Setting the stage for Week 16 of the fantasy basketball season.
Schedule Breakdown
Three-game teams: ORL
Two-game teams: ATL, CHA, CHI, CLE, DAL, DEN, DET, GSW, LAC, LAL, MIA, MIL, NJN, NOR, PHI, POR, SAC, SAS, UTH
One-game teams: BOS, HOU, IND, MEM, NYK, OKC, PHO, TOR, WAS
Also see: Basketball Monster’s ease rankings | Rotowire’s value meter
Pickups/Plug-ins – Players owned in fewer than 40% of Yahoo! leagues
• George Hill(notes) – Tony Parker’s(notes) return from a sprained ankle pushed Hill back to shooting guard, and he averaged 19 points on 61-percent shooting and 2.5 threes over the past two games. In his 14 starts on the season, he’s averaged 16.9 points on 49-percent shooting, 1.2 threes, 3.1 assists, 1.4 turnovers, 0.7 steals, and 0.4 blocks in 34 minutes. Hill is locked in the starting five and technically has upside, with Parker still dealing with plantar fasciitis and could necessitate more downtime moving forward. Week 16: @LAL, @DEN
• Ryan Gomes(notes) – Gomes has been up and down this season, but he’s back in the starting five and has helped spur the T-Wolves to their current four-game winning streak. He scored 26 points and hit five threes on Saturday, and over the past six games has averaged 14.2 points on 54-percent shooting, 2.5 threes, 4 boards, 2.2 assists, 0.3 turnovers, and 1 steal in 29 minutes per game. Week 16: @PHI, CHA
• Andray Blatche(notes)/JaVale McGee – Blatche and McGee are two
players to really consider rostering in advance of the NBA trade
deadline, with the Wizards in tear-down mode and both Brendan Haywood(notes) and Antawn Jamison(notes) rumored to be on
the block. Blatche’s career averages as a starter (68 G) include 10.8 points, 6.7 boards, 0.8 steals, and 1.4 blocks, while McGee’s career per-26 minute averages include 10.8 points, 6.4 boards, 0.8 steals, and 2 blocks. Week 16: @CHA
• Jarvis Hayes(notes) – Hayes should get a look from deep-leaguers, as he has moved ahead of Chris Douglas-Roberts(notes) in the starting five and isn’t likely to concede the position soon. Over the past five games, he’s averaged 11.8 points on 51-percent shooting, 1.8 threes, 5.2 boards, and 1 steal in 30 minutes. Week 16: @CLE, MIL
• Joey Dorsey(notes) – A super-deep league special here. Dorsey has totaled 11 points, 19 boards, two steals, and one block in 37 minutes over the past two games and could be in line for more playing time moving forward. He’s easily the Rockets’ best banger and some numbers that jump out are averages of 14.8 boards and 2.6 blocks in summer league action and 14.9 points, 13.3 boards, 1.1 steals, and 1.4 blocks in the D-League. Week 16: @MIA
Status Updates
• Carmelo Anthony(notes) – Anthony has missed seven consecutive games because of a left ankle sprain, but he’s been fully participating in practices and is targeting Tuesday for a return.
• Trevor Ariza(notes) – Ariza left the Rockets’ arena in uniform Saturday, as his hip pointer was too painful for him to change clothes. Be looking for updates prior to what is the team’s only game over the next eight days, Tuesday at Miami.
• Leandro Barbosa(notes) – Barbosa is expected to miss two to four more weeks due to surgery to remove a cyst from his right wrist.
• Chauncey Billups(notes) – Billups missed Saturday’s game because of a pair of sore ankles, but George Karl "hopes" to have him back in the lineup Tuesday.
• Kobe Bryant(notes) – Kobe sat Friday to deal with his various ailments, is currently listed as day-to-day, and it will be up to him if he plays in either of the Lakers’ two games prior to the All-Star break.
• Andrew Bynum(notes) – Bynum missed the second half of Friday’s game because of a bruised right hip, but is not expected to miss more time at this point.
• Tyson Chandler(notes) – Chandler (foot) almost played Saturday and should be active for the Bobcats’ two games this coming week. He might not supplant Nazr Mohammed(notes) as the starter immediately, but it’s doubful that he’ll be a reserve much past the All-Star break.
• Francisco
Garcia(notes) – Garcia suffered a setback on Jan. 28 when he fell on his right wrist
in practice. There was some optimism prior to his fall that he was close to a return, but he now remains out indefinitely.
• Devin
Harris(notes) – Harris sprained the AC joint in his left shoulder Saturday, but X-rays were negative, it’s not considered a serious injury, and he’s currently listed as day-to-day. He’ll be re-evaluated before the Nets’ return to the court on Tuesday.
• Nene Hilario(notes) – Nene was limited to 21 minutes Saturday because of a left foot injury, but the injury isn’t considered serious and George Karl "hopes" to have him in the lineup Tuesday.
• Allen Iverson(notes) – Iverson has missed the past three games to be with his ill daughter, and there is currently no timetable for him to return.
• Joe Johnson(notes) – Johnson has been dealing with flu-like symptoms and will be re-evaluated Monday, and there’s a chance that he won’t be in the lineup Tuesday.
• Joakim Noah(notes) – Noah will be out at least through the All-Star break as he attempts to deal with a worsening case of plantar fasciitis.
• Chris Paul(notes) – Paul had arthroscopic knee surgery Thursday and is expected to miss between four and six weeks of action. He’s expected to be on crutches for two or three weeks, and how soon he loses the crutches could our first clue as to whether he ends up on the short or long side of the four- to six-week timeframe.
• Leon Powe(notes)
– Powe, roughly nine months removed from ACL replacement and
microfracture surgery on his left knee, has been practicing and is
expected to be added to the Cavs’ active roster sometime after the All-Star break.
• Anthony Randolph(notes) – Randolph’s multiple left ankle injuries are now expected to keep him out for the remainder of the season.
• Brandon Roy(notes) – Roy has apparently made little progress in his attempt to return from a right hamstring injury. His timetable has been pushed back again (through the All-Star break) and he and the team are currently considering a second platelet rich plasma treatment.
• Tyrus Thomas(notes) – Thomas was suspended for Saturday’s game for conduct detrimental to the team, but he’ll be back on the active roster Tuesday.
• Marcus Thornton(notes) – Thornton has missed the past two games because of a sore lower back. Jeff Bower said there is a chance that he’ll be back in the lineup Monday.
• Delonte West(notes) – West has been practicing with the Cavs and appears close to a return.
• Mo Williams(notes) – Williams remains on schedule to miss four to six weeks
with a left shoulder strain, suffered on Jan. 19.
—
Photos via Getty Images