Analysis: Brewer came off the bench in first game back, scoring four points with five assists and picking up five fouls in 18 minutes. He had a nice little two-game run as the starting small forward prior to the injury, so we'll be looking to see if he reclaims that job and those minutes.
Joe Johnson: 20 Points in Loss
Update: Johnson had 20 points (6-of-16 FG, 1-of-4 3-PT, 7-of-10 FT), seven assists and two steals in the Hawks' loss to the Bobcats on Friday.
Analysis: This was one of Johnson's worst shooting nights since the arrival of Mike Bibby, but Johnson was still able to provide fantasy owners with decent all-around numbers.
Mike Bibby: Double-Double in Loss
Update: Bibby had 11 points, 10 assists and two steals in the Hawks' loss to the Bobcats on Friday.
Analysis: Bibby shot just 4-of-15 from the floor and 1-of-5 from 3-point range. He is shooting just 39.8 percent since joining the Hawks.
Ron Artest: Does Not Play Friday
Update: Artest, who was a late scratch, did not play Friday night against Minnesota due to soreness in his right foot. John Salmons started in his place at small forward.
Analysis: It should be noted that Artest was fined on Monday for comments "detrimental" to the team. There is a pervasive feeling among team officials that some players have quit on the season, and it wouldn't be surprising to see Artest's name on that list. Given his past history we'll let fantasy owners determine if there's a coincidence between Artest's recent fine and his latest injury. If drama was a roto category, Artest would be leading the NBA in points.
Al Horford: Strong Totals on The Boards
Update: Horford had 18 points and 11 rebounds in the Hawks' loss to the Bobcats on Friday.
Analysis: Horford has double-figure rebouding totals in six of his last seven games and continues to develop his offensive game.
Linas Kleiza: Limited Minutes
Update: Kleiza (sprained left foot) played just 14 minutes Friday night in Denver's victory over San Antonio.
Analysis: Kleiza should probably rest the foot, but is playing through a stretch of games against Western-Conference powers. The Nuggets are back in action Saturday against the Jazz.
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