Holy Rajon Rondo! - 03/05/2012
BY Steve Alexander Monday's Dose, as usual, takes a quick team-by-team trip around the league, as the injury-fest has finally slowed down a bit. If you want to check out the entire Injury List, click on this link, and follow me on Twitter by clicking here. Atlanta 4 Games – Joe Johnson’s knee is the big story in Atlanta, as he missed his last two games due to tendinitis. No new information is available, but we should have an update on Monday. The Hawks are at Indy on Tuesday. Josh Smith is rolling and Zaza Pachulia has become a serviceable fantasy center. Boston 4 – Rajon Rondo recorded his second triple-double in his last three games on Sunday with a monstrous line of 18 points, 17 rebounds and 20 assists. The Celtics aren’t trading him and he should obviously be in all starting lineups going forward. The last player to record a triple-double with at least 17 in each category was Magic Johnson, who had 24 points, 17 assists and 17 rebounds in 1989. And the last player to exceed Rondo’s performance in each category was Wilt Chamberlain, who had 22 points, 25 rebounds and 21 assists in 1968. Maybe the Celtics should float his name in trade rumors more often. Brandon Bass tweaked his left ankle, but it sounds l! ike he’s OK, making him worth a look if you need a PF. Paul Pierce also posted a big line on Sunday, while Kevin Garnett could be the Celtics’ starting center for the rest of the season if Jermaine O’Neal isn’t able to return from his wrist injury. Charlotte 4 – Corey Maggette is healthy and on fire, Gerald Henderson is coming on, and Bismack Biyombo hopes to return from his shoulder injury on Tuesday. D.J. Augustin, Boris Diaw and Kemba Walker all deserve fantasy consideration, but have all been pretty inconsistent lately. Chicago 4 – Derrick Rose is rolling, Joakim Noah is finally playing well on a consistent basis and the Bulls now have the best record in the league. Richard Hamilton is back and starting, but still hasn’t gotten it going. Keep an eye on him, and make sure Rose and Noah are in your lineup, along with Luol Deng and Carlos Boozer. Cleveland 4 – Kyrie Irving is over his illness and good to go, Antawn Jamison continues to play at a very high level, and Tristan Thompson continues to be maddeningly inconsistent as a rookie. Irving and Jamison are must-start players, but until Anderson Varejao returns from his wrist injury (2-3 more weeks), they’re the only must-starts in Cleveland. Dallas 5 - Dirk Nowitzki’s slump is a distant memory after his 40-point party on Saturday, while Lamar Odom missed a trip to the D-League and actually returned for that game, and played fairly well. Roddy Beaubois got us all excited after starting on Friday and posting a big number, but then went back to the bench on Saturday and only had three points. With five games this week, Dirk, Jason Kidd, Shawn Marion, Jason Terry, Vince Carter, Roddy B, Brendan Haywood, and even Odom deserve a look if games played matter in your league. Delonte West should be back from his finger injury in a week or two. Denver 4 – Timofey Mozgov went down after re-spraining his left ankle on Sunday and it didn’t look good. Al Harrington should pick up the slack for him if he’s out, along with Kenneth Faried and Chris Andersen. Danilo Gallinari and Nene are both due back from their injuries soon, and could play on Monday. Ty Lawson had one of the best games of his career on Sunday and is a must-start player, while Gallinari, Nene, Harri! ngton, Arron Afflalo, Faried and Andre Miller are all worth a close look. Rudy Fernandez is also due back soon, but I’d only consider him in very deep leagues. Detroit 3 – With three games, only Greg Monroe, Brandon Knight, Tayshaun Prince and Rodney Stuckey deserve consideration, but Monroe is the only must-start in my book. Ben Gordon is dealing with a sprained ankle, so I’d find another option if possible. Golden State 4 – Stephen Curry (foot) missed his fourth straight game on Sunday, leaving him very iffy for the upcoming week. I think you have to bench him in weeklies unless we get a positive report on Monday. Ekpe Udoh started at center on Sunday and while he wasn’t great, is worth owning in most leagues. Dorell Wright was horrible again on 1-of-9 shooting, and should also be on benches, while only Monta Ellis and David Lee qualify as must-start Warriors. Houston 4 – Samuel Dalembert vowed to become more aggressive and came through with 17 points, 12 boards, a steal and three blocks in Sunday’s game, and it was the first time he played over 30 minutes since Jan. 25. And not coincidentally, he also double-doubled in that one. We’ll have to see if Kevin McHale continues to give him minutes, but Sammy D is worth a pickup if he was dropped in your league. Kevin Martin hit just 6-of-22 shots but posted a solid line, and should remain in starting lineups despite the inconsistency, along with Kyle Lowry and Luis Scola. Chandler Parsons can also be used in a pinch, but is far from a must-start player. Indiana 4 – Coming off back-to-back two-game weeks, it’s time to get Danny Granger, Roy Hibbert, David West, Paul George and Darren Collison back in your lineups. George Hill and Tyler Hansbrough are worth keeping an eye on, but are not worth starting in most leagues. Clippers 4 – Chris Paul is in beast mode, while Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, Caron Butler, Mo Williams, Randy Foye and Kenyon Martin are all worth a fantasy look this week. Jordan has been highly inconsistent, but did have eight points, 11 boards and a block on Sunday after disappearing on Friday. Owners of these guys have to be pleased with the schedule gods, as! the Clips play five times in Week 12, and then four games every full week from here on out. Lakers 4 – Kobe Bryant, or the Masked Mamba, is rolling for the Lakers and remains one of the better fantasy options around. Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum are also good to go, and Metta World Peace was actually effective for the first time in a while on Sunday. But I’d try to find another option in fantasy, as MWP has just been too ineffective for most of the season. Memphis 3 – With just three games you’ll need to weight options carefully, but Mike Conley has been very hot, while Marc Gasol and Rudy Gay should be starting in most instances. Tony Allen, O.J. Mayo and Marreese Speights are all worth a look, but aren’t great options with just three games. Zach Randolph may or may not be back on Wednesday from his knee in! jury, but I’d leave him on your bench until you see him play in a game. Miami 3 – Dwyane Wade was complaining of a head injury after Sunday’s game and said the lights were bothering him. Uh oh. I’m leaving him in my lineups, but if he has concussion symptoms, he may have to pass the same test Kobe Bryant did before playing this week. My guess is he’s good to go, but it’s just a guess. LeBron James is good to go, while Chris Bosh should be back from his personal leave on Tuesday after missing three games after the death of his grandmother. Bosh cost me a win this week, and might have cost the Heat one on Sunday. Despite three games, those t! hree are must-starts until you hear differently, but Mario Chalmers can be benched if you have a four-game player as an option. Milwaukee 4 – Carlos Delfino has been a disaster for two weeks, but could break out of his funk at any time. Brandon Jennings, Drew Gooden and Ersan Ilyasova look like must-starts, while Delfino and Mike Dunleavy are worth a look. If you’re still holding Stephen Jackson, just keep him benched (or drop him) until further notice. Minnesota 4 – With four games, Kevin Love, Nikola Pekovic and Ricky Rubio are must-starts, while Luke Ridnour and Michael Beasley deserve consideration. Derrick Williams is also worth a look, but I’d be hesitant to start Ridnour, Beasley and Williams if other options are available. New Jersey 4 – Deron Williams blew up for an NBA season high of 57 points on Sunday, hitting all 21 of his free throws in the win. MarShon Brooks has really cooled off with the return of Brook Lopez, but the big man went down with a sprained right ankle on Sunday night, leaving the arena on crutches. Avery Johnson acknowledged he had X-rays taken, but wouldn’t say if they were negative. Lopez is expected to travel with the team to Miami for Tuesday’s game, but is very iffy for that one. We should know more on Monday afternoon. Williams, and maybe Kris Humphries, are the only must-starts in New Jersey right now, while Brooks, Lopez, Anthony Morrow and Shelden Williams are worth a look in some leagues. New Orleans 4 – We still don’t know when Emeka Okafor, Carl Landry or Jason Smith will be back for the Hornets, while Trevor Ariza missed his last couple games with an illness. Ariza should be back on at Portland, while guys like Jarrett Jack, Greivis Vasquez, Gustavo Ayon and Chris ! Kaman all look startable in fantasy. New York 4 – Jeremy Lin and the Knicks are coming off a two-game week, so it’s time to get them back in your lineup. Lin, Amare Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler are must-start players, and Steve Novak is hitting enough treys to be in lineups right now. But I’d be hesitant to use Iman Shumpert, Landry Fields or J.R. Smith as long as the stars are all healthy. Chandler’s wrist remains a concern, and owners have to hope he keeps powering through the problem. Oklahoma City 4 – Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden should all have another big week, but they’re the only guys in OKC worth starting. Westbrook is dealing with a swollen ankle, but I’m planning on using him unless we hear differently on Monday. Thabo Sefolosha is nearing a return from a foot injury, but is iffy for the week. Orlando 4 – Dwight Howard, Ryan Anderson, Hedo Turkoglu, Jason Richardson and Jameer Nelson are all worth starting in most leagues, and are all healthy for now. J.J. Redick might also be worth a look, but is a shaky option as long as JRich and Turk are healthy. Philadelphia 4 – Jrue Holiday’s assists are still down, but he’s playing well enough to be used in most fantasy leagues. Andre Iguodala, Elton Brand, Lou Williams and Thaddeus Young should also be in most lineups, while Nikola Vucevic can be used by owners desperate for a center. Spencer Hawes (Achilles) is targeting a March 14 return, bu! t Vucevic should be serviceable until Hawes is on the court. Phoenix 3 – The Suns are suddenly hot, winning five of their last six and three straight games. Steve Nash and Marcin Gortat are must-starts, while Grant Hill, Jared Dudley and Channing Frye are all worth a look in some leagues. I’d bench them this week, but all become likely must-starts in Week 12, when the Suns go five times. Portland 4 – Nicolas Batum, LaMarcus Aldridge, Gerald Wallace and Jamal Crawford are all must-starts this week, while Marcus Camby, Wesley Matthews and Raymond Felton can be used in fantasy leagues, depending on options. Sacramento 4 – Isaiah Thomas has cooled off, but is still a decent option with four games, while Marcus Thornton, DeMarcus Cousins and Tyreke Evans all looks like must-start options. Jason Thompson, Francisco Garcia and Donte Green are all worth a look in deeper leagues, but are too inconsistent to be relied upon. Cousins threw a wild elbow after being popped in the nose on Sunday, so make sure he’s not suspended for Monday! ’s game at Denver before rolling with him. San Antonio 2 – DeJuan Blair left early on Sunday after banging knees with another player, but I doubt the injury is too serious. What is serious is that Tiago Splitter is back and will ruin Blair’s recent value, along with the fact the Spurs have just two games this week. Tony Parker and Tim Duncan are worth a look, but you can probably do better in leagues where games played matter. Manu Ginobili returned from a strained oblique and had eight points in 24 minutes, but should |
