{"id":219400,"date":"2009-12-31T17:25:10","date_gmt":"2009-12-31T22:25:10","guid":{"rendered":"urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,yhoo:20050301:fantasy,article,yhoo-ept_sports_fantasy_experts-211374:1"},"modified":"2009-12-31T17:25:10","modified_gmt":"2009-12-31T22:25:10","slug":"court-report-on-layaway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/219400","title":{"rendered":"Court Report: On layaway"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kevin Martin’s<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> wrist is healing, Jameer Nelson<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> is hurting,
\nand Luther Head<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> could be looking at expanded minutes.<\/em><\/p>\n

• Kevin Martin’s fractured left wrist is making progress<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\n

"Splint is off," Martin said. "Just rehab to work on range of motion.
\nSo when that’s good I’m good. I got cleared to do all basketball
\nactivities without contact until my motion is good. And I’m not putting
\nany dates on anything." <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

That last statement isn’t going to make fantasy owners happy, but just let the fact that he’s had no setbacks act as a silver lining. One date that we do have is Jan. 12, which will be the next time he visits with doctors. He won’t play before that day, but may not be out much past it if all goes well.<\/p>\n

Tyreke Evans’<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> fantasy owners (and the Kings) are waiting with bated breath to see how K-Mart and ‘Reke interact once Martin returns. The Kings were 1-4 when they lost Martin, with Evans having averaged 11.2 points on 35-percent shooting, 0.2 threes, 3 boards, 3.6 assists, 2.4 turnovers, and 1.6 steals. They’ve gone 12-11 in the 23 games Evans has played since the injury, with Evans’ averages including 22.3 points on 48-percent shooting, 0.6 threes, 5.6 boards, 5.2 assists, 3.2 turnovers, 1.4 steals, and 0.6 blocks. <\/p>\n

Speaking of Evans … he’s missed the past two games after a serious aggravation of a right ankle injury that has been bothering him since early October, and he’s questionable<\/a> for Friday’s game (@LAL). <\/p>\n

• LaMarcus Aldridge<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> played just six minutes Wednesday because of a sprained left ankle<\/a>. The injury is not thought to have long-term implications, although he was fitted with a walking boot Wednesday night. His status for Saturday is in doubt at this point, and we should get a clearer picture of the extent of the injury leading up to that game. Juwan Howard<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> (38 minutes, 10 points, 9 boards, 2 steals Wednesday) and Jeff Pendergraph<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> (25 minutes, 8 points, 14 boards, 2 blocks) will see the "big" minutes for the Blazers if LMA is out, in addition to the newly signed<\/a> Shavlik Randolph<\/a>(notes)<\/a>.<\/span> <\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

• Keep an eye on Jameer Nelson and the Magic in the coming days, particularly if you are in a deep league. Nelson’s knee swelled up after the team’s Christmas Day game, during which he played 32 minutes, and he’s been limited in recent practices. Stan Van Gundy had the following<\/a> to say:<\/p>\n

\n

"We’re going to have to go back and evaluate where we are with Jameer. There’s medical concerns and people don’t want him to
\nget re-injured."<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Jason Williams<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> was huge Wednesday (25 minutes, 16 points, 5 threes, 7 assists, 1 turnover, 1 steal) while Nelson struggled (23 minutes, 4 points, 1-of-7 FG) and would obviously step in (again) if Nelson were to miss time. In 17 starts this season, J-Will has averaged 8.5 points on 45-percent shooting, 1.5 threes, 5.1 assists, 1.3 turnovers, and 1 steal in 29 minutes. There’s not massive standard-league upside here, but he would be relevant in more than 11% of leagues (his current ownership level) as the starter. <\/p>\n

• Tyson Chandler<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> is out at least another week<\/a> as he deals with a stress reaction in his left foot. Nazr Mohammed<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> [game log<\/a>] has had one solid game and two stinkers since Chandler went down, but he still deserves deep-league consideration in the event that this injury eventually turns into a long-term situation. <\/p>\n

• Nothing is working for the Pacers these days, all the more reason to
\ntake note of Luther Head’s Wednesday line (30 points, 4 threes, 7
\nboards, 2 steals, 1 block). He replaced Brandon Rush<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> in the starting
\nlineup and played 40 minutes, while the other four starters combined for just 62 minutes<\/a>
\nin the 121-110 loss, the team’s eighth straight and 19th in 23 games.
\nProduction as a starter is nothing new for Head – he’s averaged 13.4
\npoints, 1.9 threes, 3.7 boards, 3.4 assists, 1.8 turnovers, and 1.4
\nsteals in 59 career starts – and some numbers are ripe for the picking
\nhere.   <\/p>\n

• Chauncey Billups’<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> injured groin isn’t progressing quite as well as hoped, and his status for Saturday is now in doubt<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

"It doesn’t hurt to walk around or even jog
\n— I feel good — it’s the cutting, trying to get by a defender. That’s my problem most of the times."<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Ty Lawson<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> has started three of the past four games for the Nuggets in Billups’ absence, averaging 14.7 points on 51-percent shooting, 0.3 threes, 4.3 boards, 5 assists, 1.7 turnovers, and 1.3 steals in 31 minutes. <\/p>\n

• Charlie Villanueva<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> has averaged 14 minutes over the past three games, and it’s no secret that he’s been dealing with plantar fasciitis. Charlie V isn’t interested in having his minutes limited, however, saying that he doesn’t want his minutes monitored when he’s on the active roster. He met with John Kuester on Wednesday to clear the air, with both parties coming away in good spirits<\/a>, and Kuester challenging Charlie V to play with more energy on defense. The Pistons are currently mired in a seven-game losing streak, during which they’ve averaged just 86 points, so his turning things around on offense are equally as important. <\/p>\n

• Our first Jose Calderon<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> update of substance came Wednesday, with Jay Triano saying that he is hopeful that Calderon will be able to return to the lineup on Jan. 6<\/a>.  <\/p>\n

• Ronnie Brewer<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> reached the 20-point mark for just the second time on the season Wednesday, scoring 20 in 39 minutes and adding four steals. He had totaled just 12 points in his previous three games and has been very inconsistent with C.J. Miles<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> back and Wesley Matthews<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> stil involved in the rotation. Matthews played just seven minutes Wednesday. Brewer’s averages have fallen to 32 minutes and 9.3 points in December, but his 2.4 steals during that time still should have him on all fantasy radars. <\/p>\n

• Channing Frye’s<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> up-and-down fantasy impact is currently on the "up" side. He was huge in the Suns’ 116-98 win over the Celtics Wednesday (26 points, 6 threes, 10 boards, 2 steals, 2 blocks), and over the past nine games he’s averaged 15.7 points on 49-percent shooting, 2.8 threes, 6.4 boards, and 1.7 steals-plus-blocks. In 20 games between November 3 and December 11, Frye averaged 10.7 points on 42-percent shooting, and 2.2 threes. <\/p>\n

• Celtics updates<\/a>: Kevin
\nGarnett<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> didn’t play Wednesday because of a hyper-extended right knee and
\nalmost certainly will miss Saturday, as well. Doc Rivers said that the
\nteam would rather be safe than sorry and the Celtics are then off until
\nWednesday (@MIA). … Rivers also said that he "can’t imagine" that Paul
\nPierce<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> (right knee infection) will play Saturday, but called the
\nchances of his returning for the matchup with Miami "realistic." Tony Allen<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> has averaged 11 points, 6 boards, 3.3 assists, 3 turnovers, 2.3 steals, and 0.5 blocks in four starts while filling in for Pierce. <\/p>\n

• Troy Murphy<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> is expected to shed his walking boot Friday but will be sidelined an additional five to seven days<\/a> as he recovers from a sprained left ankle.  <\/p>\n

• Ron Artest<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> (concussion) had limited work in Friday’s practice but still experienced dizziness and is very doubtful<\/a> for Friday. <\/p>\n

—<\/em><\/p>\n

Photos via Getty Images<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Kevin Martin’s(notes) wrist is healing, Jameer Nelson(notes) is hurting, and Luther Head(notes) could be looking at expanded minutes. • Kevin Martin’s fractured left wrist is making progress: "Splint is off," Martin said. "Just rehab to work on range of motion. So when that’s good I’m good. I got cleared to do all basketball activities without […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4320,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-219400","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/219400","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4320"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=219400"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/219400\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=219400"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=219400"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=219400"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}