Setting the stage for Week 14 of the fantasy basketball season.
Schedule Breakdown
Four-game teams: ATL, BOS, CHA, CLE, DEN, GSW, HOU, IND, LAC, LAL, MEM, MIA, MON, NOR, NYK, ORL, PHI, PHO, POR, SAS
Three-game teams: CHI, DAL, DET, MIL, NJN, OKC, SAC, TOR, UTH, WAS
Also see: Basketball Monster’s ease rankings | Rotowire’s value meter
Pickups/Plug-ins – Players owned in fewer than 40% of Yahoo! leagues
• Goran Dragic(notes) – Leandro Barbosa’s(notes) wrist surgery [see below] presents Dragic with a great opportunity
for more consistent playing time at both guard positions for the Suns.
Case-in-point: Saturday’s win over the Warriors, during which he scored
20 points and added three treys, four steals, and a block in 26
minutes. While the matchup clearly couldn’t have been better,
his production was still part of a trend. In games where he’s seen at
least 20 minutes of action (15), Dragic has averaged 11.1 points, 1.7
threes, 3.1 boards, 3.5 assists, 2.3 turnovers, and 1 steal. Jason
Richardson(notes) returned to the starting lineup Saturday, but played 27
minutes and is averaging a career-low 30 on the season. Factor in Jared
Dudley’s(notes) continued shooting woes (34% FG, 29% 3PT in January), and
Dragic’s prospects improve that much further. Week 14: NOR, UTH, @HOU, @DAL
• Matt Barnes(notes) – Stan Van Gundy couldn’t be happier
with the way that Barnes has performed as a starter, although he said
"you never know" when it comes to adjusting player roles over the
season’s second half. Barnes should be getting run in most formats
while he is starting – in 13 January games, he’s averaged 13 points on
53-percent shooting, 1.4 threes, 7.3 boards, and 1.3 steals-plus-blocks
in 31 minutes. Week 14: @MEM, BOS, ATL, @DET
• Brandon Rush(notes) – Rush is back in the Pacers’ starting
five and has averaged 12.7 points on 63-percent shooting, 2 threes, 3.8
boards, 2 assists, 0.5 turnovers, and 1.2 steals-plus-blocks in 30
minutes over the past six games. He’s in a great position to succeed
and the team would like nothing more than for him to take ownership of
the shooting guard position. His horrific start to the season turned
off a lot of fantasy owners, but he’s got plenty of time left to impact
the fantasy season. Week 14: @PHI, LAL, CLE, @TOR
• Drew Gooden(notes) – Gooden started for the injured Erick
Dampier(notes) Sunday and was huge against the Knicks (34 minutes, 15 points,
18 boards, 1 steal, 2 blocks). Gooden has been a fantastic per-minute
producer over the past month (23 minutes, 10.1 points, 50% FG, 8.7
boards, 1 steal, 1 block) and doesn’t have significant downside in
terms of playing time behind the gimpy Dampier. Week 14: MIL, @PHO, POR
• Rasual Butler(notes) – Butler has been in and out of the Clippers’
starting five all season but overall has had a steady role over the
past six weeks or so. Over his past 21 games, he’s averaged 13.3
points, 1.9 threes, 1.3 steals-plus-blocks, and 0.8 turnovers in 33
minutes. Week 14: @BOS, @NJN, @MIN, @CLE
• George Hill(notes) – Hill has moved ahead of middling options like Keith Bogans(notes) and Roger Mason(notes)
as the Spurs’ starting shooting guard and has averaged 15.7 points and
2.3 threes over the past three games. There isn’t always a ton of usage
available after the team’s big three, but Hill has a good all-around game and Tony Parker’s(notes)
plantar fasciitis should mean that he’s utilized fairly regularly
within the Spurs’ gameplan. He’s worth a look in most formats with 30-plus minutes. Week 14: CHI, ATL, MEM, DEN
• Arron Afflalo(notes) – Afflalo has been a very steady player
for the Nuggets, and his role has been expanding in recent weeks. He’s
scored in double figures in nine of the past 11 games, averaging 11.8
points on 52-percent shooting, 2.1 threes, and 1.3 steals-plus-blocks
in 28 minutes over that stretch. There is only so much usage available
here, but his defense has been solid, he’s making good use of his
offensive opportunities (48% FG, 42% 3PT on the season), and could be in line for even more. Week 14: @UTH, CHA, DAL, @HOU
• Francisco Garcia(notes) – Garcia remains an intriguing roster add (particularly in roto leagues) for the same reasons that I mentioned last week, and he’s seven days closer to returning at this point.
• Anthony Tolliver(notes) – Tolliver has been pressed into duty
for the short-handed Warriors and has averaged 15.5 points, 1 three,
and 10.5 boards in 39 minutes over the past two games. He should see
consistent run for at least a few more weeks, as neither Vladimir
Radmanovic(notes) nor Anthony Randolph(notes) are set to return any time soon. Week 14: @SAC, NOR, CHA, @OKC
• Carlos Delfino(notes) – Defino’s inconsistent production is
currently on the upswing – he’s been in the starting five for the
Bucks’ past three games (in place of Ersan Ilyasova(notes)) and has averaged
17.7 points on 52-percent shooting, 3 threes, 8 boards, 3.2 assists,
1.8 turnovers, and 1.7 steals in 36 minutes over the past six games.
He’s worth the add while his minutes are up if you’ve got a roster spot
that you regularly turn over, but he’s not heading for a breakout at
age 28 – keep expectations in check. Week 14: @DAL, PHI, MIA
• Daniel Gibson(notes) – Gibsonwill
start at point guard for as long as Delonte West(notes) is out and warrants a
deep-league add
for those with a roster spot in play, as his role was already set to
increase in the wake of the Mo Williams(notes) injury. Gibson has made 47
percent of his threes this
season and has averaged 11.2 points, 2.2 threes, 2.5 assists, and 0.7
steals in 43 career starts. Week 14: @MIA, MIN, @IND, LAC
• Kris Humphries(notes) – Humphries has seen at least 22
minutes of playing time in each of the past five games, averaging 12.8
points on 52-percent shooting, 6.4 boards, and 1.2 steals-plus-blocks
in 25 minutes. His role should stay steady as the primary backup big
for the Nets, and the potential for expanded minutes is there behind
the injury-prone Yi Jianlian(notes). Week 14: LAC, WAS, PHI
• C.J. Watson(notes) – Watson returned from his hand injury
ahead of schedule Saturday (25 minutes, 11 points, 1 steal) and at
least makes sense as a short-term add in deep leagues with Monta Ellis(notes)
and Anthony Morrow(notes) currently dealing with injuries. Week 14: @SAC, NOR, CHA, @OKC
• A.J. Price(notes) – While the Pacers have technically been satisfied
with Earl Watson’s(notes) play as the starter, his fairly low ceiling is
well-established and leaves room for Price to see playing time. The
rookie has averaged 10.6 points, 1.5 threes, 2.9 assists, 1.9
turnovers, and 0.9 steals in 21 minutes over the past 13 games, numbers
that play in deep leagues (his current ownership level is 2%). Week 14: @PHI, LAL, CLE, @TOR
• Craig Smith(notes) – Smith’s recent run has put him on
deep-league radars, as he’s averaged 14.2 points on 61-percent
shooting, 5.3 boards, and 1 steal-plus-block in 22 minutes over the
past six games. He’s emerging as the primary backup big for the
Clippers and has posted per-25 minute averages of 11.9 points, 5.5
boards, and 1.2 steals-plus-blocks on the season. Week 14: @BOS, @NJN, @MIN, @CLE
Status Updates
• Carmelo Anthony(notes) – Although his ankle injury is not considered serious, Anthony will not play Monday. He’s targeting Wednesday for a return to the active roster.
• Ron Artest(notes) – Artest is dealing with plantar fasciitis in both feet but has said that "it’s gotten a lot better" and shouldn’t cost him any games if he stays diligent in getting treatment.
• Leandro Barbosa – Barbosa and the Suns have been left with no choice but surgery
to address his nagging right wrist injury, suffered during
international play over the summer. He’s quietly played through pain
for the past few months, but an ever-present cyst has become too
problematic (35% FG in January), and he’s expected to miss the next
month of action. Jason Richardson is back as the starter at shooting
guard for the Suns, while Gordan Dragic and Jared Dudley will also get
some of Barbosa’s minutes.
• Jerryd Bayless(notes) – Bayless missed Saturday’s game with a sprained left ankle and his status for Monday’s game has yet to be determined.
• Tyson Chandler(notes) – Chandler (foot) has yet to resume practicing and still does not appear close to returning to the active roster.
• Erick Dampier – Damp sat out Sunday’s game with the Knicks because of continuing problems with his left knee. His knee was recently thought to be improving,
so he may have just gotten the day off because of matchup
considerations, but we should know more in the coming days. Drew Gooden
got the start Sunday (34 minutes, 15 points, 18 boards, 2 blocks) and
gains plenty of relevance any time Damp is sidelined.
• Monta
Ellis – Ellis missed Saturday’s game because of a sprained right ankle.
X-rays taken Friday were negative but his status for Tuesday’s game
remains up in the air.
• Francisco Garcia – Garcia has been practicing with the Kings for just over three weeks and should be back in the team’s active rotation sometime after February 1.
• Eric Gordon(notes) – Gordon has missed the Clippers’ past two games with a sprained left big toe.
While he’s officially listed as day-to-day, Gordon himself admitted
that he’s concerned about the potential for the injury to stick with
him. Rasual Butler and Ricky Davis(notes) will see extra minutes for as long
as Gordon is limited.
• Ben Gordon(notes) – Gordon remains out with a groin injury that has taken much longer to heal than was originally expected. He’s missed seven straight games and is currently questionable for Wednesday.
• Devin
Harris(notes) – Harris did not play Saturday because of a right wrist sprain.
He’s set for a Sunday MRI, after which his availability for the Nets’
three-game week should be established.Keyon Dooling(notes) got the start Saturday but had just three points on 1-of-7 shooting in 19 minutes of a 116-83 loss.
• Jason Kidd(notes) – Kidd missed Sunday’s game to tend to a personal matter but is expected to play Tuesday.
• Anthony Morrow – Morrow (knee) is expected to be sidelined for another week to 10 days because of a sprained right MCL.
• Joakim Noah(notes) – A bout with plantar fasciitis finally cost Noah a game Sunday. He’s essentially game-to-game at this point, saying that he’ll just have to stretch, treat, and "stay on top of it." Brad
Miller(notes) got the start Sunday and scored a season-high 25 points in 26
minutes, and he’s the beneficiary if Noah can’t get right and misses
more games.
• Anthony Randolph – Randolph’s multiple left ankle injuries are expected to sideline him for about two months, a timeframe Don Nelson called "pretty close" to season-ending.
• Nate Robinson(notes) – Robinson was not active Sunday because of a strained right hamstring and is currently day-to-day.
• Brandon Roy(notes) – Roy has undergone an unconventional procedure
to treat his strained right hamstring and is expected to miss most of
Week 14. Current targets for a return are January 29 or February 1.
• David West(notes) – West is day-to-day after missing Saturday’s game with a sprained left ankle. Jeff Bower is optimistic and hopeful that he’ll be able to return to the lineup on Monday.
• Delonte West – West
missed Saturday’s game because of a broken left ring finger and his
short-term availability will determined after a re-evaluation, which
should take place within the next day or two. He’ll get the starts at point guard, in place of the injured Mo Williams, once he’s able to return to the lineup.
• Mo Williams – Williams will miss four to six weeks
with a left shoulder strain, suffered Tuesday against the Raptors.
He’ll be re-evaluated in roughly 10 days, at which point we should have a
more precise timeframe for his return.
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