Terrence Williams(notes) is finally putting up numbers, while Chris Paul’s(notes) owners still don’t know when he’ll be back.
• Terrence Williams has been generating a lot of interest in recent days, thanks to averages of 30 minutes, 14 points on 50-percent shooting, 0.8 threes, 7.8 boards, 5.4 assists, and 2.2 turnovers over the past five games. Yi Jianlian’s(notes) high ankle sprain has opened up some playing time, and the fact that the 7-57 Nets are trotting 31-year-old Trenton Hassell(notes) out with their starting five can’t be hurting his chances either. Williams appears to have emerged from early-season issues, ready to contribute where he can. There’s upside for any player with some ability on a team this desperate for production, but my only caution would be to owners who can’t afford to take a hit in efficiency. Williams shot 40 percent from the field and 59 percent from the line over the entirety of his four-year college career.
• Chris Paul appears to be two weeks away from returning at a minimum. He still has yet to begin running, although he’s going through daily rehabilitation and re-evaluation. Jeff Bower offered the following:
"When his knee is ready to begin running, then he’ll be cleared to
begin with that phase. To beginning to run, I think
we’re getting close. But I don’t want to say when until I know. I don’t
have (specifics) as to when he’s able to safely begin half-speed,
three-quarter speed, full-speed running. Progress is being made."
Paul maintains that he’ll return this season, if only for one game, and it’s looking like we’ll be down to single digits by the time he is cleared to return. Two weeks from Thursday (today) is March 25, and the Hornets have nine games remaining after that date. Darren Collison(notes) owners would continue to glean huge numbers from the rookie in the interim (Wednesday’s line aside). My advice for Paul’s owners remains the same: you should continue to hold him as long as his being inactive doesn’t remove you from the championship picture in your league.
• LeBron James(notes) (ankle) is expected to be back in the lineup Friday, but the Cavs aren’t so sure about Antawn Jamison(notes). Jamison is still dealing with stiffness (and a fluid-filled cyst, on occasion) in his left knee and his status for Friday’s game has yet to be determined, although he’s said he absolutely won’t miss Sunday’s matchup with the Celtics.
• Rodney Stuckey(notes) went through every test possible – a complete cardiac evaluation at three separate facilities – and everything came back normal. He was a light participant in practice Thursday and is listed as questionable for Friday, but remains on an indefinite timetable given the delicate nature of the situation. Will Bynum(notes) remains the handcuff/speculative add here, but there have not been indications that the team is leaning towards shutting down Stuckey as of yet.
• Peja Stojakovic(notes) will miss a minimum of two weeks with a lower abdominal strain. He suffered the injuty trying to keep up with the pace in the 135-131 win over the Warriors on Monday and missed Wednesday’s game. Given the level of his contributions at this point, he’s a safe cut in the majority of formats – there are usually a few low-FG% three-point specialists available on the wire. Julian Wright(notes) will start for him in the interim (37 minutes, 10 points, 3 boards, 1 steal Wednesday) and should get a look in the deepest of leagues. With Morris Peterson(notes) and James Posey(notes) offering so little these days, he’s really their only option at small forward, and his per-35 minute averages on the season include 10.1 points, 6.4 boards, 1 steal, and 0.8 blocks.
• Monta Ellis(notes) is leaning towards returning to the active roster Thursday, having missed the past six games with back pain. Ellis fully participated in Wednesday’s practice but will wait to see how he feels after the Warriors’ game-day activities before making a decision. Ellis also revealed that his back pain can be linked to a condition called spondylosis, as he was born with a small hole at the base of his spine. While he’s been bothered by back pain periodically since high school, the Warriors said they aren’t concerned with this news having long-term ramifications. Perhaps they will at least be a bit more inclined to not allow him to average 42 minutes per game? … Also for the Warriors: C.J. Watson(notes) (family funeral) and Ronny Turiaf(notes) (knee) both missed Wednesday’s practice and are questionable for Thursday.
• Luol Deng(notes) and Taj Gibson(notes) are dealing with injuries for the already short-handed Bulls. Deng has a strained right calf, won’t play Thursday, and is likely to miss Friday’s game as well. James Johnson(notes) and Hakim Warrick(notes) will see extra time while Deng sits. Gibson’s plantar fasciitis has flared up (he played just 13 minutes Tuesday), but he’s going to fight through it Thursday and give what he can.
• Leandro Barbosa’s(notes) percent-owned number has climbed to 42 percent in recent days, with news that he’s returned to practice, but I’m not sure there’s much reason for it. Barbosa’s right wrist is still weak enough that he won’t try to play Friday, and he doesn’t know how much more time he’ll need to get right. But the real question I have is how many minutes will be there for him when he does return. Alvin Gentry offered this quote:
"I talked to [Barbosa] the other day about it and said, ‘When you get in, if
you’re going good and making baskets obviously we’ll ride that. But in
certain situations you may not play the minutes you want to play.’"
It’s unwise to be expecting consistent minutes for Barbosa, let alone a role significant enough to warrant standard-league ownership. Barbosa has certainly been great as a reserve in the past, but I’m not expecting him to help fantasy owners much at all over the remainder of the current season, particularly from a big-picture perspective.
Notes from Wednesday’s games:
• Another solid line from Jrue Holiday(notes) (13 points, 2 threes, 4 boards, 8 assists, 5 turnovers, 3 steals), and the real win here was that he played 38 minutes despite some foul trouble. Keep playing the kid, Eddie Jordan.
• The Clippers started Baron Davis(notes) (36 minutes, 10 points, 1 three, 4 boards, 9 assists, 2 turnovers) and Steve Blake(notes) (36 minutes, 12 points, 4 threes, 4 boards, 5 assists, 1 turnover) in the backcourt, with Eric Gordon(notes) out again. Gordon’s "sore right leg" remains something of a mystery. He’s missed three straight games but remains day-to-day with no specific updates from the team. Blake clearly has value in any injury situation here, as the Clippers have limited options past their top three guards.
• The difference in the fantasy potential of Carlos Arroyo(notes) (20 minutes, 4 points, 2 assists, 0 turnovers) and Mario Chalmers(notes) (30 minutes, 12 points, 4 threes, 6 assists, 0 turnoves, 2 steals) was on full display Wednesday, although there’s no indication that there will be a change in roles … Michael Beasley(notes) left the game with a bruised left thigh and will be a game-time decision Friday.
• Signs of life from Charlie Villanueva(notes)? He’s now scored in double figures in three straight games, the first time he’s done so since late-January. Jonas Jerebko’s(notes) minutes aren’t going anywhere, but the Pistons desperately need Charlie V to give them some offense off the bench.
• Serge Ibaka(notes) posted another solid line (26 minutes, 12 points, 9 boards) and has been playing pretty well for the Thunder. Over the past seven games, he’s averaged 11.1 points on 64-percent shooting, 6.7 boards, and 1.6 blocks in 20 minutes, and he brings energy on defense that Nenad Krstic(notes) can’t match.
• Manu Ginobili’s(notes) averages in two games as a starter: 35 minutes, 33 points, 54% FG, 4.5 threes, 87% FT, 6.5 boards, 5 assists, 1.5 turnovers, and 1.5 steals. Sweeeeeet … The Knicks are terrible, so I wouldn’t read much into Antoni McDyess’ excellent line (23 minutes, 10 points, 12 boards, 2 steals, 1 block).
• I certainly never thought I’d be saying/typing this, but Jose Calderon’s(notes) percent-owned number needs to come way down from 84 percent. Jarrett Jack(notes) is playing excellent ball and averaging 30 minutes per game, while Calderon has settled in as a very underwhelming option off the Raptors’ bench (9.7 points, 0.9 threes, 5.2 assists, 1.4 turnovers, 0.6 steals in 23 minutes as a reserve). Calderon is only going to help you win your fantasy league if Jack were to suffer an injury.
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