FANTASY / PLAYER NEWS
Antawn Jamison: Could Miss Friday's Game
Update: Jamison will be a game-time decision for Friday's game against the 76ers, the Associated Press reports.
Analysis: Fortunately, Jamison avoided serious injury on Monday night, but he has a cyst in the knee that periodically fills with fluid and could prevent him from playing against Philadelphia. If he does miss the game, he expects to return Sunday against Boston, but daily leaguers will have to check back closer to game time on Friday to learn more about his status.
Luol Deng: (Calf) Will Miss at Least Two Games
Update: Deng (calf) will miss at least two games, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Analysis: The earliest return would be Tuesday's game against Memphis, but there's not an especially optimistic tone regarding that possibility at the moment, either. The technical prognosis given by coach Vinny Del Negro was "a while."
Andre Iguodala: Benched for Fourth Quarter
Update: Iguodala was benched in the fourth quarter of Tuesday's loss to the Pacers as coach Eddie Jordan chose to attempt a comeback with his best player on the bench.
Analysis: Iguodala still played 30 minutes in the game, but there have been a number of reports of late concerning the players giving up on their coach and failing to believe in his perplexing lineup decisions. Iguodala finished the game with five points (2-of-8 FG, 0-of-2 3PT, 1-of-2 FT), five rebounds, four assists, a steal, and a block in 30 minutes of action. Owners should be used to seeing a random night like this from Iguodala this season. Jordan's unusual lineups remain mystifying but are no longer surprising this deep into the season.
Samuel Dalembert: Returns to Starting Lineup and Records Double-Double
Update: Dalembert returned to the starting lineup in Tuesday's loss to the Pacers and recorded his 17th double-double of the season in just 22 minutes of action.
Analysis: Dalembert was brought off the bench in Sunday's win over the Raptors as punishment for arriving late to a team meeting. Luckily, for fantasy owners, his banishment to the bench only lasted one game. Dalembert recorded four blocks to go along with his 16 and 11 double-double on Tuesday, and he should continue to put up quality defensive fantasy lines over the rest of the season.
Maurice Evans: Not Expected to Play Thursday
Update: Evans (flu-like symptoms) is not traveling with the team to Washington D.C. and is not expected to play against the Wizards on Thursday, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Michael Cunningham reports.
Analysis: Evans' 4.8 points per game and 1.8 rebounds per game aren't enough to make him worth consideration in most leagues.
Brendan Haywood: Likely to Play Wednesday
Update: Although he's officially a game-time decision, Haywood (back) will likely play Wednesday against the Nets, the Dallas Morning News reports. "I'm going to play and see how it feels," Haywood said.
Analysis: The Mavericks have sorely missed Haywood defensively, giving up 109.3 points in the three games that he's missed. Fantasy owners in daily leagues are welcome to roll with him on Wednesday, but keep in mind that he may not play his usual number of minutes if the back is still sore. With nine games on tap, you may want to opt for a healthier option if you have one.
Erick Dampier: Expected to Return on Wednesday
Update: Dampier (finger) is expected to return on Wednesday after missing the last 12 games, the Dallas Morning News reports.
Analysis: It remains to be seen if Dampier has lost his starting lineup position to Brendan Haywood.
Tracy McGrady: Will Start Wednesday
Update: McGrady (general soreness) is expected to start Wednesday at San Antonio, the New York Times' Howard Beck reports.
Analysis: McGrady missed last Saturday's game, but has been playing around 28 minutes a night this month. Expect him to see about that much court time on Wednesday, though it's anyone's guess how effective he'll be, as his scoring has fluctuated between three points and 21 points in four March games.
Jose Juan Barea: Out on Wednesday
Update: Barea (ankle) will not suit up on Wednesday when the Mavericks host the Nets, the Dallas Morning News reports.
Analysis: Barea injured his ankle on Monday and is considered day-to-day. Roddy Beaubois will see extended minutes in his absence.
Beno Udrih: Plays through Ankle Injury
Update: Udrih (ankle) had 13 points, three rebounds, three assists and two blocks in Tuesday's loss to Portland.
Analysis: Udrih banged his ankle in the Kings' previous game, but was able to play 29 minutes on Tuesday and should be safe to use going forward.
Rodney Stuckey: Cleared to Workout
Update: Stuckey (head) has been cleared to return to a progressive exercise program, Mlive.com reports.
Analysis: All of the tests Stuckey has went through have came back negative. He has already been ruled out of the Pistons game on Wednesday, but a return could be just around the corner if no complications arise during his workouts. Continue to monitor the situation before returning Stuckey to your lineup.
Andrea Bargnani: Wakes Up Tuesday
Update: Bargnani scored 21 points with eight rebounds, two blocks and two threes in Tuesday's loss to the Lakers.
Analysis: He's been in a bit of a funk recently, scoring 20+ for the first time in five games, and his rebounding total was his highest in nine games.
Chris Bosh: Scores 22 on Tuesday
Update: Bosh's offense still seemed a bit rusty Tuesday, as he scored 22 points on 7-for-16 shooting while adding seven rebounds and four assists.
Analysis: He was a perfect 6-for-6 from the charity stripe however, and amazingly sank two three-pointers. He should be back in his normal double-double form soon enough.
Hedo Turkoglu: Poor Scoring Night Tuesday
Update: Turkoglu (ankle) played 29 minutes Tuesday but scored just six points on 2-for-7 shooting with five rebounds, four assists and two threes.
Analysis: On a night when the Raptors lost by just two points, they could have used a little more from Turkoglu, who failed to get to the free throw line for the third time in his last five games.
Kris Humphries: Benefits From Yi's Injury
Update: With Yi (ankle) out the next seven to 10 days, Humphries should see some extended playing time off the bench.
Analysis: Humphries burst onto the scene like gangbusters after his trade to New Jersey in mid-January, but has seen his production level out since then. He has recorded four double-digit rebounding games in that span, and could be a sneaky source of rebounds and blocks in deeper leagues for the next two weeks.
James Singleton: Solid Game Off the Bench in Loss
Update: Singleton had 12 points, four rebounds, three blocks, two steals and an assist in 28 minutes off the bench in the Wizards' 96-88 loss to the Rockets Tuesday.
Analysis: Singleton was an efficient 3-of-4 from the field and made all six of his free-throw attempts. Though averaging about 21 minutes a game for the Wizards since coming over from Dallas, Singleton is averaging a robust 2.1 blocks per game and a respectable 6.2 rebounds and 0.8 steals per game over his first 11 games with the team.
Johan Petro: Expected to Start on Wednesday
Update: Petro is expected to make his second start of the year on Wednesday.
Analysis: If Petro does get the call he'll start at center with Nene moving to Kenyon Martin's vacant PF position. While Petro did play well in his first start on Sunday against Portland he'll more than likely share Martin's minutes with the Joey Graham and Malik Allen, so don't get to excited about the possibilities.
Jianlian Yi: Yi Out 7-10 Days
Update: Coach Kiki Vanderweghe expects Yi to miss the next 7-to-10 days with a high ankle sprain, according the USA Today.
Analysis: Yi will be re-evaluated again in a few days - in the meantime, Josh Boone and Kris Humphries stand to benefit and should see extended playing time.
Nick Young: Ties For Team-High in Points
Update: Young tied for the team lead in scoring Wednesday as he had 18 points in 23 minutes off the bench in the Wizards' 96-88 loss to the Rockets.
Analysis: Don't get too excited as Young as never proved he can be a consistent player. This was Young's first game in double figures, and first game he played at least 20 minutes, since he had 12 points back on Feb. 19.
Al Thornton: Just Misses Double-Double in Loss
Update: Thornton had 15 points, nine rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block in 39 minutes of action in the Wizards' 96-88 loss to the Rockets Tuesday.
Analysis: This game follows on the heals of Thornton's 24-point, 11-rebound, 3-steal, 2-assist performance against the Celtics Sunday and would seem to signal a return to form after the previous two games to that in which he struggled.
Taj Gibson: Struggling While Playing Through Plantar Fasciitis
Update: Gibson, hampered by plantar fasciitis, fouled out in just 13 minutes of action in the Bulls' 132-108 loss to the Jazz Tuesday, the Arlington Daily Herald reports. "It gets tougher and tougher to push through it as the season wears on," Gibson said after the loss.
Analysis: With Joakim Noah still out with his plantar fasciitis, Luol Deng getting an MRI on his strained right calf and the Bulls on a five-game losing streak, Gibson will have to play through the injury but don't expect much production.
Luol Deng: Strained Right Calf, MRI Wednesday
Update: Deng left the Bulls' 132-108 loss to the Jazz Tuesday in the third quarter with a right calf strain and will have an MRI Wednesday, the Arlington Daily Herald reports
Analysis: The Bulls, whose losing streak hit five Tuesday and are now ninth in Eastern Conference, can ill-afford to lose Demg for an extended period of time with Joakim Noah still out with and Taj Gibson playing through plantar fasciitis.
Charlie Bell: Gets 18 Minutes in Win
Update: Bell had two points in 18 minutes off of the bench in Tuesday's win over the Celtics.
Analysis: Bell has lost almost all of his minutes since the Bucks acquired Jerry Stackhouse, but Stackhouse was out with a strained hamstring. Bell will get bumped back down once Stackhouse returns.
Zach Randolph: Should Return Wednesday
Update: Randolph (back) should return to the Grizzlies' starting lineup Wednesday, the Memphis Commercial Appeal reports.
Analysis: He was a late scratch Monday because of a sore lower back, but apparently it has not lingered. Make sure he is active in leagues with daily transactions.
Toney Douglas: Expected to Play Wednesday
Update: Douglas is expected to play on Wednesday according to Newsday.
Analysis: He had been bouncing in and out of the rotation all season, but with Tracy McGrady out, he should see some action on Wednesday.
Tracy McGrady: Questionable for Wednesday
Update: McGrady (general soreness) is questionable for Wednesday's game according to Alan Hahn of Newsday.
Analysis: This will probably be an on going scenario the rest of the season.
Rafer Alston: Remains Away From Team
Update: Alston (suspension) was not with the Heat for Tuesday night's loss to the Bobcats.
Analysis: Alston still hasn't communicated with the team other than a text message sent Friday morning. The Heat are moving on and so should you. "We're moving forward," Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra told the Miami Herald. "The fight that we have ahead of us, it's either you're in or you're out. And we know who's in right now."
Aaron Brooks: Plays 29 minutes
Update: Brooks had 14 points on 5-of-13 shooting in 29 minutes Tuesday.
Analysis: With Kyle Lowry back, Brooks had a lighter workload than usual. Expect Brooks to see 30-35 minutes most nights going forward even with Lowry around. Lowry's return allowed Brooks to get a much needed breather after logging huge minutes the last few weeks.
Jerryd Bayless: No Buckets in Ten Minutes
Update: Bayless played only 10 minutes Tuesday night versus Sacramento, missing all four of his shot attempts.
Analysis: This comes the game after he scored 24 points in 24 minutes. If you own him in any format, prepare yourself to continue on this roller coaster.
Nicolas Batum: Crazy Efficient Shooting Night
Update: Playing against Sacramento on Tuesday night, Batum had 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting, while also going 1-for-1 from the line.
Analysis: That shooting performance figures out to a 94.1% True Shooting Percentage (TS%). No, most fantasy leagues don't count TS%, but it's hard for an efficient shooter to be a lousy fantasy play.
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