Archive for December, 2009

Fantasy Basketball Daily News (12/21/09)

Dec 21, 2009 Blog

Thanks a lot Gerald Wallace.  A headache?  Didn’t Wallace and Jackson recently making fun of Tyson Chandler for having no ‘heart’.  Come on Gerald.  It was one of those weeks when a single player could have made all the difference between a win and a loss, and I got the loss.   Why does it always seem that it’s the guy on my team who doesn’t play rather than one of my opponents players?  Oh well, such is fantasy basketball.

Fantasy Basketball Articles:

 

Fantasy Basketball Player News:

  • Chris Paul is still dealing with some ankle soreness that is limiting his play.  Still, 90%, Paul is better than most.
  • Stephen Jackson left Sunday’s game in the third quarter with back spasms and didn’t return. 
  • Gerald Wallace didn’t play because he had a headache. 
  • Chase Budinger will miss 2-3 weeks with a sprained right ankle.
  • Tyrus Thomas practiced and should be back soon.  Check you wire to see if he’s still out there.
  • Dirk Nowitzki missed Sunday with his elbow cut.  Tim Thomas got the start and looked pretty good going for 22 points.  Nowitzki’s next start on Tuesday is still questionable, so check his gametime status.
  • Dwyane Wade’s back didn’t seem to bother him against Portland.  He was even doing pullups on the rim before the game.
  • Tony Allen is getting better and might be worth a pickup if you need some depth.  He got 25 minutes against Minnesota, scoring 15 points.
  • Chauncey Billups missed Sunday with his groin problem, Ty Lawson got the start.  No word on when Billups might return, so keep him benched.
  • Keep an eye on the C.J. Miles / Wes Matthews position battle in Utah.  Miles may get the starting job back soon.  Matthews has a been a cheap salary cap game option over the last month, but that may end shortly.
  • Jameer Nelson will return for Orlando, he will come off the bench on Monday.
  • Ankle injuries have slowed Will Bynum to the point where he is unplayable in daily cash games.
  • Charlie Villanueva is still slowed by a right heel injury.

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Fantasy Basketball Daily News (12/20/09)

Dec 20, 2009 Blog

And snow just keeps falling.    Seven games on the schedule for Sunday, with one of them starting at 1:00 pm EST.  Make sure you get your lineup in early on Sunday.

Fantasy Basketball Articles:

 

Fantasy Basketball Player News and Notes:

  • Matt Bonner fractured a finger Saturday.  No word on how long he will miss.
  • Jeff Foster tried to play through back pain but left in the first quarter and didn’t return.  Roy Hibbert played well with Foster out and managed to stay out of foul trouble.  Hibbert is inconsistent, but will keep getting minutes if Foster misses more time.
  • Jameer Nelson practiced with the team and could return Wednesday.
  • Jerryd Bayless got another 30 minutes of action Saturday.  He’s getting enough minutes to be worthy of a pickup, especially in keeper leagues.
  • Derrick Rose seems to be over his latest rib injury, putting up a season high 32 points against the Hawks.
  • Tyrus Thomas is scheduled to practice Sunday and could return to action soon after Christmas.
  • Allen Iverson is out until at least December 28 with arthritis in his knee.  Jrue Holiday should keep getting minutes.
  • Louis Williams returned from his broken jaw and got 24 minutes.
  • Dwyane Wade is dealing with back spasms, so check his gametime status for Sunday’s game against Portland.
  • Spencer Hawes moved back into the starting lineup and played 28 minutes.  Maybe the benching will motivate him.
  • Kevin Durant has been a bit inconsistent lately and hasn’t been worth the lofty price in daily cash salary cap games. 
  • Chase Budinger suffered an ankle spain, no word on the severity.
  • Chris Douglas-Roberts can’t catch a break.  He sprained his right ankle on Saturday.  X-Rays were negative but the severity unknown.
  • Jason Richardson returned Saturday after missing time with a right hand injury.  He played 25 minutes, scoring 22 points.
  • Dirk Nowitzki will likely miss Sunday with a cut on his elbow suffered in the collision with Carl Landry.  Landry missed Saturday due to that collision.
  • Leandro Barbosa hopes to return on Friday versus the Clippers.
  • Kyle Korver had another setback with his knee injury.
  • Nate Robinson wants a trade.  Might be worth a gamble if you have an open roster spot.
  • Antawn Jamison looked fine after the neck stinger he got on Friday.  He put in 29 minutes Saturday.
  • Gilbert Arenas is dealing with a sore right hip which was injured on Friday.  It didn’t seem to affect him too much Saturday, but he did only get 24 minutes.  Keep an eye on it.
  • Dahntay Jones moved back into the starting lineup for Indiana, sending Brandon Rush to the bench.
  • Earl Watson got the start for Indiana, sending T.J. Ford to the bench.  Ford got 25 minutes, Watson got 23 minutes which pretty much makes them both unplayable.

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Fantasy Basketball Daily News (12/19/09)

Dec 19, 2009 Blog

I’m buried in snow today and there’s more on the way.  I hate winter.  Looks like a boring day with no college football and internet that is fading in and out due to the snow.

Fantasy Basketball Articles:

 

Fantasy Player News and Notes:

  • Dirk Nowitzki collided with Carl Landry Friday knocking out 3 of Landry’s teeth and cutting Nowitzki’s elbow deep enough to cause him to miss the rest of the game.  What I find funny about this is how everyone is talking about how tough Nowitzki is.  What?  How about a little love for Landry.  I’d much prefer a cut on my elbow rather than losing 3 teeth.
  • Antawn Jamison got a neck stinger and missed some time last night.  It shouldn’t be any big deal but check it for his next game.
  • Corey Maggette got another start and put up 23pt/8reb.
  • Chris Douglas-Roberts was able to return after missing 3 games with a left knee injury.  He got 30 minutes.
  • Stephen Jackson missed practice Friday with a stomach virus.  Check his gametime status Saturday.
  • Carlos Arroyo will get a few more starts for Miami.
  • D-League callup Chris Hunter got the start over Anthony Randolph on Friday.  Nelson is really trying to crush Randolph’s soul.
  • Allen Iverson is questionable again on Saturday.

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Fantasy Basketball Strategy: Fear the Blowout?

Dec 19, 2009 Blog

I received an interesting comment from one of our readers named Peter yesterday on my article discussing starting fantasy players against teams who have poor defensive ratings.  Basically, his point was, if you start fantasy players who are facing weak defenses, could that strategy backfire since your fantasy player could sit if the game becomes a blowout? 

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Fantasy Basketball Daily News (12/18/09)

Dec 18, 2009 Blog

Only three games on Thursday night, but we have a full schedule of 11 games for Friday.  A lot of risky fantasy starts tonight, so make sure you check the player gametime status report before Friday’s start.  I’ve included most of the risky plays below.

Fantasy Reading:

 

Fantasy Player News and Notes:

  • It might be time to pickup Jerryd Bayless, especially if you are in a keeper league.  I get the feeling that either Steve Blake or Andre Miller may be on their way out via trade and Portland is giving Bayless a test run just to make sure they can live with him.
  • Allen Iverson is out Friday.  An MRI showed arthritis in his left knee.  Jrue Holiday should get another start and Willie Green might get the start at SG.   It really doesn’t matter who gets the start since they draw the number one defense in the league, on the road, at Boston.  Keep all your 76er’s on the bench.
  • Larry Hughes missed Thursday and is likely out Friday with a strained left groin.  Wilson Chandler probably gets some extra run and Toney Douglas might as well.  New York could really use Nate Robinson right now, but D’Antoni just won’t give in.
  • Jason Richardson missed Thursday with sprained hand.  Goran Dragic moved into the starting lineup.
  • Carlos Arroyo got the start at PG for Miami on Thursday keeping Marion Chalmers on the bench.  Arroyo posted 5pt/4reb/7ast in 26 minutes, while Chalmers posted 7pt/4reb/6ast in 22 minutes.  Neither player is attractive right now.
  • Jameer Nelson may return next week.  Check your wire to see if he was dropped and forgotten about.
  • Tyrus Thomas has returned to non-contact practice.
  • Chauncey Billups may miss Friday with a groin strain.  Anthony Johnson will likely get the start but Ty Lawson will probably get some run too.  J.R. Smith should also see an uptick in value.
  • Rudy Gay is a risky start on Friday after injuring his right ankle on Wednesday.  If he can’t go, Sam Young might get the start.
  • Marreese Speights bumped knees with someone in his last game and might be a little sore, so be careful starting him.  Philly should be extremely careful with him since he is just coming back from injury.  I wouldn’t be surprised if he got less than 15 minutes on Friday.
  • Ryan Gomes is likely out Friday.  Damien Wilkins may get the start.
  • Quentin Richardson was able to return Thursday from a hamstring injury.  He managed 21 minutes.

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