FANTASY / PLAYER NEWS
Sebastian Telfair: Out At Least One Week With Ankle Injury
Update: Telfair was scheduled to have an MRI on his sprained ankle on Monday and is expected to be sidelined at least a week, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Analysis: Telfair suffered the injury on Friday and missed Saturday's game. Randy Foye will move over to point guard with Telfair out and Marko Jaric will start at shooting guard.
Al Jefferson: Misses Practice With Sore Ankle
Update: Jefferson (ankle) missed practice on Monday, but is expected to play Tuesday against Portland, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Analysis: Jefferson originally hurt the ankle last Wednesday, but was able to play in two games over the weekend. The injury isn't thought to be too serious as a result.
Sam Cassell: Activated Monday
Update: Cassell was activated for Monday night's game against Philadelphia.
Analysis: Cassell picked up four fouls in just five minutes in Boston's victory. His playing time will increase, but the Celtics are fully committed to Rajon Rondo as the starting point guard.
Chris Duhon: Fined a Second Time
Update: Duhon was slapped with a second fine for missing Sunday's shootaround, the Chicago Tribune reports.
Analysis: Duhon was fined after missing the shootaround, then picked up a second one for what appears to be a dismissive attitude about the affair. Explaining why he didn't wake up for Sunday's shootaround, Duhon finished his comments with "I haven't been playing a lot anyway." That remark led to his being called into general manager John Paxson's office, where the second fine was levied. "That's a bothersome statement," Paxson said Monday. "Chris and I talked about it and he said he said it out of frustration."
Anderson Varejao: One Rebound shy of Back-to-Back Double-Double
Update: Varejao who easily had his best game of the season Saturday night, ended up with 16 points and nine rebounds Monday night against Portland.
Analysis: Varejao went 7-of-11 from the field and stayed out of foul troble on his way to a decent night with 16 points and nine rebounds. Without Zydrunas Ilgauskas in the middle, Varejao could average a double-double while starting at center.
LeBron James: Records 7th Triple-Double
Update: James recorded his seventh triple-double of the season, going for 24 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds.
Analysis: James continues his surge towards his first ever M.V.P. award. James is averaging 38 points per contest over the Cavaliers' last five games.
Patrick O'Bryant: Sent to D-League
Update: The Warriors sent O'Bryant to the D-League on Monday.
Analysis: O'Bryant had only played in 22 games with the Warriors this year, averaging 1.5 points and 1.3 rebounds per.
Willie Green: Injures Back
Update: Green left Monday's game against the Celtics with a lower back strain.
Analysis: Green landed awkwardly after making a layup with 26 seconds left in the first quarter and went to the locker room. His return is questionable.
Caron Butler: Returns to Practice
Update: Butler (hip) returned to practice on Monday, the Associated Press reports.
Analysis: "I felt pretty good," Butler said. "I had a nice rhythm and my teammates were looking for me because they wanted me to get a feel for everything." Washington is starting to get healthy at just the right time - with both Butler and Gilbert Arenas (knee) returning to practice within the last week. The Wizards don't have a timeline for either player's return to game action, but coach Eddie Jordan called Butler "day-to-day" on Monday.
Allen Iverson: X-Rays Reveal Fracture, Will Continue to Play
Update: Iverson had an X-ray on Monday which revealed a small fracture on the tip of his right ring finger, the Associated Press reports.
Analysis: He will play through the injury as the Nuggets are fighting for the eighth spot in the West.
Jeremy Richardson: Signed for Remainder of Season
Update: Richardson signed with the Hawks for the remainder of the season on Monday.
Analysis: He had signed two 10-day contracts with the club earlier this season and averaged three points in nine games. He shouldn't make much of an impact so this roster move should not effect your fantasy lineup.
Marcus Banks: To Miss A Week At Least
Update: Banks (hamstring) will miss at least a week and possibly more, the Associated Press reports.
Analysis: Heat coach Pat Riley made the announcement while informing the press of the team's decision to shut down Dwyane Wade for the season. With two guards out of the rotation, we expect more playing time for Chris Quinn.
Dwyane Wade: Shut Down For Season
Update: Heat coach Pat Riley announced that Wade is being shut down for the season due to a sore left knee, the Associated Press reports.
Analysis: Wade, whose battled pain in his knee and shoulder all year long, will undergo OssaTron treatment -- a form of shock wave therapy. After the treatment, he will be limited to passive exercise, such as swimming and bicycle work. He can resume basketball-related activities after that. We expect increased playing time for Chris Quinn as a result.
Mo Williams: Will Miss Fourth-Consecutive Game Tuesday
Update: Williams (pubic symphysitis) will miss Tuesday's game at Washington.
Analysis: Tuesday will mark the fourth time in as many games he will sit out. There isn't any word on his return yet, but we will keep you posted on his status. In the meantime, you should find a replacement in your lineup if you haven't done so already.
Gerald Wallace: Returned to Practice Monday
Update: Wallace returned to practice Monday and is hoping to return to the lineup on Wednesday at Dallas, the Associated Press reports.
Analysis: When he returns, he will go back to playing his more natural small forward position. "I talked to the coaching staff and I think my career at (power forward) is done," he said. He has excelled at small forward before so don't be too worried about his numbers slipping.
Antawn Jamison: Dealing With Sore Back
Update: Jamison has reportedly been "quietly dealing with a sore back" recently, according to the Washington Post.
Analysis: We don't expect Jamison to miss any time with the back injury, and nothing was reported on the extent of the injury, but it could explain some of the uncharacteristically poor shooting nights Jamison has had in recent weeks. The back injury may also gradually reduce Jamison's minutes as the season goes on, as he has played over 40 minutes only twice since the All-Star break.
DeShawn Stevenson: Walking With Cane
Update: Stevenson (knee), who has appeared in 230 consecutive games, reportedly is in such knee pain that he requires a cane to walk after games, according to the Washington Post.
Analysis: We don't expect Stevenson to miss any time with this lingering knee problem, but it could help explain his erratic shooting over the past season.
Tony Parker: 21 Points in Loss
Update: Parker had 21 points (7-of-15 FG, 7-of-8 FT) and five assists in the Spurs' loss to the Suns on Sunday.
Analysis: Parker was the only one of the big three to shoot close to his normal percentage. We expect Parker to have another solid outing against the Nuggets on Monday.
Manu Ginobili: Hits Four 3-Pointers in Loss
Update: Ginobili had 22 points (7-of-19 FG, 4-of-6 3-PT, 4-of-5 FT), five rebounds and a steal in the Spurs' loss to the Suns on Sunday.
Analysis: The normally poor Suns' defense held Ginobili and Tim Duncan to a combined 13-of-38 shooting. Overall, Ginobili continues to score but his shooting has been streaky of late.
Tim Duncan: Double-Double in Loss
Update: Duncan had 17 points, 10 rebounds, two steals and two blocks in the Spurs' loss to the Suns on Sunday.
Analysis: Duncan's 6-of-19 from the floor and 5-of-8 from the line did not help the Spurs cause, as they lost their second straight game. Duncan will need to be much better if they hope to snap the streak on Monday against Denver.
Dwyane Wade: Shut Down by Heat
Update: Wade (left knee) is slated to undergo a specialized treatment that will keep him off the court for at least a month, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports. "It requires, after the procedure, that you have to be off your feet for 30 days," coach Pat Riley said of the treatment. "So, for all intents and purposes, Dwyane will probably miss the rest of the year."
Analysis: At 11-50, the Heat (whose season ends April 16) have no compelling reason to roll Wade out there at less than 100 percent. "The knee will be hit with shockwaves, electrical shock waves," Riley explained of the Ossatron treatments that Wade will undergo. "It's actually a pretty painful procedure." That said, Wade still plans to play in this summer's Beijing Olympics.
Kevin Durant: More Selective with Long-Range Shot
Update: Durant is concentrating on driving to the basket more instead of launching three-pointers, the Seattle Times reports.
Analysis: It became obvious recently that Durant's game had changed, but it's good to know it's not a fluke. Early in the season, Durant too often settled for long-range shots. Now he's being more selective, looking to drive first and getting to the line. "I'm just trying to be aggressive going to the basket," Durant said. "I only take threes if I'm wide open or if the shot clock is going down. I'm trying to get to the basket, shoot a mid-range or drive to the basket. I think when I do that, you get to the line more, you get easy points and your percentage goes up. I should have started that early on."
Ben Gordon: Back In Stride The Past Three Games
Update: Gordon led the Bulls with 27 points in the team's 116-109 loss to Detroit Sunday.
Analysis: Gordon probably would have had an even bigger night but he played just 28:55 due to foul trouble and eventually fouled out. After a brief rough patch, he has scored 20+ in three straight games and appears to be back in stride.
Thabo Sefolosha: Inching Closer To Return
Update: Sefolosha, who has missed six straight games because of a sore left groin, may be close to returning, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Analysis: The Bulls have been conservative with Sefolosha to prevent him from re-injuring his groin and missing the rest of the season. The team hopes he'll be able to practice soon and then will evaluate his chances for playing. Sefolosha's value had already taken a big hit with the addition of Larry Hughes, so don't expect much from him when he does come back.
Ramon Sessions: Plays in First NBA Game
Update: Sessions appeared in his first ever NBA game on Sunday, scoring two points in four minutes.
Analysis: Sessions saw some time late in the fourth quarter of a loss to Philadelphia. A second round pick in 2007, he's seeing a little time due to the injury to Mo Williams.
Jianlian Yi: Status of Wrist is Still Uncertain
Update: Yi said that he'll need to get more tests done on his sore wrist and that he's not sure when he'll be able to return, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Analysis: Yi has been bothered by a number of nagging injuries over the last two months, but his wrist injury was getting worse recently. It's getting to the point where he may get shut down for the rest of the season, but he hopes that he can return for at least some games.
Brad Miller: Dip in Play Ongoing
Update: Miller (tailbone) played just 21 minutes and scored two points with six rebounds, two assists and two steals during the Kings' 114-113 win versus the Lakers Sunday night.
Analysis: Miller, who admits to feeling banged up, was on the bench for most of the fourth quarter, giving way to 19-year-old rookie Spencer Hawes. His dip in play may have originated on March 2 when he fell hard during a game versus Miami, injuring his tailbone. Since the Heat game, a span of five games, Miller is averaging just 7.4 points and 8.2 rebounds. Keep him in lineup for now but temper expectations.
Chris Quinn: Could See Considerable Rise in Playing Time
Update: With Dwyane Wade and Marcus Banks questionable for the next few games, Quinn stands to inherit some playing time.
Analysis: This season, Quinn is averaging five points and 17 minutes a game.
Marcus Banks: Questionable for Monday
Update: Banks pulled his right hamstring in Saturday's game against the Hawks. He received treatment Sunday and will be a game time decision on Monday against the Clippers, the Miami Herald reports.
Analysis: This is bad news for Banks who was coming off a season-high 21 points against the Warriors. Look for Chris Quinn and the recently recalled Daequan Cook to get more playing time in his absence.
Udonis Haslem: Questionable for Monday
Update: Haslem is questionable for Monday night's game against the Clippers after he re-injured his left ankle Friday night against the Warriors, according to the Miami Herald.
Analysis: If he sits, expect Shawn Marion to move to power forward and Ricky Davis to start at small forward.
Dwyane Wade: Uncertain for Monday Night
Update: Wade said his knee felt "so-so" after the Heat's loss to Atlanta Saturday. He received treatment on Sunday and will be a game time decision Monday for the game against the Clippers, the Miami Heral reports.
Analysis: Keep a close eye on Wade as Riley could pull him for the season at any time.
Bostjan Nachbar: Some Soreness in Hip
Update: Nachbar, who returned to action Saturday from a hip injury, felt some soreness during the second half of New Jersey's loss to Dallas, the Newark Star-Ledger reports.
Analysis: He is expected to play Monday night against Houston.
Vince Carter: Wil Play Monday
Update: Carter, who left the Nets after Saturday's game in Dallas for personal reasons, is expected to play Monday night against Houston, the New York Post reports.
Analysis: This is the first we are hearing about Carter leaving the team.
Tayshaun Prince: Injury Scare
Update: Prince hurt his right hand Sunday night in Detroit's victory over Chicago, the Associated Press reports.
Analysis: Prince was knocked to the floor in the third quarter by a Larry Hughes foul and was down for several minutes before getting up. He made both free throws and went on to score 15 points in the final 17 minutes of the game. "I couldn't feel my hand, and I knew that wasn't good," said Prince. "I thought I was going to have to shoot my free throws one-handed, but I got enough feeling back to make the shots, and then I hit a 3, so I figured I would keep going." He'll have a few days off before Detroit's next game Wednesday at home against Philadelphia.
Theo Ratliff: Second Straight Start
Update: Ratliff started in place of the injured Rasheed Wallace (ankle) on Sunday.
Analysis: This was the second straight start for Ratliff, who had 10 points, eight rebounds, one assist and three blocked shots in 25 minutes. Wallace's injury is not considered serious.
Rasheed Wallace: Sits out Sunday's Game
Update: Wallace sat out Sunday night's victory over Chicago because of a sore ankle.
Analysis: This was the second straight game he's missed because of the injury. Theo Ratliff started in place of Wallace. The Pistons are off until Wednesday against the 76ers.
Carl Landry: Questionable for Monday's Game
Update: Landry reported improvement in his sore and swollen right knee, but remains questionable to play Monday night against the Nets, or even to test the knee at the morning shootaround, the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: "He's fine," Rockets athletic trainer Keith Jones said. "He's good today. The swelling has gone down a little bit, the pain reduced some. We'll see how it is in the morning when he comes in and have the doctors check him. We'll see what they think. If they want him to go through shootaround, we'll go through shootaround and see from there."
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