A look ahead to Week 10 of the fantasy basketball season.
Schedule Breakdown
Four-game teams: CHA, CLE, IND, LAL, MIN, NYK, OKC, PHI, SAC, SAS
Three-game teams: ATL, BOS, CHI, DAL, DEN, GSW, HOU, MEM, MIA, MIL, NJN, NOR, ORL, PHO, POR, TOR, UTH, WAS
Two-game teams: DET, LAC
Also see: Basketball Monster’s ease rankings and Rotowire’s value meter
Pickups/Plug-ins – Players owned in less than 40% of Yahoo! leagues
• Yi Jianlian(notes) – Yi has totaled 39 points, four threes, and 14 boards in two games since returning from knee and lip injuries, and he’s once again looking at an unlimited opportunity to prove himself for the Nets. While struggles with inconsistency may remain, a natural progression of skills could mean he improves on career per-35 minute averages of 12.6 points and 7.7 boards while making a push for the one three/steal/block club. Week 10: OKC, NYK, CLE
• Kirk Hinrich(notes) – Tyrus Thomas’(notes) return to the active roster nabbed the headlines during the
Bulls’ 96-85 win over the Hornets Saturday, but Hinrich’s promotion to
the starting five was also key in the victory (36 minutes, 14 points, 3
threes, 6 boards, 7 assists, 1 turnover, 1 steal). Hinrich’s solid
numbers, the team’s win, and John Salmons’(notes) continued poor play (23
minutes, 3 points on Saturday) bode well for Hinrich receiving
consistent starter’s minutes moving forward. Week 10: IND, @DET, ORL
• James Harden(notes) – It took some time, but Harden has adjusted to his reserve role and carved out more and more consistent minutes for himself in the process. He’s averaging 26 minutes per game in December and over the past 18 games – going back to Nov. 18 – he’s averaged 12.6 points, 1.3 threes, 84-percent foul shooting, 3.8 boards, 2.5 assists, 1.5 turnovers, and 1.2 steals. Thabo Sefolosha’s(notes) defense will keep him with the starting five, but Harden should only continue to improve as the season goes on. Week 10: @NJN, @WAS, UTH, @MIL
• Ryan Gomes(notes) – Gomes returned to the T-Wolves’ active roster Saturday
after missing six games with a high ankle sprain (16 minutes, 5 points,
5 boards). He should replace Damien Wilkins(notes) as the team’s starting
small forward in fairly short order and be back to posting solid glue
guy numbers. He was playing very well before hitting the inactive list,
averaging 20.3 points on 59-percent shooting, 1.2 threes, 4.8 boards,
and 1.6 steals-plus-blocks in seven games prior to the injury. Week 10: @SAS, UTH, ORL, @IND
• Marreese Speights(notes) – Speights has only needed 23 minutes per game to put up reasonable season averages (13.2 points, 6.3 boards, 1.2 steals-plus-blocks), a good thing given the fact that there are only so many minutes to go around for the 76ers’ bigs (Speights, Elton Brand(notes), Samuel Dalembert(notes)) in their small lineup and Princeton offense. While you shouldn’t expect consistency or significant upside if the 76ers aren’t able to move Dalembert, his season averages should at least stay steady overall. Week 10: @POR, @SAC, @LAC, @DEN
• Delonte West(notes) – West has been regaining his confidence and the trust of his teammates, and it’s been translating to the box score. Over the past five games, West has averaged 9.5 points on 54-percent shooting, 3 boards, 3.5 assists, 1.7 steals, and 0.7 blocks in 25 minutes. He also made his second three of the season Friday, a good sign for the career 37-percent shooter from long-range. Nothing is guaranteed as West continues his personal battle with a mood disorder, but he’s certainly worth a speculative add given the fantasy potential and his emerging game. Week 10: @ATL, ATL, @NJN, CHA
• DeJuan Blair(notes) – Blair has moved into the starting lineup in the wake of Matt Bonner’s(notes) hand injury,
and he turned in a big line Saturday (26 minutes, 8 points, 12 boards,
3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block). At the very least, there should be some
very solid value here over the next few weeks, as his per-25 minute averages on the
season include 10.5 points, 9.2 boards, and 1.5 steals-plus-blocks. Week 10: MIN, MIA, @WAS, TOR
• Jerryd Bayless(notes) – I went into some detail regarding the Blazers’ backcourt in a post here,
but the upshot is that Bayless won’t lose minutes any time soon and has
some upside if he can get his shot to start falling more consistently. Week 10: PHI, LAC, GSW
• Omri Casspi(notes) – Casspi came off the bench Saturday but it did not affect his production negatively (32 minutes, 15 points, 1 three, 10 boards, 1 steal). His overall line is a bit lacking, but there is some production to be had here. Over the past 17 games, he’s averaged 14.1 points on 47-percent shooting, 1.5 threes, and 4.6 boards, and his minutes should remain largely unchanged at least until Kevin Martin(notes) returns. Week 10: DEN, PHI, @LAL, DAL
• Jose Juan Barea(notes) – Barea has played very well in nine games since joining the Mavs’ starting lineup, averaging 14.3 points on 52-percent shooting, 1.8 threes, 4.2 assists, and 0.8 steals in 30 minutes. Barea’s strong play and the team’s record in those games (7-2) has removed any urgency from Josh Howard(notes) rejoining the starting five, so there’s more fantasy value to be had here. Week 10: @HOU, @SAC, @LAL
• Earl Watson(notes) – Watson hasn’t exactly been fantastic in five game since replacing T.J. Ford(notes) as the Pacers’ starting point guard, but he’s been serviceable for deep-league purposes (8.2 points, 41% FG, 1 three, 3.8 boards, 4.8 assists, 1.2 turnover, 1.2 steals, 0.8 blocks), the Pacers have Week 10’s most friendly schedule (@CHI, MEM, MIN, @NYK), and they play four games in four of the next five weeks.
• Juwan Howard(notes) – Injuries have pushed Howard into a starting role for
the Blazers, and he’s averaged 8.7 points on 54-percent shooting, 10
boards, and 2.7 assists in 34 minutesof three games since Joel
Przybilla(notes) was lost for the season. There’s not significant upside here
and there’s a decent chance that the team will eventually look to add a
true center to the roster, but deep-league owners should make a move in
the interim. Week 10: PHI, LAC, GSW
• Devin Brown(notes) – Deep-leaguers should note that Brown has been showing a bit of chemistry with Chris Paul(notes) lately, averaging 13.2 points, 2.8 threes, and 1.8 steals in 30 minutes over the past five games. Marcus Thornton(notes) is the future at shooting guard for the Hornets, but Brown is the present. Week 10: @HOU, MIA, HOU
• Nazr Mohammed(notes) – Mohammed deserves a deep-league look and is a Watch
List candidate for most formats, given Tyson Chandler’s(notes) current foot issues and his
injury history. In Mohammed’s first start filling in for Chandler
(Saturday, @OKC), he totaled 16 points, 8 boards, 1 steal, and 1 block
in 27 minutes. Week 10: MIL, @TOR, @MIA, @CLE
• Tony Allen(notes) – While it’s true that Allen only has relevance for as
long as Paul Pierce(notes) is sidelined, that’s expected to be at least
another week, during which the Celtics have three fantastic matchups
(@GSW, @PHO, TOR).
Status Updates
• Ron Artest(notes) – Artest missed Saturday’s game after suffering a concussion at his home Friday. Phil Jackson said he anticipates Artest being back in the lineup Monday, but his official status likely won’t be determined until gameday.
• Andris Biedrins(notes) – Biedrins was projected to return to the lineup Saturday, but his return was pushed to Monday to give him more practice time with the team. He’ll play limited minutes initially after missing seven weeks due to back and abdominal issues.
• Chauncey Billups(notes) – While he’s had no setbacks in his recovery from a groin strain, Billups will sit out both of the team’s back-to-back games Sunday/Monday in an effort to let the injury fully heal and avoid any long-term issues. After Monday’s game, the Nuggets are off until Saturday.
• Tyson Chandler – Chandler was expected to be out at least a week after being diagnosed with a stress reaction in his left foot this past Wednesday. Nazr Mohammed is likely to get another start Monday (MIL), and Chandler’s status could be updated in advance of the Bobcats’ Wednesday game (@TOR).
• Jose Calderon(notes) – Calderon is scheduled to meet with team doctors Monday, after which we may have an update regarding his return from a hip flexor strain. The hope has been that he’d be able to return shortly after Christmas (allegedly), but as of this point it’s still something of a mystery. Calderon was not a participant in the team’s most recent practice (Saturday).
• Marcus Camby(notes) – an MRI on Camby’s injured left knee came back negative, but he remains questionable for Sunday’s game.
• Chris Douglas-Roberts(notes) – while CDR is hoping to return from his right ankle sprain Monday, he’s officially questionable at this point.
• Rudy Fernandez(notes) – Fernandez has an "optimistic" goal of returning to practice in two weeks and joining the team sometime around January 18. His original time frame has him coming back towards the end of January at the earliest.
• Kevin Garnett(notes) – KG left Friday’s game late in the fourth quarter after a hard fall to the floor but is expected to be in the lineup Sunday.
• Ben Gordon(notes) – Gordon returned to the lineup Sunday after missing 10 games due to a sprained left ankle.
• Danny Granger(notes) – there have been no substantive updates regarding Granger’s torn right plantar fascia since he was shelved, but he is expected to return sometime in mid-January.
• Blake Griffin(notes) – Griffin remains sidelined by a stress fracture on his left kneecap. While he’s had no setbacks, his scheduled return has steadily been pushed back. He’s scheduled to begin work on an anti-gravity treadmill soon and, if all goes well, he could resume basketball-related activities in roughly three weeks, meaning he could make his debut sometime in late January.
• Richard Hamilton(notes) – Hamilton was back in the lineup Sunday after missing five games due to a hamstring strain.
• Allen Iverson(notes)
– AI has missed the past four games because of arthritis in his left knee, but is expected to return to the active roster on Monday.
• Kevin Martin – Martin has been going through dribbling and shooting drills without incident and is scheduled to undergo a CT scan on December 30 to determine how well the hairline fracture in his left wrist has healed. If everything checks out, an early January return is not out of the question.
• Tracy McGrady(notes) – T-Mac has been removed from the Rockets’ active roster for each of their two weekend games, with Rick Adelman saying he is unsure how to move forward with McGrady because he doesn’t want to take minutes from other players and he doesn’t want to change player roles to accomodate McGrady’s expected usage needs. How and when this will be resolved is anyone’s guess.
"A player of his caliber, he’s smart; he’s got skills other people
don’t have," Adelman said. "They’re in him. All the things he did
before that came easy, suddenly, they’re harder. When you try to incorporate that into your game as a team,
that’s the thing I’m struggling with. I’m trying to figure it out. As
talented as he is and as smart as he is, once he gets going, he’s going
to find a way. I don’t know how long it’s going to take."
• Mike Miller(notes)
– Miller has been doing some running and shooting and could be back in the lineup for the Wizards sometime around January 1.
• Paul Pierce – Pierce is not expected to return to the Celtics’ active roster before January 2, as the team is exercising caution in dealing with his return from an infection in his right knee. Tony Allen will get the starts in Pierce’s place for as long as he’s out.
• Tayshaun Prince(notes) – Prince was back in the lineup for the Pistons Sunday, after missing 26 games with a ruptured disk in his lower back.
• Charlie Villanueva(notes) – Charlie V has been dealing with plantar fasciitis in his right foot; he was in the lineup Sunday after being a game-time decision and is likely to be limited in the short term at the very least.
—
Photos via Getty Images
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