FANTASY / PLAYER NEWS
Loren Woods: Signs with Rockets
Update: Woods signed with the Rockets for the remainder of the season on Friday.
Analysis: Woods was originally signed to a 10-day contract on March 21 and re-signed a second 10-day deal on April 1. He has averaged 1.2 points in five games with the Rockets this season.
Bobby Jones: Signs with Nuggets
Update: Jones signed with the Nuggets on Friday for the remainder of the season, the Denver Post reports.
Analysis: Jones begins the year where he started, but only after stopping by for 10-day contracts in Memphis, Houston, Miami and San Antonio. The Nuggets like Jones' defensive ability, and he'll be under contract with the team over the summer, so he has value as potential bargaining chip in any potential trades.
Drew Gooden: Officially Done for Season
Update: The Bulls announced Friday that Gooden (abdominal strain) is officially done for the season, the Chicago Tribune reports.
Analysis: We assumed this would be Chicago's course of action a few days ago, and the Bulls made their plans official on Friday. Gooden averaged 12 points and 8.6 rebounds in 69 games this season, but upped those totals to 14 points and 9.3 rebounds in his 18 games with Chicago.
Ronnie Brewer: Eight Points in Second Game Back
Update: Brewer had eight points on 4-of-8 shooting in 19 minutes against Dallas while playing his second game after missing three with a groin strain, the Deseret Morning News reports
Analysis: Brewer has admitted he's not yet back to full strength. "Just trying to get my legs back under me, gradually get my minutes back and my conditioning back," Brewer said before Thursday's game. "Whenever you come in from injury, you're just trying to get back into the rhythm you had before you sat out. That's basically what I'm trying to do. I was playing well before I got injured, so I'm just trying to get back to that point," he added. "To think logically, it's gonna take a little bit of time. Conditioning, having your legs under you, and your confidence - it's all gonna take time. Hopefully it will be sooner than later."
Shane Battier: Out with Foot Injury
Update: Battier (foot) will miss Friday's game against the Suns.
Analysis: Luther Head should get the start in Battier's place. Battier will miss his first game in the past two seasons on Friday. He is still day-to-day.
Demetris Nichols: May Not Be In The Bulls' Future Plans
Update: Nichols played just 4:37 in the Bulls' blowout loss to Orlando Wednesday and may not be in the team's future plans, the Chicago Tribune reports.
Analysis: Nichols was signed in December after he was waived by Cleveland, who had signed after the Knicks let him go. Nichols came into the league with a reputation of being a good outside shooter, so he could hook on somewhere next season to provide a spark off the bench as he reportedly has made strides during practice. He has some fans in the team's front office, though, and could be re-signed by Chicago when he becomes a restricted free agent this summer.
Shannon Brown: Not In The Bulls' Future Plans
Update: The fact that Brown remained inactive Wednesday against Orlando proves he isn't in the Bulls' plans going forward, the Chicago Tribune reports.
Analysis: Brown was acquired in the Larry Hughes-Ben Wallace deal and will probably be fighting to be the 15th man on some club next season.
Thabo Sefolosha: Minutes Still Limited
Update: Even though the Bulls have fallen out of the playoff picture, Larry Hughes still starts and plays more than Sefolosha, the Chicago Tribune reports.
Analysis: Since losing his starting spot to a groin injury in late-February, Sefolosha's minutes have dropped to an average of 21.2 in March and 21.4 in April while Hughes has averaged 31 and 29.6 minutes, respectively, in those months. Sefolosha has played 20 minutes or fewer in three of the last six games, so it will be intriguing to see if coach Jim Boylan's rotation changes for the last four games of the season with the team playing out the string. Sefolosha's numbers have improved across the board in his second season except for shooting percentage, which is an identical 42.6 percent to his rookie campaign. He has averaged 20.4 minutes, up from 12.2 last season, and appears to be a prominent rotation piece for next season.
Tim Thomas: Rough Shooting Night
Update: Thomas had three points, six rebounds, four assists, three blocked shots and a steal in the Clippers' 106-78 loss to the Lakers Thursday night.
Analysis: The veteran power forward was miserable from the floor, shooting 1-of-11. As consolation, he did manage to rack up some decent defensive statistics to help his owners out.
Al Thornton: Brand New Adjustment
Update: Thornton had 22 points, 10 rebounds, two steals and two blocks during the Clippers' 106-78 loss to the Lakers Thursday night.
Analysis: Thornton hasn't been particularly good since power forward Elton Brand (Achilles') came back five games ago, so his performance is a good sign. The two have never played together in the regular season, and adjusting to each other's playing style may be inhibiting the rookie in the interim.
Corey Maggette: Sits Out Rivalry
Update: Maggette (hamstring) did not play Thursday against the Lakers.
Analysis: It may have been too optimistic when the Clippers listed Maggette as probable versus their crosstown rival. Keep him benched if a fantasy title is at stake because it's extremely risky to insert him in a lineup at this juncture.
Elton Brand: Huge Opening Period
Update: Brand scored 23 points, including 15 in the first quarter, in the Clippers' 106-78 loss to the Lakers Thursday night.
Analysis: Brand, who played in his fifth game since returning from summer Achilles' surgery, has done an admirable job considering the extent of his recent injury. He is averaging 18.6 points and 6.8 rebounds while shooting 48.1 percent.
Smush Parker: Double Digits in Blowout
Update: Parker played 28 minutes and scored 12 points in the Clippers' 106-78 blowout loss to the Lakers Thursday night.
Analysis: It was just the second time in 12 games that the 26-year-old point guard has hit double figures in the scoring column. Since sitting out most of the season on the inactive list, while a member of the Heat, Parker has been out of shape. He signed with the Clippers in mid-March after being waived by Miami.
Jerry Stackhouse: Could See Limited Minutes This Weekend
Update: Stackhouse (groin) may see limited minutes on Sunday when the Mavericks take on the Sonics, the Fort Worth Star Telegram reports.
Analysis: Stackhouse has missed the last seven games with a strained groin and will be eased back into the rotation. "If it was Game 7, I'd be out there. It's not, and I just absolutely think I wouldn't be helping myself or helping the team by coming back before I'm ready," said Stackhouse.
Ron Artest: Listed as Doubtful
Update: Artest (thumb) is listed as doubtful Friday at home versus the Trail Blazers, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Analysis: Artest would not speculate on whether he would take the floor against Portland. He has missed two of the last three games due to a sprained left thumb.
Luke Walton: Scores 18 Against Clippers
Update: Walton (hamstring) returned to score 18 points in the Lakers' 106-78 win over the Clippers Thursday night.
Analysis: Walton played nearly 24 minutes on Thursday, and did not seem limited by his hamstring. Still, his time split with Vlad Radmanovic lessens his fantasy value.
Lamar Odom: Double-Double Against Clippers
Update: Odom had 14 points and 13 rebounds in the Lakers' 106-78 win over the Clippers on Thursday night.
Analysis: With Andrew Bynum (knee) now out until at least the playoffs, expect more of this high production from Odom.
Pau Gasol: Scores 13 in Blowout
Update: Gasol had 13 points and five rebounds in the Lakers' 106-73 win over the Clippers on Thursday.
Analysis: Gasol's lower production came due to the blowout nature of Thursday's game. However, expect big things from Gasol in the season's final stretch, as Andrew Bynum (knee) is not expected to return until the playoffs.
Brad Miller: Elbow Surgery Forthcoming
Update: Miller is scheduled for surgery on Friday to remove a bone chip from his right elbow, the Sacramento Bee reports. He was injured after crashing to the floor versus Miami March 2.
Analysis: The 32-year-old also has a stress fracture in his left leg and will miss the remainder of the season. He played in 72 games and averaged 13.4 points and 9.5 rebounds. At 3.7 per game, his assist average was a league-high for centers.
Carmelo Anthony: Barely Misses Double-Double vs Warriors
Update: Anthony (shoulder) contributed 25 points, nine rebounds and five steals to the Nuggets' huge win over Golden State on Thursday night.
Analysis: While his three game streak of scoring 35+ ended Anthony still shot the ball well (12-of-20 FGs) and contributed in other areas helping the club win a game they had to have. It was only the 4th time all year that Anthony failed to make it to the free throw line which may be an indication that the sore shoulder is still acting up.
Allen Iverson: Leads All Scorers with 33 vs Golden State
Update: Iverson posted 33 points, nine assists, three rebounds and three steals during Denver's 114-105 win over the Warriors on Thursday night.
Analysis: Iverson played all 48 minutes in a game the team absolutely had to have and he made them all count. He finished the night 12-of-21 from the field including a huge 3-pointer that iced the game late in the 4th.
J.R. Smith: Consistent Points and Treys
Update: Smith scored 24 points (7-for-12 FG) with four treys, three boards and an assist in 25 minutes off the bench Thursday night in Denver's victory over Golden State.
Analysis: Smith has now scored in double-figures with at least one trey in 11 consecutive games. While his big 20+ point efforts may only come once every several games, he has become consistent enough on a game-to-game basis to be worthy of a flex start in many scoring formats.
Brent Barry: Still No Word On Return
Update: Barry (left calf strain), who has not played since re-signing with the team on March 23, endured one of his most strenuous workouts Thursday. Still, there is no firm timetable for him to return to the lineup, the San Antonio Express-News reports.
Analysis: The Spurs are continuing to battle injuries with Barry, Robert Horry and now star sixth-man Emmanuel Ginobili. The Spurs had hoped that Barry would be ready be the end of last week, but that has not been the case. We'll keep you posted.
Manu Ginobili: Out on Friday
Update: Ginobili (left groin) will not play on Friday, the San Antonio Express-News reports.
Analysis: "I just don't want to take any chances with him," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "I don't know how long he will be out, but he definitely won't play (against the SuperSonics)." Ginobili tweaked his groin during the first quarter of the Spurs' 96-79 loss to Phoenix on Wednesday. He continued to play into the fourth, before Popovich removed him for good. We'll keep you posted on Ginobili's condition for Sunday's showdown with the Lakers. Expect Michael Finley and Ime Udoka to get more playing time in Ginobili's absence.
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