FANTASY / PLAYER NEWS
LeBron James: May Not Play Saturday, Rest
Update: James isn't expected to play many minutes in Saturday's preseason game against Dallas, the Dallas News reports.
Analysis: James and Shaquille O'Neal aren't likely to play tonight. The Cavs are looking to give their big guns more rest so they're ready for the regular season.
Javaris Crittenton: Still No Timetable for Return (Foot)
Update: Crittenton (foot) remains sidelined with his injury, the Washington Post reports.
Analysis: Crittenton was ruled out two weeks ago and had an MRI on Friday which revealed some swelling in two ligaments near his ankle and a bone bruise. He expects to get weekly checkups from here on, but is unsure of his return. Crittenton might be back to begin the season, but that is not a certainty by any means. The acquisition of Randy Foye, combined with the return to health Gilbert Arenas, will most likely mean limited minutes for Crittenton this season.
Shaquille O'Neal: May Not Play Saturday, Rest
Update: O'Neal isn't expected to play many minutes in Saturday's preseason game against Dallas, the Dallas News reports.
Analysis: The Cavs are expected to rest LeBron James and O'Neal tonight. There's no reason to worry. Most teams periodically rest players in the preseason.
Antawn Jamison: Shoulder Progressing
Update: Jamison (shoulder) returned to practice on Saturday but was limited to light running on the treadmill and riding the stationary bicycle, the Washington Post reports.
Analysis: Jamison will be examined again next week, but head coach Flip Saunders said "the shoulder is progressing a lot in the last couple of days. He said he isn't feeling much pain in it. That's a good thing, too." If Jamison can continue to progress he may not miss much, if any time, to begin the regular season.
Brendan Haywood: Haywood (Ankle) to Return Monday
Update: Haywood (ankle) is expected to return on Monday for the Wizards' preseason game versus the Hawks, the Washington Post reports.
Analysis: Haywood, who had a mild ankle sprain last week against Dallas and has been sidelined the past two games. Haywood admits that he has lost some of his conditioning with the time off, but is working to regain his comfort zone with head coach Flip Saunders' schemes on offense and defense. "I've been running the same plays for five years. Sometimes you can get confused out there because you've been in a different system," he said, "but if you put the time in, it'll work out." It looks like Haywood will be fine for the start of the regular season at this point.
Grant Hill: Returns to Preseason Action
Update: Hill returned from an ankle injury on Friday, scoring five points in 20 minutes of court time.
Analysis: He added eight rebounds and four assists. When healthy, Hill can perform well enough in just about any stat category.
Jason Richardson: Rounding Into Form
Update: Richardson scored 16 points with four rebounds and two three-pointers in Friday's preseason win over the 76ers.
Analysis: Richardson's been working on his defensive intensity this preseason, but he still found time to sink some baskets Friday. He makes a poor play for the first week of the season due to his pending two-game suspension, but he should have plenty of value in the Suns' offense after that.
Channing Frye: Good Scoring Night Again Friday
Update: Frye led the Suns with 17 points in 24 minutes Friday, including hitting three of five three-point attempts.
Analysis: Frye only had one rebound and zero blocks though, which is the downside of the seven-footer staying out on the perimeter all night. He should be a useful weapon for the Suns, but once the regular season begins he'll lose looks to the likes of Jason Richardson and Amare Stoudemire.
Charlie Villanueva: Set to Return
Update: Villanueva (hamstring) practiced on Friday and will make his preseason debut Saturday against the Grizzlies, the Detroit Free Press reports.
Analysis: Villanueva has been targeting a Saturday return for the past week. His performance throughout the remainder of the preseason could determine whether he comes off the bench or starts for the Pistons.
Joel Anthony: Offensive Work
Update: Anthony said he worked on his offensive game during the offseason, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports.
Analysis: His efforts have paid off initially as Anthony was a perfect 4-for-4 on Thursday and is hitting 61 percent of his shots during the preseason. Last year, teams didn't have to respect him on the offensive end, and he's trying to correct that this year. "Four on five, that's a big disadvantage," Anthony said. "If people know I'm able to roll... catch and finish, it makes the defense play me a bit more honest." Anthony still remains a defensive force, with 12 blocks in five exhibition contests, and could be moving ahead of Jamaal Magloire as Miami's backup center.
Dwyane Wade: Calf Gets Treatment
Update: Wade received treatment for his bruised right calf and is listed as day-to-day, the Miami Herald reports.
Analysis: The Heat's next preseason game is Wednesday, giving Wade's calf and ribs some time to heal.
Daequan Cook: Multi-Dimensional Scorer
Update: Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Cook is making strides toward becoming a multi-dimensional threat on offense, the Miami Herald reports.
Analysis: All through the offseason, the Heat have been on Cook, who is playing with a sprained thumb, to diversify his attack. The league had the book on him as a spot-up three-point shooter, so he worked on his ball handling and driving to the basket. Making plays on the drive means defenders can't lock down on him at the perimeter. Cook is 11-of-20 from three-point range in the last three preseason games, averaging 16.3 points per game in that stretch. "Coach trusts me with the ball now to be able to make those plays, and I've been making them," he said. "I had to get back on track. I'm not just a spot-up shooter now. It's been a tremendous change."
Ramon Sessions: Continues Backup Role
Update: Sessions scored seven points with three assists, three rebounds and two steals in 25 minutes in Friday's preseason loss to Chicago. He shot just 2-of-9 from the floor.
Analysis: Sessions continues to be an efficient player this preseason, but is coming off the bench and his role with the T-Wolves is a little unclear as the regular season approaches. Head coach Kurt Rambis says he doesn't like having Sessions and Jonny Flynn on the court at the same time, but Sessions is too talented to keep on the bench in a limited reserve point guard role.
Ryan Gomes: Doesn't Score In Preseason Loss
Update: Gomes did not score and was 0-for-5 from the field in 19 minutes in Friday's preseason loss to Chicago. On the plus side, he did have five rebounds and a blocked shot.
Analysis: Gomes came off the bench as Damien Wilkins got the start at small forward. His reduced role on Friday was likely just so the T-Wolves could get a look at other players, but it's a little disturbing he's come off the bench twice this preseason. Gomes will likely shift to power forward with Kevin Love out at least a month with a hand injury.
Michaela Pavlickova: Scores 10 Points
Update: Pavlovic scored 10 points with five rebounds in 24 minutes in Friday's preseason loss to Chicago.
Analysis: With Kevin Love out at least a month with a hand injury, Pavlovic is one of several candidates who could see a boost in playing time. Watch his minutes early in the season.
Damien Wilkins: Starts at Small Forward
Update: Wilkins started at small forward in Friday's preseason loss to Chicago. He scored three points with four rebounds in 20 minutes.
Analysis: Wilkins may appear in the starting lineup now and then to reward his veteran hustle, but don't expect him to be a regular starter. However, Kevin Love's hand injury will open playing time for swingmen and Wilkins could find a bigger role.
Al Jefferson: Plays 34 Minutes
Update: Jefferson (knee) scored 10 points with 16 rebounds and four blocked shots in 34 minutes in Friday's preseason loss to Chicago, but shot just 3-of-10 from the field and had four turnovers. "Tonight makes me realize why I love preseason so much," Jefferson told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "You've got to get all those bad things out. If I got to go through a slump, better now than later. Good thing coach let me get my minutes and get it out of me.
Analysis: Jefferson's 34 minutes were a preseason high and show he's ready for the start of the regular season after coming back from a torn ACL in his knee. With Kevin Love out at least a month with a broken hand, Jefferson may get more rebounds and fewer outside shots early in the season.
Ryan Hollins: Could Get More Time With Love Hurt
Update: Hollins had two points, two assists, two blocked shots and a rebound in 16 minutes in Friday's preseason loss to Chicago.
Analysis: With Kevin Love set to miss the first month of the regular season or more, Hollins could get significant minutes at center or power forward. He may not produce much on offense, but could add decent defensive stats.
Oleksiy Pecherov: Big Improvement In 2nd Preseason Game
Update: Pecherov had 16 points with five rebounds and a blocked shot in 21 minutes in Friday's preseason loss to Chicago.
Analysis: Pecherov bounced back after a poor first preseason game in his return from a hand injury. With Kevin Love out for the first month or more of the regular season with a broken hand, Pecherov could be in the mix for significant minutes at power forward. He's someone to keep tabs on the next few games.
Amar'e Stoudemire: Double-Double in Preseason Win
Update: Stoudemire finished with a double-double in Friday's preseason win against the 76ers, totaling 16 points, 12 rebounds, and three blocked shots on 6-of-11 shooting.
Analysis: An encouraging performance from Stoudemire, especially considering that coach Alvin Gentry estimated that he was only about 60 percent healthy at the moment as he recovers from eye surgery. Stoudemire is due for a nice bounceback campaign and should deliver first-round impact this season.
Louis Williams: Scores 27 Points in Loss
Update: Williams scored 27 points in 35 minutes in Friday's preseason game against the Suns.
Analysis: Despite the point total, Williams was still wildly inefficient, shooting 9-of-22 from the field and a measly 1-of-7 from behind the arc. The points, steals, and free throw percentage impact will all be there, but his field goal percentage and turnovers will really limit his fantasy potential.
Luis Scola: Pulled from Game
Update: Scola (ankle) played 21 minutes Friday but by the third quarter was moving poorly enough for Rockets coach Rick Adelman to pull him early, the Houston Chronicle reports. "He said he was OK, but he was not moving well in that third quarter," Adelman said. "That is a concern. He's got to get that healthy."
Analysis: This doesn't sound serious, but the Rockets will err on the side of caution to get Scola ready for the start of the season.
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